The weather has been fantastic, which left no excuse to avoid stepping up the training. Been out on the bike every day since last wednesday, barring a break on Tuesday when I tried running instead. Struggled a bit with the running, still got to get a lot fitter, but it didn’t seem to upset the back this time. Up to 35 miles today, which was OK though found the wind a bit tough. Must cut down on the onions…..
Had a go at manually creating a route on my GPS. It actually worked fine, just like having my own satnav, though I suddenly appeared to be 20 yds from the road by Meon Shore. If it had been high tide I’d have been in serious trouble! Means I’m going to have to fork out for some mapping software now.
Oh, and had another trip to the chiropracter on Wednesday. She was very pleased with progress, don’t have to go back for four weeks, though I got a ticking off for slacking on my core stability exercises. Apparently going to be tested on the ‘Flying Bug’ next time. In the mean time got to keep up with the others, The Cobra, Dead Bug and Superman to name just a few. I prefer to do those when Anita’s not around. It only confirms what she already knows…… I’ve got a few screws loose..

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.

If you remember that that was a hit in 1966 for the New Vaudeville Band, then you are probably as old as me……
David was back for the weekend, so it was an opportunity to go for a ride together. I generously let him use my old bike, but even that didn’t slow him down enough. Cycled to Winchester and back, round trip of 33.2 miles, in little over 2 hours. Averaged 15mph out there on a route best described as ‘undulating’. Did give us the opportunity to hit 33mph on a convenient downhill stretch,a new personal best. Only problem being that we had to go back up the same hill on the way back…..
I think I must still have a bit of competitive spirit left as today was my fastest 30 miler by quite a way. Unfortunately young whipper snapper noticed how gently I tackled the last few hills, sarcastically pointing out the de-limit signs with ‘you can go as fast as you like now, dad’. Funny. ( I don’t think).
Anyway, five days on the trot out on the bike gave me the perfect opportunity to visit The Talisman for a spot of carbo-loading (and the pub quiz).
David suggested trying Stonehenge tomorrow. Probably explains why he was so bad at geography questions in the quiz.

We’ve succeeded in hitting a worldwide audience!. Thanks to my mate Matt, we’ve had a donation today from Down Under. I hope he didn’t misunderstand the ‘End to End’ business, ‘cos I’m blowed if I’m cycling all the way to Sydney…..
How about some of your mates at Diageo then Matt?. Must have some links to the Mother Country? Perhaps if I mention DIAGEO enough, or maybe stick in a link
http://www.diageo.com/en-row/homepage.htm will that work?
Bonzer!

As I expect you’ve noticed its been a little wet these last couple of days. Since starting cycling to work its been a matter of course that I check the weather whilst eating my breakfast. The BBC of course is my source of irrefutably accurate weather reporting. Monday was fine,  though there was some rain forecast I managed to get to and from work without getting wet. Luckily so as I had made no precautions what so ever. Tuesdays forecast was a little more severe, however I was a little late in getting up so didn’t have a lot of time to prepare suitable clothing. At the last minute I found a rain jacket but completely ignored the fact I was wearing jeans and clumpy pourous shoes. And alas didn’t pack a change of clothes. Suffice to say I arrived at work somewhat drowned and had to sit at my desk all day long without leaving for fear of ridicule at the wet patches about my person. To make matters worse the buildings air conditioning decided it would be particularly breezy sending me into the depths of near pneumonia. Typically the rest of the day the clouds relented their emptying, though I later realised some divine force had intervened to make sure the clouds were as heavily laden as possible before my cycle home. I learnt my lesson, so today I donned some shorts and packed a change of clothes.

After Saturdays rest day, I set off on the bike again on Sunday. Pleasant enough to start with, but by the time I reached Meon Shore thunder was rolling around over the Isle of Wight and over Southampton. Sure enough, by the time I’d reached Stubbington it was spitting with rain, and before I could make it to Tichfield the heavens opened. After a couple of lightning flashes and cracks of thunder scarily close for comfort, I sprinted into Tichfied Village and took refuge under the porch of the Coach & Horses. Thank heaven for pubs, I say. Discretion being the better part of valour, I waited a good 20 mins or so before making a bolt for home. Totally drenched with only 15 miles or so clocked up, but I had managed some speedwork!
On Monday I tried running again. Still 2 mins run, 2 mins walk, etc, not very far, not very fast and woefully out of condition, but the back seemed OK.
Decided I needed to work on the running, so had another bash today (Tues). Went a bit further, but still found it really tough….. and now my back is giving me a fair bit of discomfort. Looks like I’ll be sticking to the bike for the forseeable future.

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.

I had planned to get on the bike today with ambitions of cycling all the way to Southend On Sea. After a little time spent investigating routes etc I realised I’d have to commit all this to memory and lets face it, there was no chance that was ever going to happen. So I decided instead to don the ‘sneakers’ and go for my first run in quite a few months. I set off not really knowing where I was going, but with a rough direction in mind (away from London). I ended up finding the Lee Valley Nature reserve. And whilst it’s not necessarily a southern’ers idyll it was pleasant and worthy of another visit. Just to find green space inside the M25 I suppose should be grateful. Anyway my running / occasional walking took me some six miles which I was reasonably proud of. If I was to compute cycling distance from effort exerted whilst running some calculations would put it at around 30 miles though I’m not quite sure how true that is. Anyway time to relax and enjoy the sun, todays twenty two degrees is expected to fall to 17 and rainy so best enjoy it while it lasts.

Yes, finally managed 3 hrs pedalling in one go. Well 3hrs 01mins to be precise, for today’s 40 miler. Now absolutely …..tired. Fortunately a rest day scheduled tomorrow.

You’re in for a big suprise.
For you will find, when you get back home, that you’re covered in loads of flies.

Well, that was certainly true yesterday, on my 28 miler. Today I added another circuit to do 34 and the flies weren’t so bad. This mornings rain must have drowned the little bug…s

Had a day off Monday, went to the Beeb to be in the audience for Question of Sport. Good fun, had a front row seat and the guests were all from my era – Allan Lamb, Pat Cash, Tessa Sanderson & Gareth Edwards. Also went to Aldershot last night to watch the mighty Shots play Weymouth (with brother Paul) and collect the Conference Trophy. Not a great game really, but a great atmosphere, loads of razamatazz, and 1pt was all they needed to hit the magic 100.
Another rest day tomorrow as I’m back off to London to support Claire in Alternative Fashion Week.

Hopefully back on the bike Friday and see if I can manage a 40 miler.

On a general note, well done David ( and thanks to Jude, Matt & Kelly) for getting the fundraising started. Our GOSHCC fundraising pack has arrived has arrived too, so I’ll get T shirts and sponsor forms to you soon.

Oh, if you can’t stop whistling Teddy Bears Picnic….don’t blame me