This weeks cycling blog will at times lead to the question: "I thought this was a cycling blog Rich?" Well bear with me because in amongst the running, fitness training, fishing etc there's a shed load of cycling...which is ironic because I've got a shed load of bikes!!!
The path to adventure???
I am more than aware that I felt fitter and stronger earlier in the year. I stepped on the scales for the first time in a while and was shocked to discover I'd ballooned back up to 14st 7lbs (92.08kg) ruining all that hard work I'd put in to get to 13st 9lbs (86.6kg.) I've let the diet slip but also I've lost my exercise routine. I'd got down to a better weight by sticking to MyFitnessPal and also by using my rollers a few times a week...so Monday morning it was back to the rollers!
The dogs watched on, displeased that the rollers were getting all of my attention. After the rollers I also made sure I did my pilates which keeps my back in working order and tried a bit of a strength session. Since breaking my wrist and the subsequent weakening of my shoulder I have struggled to do press ups. It was a nice surprise to discover this is coming back. I also did some of the British Cycling leg strength exercises.
In the evening Sam and I set off for Prologis Park on our MTB's for an off road cyclones session. I didn't get far before my tubeless system failed. So Sam carried on alone and I headed home to swap bikes. It was a complete flat so I ended up walking.
The cuplrit was a sidewall gash too big for the sealant to cope with. I fixed this the next day by following the confused advice on the internet. Some recommended patching the inside with a standard inner tube patch, others suggested this wouldn't work. I went with a guy whose humour resonated with my own. He said:
"I'm not sure if a standard patch will work, mine is holding so far but I've only tested it for a few hundred miles!"
Patch applied, I used my Heath Robinson lemonade bottle inflator and up it went! I couldn't wait to tell the Queen of Cakes how clever I'd been. She rolled her eyes, claimed I'm continuously meddling with my tubeless and made circles with her finger...this is apparently me spinning wheels around! The best thing about tubeless inflation on MTB is that it tends to work first time and you can screw the valve back in without losing much pressure at all. Plus that pop as the beads set into the rim is very satisfying!!!
Part two of my fitness is quest is to do a couple of runs a week. I'm also planning on doing one Parkrun a month. So I set off on a very gentle 5km jog. No tubeless tyres were harmed in the making of this run!
sweaty mess
On Wednesday morning I was limited for time but desperate to test out my tubeless repair on my Forme Ripley. I was happy to report to the eye rolling Queen of Cakes that it's holding very nicely. Others must wonder why I don't go back to tubes? Well, the answer is simple. I'd probably puncture every time I ride which would be very annoying. I also think the feel of tubeless is superior off road. And if you think they're constantly failing you'd be wrong. I haven't had any tubeless problems with the 29r which Sam now uses frequently for over a year.
Fully inflated rear tyre
Beautiful day AGAIN!!!!
So I went for another run!!! Same route, a little bit quicker but still easing myself into it.
After spending some of the day down in Reading I was really pleased to get back on time to take Sam to a Cyclones Go Ride event at Rockingham Speedway.
I love this picture. Ignore me...just look at the cheeky SuperSam in the background. It gives me so much pleasure to pass this wonderful sport onto my son. He also had a great ride. He completely smashed me in a sprint finish at the end of a four lap race. I also enjoyed the chance to encourage other kids. I'm looking forward to my coaching course in September so that I can get even more involved with these fantastic youngsters. The future is bright, the future is orange!
Hang on a minute...fishing? Yes, we've also been fishing! Sam asked me if we could go a while back and as he's kept asking and we have all the kit from when I used to take older brother Joe, I decided to take Sam on Friday evening for a few hours at Rushton Lake.
We had a lovely evening and caught a few fish. This was Sam's best of the night but he also lost a much bigger fish. The one that got away eh! Looks like this will be a regular thing and in terms of well being it's very good for me. I spend so much time rushing around and whilst cycling undoes a lot of work stress I also need something that involves a slower pace. Sam enjoyed it so much we're going again this afternoon!
Tubeless. I haven't mentioned tubeless for a few paragraphs. So my road set up, Schwalbe Pro One tubeless tyres on American Classics Hurricane wheels has been working very well indeed. However I have one persistent hole which the sealant can only just hold. The solution is below. I've plugged it with one of these innovations tubeless repair 'worms.' Hey presto the problem is solved! Really quick and easy to use and no more sealant fails.
The test for those tyres was the C&D Cycles CC Saturday shop ride. Once again I met the fast group on the market Square in Rothwell. Pete decided to do the same and this week the group came through a few minutes after 9.
We did this route a few months ago, on a very cold day which left some of the skinny lads in a bit of trouble getting way too cold. Here's my blog of that day: Has Spring Unsprung?
With that in mind we were all really keen to try the route again. Not least due to the fast downhills and one very challenging climb. As Nat said, it felt more like the Peak District. On our way to the fun stuff we were held up by a combine harvester. He stayed in our way between Kelmarsh and Sibbertoft and finally turned off just before my favourite downhill on the way to Theddingworth.
Once the combine was out of the way we had a really great ride. It was good to catch up with a few people and we also managed a few fast sections too.
My absolute highlight of the day was the descent after the big climb. We flew down the hill to Lubenham at speeds in excess of 40mph. There is no better feeling than going fast on a bike. It was big grins all round at the bottom. We then had another sharp climb up East Farndon hill before getting to a road I've always enjoyed between Great Oxendon and Desborough. I can't explain why this road is fast because it starts with a short sharp climb and then is gradually uphill for over a mile. I just like it. Pete Squires agreed with me (is that a good thing?) Then Mark Baird showed us why he's been riding with faster groups lately as he blew all of us off his back wheel!
On the way back round we passed through Rushton so I headed home from there. I needed to get back because #Houseproject2018 continues at pace.
My final comment of the day goes to #TDF2018. This year's tour is fascinating. I've been trying to explain to the Queen of Cakes why the sprinters, especially Mark Caevndish are no longer involved. She's decided it's just stupid and unfair and they've ruined the race. I disagree but do feel the heartbreak for Cav, Kittel and Greipel who were all looking to add to their impressive list of stage wins. David Millar did an excellent piece on Cav that's well worth a few minutes of anyone's time: Well done Mark! That's not even the big news. Right now we have British riders in first and second. Another thing that the Queen of Cakes considers unfair is that Geraint Thomas has a chance to win but is riding for Chris Froome and not himself and therefore may lose that chance...oh how hard is it to explain bike racing...especially the Grand Tours and GC riders? I have to say that G's win on L'Alp d'Huez is one my all time cycling highlights. It reminded me of Stephen Roche in 1987 Stephen Roche remembers one special day in 1987 , that's two very different rides but very special and both will live long in cycling history. I love the Tour de France!
Okay stuff to do...Happy Pedalling (and running and fishing and all that.)
PS one week back on the diet and regular exercise...lost a couple of kilos already!!!
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