Feb update

Been a little while since I had the chance to update but here I am, still alive, not in a ditch somewhere...

So how has the training been going? Not too shabby is the answer, most of it has been on the turbo which is dull but it just works! I have now lost a stone in weight in just under three months and the legs are getting stronger each passing week. I am managing approx 75 miles a week on the turbo, topped up with the occasional 25 mile at the weekends over to Alderley Edge and back.

I did the 25 mile route again on Saturday and outward I was at 16.5mph and 15 on the way back though I did deliberately scale it back on the way home. It's still only 25 miles but if that is all I have time for then at least attacking it means I am getting some training benefit from it rather than just using it as a spin out. I'd love to be getting the longer rides in but time and weather are conspiring against me right now. Not for too long though, got a 60 mile ride in two weeks! eep! Not been that far yet! It's not too hilly so not a bad ride to do my first real distance. Hills will be added after I hit the target distance :)

Now, you know I was saying about the weather conspiring against us trying to train at this time of year (NOW I know why Team SKY bugger off to sunny climes this time of year!) I went out on the mountain bike today because the conditions were too bad for the road bike...

That middle photo, that is a solid lump of ice forming on the gears. I had to downshift because the chain was skipping on it, and it got bigger and bigger until it covered the top three gears and I was pedalling rather quickly and going rather slowly! I stopped at the coal merchants at the end of the track who kindly boiled a kettle to melt the ice off so I could cycle home!

Back on the turbo it is! and for my cycling friends, Rule 5 was applied!