Category Archives: Cycling Challenges

Kiss Me Quick, Ride Me Slowly – #July150 Started

By 19 commentsCycling Challenges, Diabetes, Rides, , , ,

You’ve probably already read a few blogs about the Manchester to Blackpool bike ride on Sunday, so I’m just going to mention a few of my personal highlights and hope that you identify with them too.

Bumping Into Friends

Despite not quite meeting at the start as we’d planned, Jon of Riding The Moor fame arrived at the Standish rest stop just after I did.  His chat, his encouragement  and his Ibuprofen were very welcome for the next 25 miles or so.  As he contemplated heading off whilst I checked my blood sugars, Emma came over so we enjoyed a few minutes, then she bought me a brew as Jon buggered off.  I must say that it was the nicest brew I’ve had in a long time, and the company was good too!

My Diabetes.

I packed just 2 SIS gels and 2 Decathlon-special ceral choccy banana bars.  A good porridge breakfast at home was consumed and I didn’t test my sugar until my first break, 25 miles in at Standish.  It was  3.3 mmol/l (59.4 in American) – Whoops!  I hastily necked one of the gels and one of the bars with my litre of water.

At Preston, another 18 miles or so later, I tested again.  This time, 5.5 mmol/l (99 to our friends over the water).  Cool!  I may actually have found a system!  The final gel and cereal bar went down along with the brew Emma bought me.

So from now on, my secret is 20g CHO in gel form plus 29g CHO in complex form per 20 miles of hard riding.  Sorted.  I’ll work with it for few rides and let you know how it works.  Or how long I’m in the hospital for 😉

Not Getting Off.

There’s a steep hill just outside Kirkham, about 50 miles or so into the ride.  It’s not nice.  I managed it in 2nd gear.  Yes, second gear.  Normally that’s just too bloody spinnyto even contemplate, but on Sunday the granny ring was my friend.

On the front at Lytham, the wind was ridiculous.  I was actually buffeted.  Sometimes the windfeels a bit gusty but, bloody hell, the wind on Sunday was in fine form!  The only benefot was from a beaty point of view.  I mean, riding North along the coast meant that the skin on the left side of my face is now wonderfully exfoliated – ladies, take note!  If you ever want beautifully smooth skin, ride by the coast on a b*stard of a windy day!  Another half an hour of that and I’ve have looked like Skeletor.

Achieving A Goal.

It’s 9 years since i completed the Manchester to Blackpool bike ride.  On Sunday, it felt better than ever.  I’ve raised about £300 for the Hospice where my Mum and I said goodbye, and I’ve made some fantastic friends in the process of getting myself motivated to do it.  I’m proud of myself, my family are proud of me and my Mum would be proud too.

Thanks, all of you. Here’s the map.

The #July150 – Sign Up Here

By 22 commentsCycling Challenges, Rides, , , ,

It Had To Happen.

The #June100 has spawned a monster.  It’s Summer, it’s dry (so far) and we’re all loving our cycling, so here it is, sign up right here for the #July150 Cycling Challenge:

The rules are just the same as before.  Clock your leisure miles and just do more than 150 in the calendar month.  You can log your commute miles too but there’s no official kudos for that.

The Official #July150 Spreadsheet

You can look at the spreadsheet here.  Once you get your login details, you can Sign In to it and punch your information in throughout the month.  Please don’t break it!

Right. Enough said.  Please forward a link to this post to any cyclist you know, let’s try and beat the 31 participants we had in the #June100 (thanks!).

Join the #July150 and enjoy your cycling!

Yaay! #June100 Completed

By 33 commentsCycling Challenges, Photography, Rides, , , ,

Thank You!

Two remarkable things happened the other night.

  1. I went for a ride after a carvery meal out;
  2. I completed the #June100 challenge, doing my first 100 mile month in, probably, EVER.

It was Friday evening and I’d given up hope of getting any cycling done.  I had Avon orders to submit, we were late home from work and my OH’s Dad was moving home.  Not an auspicious outlook for the day’s riding.

But, things went a bit better than that.  We realised I could put the Avon order in on Saturday; the home moving had gone extremely well; and we decided to go for a local carvery meal rather than cook at home.

The 3 M’s: Motivation, Meat and Momentum.

A plateful of beef, turkey, gammon and all the trimmings is usually a signal for the evening to end.  Add to this a pint of San Miguel and normally you’d have two hopes of getting me to exercise – and one of those would be Bob.

But… the June100 had other ideas!  I knew I was only 2.74 miles short of target and it was a beautiful evening.  So when we got home, bellies full, I filled my drinks bottle, got the shed key and gritted my teeth.  I was going to do it.

As you can see, I did it… and it was a fantastic evening ride, just in time to see a stunningly beautiful sunset over Hollingworth Lake.  The phone’s camera doesn’t do it full justice, but I still love this photo and I’ll always remember it as the one I took after completing the June100 challenge.

What Next?

It’s been a great month for me and it’s not quite over yet. Last night, I put the new slicks onto the Focus Fat Boy ready for this Sunday’s Manchester to Blackpool bike ride.  Tonight I’m hoping to give them a quick blast out on the roads just to make sure I’m not going to get any pinch flats when I put a few miles in.

The difference in rolling speed will be interesting too – I’m hoping I can get past the magical 30mph mark on the way back down into Littleborough from t’Lake this time!

After tonight’s ride, the June100 will be over for me, so I’d like to thank all those who’ve kept me going over the last few weeks.  It’s been emotional and I’m amazed how many have stuck it out, motivating me (and hopefully everyone else) through the challenge.  22 out of 31 riders have already done it, and I think more will finish over the next 2 nights.

Thank you all.  I love you (though not in the biblical sense, and I don’t want your babies) and you’ve been a massive help.

Now, about this #July150…. ! 🙂

The Nearly Man (#June100 Jealousy)

By 17 commentsCycling Challenges, Rides, , ,

Nearly Is Nowhere.

Tuesday…

I’d planned to complete my #June100 on Tuesday, by hitting a nice 15 mile ride on a Tuesday: an evening where our home routines usually allow me plenty of free time.  It didn’t happen.

Working late (both the OH and myself); shopping; brownies… each of these things conspired to make our evening meal fairly late and as a consequence my ride simply didn’t happen.  I sulked for a couple of hours like a spoiled kid.  This is the negative aspect of being positively motivated to ride, I suppose 🙁

Wednesday…

I had half a day off to watch some football team with the lads from work.  We watched our national team’s long-overdue reasonable performance at the place where we also play 5-A-Side each Wednesday.  The half day holiday gave me the chance to get home, get changed and get the Fat Boy out.

It’s less than 2 miles to Soccer Village from home.  Hardly enough to get me the 15 I needed.  Nevertheless I headed out there and tucked my bike behind the bar while we watched the match.  After the game on the telly, we had a proper game on the pitch and (as usual) my legs weren’t worked very hard.  I’m a lazy sonofabitch.

So…. I took the long way home, treading the fine line between accruing mileage and missing my tea.  Two laps of Hollingworth Lake, back home then an extra little lap by the brook to Milnrow and alongside Firgrove playing fields, until my time ran out.

The Ride Showing Speed via Google Earth

The Ride Showing Speed via Google Earth

I was moaning last week about not being able to hit the 30mph mark on the run down from t’Lake to the canal, if you remember…

Nearly!

#June100 mileage:  97.26 🙁
Max. Speed:              29.7 mph 🙁

Despite the miles on a very pleasant afternoon, and a decent result (at last) for the boys in South Africa, I was left unsatisfied.

Ah well, at least I know I’ll hit the 100 on my next ride out, unless I have a Jon-style broken bike/self incident! 🙂  Probably Saturday. Meh.

Almost There – #June100 Miles

By 9 commentsCycling Challenges, Photography, Rides, ,

15 Miles To Go!

On Saturday, it was a bit gloomy and cooler than recently, but N1S and I threw an extra layer on and headed our for a lovely loop.  For once, we stayed away from t’Lake and headed South.  We used the cut through Firgrove playing fields to get to Milnrow, then ducked down Buckley Lane to play around on the empty cycle paths of Kingsway Business Park (which is still largely empty thanks to a global recession and crappy local Government).

From there we joined the canal and headed to Castleton.  Surprisingly, some holidaymakers were negotiating the lock on their barge, which made for a nice photo-opportunity.  N1S helped them with the lock gates and then off we went, leaving the canal at Stakehill and starting the climb up Thornham Lane.  Most of the way up there is a little pub called “The Tandle Hill Tavern” where apparently the landlady is only 20 years old.  Well, regardless of her tender years she did a good job of presenting us with 2 cokes (diet for me) and 2 bags of mini cheddars.

Up and over Thornham Lane we went, before realising we were running short of time and deciding to take the most direct route back to the canal and home.

Just over 13 miles and a couple of very pleasant hours bonding with my boy:   Sweet.

Fathers’ Day Bonus

As an added highlight, my kids bought me the Banksy book.  It’s a tenner at HMV and you should buy it.  Very beautiful graffiti, and very though-provoking commentary.

My kids are way too cool 🙂

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