Saturday, October 28, 2006
28 October 2006 Tracks n Backroads
Extended this to take in an extra bit of forest - all the way up to Clatto. This added in a long moderate uphill on the return on an unused forest track. There is also another loop of forest beyond this that can be used to extend the route further.
Very wet, lots of mud and bits of badly drained track pretending to be streams.
Felt good all the way round, rode pretty much continuously except for rain jacket on/off stops. Longest distance ridden to date.
30km, 2hr 30min.
Very wet, lots of mud and bits of badly drained track pretending to be streams.
Felt good all the way round, rode pretty much continuously except for rain jacket on/off stops. Longest distance ridden to date.
30km, 2hr 30min.
Friday, October 27, 2006
26 October 2006 Static Bike Session
No chance to go out since Sunday, back home late every night. Eventualy climbed on the exercise bike about 9.45pm.
13.8 miles, 1 hour.
13.8 miles, 1 hour.
Monday, October 23, 2006
22 October 2006 Pentlands "Killer Loop"
The killer loop from MBR magazine, but following the higher resolution Harvey's map (thank goodness - my map reading skills are soooooooo bad, we even managed to take in a whole extra hill).
Quite muddy in many places, all tough going.
23km, 5 hours.
Quite muddy in many places, all tough going.
23km, 5 hours.
Friday, October 20, 2006
English Merida Marathon Announced for 2007
Looks like there will be decisions to be made in May next year.
Just read at BikeMagic that there will be an English Merida event in 2007 for the first time. In Penrith, during the Cumbria Bike Fest which runs 7-13 May. The location suits us, but its the same month they're talking about doing a TransScotland.
I see they've also dropped the "100" from the series name to put as much emphasis on the 25 and 50km distances.
Just read at BikeMagic that there will be an English Merida event in 2007 for the first time. In Penrith, during the Cumbria Bike Fest which runs 7-13 May. The location suits us, but its the same month they're talking about doing a TransScotland.
I see they've also dropped the "100" from the series name to put as much emphasis on the 25 and 50km distances.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
TransScotland 07
I have been hearing that following the success of the TransWales 7-day event in August, they were looking at a TransScotland equivalent for 2007. At least that explained why their website was called "TransUK".
Assuming this would be in August, Neal and I reckoned it would be to good a chance to miss and that we should aim for this rather than postponing our first multi-day event until 2008.
I have just discovered that the plan is to actually run both events next year - leaving the TransWales in place and adding the Scottish event in May.
Yikes! Too soon?
Assuming this would be in August, Neal and I reckoned it would be to good a chance to miss and that we should aim for this rather than postponing our first multi-day event until 2008.
I have just discovered that the plan is to actually run both events next year - leaving the TransWales in place and adding the Scottish event in May.
Yikes! Too soon?
15 October 2006 Tracks n Backroads
Keen to try this route again without the downtime for mapreading and the one short dead end.
Accurate stats messed up by the computer sensor not being on for the first few minutes (presumably got knocked a mm off when the bike got washed) and then again during the trip. This time I can only think that a rocky trail section vibrated the sensor out of range.
Anyway, with a little guesstimating ... 25km in 1hr 52 minutes, almost all of it continuous. This is more like it - the minimum Merida event distance in a sensible amount of time. I did feel like I was pushing against the clock all the way.
The offroad sections were actually muddier in places than a couple of days ago, though we've had no more rain. My guess is that more water has drained into the lower areas that tend to muddyness - and then these got churned up by horses.
This is the only area I've cycled in with lots of horses being ridden - passed a live one each time out so far, plus steaming mounds of evidence everywhere on the trail. Why don't they have to clean up after themselves like dog owners?
Accurate stats messed up by the computer sensor not being on for the first few minutes (presumably got knocked a mm off when the bike got washed) and then again during the trip. This time I can only think that a rocky trail section vibrated the sensor out of range.
Anyway, with a little guesstimating ... 25km in 1hr 52 minutes, almost all of it continuous. This is more like it - the minimum Merida event distance in a sensible amount of time. I did feel like I was pushing against the clock all the way.
The offroad sections were actually muddier in places than a couple of days ago, though we've had no more rain. My guess is that more water has drained into the lower areas that tend to muddyness - and then these got churned up by horses.
This is the only area I've cycled in with lots of horses being ridden - passed a live one each time out so far, plus steaming mounds of evidence everywhere on the trail. Why don't they have to clean up after themselves like dog owners?
Weight Log
WooHoo - 13st :)
This is going very slowly, but among other excuses I have to try and actually fuel my training. That means making sure I take on enough calories to perform as well as I can on longer rides, and replenishing stores afterwards. Not quite the same as pure "eat less, do more" weight loss program.
This is going very slowly, but among other excuses I have to try and actually fuel my training. That means making sure I take on enough calories to perform as well as I can on longer rides, and replenishing stores afterwards. Not quite the same as pure "eat less, do more" weight loss program.
TransRockies 2006 DVD
I see the official 2006 TransRockies DVD is now available from the TransRockies store.
Was surprised to see the Canadian Dollar:GBP exhange rate is now about 2:1 - thought it was much more favourable than that. Need to factor that into budgeting.
Was surprised to see the Canadian Dollar:GBP exhange rate is now about 2:1 - thought it was much more favourable than that. Need to factor that into budgeting.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
12 October 2006 Tracks n Backroads
As per previous blog, I realised on the way home last night that there is a reasonably flat area to the East of here that I haven't explored - mainly because there are no decent sized areas of woodland etc within it, and no major towns that have given reason to travel into it.
On the map however, it is littered with several small areas of woodland linked together by back roads and lanes.
In practice, it proved to be a worthwhile route to add to the training mix. There are a couple of short steep hills - one a real farm lane, the other tarmac - but in general its undulating enough to keep the pedals going. First time out there was a lot of downtime to check locations and next steps on the map (a skill I must improve) and there should be scope to extend it further out as time goes by.
Must have a look at Google Maps/Earth and see if I can document any routes here - or if I have to get a separate piece of software.
27.5km
2hr 45min total time, of which 2hr 05 min actual cycling.
On the map however, it is littered with several small areas of woodland linked together by back roads and lanes.
In practice, it proved to be a worthwhile route to add to the training mix. There are a couple of short steep hills - one a real farm lane, the other tarmac - but in general its undulating enough to keep the pedals going. First time out there was a lot of downtime to check locations and next steps on the map (a skill I must improve) and there should be scope to extend it further out as time goes by.
Must have a look at Google Maps/Earth and see if I can document any routes here - or if I have to get a separate piece of software.
27.5km
2hr 45min total time, of which 2hr 05 min actual cycling.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Weight Log
Delayed posting Saturdays weigh-in.
Hoped it would be a landmark, but 13st 0.25lb. Where are those diuretics :)
Hoped it would be a landmark, but 13st 0.25lb. Where are those diuretics :)
8 October 2006 East Lomond
The extended loop inc Gilven fields warmup, up to the relay station, across to Craigmead and home via Leslie.
17km, 118minutes.
Upsides - faster to the relay station, faster overall.
Downsides - though technical uphill is important (and tough for me so needs work) I'm not sure this route is going to be right as a regulr "long" ride even if I extend it. I need to find a way to spend more hours in the saddle continuously.
I really don't want to ride on the road, so need to decide which nearby forest is best for longest lengths of forest track without tons of crazy hills.
17km, 118minutes.
Upsides - faster to the relay station, faster overall.
Downsides - though technical uphill is important (and tough for me so needs work) I'm not sure this route is going to be right as a regulr "long" ride even if I extend it. I need to find a way to spend more hours in the saddle continuously.
I really don't want to ride on the road, so need to decide which nearby forest is best for longest lengths of forest track without tons of crazy hills.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
4 October 2006 East Lomond
82min, 6.1km very disappointing performance.
Still tired and sore from Sunday football and Monday kendo, but dragged myself out early as its nearly a week since I've been on the bike.
In contrast to Kirroughtree (dry trails after torrential rain) this was very wet and muddy after no real recent rain to talk about. Amazing - and depressing - just what a difference mud makes. I'm not even talking about axle deep churned mud - just a soft wet layer on most of the trail and the occasional inch or so deep mud for a few metres.
If an hour of this is so tough - how will I cope with a day (or 7) like it? :(
Reduction in grip/traction means more energy used for same distance, slower progress and the odd wavy moment in the deeper stuff.
Still tired and sore from Sunday football and Monday kendo, but dragged myself out early as its nearly a week since I've been on the bike.
In contrast to Kirroughtree (dry trails after torrential rain) this was very wet and muddy after no real recent rain to talk about. Amazing - and depressing - just what a difference mud makes. I'm not even talking about axle deep churned mud - just a soft wet layer on most of the trail and the occasional inch or so deep mud for a few metres.
If an hour of this is so tough - how will I cope with a day (or 7) like it? :(
Reduction in grip/traction means more energy used for same distance, slower progress and the odd wavy moment in the deeper stuff.
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