Today's Bike Ride

[Hanneke]

Interesting indeed ST! Good luck and enjoy!

Yesterdays bikeride: vet's session on the track... 3 hours of being beasted by 40+ men and don't think they go easy on me But my sheer determination and bigger gear made me hang into the 10 mile scratch race... was in the sub-bunch, then with 5 laps to go bridged the gap, on my own, the others hanging on my wheel... then I made a tactical error... I should have let the four fast guys at the front do their turns and just sit in on their wheels till the last lap... but I tried wrestling myself in and therefore lost it in the sprint finish... still, 5th place, not bad for a little old lady like me

This morning: 2 min reps at 45ish kms/hr with 1 minute recoveries x 8 ekkkk...

1.5 hrs of spinning at 100+ cadence awaits for later and a 25m TT tomorrow morning, followed by marshalling a fell race on top of Mynydd Llangorse Busy? Me? Nah

[emmilou]

yowsers hardcore were you ironmanning?? did you have to run bowlegged??

fancy this ride then em?
x

PS 20mph i can't imagine going that fast 14mph is my fastest sof ar. how you guys all out in the week??

I was IM'ing yeah. Not sure I'll be up for that Jo, BG season and all I could well have a few favours to repay!!

Yeah, some of the roads are a bit of a handful, but a few surprise you & are an absolute treat. The B4501 past Llyn Brenig & through Cerrigydrudion to Bala was - mostly - sweeeet .

Is that the road that's on the Bala half IM course?? It's lovely along there, I like that course now it's an out and back - get to wave alot!

Doing the Howgill Hammer sportive tmrw with the missus. Never done one before and whilst i'm fit at the mo, i'm not much of a biker. Should be interesting....

How did it go?

Well, finally got round to picking the pink peril up yesterday from the bike shop after the wee service and gear cable fiddling!! Couldn't refuse to go out on it this morning despite being barred Nipped out for 50 miles, nice big loop on pretty quiet Lancashire lanes heading out to Croston, Rufford, Mawdesley way etc. Was on a time limit so had to peg it back, had 10 miles to do in not very much time at all.... ooo my poor little legs - jelly or what?! sheesh you can tell I haven't ridden the bike in MONTHS, came home flopped on the chair and promptly fell asleep for an hour!

Not sure what the average was for Daz's little black book as the bike shop took my computer off whilst servicing it and forgot to put it back on, so it's still in the shop! Suppose I'll have to go and do it again sometime then?!

[(notsomuchofa)Fellrunner]

Hi Emm, I was only on the Bala Middle out & back part of the course for the 3 or 4 miles leading into Bala.

I did the Bala Middle last year, it was a hoot. During one recce we were blessed with a tailwind down "that" hill & hit 54mph. When did you do it?

Any tips for IMFrance?

[emmilou]

Hi Emm, I was only on the Bala Middle out & back part of the course for the 3 or 4 miles leading into Bala.

I did the Bala Middle last year, it was a hoot. During one recce we were blessed with a tailwind down "that" hill & hit 54mph. When did you do it?

Any tips for IMFrance?

I did it in 2008 as a warm up for the IM!! Ooo are you doing IM France? eeek, well it'll be HOT! The swim course is a mare, well was, they had blue bouy's or boo-ies as our friends over the pond say that weren't exactly huge making sighting a flippin pain. Blue bouys, blue sky, blue ocean....HELLO!! Have you done a sea swim one before? Can give you heaps of tips but you may already know a lot of them!! Take some chewing gum and stick it in the bento box as it's great for getting rid of the sea water salty taste as you get going on the bike. The aid stations were just bloody banana's and power gels so if you are used to something else take it with you and tape lots to your stems and top tube etc. Don't hang around at the aid stops, grab and go, saves loads of time and there is a bike cut off but I'm sure you'll be fine..I was. Take the climbs steady they are massive - think tour de france!! some proper hairpins...amazing bike course absolutely stunning. Most of all...errr enjoy!! Oh the mara is up and down the prom de anglais, the curb at the far end feels like a bloody mountain the last time you get it, and you'll never be so please to see a hairband (chou chou!) again!!

[Hanneke]

First time ever I have done a 'double' training wise... and that the day before a race!

But I trust my friends advice, so I am sure it was good for me...

[(notsomuchofa)Fellrunner]

I did it in 2008 as a warm up for the IM!! Ooo are you doing IM France? eeek, well it'll be HOT! The swim course is a mare, well was, they had blue bouy's or boo-ies as our friends over the pond say that weren't exactly huge making sighting a flippin pain. Blue bouys, blue sky, blue ocean....HELLO!! Have you done a sea swim one before? Can give you heaps of tips but you may already know a lot of them!! Take some chewing gum and stick it in the bento box as it's great for getting rid of the sea water salty taste as you get going on the bike. The aid stations were just bloody banana's and power gels so if you are used to something else take it with you and tape lots to your stems and top tube etc. Don't hang around at the aid stops, grab and go, saves loads of time and there is a bike cut off but I'm sure you'll be fine..I was. Take the climbs steady they are massive - think tour de france!! some proper hairpins...amazing bike course absolutely stunning. Most of all...errr enjoy!! Oh the mara is up and down the prom de anglais, the curb at the far end feels like a bloody mountain the last time you get it, and you'll never be so please to see a hairband (chou chou!) again!!

Cheers for taking the time to reply Emma. I'm on a bit of a steep learning curve - as my first tri was Harlech sprint in April last year - so every report I read I'm able to pick up something. The descents & the heat concern me, but the scale of the swim - length & number of people - scares my pants off. I think I'll have to find a happy place .

Bought one of those sun visors today, what an arse, eh ?

[daz h]

Attachment 3073

114 miles for me. Up into the Peak District on my own. Loads of Upping and Hills. Some nice descents as well but god knows how much climbing.

Matlock, Bakewell, On up the A6, right to Millers Dale, Tideswell, Wardlow, Monsal Head, Ashford in the Water, back down A6, 10 min stop for Coca Cola, Dwn to Derby, on past the Airport, Nottingham then home

Hit the 100mile mark and took a picture of my Garmin. 18.2 average, and 5hrs 29mins.
Felt good after having a massage yesterday. I probably could have done 5hrs 15mins if pushed but not much quicker than that in the Peak District.
Too many damm hills, BUT I love them.

Loads of bikies out today but didnt want or get a toe off any. Makes me want to join a club and give it a proper go again like years ago.

[emmilou]

Cheers for taking the time to reply Emma. I'm on a bit of a steep learning curve - as my first tri was Harlech sprint in April last year - so every report I read I'm able to pick up something. The descents & the heat concern me, but the scale of the swim - length & number of people - scares my pants off. I think I'll have to find a happy place .

Bought one of those sun visors today, what an arse, eh ?

hmmm, well I'm sorry I can't pretend the swim is going to be a breeze, it's dog eat dog out there be prepared to get kicked, swam over and basically petrified! A happy place is certainly needed. The bike course is great, honest....the descents are wonderful but the roads are nothing like here and a lot quieter. Be careful of the motorbike officials the slightest bit of drafting is a BIG no no and you'll be pulled up for it. Watch out for the mid section - some nasty bits of road, lots of punctures for some people although I managed to survive that thankfully. The 75 mile point is a horrible, by then you've had enough BUT just after the little section that's a slight out and back there's a col to climb but not a massive one then it's pretty much down hill (ish) certainly a LOT of climb on this course and the fact that it's a 112 mile loop doesn't give you much chance to get familiar with it before hand or know what's coming as you have already gone by in the other direction! Sometimes I think it's best not too know.

If it's any consolation I'd done a funny odd distance tri in the spring, the half IM then the IM and that was it! if i can haul myself round and finish the thing then you can. I'd recommend a cap/buff/visor etc especially for the run, I thought the run would be cool as is on the prom but sorry to say it was worse The officials had hose pipes to spray over us all and people were dropping like flies but then it could just have been an exceptionally hot year?? Just keep those fluids up. You'll feel amazing when you've done it though

[Toffer]

Nice ride Dazza. Good sleep Emmi

Well, good news to report. Clamped the Ridley into the turbo for the first time since my hospital sojourn and managed to get my leg over and spent 30 mins idling along on the patio. Good to be on the way back Not allowed out for a few more weeks though, bone healing required. Think I will fed up of the patio by May
Ooh, a picce to prove it....

[emmilou]

Nice ride Dazza. Good sleep Emmi

Well, good news to report. Clamped the Ridley into the turbo for the first time since my hospital sojourn and managed to get my leg over and spent 30 mins idling along on the patio. Good to be on the way back Not allowed out for a few more weeks though, bone healing required. Think I will fed up of the patio by May
Ooh, a picce to prove it....

I know...can you believe it...snoooooooozing?!!

Good stuff Toffer you'll soon be back to 'bouncing' form!!