Tell us about your weekend ride

30 pleasant miles yesterday, finishing with BBQ and beers at my brothers house.

25 punishing miles today, very hot, even the 20mph head wind was hot Why is it always a head wind?). Met a nice bunch of roadies, surprisingly they weren't local. Managed to keep up for the last 10 miles, very pleased with my self. Averaged 22 mph.

Lessons learned = Training does actually work(its also quite good fun).

Thanks for the inspiration people.

even the 20mph head wind was hot Why is it always a head wind?

Something about the anatomy of Manx people? ;P

never mind punning, has youre injury abated yet?

so, this weekend, after the first half of 2010 being eclipsed by illness, tiredness and general too-much-to-do--ness, I FINALLY tried my hand at a race at Hog Hill.

Was one of six women, with 30 or so men....

3 of the women were elite, and they dropped me within the first half of the first lap, which was unsurprising, although I didn't know their status before we started so spent most of the time on the bike feeling like a total weakling and wondering when it would all be over!!

I managed to stick with one of the other women into my 2nd lap and from then, I was utterly alone. The hill at the end of the lap completely killed me every time. Given that I climb precisely NO hills most of the time, this is also not that surprising.

Shortly afterwards I was lapped by the mens race, and later, lapped again, with encouraging shouts coming from fellow rolla's Sean and Tom.

After my fourth lap I felt like I was going to have a heart attack so I stopped after the climb. Then the official encouraged me to treat it as a training ride so I took another lap.

Reaching the top of the horrible hill I saw Sean sitting down by his bike and gladly pulled in to join him and watch the rest of the race.

I was so impressed by the strength of the women, and a bit annoyed at myself for laming out, but mainly glad to have finally got around to trying it out.

The women later came over and asked what happened, and offered lots of advice on what to do to get stronger. One of them was a MTB Masters Champ, and they had been racing together for years so I felt marginally less lame for being dropped so fast.

To be honest, the ride out to Redbridge was enough for me in that baking heat, never mind doing 20 laps of the course.

Fun times.

good on you.
Theres few people willing to put themselves out, go to an event or try a club meet or something, all that stuff can be quite intimidating here, compared to some countries where people are more 'have a go'
s'good getting involved with stuff, gives you goals to work towards, even if now you just have a picture of whats possible, and go off and solo it again for a while.

well done sem

thanks :)

it was a good day out!

also I should add that Brent from Rollapaluza (not sure of his forum name? ) was the only one of us who stuck out the whole race and he finished in the second bunch. it was his first race ever as well so was v. impressed with that performance.

We watched the 1/2/3 race that followed and rode back to town with illy, who was riding in it.

Brent is pretty handy and illy is gunning for world domination. Well done for having a crack. Ain't nothing like the familiar feeling of being spat out the back.. "next week!" :)

where dya end up Pifko?, didnt see you...

Bournemouth to Lulworth Cove. Climbs so steep that you end up going so slow you can feel the heat off the melting tarmac.

Good work, Niamh. Hog Hill is hard.

^ NB I don't want to give the impression that I've ever ridden it, but I know from just LOOKING at it. :)

Rode the Surrey Hills TNRC route on Saturday early evening. Fucking gorgeous sweet ride in the daylight, with the exception being the stretch just before Dorking. At least a half mile stretch of continous flying insects, I had to pull my cap peak right down and ride with my hand in front of my face.

Actually found Ranmore easier in the light as I could gauge the gradient.

1hr 52 @ 16.8mpg avg. No fires at the station this time tho.

On Saturday morning, I got up and rode with a colleague and eight pupils from London to Spalding, Lincs. 110 miles. Today, we got up in Spalding, and rode to Berverley, Yorks. 90 miles. My arse hurts. Tomorrow, we will ride to Catterick Bridge. 75ish miles but hillier. By Thurday we will hopefully arrive in Edinburgh.

Currently, I am lying on my bed in the guesthouse wondering where to take the kids for dinner. The eat all you can pasta joint down the road is looking good for our custom.

^brilliant stuff. I think you need to show the establishment just how far the "all you can eat' concept can be stretched.

Just got back from LMNH. Mal came with me. She is far more confident in traffic these days. #ace

I battled against headwinds throughout my 60 miles out today. I'd forgotten how frustrating this can be, but christ, it adds a different dimension to a sunday ride. Doing my first century ride next month, so today was really beneficial.
(although - i am so close to negating all of that hard work. My missus has just baked a carrot cake for a charity event tomorrow. She's gone out..... Will i go to hell?)

Hope you ate them for breakfast.

^brilliant stuff. I think you need to show the establishment just how far the "all you can eat' concept can be stretched.

This news just in. I have paid the bill and left. Two of the boys are eating head to head. They have both eaten:
1 x bruschetta
1 x garlic bread
1 x pasta dish
2 x 10 inch pizza

It is getting serious. The loser has to ride all day tomorrow in bibshorts only regardless of weather. The rest of the party has stayed in situ to offer advice. One of the participants is already upset as he dieted hard before the trip and this is the subject of much sledging.

NB - fatloss thread: he followed the Dukan diet.

Joe. Great stuff. Start at a fast pace in the morning

Hippy, brilliant news. MrsO was complaining yesterday that no one has ever inspired her to cycle. Any suggestions?

https://www.lfgss.com/thread17842.html

Post #6

Headed put to Christchurch, Cambs on Saturday morning, and am very chuffed with 90 miles in 5 hours 30 ride time.

I then spent the evening being peed on, shat on and milked on by various piglets, kittens and ducklings, and being woken at 4.30 am by roosters cock-a-fucking-doodling.

This cracked me up :-) I love the English language.

Weekend of non achievement for me,
went to meet the riders on day two of that Great tour round U.K Im on soon (was banging on about it few pages ago)

Theres a guy called Mike Sweeney on all 9 weeks, ? mad Aussie, rode across Oz,
anyone heard of him?

West to South this morning; through bits of London that I don't often experience.

South to North this afternoon. I'm a bit burnt now, silly sod.

North this evening, 30mi. I've only recently discovered that sustaining 20mph on the flat is a good thing to aim for (I've also just discovered that I'm capable of it), which made Regent's park all the more interesting.

Pleasant day.

Joe. Great stuff. Start at a fast pace in the morning
Hippy, brilliant news. MrsO was complaining yesterday that no one has ever inspired her to cycle. Any suggestions?

You mean our heroic efforts against the elements and nature in the Tour of Ireland meant nothing to her?! Hmmfph! ;)

Does MrsO have a bike? Do you ride with her?