36,500km in 365 days - Cycling Against Living Miserably

I have some PDW's you can whack on the isen if you want them.

Definitely interested, I'll PM you thanks. I had a set of sks bluemels which were awful, self-destructed mid ride so have been on the hunt for some PDWs

Today is a bit of a milestone, I'm a third of the way through this challenge. Time seems to fly when living in a world with Covid-19... The more I ride the greater perspective I get about why I ride bikes.

I had a pretty good weekend and did 250km in total with only 35km being on the trainer which was mainly because I had to meal prep yesterday morning for the week to come. On Saturday I did a 5 hour ride with my friend and we mixed it up by doing some tempo etc in it, we also explored some gravel because WTFN and got lost a few too many times... Anyway when I got home, we had ridden 100 miles in just over 5 hours which is massive. I honestly don't look at my average speed and just have the map up for directions as I feel I can enjoy the ride more and this ride was truly epic as we did just have a good OL laugh. I know a lot of people would of pushed to go sub 5 hour to be on strava for the world to see but that's not why I ride. The best thing about this ride was hitting a gravel track at fall gas so I could skid around the corner "to show off" but loosing control and almost going into the river, that's the first thing I told my GF when I got home and everyone else since as I was 99% certain I was going for a swim.

I've committed and sacrificed a huge amount for this challenge and I'm so grateful that I've hit a third of the way. There's been some pretty tough times but I'm feeling my fitness is improving and I don't feel like I'm over training anymore with the volume. This challenge shows what can be achieved while working full time and having life commitments but selfishly it brings me clarity. I've spent over 15 days on the bike this year and I don't regret a minute of it, I'm not trying to break any world records or go 'PRO', I'm just trying to see what I'm capable of.

Speaking to my sister yesterday who wants to start running again but she's struggling to start as a couple years ago she was running half marathons weekly but now she's worrying about running a 5km. I told her that it doesn't matter if she even runs 500m to start, as long as she enjoys it that is what matters. It takes time and commitment to be back to the level of fitness where she was before, not just a 6 week training plan as it could take years. She was comparing herself to what I am doing and feeling down about where she was but I said, I've spent the last 10 years (I'm 27) training on average 5 times a week and it's been hard and with all of this training I haven't really got anywhere. Yes I have won the occasional rowing race and hit some PRs but I'm not PRO. It doesn't matter if all you can do is run or ride for half an hour, have a smile on your face and enjoy every minute of it. People are always faster and people are always slower but only compare yourself to you. Until this challenge I've always had my strava private because of this, I don't like the idea that people are comparing themselves or trying to compete with me, as I'm just trying to be the best version of me.

Anyway 243 days to go!

Also I got soaked on Sunday when OTR but it was worth it as I cycled to see my mum's new puppy Brydie an 8 week old Bedlington X Poodle.

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That last paragraph is what it’s all about and is the way of thinking I’ve come around to in the last year or so. Enjoy yourself

About as cute as it gets.

I know right, I wasn't expecting her to be so sweet.

@JuanSock that's great, it does take time to get that mindset

Bank holiday weekend update, so @hippy was right. When the weather is good the miles come easy, I managed to do a good few miles over the weekend. I did 328km over a 24 hour period not a day as it was a evening ride and then a morning ride. I definitely feel lucky with the roads and living in central Norfolk means the coast is a good 100km away in total which helps with motivation.

I'm currently at day 130 and total distance 12,805km with an evening of around 75-80km. I'm catching back up but I'm just taking it slowly and resting after the big days. I have my first group ride of the year tonight so I'm hoping it works timings wise etc as I can't afford a lot of faffing. I'm excited for it though, it should be a laugh and the weather is perfect.

I do have some bad/worrying news, my friend Phil who I'm cycling LEJOG with broke his Clavicle yesterday so we're waiting to here today to whether he will recover in time. The ride is a little over 4 weeks away so it's touch and go to whether he can do it or not. If not I know of 2 people who will be able to do it but it will just depend on their racing calendar etc and if they can afford it too as it's quite something to take on with 4 weeks notice.

Sounds like pretty good going with what I'd say is the worst part of the year over (especially considering how wet it's been this year).

Fingers crossed for your mate.

so @hippy was right

#hippyisalwaysright
Wait, what about? :)

4 weeks is quite a short recovery time for a collarbone, too short if it's not been surgically pinned I'd say. As always it depends on how bad the fracture is and the amount of pain it's causing.

When were you going to leave? Early July I'm away for a wedding. Would be fun but I don't think I can offer my 'lorry-like' drafting features for your LEJOG.

Something about big miles in the summer, I mean I probably made it up in my head as I can't seem to quote it :)

I know it's pretty close and I'm assuming they will pin it from what I've seen of the x-ray it looks like the logical way to fix it but I'm not a doctor or even close to being medical. We've planned it for 03/07/21 so it really depends on the above and it's fully booked for 2 people so I have no idea what I'll do if he's out. It's pretty niche to get someone to cycle this at this short notice if Phil is out.

Yeah, that's right in the middle of the wedding trip. Would've considered joining in otherwise. I still have unfinished LEJOG business and I had extra holidays this year to use. Balls.

That's a shame, it would of been good if you could of subbed in.

I'm still waiting to hear what they're doing with his clavicle so I'm trying to not get too stressed about it as the poor bloke has a broken bone. It's amazing when you commit to a year of activity, what life can throw at you....

Yeah, you're going for the ultimate form of ultra distance. But it does mean that what seems like a disaster in the short term isn't actually that big of an impact over the course of a long race (or yearly distance goal).

Maybe there's someone on here or YACF or I dunno one of the other cycling forums that could swap in if he's not gonna be up for it. Or, just get him addicted to painkillers now.

Can't you just send a lorry instead?

Will you be doing it alone if you have to?

Lorries don't pay for the hotel rooms or provide inspirational "hurry the fuck up would you!" messages when other riders are struggling.

Covering the other half of the hotel rooms is quite a big deal especially as we're away for 11 nights in total. 1 day before in Penzance and a couple of days after in Inverness.

I would do it alone but I'd definitely prefer to have someone with me, more for morale and as said above to HTFU... I'm going to send some messages out today for people who could sub in, i'd much rather give them as much notice as possible. If we could delay it to fall in time with Phils recovery then great but then there's the risk of availability with the trains and accommodation.

It's definitely only as small issue in terms of what I'm going for this year.

LEJOG update, we're going to try and delay it 4 weeks. I mean it's going to be a logistical nightmare but I'd rather do it with Phil and wait a few weeks. It's now falling firmly in school holidays too so there's potential for zero availability with the rooms and changing trains seems to be interesting. We're going to discuss options and an action plan tonight, I'm pretty gutted as I was getting excited but things happen and it's only a few weeks of the year and the challenge. My availability is obviously pretty good.

I've got travel insurance with my current account so hopefully if everything fails, I'll be covered with this.

Camping an option?

You just don't know the right lorries.

Might be people on here who can sort you out a room? Maybe post a list of towns you need accommodation in?

Maybe try warmshowers too if you know where you’re gonna be which day. Am sure people will be happy to help given the cause

https://www.warmshowers.org/

Can be more hassle than it’s worth though

red lorry or yellow lorry?

I'm a princess, so would rather a warm bed and home comforts