Last Team Training Ride - Day 1

Guildford - Brighton - Worthing - Portsmouth - Guildford

Tim picked me up about 9pm last night - a bit later than planned. By the time the bikes were loaded onto the roof of his car and Tim had set up his 3G field trial, it was nearly 10pm and we were off. Nice to catch up on the drive round the M25 - I think we are both looking forward to the event being completed now!

Got to Iain's about 11:20pm. Just time for a cup of tea before bed! I am looking forward to an evening with Iain where we can drink a couple of glasses of scotch - maybe on the 3 July at John O'Groats :-)

Up at 6am, breakfast, stretches, getting dressed, waiting for the rest of the team to arrive - all very prompt today and we are off about 7:10am, though I think we woke Jules and the neighbours - oops - sorry!

We set of at a mad pace and were in Horsham before we knew it, glancing at the average speed, we ave been doing over 19mph - way too fast to sustain! Beautiful countryside, quiet roads, and a warm dry morning - couldn't ask for better really!

A few miles outside Brighton and Paul joins me at the front advising how to tackle Devil's Dyke, a two-part hill before a decent into Brighton. His tip was after the first bit there's a small decent - get up as much speed as you can to get most of the way up the next bit! Thanks! Paul also pointed out the white bike half way up, where a cyclist had been killed - as Paul has said before, a reminder to us all of our own mortality. A good climb, but the decent was more enjoyable - dropping into a busy Brighton and a ride along the sea front before a brief pause at 45 miles.

I take a bit of video and a few photos, and text Clare, Teresa and Kate about where we were and that we would be in Worthing later...



Along the coast, stop - start - stop - start, lots of red traffic lights. Not the best for my knee! Through Worthing, I get a text from Teresa saying she, Libby and her Mum are waving madly as we pass!

Next brief stop, just short of Portsmouth, Iain tells us of a climb up hill just before we get to the pub for lunch :-) A great view over Portsmouth from the top and we find The George for lunch! Julie is there with her camera :-)


A good stretch and then Orange Juice and water plus fish and chips - a great combination. We took about an hour over lunch, maybe a bit too long? More stretching before getting back on the bike for the remaining 50+ miles back to Iain's house. Julie follows snapping as we go!

Quite a few short stops on the way back (thanks for the banana cake Julie/Tracey) and the pace was a bit slow at times, but Henry deserves a big round of applause for completing his first 100+ mile ride! 147 miles with an average speed of just under 17mph - a very good ride, and my knee feels fine :-)))


I find out from Iain the Ciaran was not happy at being overtaken going up Jenner road, and that I shouldn't be aloud lunch in future :-)

Ice on the knee, stretches, and a shower before a meal at Simon's and a good briefing for the event itself. Ciaran delighted in telling us all about the hills on each day :-) Hats off to Julie for all the planning that has gone into the event!

In bed for 11pm - we are out at 7am again tomorrow...

More physio...

Back to the physio today - Jim was pleased that my leg had loosened up since last week. Though he still thinks we are mad!

He took a good look at my clonking knee - the knee cap is catching on tight tendons. Hopefully the massage of knee and thigh will continue to improve things! Looking forward to the weekend ride to test it out properly!

Another short ride...

Had a great day out yesterday - from Llanfair Caereinion to Welshpool on a steam train and then an old bus to explore Powis Castle - lots of tea and cakes!

Today we are driving back home, before leaving I manage to get in a short 25 mile ride...

It was drizzly and breezy - not really sure which direction the wind was coming from! Did the ride in 1hr 20mins - 18.5 mph. A good test of the knee. Not too bad, and Clare keep reminding me to do my stretches!

Nan does her bit!

On the way to Wales we pop in to see my Nan where the kids loved exploring her house! My Nan is in her 80s and still goes to a dance class once a week, with the help of Ken and Lynn Graham, they have collected about £75 in support of our event! Thanks to you all for your support!

Further afield...

The knee was a bit tight this morning, but after a good stretch I was ready to get out again.

Having not ventured very far from home yesterday, I decided to do a 30 mile loop today, building things back up slowly. A new route today, to Stansted Abbots via Widford, then back down the A414 to Harlow and back home via Allens Green.

An enjoyable ride, with some good stretches while on the bike. My knee felt a bit stiff later in the day, but not too sore.

I'm off to Wales with the family this weekend to see my parents, I'm taking the bike, but not sure how much riding I'll get in!

A quick test...

After seeing the physio yesterday, my knee was feeling much better, I did my stretches and was out just about 8am. I decided not to cycle too far away from base today - just in case!

It's about 4.5 miles from home along the ring road to the main road from Bishop's Stortford to Sawbridgeworth. Mostly down hill going, and mostly up hill coming back. I decided to just go back and forward a couple of times. The leg and knee felt fine which was a relief!


On returning home, I did my stretches, had a warm shower - blasting cold water on my legs for a couple of minutes, and then went to work.

Good news, I hope!

Having been hobbling around for a few days after the ride last Friday with a sore knee, I went to see the physio yesterday.

Apparently there is a large muscle joining my hip to my knee (?), I forget exactly which one! When this muscle gets tight it pulls on the knee and results in a twisted sensation and discomfort, which pretty much describes what I have been feeling.

After a deep massage of the muscle and some stretching (unfortunately the stretches I was shown I can't do myself!), my thigh felt a bit beaten up, but my knee felt looser - which is good! I can still feel a little discomfort, but the physio recommended that I continue training and have treatement in parallel with the training to keep loosening up the muscle.

I'm going to do a couple of rides before next Wednesday, but nothing too strenuous. And prectise quad stretched "on the bike".

After a ride I need to wrap ice around my knee for 10-15 mins. I should also rub ice in a circular motion over the muscle. After a warm shower after a ride I need to blast cold water on my legs alternating between legs for 30 seconds at a time - sound fun?

I feel more optomistic now, than I did last Friday, that I will now be able to make it to the starting line!

Training Ride - Day 3 - Is anyone out there?

Having spoke to Iain and read his blog entry, it appears that the three riders that made it out yesterday took a tumble on the A31 yesterday. As a result, Iain, Paul and Rich are all a bit sore and Iain and Paul's bikes need some love and care.

I rest my knee and spend the day with the family, we have friends round for coffee after mass, have a lovely Sunday lunch, the children play well together, and Clare and I catch up on last night's Doctor Who!

I contacted James Weatherburn, M.Dip FTST, RSA, LCSP, Sports Massage Therapist and Fitness Consultant (Track 1 Fitness). Recommended by Mark Fraser - thanks Mark. I have an appointment on Wednesday at 5:30pm to review the state of my knee. Hopefully I've not done too much damage and Jim can guide me to the start of the event...

I also plan to sort out my bike this week, new rear cassette, new chain rings, new chain...

Training Ride - Day 2 - Guildford, Brighton, Portsmouth, Guildford

Up at 6am for breakfast. Get my kit on and just after Paul arrives, I take my bike out for a little ride up and down the road. My knee is still a little sore, and it feels tight. After a lot of deliberation, I finally decide not to ride today. 150 miles with a dodgy knee doesn't sound fun for me or fair for the others.

Simon is also suffering today with a red-raw bum! He's changed and ready to go, but as Paul, Iain and Rich head off, Simon decides that it isn't in his bums best interests to cycle again today!

After the boys have gone, I have a cup of tea and a chat to Jules. After getting changed, Jules gives me a lift home, 90 miles to Bishops Stortford - thanks Jules! So today, I get to spend an unexpected day with the family, and watch the FA Cup Final. But I spend most of the day wishing I was on the bike!

Exchanged texts with Iain when they were at lunch in Portsmouth - the had made good time - I hope the rest of their ride was good and I wish them luck tomorrow! They are doing another 120 miles tomorrow. I will sit it out on the sofa...

Training Ride - Day 1 - Bishop's Stortford to Guildford

Today is the first of a three day training weekend. I have deliberately rested my knee all week and hope that it'll be ok for the three days.

Rich is leaving Chesham about 6ish, and cycling towards Bishop's Stortford. I am taking the kids to school and plan to leave about 9:30am, meeting Rich somewhere on the road to Ware. All goes to plan and Rich see's me in the distance just as he is about to head down a steep hill. He stops sharply to avoid having to cycle back up it!

Rich has already done over 50 miles, I've done about 8. It's about 45 miles to Chesham so we have about 37 miles riding together ahead of us.

Rich's wife has an exam today so Rich needs to be back about 12ish to make sure he is around in case the nursey his son attends calls.

I've not riden with Rich before and it was a good experience! We matched each other for pace well and knocked the miles off relatively quickly, especially on the A414 from Hertford to Hatfiled. Rich started to feel more at home as we went through St Albans and Hemel Hempsted, before we takled the climb through Bovingdon and then on to Chesham.

By the time we got to Rich's house - about 12:15pm - Rich was feeling tired (as he has a bit of a cold). We get back just in before his wife heads off to her exam.

Rich feeds us with tea and toast and I refill my bottles. We wait for Iain, Paul and Simon to turn up (they had left Guildford about 9:30am), and were cycling up about 45 miles. They arrive, more tea and toast, a chat and some bottle refilling. It's nearly 1:30pm before we leave, somewhat later than planned.

We had stopped long enough to rekindle the recent debate over the optimal length of stop on the ride itself. I'm staying out of the discussion for now!

We set off, cold - clothes are wet and it isn't warm today, down the hill to Chesham and then up some nice back roads to Amersham (much nicer than the route I took late time I cycled to Guildford).

There an almost vertical hill going out of Amersham towards Beaconsfield (with a crawler lane). Iain's chain came of, Paul cycled into the back of him and ended up with his face in close contact with the tarmac. I think Paul was very concious that it was a busy road and needed to get out of the road! I stopped to check Paul was ok, Simon just kept going up the hill. We got going again, and near the top, my chain came off too - luckily there was no-one behind me!

We stopped for a snack about 3pm. I checked my chain because it had been slipping a bit during the ride. One of the links was on its way out. We phoned Cycle Workshop in Guilodford and let them know that we would be popping in later and asked a favour to see if they could have a look at it!

We set off for the last 20 miles, but with about 8 miles to know, I pulled away from a roundabout quickly and my knee suddenly felt a lot worse. I couldn't put any pressure down with my left leg without it hurting.

So, my right thigh gets a good workout and carries me to the cycle shop. Simon headed off to get his car and agreed to pick me up from the shop. Iain literally pushed me up a few hills on the way to the shop - many thanks! We've just done 90 miles as we turn in to the shop. Iain and Paul head off back to Iain's for a stretch and a massage!

I get a Power Link in the chain and it appears to be ok, but the chain, rear cassette, and chain rings are not in good condition, so I'm looking at some repairs in the next week or so...

Simon, picks me up, offering me his salty nuts, thanks, I think! Back at Iain's I get me massage, a stretch instruction - extremely useful! Have a lovely hot bath and relax. My knee is sore, I'll sleep on it and see how it is in the morning.

New wheels

Took the bike to Marshalls this afternoon - they put the new wheel on while I had a coffee. The new wheels are black, silver and red so match the bike well!

Thanks Jackie!

Called Jackie at Beyond Mountain Bikes who called Specialized to order my new wheels. They are being delivered to Marshalls in Hertford tomorrow. Luckily I can work from home!

Sunday sun and BBQs!

Agreed to start off about 7ish this morning and meet Tim between Stortford and Saffron Walden. Took the first few miles easy, and so did Tim. We decided to head out towards Dunmow, I suggest going out via Stansted Mountfitchet. There's a reasonably long climb out of Stansted towards the airport that I think surprised Tim a bit!

I could vaguely remember a road running parallel to the A120 that cut a bit of a corner, but after a trip around the airport service roads we realised I'd taken the wrong road. We tried the next road and ended up at the terminal building and had to carry bikes over a footbridge to find a way out of the airport complex - sorry Tim - no more "short cuts" I promise!

As we leave the airport we cut out Dunmow and head towards Thaxted, Tim swallows his first wee beastie of the summer - yuk!

A good pace back to Tim's house, where I leave him to take the boys to Rugby about 9:30am. Off towards Barley on the reverse of yesterdays route, and overtook a cyclist going up the hill towards Barkway. As I get to Hare St, Clare calls and asks if I want to go to a BBQ! I agree to get back for midday cutting my ride short a bit, but I still manage 73 miles in less than 5 hours with a couple of short stops.

Knees feel better - but still a bit sore.

Must remember to sort out new wheels!

Back out with Tim again...

It's a strange feeling getting up at 5:30am, having breakfast, and then rubbing suncream into your face and legs before the is really much sign of sun or heat! But the weather forecast for this weekend if for hot weather!

I need to be back home for 9:30am today as I need to take Joe to footy. Clare is taking Isobel to piano and ballet before she goes to the school to start painting faces at the May Fair. I'll be taking the kids along later after ballet...

Anyway, I set out at about ten past six with a plan of doing about 30 miles before meeting Tim at eight. I headed out up the A120 towards Standon, but took a right via Braughing before heading up along B roads to Hare Street, Barkway and Barley. A climb to Great Chiswell and a long gradual decent down into Wendens Loft.

It was only about 7:35 when I reached the old A11 and headed to Audley End House before turning back to Saffron Walden. It wast 7:45, so I headed out of Saffron Walden on a road I know has a couple of hills, turned round and did them again the other way! Arrived at Tim's after 30 miles at 8, he was just getting his bike out - perfect timing.

We headed out towards Thaxted, again this route is getting quite familiar. At Thaxted we turn right towards Stansted Mountfitchet. The road is quite hilly in places, again no long climbs, but some short sharp steep ones! My knees were hurting a bit so I had to take it easy for a bit slowing Tim down.

Up the hill in Stansted, past the end of the road where Clare and I used to live when we first moved to the area and on to Stortford. I sadisticly turn right up Lindsey Road (Stortford's equivalent to Jenner Road, and the up Cricketfield Lane, before heading home.

53 miles in just over 3 hourswith a bit of a stop at Tim's house. A good ride, though my knees are sore.

It's not that bad...

Picked my bike up this afternoon. The rear cogs were not damaged, they they are just designed that way to help pick up the chain changing gear. The shop have managed to find a spoke that they could fit to the bike, but they recommended that I get in touch with specialized about getting a replacement wheel. I'll do that tomorrow.

Took the bike for a short 18 mile ride just to get some confidence in the bike before I go out tomorrow morning. Did the 18 miles in less than an hour, so an average speed of over 18 mph.

Looking forward to the ride tomorroe, though I need to be back home between 9-9:30am, so I'm hoping to do about 50 miles to add to the 74 miles done som far this week. That leaves me planning to do a 100+ mile ride on Sunday...

My bike's in a mess!

After most of the day on London, I returned home early and phoned the workshop to find out if my bike was ready to pick up. It wasn't.

Five teeth, one on each of five rear cogs were damaged, in turn damaging the chain. Specialized don't sell spare spokes for my wheel, though they have offered to reaplce the wheel with a different one for free as the bike is less than two years old. Not too sure how to go about this - will investigate tomorrow.

Hopefully parts will arrive tomorrow and it'll all be fixed and cleaned so I can ride at the weekend.

So given that I've only done 20 miles this week so far I adjusted the height of the saddle, shifted it back a bit and set off about 6:35pm for a ride. I did the Dunmow, Rodings, Hatfield Heath, Harlow, home loop - about 36 miles and was home about 8:50pm. Not bad going on the heavy bike!

There was a time trial event on the B184 between Dunmow and Leaden Roding - they were going very fast! But fortunaltely in the opposite direction :-)

My left knee started to complain again after about 25 miles. Maybe more seat adjustment required, though I think it is just my joints grinding! So I've finally decided to start taking those tablets. I was a bit worried about the number of tables and the RDA doses on them, which is why I haven't taken them to date, but maybe the contents of some of them will help lubriate my joints!

Been trying to sort out rides with Tim for the weekend - we are a bit out of synch at the moment. Tim can do all day Saturday, I can't! I can do all day Sunday, Tim can't! Though I think we will be able to meet up both days for a few miles together!

Fingers crossed - the bike will be ok tomorrow, plan to do a few miles tomorrow night to make sure it's up to 50-60 miles on Saturday morning. I don't think Clare will want a repeat of last Sunday!!

Re-acquaintance...

After svereal months of riding on my new bike, I am back on the bike Laurence kindly leant to me at the start of my traininf for LEJOG.

Having got up at 5:45am, I was out of the house about 6:15am for a 20 mile loop before driving to Basildon by 9am.

An interesting start, clipped into one pedal, and failed to clip in to the other pedal and fell off sideways having done 2 yards! I got back on and cycled up the road in the lowest gear, trying to change up a gear had no effect. 20 yards gone, off the bike to inspect! The gear cable was loose, after a little adjustment it started working again :-)

Off we go! I stick to the the standard training circuit this morning - not got time to think about doing anything else. It was interesting doing the ride on the heavier bike, made me realise just how much easier things are on the Roubaix. Though the advantage of a heavier bike is that you have more momentum after going down hill!

The saddle feels a bit lower and further forward and the riding position is more upright than I've got used to. I guess a combination of these factors conbrituted to my left knee complaining a bit. Hopefully this is not a long term problem! I will adjust the saddle before going out again tomorrow morning.

20 miles done in about an hour, so I'm quite pleased to have done some miles with the Roubaix in the workshop again...

Switching bikes...

The bike is back in the shop having the spoke fixed, wheel straightened and creaking investigated. Hopefully they will do a full service on the bike this time too - something they didn't do last time!

I am going to try and get our on Lawrences bike later today - I have switched the pedals back to his bike, so hopefully I'll have no problems!

Back to the bike shop

Working from home this morning, so I get the chance to take the bike back to the workshop and hopefully they will be able to sort something out. I'm going to take the pedals off so I can ride Lawrence's bike this week, until I get mine back. Hopefully before Friday.

7 rings...

After going to bed past midnight, 5:40am feels very early! By the time I've got everything sorted out I'm out of the house before 6:30am and heading off towards Great Dunmow.

My legs are heavy this morning, but I plod on assuming it'll get better once I've done a few miles. It usually does! It's trying to rain this morning, but I think the sun is going to win that battle today.

As I cycle through Takely, I hear and feel what feels like a stone hitting my rear wheel. There are no cars or people about, so I can't really make sense of it. I carry on and a couple of miles later I hear something rubbing on the rear brake blocks. I stop to take a look, a bit annoyed at having to stop after just 10 miles, and realise that a spoke has popped out and my wheel is now somewhat out of shape.

It's 7:05am. Not really sure what to do! I have no idea how to fix it, or even if I should be able to fix it!

I call home, no answer, leave a message. I call home again, and again, and again. After 7 attempts I manage to wake Clare and she drowsily answers the phone. I explain the situation. I suggest she gets herself and the kids ready for mass and then bring me some clothes and pick me up.

Clare turns up about 8:30am, we load the bike into the car, I get changed, and we head back to Stortford (via home to pick up some shoes!). We make it in time for 9am mass, the kids were great this morning!

After mass we tidy the house and car before Granny and Grandad arrive. Head out to the Ballet Show where Isobel and Amy were superb! I have to admit, that as it was the last day of the Championship football season and the Owls could still go dow, I did spend time during the performances checking the scores. To my relief, by the end of the show, Wednesday were safe, and Leicester were relegated.

Nothing planned tomorrow, other than spending time with the family. I got a text from Tim saying he had done 65 miles today - I'm very jealous!

Another 100 up!

Having spent time last night getting bottles ready, hydration backpack ready and recovery drink ready, I feel unusually prepared this morning! Three weetabix and some toast and some sun cream before I leave the house at around 6:20am.

Today's plan is to meet up with Tim and do about 100 miles - not sure how much of that Tim is going to do - guess it depends on how his ankle is feeling.

I head off up towards Newport where we usually meet. Tim , however was out earlier than me and had headed north for a while before returning south. Even with a few extra miles under his belt he managed to get back down to Ugley pretty quick, where we pass each other almost without realising (both of us wearing different kit to usual!).

Tim needs to get back to Saffron Walden by 8:30am to take Josh to footy, so we adjust our planned route and head off back towards Bishops Stortford and then out east to Great Dunmow on the old A120 (a good quality, quite road). Its a lovely morning - clear, warm, sunny. My bike, however, is still creaking. We debate whether it is the saddle for a while, but as it still creaks when I'm out of the saddle I pass on that idea for now!

At Great Dunmow we head north up to Thaxted, a great route, a couple of little hills (nothing like what the guys from Guildford are tackling every week though), and we make good time. Tim takes me on his training circuit round Wimbish Green and Radwinter and we make it back to Tim's house for 8:29am! I gratefully make use of the conveniences, munch an enery bar (after 35 miles) and then head off for the rest of the ride on my own.

I head out of Saffron Walden over the hill to the London Road and then headed out to Great Chrishall and Barley - taking last week's route in reverse. I then head south to Hare Street and Buntingford before re-joining bust A10 towards Puckeridge.

There was a nasty accident on the roundabout joining the A10 to the A120, someone had ploughed straight through the roundabout and had a nasty head injury. There was plently of people around who has stopped to help, so I just carried on down the old A10 towards Collier's End. A short climb at Wadesmill before a gentle decent into Ware.

I decide to take a slight detour at this point and head out to Hertford before returning to the A10 and the A414 to Harlow - a good run on dual carriageway, but against the wind today, so not as fast as usual!

I stop for a rest after 78 miles near High Wych, exchange texts with Clare who is with Joe at footy, and then head of on what I think will be about 22 miles back home on my usual training circuit Harlow, Hatfield Heath (I stopped again briefly for a sandwich - my stomach was rumbling and it was past midday!), Hatfield Broad Oak, Takely and back to Stortford round the A120 by-pass.

I get a call from Clare 1.5 miles from home letting me know she and the kids are down by the river. I finish my ride (99.5 miles, I'm calling it 100!), put my bike away, shower, make some lunch and head off out to the park to meet the family.

We are out this evening at Rachel and Kevin's, and I hope to do another ride tomorrow morning. I plan to leave early and do about 50 miles before getting back to get things ready for Amy and Isobel's Ballet Show in Haverhill in the afternoon.

Still creaking...

Got my bike back today, but it is still creaking. The work they did at the shop obviously didn't solve the problem. I will now have to go back and get it sorted out next week. I have new tyres on the bike and I'll live with the creaking for my ride tomorrow. Got some new cleats to as the last pair have finally worn out...

Service Interruption

I called the bike shop this morning and they hadn't done my bike yet. They didn't fill me with confidence that the bike was going to be coming back to me before this weekend in good working order. Hopefully they will look at it today and have whatever parts they need - though as they are not a Specialized dealer I'm a little worried!

I am also aware that I don't really know how best to keep my bike in good condition! What tools and cleaning materials should I be using? Advise welcome!