So at 8.30 pm, I was struggling to put my gloves on. The liner was all screwed up from pulling my wet hands out last night. The gloves still weren't dry as it happened but since neither was my helmet or shoes I didn't think it mattered.

I had feared I'd be turbo bound as the rain was relentless all day, but by 8 it had stopped, so a good 3hour ride with thrown intervals beckoned.

It is getting harder and harder to get out the house these days. My wife misses me (I'm pleased to say!) and is feeling a little neglected. Hardly surprising as we haven't had a night to watch a DVD, or talk over a glass of wine since before Christmas. Feeling a little tired from a day entertaining two children indoors, I really could have done with just a sofa, wife and wine. With all the planning for the attempt too I'm pretty distracted when brief moments together can be snatched. I can't really talk to her about wheel choices all the time.(Planet X 82/101 combo?)

Anyhow, I did leave the house, and my legs felt good, which surprised me after the previous night. The intervals were hard, but with the mantra, 'if you deserve to get faster, you will get faster' I gave each one maximum focus and effort.

I snuck back in at midnight, the bedroom light was on, but S was as good as asleep. She'd held on to make sure I made it back safely.

I was actually lucky to make it, I noticed when I got home the batteries on my rear light had run out. I don't know when they failed, I could have been riding for 3hours with a light. I guess wearing Hi-Viz may have saved me. I changed the batteries straight away lest I forgot, and gave the bike a liberal dose of GT85, my version of home maintenance.