Bike: Trek
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 1 hour 01 minutes 12 seconds
Average speed: 24.509mph
49 seconds faster than I was on this course last year, though I think conditions were much more favourable today. I left too much in the tank, otherwise could've been knocking on going under the hour. Plus I hadn't raced for 5 weeks! Felt pretty good though, after I got through an initial feeling of fatigue which kicked in around the 3 mile mark. Afterwards, it felt pretty good to be back in the swing of things.
Had one motorist overtake, pull in and shout at me, but most surreal happening was the herd of cows crossing one of the bridges across the A-road.
Mum took me out to the race, and we had a laugh on both journeys. All in all, a good trip, I was also the first rider to finish (I was off No.5, overtook No.4 after 2.5 miles, No 3 after 4.5 miles and the Tandem Trike (Nos 1 & 2) after 17 miles.
Sunday, 28 September 2008
Saturday, 27 September 2008
Shotley - Oyster Reach - Freston Xroads - Stutton - Freston Xroads - Shotley
Bike: Trek
Distance: 22.95 miles
Time: 1 hour 08 minutes 32 seconds
Average speed: 20.0 mph
Maximum speed: 29.5 mph
Odometer (at end): 17755 miles
I have my first race for ages tomorrow, so took the Trek out. Didn't spend much time on the aerobars though, and struggled with the big gears... my legs will not thank me after the race. Bloody bike is still making a noise from the bottom bracket when I get up to pedal uphills, this shouldn't be an issue tomorrow.
Lovely afternoon though, sunny and still: the kind where I should've been doing 50-60 miles of pootling around, with a stop for cake. However, the pressure of trying to write means I can only justify an hour or so on the bike at the moment. Getting a bit bored of this route, but it is fast and on a good surface - once the season is properly over, I will start doing more interesting, slower rides round the peninsula and beyond.
I have now passed 5,500 miles for the year - only 2,000 to go to meet my start-of-year target, which I guess I'll probably miss owing to desperate need to rest. A target of 7000 miles is more realistic, though perhaps a push to reach 7,220 (i.e. 20 miles a day average) would be a decent achievement.
Distance: 22.95 miles
Time: 1 hour 08 minutes 32 seconds
Average speed: 20.0 mph
Maximum speed: 29.5 mph
Odometer (at end): 17755 miles
I have my first race for ages tomorrow, so took the Trek out. Didn't spend much time on the aerobars though, and struggled with the big gears... my legs will not thank me after the race. Bloody bike is still making a noise from the bottom bracket when I get up to pedal uphills, this shouldn't be an issue tomorrow.
Lovely afternoon though, sunny and still: the kind where I should've been doing 50-60 miles of pootling around, with a stop for cake. However, the pressure of trying to write means I can only justify an hour or so on the bike at the moment. Getting a bit bored of this route, but it is fast and on a good surface - once the season is properly over, I will start doing more interesting, slower rides round the peninsula and beyond.
I have now passed 5,500 miles for the year - only 2,000 to go to meet my start-of-year target, which I guess I'll probably miss owing to desperate need to rest. A target of 7000 miles is more realistic, though perhaps a push to reach 7,220 (i.e. 20 miles a day average) would be a decent achievement.
Friday, 26 September 2008
Shotley - Oyster Reach - Shotley
Bike: Condor
Distance: 15.35 miles
Time: 42 minutes 13 seconds
Average speed: 21.7 mph
Maximum speed: 31 mph
Odometer (at end): 2132.5 miles
In blatant contradiction to what I said the other day (that people should expect a bit of inconvenience on the roads if they move to the middle of nowhere), I was held up a by a tractor (and trailer) tonight. Bloody farmers!! He was going roughly 20mph, I know this because I was directly behind him for 4 miles with an ever-growing snake of traffic building up behind us. He passed about 2-3 good opportunities to pull in and let the traffic pass. Oh well, I got a decent slipstream I guess but it was frustrating as I was on for a good time - I'd reached the turn in 20 minutes (23mph) and had struggled a little on the exposed section by the river, but felt good enough to get some speed up on the exact stretch of road the farmer opted to take his trailer for a drive on.
In other news, the whippet had probably his best day yet (no destruction, no attempts to chew Sally's ear off); I had my hair re-highlighted; and I had the stitches taken out of my back. Alas, I couldn't help fiddling and now the wound has got a little infected. My sister told me off and sprayed iodine on it.
Distance: 15.35 miles
Time: 42 minutes 13 seconds
Average speed: 21.7 mph
Maximum speed: 31 mph
Odometer (at end): 2132.5 miles
In blatant contradiction to what I said the other day (that people should expect a bit of inconvenience on the roads if they move to the middle of nowhere), I was held up a by a tractor (and trailer) tonight. Bloody farmers!! He was going roughly 20mph, I know this because I was directly behind him for 4 miles with an ever-growing snake of traffic building up behind us. He passed about 2-3 good opportunities to pull in and let the traffic pass. Oh well, I got a decent slipstream I guess but it was frustrating as I was on for a good time - I'd reached the turn in 20 minutes (23mph) and had struggled a little on the exposed section by the river, but felt good enough to get some speed up on the exact stretch of road the farmer opted to take his trailer for a drive on.
In other news, the whippet had probably his best day yet (no destruction, no attempts to chew Sally's ear off); I had my hair re-highlighted; and I had the stitches taken out of my back. Alas, I couldn't help fiddling and now the wound has got a little infected. My sister told me off and sprayed iodine on it.
Thursday, 25 September 2008
Shotley - Ipswich - Freston - Stutton - Freston - Shotley
Bike: Condor
Distance: 25.21 miles
Time: 1 hour 18 minutes 06 seconds
Average speed: 19.3 mph
Maximum speed: 29.5 mph
Odometer (at end): 2117.2 miles
Stayed on faster roads (went up the Wherstead Road when I got the Oyster Reach) and pushed a bit harder today, in blustery conditions. Forgettable ride, mind full of other things (mundane things).
Distance: 25.21 miles
Time: 1 hour 18 minutes 06 seconds
Average speed: 19.3 mph
Maximum speed: 29.5 mph
Odometer (at end): 2117.2 miles
Stayed on faster roads (went up the Wherstead Road when I got the Oyster Reach) and pushed a bit harder today, in blustery conditions. Forgettable ride, mind full of other things (mundane things).
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
Shotley - Oyster Reach - Freston Xroads - Stutton - Freston Xroads - Shotley (with extra bonus hill loops!)
Bike: Condor
Distance: 25.42 miles
Time: 1 hour 24 minutes 11 seconds
Average speed: 18.1 mph
Maximum speed: 28 mph
Odometer (at end): 2091.9 miles
Grey skies and blowy out; an idiot lorry driver swerved back in only halfway through overtaking me which was scary. Otherwise this was pleasant enough, though my legs really do feel shot for this year. Added a few extra hills in (Holbrook loop, Old Hall hill, Bristol Hill) in preparation for doing a few hillclimbs in October.
Distance: 25.42 miles
Time: 1 hour 24 minutes 11 seconds
Average speed: 18.1 mph
Maximum speed: 28 mph
Odometer (at end): 2091.9 miles
Grey skies and blowy out; an idiot lorry driver swerved back in only halfway through overtaking me which was scary. Otherwise this was pleasant enough, though my legs really do feel shot for this year. Added a few extra hills in (Holbrook loop, Old Hall hill, Bristol Hill) in preparation for doing a few hillclimbs in October.
Monday, 22 September 2008
Shotley - Freston Xroads - Shotley
Bike: Condor
Distance: 10.93 miles
Time: 31 minutes 09 seconds
Average speed: 21 mph
Maximum speed: 32 mph
Odometer (at end): 2066.5 miles
Just a short ride tonight, as I was racing against the sunset.
Would one day love to ride on the Shotley road without some kind of idiot spoiling the experience with a display of astonishingly bad driving. Yes, it's a twisty, turny B-road, ill-suited to the volume of traffic using it - but then again, you all chose to live in the countryside...
Distance: 10.93 miles
Time: 31 minutes 09 seconds
Average speed: 21 mph
Maximum speed: 32 mph
Odometer (at end): 2066.5 miles
Just a short ride tonight, as I was racing against the sunset.
Would one day love to ride on the Shotley road without some kind of idiot spoiling the experience with a display of astonishingly bad driving. Yes, it's a twisty, turny B-road, ill-suited to the volume of traffic using it - but then again, you all chose to live in the countryside...
30,000
Just fiddling with my cycling spreadsheet: it seems that I overlooked something.
On 14 September, it wasn't just my birthday but also the day I passed 30,000 cycling miles since I started recording mileage data on 25 May 2003.
On 14 September, it wasn't just my birthday but also the day I passed 30,000 cycling miles since I started recording mileage data on 25 May 2003.
Sunday, 21 September 2008
Shotley - Freston - Stutton - Freston - Oyster Reach - Shotley
Bike: Condor
Distance: 23.05 miles
Time: 1 hour 16 minutes 41 seconds
Average speed: 18 mph
Maximum speed: 33 mph
Odometer (at end): 2055.6 miles
If you scroll down a bit below the picture of my tattered neck, you will see I have put the stats and a small report about my birthday adventures. Alas, I did not compile accurate beerstats. On a brighter note, German Pete is finally going to send me my bierdiplom after 2 years and 8 days.
Today I went out for a ride, though my neck felt a little awkward. Kept it to an easy pace and enjoyed the later summer sunshine. Lots of other cyclists about: apparently they were having an event at Alton Water.
Am currently looking after Wilbur, my friends' whippet, who has made quite an impact. Sally is besotted, but he doesn't like her much, owing to her 'not taking no for an answer' attitude. Still, much easier to look after him on the farm rather than in London.
Distance: 23.05 miles
Time: 1 hour 16 minutes 41 seconds
Average speed: 18 mph
Maximum speed: 33 mph
Odometer (at end): 2055.6 miles
If you scroll down a bit below the picture of my tattered neck, you will see I have put the stats and a small report about my birthday adventures. Alas, I did not compile accurate beerstats. On a brighter note, German Pete is finally going to send me my bierdiplom after 2 years and 8 days.
Today I went out for a ride, though my neck felt a little awkward. Kept it to an easy pace and enjoyed the later summer sunshine. Lots of other cyclists about: apparently they were having an event at Alton Water.
Am currently looking after Wilbur, my friends' whippet, who has made quite an impact. Sally is besotted, but he doesn't like her much, owing to her 'not taking no for an answer' attitude. Still, much easier to look after him on the farm rather than in London.
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
lumpyproletariat
It was my birthday on Sunday: I cycled 100 miles to London, had a great lunch and then drank a lot of Belgian beers with my good friends in a fantastic bar in Hackney (I was as surprised as you may be to discover that is not an oxymoron). But, more on that later.
Today I had a 'minor surgical procedure' to remove a disfiguring lump on my neck, under local anaesthetic. Which is currently wearing off, leaving me curled up in a foetal position in front of my laptop, chain-watching Twin Peaks (I got the entire series on DVD for my birthday) and munching paracetemol.
When I was being instructed to lie face down on the operating table, the nurses were discussing something to do with vasectomies, which made me panic that I'd ticked the wrong box on the patient agreement form. Apparently they'd already done two that afternoon. My lump was meant to be a cinch by comparison, but we quickly ran into problems. I felt no pain during the procedure: the anaesthetic injections pricked slightly, but I'm well-used to needles by now from the '05 summer of blood.
Cutting through my notoriously thick skin proved another matter - the surgeon broke a blade on the first effort! When he finally got in, he discovered it wasn't a sebaceous cyst as my GP had predicted but rather a lump of hardened tissue and fat. It was a 'difficult dissection' which means I'm now also on antibiotics to prevent infection. They showed me the lump afterwards: the size of a ping pong ball and covered in bloody goo, lovely. It's been sent to the lab for tests.
Comedy mishearing afterwards - they asked Andrew to come into the recovery room for a cup of tea:
Nurse: 'Are you his dad?'
Andrew: 'What?!?'
Nurse: 'Are you his dad?'
Andrew: 'Oh, I thought you were asking if he was dead.'
More hospital fun tomorrow: am going to the eye department to have my wonky eye looked at again. A new, improved lump-free, non-wonky Ed may soon be a reality.
Today I had a 'minor surgical procedure' to remove a disfiguring lump on my neck, under local anaesthetic. Which is currently wearing off, leaving me curled up in a foetal position in front of my laptop, chain-watching Twin Peaks (I got the entire series on DVD for my birthday) and munching paracetemol.
When I was being instructed to lie face down on the operating table, the nurses were discussing something to do with vasectomies, which made me panic that I'd ticked the wrong box on the patient agreement form. Apparently they'd already done two that afternoon. My lump was meant to be a cinch by comparison, but we quickly ran into problems. I felt no pain during the procedure: the anaesthetic injections pricked slightly, but I'm well-used to needles by now from the '05 summer of blood.
Cutting through my notoriously thick skin proved another matter - the surgeon broke a blade on the first effort! When he finally got in, he discovered it wasn't a sebaceous cyst as my GP had predicted but rather a lump of hardened tissue and fat. It was a 'difficult dissection' which means I'm now also on antibiotics to prevent infection. They showed me the lump afterwards: the size of a ping pong ball and covered in bloody goo, lovely. It's been sent to the lab for tests.
Comedy mishearing afterwards - they asked Andrew to come into the recovery room for a cup of tea:
Nurse: 'Are you his dad?'
Andrew: 'What?!?'
Nurse: 'Are you his dad?'
Andrew: 'Oh, I thought you were asking if he was dead.'
More hospital fun tomorrow: am going to the eye department to have my wonky eye looked at again. A new, improved lump-free, non-wonky Ed may soon be a reality.
Sunday, 14 September 2008
Shotley - Stamford Hill
Bike: Condor
Distance: 99.25 miles
Time: 5 hours 41 minutes 05 seconds
Average speed: 17.5 mph
Maximum speed: 31 mph
Odometer (at end): 2012.3 miles
Got up at 7, which is disgracefully early for a birthday, and ate a large breakfast, opened my presents, and listened to my parents babble on excitedly: it's been ages since they've seen me wake up on birthday. I got some good presents: Twin Peaks box set, trekking boots, some clothes, a book ... after large quantities of coffee and breakfast I set off on my bike into a morning that threatened to be beautiful: still, crisp air and a lot of sunshine.
Made good progress, though I never really pushed hard owing to the presence of an enormous rucksack on my back and maybe the realisation I now have 27 year old knees. A great ride, marred only by the stupidity of others, notably the motorcyclists who use the Essex country roads as a racetrack. I stopped for a coffee at Finchingfield: the cafe had about fifty leather clad bikers and one lycra clad cyclist (me). Still, it was far too pleasant a day to get cross.
Arrived in London just before three, showered, had a great dinner with friends, and then headed to the Dove in Hackney where further friends were waiting! I sampled many many delicious Belgian beers over the course of several very quick hours, thus rehydrating in the best way possible. A great birthday, all told, and was nice to have such a relaxed day.
Headed back for red wine and singing, in preparation for a crushing hangover on Monday morning...
Distance: 99.25 miles
Time: 5 hours 41 minutes 05 seconds
Average speed: 17.5 mph
Maximum speed: 31 mph
Odometer (at end): 2012.3 miles
Got up at 7, which is disgracefully early for a birthday, and ate a large breakfast, opened my presents, and listened to my parents babble on excitedly: it's been ages since they've seen me wake up on birthday. I got some good presents: Twin Peaks box set, trekking boots, some clothes, a book ... after large quantities of coffee and breakfast I set off on my bike into a morning that threatened to be beautiful: still, crisp air and a lot of sunshine.
Made good progress, though I never really pushed hard owing to the presence of an enormous rucksack on my back and maybe the realisation I now have 27 year old knees. A great ride, marred only by the stupidity of others, notably the motorcyclists who use the Essex country roads as a racetrack. I stopped for a coffee at Finchingfield: the cafe had about fifty leather clad bikers and one lycra clad cyclist (me). Still, it was far too pleasant a day to get cross.
Arrived in London just before three, showered, had a great dinner with friends, and then headed to the Dove in Hackney where further friends were waiting! I sampled many many delicious Belgian beers over the course of several very quick hours, thus rehydrating in the best way possible. A great birthday, all told, and was nice to have such a relaxed day.
Headed back for red wine and singing, in preparation for a crushing hangover on Monday morning...
Saturday, 13 September 2008
Shotley - Snape - Shotley
Bike: Condor
Distance: 62.40 miles
Time: 3 hours 22 minutes 06 seconds
Average speed: 18.5 mph
Maximum speed: 33 mph
Odometer (at end): 1913.0 miles
A strange ride: when I set off it was grey and damp in the air, very autumnal, but as the day wore on it got really sunny, and now my arm tanlines are reinvigorated. My legs tanlines are not, because I made the ultimately poor choice of wearing thermal tights. This got increasingly unpleasant as the temperature rose...
Good fun though: lots of people out on bikes as it was the Suffolk Historic Churches sponsored bike ride. I did this with my mum a couple of times when I was small and when we lived in Felixstowe. I recall one particular Saturday because it was my tenth birthday (14 September 1991) and I couldn't wait to stop cycling round churches so that I could play with my present: erm, Mickey Mouse and the Castle of Illusion, a game for the Sega Master System. I remember it had pretty good graphics for an 8-bit machine and the novel feature was the fact you killed enemies by bouncing on them with your arse.
I'm now feeling pretty guilty I didn't do the sponsored bike ride, as I could've covered a lot of churches in 60 miles. I think when me and mum did it, we'd cover about a tenth of that distance, with tea and cake in each church (possibly this is what sowed the seed of future cycling mania).
Cake today at Snape was dry, sadly but the coffee was alright. Everywhere was packed with people, and a nice atmosphere appeared to have settled over the county. Didn't have much zip in my legs, but turning the pedals produced sufficient speed to not feel like I was going backwards.
Anyway, tomorrow I am 27 and will undoubtedly be clocking up a number of miles and perhaps even a number of ales.
Distance: 62.40 miles
Time: 3 hours 22 minutes 06 seconds
Average speed: 18.5 mph
Maximum speed: 33 mph
Odometer (at end): 1913.0 miles
A strange ride: when I set off it was grey and damp in the air, very autumnal, but as the day wore on it got really sunny, and now my arm tanlines are reinvigorated. My legs tanlines are not, because I made the ultimately poor choice of wearing thermal tights. This got increasingly unpleasant as the temperature rose...
Good fun though: lots of people out on bikes as it was the Suffolk Historic Churches sponsored bike ride. I did this with my mum a couple of times when I was small and when we lived in Felixstowe. I recall one particular Saturday because it was my tenth birthday (14 September 1991) and I couldn't wait to stop cycling round churches so that I could play with my present: erm, Mickey Mouse and the Castle of Illusion, a game for the Sega Master System. I remember it had pretty good graphics for an 8-bit machine and the novel feature was the fact you killed enemies by bouncing on them with your arse.
I'm now feeling pretty guilty I didn't do the sponsored bike ride, as I could've covered a lot of churches in 60 miles. I think when me and mum did it, we'd cover about a tenth of that distance, with tea and cake in each church (possibly this is what sowed the seed of future cycling mania).
Cake today at Snape was dry, sadly but the coffee was alright. Everywhere was packed with people, and a nice atmosphere appeared to have settled over the county. Didn't have much zip in my legs, but turning the pedals produced sufficient speed to not feel like I was going backwards.
Anyway, tomorrow I am 27 and will undoubtedly be clocking up a number of miles and perhaps even a number of ales.
Friday, 12 September 2008
Shotley - Freston - Holbrook - Oyster Reach - Shotley - Chelmo - Shotley
Bike: Condor
Distance: 24.78 miles
Time: 1 hours 14 minutes 06 seconds
Average speed: 20.0 mph
Maximum speed: 29 mph
Odometer (at end): 1850.6 miles
A nice tranquil evening for furious pedalling. When I got back to Shotley, saw my parents heading out to the Chinese takeaway at Chelmo, so followed them out and back to get an extra five miles in. Bit my tongue when eating the Chinese though :(
Distance: 24.78 miles
Time: 1 hours 14 minutes 06 seconds
Average speed: 20.0 mph
Maximum speed: 29 mph
Odometer (at end): 1850.6 miles
A nice tranquil evening for furious pedalling. When I got back to Shotley, saw my parents heading out to the Chinese takeaway at Chelmo, so followed them out and back to get an extra five miles in. Bit my tongue when eating the Chinese though :(
no no. no.
Cycling round the country lanes of Suffolk, it may be nice to one day bump into Johnny Depp (who allegedly has a house near Thorpeness) or even Claudia Schiffer who lives in a local mansion.
However, if this story is true, I guess there'll be more discarded needle related punctures than previously.
However, if this story is true, I guess there'll be more discarded needle related punctures than previously.
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Shotley - Freston - Stutton - Freston - Oyster Reach - Shotley
Bike: Condor
Distance: 22.93 miles
Time: 1 hours 09 minutes 50 seconds
Average speed: 19.6 mph
Maximum speed: 31 mph
Odometer (at end): 1824.5 miles
I *have* been out on my bike since the North Hants 25 a few weeks ago, but not much. Tonight was the longest I've done since then, and marks the start of a 'comeback' of sorts for the next month or so - I have 3 more races and a few hillclimbs to get fit for, and then I can relax and get fat over the winter.
This was a nice ride under an ominous, darkening sky. Rode out to the Freston Crossroads, turned towards Holbrook, kept going, raced up Primrose Hill (not that one) at great velocity, and then looped round the old church road in Stutton. Turned back, at the Crossroads headed down Freston Hill, turned at the Oyster Reach and passed a guy going up Freston Hill as if he was standing still, though when I looked behind me he was starting an effort to catch me. Felt pretty good - my average speed was what I maintained for the National 12 hour!!
I've got loads of stuff I *want* to post on the blog: write up my Geneva trip, the national 12 hour time trial, even my trip to Sorrento back in April... I also have two lots of superstats to compile and a number of rides to put up. It's just a question of time/energy - when I get the urge to write at the moment, it is directed towards PhD. Urgency...
Distance: 22.93 miles
Time: 1 hours 09 minutes 50 seconds
Average speed: 19.6 mph
Maximum speed: 31 mph
Odometer (at end): 1824.5 miles
I *have* been out on my bike since the North Hants 25 a few weeks ago, but not much. Tonight was the longest I've done since then, and marks the start of a 'comeback' of sorts for the next month or so - I have 3 more races and a few hillclimbs to get fit for, and then I can relax and get fat over the winter.
This was a nice ride under an ominous, darkening sky. Rode out to the Freston Crossroads, turned towards Holbrook, kept going, raced up Primrose Hill (not that one) at great velocity, and then looped round the old church road in Stutton. Turned back, at the Crossroads headed down Freston Hill, turned at the Oyster Reach and passed a guy going up Freston Hill as if he was standing still, though when I looked behind me he was starting an effort to catch me. Felt pretty good - my average speed was what I maintained for the National 12 hour!!
I've got loads of stuff I *want* to post on the blog: write up my Geneva trip, the national 12 hour time trial, even my trip to Sorrento back in April... I also have two lots of superstats to compile and a number of rides to put up. It's just a question of time/energy - when I get the urge to write at the moment, it is directed towards PhD. Urgency...
Thursday, 4 September 2008
heaven in Helvetica
Much better now, after three and a bit days in the blazing sunshine of Geneva. Probably the best research trip I've been on - though it's hardly up against stiff competition - and certainly the one with the largest amount of melted cheese.
I also now have a United Nations security pass, I shall wear it round the village, pretending to be part of a humanitarian mission to Suffolk.
I am also knackered - I have spent much of the last 9 hours on trains, the only late running service was the 23:00 London to Manningtree...
I also now have a United Nations security pass, I shall wear it round the village, pretending to be part of a humanitarian mission to Suffolk.
I am also knackered - I have spent much of the last 9 hours on trains, the only late running service was the 23:00 London to Manningtree...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
