……definitely not required today. Thermals and oilskins called for instead. Meon Shore and Tichfield Haven are glorious places when then sun is shining, boats bobbing on the Solent, flocks of birds in the nature reserve etc. Cycling head on into a 20mph easterly in the cold and wet isn’t much fun. Stupidly I did it twice. Decided against a third go so just 22 miles today after a lazy 10 yesterday.
Realised that my bike has all the aerodynamic characteristics of a brick, though thats probably due to the lump on it rather than the bike itself. Beginning to doubt the wisdom of going north to south against the prevailing wind…………….

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.

After 4 consecutive days phoning FirstScotRail, the position remains that our bikes are off to Scotland, but we aren’t. Hopefully they’ll have fixed their systems by tomorrow and I can actually book us on the train too!.
On a more positive note, I now have a pannier for my bike (to go with the bags I already had), Great Ormond Street Hospital Childrens Charity are sending us our fundraising pack, had 3 consecutive days of cycling (17, 28 & 27 miles) and my chiropracter was pleased with my progress. Don’t go back again for 3 weeks.
Paul (brother, uncle, uncle accordingly) is thinking of meeting us in Monmouth. Not to ride ofcourse, but we’d have a meal & beers waiting and a big tent to sleep in. I did warn him that we’d whiff a bit by then!
Only negative thing today was my pedal crank came loose again. Bit disconcerting, but I’ve added a big allen key to my tool bag which now stays on the bike. Just hope I can still pedal the thing when its fully loaded………….

Nearly forgot best news of all, Aldershot Town FC, Blue Square Premier League Champions and back in the Football League!!!!! Come on you Shots….

http://www.shotsweb.co.uk/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aldershot/7337126.stm

Training is going well now. I’ve gathered some decent mileage in the last week, and am keeping to my revised training plan now. With twelve weeks to go I am upping the anti with some serious interval training, varying the speed and distances significantly. This definitely improving my aerobic capacity, the bursts are getting longer and more regular.

I picked up our tent and some sundry equipment yesterday, the kids and I spent a few minutes pole fighting before pegging it out last night, we spent a cosy night in the wilderness of our back garden, and one of our feathered friends gave it a blessing which is always appreciated.

Back to work with more training to follow this evening.

….was a hit for Crowded House from their Woodface album. It also described this mornings weather, as I cycled through rain, sleet, hail, strong winds and glorious sunshine. Just 22 miles today (friday), feeling a bit tired as I’ve got an annoying little cold & cough. Did 25 yesterday and 17 last sunday. Had a break Mon,Tues & Weds as we went down to Devon to visit mum. Which means the mileage is well down this week. Got a busy weekend too, up to London to visit D&C. Going to have to ramp it up a bit next week………

This is my current mileage tally. So far so good, cycling to work is slowly getting easier as the weeks pass. Mind you I still don’t feel ‘fit’. Its nice now that I arrive home in day light certainly makes a difference. So far I’ve been doing two lots of ten miles a day with a hefty 7-8 hours gap between each and I have yet to get out and do a big distance in one hit. So I need to test my endurance cycling. Can I cycle for three hours non stop? … I’m not so sure.

Slightly off topic but it was a nice suprise this morning to see snow lying on the ground. Its April, its not supposed to snow in April. And seeing as we also had the hottest day of the year this week its been a bit of a rollercoaster in temperature. By way of evidence I’ve taken a good few photo’s which I’ll upload to Flickr later today.

Glorious weather today, predicted to come to an abrupt halt tomorrow. Still, never mind, I enjoyed spring while it lasted.
After an easy day yesterday (11 miles) stepped back up today with a 30 miler. Very pleased with 2hrs 15 mins of non stop pedalling (13.3mph). Have to do a 40 next week…….

..the mileage that is. 25 today on the bike, just under 2 hours non stop. Ian reckons on cycling in three hour stints, so got a lot more work to do yet. Another session with the chiropracter in the afternoon, reassembling my bones. Not as painful as the last time, fortunately, but lots of ‘adjustments’ still required. Back again in a fortnight…..

Looking at the route, was wondering whether we should add in detours to Ben Nevis, Scaffell Pike & Snowdon?. What do you reckon guys?
On the basis that any upward slope currently has me reaching for an oxygen mask, that might be a tad too challenging….
21 miles on the bike today, quite tough as it was more than just a bit breezy, but averaged 13mph so quite satisfied. Hope to get some more mapping done later.