Ride 04/05/2019

So finally after 2 weeks of not having my bike because it was in for it’s service I got out on the group Sat bun run. I was expecting this to harder than it was given I hadn’t ridden in 2 weeks but thankfully it was fine. I even bumped up the mileage as I wanted to ride 50 miles today and gain some lost performance so I rode home via Kingseat. I lead the ride most of the way around which was nice since I could set the pace and thus I was spot on 15 mph, my target for the day. Weather wise it was bloody cold and a bit windy, especially for May, but I had enough layers on to negate that

Distance 27.82 mi | Time 2:05:41 | Speed 13.3 mph | Elevation 1,775 ft

Source: Ride 20/04/2019

With the road bike in for it’s service this week I was out on the mountain bike, probably for the first time in 6 months or more. I kept this ride short as my saddle was on the road bike and the saddle on the mountain bike is not comfortable for very long. Decided to ride to work just to see how far it was and how long it could take me should I decide to ride to work one day. It’s fairly short, 13 miles or so and I did that in 50 mins on the mountain bike which means I can do it quicker on the road bike. Went a slight detour on the return journey just to give me some variety but my bum was getting sore towards the end. If I had my saddle I would cycle further but I don’t, maybe I need to invest in a second Brooks saddle

Evans Cycles Ride It Callander 2019

This Ride doesn’t get any easier each year 😫 sure it’s a sunny day but it’s still bloody cold, I had to clear the frost of my car before driving to Callander. The 15 mph headwind on the return leg didn’t help either especially riding around the Lochs it got quite blustery. But I did finish the ride without killing myself there have been years where I’ve barely made it back to the start of the ride. Thankfully this year wasn’t one of them, so 56 miles clocked up at an avg speed of 14 mph and I’ll live with that

Distance 42.92 mi | Time 2:52:53 | Speed 14.9 mph | Elevation 2,421 ft

Source: Garmin Connect

Another shitey weather day only windier than yesterday, so I decided to go alone as I could then ride at my pace and the distance I wanted rather than be dictated by the group. It’s been a while since I’ve done my leven loop so did that today as it would mean I wouldn’t be cycling headwind too long. Just as well because by the time I got to Kirkcaldy I was wet and cold with cycling into the wind and having the rain pelt me in the face all the way. Thankfully after leaving Kirkcaldy it was cross wind most of the way and I could get some speed up. So 42 miles clocked up at a slightly better avg speed than yesterday and next weekend is the Evans cycles Ride it event in Callander so lets hope for some better weather.

Distance 46.64 mi | Time 3:12:57 | Speed 14.5 mph | Elevation 2,375 ft

Source: Garmin Connect

Well it’s a dull wet day and I’m out with the 09:00 crew. Although not chucking it down it was still raining enough for me to be pretty wet by the time I got back home, even with wet gear on. Easy enough ride today, including going up knockhill, but of course that brings the avg down to 14 mph. Tomorrows not any better weather wise and I have no idea where we are going so we shall see

Ride 31/03/2019 pt1

Well today was the club 100 miles ride and oh boy was it hard. Even though I was going with the slower group I still suffered. Things were fine up to the cafe stop just after comrie but about 20 miles after that I ran out of energy We were in the Trossachs by this point int time and although we weren’t taking a particularly hilly route I had to drop off to stop and eat. I caught up with the group in Callander and was only able to keep up with them to Doune where I cramped up and had to stop again. I decided to part ways at this point and make my own way back and took the route with the least amount of resistance whilst stopping often to allow myself to recharge a bit. I reset the Garmin at Stirling which is why this is on 2 parts again. So 110 miles clocked up in about 7 hours 30 mins with an avg of 14 mph and 4500 feet of climbing. I think going forward I may need to do the long rides on my own, the club only stopped twice which is far too fee stops for me to make such a long distance, think I stopped about 5 times over the total distance which I don’t think the club would do.

Ride 31/03/2019 pt2

Distance 46.62 mi | Time 3:10:40 | Speed 14.7 mph | Elevation 2,631 ft

Source: Ride 30/03/2019

It’s a pleasant day weather wise so it’s out with the 09:00 guys rather than the wrecking crew, especially since I’m doing the 100 mile club run tomorrow. Nothing too strenuous, even going up knock hill was fine, hence the 14 mph average, roll on tomorrows 100 mile ride

Distance 19.04 mi | Time 1:11:47 | Speed 15.9 mph | Elevation 1,427 ft

Source: Ride 23/03/2019 pt2

Out with the wrecking crew this morning mainly due to the weather being dangerous tomorrow with very high winds so I wanted a bit of a workout this morning. So I am suitably wrecked now and shattered as even today was a windy day and I was even leading the group for a little while. Unfortunately I stopped the garmin at the cafe stop and then hit the wrong button to start it up again and ended up saving the ride rather than continuing it which is why this ride is in 2 parts. I decided to take it easy going up knockhill as I was knackered by this point and it was nice not having to hammer it up the hill Next weeks Sunday ride will be the first club 100 mile ride so I’ll be taking it easy next weekend to make sure I get home still in once piece.

Source: Ride 23/03/2019 pt1

Ride 17/02/2019

So no cycling last Sunday and yesterday thanks to the snow but I was able to get out today but that didn’t last long. I started out with the group up to Stirling but they were going to Doune today which was too far for me at their speed, so I decided I would peel off at Stirling and head back home via Alloa. This all feel to pieces by the time I hit Clackmannan where I got a puncture Unfortunately for me the new wheels I got for my bike in Jan are tubeless and I’m riding with tubes which made changing the tire and tube impossible. After an hour of trying to fix the puncture which resulted in 3 more punctures trying to get the tire back on I gave up in despair and called mum to come and pick me up and take me home. So I’m selling the new wheels and buying some more new clincher (tube) wheels in the hope I never have to go through that again. On the 8 years that I’ve been cycling I’ve never had to call someone to rescue me >:-( not a happy bunny and I only got 35 miles of the 50 miles that I wanted to do!

Distance 44.50 mi | Time 3:04:35 | Speed 14.5 mph | Elevation 2,431 ft

Source: Ride 09/03/2019

Out with the 09:00 crew in a windy mixed bag of weather day. The avg speed was 14 mph which is a bit on the slow side for me but of course this made the ride easy and I was leading a good chunk of the way. I think this was one of the reasons when I joined the club I started cycling with the fast crew, as the next level down was a bit on the slow side. So new strategy will be I’ll ride with the fast wrecking crew tomorrow and see how I get on and maybe I’ll alternate between the fast a slower groups to see if I can find a happy medium.

Ride 02/03/2019

I was out with the fast group this morning primarily because I’m not riding tomorrow and I know I can keep up with the guys on the shorter distance rides. Even though the stats say I had an avg speed of 15 mph it felt faster than that but again I wasn’t struggling to keep up today so may thats right. Anyhow next week I’ll go with the slower group both days and see how I get on.

Distance 75.25 mi | Time 4:25:56 | Speed 17.0 mph | Elevation 2,411 ft

Source: Ride 24/02/2019

Well today the fast group went psycho warp speed on me and went an avg 19 mph for the first 40 miles to the cafe stop! This absolutely destroyed me so I parted way after the cafe stop and went my own way home and at my speed. It was still a long ride for me clocking up 75 miles and I averaged 17 mph which I’m very happy with but I think this will be my last ride with the fast group as they are killing me every weekend and I’m not getting any faster myself. I’m riding at my limits all the time and I suspect this isn’t conducive to my health and it’s definitely not making for a fun ride. Starting next weekend I’ll be dropping to the slower group like I did yesterday and hopefully I can start to enjoy my rides again.