This week has been a bit of a mess, I was late home from work on Tuesday, and so feeling lazy didn't run that day. Then I was in London Wednesday, and so even later home and feeling even worse. I very nearly ran anyway, but then I didn't and regretted it the rest of the evening.
So on Thursday I was absolutely determined to run when I got home, despite being in London again. When I got home I got straight on the treadmill, after changing out of my suit, and did 4 miles at 7.5 mph. The treadmill makes some very odd noises at the moment, not just the usual whine of the belt turning but also some odd creaks and crunches, especially when I land heavily. It's also developed a stutter, which can really catch you off guard, though I started to get used to it towards the end.
I don't think it's got long to go before it gives up completely, especially if I start doing some faster work on it. As such I went on Amazon and had a look about, then Saturday morning they sent me an e-mail full of treadmills with £800 off, gits.
The run itself was completed without major incident or challenge, which I would hope would be the case given the pace and distance. London makes my calf ache, but the run itself didn't seem to make it any worse. I definitely felt better overall for having done it, and so despite being in London all of next week plan to get both my mid-week runs done barring major train disaster.
On Friday I began my new program of core exercises. It was a bit of a rubbish start as I couldn't remember any exercises and was in a rush due to James and Monica coming over for dinner. It's a start though, and next week I plan to use the exercises from here. I'll add to and switch up these over time, as I actually know loads of core exercises from my rowing days, but to start with I'll follow someone else's guidance.
Saturday morning I went out for a gentle bike ride. I haven't had the bike out as much as I'd like due to races and weekends away but with quiet winter training starting in earnest I'm hoping to use it a lot more. On Saturday I did just under 11 miles in 45 minutes, average speed 14.4 mph. The route was a loop through Barns Green, round by Coolham and then back down the top of West Chiltington lane. This has the big advantage of spreading the uphill over a much longer section than coming round the Barns Green loop. MAP.
Sunday is the Jog shop jog 20 in Brighton. A twenty mile trail race with some major inclines. This will be my first off road race, but I'm just planning to use it as a long training run, aiming to finish somewhere between two and a half and three hours. Post on that tomorrow.
Team Wedge
Showing posts with label Bike ride. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bike ride. Show all posts
Saturday, 12 October 2013
Sunday, 8 September 2013
7 September 2013 - A first bike ride
I got a new bike for my birthday, it's an entry level Specialized Secteur Triple 2014. I realise that won't mean anything to most people, but basically it's my first road bike. I went to Freeborn in Horsham, as recommended by Tom, and they were really helpful, spending ages going through all the gear. Not just the bike but also the pedals, shoes, pumps, shorts, tubes and CO2 canisters I needed, basically everything.
I actually got the bike a week before this ride, but I then went away for the weekend to Cardiff and was too busy with work socials during the week to take it out. So when the weekend came I was incredibly excited to finally get going.
Map of the route here.
Having pumped up the tyres and got my helmet on I headed out the gate and began a loop round by Barns Green. This is a loop I've done many times, and usually takes about 45 minutes. My main aim was to get used to clipping in and out, and changing gears on the front and back. That and enjoying the road of course.
As we live near the top of the hill the beginning section is gently rolling, providing plenty of opportunities to play with the gears without it causing too many issues when I inevitably changed the wrong way. I then turned off the road towards Barns Green. This leads down the first big hill of the day, allowing me to get down on the drops and let the world whiz by.
Coming through Barns Green was going well until I came across one particularly large pot hole, almost like a crack extending from the grass verge to half way to the midline of the road. As there was a car on my shoulder there was no way I could avoid it, and so ended up crunching through it. With the carbon front fork you feel every bump as it is and this must have been at least six feet deep.
This led pretty quickly onto the hill out of Barns Green, a consistently steep hill, but not unmanageable. The reward for reaching the top is the run down the other side. This drops off as quickly as you've just climbed, and gives one hell of an adrenaline rush. In addition as you can see well ahead and as there's only one side road you can really let the bike run. At the end is a rather tight bend, which is limited to 15 mph. Fortunately the brakes seem to work absolutely fine, as I had to shed speed rather quickly.
A quick trip onto the main road brings you back to the bottom of Bashurst Hill, ready to complete the loop. If the hill out of Barns Green is consistently steep this is far worse. It's probably a similar gradient, but rises for twice as long. I've cycled it quite a few times, but no matter how gently you try to take it your legs and lungs will be burning by the top. I got into a nice low gear, and began the climb.
The first half wasn't too bad, and there's a short false flat at that point that allows a short rest. As I began the second half I knew it was going to be hard work. As I came into view of the lane to home I went to rise out of the saddle to finish the climb and realised I couldn't. Due to the different riding position of the road bike compared to my usual Hybrid it felt really unbalanced any time I tried to stand up, and the low speed I was travelling at didn't help. Somehow I made it to the top though, and past the lane.
In total the loop had taken just under 26 minutes. As I was planning to ride for a little over an hour I set off on the loop again. Feeling a bit more comfortable I pushed it a little bit more on this loop. I continued to practice clipping in and out, and playing with the gears, as well as standing in the saddle. Despite having done the loop before I still hit the crack coming out of Barns Green. I also managed to hit just over 30 mph coming off the other side of the hill towards Christ's Hospital, which felt absolutely fantastic.
When I hit the main road I couldn't face climbing Bashurst Hill again, and so instead carried on down towards Billingshurst. After 3 miles, and far later than I was expecting to find it, I turned onto New Road. This leads onto Bashurst Hill near the turning to Barns Green, providing a nice, flat, route back to home.
Overall the bike felt great, responsive and quick with solid gear changes. The three rings provide plenty of range to cycle with, allowing me to put pressure on even at thirty miles per hour while also climbing steep hills in the saddle. Definitely looking forward to the next ride.
Distance: 18.83 miles
Time:1 hour 17 minutes 23 seconds
Speed: 14.6 mph
I actually got the bike a week before this ride, but I then went away for the weekend to Cardiff and was too busy with work socials during the week to take it out. So when the weekend came I was incredibly excited to finally get going.
Map of the route here.
Having pumped up the tyres and got my helmet on I headed out the gate and began a loop round by Barns Green. This is a loop I've done many times, and usually takes about 45 minutes. My main aim was to get used to clipping in and out, and changing gears on the front and back. That and enjoying the road of course.
As we live near the top of the hill the beginning section is gently rolling, providing plenty of opportunities to play with the gears without it causing too many issues when I inevitably changed the wrong way. I then turned off the road towards Barns Green. This leads down the first big hill of the day, allowing me to get down on the drops and let the world whiz by.
Coming through Barns Green was going well until I came across one particularly large pot hole, almost like a crack extending from the grass verge to half way to the midline of the road. As there was a car on my shoulder there was no way I could avoid it, and so ended up crunching through it. With the carbon front fork you feel every bump as it is and this must have been at least six feet deep.
This led pretty quickly onto the hill out of Barns Green, a consistently steep hill, but not unmanageable. The reward for reaching the top is the run down the other side. This drops off as quickly as you've just climbed, and gives one hell of an adrenaline rush. In addition as you can see well ahead and as there's only one side road you can really let the bike run. At the end is a rather tight bend, which is limited to 15 mph. Fortunately the brakes seem to work absolutely fine, as I had to shed speed rather quickly.
A quick trip onto the main road brings you back to the bottom of Bashurst Hill, ready to complete the loop. If the hill out of Barns Green is consistently steep this is far worse. It's probably a similar gradient, but rises for twice as long. I've cycled it quite a few times, but no matter how gently you try to take it your legs and lungs will be burning by the top. I got into a nice low gear, and began the climb.
The first half wasn't too bad, and there's a short false flat at that point that allows a short rest. As I began the second half I knew it was going to be hard work. As I came into view of the lane to home I went to rise out of the saddle to finish the climb and realised I couldn't. Due to the different riding position of the road bike compared to my usual Hybrid it felt really unbalanced any time I tried to stand up, and the low speed I was travelling at didn't help. Somehow I made it to the top though, and past the lane.
In total the loop had taken just under 26 minutes. As I was planning to ride for a little over an hour I set off on the loop again. Feeling a bit more comfortable I pushed it a little bit more on this loop. I continued to practice clipping in and out, and playing with the gears, as well as standing in the saddle. Despite having done the loop before I still hit the crack coming out of Barns Green. I also managed to hit just over 30 mph coming off the other side of the hill towards Christ's Hospital, which felt absolutely fantastic.
When I hit the main road I couldn't face climbing Bashurst Hill again, and so instead carried on down towards Billingshurst. After 3 miles, and far later than I was expecting to find it, I turned onto New Road. This leads onto Bashurst Hill near the turning to Barns Green, providing a nice, flat, route back to home.
Overall the bike felt great, responsive and quick with solid gear changes. The three rings provide plenty of range to cycle with, allowing me to put pressure on even at thirty miles per hour while also climbing steep hills in the saddle. Definitely looking forward to the next ride.
Distance: 18.83 miles
Time:1 hour 17 minutes 23 seconds
Speed: 14.6 mph
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