Category Archives: Road Riding

Janathon – 31st, The last day

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So I'm quite pleased with myself today. Yesterday I had tried to run faster than my usual plodding pace and although I had managed a little faster it was nothing to write home about. I'd been aiming for 9:30 average pace over 4 miles and got 9:43 average pace over just short of 4 miles. Today I went out with the aim of doing 9:30 average pace over 4 miles again but a strange thing happened. I felt quite good and was going quite fast. In fact I was just under 9 minute miles for the first few miles. As I was feeling good I kept going and ended up doing 5.75 miles and the average pace at the end of this … wait for it … 9:10 which I am quite pleased with. I was out for a total of 52:45 but then stopped to pick up supplies and sort out some bank stuff in Heslington and walked the 0.5 miles back to the office. This seemed to make stretching a whole lot easier, maybe this is that warming down thing people talk about!

So that's Janathon over and done with as Sarah is going out tonight so I won't get any more done. The final totals are not as big as in November but I had other things on my mind for the best part of January and running was by far the biggest part of the totals this time rather than riding. I had 7 days off during January which is 7 more than I did in November. It should be noted though that this morning I weighed myself and was 13 stone 12 pounds so it has had some effect! The final totals are:

Running: 86.29 Miles (812 Minutes) – 163% of November (52.77 Miles)

Riding: 21.65 Miles (111 Minutes) - 15% of November (152.47 Miles)

Swimming: 2.86 Miles (85 Minutes) – ∞% of November (0 Miles)

Other: 5.13 Miles (98 Minutes) - 43% of November (12.01  Miles)

Total: 115.93 Miles (1106 Minutes) - 53% of November (217.25 Miles)

Novemberathon – 28th, night riding with Driller.

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Wind seemed to have died down a little bit today but still there. Went out for a ride with Driller but forgot to start the watch so no idea how long we were out for. I think it is a good sign that I am now able to ride with other people and hold a conversation (except when we were sprinting over the railway bridge and shortly after when catching breath was more important)! The combination of 6 front lights and 4 rear lights made us the brightest cyclists on the road for sure!

My bike is in desperate need of a clean but just haven't found the time at the moment. I have ordered so bike cleaning products from the fantastic 'Chain Reaction Cycles' and taken advantage of some of their Christmas voucher codes.

13.13 mile ride in whatever time it took us. Back to running tomorrow at lunchtime. 

Todays Distance: 13.13 Miles 

Total Distance: 208.78 Miles (50.10 Running, 146.67 Riding, 12.01 Walking)

Novemberathon – 27th, even quicker blast on’t bike

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Oh my was the wind bad this morning … only did 6.25 miles but it took me 24 minutes which is an average speed of 15.6 mph.Only a short one as I needed to be back on time for Sarah to go out for a ride and then get ready for Ewan's christening. 

Todays Distance: 6.25 Miles 

Total Distance: 195.65 Miles (50.10 Running, 133.54 Riding, 12.01 Walking)

Novemberathon – 26th, Quick blast on’t bike

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This weekend has been quite busy with family over and christening and stuff but have still managed to get out on the road bike. The wind has been pretty awful all weekend and doesn't show any sign of letting up but am starting to get used to is now. Spent most of this ride leaning on to the wind of with it in my face … the last long straight home was nice though with it behind me! 

Still managed a decent(ish) pace at 49 minutes so 16.1 mph average speed.

Todays Distance: 13.13 Miles 

Total Distance: 189.40 Miles (50.10 Running, 127.29 Riding, 12.01 Walking)

Novemberathon – 25th, Ride To Work

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Usual road ride to work this morning. Felt slow but turned out to not be so bad. The wind had luckily dropped this morning although it was raining which I didn't expect. 15.55 miles in 56 minutes giving an average speed of 16.7 mph. Will probably be riding back to Tadcaster later for the 'Cyclesense Birthday Celebrations'.

Todays Distance: 15.55 Miles 

Total Distance: 176.27 Miles (50.10 Running, 114.16 Riding, 12.01 Walking)

Novemberathon – 24th, Night Ride

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Went out for a ride tonight on the road bike. Fully lit up like a Christmas tree and barely saw a car the whole way round! 13.13 Miles in 49 minutes so an average speed of 16.1 mph. This route will one day in the not too distant future be my 'Fenton Half Marathon', wouldn't want to be running it in the dark but would be alright in daylight as it is mostly off the main roads. 

The wind was mental tonight and as usual around our way it seemed to always be in my face!

Todays Distance: 13.13 Miles 

Total Distance: 160.72 Miles (50.10 Running, 98.61 Riding, 12.01 Walking)

Novemberathon – 17th, Ride to Work and others

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I rode to work today so 15.55 miles and it took me 55 minutes 58 seconds giving an average speed of 16.7 mph. Felt okay and given I was unprepared so had to carry laptops and clothes and stuff on my back I'm quite pleased with almost matching my fastest time into work. Struggling up the 'hills' again which must mean I haven't been out on my bike enough. 

The big difference between going out for a chilled ride on my bike and riding to work is the idiots in tin boxes who think they own the road. Now 99% of drivers on the road to work are perfectly pleasant and pass you giving plenty of space and only pass you when they can see what is coming. There is however the 1% of idiots (today they were BMW's. Mini's and Chaved up Corsa's but more often than not they seem to be BMW X5 drivers) who try and clip you with their wing mirrors or overtake you on blind bends … now if a car was around that blind bend who do you think they'll choose to hit, I'm guessing they'd choose flattening the cyclist over a head on collision at 60+ mph!

I'd always wondered why road riders always ride 2 abreast or really wide on the road and the reason is simple. It is to try and convince the 1% of idiots on the road that they can't 'squeeze' past them (at 60+ mph) they have to proactively overtake them. I used to think I'd never start doing that but I have because I'd rather get to where I am going without getting flattened. 

So if you are in a car and aren't one of the 99% of pleasant drivers open your eyes and give cyclists some room. If you can't see me coming you need your eyes tested as I'm the one with 2 rear lights, 2 front lights and a bright yellow high visibility jacket riding slightly wider on the road than I would normally ride! 

Todays Distance: 15.55 Miles 

Total Distance: 122.01 Miles (31.50 Running, 82.08 Riding, 8.43 Walking)

I also went for a walk at lunchtime and rode to Sarah's parents after work …

Additional Distance: 15.55 Miles 

Total Distance: 126.86 Miles (31.50 Running, 85.48 Riding, 9.88 Walking)

Novemberathon – 12th, Sociable Ride

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Most of the exercise I do I do on my own. This is mainly because I like to be able to go at my own pace and not worry about going too slow or too fast for others. Today I went out for a ride with Sally on the road bikes. Weather was lovely and it was nice to chill out and chat around the 19.87 mile route through Ryther, Cawood, Wistow and Selby. Just going at whatever pace we happened to be going (but still doing a fairly decent pace) and enjoying the weather, countryside and company. 

Didn't time the ride today as it was more about being out than going a certain pace.

Todays Distance: 19.87 Miles 

Total Distance: 95.08 Miles (21.49 Running, 66.53 Riding, 7.06 Walking)

Novemberathon – 11th, Short Ride

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Short ride in the dark today after work. Was planning to go further but was late home from work and didn't really have time. I forgot to start the clock when I went out so don't know how long it took but it felt slow especially on the 2 legs into the wind. Distance was 9.76 miles.

Todays Distance: 9.76 Miles 

Total Distance: 75.21 Miles (21.49 Running, 46.66 Riding, 7.06 Walking)