THE ULTIMATE TRIATHLON

Click Here to read about my New Zealand tour in preparation for my attempt at cycling the Tour de France route in June

Saturday April 11th 2009

Back on my bike this week after my broken arm and on Wednesday I cycled from Milton Keynes up to Coventry, a journey of some 65 miles. It was my first longish ride in over 4 weeks and it was quite tough. I was hurting quite a bit and had to take quite a few breaks. The plan had been to take the train up to Sheffield and cycle around the Peak District on Thursday, but I decided against it in the end, given I hadn't done any riding for 4 weeks and didn't feel up to it. So I caught up with friends in the area and made my way back on Friday. The return leg was a much, much more enjoyable ride. It was raining but I was hurting a lot less and enjoying it a lot more. I think I actually really enjoy cycling in the rain which is good news as well as probably making me seem quite odd. Anyway, it is now on to the next adventure... details coming soon.

Friday February 27th 2009

On Friday morning I set out on my bike heading for the city of Oxford. At about 50-60 miles from my home I planned a round trip of 120 miles for the day – which would be equivalent to a typical flat stage of the Tour de France. This was to be my first real test of what riding a stage might be like.

I started at 6.25 am and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was already beginning to get light. I set off fast on the quiet country roads. I wanted to ride at an average of 14mph riding time and 12mph including breaks. On my previous long rides I had found that I had spent an awful lot of time during the day not actually riding. A large amount of this lost time was spent pulling out my map and checking where I should be going at every junction. With this in mind I had spent much of Thursday evening attempting to memorise my route, committing to memory the names of all the villages I should pass through and checking every possible missed turn. Thankfully, this worked a treat, and I reached Oxford after 50 miles in 3 hours 45 minutes – 3 hours 30 minutes cycling and a planned 15 minute break after 30 miles. I hadn’t had to check my map once. This first 50 miles I had averaged 14.2mph, which was pretty good as I was battling crosswinds. At times I had found myself on some very, very long straight roads which had looked great on the map but in reality were rather boring. I think the Romans must have spent a lot of time in this part of the world. But things were going well. I had a painful back from carrying my rucksack, and a fly had gone smack straight into my left eye when I’d been travelling at 25mph, but other than that it had been a great start.

Last month I cycled to Cambridge and I had been very impressed with the cycle networks there, but Oxford was even better. I am lucky that these two cities are both within about 50 miles of me, as they are probably the two best for cycling in across the whole country. As I headed towards the town centre, I was on a cycle path that was separate from the road which is really great, because there is no danger from traffic (on my usual commute to work there is a cycle ‘path’ that is actually just a painted white line on a regular sized road which actually encourages cars to get closer to you). The best thing about this cycle path was that, when the road turned into side roads across the path, the cyclists actually have right of way, and the cars have to give way. This is so much better than other cycle paths like this, where you sometimes have to give way every few hundred yards, which actually makes cycling in the road a more attractive option.

Further into Oxford and the cycle paths did become on the main roads, but that was fine because they were so clearly marked, and there was so little traffic anyway. There were cyclists everywhere and it was a joy to be riding through such a beautiful old city. It should clearly be an example to towns and cities across the country that the best way to get people out of their cars is to give them a safe and viable alternative. I spent a long time cycling through Oxford, exploring side streets and admiring the architecture. My aim had been to find and photograph the Bridge of Sighs (based on the one in Venice), I don’t know why, maybe because it was a secret gem of the city, hidden away on a side street. Anyway, as you can see I found it, and made my way out of Oxford for the journey home. To be honest, I was sorry to be leaving.

The (other) Bridge of Sighs, Oxford

Well I shouldn’t have felt too sorry, I was back before long. About ten miles out of town I encountered a rather serious problem - my headset had come loose. What this basically meant was that when I turned, the handlebars moved, but the front wheel did not move with them. As you can probably imagine, this was not a safe situation to be in, and I did not have the allan key needed to tighten it again. I considered my options. I was still at least 50 miles from home, and so I decided to head back into Oxford and find a bike shop to tighten my headset. In doing so, I was of course adding to my days distance and I realised I would be going closer to 140 miles for the day. This is the same as the longest stage of the 2009 Tour de France route, and I was excited to be doing this distance – it would be a real achievement and a good step towards my goal.

I found a shop, fixed my bike up, enjoyed Oxford some more, and then got on with getting home. As I left Oxford I checked my cycle computer - my average speed had dropped to 13.5mph with all this faffing about, but I had now done more than 80 miles. Considering this fact I was still feeling really rather good – my back was strangely ok now, and with a tailwind I picked up the pace. I was going a different way back which took me away from the very straight roads and up some very high hills instead. There were some agonising long ascents and some dizzyingly fast descents. It was a glorious day, the sun was out, the views of the Oxfordshire countryside were breathtaking and on one of these downhills I broke through the 40mph barrier.

My attempts to get my average speed back up to 14mph finally met with success. After the average speed had rested on 13.9mph for an absolute eternity, refusing to budge no matter how long I pressed along at 18mph, eventually it did move to 14mph. Success! However, this was followed by probably the longest climb I’ve ever done, up into a place called Great Brickhill, and needless to say all my hard work was undone. But I was still moving, still going strong, and still enjoying myself. My days total had clicked around past 120 miles and after refuelling at a petrol station (with chocolate and energy drinks) I began to calculate whether it was still possible to finish with a 12mph average for the day, including stops. The 14mph riding average was in the bag, and the 12mph was possible, if I could up the pace a little. Amazingly, I was still feeling strong and so that’s what I did. I worked out that I had to get to 140 miles by five past six in the evening. That meant I had to average about 15mph for the last 45 minutes. I was flying as I went into the last six miles, zooming down another steep hill at 25mph. And that’s when it happened. A huge pot-hole in the road directly in front of me. One of the horrible sharp-edged ones. A car was approaching on the other side, I had no idea what might be behind me, I was going too fast, what could I do? Too late, I hit it full on with a sickening shudder which reverberated through the bike. I swear I saw sparks fly! Could the bike have survived such an impact unscathed? No chance, I had a flat. My hopes of a 12mph average were gone. Disappointed, my attention turned to trying to change the tube as quickly as I could, with darkness setting in and just minutes away. I got it done and got on my way, riding the last few miles home in the dark. But I had done it. I had overcome every obstacle, every hill and every mechanical failure. I had finished the equivalent of the longest stage of the tour (in distance anyway, there were fewer mountains) - 140 miles in 10 hours riding (14mph ave) and 12 hours total (11.67 mph ave)

Friday February 20th 2009

At last the weather has improved and I have been allowed the freedom to cycle properly once again. For several weeks I had been taking my time about my daily commute to and from work, using the excuse of the dangerous icy conditions for my slow speeds. Indeed I have probably fallen into the trap of taking things too easy and, although it obviously isn't a good idea to work hard all the time, every day seemed to have become an 'easy day.'

However, with the improved road conditions and a late start on Tuesday I unexpectedly found myself breaking free from the shackles of my own lacklustre attitude. After riding the first half of my commute at my usual 12 mph slog I, for whatever reason, found the energy to turn the pedals a little faster. Once I got the wind in my sails I found this to be a rather enjoyable experience and was going along at almost 20 mph no bother. By the time I got to work my cycle computer revealed my average speed to have shot up to 15 mph, meaning the second half of my journey was completed at around 18 mph. On my way home I once again put in a little bit more effort and my average was near enough 17 mph. It was a relief to know I am at least capable of riding at a decent speed, even if not always willing.

Yesterday (Thursday) I got up early to cycle down to Watford, a trip just shy of 50 miles, before completing the return journey today. It was my first back-to-back longish days of riding and I am please to report no adverse effects. The only problem being a painful back, due to carrying a rucksack. Oh, and a lot of surface water yesterday, which lead to a rusty and therefore very noisy chain for the return leg. This not only attracted the attention of any passers-by, it also had the unwanted effect of making any dog I passed quite furious. Fortunately, they were mostly kept back by leads and fences. Otherwise, the journeys were fairly uneventful, which is no bad thing, though I did manage to set a new personal best top speed of 36.9 mph. Good times.

Friday February 6th 2009

Well the weather this week has been interesting hasn't it, and it has certainly meant some interesting journeys for me. The constant snow has made conditions far from ideal for cycling, but for most of the week it was my only option to get to work. On Monday morning there was plenty of snow around, but the road conditions weren't too bad. However, I was forced to take extra care over the last mile of my ride, which takes me off road onto cycle paths which were covered by the thick white blanket. But worse was to follow when I finished work and had to cycle home, this time through the face of a blizzard. I was cycling right into a headwind with snow being flung at me. To make matters considerably worse, the roads were now very icy and it was all I could do to keep my bike on the road. But I did so and after 55 minutes I had covered the 9 miles home, myself now covered in snow.

Tuesday morning came and things had become much, much worse. I had to be in work for 6 am and that meant leaving at 5 in utterly freezing conditions. I mean it was freezing, I couldn't believe how cold it was. My face and ears were exposed to the elements and I was actually quite concerned that they might fall off. It wasn't snowing, but the slush on the road had frozen into sharp lines on the road, which threatened to send me skidding away at any point in the dark. To make matters worse my rear derailleur had seemingly frozen and I couldn't shift gears. I was quite literally frozen into an option of two gears as I battled on. But, as I headed downhill, I realised to my horror that this wasn't the only part of my bike to be frozen out of action. I had no brakes. They were frozen solid. I couldn't believe it. Here I was, freewheeling down a steep descent, with no brakes, on an incredibly icy road, in the dark. And I loved it - nothing like a spot of extreme danger to wake you up in the morning.

Once I got off the country roads after the first three miles, I decided to abandon my normal route and take the main roads the rest of the way. This did mean travelling further, but the ice here had melted and I was at least travelling on tarmac. There were also so few cars around that I pretty much had the roads to myself. I flew downhill down a snowlined dual-carriageway all alone and felt on top of the world, arriving at work to find half the staff hadn't made it to work. Wimps.

As the snow has worsened over the last couple of days I have been fortunate that it has coincided with me having some time off. I don't know if I would have made it through myself the last two mornings as I woke to snow-covered roads. I did take the opportunity today to go for a run in the snow which was great fun. I love how the snow makes everything look so beautiful, and running through fields of it was wonderful. It was also a good workout, and good training for the Marathon des Sables as I am sure running on sand and running on snow are somewhat comparable in difficulty.

Friday January 30th 2008

Thursday January 29th 2009

The past week has been much the same. 9.3 miles cycle to work followed by 9.3 miles cycle home from work. I am getting a little bored of the same route every day but I do at least work shifts so I get to ride it at different times of the day. There are the days I have to leave at 5am and have the roads to myself in the darkness, forever silently chasing the spotlight ahead of me that marks my route. Then there are days when I start work at 9am and the roads are a lot busier due to the rush hour traffic. I thank the drivers who wait to pass safely, and curse the drivers who get too close as they overtake on the country roads. Then I catch them all up as we enter the town of Newport Pagnell and traffic is jammed and I weave past them all, taking cross streets and cycle paths to reach my destination long before they do. It gives me a taste of the life of the bike messenger I still hope to enjoy in Edinburgh - being the fastest way of getting from A to B is a great feeling.

Overall, training is going ok. I am slower than I would like to be and my legs feel more tired than I would want, but at this stage I am forcing them to get used to the idea of cycling everyday. Speed and endurance will be built up over the coming months.

Tuesday January 20th 2009

I have been have a tough time of it of late. This morning on my bike it was horrible. I was grinding along at 11mph. I couldn't understand why I was going so slowly, as I have been the past few days. I was absolutely exhausted, completely spent. Maybe I have been working too much, too long. I have only had one day off since New Years day. But I should be faster than this. Proper training hasn't even started and I'm too tired to pedal. 11mph and no energy to go faster, its ridiculous. Cycling the Tour de France? Its a joke. I'm going along and I'm questioning why am I doing this? Does anyone out there even care? Its hard sometimes. Lonely out there on my bike. But then, this evening, for some reason I crank up the gears and find a second wind and race home. I power up the hills like they aren't there and fly down the other side, and suddenly anything seems possible again. I'm home in 33 minutes, a full 16 minutes faster than the same journey the other way earlier in the day. My dream lives on. Tomorrow I do it all again.

Monday January 12th 2009

Well since my long day out on New Years Day, I have been restricted to much shorter journeys. Almost daily I have been commuting to work which is about 9 miles each way. This usually involves travelling at about 5 in the morning and sometimes after 5 in the evening, so I have been doing a lot of my riding in the dark. This is generally fine by me, the roads are usually empty first thing - often I see less than half a dozen cars. I have also been hit by the worst of the great British weather. This winter has been very cold, and at 5 in the morning it has often been below freezing. Generally speaking, however, I don't find it to be too much a problem. Months of swimming in cold water has toughened me up against the elements and it is only my extremities that have suffered. Often the cold seeps through to my toes and fingers the worst, despite wearing two pairs of gloves and three pairs of socks! My ears also get the worst of it and don't enjoy fast descents on cold mornings! We of course had snow, which made the last mile of my journey somewhat more treacherous than usual, particularly when the snow melted to water which then refroze to ice. And this morning I was hit by a torrential downpour and a headwind that made progress painfully difficult. But at least the worst of the cold may have passed - the lake which I cycle past daily was unfrozen this afternoon, the first time that I have seen the surface of the water in some time. I also had an interesting element thrown in to one of my early morning rides this week. As I rode along a cycle path besides a main road I found myself passing through pages and pages of magazines which appeared to have been thrown from a passing car. There were literally dozens of pages, which on closer inspection turned out to be x-rated.

A big plus has been my new bike-computer. This has enabled me to more accurately measure my times, distances, current speed and average speed. It has been really helpful to know my current speed, but also my average speed. I made a little game out of trying to keep my average above a certain level. For example, the other day I decided to take a long route home, and to try and ride 20 miles while keeping the average above 15 mph. It was good fun - I hit a long steep hill and my I watched as my average gradually dropped - 15.8... 15.7 ... 15.6 .......... 15.2... then I would hit the top of the hill and whizz down it as fast as I could to get my average back up again. It was like the film 'Speed' but without the explosions. And while we are on the subject, I know 15 mph isn't all that fast. I mean, I should really be hoping to average more than that for 20 miles in the future. But these are early days in my cycling career, and I think a 15 mph average for a 120 mile TDF stage would actually be rather good. So next time I will attempt 30 miles at a 15mph average, and then 40 miles, and so on until I can do 100 miles at 15mph. It is still early days and I am building a base for my training, but I was interested to note that I have already spent more than 24 hours riding my bike this year! My next long ride is planned for Wednesday, so watch this space for an update then.

Thursday January 1st 2009

I set out on New Years Day at 10 am on my bike, hoping for a long and enjoyable day in the saddle. It was another bitterly cold mid-winter morning, with bleak white skies, but fortunately little wind. My backpack felt heavy on my back as I climbed the first hill out into the Bedfordshire countryside. I had loaded it with all the food and water I could, wanting to make sure I avoided another bonk. The cold immediately seaped through my gloves and socks and numbed my toes and fingers. People ask me if I am worried about the extreme heat I will have to face for the Marathon des Sables, but to be honest after so long of having to endure freezing temperatures, I cannot wait!

Out so early on New Years, I had the country roads almost to myself - seeing only two cars in the first half an hour. This was entirely pleasant and I was enjoying the ride a great deal. I saw a rather unfit gentleman out for a jog. It looked like he was struggling and I imagined it was his first run for a while, no doubt a well-intentioned New Years resolution and I wished him well.

My own journey continued along the country roads until I hit Houghton Regis, where I got hideously lost. I had planned my route, but not terribly well, and the maps I carried didn't have street names. I found my self riding through numerous housing estates and used the sound of the M1 to carry me in the right direction. I had to stay west of it, to avoid crossing into Luton, and keep moving south. I even employed my compass at one point to keep me moving in the right direction. There was only one road heading out of the area south of Houghton Regis, which I planned to take. Once I got far enough south, I realised why there was only one, as it crossed an area of very steep hillside. I could see the hills and where the road was, but couldn't get through to it, eventually taking the long way around on busier roads to reach it. The climb up the hillside was my toughest yet, at one point apparantly reaching 17%, but I made it. For once being too tired to even enjoy the descent down the other side.

I reached my turn-point in Harpenden and headed back around the other side (east) of Luton, again sticking to country roads. I found myself on some very remote and isolated roads here, almost completely traffic-free, it was fantastic riding conditions. I passed right by Luton airport and watched some planes taking off and flying over my head. I love planes, so this was brilliant. Then I found a long descent down a very steep and empty road which I flew down, the wind rushing past my head at a million miles an hour. I was having a great day, even though I did have to stop every few minutes to check my maps for directions.

Above: Another award winning shot

Then it all went horribly wrong. I was riding through a small village called Lilley when I heard a loud bang and began to feel my back wheel skid out from beneath me. For no apparent reason after 50 miles, my rear inner tube had decided to burst, and it had damaged and displaced the tyre. This was very bad news, for whilst I did carry a spare inner tube, I did not have a spare tyre (it wouldn't fit in my bag for one thing) and I was 25 miles from home. I stopped and inspected the damage, considering my options. The tyre wasn't too badly damaged so I replaced the tube, but the tyre would no longer fit in the rim properly. It wasn't safe to ride on. I had just cycled past a payphone so I reluctanctly walked towards it to call my Dad and request assistance. My good fortune at having just cycled past a payphone was diminished when I reached it and realised I had just cycled past a payphone booth, with a distinct absence of any phone inside it. I could use my mobile, but that had been playing up and wouldn't let me add credit. My last resort was a reverse charges call, but I didn't really want to do that, especially as I was very much in the middle of nowhere, and so I looked again at the wheel. By now I was absolutely freezing, having stopped generating any heat from cycling, and I wanted to get moving again if I could. I knew darkness would be setting in soon. I tried slightly reducing the amount of air in the tube in order that the tyre would fit inside the rim and reluctantly set off cycling again, taking things very gently. I was cycling still on very quiet roads, so should my tyre blow suddenly, I should at least not be thrown under a car. Fortunately, the tyre held up ok for the rest of the day as I trudged slowly along the final 20 miles in the dark.

So, I cycled about 75 miles, the most in one day so far, and I spent over 8 hours on the road, by far the longest so far. I had very much enjoyed the first 50 miles and I had learnt many lessons, such as planning my route better to avoid getting too lost! It had been a very eventful start to 2009.