Geoff's Big Day Out

I'm writing this with my feet up on the sofa, an empty 100 gram chocolate bar wrapper on the table next to me and a beer in hand. I've already demolished an XXL pizza. Why you ask? Well it's simple... Today was my longest ride BY FAR in 7 months.

I covered 97 miles, riding from Barnt Green near Bromsgrove, to Cheltenham and back via Broadway in the Cotswolds. You can see the ride details on my Strava feed to the right. I rode with Geoff Thomas again - in an attempt to get him into some sort of shape prior to his 'Tour De France One Day Ahead'. The aim had been to cover 100 miles, but despite our best attempt at getting lost, we fell short by just a couple of miles. However, a 25% gradient half way around and a constant headwind for the return leg more than made up for the short coming in miles.

If you're from the Cheltenham area, you may well be familiar with Stockwell Lane - probably the hardest route up Cleeve Hill...

The ride was punctuated by a cafe stop in Bishop's Cleeve and a fish and chip lunch stop in Broadway (Russell's Fish and Chips - surely the best in the country - see below??!). This may seem excessive, but both of us genuinely needed the carbs to get round! Of course, we could have used gels and powders etc... but they could never taste as nice could they?!

Despite the vast carbohydrate intake, it's fair to say that Geoff and I were both feeling the miles towards the end... In fact, for the last 30 miles or so! Each and every lump in the road seemed to slow us to a near standstill! However, we did both survive to finish back at Geoff's house after riding for just a smidgen under 6 hours! Not a bad average speed (16.3mph) considering the wind and terrain!!

Without a doubt, I shall sleep well tonight!

A bit more time on my hands!

So, lately I've had just a little bit more time on my hands than normal. I've used the time to see more of the family, but also of course, to try and get out on the bike a bit more!

The first ride of note was last Saturday's time trial. It was only a 10 miler, but I managed a decent enough time on a cold and blustery day. I finished 3rd. I definitely didn't expect that! The ride was plagued by a 'Full English' repeating on me, so I rode just below the intensity I would normally ride at in an effort not to throw up! It just about worked. There's another time trial tomorrow night and another again on Saturday. I'll not be scoffing bacon and sausages before those!

Today I also rode up the Wrekin Hill. It was the first time I went up with any real effort in a while. I didn't really enjoy it - nor did I do a particularly impressive time - 2.30 mins down on my fastest. But, it's a start. Maybe by the end of the year I'll get a Strava KOM up there!

I've also decided to keep lifting weights throughout the Summer. Mainly because I hate feeling weak! Every time I watch someone lifting an Olympic bar I get envious... So, despite the fact it won't help me lose the weight I could do with losing in order to ride up hills faster, I'm willing to sacrifice some cycling performance for a body that doesn't feel like it couldn't punch its way out of a paper bag!

Riding with Geoff Thomas - 10 years after the first Tour De France!

So, today I took a well-earned day off from the usual work jobs of teaching and marking. Instead, I 'practiced what I preach', by taking former England footballer, friend and Cancer Survivor Geoff Thomas out for his first training ride in preparation for his 'Tour de France 1 Day Ahead'. If you've not heard about this yet, then in short, Geoff is riding the route of this years Tour De France 1 day ahead of the professionals, to raise money for Cure Leukaemia - a charity that is comitted to bringing the latest cancer drugs onto the UK market for use by cancer patients.

Geoff is an experienced cyclist and of course an ex professional sportsman... and yet he still requires some input once in a while to get motivated and get the training in that needs to be done if he is to make it around France. It was good to help out in this respect and we have some more rides planned in up until the July start of the event itself. There's not much time left for Geoff to get his training in, but his first Tour De France (10 years ago) was trained for in a simlar fashion (except last time he was only just out of treatment!), so I'm confident he'll yet again complete the route and fingers crossed, raise the £1 million he hopes for Cure Leukaemia.

Geoff actually coped really well - I was surprised by a) his slightly less 'hill adverse' attitude - possibly because he realises it's 'now or never' for his physical preparation! b) his strong climbing given that he'll happily admit to not being a regular rider of late and c) his greatly reduced 'fuel tank' capacity - which he puts down to avoiding 'beige foods' i.e. carbohydrates...

It was great to be out in the Shropshire Hills again. I really must make a concerted effort to do longer rides more often... children, wife and job permitting, I'll be aiming for a long ride every couple of weeks as a minimum!

I'll keep you posted on Geoff's progress!

If you want to read more about Geoff's challenge, then go to www.beforethetour.com 

Paul