Mixed bag of Weather at Half Term

Steve's week so far
It's been quite a frustrating week in terms of planned training rides. Planned to get out with a few lads from the club on a decent ride on Tuesday so got up early. Opened the curtains and watched hail and sleet fall, messing up those plans.
Wednesday was a very mixed day of frost, fog, then rain and a bit of sun creeping out too. Managed to get a swift 24 miles in with a few climbs thrown in for good measure.
Thursday was a case of grabbing a window between the showers and Kev joined me too. Did a few hours and got 36 miles in, before the heavens really opened.
Today is stuck in catching up on school planning and preparation for Monday.
A silly early Sky Kick off will mess up any chances of a longer ride tomorrow, which leaves a Sunday club run. Here's hoping for decent weather Sunday morning.

Advice

Kev and I met up with Mick freeman tonight (who's done the end to end). I have met Mick via H Middleton CC and was out on Sunday's club ride with him. Mick has given us lots of invaluable advice and information for our ride. We now feel that we can proceed with making detailed plans re route (most importantly), accomodation, kit, does and donts. He has also loaned us a few great books, spreadsheets etc..... Mick is a true gentleman, an absolute star and we shall thank him with beer when we get an opportunity.
Now we can really get going now.

Blow Out!!!!!

Blow out


(Kev's Post) Got up early this morning, braved the fog and ice, met Steve and headed down into Ormskirk to meet up with H Middleton C C for my first time out with the Club. Really enjoyed the ride, met some really nice people and got some great advice about our LeJog ride, (many thanks to Mick Freeman) also got my first 50 + miler in.
Not long into the ride I heard a loud bang in front of me, I thought someone had been shot!! One of the lads had a blow out, he had to call his wife for a lift back home. That’s what you get when you don’t spend Valentines Day with your loved One!!!
Ill be definitely getting out with the Club again soon.

Kev Makes Debut on Club Run

(Steve here) Wonderful to get Kev out with the H Middleton CC today and another varied and interesting route. The Garmin Sat Nav went a bit mad on a few occasions and we ended up doing a U turn, but it was worth it (I would never have found the route we did without GPS). Out to Ashurt Beacon, Dalton, Apply Bridge, Shevington, Standish, then off towards Winter Hill direction, Chorley, Eccleston, Mawdsley and the cafe in Rufford. Probably missed lots of places, but clocked another 50 mile +. When we hit the 50 mark Kev gave our old 'MASSIVE' shout (he got there for his first). Great thing about today was all the great and varied people in the group. Met Mick Freeman (who I was beginning to think didn't exist)at last (who's an End 2 End rider) and will meet up with him this week to pick his brains a bit more and then Kev and I will set our route. Accomodation etc.... will follow. I felt great today, despite waking up at 4.30am with a painful shoulder blade and had to soak in a hot bath an hour before the ride. Legs felt like they could do another 10 miles +. With a week off school ahead I'm already planning training rides and hopefully a few longer back to back rides.

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FOG

Steve and I (Kev) had a nice early start Saturday Morning (6th) so we could get back for the Derby. Great result, sorry Steve! We did a quick 27 miles, with Hunters Hill thrown in for good measure, I think Steve got us both lost, searching for Hunters Hill, he has an excuse though, thick *og (sorry about the F in Fog!!)

Didn't want to get up too early Sunday, Steve was going out with Matty`s Club they were on the road for 9am. I did a solo 46 miles, wanted to get my first 50 miler into the legs, but a really bad back put paid to that, I was in that much pain I couldn't even manage another 4 miles. Going to have to change the way I ride I think! Must get advise.

I must get out with the Club more often, Its pretty boring riding on you own, no one to push you and no slip stream to hide in when your knackered lol

Heavily dependent on Calories

Well Lee, this cycling asks lots of questions and puts many strains on the body. Proper eating is essential and frequent refuelling during the longer rides should include energy bars (or malt loaf, Jelly Babies a banana etc...), two water bottles (bidons to continue your French theme) and then there's the importance of carrying cash for a cafe stop. If you want advice of which cakes to select then call me, after all I am our rides 'fat' cyclist. Just ask your dad, who has taken on the role of being my dietitian in our preparations!

Take the other Saturday, Kev had a total hunger knock after about 1.5 hours of riding. I had to give him my energy bar, which he immediately shoved whole, into his mouth. Looking back I got an image of a rabid dog, with bits of power bar sticking out on either side. Twenty minutes later he was ordering up a selection of sugar hit deserts in the cafe.

Was disappointed to find that you had told your TV buddies (Davina, Fern and David Walliams to name but a few) about good bikes for their Sports Relief end to end challenge. At least you only put them onto my Winter training machine!

Are we sure we are doing the right thing?

So I (Lee) went out again this weekend on my lonesome. Yes Billy no mates, but I did run into some guys from Dulwhich Paragon and so I'm going to take the plunge this Saturday and meet up with the 60 or so riders for my first group outing.....baby dependent of course.

This weekend I made the mistake of thinking I would go a long way from home therefore making sure that the return journey would build up the miles. So I headed out of London and into Kent, through lots of little villages, past a bloke with I shot JR on his T shirt before finally coming to rest at a little cafe called Rendevous.....surely I haven't crossed the channel and therefore in France but no I was still in Kent on a wet Sunday. 1/2 hour later I'm making my way back when I realise perhaps I should have taken something to eat. 3 hours into the ride and I'm a goner. I can hardly peddle. Idiot or what, even after I've been told the importance of fuel all I've had is a little snack bar and some water. The last few miles were torture, so lesson learned for next week when I'm out with the proper cyclists.

Weather has allowed back to back ride weekend up North

Afraid I opted for (not demoted to, may I add) the B riders route today. Went out with a totally different bunch of lads from H Middleton CC than on the Chipping run the other week. Great bunch of lads again today and a superb route (Thanks for leading it Mike and Steve Diesel). Was a bit lumpy and tough in parts and managed to step the average speed up a bit (despite the climbs). It's amazing how many riders I saw out today, several clubs and lots of small groups. Weather was a bit chilly and patches of fog at the start of the ride, but it warmed up and cleared. There were several very interesting bikes parked outside the cafe today, collectors items, some sort of vintage bike club. Either that or the service was so slow that they had been waiting there for over 100 years! Will post the old bike pics on once I have taken them off my phone. Pleased to clock 50.6 miles (note the 0.6 Lee) and a most enjoyable ride.
Went out with Kev for a swift 25 yesterday, 'pea souper' and so bad in places that I took a few wrong turnings due to the poor visibility (that's my excuse anyway). I actually had my first spill climbing Hunters Hill (it was not as a result of exhastion, although I was zig zagging a bit), hit a patch of ice and my front wheel went for pies. Managed to get my feet out and save my bike getting scuffed, but laddered my tights. Now I know how frustrating it must be for women. We stepped on it coming bak so we could get back for the Derby. Don't know why we bothered!!!! Once Fellaini was kicked off the park we lost our control of midfield and never really got going again. I reckon the Fat Spanish Waiter will keep his job, which is good news for us blues. Long may Rafa reign!

Saturday 30th January but not 31st

Got out with Kev on a beautiful day and decided on a nice flat route. Headed off and within 2 miles Kev had a flat. Call for Bicycle Repair Man!!!! I got my hands dirty and after a 10min pit stop we were off again, chased by a stray dog. Lost the dog and headed out towards Woodvale Airfield and left onto the Southport Coast road with a slight headwind. Put the hammer down for about 8 miles of coastal route. It's amazing how much we anger drivers, who beep horns, shout abuse etc...... It must be a nightmare having to steer half a metre to overtake a bike. They all seem very brave, protected by a metal box. It's always interesting when we catch up as the lights go against them. Kev had a hunger attack at the back of Tarelton and I provided an energy bar to refuel him for a while. Clocked a 44 mile ride and the average speed is creeping up.

I fully intended getting out with the H Middleton CC lads today (Sunday), but the sudden, heavy downpour of snow put paid to those plans.

It's a week of work in the gym to try and compensate for todays no ride.

Have planned a training weekend in sunny Milton Keynes on 27th and 28th Feb with our mate Darren Oldroyd. We will join up with his end 2 end riders from MK Dons and head off to the Brick Hills and the Chilterns. Lee is also planning to escape the smog of London and join us for a ride and photo opportunity. Should be a good weekend.

Living on the Moon

After Steve and Lee`s great efforts at the weekend, thought I`d get out on the bike on my own today. Managed to do 35 miles, tried to get my average speed up, but the wind today was a pain, really felt the headwind today.

Just like thank the other solo rider who stopped to see if I needed assistance, had a flat, luckily it wasn't a puncture. The nice gent was from Skelmersdale, we had a chat about the state of the roads after the snow and ice, pot holes all over the place. Didn`t get his name. Wished me luck with The End to End Ride and then he was on his way.

St Andrews

I managed to escape the rat race last weekend and spent a bit of time in Scotland. I was invited up to stay with my Friends Phil Cochran and his lovely Girlfriend Joanna Sutherland.

On the Friday Phil and I jumped on a couple of mountain bikes, left Tayport and headed for St. Andrews, not too far, only 20 miles round trip but really nice ride all the same.
We went via Leuchars, which has a RAF Base, Tornadoes taking off, deafening!
Had a ride around the 18th green at St Andrews, very posh. Then we had a nice lunch in the town and then headed back home.
On the Saturday evening Joanna put on fantastic spread to celebrate Burns Night

Then Sunday, the 3 of us went Clay Pigeon Shooting. Great fun.

2 Baths still doesn't ease the legs

STEVE'S RIDE, SUNDAY 24TH JANUARY

Was without my training buddy today, Kev's popped up to chilly Jockoland for a bit of r and r. So I decided to get out with Matty and the Middletons CC. What a stupid idea that was! I knew they were planning on a big ride out to Chipping, but still went for it. Big group (30+ riders)outside the shop at 9am. Set off at a good pace (18-20 mph) all the way to Preston. Those that didn't fancy it turned off and headed back to the Rufford cafe. I had a mad moment, probably becuase Matty asked me, and headed off with 20 odd towards Chipping, taking in Longridge Fell and Jeffrey Hill on route to the cafe. I was dropped, but Matt (cheers mate) hung back to show me the way. Could barely climb the stairs in the cafe and had white floaters in front of my eyes, I was totally gone!!!!! Grabbed a gel sachet and an energy bar before the food and tea came. It was running through my head how I was going to get back from The Trough of Boland by myself (that is once I was dropped outside the cafe). Make it to Preston and jump a train (lad told me they don't run on a Sunday!!!!), call Banner and get a taxi, call our Janette (no way she would find Tarleton, never mind Preston). But I managed to stay sat in the bunch all the way until Rufford. Trundled back home alone in heavy rain. In fact it rained all ride and I still kept my cape in my spare bottle. This was Matty's A riders, many competative and younger than me. They are a good bunch of fellas and I had several useful conversations (when I had enough energy) with riders about the end to end ride, some good advice. I think it will be a case of finding his B group for a few weeks now though as I'm still light headed now. Thinking of trying a third soak in the bath now, as I can barely stand up. Great effort by Lee today, keep it up mate. Don't want to sound like 'one up manship', it's never about that, but 4hrs 43mins, 74 miles clocked today. Oh and I managed to get out and turn in 20 miles in yesterday's fog before I went to the match. 94 miles in a weekend, the miles are mounting up. Not back from the 'fat cyclist'. (Pics Jeffrey Hill and Longridge Fell) I'm off for bath 3 and then bed.

The only way to get used to riding a long way is to ride a long way......

Lee's ride down south Sunday 24th January.

As my old fella said last week....35 miles isn't enough.......so I've been out this morning for a 50 miler, which has frankly done me in. My legs are like lead weights and my shoulders feel like I'm giving our kid a piggy back....but 50 miles nevertheless. (well 48) Had some problems with gears today, don't know why, they just wouldn't respond...need to have a look. Other than that all good down south. Apart from me and El still not agreeing on the name of the one yet to arrive.......

Oh what a lovely day, apart from the hangover

Never go for a ride with a hangover...not sure who said that but they are rght.

So I got out this morning with Mr Peter Ratcliffe, a friend of mine from the deep south. We actually went out for dinner last night with El and Lotte (Pete's partner) and probably had too much to drink, well we did, well I did...and I paid for it. I'd like to think that the reason Pete had to keep waiting for me was because I was tired from last weeks work load but in reality work can't really be blamed considering I mostly sit on my arse..........and it was my legs not capable of pedaling rather than my arse. Anyway about 35 miles done with a hangover, not good enough, I know this. My dad has even just called me to say the same thing....like thanks dad.....so I need to do better, go further, ride longer........and stop drinking the night before.

Out at Last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The thaw happened and we (Kev and Steve) got out for a while today. A really tough ride with slight crosswinds on the way out. Think it was tough because of the inactivity regarding riding during the big freeze. Got another 40 mile in (actually 40.02) and thought that we were doing okay until I got home and looked up a club we were in the cafe stop with (West Pennine). These blokes had ridden out from Rochdale, while Kev and I were spitting distance from home. If the weather holds up it's going to have to be more miles next week, a bigger ride with some decent climbs too. Will have to up the average speeds too, don't think Team Sky will be looking over their shoulders at the moment.
Wonder if the Opera Impresario got out for a ride today? Taking it that London has experienced a thaw too.
A week on the treadmill for me (feeling like a hamster in its wheel) and Kev should get out for some runs if the weather stays decent.

Its grim up North!

Well done Lee, its so frustrating not being able to get the bike out. Its been a week now since I managed to get out on it.
Regarless of the weather, Im going to get out running again tomorrow.

Competition from the Southern Softy (maybe not so soft)

Fair play Lee. Great effort today!

I will stop emailling my training spreadsheet to you, it's making you as paraniod as when my Australian girlfriend was stalking you.

It's still far too bad to get out on the roads here. London gritters must work longer hours than up here (mind you, your council tax bill is higher).

Kev's climbing the walls, itching to get some training in and I have been spinning endlessly on the turbo trainer, without getting anywhere far. I'm beginning to feel like a hamster in a wheel. Plus the neighbours will start to complain soon with the noise the fan is creating. I should think about connecting the flywheel up to some sort of generator, I could power up the whole cul de sac. I'm off to spin some more now that I have found out that you are catching up.

Hurry up and thaw!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve

it's so cold.....

.....but I still managed to get out thismorning, although had to take a rucksack with me with dry clothes just in case I fell into a frozen ditch, or more likely, into the Thames. Went up and down and then up and down again the big hill at Crystal Palace. Peope looked at me as if to say 'Hey soft lad, what you doing out in this weather?' To which my look said 'two blokes 300 miles from here are probably out and so I have to'.......