Well Done The Water Rats

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Holiday weekend!

I should be enjoying the weekend more but work is so stressful at the moment that I can't relax.

We went for dinner at the Red Deer last night and it was a bit of a disaster. Service was slow, they lost our order and they'd run out of Stella! It took 90 minutes after arriving to get any food. Still, it's all in the recovery and they redeemed themselves by waiving payment. We'll be back.

It's the Bishopbriggs triathlon today so I'll head over there to support The Water Rats and take some pictures!

Meanwhile I'm watching the last part of The Following which primarily takes place in the dark so I've no idea what's happening.



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New clobber

I collected my new kit from the Albertos last night. This time last year I was just about to submit my application for the cycle to work scheme; who would have thought that a year down the line I would have been eagerly anticipating my latest batch of lycra!

Coincidentally, I saw a question on the cycle chat forum that I frequent regarding the “correct” clothes to wear. I saw this reply – it’s close to the truth!

Be very carefull ! It starts off innocently enough when you think "those clip in shoes seem like a good idea", and of course, they are. But then, you've now crossed the line into the "needing special shoes" for an activity, and it's very hard to pull back from this. Next thing, you start thinking that a pair of those special shorts might be more comfy, and it'll save messing round with tucking trousers in socks. Again, these are quite good, so when winter comes, better get some long 'uns. And those with braces seem a good idea too. Next thing you know you find you've bought yourself one of those jackets with pockets in the back, semi windproof - it's only a jersey after all; where's the harm in that ? By this time it's too late, head to foot in lycra, the proverbial MAMIL.

I though I could handle it, so be warned. Just say "no" to drugs the special shoes

Springtime ????

The cold snowy weather continues and I didn’t get out on my bike at all this weekend. I’m a bit concerned at the lack of miles that I’m managing to put in.



Back to back spin classes tonight should stretch my legs though! Then it’s onto our Hebrides trip planning meeting. I do wish that I was less of a planner and more of a doer. I find myself obsessing over the smallest details such as whether we do Barra clockwise or anticlockwise. My tine would be better spent on a bicycle getting the miles in.





I’ve been looking at the Glympse app for when we are away. It allows location sharing on a temporary basis and will permit updates to be sent to individuals, Facebook, Twitter etc.



I’ve also looked at the cell coverage for 3 in the Outer Hebrides. Pretty poor to be honest. So I’ve sent off for a Vodafone PAYG sim that should last for the duration of the trip.



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A Mixed Weekend

I finished Super Saturday training and found a text on my phone to tell me that my aunt had died. She has been ill for some time but it still comes as a shock. I hadn’t seen her for some time and was quite surprised how upset I felt at her passing. I guess it’s for those left behind rather than those departed. I feel for my cousins who have lost their mother and for my own mum, who has lost her sister-in-law, oldest friend and closest connection with her late brother all in one.
But then it was lovely to catch up with my eldest daughter, her fiancé and my gorgeous grandson. It was nice of them to make the effort to drive the 350 miles to see us. They’re getting married next year so every penny counts which makes it all the nicer.
The weather on Sunday was too bad for cycling. On Monday I enjoyed a day off and didn’t go to the gym whilst today the forecast of snow was so bad I didn’t bother. My diet’s gone a bit to pot over the last couple of weeks and I’m going to have to force myself to stand on the scales and give myself a fright!
The Water Rats do the Hebrides.
We now have a website and a meeting next week to discuss the accommodation options and the overall costs. Exciting stuff but I need to get stuck into the training!
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First bike ride that I've paid to enter

As per title:

I've paid 25 pounds to enter the Highland Perthshire Challenge in August. I'm doing the 50 mile route which should (!) be well within my capabilities. Last year 92 people finished the course and 4 didn't complete.

I'd like to be in the top 50% which, on last year's times, means around 3 hours 30 minutes. That's an average speed of 14.3 mph without allowing for stops.

It's something to aim for.


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Interval Training Done

Back to back intervals classes this morning. Both classes were hard work and I almost bottled out of the second class. Almost, but not quite. That was my first time on a bike in a week – almost unheard of now. The 40 minute sessions were made up of



Warm Up 5 minutes

10 sets of

2 minutes @ 90 rpm in gear 17

1 minute @ 100 rpm in gear 11

Cool Down 5 minutes



By the middle of the second class I was knackered and could just manage gear 16.



The class sets a benchmark so that I can work on improving my power output although it depends on getting the same bike. As always, it’s time that’s a problem. I don’t want to over train and end up with muscle depletion but if I try to do everything – lose fat, get cycle fit and add strength – it is highly likely I’ll fail them all. They’re all closely linked so it’s difficult to judge it right. I’m probably over thinking it all anyway.



My attempts to cut down on sugar have not got off to a flying start. After my classes, porridge and protein shake, I was still hungry so fed my face with a scone and jam. I’ll see towards the end of the day how that leaves my macros or whether I’ll have to adjust my intake later.



It’s been hinted that the Dunoon ride may be a bit OTT for me. Not sure yet.



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