Pedal to Paris

The day after I rode to Acipino I drove the road going to Setenil, it was scary in a car seeing how steep it was, it didn't seem so bad on the bike. If I driven over before riding I may never have gone.

Just back from a weeks holiday in Spain. We went to Ronda in Andalucia. A beautiful mountainous area. I hired a bike for my time there; didn't want to chance my bike in the hold of the plane. Went riding most days, near to where we were staying was a place called Ronda de la Vieja, also known as Acipino - a Roman site on top of a mountain. It's at 1001 metres so it is a mountain, just. I decided I would ride up. A trip of about 16 kilometres 12 of them uphill. I managed it even if it did take an hour and forty minutes to get there. My first mountain!. Only took 40 minutes to come down although I was braking a lot as I didn't want to go over the edge. The riding also gave me a chance to do several long climbs - over 4 kilometres. Theres not many climbs around Watford of that sort of length. The drivers are great over there when it comes to cyclists, very aware and give lots of room. I'll upload some pictures.
Got my weight down below 100k now and I've started the full commute. 20 miles in in the morning and then 20 miles home in the evening. Unsurprisingly I'm tired and going to bed early.
While I was away my computer crashed, completely, so it's gone in for repair and I'm using a loan model. Also lost all my files including all the files I'd saved for my website so I may have to start again.....

Finally started the commuting; Kennington to home in Watford.It's about 20 miles, took me 1hr 43mins. But this was the first time and it was home at the end of a work day. I rode to the station at Watford in the morning, then train to Euston and cycle to Kennington. Once it gets light a bit earlier I'll start the cycle both ways. 40 miles a day seems a good way to build up the miles.
I now need to find a group to ride with at the weekends to get used to group riding and get the speed up.

Just did some gym work today, warm up on the bike of about 30 minutes then some wieghts. Nothing heavy light wieghts and 15 reps. Then leg press, 120k was an easy 15, 125k still not hard, and 130 wasn't hurting so I'm happy with leg strength. I'll start build those wieghts up over the next month or so. Ended with 20 minutes on the glidex doing intervals. Had a swim and steam room to finish. Good day just keeping the muscles moving. Today was my birthday, a celebration meal at Fifteen topped things off nicely, now I'll have to work harder tomorrow to make up for it.

Sunday was a recovery day this week with my whole family at the house for my fiftieth birthday on Saturday. Cooked a Bouillabaisse for 16, a slab of belly pork on the barbeque and some steaks.Plenty of wine and good conversation. I controlled myself, only about 3 glasses of wine and only one small piece of cake.
Monday back on the bike and into the gym. No bad side effects from the party, heart working fine, legs felt good and my weight at 101k.

Cycled up to the gym this morning, a bit damp but at least the weather is moving into spring. Nice and warm today. A good hard session spinning and the cycle there and back a whole 1342 calories burnt. Breakfast was porridge with honey, made half and half water and milk. Then when I got back scrambled egg (2) on toast for lunch.
As the family are coming around tonight to celebrate my fiftieth birthday the calory count may just go over today. Never mind. You can support the poppy bike ride here just click and donate with gift aid on the web site

I will be updating about my training here on the blog.

I've got my weight down to just over 100k. Still too heavy and a way to go. You can see my goals here at Pedal to Paris

This will be my training log. At the moment most of my training is in the gym. I just have this strange aversion to cycling on ice. I think it has something to do with falling off. however I've done 4 spin sessions at the gym this week and should get 2 more in. If the weather just creeps up a little I'll be cycling this weekend.

I'm eating about 2000 calories a day but not being obsessive about it. with training I'm burning about 3500 cal. I should be able to reach my goals that way.