First big one of the year.

I did the Forest of Arden 60 miler today with Eva from work and Nic (Lambshanks) from the PHUK.dis Team. Simon (SBD) and Peter (Big Ears) also drove up and they did the 100 mile route. We all started together. Well, sort of, we were at the start together. A guy called Dave who is doing London to Paris also joined us. Me and Eva decided to start off a couple of minutes before them, took a wrong turn 10 mins into the ride (apparently a hedge cutter had trimmed off the arrow sending about 50 cyclists in the wrong direction) which meant the guys never caught us up and we missed the first water stop. Probably a good thing in the end bcoz I later learned that Nic got sent in the wrong direction at the first water stop adding 10 miles to his journey LOL. Mine and Eva's wrong turn knocked 4 miles off our route, but we still managed 60 (later heard the 60 is in fact 64).

Bumped into SBD and Big Ears at the 2nd water stop then unfortunately didn't see them after that. On our way to the 3rd stop saw those same little fat b*st*rd kids that I swear took the sign down last time when we got lost... and guess what... yep they were messing with a sign. Eva shouted "Leave that alone!" and they shouted back "We're putting it back"... yea, woteva! putting in back the wrong way no doubt!

When we got to the 3rd water stop Nic was havin a cuppa! so we rode the rest of the way with him. I think even Eva was slightly faster. She's pretty quick I can tell you and she did take off towards the end but I decided to let her go, although I did keep her in sight, but I was knackered, and Nic was kind of in the middle of us. And of course, they had to put one last hill in a mile before the end.

Was chatting with Nic and Oly (who works for Action Medical Research) at the end and then Nic said he thought he had seen "time trial" earlier (this total knobhead of a guy we know, "all the gear no idea" type) and did a double take. It wasn't him but lo and behold, while we are talking, the guy rides in on this bike and he was the spitting image! It was one of those classic "don't look now" moments when everyone turns round and bursts out laughing making it really obvious. Poor bloke...

Introduced Nic to Eva's husband, Dominic. Dominic is doing the dragon ride. Have a feeling that they might end up going together.

Have to say, Simon and Oly.... looking good Mmmm. heehee (",). That's the best thing about cycling... all the fit asses LOL.

So, stats for today are: 60 miles, average speed 14.5mph, 2962 calories burnt, total ascent 2289 feet.

I did wait round with Nic to see if SBD and Pete came in but Nic had to go at 4pm. I had a splitting headache by then because I'd been waiting round for 3 hours so I called my dad and he came at got me at 4.30. Found out the lads got in at 5pm but I think I would have been ill if I had waited for them. Saw Dave from work tho, he did the 100 and came in at 4.30 (he had started an hour earlier than us so the guys gained half hour on him. Dave did a 14.5mph average so I think he was pretty pleased with that).

So... next stop the 100 at Suffolk on 11th May. Watch this space.

Another 40

43 miles to be exact. Had a bit of a blast out to the other side of Leamington today. I was tempted to stretch it to almost 60 (which was the original plan) but then opted for the train back from Warwick Parkway as I don't want tired legs to go out with on Sunday. 42 was ok with my conscience today. Another reason for getting the train was that I managed to mistime my journey which meant I would have been in rush hour traffic on the way back and I couldn't be arsed with that either.

I could have cheated and vastly improved my average miles per hour by leaving my GPS computer on (",) heehee. But I didn't.

Big congrats to my mate Rob Lines (www.roblines.blogspot.com) who has just completed the South African Ironman in a little over 11 hours. He must be crazy!

Has summer finally arrived???

Rode to work yesterday in my thermals bcoz it was cold .. and then 10am... glorious sunshine. Then my boss announced that as we had all worked hard over the past few weeks, she was taking us for lunch and then we could go home. So... ended up riding home in my blouse coz it was too hot to ride back in my other gear. And... it was gorgeous! ... sun shining, rapeseed flowers blooming (am I the only person who likes the smell?).

So 34 miles for yesterday. Gorgeous sunshine today but not got chance to go out. Got tomorrow off work so will get some miles in (in the morning if I get my ass out of bed in time) then a proper training ride on Friday to get me ready for Sunday's Forest of Arden Ride (of course, you can bet your life on rain for the rest of the week).

Can't wait to see the team! (well, some of them at least)

the weekend's gone and...

I'd like to say I've trained hard, but the weather has been shite and I've sat round Clive's tonight with two other cyclists stuffing our faces on Deb's cooking... and we've come to the conclusion that four finely tuned atheletes such as ourselves don't need to train EVERY day. LOL. None of us have been out since Friday.

O well, better ride to work tomorrow.

Deb's cooking was worth slacking off!

A few more...

Managed to get a few more training rides in this week.

Wednesday I rode to work, but had to catch the train home because I needed to get home quick. Anyway, knew I was cutting it fine to catch the train and as I carried my bike up the stairs to the platform the train pulled in. Legged it up to the platform, jumped on the train.... only the wrong bloody train! Ended up in Stratford upon Avon. Doh! The best I could do was to get a train to a station 5 miles from my home so had to cycle from there and got home 1/2 hour later than I would if I had just ridden home. I was kicking myself.

Rode to work on Thursday but had to work late (11.30pm) so Security at work had to look after the bike overnight. My bosses are crap at telling me anything! If I had known it was gonna be that late I would have just ridden my old bike in. The security blokes were probably riding round the block all night on my bike :(

Dropped in to see Clive and Debbie on my cycle home last night. "Bradley" was there, some bloke they know that can do a 10 mile time trial in about 18 mins or something! (".) Said I would probably pop back on Sunday when I go out for the ride with Eva, as I only had time to stop for 1 cuppa.

One of the barristers at work sponsored me 50 quid! nice one! Turns out he's a cyclist and he loves that photo of Vicky Pendleton on her bike. Told him the truth... that I'm actually her body double LOL!

First proper training ride

20 miles. Crap time. Did it in about 1hr 25. Am I unfit or what? The people running the London Marathon today are quicker! LOL. Was windy on the way out but had a bit of a tail wind for the last 3rd of the loop. Back to London for a couple of days now, but I've busted my little suitcase so got to go shopping first!

New bits and bobs

Well, managed to get down to the bike shop today and get a new saddle. Bliss! also the bottle cages have come so I will now not die of thirst. The new saddle is white and looks the bizz on the bike.

The good news is my boss rang and she said I don't have to be back in London until Monday but can still use the hotel room tomorrow night. So I phoned Jaimina and we are going back on the train at about 4pm tomorrow, which means I will get a chance to get a good training ride in and try out the saddle. Might pop into Clive's and see if he's in. He hasn't seen the bike yet.

Did a couple of miles over to my brother's and back to show him the bike and so far so good with the saddle, but I won't really know until I've done a few good miles. Really need to put some miles in now.

O yea, forgot to say, nearly got doored on the way home! Some fecker opened his car door fully. Split second panic but managed to avoid it, with a lot of swearing to boot!