Saturday 9 July 2011

Increase in distance :-)

Today I decided to go for a bike ride as I was left home alone. My husband has gone on holiday with his son, so I thought I could go for a longer bike ride as I don't have to be home by a certain time. I had done some planned routes around the Wattisham area. The original plan was a 35 miles round trip. However I ended up doing aroun 37-38 miles.
My little computer said 38miles however Mapmyride said it was 36 miles, so I'm saying it was 37miles.

The stats according to my little computer:

Distance:           38:11
Time:                 3h:26m:40s
Max Speed:       31.4mph
Average Speed: 11mph

When I got home I could feel it in my knees/legs. Also my face feels a bit burnt, I need to learn to put on suncream before I go out.

It gave me a chance to wear my new jacket that Vince bought me :-) it was a little bit too hot really and I did take it off half way round. It is a very nice hi-vis, waterproof, cycling jacket and I am very pleased with it.

Not sure how I'm going to feel in the morning as I think I may have pushed myself today. I think it is good to keep pushing on, but think it might start to feel sore soon.

This is the route I took:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/40713448

that's all for now, feeling bit sleepy.......................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Sunday 3 July 2011

Biked to Colchester AGAIN :-)

Mission 2 done again. I biked from Ipswich to Colchester, however this time I went a different way. Also I went at a different time of day. When I did the mission last time I left early morning, whereas this time I went after work. Yes note that, after a days work (8-5......well finished at 4). I think it helped going later in the day as my muscled had got warmed up. Also I went along the A137 this time, whereas last time I went across country "south suffolk cycle route".
I thought to myself "it took 3 hours last time, I want to get it down to 2 1/2 hours"

Well, I did it in 1 hour 38 mins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was surprised how quick I did it. It was only 5 miles shorter along the A137, but it is a much better surface as it is a fairly main road. Not too main that it is dangerous. Another advantage of this route is that I know the road very well (unlike the country route) and it is just one road all the way there. The other good advantage of this route was that there was quite a few down hills and not so many up hills. I'm not sure I'd want to come back that way because it would be more up hills.

The official stats (according to my little computer)
distance:             20.03miles
max speed:         31.7mph    (speedy gonzales)
average speed:   12.2mph
Time:                 1h:38m:24s



Certainly beats stats for the last time. However, my effort seems very little in comparison to Steve Hanovers. The reason I biked to Colchester this time was because they were having a bbq/music evening to raise money for "Life of Linda" charity 900 mile cycle and tenor horn ride. See website

http://www.lifeoflynda.com/Life_of_Lynda/Welcome.html

I hold my hands up to the bloke, he (and the team) done brilliant. It is coming to a climax as I type, with a final concert in London tonight. They started in Inverness, Scotland and have biked 900miles down to London, doing various concerts along the way. They are hoping to raise £50,000 for 2 charities.
It makes me think about increasing my challenge..........but I think I'll stick to the Paris one for starters.


Having constantly updating my record of cycle rides, I have totalled about 157 miles for the whole of June

http://www.mapmyride.com/workouts/?

and over 200 miles since I have been keeping record :-)

I could feel the pain of the cycling on my arms tonight (you use your arms as well when cycling, especially up hill) when I was trying to play the piano. My "extensor carpi radialis" on my right arm was killing me, but they say no pain no gain ;-)

I am trying to work out my next long distance ride. Mission 3 was to go to Norwich by the end of July......not sure if that'll happen by end of July, definitly will do in August, but think July would be pushing it. Looking at a 35-40mile ride next (Norwich is 50+)

Watch for an update..................