68 Days to Go: Uphill Struggle

It's been a funny old week, pleased with my efforts considering that I am coming back from illness, but a bit freaked out that all is not going to plan.  Conjuring up images of Wonder Woman I thought I had fought a virus off in record time last week and went out for a normal training ride on "Ash Wednesday" (i.e. the days the planes stopped flying).  Unfortunately the next day I woke up with a chest infection and feeling rough again.  I realise now that the virus was not out of my system.  For once I listened to my body and completely rested.  Last Monday I was back into it.  Did a ride tempo ride after work and, although I didn't feel 100% on the bike, my recovery was normal. 

Wednesday night I linked up all the hills in the Bathgate Alpes to focus on getting my climbing muscles into shape.  600 metres of climbing and loved every minute of it!  Great, I thought, 2 days to recover until Saturday's long ride.

So yesterday came the shocking realisation that I am not Wonder Woman.  My plan was to do 85 miles in the Scottish Borders. I didn't feel particularly strong from the off and had to admit I wasn't enjoying the first stretch.  I felt knackered and looked that computer and realised I had only completed 10 miles.  Pulling myself together I took in the scenery, felt the warmth of the sunshine and tried to feel a bit more positive.  I had just began feeling a bit happier when some stupid woman let her ankle biting mutt chase my bike.  She just looked at me like a gormless idiot while I yelled at her dog to get away.  Well at least it got my speed up but didn't put me in a good frame of mind.

Then I got overtaken by someone!!! I must apologise to the poor guy who went passed just as I was clearing my nose on the roadside (and probably him - oops!). Not very ladylike I know but he didn't seem phased by it (but oddly took off pretty quick after saying hello).  I continued my battle of the wills and made a deal that if I got to Clovenfords with an average speed over more than 22 kph and an average HR less than 140 I would do the planned 85 miles.  However, as I struggled over the last small climb I realised that I was not being sensible.  If someone else was looking at the situation objectively I would be advised to not over do it as I would just pay in the long run. Plan B - stop for a coffee at Clovenfords and cut the ride short.

So I went all continental and stopped for a latte in the sun.  It was so nice to sit in the sun, in a short sleeve top and feel warm.  I felt a lot happier after deciding to do the shorter route.  Buoyed by my dose of caffeine I headed off to Innerleithen. Another impromptu speed session happened when I caught up with a bunch of mountain bikers at the lights for a single lane bridge.  As they pulled out in front of me I had no choice but to go on the outside of them to avoid a collision. I caught the lights as they changed and sped off from the lights, but one of the guys took umbrage and kept on my tail.  I always treat this section as a bit of a time trial effort as it is dead flat, so wasn't really trying to race him, honestly!  OK maybe I was racing him just a little bit. But near the end I was definitely racing him and left him for dead!!!

Back on the continental theme. I was in the Pyrenees last year and stayed at this weird village that had life size puppets everywhere.  Well when I pulled up to take off a layer in Innerleithen I was reminded of that village when I saw this lot looking out of the window.

That just left the final climb to get back to the starting point. And what a climb it was!  Beautiful constant gradient for the first 30 minutes, then a drop of 50 or so metres and then it's up again for another 15 minutes before the best descent ever.  So managed 50 miles, 1050 metres of climbing.  I had done what the books say which is to pick up where you left off when coming back from illness.  I hope I have made the right decision and will catch up with the training plan in the next few weeks. And I leave you with this image of my alter ego....

82 Days to Go: Down the garden path

A frustrating week as I have been fighting off another virus!  Two days out of the office, one of them spent in bed, so of course not much time on the bike. This weekend I have spent more time "relaxing" in the garden than on the bike. I have been extremely sensible and have been out for a very gentle 20 miles today, just to enjoy this lovely weather.  My biggest worry is that this disruption is down to overtraining, but to be honest I have been through it before and it doesn't feel the same.  Today, while I felt a bit weary, I didn't have those heavy legs that you get from overtraining, and I was desperate to get out on the bike (with overtraining I just lose interest in cycling).  I think it is just bad luck.

As a result of too much time on my hands I have now convinced myself that I want to buy some decent wheels. After much research I have my heart set on the Shimano Dura Ace CLs.  Unfortunately these cost over £500 (at a reasonable discount), which I am struggling to justify. Firstly, I have managed with my Mavic Askiums for a long time now, and they are not much heavier. Will I really notice the difference of the highly rated, highly priced Dura Ace?  Secondly, there is the opportunity cost.  All those things I could spend the £500+ on, a week's training in the alps, the new laptop that I desperately need, etc, etc.

So then I got thinking wouldn't it be great if you got a tax break on sports equipment.  Now I know that there is the cycle to work scheme, but come on I can't justify a set of racing wheels. Besides my workplace is home so a bit difficult to explain that one.  While the cycle to work scheme is fantastic, there is no "run to work scheme" or a "climb munroes on the weekend, to keep you fit for work scheme".  It would be too difficult to give people tax breaks for keeping fit, as how do you prove that unless you are monitoring gym visits or carrying out regular fitness tests.  So the answer is.... NO VAT ON SPORTING GOODS!!!!  I mean it makes sense.  Save 17.5% on the kit you want need for your chosen sport.  Plus you can import goods from the States and not have to pay customs charges (a real gripe of mine trying to source women's cycling tops - the USA have a much bigger range).  You can keep your tax breaks for married couples. Any party that comes up with that promise to remove VAT on sporting goods will have my vote.

88 Days to Go: Girl Interrupted

The change of seasons has bought the inevitable next round of bugs in the office.  The symphony of racking coughs is enough to put the wind up anyone in training, and sure enough I spent last weekend fighting off a virus.  Luckily this only resulted in a couple of days of feeling like crap and then I was back to normal by Monday.  So no long rides for me last weekend.  Oh and then that lovely white stuff made a reappearance three days after "British Summer Time" began.  I had the summer bike service last weekend and was really excited at the prospect of getting back into training after work.  But Monday night saw the summer bike firmly back on the turbo.

Managed 3 rides in 3 days this Easter Weekend.  Friday was a 33 mile local ride over the Lang Wang.  About five minutes into the ride I caught up with a local lady and, as we were planning to do the same route and were fairly evenly paced, we rode together. While the roadside was shoulder high with snow in places the roads were passable. Woolford cottages, which is not normally much to look at, looked like a picture postcard winter scene. With the lovely spring sunshine, and good company, it all made for fantastic riding. 

Saturday was an unplanned speed session as I needed to pick up my car from a workshop before it shut.  With about 90 minutes notice, the ride taking about an hour, and not being ready to go it was the fastest I had ridden in awhile.  Made with about 5 minutes to spare. 

So yesterday was the long ride with some long climbs.

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/gb/borders/426127046401722629

The forecast was for 100% cloud and 0.1mm rain, which usually means no rain or at the most light drizzle.  But when we arrived at the starting point it was freezing cold and raining.  Now I have to confess I am most definitely a fair weather rider so this was a test of my commitment to La Marmotte.  I put on all the layers that I had, gritted my teeth and got on with the task in hand.  The first climb was the most miserable experience on my summer bike ever!  Absolutely soaked legs, cold and poor visibility due to my cycling glasses being clogged up with rain.  But then once over the top I could see sunshine in Innerleithen.  Yipeee!!!  Rewarded for my efforts at last!  For the next hour or so it was lovely dry roads and a fairly easy run, albeit I was still cold. 

Once I turned back into the wind though, for the stretch between Clovenfords and Innerleithen, it was a struggle.  I felt so slow I thought I was back on the winter bike and every hill seemed like a challenge.  I really wondered if I had the mental strength to get back over the last climb.  I stopped for five minutes and ate another bar.  Well, after that I was flying and hardly felt the last long climb!  Wondered what all the fuss was about.  Lessons learnt in poor nutrition I think.  I put it down to needing more calories than normal due to being cold. 

Oh and the highlight......being rewarded with stunning views of mid lothian on the final, amazing descent of the day.