Stage 3! The suffering begins.....

Today was stage 3 From Antwerp to Hoy, 100 miles. Today was the hottest yet, 38c around Liege. Struggling to keep on top of fluids, despite a litre per hour all day! 

The last climb up to Hoy was fun. Watch for it when the pros do. It's 19% for a good whack, but I kept thinking I've done hardknott pass and that was much steeper!! 

Few moments of 'realisation' today over what the Tour De France is really about. My legs felt strong, almost 15 ave, at 138ave heart rate (but that was not accurate as was close to heat stroke at 1pm!!). 

Now at a camp site, sadly it's quite a 'loud' happening camp site. Hope I get a good nights sleep as tomorrow is the longest day of the tour, 138 miles. I'm expecting a 8am to 8pm ride! 

Stage 2!

Thought I would use todays blog to document the humour of the Tour De France. Here are some comical moments from the last two days.

1) Bryan (driver) trying to close the van door after having a toilet trip at 4am. Door wouldn't close. 13 slams later. In the morning "Did I wake you last night?"

2) Amazing tan lines already!

4) No, my bike is not electric sir.

5) missing the finish line and cycling a further 5km. Then sat at bus stop in the shade with some 'Cool teenagers' who found my bike and yellow cap hilarious! 

The reality of the project.... It's all about logistics!

You might think (or hope) I would be busy training with 1 week to go but it seems I am even more busy doing final planning and camp site bookings! Plus sorting flights and transfers for the 3 drivers. Oh plus all the insurance head aches with having 3 drivers on the motorhome! The list goes on! Had some interviews with Netherlands and Norway TV today, plus cycling weekly magazine so the interest is starting to grow in the project!

 

I hope to get out on my bike 1 day this week, promise!

Bad news comes in 3's.....

Ok have to admit last week was one I'd rather not repeat. Had to cancel my Lake District 5 day climbing camp due to contracting food poisoning from rice, only now starting to feel human again. My long term right sided lower back injury reared its ugly head again, with consequent knee pain. This is being urgently attended to, thanks to Mo, sports injury therapist, Martin, masseur, and Dave Wordsworth, physio. Lastly, the driver for the motorhome very sadly had to pull out, leaving a mad dash to find a replacement driver, just two weeks out. The whole week has been spent either on the phone or on the treatment bed getting my back fixed. Good news is.... Knee and back improving, stomach is now almost back to normal, plus

I'm only 2lbs off my target weight, and I now have 3 drivers for the trip! Result!!!!

Training camp!

This Sunday I plan to start a 5 training camp in the Lake District, using some of the lake districts famous climbs like Whinlatter and kirkstone pass. Although they are much shorter climbs than those I will be encountering in France I plan to simply (!) do hill reps on each. Over a 80 mile course in the lakes it's fairly easy to knock up ascent totals of 3000m, so I'm pretty confident that 5 days of this will really boost my climbing strength. Of course.... I'm still going to suffer like a dog in the Pyrenees, but that's the tour for you :)

June update

Having realised not everyone following me uses social media i plan to keep a blog each day leading upto and during the event itself!

So we're in June. Things just for serious! Huge focus on climbing for next 3 weeks. Huge focus on core and flexibility. The latter being essential for handling a chopper bike up and down hills. The bike is very unforgiving on corners and even in a straight line at speed. Improving on my core conditioning has been a priority this year, but it's really been stepped up this last few weeks..... And happy to say already feeling the benefits. Far less high speed wobbles! 

Below is a pic of me enjoying the sun at top of Clieves hill, my local hill with a massive 29 metres of ascent. I know. Mind blowing climb ha ha

Progress!

Sunday 15th Feb was a great day for cycling, lovely sunny morning and fairly mild for feb! I covered 85 miles on the chopper, at an ave of 15.2mph. I did two key climbs, Stoney and hunters hill, both done in gear 1 (spinning). I usually like gear 2 and out of the saddle but as I was planning a longer ride than normal I opted for energy conservation. This is me being sensible. I do have a habit of attacking climbs, but understand I can't do this on each mountain in the tour! 

Legs felt great at the end of the 85 miles, a good sign my winter base endurance

miles are paying off.

Total for the week was 334 miles, on either MTB (with panniers) or chopper, so a good week for feb.