After numerous incidents involving foot stamping and some pseudo tool throwing I have finally cracked. I now categorically state that “there will be no more A244 roadside tantrums, no more canal topping up tears, and no more French vocabulary practised in Pirbright”.

After enduring six punctures in the last four days, I have finally threw changed my sad excuse for cross-terrain tyres to the two beautiful little road burners I’ve been saving for our trip.

I am pleased with the change, reduced time, confidence in my equipment, a smooth and somewhat relaxing ride, and more importantly a big smile on my face, particularly when battling the buses in MY lane and evading the couriers who are eagerly delivering the needs and deadlines of the very busy many.

Long may it continue…

Its been a tough couple of weeks with work, work, raining and training but I am catching up with my training programme deficit rapidly. I’ve totally worn the bearings on my beast out now, so I’ve been using my wife’s chariot as an interim replacement. I spent a few hours servicing the machine, I knew there was a reason why She was SO happy for me to use it, and now well oiled and mechanically sound, I have making steady progress into the weekly requirement.

The road tyres are a welcomed relief but I do miss the Landrover rumble that accompanies you with tow path treads on tarmac, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it, particularly the speed gain. The gears however went AWOL on Sunday. After kicking off early on Sunday I managed to lose the changing facility completely, a tweak gave me three but that shortly failed on Vokes Road whilst overtaking some road works. I soldiered on until a mountain just off the A32 near Alfresford, where I rigged a temporary string mechanism to give me a one up and down change effect, it was good effort for training purposes but doing the downs in mid range gears is very painful on the hamstrings, and I wouldn’t recommend it anyone else.

That said, it was a lovely ride down in glorious sunshine, and the Portsmouth celebrations required a more leisurely and comfortable journey back. I bottled the ride and took the train to Woking, although I did a longer route home racking up another ten miles. The gear system will be restored in preparation for this evenings jaunt, so who shall I suprise tonight, who do I know that make’s really great cheese and pickle sandwiches, and is in on a Tuesday!

Valuable rest was gained by taking the family camping in Bury for an extended weekend. The weather was simply fantastic and it only rained when I was cooking. Great people, good sights, loads to see and do and I recommend it highly.

Day off today, well that was the plan anyway, I must look into call barring. I spent just under five hours in the saddle this morning, and felt like I could have done more. I got lost again on the Thames Path, this time approaching Laleham, I think someone may have been playing with the signs. Still I found a nice alternative route, but spent what felt like half an hour trying to find the river again, all good mileage all the same. The ride felt good and even the saddle treated me well.

The bearings are starting to wear on the crank though, a slight rocking developed with a rhythmic metalic scraping sound a mile from home, percussionally this helped my pedal rhythm but mechanically I’m sure its a worry. Off now to source the replacement fittings so until the next posting.

Training was impacted by work demands and a puncture on Thursday last week, but I made up for it on Sunday, just under four hours in the saddle and I’m only three miles short of my plan.

Much better this week with the usual mix of cross training, running and cycling. I even managed a double dose of cycling today, twenty at the crack of dawn and ten at four thirty. Although arriving caked in mud and dripping all over the kitchen, the Mrs nearly discharged the shotgun, I managed to mitigate the prospect of conflict by returning to my garden bench, the rain did the rest.

Off to do some dry training now on me Mate’s Wii.

Training is going to plan but work might interfere this week. I’m blocked every day with evenings to suit, and travel is seriously limiting my training time further. The morning run was a grumpy affair and I again apologise to the moggie who fell off the neighbours fence, I seemed to scare it witless, must have been the make up, but I’ll do my best to keep with the plan.

The rear aspect was slowly getting used to the saddle, but it still aches at forty, miles not age of course, but having received advice I will look to invest in a new sofa or alike.

Quick break over I’m back to work now with more training later this evening.

I knew I’d return with a gentle pace last night but that was me running in ultra slow mode. I thought tow path’s were supposed to be flat, felt like crossing the Himalaya’s. Cross Trainer day today, so looking forward to the soft saddle.

I picked up more critical kit yesterday, in the shirts and shades, what more needs to be said…

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday’s training consists of running and cycling, Tuesday was weight training day carrying significant weight over distance, nothing like what I’ll actually be carrying on the trip but it got my legs burning. I then repeated the route without weight yesterday and took a massive chunk off my time.

Off to Judo and Karate tonight so will do a shorter route matching my planned training target, will burn it getting there working those fast twitch fibres, but will return with a gentle pace working those slow twitch fibres.