Bike: Trek
Distance: 50 miles
Time: 1 hour 58 minutes 16 seconds
Average speed: 25.366mph
Result: 34th out of 81
New personal best for this distance, beating my previous time of 1:59:53 by 97seconds. That's just under 2 seconds quicker per mile!
After spending much of the past week in Newcastle without my bike (instead, I was working hard, watching Twin Peaks, eating a lot, drinking much coffee and getting over a cold), I was surprised to pull out a PB today. Though it would have been hard not to: still, sunny, sweaty ... Michael Hutchinson enjoyed the conditions so much he managed to break the national record for 50 miles, recording a 1:35 something. That's insane. The E2/50c is a quick course, nothing too unpleasant except a section of B-road that wouldn't be out of place on Paris-Roubaix.
I should've gone quicker on the return leg, as I reached halfway in 57 minutes ... I then told myself I'd set a new PB if I managed to go under 1:03 for the rest of the event, when I should've just kept going in the rhythm I'd established - I reckon a 1:56 at least would have been possible then. Instead, the sweat stung my eyes, my brain was getting cooked and my legs were getting weary. I didn't slow dramatically, but it meant I didn't make the most of the conditions. I only carried one bottle, and I should have watered down the Lucozade as it was too sickly and not very refreshing - having said that, if it had been more watery I'd have gulped it down too quickly. Felt bloody awful when I finished - too knackered to feel properly pleased!
So, a faster 50 mile average speed than I've achieved over 25 miles this year... pretty dehydrated right now, and very tired. Need to do loads of stuff tomorrow before I swan off to Birmingham on Monday, so will undoubtedly be asleep shortly. I've managed to get up early every day this week!
Saturday, 26 July 2008
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Saturday, 19 July 2008
API 25
Bike: Trek
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 1 hour 02 minutes 05 seconds
Average speed: 24.161mph
66th out of 84
Pretty poor, but I did break golden rule (a):
(a) Never race with a cold
I broke the rule because the cold was merely affecting my nose (and, clearly, brain) rather than my lungs. Anyway, I also created a future golden rule:
(b) Don't race with a hangover
I wonder which factor contributed most to this relatively poor performance. It was also very windy, solid headwind on the outbound leg, then I was too nervous (hearing bike noises) on the way back to really go for it... So, disappointing, but slightly pleased I can do this time while so clearly not at any sort of peak fitness! Bit ashamed though, once again my legs just gave up into the headwind.
Distance: 25 miles
Time: 1 hour 02 minutes 05 seconds
Average speed: 24.161mph
66th out of 84
Pretty poor, but I did break golden rule (a):
(a) Never race with a cold
I broke the rule because the cold was merely affecting my nose (and, clearly, brain) rather than my lungs. Anyway, I also created a future golden rule:
(b) Don't race with a hangover
I wonder which factor contributed most to this relatively poor performance. It was also very windy, solid headwind on the outbound leg, then I was too nervous (hearing bike noises) on the way back to really go for it... So, disappointing, but slightly pleased I can do this time while so clearly not at any sort of peak fitness! Bit ashamed though, once again my legs just gave up into the headwind.
Friday, 18 July 2008
I did my best, it wasn't much, I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch, I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
...and even though it all went wrong, I'll stand before the Lord of Song...
An unexpected treat last night: during the afternoon I was ploughing miserably through some books when my phone rang: "I have a spare ticket for Leonard Cohen". In a few hours I was on the catamaran heading down to the O2 and subsequently witnessed an epic performance by a legend. I was initially sceptical: the guy is in his 70s and I wondered if his voice would be powerful enough to fill the arena. I was wrong and would now pay to listen to him read the phone book! His voice has to be heard to be believed (it has similar properties to granite, with extraordinary clarity for how deeply he sings) and, bloody hell, to be able to put words together like that... and what a warm character he seems to be. Having lost all his money, the tour is primarily about raising cash, but I think he's getting a kick out of the affection shown back to him. He slips into a dark persona when singing, but was all smiles and banter between songs. He also looks a bit like my tortoise.
My hatred of the venue remains largely undiminished, but he made it feel very intimate and special. A cliche, yes, but his 'Hallelujah' beats the many imitators hands-down. He played for over two hours, including 'The Future', 'Tower of Song', 'Everybody Knows' and 'In My Secret Life' and 'A Thousand Kisses Deep'. Must be pretty tricky to pick a setlist when you're Leonard Cohen.
An unexpected treat last night: during the afternoon I was ploughing miserably through some books when my phone rang: "I have a spare ticket for Leonard Cohen". In a few hours I was on the catamaran heading down to the O2 and subsequently witnessed an epic performance by a legend. I was initially sceptical: the guy is in his 70s and I wondered if his voice would be powerful enough to fill the arena. I was wrong and would now pay to listen to him read the phone book! His voice has to be heard to be believed (it has similar properties to granite, with extraordinary clarity for how deeply he sings) and, bloody hell, to be able to put words together like that... and what a warm character he seems to be. Having lost all his money, the tour is primarily about raising cash, but I think he's getting a kick out of the affection shown back to him. He slips into a dark persona when singing, but was all smiles and banter between songs. He also looks a bit like my tortoise.
My hatred of the venue remains largely undiminished, but he made it feel very intimate and special. A cliche, yes, but his 'Hallelujah' beats the many imitators hands-down. He played for over two hours, including 'The Future', 'Tower of Song', 'Everybody Knows' and 'In My Secret Life' and 'A Thousand Kisses Deep'. Must be pretty tricky to pick a setlist when you're Leonard Cohen.
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
Shotley - Oyster Reach - Holbrook - Tattingstone - Stutton - Holbrook - Freston - Shotley
Bike: Condor
Distance: 27.04 miles
Time: 1 hour 21 minutes 30 seconds
Average speed: 19.8 mph
Maximum speed: 38.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 1638.6 miles
Out for 5 minutes longer than last night, did much the same route plus an extra five miles... went harder, and went down to the Oyster Reach roundabout so I got to descend/ascend Freston Hill too.
Weather was warmer, sky was less foreboding; instead lots of bright blue and golden sun peeking through the clouds. Went out a bit earlier, so more cars and less (alive) wildlife, sadly. Got into a speedy groove coming back from Freston to Shotley, a car overtook me in a 30mph zone when I was going 32mph, so I wagged my finger. Cars kept mis-reading my speed, hurtling past me and slamming on the brakes. Gratifyingly, I managed to re-catch a line of three cars who had overtaken me with varying degrees of aggression coming into Shotley - though I don't get angry, I do have a wide range of gesticulations, I hope I managed to convey my point. Love the fact I can keep up with cars at 30mph at the moment, even if it means I'm pretty shiny when I get in.
Distance: 27.04 miles
Time: 1 hour 21 minutes 30 seconds
Average speed: 19.8 mph
Maximum speed: 38.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 1638.6 miles
Out for 5 minutes longer than last night, did much the same route plus an extra five miles... went harder, and went down to the Oyster Reach roundabout so I got to descend/ascend Freston Hill too.
Weather was warmer, sky was less foreboding; instead lots of bright blue and golden sun peeking through the clouds. Went out a bit earlier, so more cars and less (alive) wildlife, sadly. Got into a speedy groove coming back from Freston to Shotley, a car overtook me in a 30mph zone when I was going 32mph, so I wagged my finger. Cars kept mis-reading my speed, hurtling past me and slamming on the brakes. Gratifyingly, I managed to re-catch a line of three cars who had overtaken me with varying degrees of aggression coming into Shotley - though I don't get angry, I do have a wide range of gesticulations, I hope I managed to convey my point. Love the fact I can keep up with cars at 30mph at the moment, even if it means I'm pretty shiny when I get in.
Monday, 14 July 2008
Shotley - Freston - Holbrook - Tattingstone - Stutton - Holbrook - Freston - Shotley
Bike: Condor
Distance: 22.53 miles
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes 01 seconds
Average speed: 18.0 mph
Maximum speed: 31.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 1611.6 miles
Spent most of yesterday in bed feeling a bit off, but decided to go out to stretch my legs a bit this evening. Started off slowly, gentle spinning, heading towards an ominous looking anvil of cloud. Luckily, this stratified into strips of dark purple and red as the sun went down, so I didn't get soaked. However, the cloud cover meant it got darker sooner than I'd expected.
A nice ride: took the back road to Tattingstone from Holbrook, and didn't encounter a single car. Did spy something in the road ahead: a young deer! It saw me, and pranced into the woods. Magical. A bit further up the road, the illusion of being in Bambi was enhanced by the presence of a manic rabbit. Took the bridge over Alton Water, then the brilliant twisty-turny road though Tattingstone, popped out at Stutton and then built up some speed to get home before darkness fell completely.
I'd been muttering to myself earlier that these slower rides are a bit dull, but tonight, once I got off the beaten track, was quite interesting - you definitely see more when you're not hurtling along.
Distance: 22.53 miles
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes 01 seconds
Average speed: 18.0 mph
Maximum speed: 31.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 1611.6 miles
Spent most of yesterday in bed feeling a bit off, but decided to go out to stretch my legs a bit this evening. Started off slowly, gentle spinning, heading towards an ominous looking anvil of cloud. Luckily, this stratified into strips of dark purple and red as the sun went down, so I didn't get soaked. However, the cloud cover meant it got darker sooner than I'd expected.
A nice ride: took the back road to Tattingstone from Holbrook, and didn't encounter a single car. Did spy something in the road ahead: a young deer! It saw me, and pranced into the woods. Magical. A bit further up the road, the illusion of being in Bambi was enhanced by the presence of a manic rabbit. Took the bridge over Alton Water, then the brilliant twisty-turny road though Tattingstone, popped out at Stutton and then built up some speed to get home before darkness fell completely.
I'd been muttering to myself earlier that these slower rides are a bit dull, but tonight, once I got off the beaten track, was quite interesting - you definitely see more when you're not hurtling along.
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Team Economic Energy 10
Bike: Trek
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 22 minutes 34 seconds
Average speed: 26.587mph
Result: 47th out of 129 (which is an improvement: my entry time was 73rd fastest out of 140).
Up and down the A11... on another windy day, though not as brutal as the 100 last week.
Now, I've not had many performances I've been truly happy with of late: the Shaftesbury 10 (21:50) is the stand-out so far, but that was back in May and since then I've only done a couple of good club TTs and a few opens where I didn't shame myself (Lea Valley 10, Hounslow 100, Leo 30). Overall, however, I've been going badly. A mix of being over-tired and under-powered, plus the ever-present headwinds, which I've not been coping well with.
However, I'd taken my training easy this week and I'd started taking on copious amounts of fluid (i.e. 'drinking') from yesterday afternoon. I'd also put a bigger chainring on. Still, headed out to the E2/10 feeling a bit ominous because the wind was pretty strong...
...but I decided 5 miles into the headwind to start with was a drop in the ocean compared to the 50 miles into the headwind I did last week, so I went for it. Pushed really, really hard on the way out, and was going pretty fast by the time I got to the turn. I had a fast guy starting 2 minutes behind me, and I saw him entering the turn as I was exiting it... I then shifted up into 54x11 and went for it, managed to hold him off and he only (!) managed to put 1:49 into me. Moreover, Michael Hutchinson was riding and I finished within 3 minutes of his time, which I'm chuffed with. I also pushed harder because Gill (who did a 25:44)and Derek of the Willesden cheered me on: Derek claims to have read my Paris-Roubaix adventures, but his computer is currently broken, possibly as a result of having to cope with the size of that blog post! Derek used to *race* on cobbles back in the 60s, for which he gains my eternal respect.
A 22:34 is my 2nd fastest 10 time ever, which means I've done my 1st, 2nd and 5th fastest 10s on the E2/10 (all this year). It is a good course, mostly flat, but pretty exposed. Am trying the 25 mile version next weekend, if the wind drops I may be onto something...
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 22 minutes 34 seconds
Average speed: 26.587mph
Result: 47th out of 129 (which is an improvement: my entry time was 73rd fastest out of 140).
Up and down the A11... on another windy day, though not as brutal as the 100 last week.
Now, I've not had many performances I've been truly happy with of late: the Shaftesbury 10 (21:50) is the stand-out so far, but that was back in May and since then I've only done a couple of good club TTs and a few opens where I didn't shame myself (Lea Valley 10, Hounslow 100, Leo 30). Overall, however, I've been going badly. A mix of being over-tired and under-powered, plus the ever-present headwinds, which I've not been coping well with.
However, I'd taken my training easy this week and I'd started taking on copious amounts of fluid (i.e. 'drinking') from yesterday afternoon. I'd also put a bigger chainring on. Still, headed out to the E2/10 feeling a bit ominous because the wind was pretty strong...
...but I decided 5 miles into the headwind to start with was a drop in the ocean compared to the 50 miles into the headwind I did last week, so I went for it. Pushed really, really hard on the way out, and was going pretty fast by the time I got to the turn. I had a fast guy starting 2 minutes behind me, and I saw him entering the turn as I was exiting it... I then shifted up into 54x11 and went for it, managed to hold him off and he only (!) managed to put 1:49 into me. Moreover, Michael Hutchinson was riding and I finished within 3 minutes of his time, which I'm chuffed with. I also pushed harder because Gill (who did a 25:44)and Derek of the Willesden cheered me on: Derek claims to have read my Paris-Roubaix adventures, but his computer is currently broken, possibly as a result of having to cope with the size of that blog post! Derek used to *race* on cobbles back in the 60s, for which he gains my eternal respect.
A 22:34 is my 2nd fastest 10 time ever, which means I've done my 1st, 2nd and 5th fastest 10s on the E2/10 (all this year). It is a good course, mostly flat, but pretty exposed. Am trying the 25 mile version next weekend, if the wind drops I may be onto something...
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Shotley - Oyster Reach - Holbrook - Harkstead - Shotley
Bike: Condor
Distance: 18.15 miles
Time: 59 minutes 31 seconds
Average speed: 18.2 mph
Maximum speed: 32.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 1587.7 miles
A slight change of tack on the training front:
* last year, I was about 400 miles 'up' on where I am this year
* however, last year I did a lot more commuting - which meant a lot of 'easier' miles
So, given I have probably overdone it with hard training, I am going to go out at least once a week on a shortish, easy ride to unwind my legs. Tonight pootled round the peninsula - lovely evening for it, lots of golden light shining on the fields and rivers. Just a couple of maniac drivers, so not too bad.
Avoided the Plomesgate 10 tonight, because I want to be fresh for Saturday's race, even though the forecast is a bit pants.
Distance: 18.15 miles
Time: 59 minutes 31 seconds
Average speed: 18.2 mph
Maximum speed: 32.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 1587.7 miles
A slight change of tack on the training front:
* last year, I was about 400 miles 'up' on where I am this year
* however, last year I did a lot more commuting - which meant a lot of 'easier' miles
So, given I have probably overdone it with hard training, I am going to go out at least once a week on a shortish, easy ride to unwind my legs. Tonight pootled round the peninsula - lovely evening for it, lots of golden light shining on the fields and rivers. Just a couple of maniac drivers, so not too bad.
Avoided the Plomesgate 10 tonight, because I want to be fresh for Saturday's race, even though the forecast is a bit pants.
Wednesday, 9 July 2008
fantastique
Earlier I received an email about a university workshop concerning the prevention of procrastination for MA/PhD students. I ignored it because I was playing internet tetris. (Current best is 176 lines and 141,866 points).
But procrastination is no laughing matter. My desire to avoid writing means I now have a fantasy football team (cheers Iain) and a fantasy Tour de France team. My sketchy knowledge of Premier League football and professional cycling mean I'm unlikely to perform well, but would consider mid-table mediocrity an achievement. As the PhD wears on, I'm trying to avoid this becoming a maxim for life in general!
But procrastination is no laughing matter. My desire to avoid writing means I now have a fantasy football team (cheers Iain) and a fantasy Tour de France team. My sketchy knowledge of Premier League football and professional cycling mean I'm unlikely to perform well, but would consider mid-table mediocrity an achievement. As the PhD wears on, I'm trying to avoid this becoming a maxim for life in general!
further Brel-liance
I bought the 'best of' Jacques Brel off iTunes last night... £7.99 for 20 of his finer moments. It'll be nice to have some Brel on my iPod, but the studio versions don't quite capture him at his most incredible: you really need to see his expressions and his acting out of the songs. For example, here he is performing his classic break-up song 'Jef'. That's the version with the English subtitles, for a better sound quality (and more traditionally evocative setting) try this one. Vien!
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Shotley - Oyster Reach Wherstead - Shotley
Bike: Condor
Distance: 15.38 miles
Time: 42 minutes 00 seconds
Average speed: 21.8 mph
Maximum speed: 32.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 1568.2 miles
2 days after a 100 TT, and on a bike which is creaking from the BB, and without aerobars: I'm pleased with this evening's ride as it shows good recovery. I'm also trying to get out on the bike as much as possible (i.e. last night did 24 very easy miles) to try and get back in some kind of rhythm.
Lovely evening, too, after a pretty on-off day weather-wise. Sunshine dotted with rainclouds, interesting shadows being cast, great colours. Shame I couldn't really concentrate on the scenery...
Distance: 15.38 miles
Time: 42 minutes 00 seconds
Average speed: 21.8 mph
Maximum speed: 32.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 1568.2 miles
2 days after a 100 TT, and on a bike which is creaking from the BB, and without aerobars: I'm pleased with this evening's ride as it shows good recovery. I'm also trying to get out on the bike as much as possible (i.e. last night did 24 very easy miles) to try and get back in some kind of rhythm.
Lovely evening, too, after a pretty on-off day weather-wise. Sunshine dotted with rainclouds, interesting shadows being cast, great colours. Shame I couldn't really concentrate on the scenery...
Sunday, 6 July 2008
ECCA 100
Bike: Trek
Distance: 100 miles
Time: 4 hours 32 minutes 22 seconds
Average speed: 22.029mph
Yet another poor performance, can't remember the last time I enjoyed a TT or was happy with the result... will keep ploughing away though.
Hoped for good things from this 100 - the course involves 75 miles of quick dual carriageway, however it is also very exposed dual carriageway and there was a strong southerly wind. This meant we had 30 miles of tailwind to start, 20 miles of headwind, 20 miles of tailwind, 30 miles of headwind. The second batch of headwind was also much stronger than the first lot. In retrospect, should've pushed harder with the wind behind me.
I have a lot of impressions from the day, and may get round to writing them up, but am very busy at the moment. For now, did the first 50 miles in 2:08; got to 75 miles in 3:13. This left me with a good chance to get close to 4:20, but I just folded completely in the last section. Had kept myself well hydrated and I didn't bonk, but I couldn't find any speed or momentum into the wind. The last 8 miles were agony.
Distance: 100 miles
Time: 4 hours 32 minutes 22 seconds
Average speed: 22.029mph
Yet another poor performance, can't remember the last time I enjoyed a TT or was happy with the result... will keep ploughing away though.
Hoped for good things from this 100 - the course involves 75 miles of quick dual carriageway, however it is also very exposed dual carriageway and there was a strong southerly wind. This meant we had 30 miles of tailwind to start, 20 miles of headwind, 20 miles of tailwind, 30 miles of headwind. The second batch of headwind was also much stronger than the first lot. In retrospect, should've pushed harder with the wind behind me.
I have a lot of impressions from the day, and may get round to writing them up, but am very busy at the moment. For now, did the first 50 miles in 2:08; got to 75 miles in 3:13. This left me with a good chance to get close to 4:20, but I just folded completely in the last section. Had kept myself well hydrated and I didn't bonk, but I couldn't find any speed or momentum into the wind. The last 8 miles were agony.
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Talking Eds
If the two papers delivered at last week's conference weren't enough, I have two further speaking engagements this week. I should start charging for this.
Tomorrow is rather terrifying: I am representing my department at the LSE open day for prospective undergraduates. I have spent most of today writing a talk, and I think it may go very well, given I was an undergraduate at LSE and have now spent much of the last eight years there. It is a lot of responsibility though, and potentially controversial. I will have to curb my tendency for flippant remarks tomorrow...
...then, on Friday, I have to go to the local primary school to talk to year 6 about 'the 1990s'. Apparently they're very excited, not least because we're playing cricket afterwards and if I don't hit the ball over the fence, they're going to be disappointed.
I don't know which of these two appointments scares me most. Children ask some tough questions. When Andrew went in to talk about the 1970s, they asked him if he remembered the Titanic.
Tomorrow is rather terrifying: I am representing my department at the LSE open day for prospective undergraduates. I have spent most of today writing a talk, and I think it may go very well, given I was an undergraduate at LSE and have now spent much of the last eight years there. It is a lot of responsibility though, and potentially controversial. I will have to curb my tendency for flippant remarks tomorrow...
...then, on Friday, I have to go to the local primary school to talk to year 6 about 'the 1990s'. Apparently they're very excited, not least because we're playing cricket afterwards and if I don't hit the ball over the fence, they're going to be disappointed.
I don't know which of these two appointments scares me most. Children ask some tough questions. When Andrew went in to talk about the 1970s, they asked him if he remembered the Titanic.
Shotley - Holbrook - Oyster Reach - Shotley
Bike: Condor
Distance: 19.83 miles
Time: 59 minutes 41 seconds
Average speed: 19.9 mph
Maximum speed: 32.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 1528.5 miles
Yesterday afternoon I sponged the Condor down and put it back together, having barely looked at it since Paris-Roubaix. Amazingly, I managed this with only the minimal fuss (though maximum time - I was still going as it got dark): admittedly, I stripped the threads on the rear gear hanger, but Andrew managed to sort that out. The bike, however, is making an assortment of odd noises, notably a clicking from the handlebars, so I'll have to sort the clamping out. I'd like to think the majority of the noises are caused by the fact the bike was nearly destroyed by Paris-Roubaix rather than my mechanical ineptitude... the frame is certainly not as shiny as it once was, but at least the bike has a bit of history now. Mr. Panico will be delighted that I have cleaned the chain thoroughly, though I used a rag rather than old pants.
I did a cautious 18 miles on it this morning, as I had to go to town to pick up a package for mum. Then, this evening, after a long day slaving over a hot laptop, I went out for a pleasant 20-mile meander, periodically stopping to unfasten and retighten various items. Despite my lack of trust in my own handiwork, I hammered along at 32mph through Woolverstone and felt better on a bike than I did for most of the weekend...
Will compile June superstats at a later date - for now, on 1 July, I reached 4000 miles for the year so far.
Distance: 19.83 miles
Time: 59 minutes 41 seconds
Average speed: 19.9 mph
Maximum speed: 32.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 1528.5 miles
Yesterday afternoon I sponged the Condor down and put it back together, having barely looked at it since Paris-Roubaix. Amazingly, I managed this with only the minimal fuss (though maximum time - I was still going as it got dark): admittedly, I stripped the threads on the rear gear hanger, but Andrew managed to sort that out. The bike, however, is making an assortment of odd noises, notably a clicking from the handlebars, so I'll have to sort the clamping out. I'd like to think the majority of the noises are caused by the fact the bike was nearly destroyed by Paris-Roubaix rather than my mechanical ineptitude... the frame is certainly not as shiny as it once was, but at least the bike has a bit of history now. Mr. Panico will be delighted that I have cleaned the chain thoroughly, though I used a rag rather than old pants.
I did a cautious 18 miles on it this morning, as I had to go to town to pick up a package for mum. Then, this evening, after a long day slaving over a hot laptop, I went out for a pleasant 20-mile meander, periodically stopping to unfasten and retighten various items. Despite my lack of trust in my own handiwork, I hammered along at 32mph through Woolverstone and felt better on a bike than I did for most of the weekend...
Will compile June superstats at a later date - for now, on 1 July, I reached 4000 miles for the year so far.
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