London to Bath and Back

The day before.

2010-08-03T17:15:00.000+01:00

It is the afternoon of the day before and only now am I heading off to Reading to practice getting through the town as fast as possible. I’ve heard there are road works which I will need to negoiate somehow.
I had planned an early morning trip but finalising last minute details, distribution of the food to the feeders etc took much longer than anticipated.
There is no good place for a feed after East Kennet, several hours from the finish. All the other feeds are on hills where I hate to say it my pace will be slower. The club, Dulwich Paragon, have arranged a ride especially around my attempt. They will be at Hyde Park Corner and 6.00am to hand me my first bottle and then ride to Thatcham. Where I will have a club member at every set of traffic lights. Knowing the odds on all of being green, I will be handed a bottle without losing anytime.
The ride through Reading is okay, bar the roadworks. Cars crawl through it and the temporary lane is too narrow to squeeze a bike past. It will lose me minutes.
I drive back home and the traffic is awful. Then I see why. The A4 is closed at Earls Court and all the traffic is being diverted.
I text Patrick straight away, this could be the end of it.
May be it would be for the best, maybe I am wasting everyone’s time. May be I’m making an excuse to get of this hole.
I talk to Patrick’s house and he is going to check the diversion route. My Dad thinks I should go anyway having invested so much but also makes it clear I need to let everyone know asap if I’m pulling out.
I get a call from Brian Edrupt of the RRA, he confirms that I’m allowed to deviate from my schedule due to diversions so technically I can still make the attempt. I then get a call from Ralph Dadswell, he thinks the closure is only one way and I get the impression this is all part of Place to Place racing, it is certainly not an excuse.
I go to Patrick’s house and have a chat, I leave agreeing to let him know what I decide as soon as possible.
I mull it over. I sit on my own in the living room, my Dad and family in the kitchen. I’ve had doubts before now. This is a big undertaking anyway but to put out so many people adds to the pressure. Do I want to take a big fall?
I pick up my phone and text Patrick, ‘Let’s do it’.

Before long my Dad and I are walking with the bikes round to Patrick’s house where we have all decided to sleep after double checking everything.

2010-07-26T15:42:00.002+01:00

I’ve managed to pick up some stomach bug. I will spare you details of the symptoms but I’m in a little discomfort and have to be alert so as not be caught short.
My real worry is how this affects my condition. I’m trying to stay hydrated, but it’s a losing battle, if I don’t eat or drink I’m okay, as soon as something passes my lips I’m in trouble.
It is also stopping me from getting on with final preparations, especially the set-up of the spare bike.

2010-07-25T17:52:00.000+01:00

The tapering has begun, which is nice at it means I get to see my wife a little more in the evening. I was nearing breaking point, late night training, early mornings and work taking their toll.
Tapering is strange though, I haven't done it before as I rarely target an event above others, indeed I don't do many events anyway. I still feel like I should be training hard.
When I started this escapade I had thought it would involve me, two friends (Patrick and Simon) and my Dad. It has grown beyond anything I could have dreamt of. This is great for sponsorship and promotion of my club who have really got behind me. I can't complain, but it has added to the pressure. I can't fail in private. I've set myself up for a big fall.
The advantages outweigh any disadvantages of course, and I hope to have raised the profile of RRA records too.
Part of the ever growing publicity has been to have my photograph taken, I have added them below for your own amusement.

2010-07-17T06:47:00.000+01:00

No update for a while I know, but I have been busy. A time crunched cyclist trying to train for something like this has to drop something for a while.
The big news is that all the forms have been sent and cheques etc. I am attempt number 2080.
It's now down to last few weeks of preparation, and the weather. I can't help but look back to think of things I would have done differently. Analyse my peparation over the last 8 months. Similar to a mid-year review at work.
I would have liked a powermeter, just for the numbers. It would have been nice to be chart progress in some way, but I still can't afford one.
I'd have ridden the route a few more times. I'm sure there are places you can hit the red and find timely recovery, but where I could possibly get the time from I don't know.
It would have been nice to practice feed pickups and played with even more food combinations, but once again, time is the issue.
And of course I wonder if I could have trained wiser, harder, better in general. Who knows? I have put in some serious hours, I do think this record could fall. The roads have changed, more lights with no improvement in road surface and ever increasing traffic but it can be done. By me?
I have only missed two training sessions due to illness, for which I am grateful.
I suspect how well I do will come down to how much and for how long I am willing to suffer. It may come down to my mind not my legs.
Having made a post on a bike forum, I have recieved some less than positive comments. This is hard to take. They still play on my mind. I am modest by nature, and self belief can be in short supply.
My club and the menbers have been very supportive, a lot of friends are helping on the day. I now have a big responsibilty to do well. They believe in me.
Somehow when you are the middle of something, people looking in have a better insight. I need to be reminded of the long training hours I have put, some of the extremes I have gone to. In my head I could always have done more.
I have hit the limit now. 8 months of training has taken it's toll. I would just to some home from work and know I have an evening with my family. I have also worn out my cycling kit. I've been using three sets a day. The washing machine could do with a rest too. Perhaps I should have asked Bosch for sponsorship.
I have a lot on my mind, most of which PJ Woodburn wouldn't have been bothered with, because they weren't around in 1981. Small things such as what data fields to display on my Garmin.
I have no doubt it is all head, heart, lungs and legs. I just hope they are as strong as my friends believe. It takes me a long time to get over letting someone down.

2010-07-08T06:42:00.001+01:00

Do all endeavours feel stupid at 3.45am?

It was hard to get to sleep as the sofa isn't quite long enough, and also very hard to shuffle out from under the covers and commit to the days plan. It has been a while since my Dad and I have slept in close proximity, and we both complain about each others snoring.

Cereal is eaten and the van loaded up. We leave and l feel daunted. I double check the feeding points on Dad's road atlas. His has a huge scale, consequently whereas the route fits on 3 pages of mine, it covers 5 of his. This map makes it looks a hell of a long way I say. It is a long way comes the reply.

The roads aren't as quiet as one would expect, a lot of young people staggering along the pavements too. Could have been 20 years ago?

I decide to close my eyes and try and relax. All too soon we are at the Seven Stars.

There is no time to waste, we are 10 minutes late getting to he start. I have a pee, put on my helmet and then go.

My legs warm up, the weather is fine and I don't need a gilet or anything, which may have caused complications. Maidedhead is a breeze, but in Slough I hit every traffic light as it turns red. I contemplate the use of the cycle paths, but they are narrow and cross a lot of residential streets. I don't fancy trying to ride at speed along them, I really don't want to hit a pedestrian either.

I make Hyde Park Corner in good time, and then back to Maidenhead and past the start. So for so good. I feel comfortable and relaxed. I enjoy this. 60 miles gone already.

Then the wind makes itself known. I''m both aware of riding at my target effort and that my speed is too low. I stick with the heart rate, frustrated. I start calculating my timings, in my head I have targets, they are now out of the window. Probably 2mph off. How much does the wind take off?

The bike handling is also hard, and requires concentration. The Planet X 80 front has been fine in all previous conditions but now the wind is catching it forcing all over the road. I plough on.

I know I'm down at every check point, but riding into this wind is hard and mentally tough too. I can handle the wind for a bit, but after 5 hours the joke wears off.

Bath is busy, traffic stretches from the A34 all the way to the centre, not moving. The bus lane is completely clear, why don't they provide some buses? Shouldn't complain as I proceed at a cautious speed but steady speed.

The turn is a major tick point in the schedule, at least I am now riding home rather than away. 70 miles and I'll be off the bike. All the real hills are this end too, if I can put in an effort and get to Avebury quickly I'll be okay. I dislike the stretch between Calne and the Wagon and Horses pub. I take a gel and I am distracted, is it me or do they taste the same as my wife's shampoo? Back to the race, can I get back in 3 hours?

No.

My Dad is proud. I depressed and blame Reading traffic. Am I able to do this? I know I had a bit more to give.

Saturday night fever.

2010-07-08T06:29:00.000+01:00

This evening has been a lesson in how to turn a bicycle ride into a military operation.

My Dad has kindly come to be my feeder on the full distance dry run. Consequently I've had to brief him on how to mix a drink, how to hold the bottle when handing it to me, where the feed places are...the list goes on. It should be simply shouldn't it?

My Dad is clearly a little mocking of some of the nutrition, fig rolls he believes in, but 'gels?'. In his mind Kendall Mint cake is the answer. He may well be right. I'm going with Cliff bars as each one is just the right size for an hour.

I now think we have covered everything. The bottles are named, everything laid out and crosses on the map for feed places. Things I need are grouped together too, including suntan lotion, I got pink legs doing one way so I don't want to risk full distance on these beautiful summer days. Must have forgotten something, but nothing springs to mind. It is all commonsense really.

My wife kisses me goodnight and pleads for me to be careful. 'It's just a bike ride' I remind her. 'And don't forget to wear suntan lotion' she says.

As for the all important good nights sleep, we are on the sofas in the living room so as not wake anyone when we leave for Maidenhead at 4am. We have an inflatable mattress at our disposal but it all looks too much effort.

The sponsorship has been given a boost, almost over the £1000 mark. My wife's family have been very generous, mine are yet to give a dime!

I must also thank all the people who have donated despite not knowing me, it means a lot.

2010-06-27T20:49:00.000+01:00

One of the problems of having to fit your training in round family life is that you end up grabbing the time when it is available rather than a strict time. Consequently I was training hard late on Saturday night, getting home before 11pm thankfully, and then back out at 7.30am on Sunday. Hardly rested. In truth it was the coolest part of the day so I lucky really.

The session was extreme though, hill sprints. The interval session which I am sure has lost many a coach a client. The Dulwich Sunday ride goes via nice long quiet hill, I don't know the name, but it is probably the only one nearby suitable. On a Sunday ride I'd spring up the hill without any bother, but today 45 minutes in, I felt heavy. I completed the full session, but then getting home took effort.

When I got in, all I wanted to do was sleep, but I was pushed back out to get some tuna for our picnic. The picnic was great as it happened and the children just ran after a football for a few hours giving a sense of peace.

I had planned, actually entered, the 100m TT on Sundat 4th, but now I've decide to do a full distance dry run. Patrick is off doing the Marmotte, so my Dad has agreed to help. It maybe that I start in London, and just meet Dad past Marlborough, Bath and Marlborough again for a drink/food hand over. But it is also possible he can take me to Reading for a 5am start and follow me the full distance.

I am getting nervous about the whole attempt. I'm in the process of finalising some volunteers and the support from my club and friends is great, but the pressure is getting bigger.

I need to alter the schedule to start at the Five Stars public house and send it to the RRA, confirm the time keeper and any official time keepers and prepare the back-up bike.

Lordy, this is serious.

2010-06-22T04:15:00.004+01:00

A troublesome training week. A broken chain during some decent intervals, and long hours at work have meant a cut short session and one session missed completely. The first of the campaign I think.

The intervals were actually becoming fun as I had found a stretch of road with a speed camera board on it. It flashed up speed and either showed a happy or smiling face. Mostly unhappy I'm glad say, posting around 37 mph.

I decided to miss the National 50m TT and have another go at a complete one way. This time I really concentrated on maintaining a steady effort, nothing to put me into the red just the top half of Zone 3. I got to Bath in 4hr,56mins. Far from great I admit but going the right direction. My cassette worked lose at Marlborough so I almost abandoned but I was able to use the bigger sprockets, which meant spinning a fair bit but I reached Bath none the less.

I'm pleased about knocking 10 minutes of the time without any real effort, I still felt fresh enough for a return trip, helped perhaps because the immediate run into Bath is easy, despite traffic. The average speed was 21.6 mph, close but no cigar. If I can find 2 mph I'll be a real threat.

So 26 minutes to find minimum. Sounds a lot better 36. With more of a push I'd be getting close. Maintaining that theoretical effort for 9 hours is the bigger question.

A small change in the schedule, I will be starting at the Seven Stars public house on the A4, my Dad has some memories of the place, so it seems appropriate. He has had to hold of the planned second bout of Chemo as his blood cells haven't recovered enough. Nothing to worry about, a minor set back.

Next Sunday I will be doing Bath - Hungerford - Bath. It vaguely fits in around a weekend visiting Dad. The aim is a 23 mph average and to have some thing left in the tank.

2010-06-22T02:32:00.002+01:00

The dry run had to be postponed as Patrick has hurt his back and cannot be in a car for 9 hours (or longer!)

Instead I did a one way trip, London-Bath,a little risky as I have no way of mending a tubular.

The day was okay, a little breezy perhaps. It felt momentous leaving from under the arch at Hyde Park. The ride wasn't too bad I suppose. I didn't feel knackered in anyway, plenty left for the return run. Indeed I did turn at St.Michaels church in Bath, as I thought it may be better psychologically.

The only problem being that it took 5hrs 6mins. It is not a fast 100m course that is for sure, but that is a disappointing time. Now I'm pretty sure I have more to put in, how much is an issue. Is it enough. I averaged 20.5mph not 23.5mph.

The more I think about it, it wasn't a 'float' day, and I will need it to be. I did hold back a little. I was comfortable on the bike, and 1ltr was enough fluid, the fig rolls went down well.

Bottom line, it could have thrown up some serious issues. It just showed I need to find 30 minutes per 100 miles. Okay, that is a serious issue.

I stretched as best I could on the train on the way home, a little aware that I looked like an alien in my skinsuit. No buffet car, so I scrapped as much of the soggy fig roll residue I could from the bottom of my pocket. The glamour of a record attempt.

I grew more and more dispondent on the train. 5 hours!

2010-06-22T02:18:00.001+01:00

It's hard to know what to write. It has been a while, but in truth my life has been little more than work and training with a small amount of family time thrown in whenever possible. My little boy has taken to holding my hand now because I am always leaving. It's been a tough seven months. The extreme cold and rides in the snow are no a distant memory, the problem now is that the mountain I have to climb is in the near future.

Below is an early schedule, I'm starting near Reading at 5am, straight into London, then Bath and back to the finish. I've put it together as I will be doing a complete dry run at the weekend, a full dress rehearsal with Patrick driving in support. I'm not sure Patrick knew what he was letting himself for! But hand on heart, without his encouragement and enthusiasm for this venture I really don't think I would have got this far.

So I will be staying at Pat's house on Friday, getting up at an ungodly hour, eating breakfast (as yet undecided, but I have a fondness for bitesize shredded wheat) and letting it digest as we head out to Reading.
A quick warm up on the turbo and then it's go. I'll have a small bottle of energy drink on the bike and fig rolls in my pocket. The first feed station will be back near the start. I know it is just a rehearsal, but I'm nervous. It is becoming apparent just how many people I have asked to put themselves out.

Inter Miles Total Miles Time
Start
Head northeast on New Bath Rd/A4 toward Wargrave Rd. Continue to follow A4.Go through 14 roundabouts 0 05:00:00
"Slight right at Bath Rd/A4
Continue to follow A4" 12.3 12.3 05:30:45
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Wellington St/A4 Continue to follow Wellington St 1.1 13.4 05:33:30
Continue onto Uxbridge Rd/A412 0.3 13.7 05:34:15
Continue onto Wellington St 0.04 13.74 05:34:21
"Continue onto Sussex Pl/A4 Continue to follow A4
Go through 4 roundabouts" 0.2 13.94 05:34:51
At Chiswick High Rd/Chiswick Roundabout/A315, take the 4th exit onto the A4 ramp to Central London/ Hammersmith 13.5 27.44 06:08:36
Merge onto A4 0.3 27.74 06:09:21
Take the ramp 5.6 33.34 06:23:00
Turn by crossing roundabout under Arch. 0.1 33.44 06:23:40
Head east 33.44
At the roundabout, exit onto Knightsbridge Green/A4 0.03 33.47 06:23:45
"Take the ramp onto Knightsbridge/A4
Continue to follow A4" 0.5 33.97 06:25:00
At Hogarth Ln, take the 3rd exit onto Great W Rd/A4 4.5 38.47 06:36:00
At junction 1, take the A4/A406/A205 exit to N and S Circular 1.2 39.67 06:39:00
"At Chiswick High Rd/Chiswick Roundabout/A315, take the 2nd exit onto Great W Rd/A4 heading to Staines/Hounslow/M4
Continue to follow A4. Go through 3 roundabouts" 0.2 39.87 06:40:00
"Turn right at London Rd/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 1 roundabout" 11.3 51.17 07:08:00
Slight left at Wellington St 2.5 53.67 07:14:00
Slight right at Uxbridge Rd/A412 0.05 53.72 07:14:30
"Slight left at Wellington St
Go through 1 roundabout" 0.04 53.76 07:15:00
"At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Wellington St/A4
Continue to follow A4. Go through 16 roundabouts" 0.6 54.36 07:16:00
Turn right at London Rd/A4 16.1 70.46 07:56:00
"Take the 1st left to stay on London Rd/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 2 roundabouts" 0.03 70.49 07:56:30
"Slight left at Crown St/A4
Continue to follow A4" 2.2 72.69 08:02:00
"Slight left at Bath Rd/A4. Continue to follow A4
Go through 13 roundabouts" 1.1 73.79 08:05:00
"At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto London Rd/A4
Continue to follow London Rd" 15 88.79 08:42:00
"Slight left at A4
Go through 6 roundabouts" 0.7 89.49 08:44:00
"Turn right at Salisbury Rd/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 1 roundabout" 18.3 107.79 09:30:00
"At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Bridewell St/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 4 roundabouts" 0.6 108.39 09:31:00
"At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Ave La Fleche/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 1 roundabout" 17.8 126.19 10:15:00
"Slight left at Bath Rd/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 6 roundabouts" 0.8 126.99 10:17:00
Take the ramp 10.8 137.79 10:44:00
At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto London Rd W/A4 0.3 138.09 10:45:00
"At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto London St/A3039
Continue to follow A3039" 1.1 139.19 10:48:00
Turn at corner of St. Michaels Church 139.19
"Head north on Walcot St/A3039 toward Beehive Yard
Continue to follow A3039" 0.3 139.49 10:50:00
At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto London Rd/A4 0.3 139.79 10:52:00
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto the Batheaston Swainswick Bypass/A4 ramp 1.2 140.99 10:54:00
"Merge onto Batheaston Swainswick Bypass/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 6 roundabouts" 0.3 141.29 10:55:00
"Slight right at Emery Rd/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 1 roundabout" 10.8 152.09 11:20:00
"At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Queen's Square/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 4 roundabouts" 0.9 152.99 11:22:00
"At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto High St/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 1 roundabout" 17.8 170.79 12:08:00
"Turn left at London Rd/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 6 roundabouts" 0.7 171.49 12:10:00
"Continue onto Western Ave/A339
Continue to follow A339" 18.3 189.79 12:55:00
"Turn left at London Rd/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 1 roundabout" 0.2 189.99 12:56:00
"At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Benham Hill/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 4 roundabouts" 1.5 191.49 13:00:00
"At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Bath Rd/A4
Continue to follow Bath Rd
Go through 7 roundabouts" 9.6 201.09 13:22:00
"Continue onto Castle Hill/A4155
Continue to follow A4155" 5.1 206.19 13:35:00
At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto the A329 ramp 0.2 206.39 13:36:00
Merge onto A329 0.2 206.59 13:37:00
Turn left at Watlington St/A329 0.7 207.29 13:38:00
"Slight right to stay on Watlington St/A329
Continue to follow A329" 0.05 207.34 13:39:00
"Slight left at London Rd/A4
Continue to follow A4
Go through 4 roundabouts" 0.6 207.94 13:40:00
Finish 4.2 212.14 13:50:00

Sorry, it got a bit scrabbled in the pasting.

I've found this post and others which I never got to upload. So a couple on the same day.

2010-06-11T18:48:00.000+01:00

It doesn't just rain, it pours.
I was going to commute in on the 'race' bike this morning but the rain put me off. Then a mile from home I get knocked off by a car. Entirely the drivers fault. I'm okay, a few bruises, and I've got a twinge on my knee, which I hope will be okay for tomorrow. It would make the 211 miles a little more uncomfortable.

Just heard that Patrick has done a disc in back and so cannot provide the support for tomorrow. This is a blow. The whole day was set a complete rehearsal, for him as well as me. I cannot carry enough nutrition on the bike to make the 9 hours.

The whole thing will need to be rearranged, getting ever closer to the actual run, leaving less time to benefit from what I/we learn. In the meantime, I will go for half distance, a run down to Bath and then a train back. If I feel okay, I may make a part return trip and catch a train at Chippenham. It all depends on how much fuel, particularly fluid I have left.

So everything now depends on a speedy Patrick recovery and me not hitting anymore cars.

2010-06-11T18:39:00.000+01:00

The new (on loan) wheels are on the bike. I gave the bike a cable change too. It is all raring to go for the dry run on Satuday. If I fall short then I can't blame equipment. It is the wheelset recommended by Ian Cammish, the current RRA 100 mile record holder. Now okay he works for Planet X, but did suggest other non Planet X options, only if I can borrow a set then I'd be a mug to spend £1000s. To be honest given the small difference wheels make, the difference between one 80mm front and another has to be negligable. And as for dimples? Well I'm unconvinced. Surely sports cars, Formula 1 cars and aircraft would have dimples if they reduced drag.

2010-06-04T23:43:00.000+01:00

I was a little angry last weekend. The on/off rain, sometimes just drizzle, then a real down pour meant, after an aborted ride, I was stuck to the turbo on Saturday. I probably could have survived for a short ride, but I had 4 hours pencilled in. It would have been unpleasant but a bigger concern was may make me ill too. It is getting close to the day, and I'm now even more concerned that a less than perfect training session can affect the outcome.

Sunday worked out just as planned which was a big relief. Monday too went well. I felt I'd earned the rest day come Tuesday. But then with family commitments I was back on the turbo for Wednesday and Thursday. I did okay sessions, but it still doesn;t feel like a proper road workout. I feel guilty. Of course combined with lunchtime workouts, my legs were tired come Thursday evening. A good feeling of having been worked.

Tonight I picked up a Planet X 82/101 wheelset from a fellow Dulwich Paragon member. Very generous of him as we barely know each other. I haven't had a chance to put them on the bike yet, just a cassette and brake pad change required, due to the family. But on first nspection they look very quick. Amazing value. I can't believe that any other wheelset compares for quality/price. For all those graphs I've seen of drag to wind yaw, I now think the bang/buck graph is more important. Are those few seconds worth an extra £1000.

My little boy had a nose bleed in his sleep when I got home, hence the delay with putting the wheels where they belong. It may be a rush to get them in place for tomorrows ride. May be Sunday is more likely.

2010-05-29T07:46:00.001+01:00

The hard sessions and unrelenting time table are taking their toll. I get little time at work to stop and stare, especially as it is a time of change, with slight role changes for everyone. I am squeezing in the lunch time turbo sessions still, and just about leaving on time to pick the children up. It could be exciting work wise but I can't think about it, if it all started after 1st August, it would be my main topic of conversation.

My main conversation is of course about the record. We met some friends for dinner, and they asked what I had been up to, again I had to go into detail about the attempt. It was good to see their excitment and amazement. They asked how I got S to agree to it, and I noticed S was pondering that too.

It is safe to say I'm a bit of a day dreamer, this being a daily blog was obviously a dream. But I rarely have dreams at night until two days ago when I dreamt I was dropped on my club run.

I should be out on a 4 hour training ride now, I had planned to be out of the house by 5am for a couple of reasons. I promised time with all four of us together, and to train the body for an early start. It all went pear-shaped though as the little boy woke up with ear ache. Calpol was administered every 4 hours, but his stirring, complaining and screaming stopped S from getting any sleep too. At about 3am I heard S was coughing badly, very chesty and deep. I'm leaving her to sleep, she isn't well and obviously needs rest, it is the weekend afterall. Where that leaves todays training I don't know. Hopefully I will still get away in daylight.

2010-05-21T08:19:00.002+01:00

The good weather has cheered me up a bit and I’m enjoying the training once again.

I really nailed the lunchtime turbo session yesterday, normally I flag a little in the middle interval, but not yesterday. I grimaced and pushed through the pain. I would have screamed if I had the spare energy. I was doubled up during the easy minute between the hard efforts. A couple more months of pain, and I be there.

Due to the anti-social hours of my nightly training rides I acknowledge every other cyclist see, just so I don’t feel lonely or mad. They may be a young lad on a BMX (shouldn’t they be in bed), a drunk student or a octogenarian, I don’t mind. Sometimes it may just be a raising of the fingers from the bars, but that is all it takes. I’d say about 90% of the time I get a response. Now the Crystal Palace races has started I see a few racers on their way home. Normally no problem, waves and nods receive the same back. However last time I got nothing anyone. Then I realised why. Despite it’s very purposeful design; the bright orange and day-glo yellow with scotchlite stripes, my Hi-Viz vest makes me invisible to other ‘serious’ cyclists. A very curious property, like an invisibility cloak.

A member of the Dulwich Paragon is going to lend me his deep section wheels to trial, which is very generous, if only I could find a gap in schedule to go and pick them up.

2010-05-16T16:21:00.000+01:00

Good news, hope and encouragement have dissappeared, also understanding has flown out of the window.

My training has intensified, I haven't had a day off since the race, at it has all been hard and fast. If I'm honest a night in would be nice, just some time to relax. Of course I have a one track mind at the moment, so I'd no doubt end up doing some reseach anyway.

The daily routine is.
5:00. Wake up thanks to two year old boy.
6.30. Joined downstairs by 5 year old girl.
7:00 Feed and dress children.
7:30 Take two year old to nursery.
8:00 Head off to work.
12:30 Lunchtime turbo session.
5:00 Head off home.
5:45 Pick up two year old.
6:15 Cook dinner
7:15 Change and bath children.
7.30 Two year old to bed.
8:00 Five year old to bed.
8:05 Sit down with my wife.
8:30 Training for three hours.
11:30 Arrive home. Shower.
12:30 Go to bed.
2:30 Visit two year old who wakes up for more milk.
Go back to the start.

As I headed off last night, with the Love Film dvd still unopened, and my wife preparing for another evening alone she said,'surely if you are going to break this record, you should be winning races like the one last week?'
'Well, yes I suppose so'
'So what's the point?'
'The point is I'm trying to get better.'
'Hmmm, bye then.'

That conversation haunted me for the entire three hours I was out. I should be doing better. My argument all along has been sports people are made, rather than born. Sure some physical charactistics play a role, but I have two legs and a decent pair of lungs. What about my heart?

Well last night, I was to do one hour in Zone 4. I warmed up okay for an hour, yet when I started the hour of truth, I really struggled. My legs were on fire but I barely reached my HR Zone. After 20 minutes, it was dropping. In the end, I pretty much did it at the top of Z3, despite pushing hard. I was so disspointed and angry with my self. What is wrong with me. I get warning shot like last weekend and yet I can't even train in the right zone. I tried to blame the Saturday nutter drivers, that it was late, that it was cold. But it is still a cr&p session on paper, and in my heart.

I told my wife when I got in. She often waits up out of concern for my safety. 'Could it be that you are tired?' she suggested.
'Maybe', I conceeded.

I don't know if she meant through training or lack of sleep. Either way, it's three hours of Hill repeats tonight.

2010-05-14T00:54:00.000+01:00

The hard work has only just begun it seems.

My new training plan has arrived, I'm tired reading it. My lunch time sessions are my two least favourite woorkouts. One comprises short bursts at max with too little recovery and the other a long stretch at max.

The evening road rides are also almost entirely focused on speed and power too.

Today's sessions went well, a got back to desk still a bit sweaty. Is there a quick way to cool down? It seems even after my shower I'm still hot.

During the evening session, which was really just a long strength ride I concentrated on making sure I didn't relax and make my life too easy. My life is of course far easy, the strain on my family occasional bursts, being this selfish is hard. Only two months to go now.

The dissappointment of the weekend is behind me, it has made me more focussed and aware of how much I have to do.

As anonymous's comment says, I can dream of new components, whether it is wheels or anything else, it doesn't matter, it is my legs and heart which will get me through the attempt. I think that was part of the cause of my dismal weekend performance, my mind wasn't focused and my heart followed suit. Knowing I'm capable of so much more, but failing to show it, irritates me. I'm going to enter the National 50 I think.

I have found a photo of myself, which may brighten this blog a bit. If I didn't train almost entirely in the dark, when anyone with sense is in bed, I have more. I'd also have a tan, or at least less of a blue tinge.

2010-05-10T23:35:00.002+01:00

Well that didn't go well.

Charlotteville CC 50 milesTT in 1.57.00. I can grab at excuses, it was quite chilly, it drizzled a bit etc I can even claim that I may be coming down with a cold. But there's no denying a fair few riders went considerably quicker than me. In fact the winner was the best part of 10 minutes faster. That is very depressing and hard to take.

Of course, my time is inside what is needed for the attempt, but I have to admit to being tired after the race. Could I maintain that pace for another 150 miles? I'm not sure. Once again I'm searching for wheels, believing I can buy some time gains. But I think the truth is I need to train harder.

That harder training began tonight. In a way the disappointing performance has given me a wake up call, it could be for the best. I did the session much as I would before, however on the rides out and back I put in a little more effort, making sure I was pushing. It felt good, I feel renewed enthusiasm. I do wish I could afford some nice wheels though.

2010-05-08T10:17:00.001+01:00

With my little boy having his tonsils out, I have taken the last few days off work to be with him.

It's been good fun, but my training has had to drop a little. No lunchtime turbo sessions or commute. I have been doing some core exercises when I can throughout the day but that is all. Consequently I've but more pressure on myself to perform in the evening sessions. No joke as they are designed to inflict pain as far as I can gather.

I've been leaving the house quite late to in order to spend some more time with my wife, getting back at midnight. It's worked okay so far, though I can be grumpy in the mornings.

Tomorrow I have a 50m TT. Which I'd be looking forward to but I have to work this afternoon, 3pm - 11pm, so it will be a late night followed by leaving the house at 5.30am. It means I won't see the family for most of the weekend. I won't have time for my pre-race session either which has no training benefit as such but I find helpful from a mental point of view before a race. My other concern is that I had to adjust the gears on the bike but have had no time to ensure everything is running smoothly. It's much easier to race hard when you have complete confidence in your tools.

The race has strong field so it will really show where I am. I'd really like a 1.50 time to give myself a boost.

I'm still undecided what to do about my wheels, for the attempt and just in general. I'm using Mavic Cosmic Carbones at the moment, very good wheels, but compared to a very deep front and a disc I'm certainly at a disadvantage.

Time to quickly pack my race bag to prevent any last minute panic. Famous last words.

2010-05-03T08:23:00.000+01:00

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.

2010-05-01T23:41:00.001+01:00

Well that was an unpleasant training session. As if the hard intervals weren't enough, there had to be a heavy down pour. I think that must have been the wettest ride I've had.

I've had a nice day with the children, in the park and garden. The weather sunny and warm. However by 7pm it was looking a little dodgy, then light drizzle. Outcame the waterproof jacket and overshoes, both packed away for the summer sometime ago.

For the first hour it looked like I'd got lucky, the drizzle stopped and I beginning to get hot in all my layers. Twenty minutes later however and the heavens opened, the rain bouncing almost a foot back up in the air off the road. I was soaked to the bone almost instantly, my shoes waterlogged, like wearing wellies full of water.

I completed the session I'm pleased to say, returning home at about 10.30pm. I peeled the sodden lycra off and then quickly cleaned up the puddles on the kitchen floor before they were noticed.

A friend of a friend knows Eileen Sheriden, who has held the womens LTB&B since the 50's. In fact she has held many records. A meeting with her is planned in the near future.

2010-04-29T20:00:00.000+01:00

It's never all good news.

Having dismissed the idea of using either a deeper front or a rear disc wheel, I'm now caught in two minds. Previously I've assumed that the time gained through aerodynamics versus weight would be too marginal to bother, considering the disc will be more uncomfortable. However a quick look through the record books revealed that most of the new records are set beating previous records by only a few minutes. For instance John Woodburn beat Les West's LTB&B record by just 4 minutes. Perhaps the difference of a disc over a 50mm deep aero wheel.

The real sad new though is that my Dad will need further treatment, chemotheraphy to be precise. It's hard to take as he has been getting stronger and his spirits are so high. He doesn't seem phased, but who what he feels inside. My daughter has been talking to him a lot on the phone, which I know makes him very happy.

2010-04-29T16:38:00.000+01:00

I had a simple training session planned for last night, concentrating on a high cadence. Usually I head off on my usual training route. However I felt like a change, who wouldn’t after 4 months covering the same roads every night. I decided to check out the inner London part of the route, along the A4 starting at Hyde Park Corner.

Hyde Park Corner is not a cycle friendly roundabout by any stretch of the imagination, and with 3 sets of traffic lights to get through I wasn’t impressed. But once on the A4 my speed really picked up, bearing in mind was still doing the cadence training and it was about 9pm so there was plenty of traffic, I was clocking between 23mph and 25 mph. Not bad at all. Sure I had to stop and the prolific traffic lights, between them with the smooth road surface I was sailing along. Before I knew it I was at Hammersmith. I had intended to go all the way to Chiswick, but the Hammersmith flyover looked lethal with amount of cars racing over it, so I opted to go round the Hammersmith roundabout and head back to Hyde Park.

In the back of my mind I had thought it must be a very gentle hill, or the wind was behind me, but the return leg was just as fast if not a little quicker.

Now I was pushing a little, but then I will have to be on the attempt, also I hadn’t already travelled 30-40 miles at speed. But even so, this has given me a boost. Perhaps I was being over pessimistic about my London pace.

As for Hyde Park Corner, I found after the first set of lights I can skip left and ride through the arch; rejoin the roundabout unhindered by lights at the other side. Ideally I’d turn under the arch and rejoin the A4 immediately but there doesn’t appear a way of doing that without contravening the Highway Code.

The stretch from Brentwood to Reading, via Slough and Maidenhead is now my worry. I have ridden this part before, and it felt painfully slow. Then again it was last November and the wind and rain made it very unpleasant and not really typical.

It looks like the only reason for not breaking the record is my legs.

2010-04-25T22:59:00.002+01:00

I've heard of a few more people scoffing at my plans for this record. Mainly along the lines, who does he think he is. Now I'm aware I have no pedigree as such, I don't have a full trophy cabinet, but does that mean I can never win something?

I'll admit to being something of a dreamer, but aiming high is hardly a sin. Few people understand how determined I am to make this dream a reality. I have a young family and a full time job, and yet I'm training between three and four hours a day. Sure I have to do it at night, when else would I have time? I don't think I am someone, I don't think I have a special abilities, but I do think I'm putting more into this than anyone cares to imagine.

People can scoff, I'm not anyone. But I hope they understand, I don't think this a marathon, or an etape. I can't let up in effort and pace, it's not about 'getting round', it's all or nothing.

Yesterday, I had a run along the route, Hungerford to Bath and back again. Nothing to remarkable to report except the road was faster than expected, and it runs through quite beautiful scenery. Of course when you usually ride at night, seeing any scenery if quite nice. I was held up badly in Marlborough, Calne and Chippenham, but on the actual run I'll cycling through much earlier.

I averaged 23.5 mph, short of what I need to do, but it includes the warm up, and once again I had technical difficulties, leaving me stuck in one gear. Apart from one hill just outside Chippenham I could stay on the aerobars.

It's a route I really want to try and ride again, perhaps from Newbury next time. I had the feeling that I was tiring badly between Calne and Marlborough, but it turned out I was riding into the wind. Perhaps if my confidence was higher, I would have realised. Once passed the Marlborough I was feeling comfortable again.

Another lesson I learnt was, I need to wear suntan lotion. I have a pink tinge on my calves and fore arms.

The remainder of the day was spent visiting my Dad, who is in great shape and even thinking of cycling a bit! I then had to pop into my brothers 40th birthday party, a hog roast. I have to admit I was impressed by how many friends he has, if I have half that at my birthday I'd be pleased. Then I had the drive back to London to another friend's birthday party, and some time with my wife. Naturally, all I could talk about was the record attempt and whether or not I could do it.

The people who know me, know what training I'd doing, and how much I'm sacrificing, think I'll do it. People who hear about me scoff. I, well I know it isn't just about will power, the hours of training only mean something if they convert to speed and endurance on the day. I'm going to hurt myself. My heart and soul are in this.

Planning

2010-04-24T07:38:00.000+01:00

With the attempt creeping ever nearer, my nerves, doubts and confidence ebb and flow. Today will be another good test as I shall be training along the A4, a stretch of the route between Hungerford and Chippenham. The schedule is for a ride in different HR Zones, so it will be interesting to note my speed at various efforts on the actual roads.

The real news is that a dry date has been set, June 12th, complete with support car and feed stations. It should be as real to 1st August as possible. Each feed station will have two people just incase the first snatch doesn't go according to plan. They are are positioned on slow points along the route mostly hills.

The schedule is as good as finialised, the start point and check points have been decided, only the timings need to adjusted following the test run.

Other administration includes my membership to RRA. I still need to arrange the official time keeper and observers, hire the signs for the car amongst other minor things. The check list is getting smaller which is a weight of my shoulders. My focus can return to training and the daunting prospect of the ride itself.

I'm thinking of having my Garmin display set as I do in Time Trials, just showing heart rate zone and distance, this allows a quick reference at a glance. But I have a nightmare of riding my heart out in the attempt or dry run and all the while the people in the suppost car driving behind can see I have exceeded the time already. Yet I struggle on in ignorance.

I'll just have to wait for June 12th to see if it is a premonition. Of course I have a 50m TT lined up for May 9th which will also tell me a lot.

No rest.

2010-04-22T16:18:00.003+01:00

Ahh, a rest day.

With my commute, lunchtime turbo and evening workouts on the road, I’m packing in an average of 3 1/2 hours a day often more. I can almost feel the improvements, but that could be in my mind.

I was forced into a turbo session on Wednesday as I was on babysitting duty. I’m proud to say I chose my least favourite exercise. Short max intervals with not quite enough easy in between. Towards the end of each hard interval my legs were wobbly and I was soon spending the inadequate recovery time hunched over the handlebars. I kept telling myself this is what makes you stronger. My enthusiasm has picked up after the weekend race, with the signs that I’m getting somewhere towards my goal, I’m keener than ever to push my body further.

Last night was a simple strength building ride, which I managed to make uncomfortable by setting of under the impression summer had arrived. I was okay at 8pm, but by 11 pm it was becoming Artic. Once again I returned home frozen to the bone. Unable to move my little fingers.

Tonight, I’m finalising the schedule in theory, ready for the dry run in June. The starting location will be chosen, and feed points etc. Map points will be chosen, with distances and required timings for a successful attempt. How I measure up to these times will be seen on the test run. I am aware of setting optimistic speeds through London, I need to keep it all realistic.

So on June 4th I should be sending the schedule and cheques to the RRA, then I have really crossed the point of no return.

2010-04-20T21:57:00.000+01:00

I've been having my doubts over my abilities the last few weeks. The mixture of endurance and speed needed to break 9 hours for the record is incredible and as yet I haven't really proven myself to myself as anything other than a reasonable cyclist.

The training has been immense, and I haven't skipped a session. Yet I don't feel any better than before.

On Sunday, I did the SCCU 25m Time trial. I wasn't expecting much, in fact getting in under an hour would have done me. The illness of the previous week was still in the back of mind.

I turned up in plenty of time and felt relaxed. I warmed up on the turbo, and actually thought I feel good.

Once off, I was immediately up to the top of zone 4, and cruising. The course was such that no hill required standing, so you could maintain the postion on the bars and keep a good rythmn. The roundabout caused a few problems, and I had to stop for cars a few times. But otherwise, I was in a zone, concentrating on smooth pedalling. Unfortunately, I went straight on at a roundabout instead of going all the way around. Obviously my fault, but the marshall could have signalled to me.

Anyway the result was, I lost a few minutes. I tried not to let it get to me, after all this is my hobby and it is for training really. With about 5 mile left, I caught and past the man who had started a minute behind me, and then another rider I had already past previously.

My time was 57.36. At least I broke the hour! The man who started a minute me after me finished 3rd with 56.??. As I cought him, I can only assume I was over minute ahead of him when I we off piste, and as I caught him, I think I can assume I lost over 2 minutes. That small detour cost me the win!

I broke the news to my wife, she was her usual sympathy, 'typical, you always manage to lose a win, rather than get beaten.'

But the important thing is, I'm in some shape. I can ride 25 miles at an average of 28 mph, and to be honest not feel to tired afterwards. Next race is a 50, lets see if I can maintain the speed for that distance.

Cookies.

2010-04-17T08:47:00.000+01:00

I've been having problems getting onto my Blog to update due to cookies. Seems to be sorted now.

I've also had the challenge of not eating the multitude of home made cookies, baked by my daughter. But after the short lay off due to illness I feel I need to be more cautious than ever.

Last nights sessions went well, and it was good to be out on the road again. It is heart breaking to see the beautiful sunshine all day only to have to wait until 9pm before going for a ride though. Plus of course Fridays nights in South London seems to be when the youth in their pimped Honda Civics drive with their brains in their trousers.

I did the intervals along my usual road, it is a false flat and always into the wind. It means despite putting in maximum effort I cannot maintain 25 mph for the two miles, something I always find depressing. Of course when I turn at the roundabout, and head back, I can maintain 23 mph despite dropping down into recovery HR zone. That always cheers me up.

I'm sure it's human nature, but now nearing the end of the month, when I have the least amount of money in my account (thank you dentist!) my mind turns to new wheels. A Zipp 1080 rear and 808 front would be great for the attempt.

Never mind, I can't afford to buy time. I need to earn it, which as people tell me, is far more rewarding.

Resting - how hard can it be.

2010-04-16T00:16:00.001+01:00

With the fever coming back, I had to take a day off work. My first day of due to illness in living memory. My coach advised me to rest well. How hard can that be?

And yet I found myself thinking surely a bit of weight work couldn't do any harm? I contemplated sit ups. Why not? In truth, I wasn't up to either for two whole days.

On my return to work I tried to take the commute in easy, I pushed a little, just to test the legs. I actually felt strong in the leg department, but my headache wasn't going anywhere. The headache eventually faded away on day 3, which was lucky as my ever optomistic wife thought I had a blood clot at best, a tumour at worse. I thought she was going to trapan me in my sleep.

I immediately I leapt on to the turbo to check how my heart rate responded. It seemed perfect. I was back!

I have the Southern Counties 25 on Sunday, I have no idea how I'll do, but any thing under the hour will be pleasing. It is apparently a slow course, and from the insructions, a very confusing one. I may get a little lost. Of course it is really all just a way of making training more fun so I shouldn't care too much.

With the days of rest the size of the attempt has got to me a little. Plus people are asking how it's going? Am I on target ?etc.

I don't really know what to say, I couldn't do it now. But in a few months? May be, but who really knows that. Isn't that sport? I'm just pleased to be back on the training plan and trying not looking further than one day ahead.

2010-04-11T22:26:00.000+01:00

My new plan is getting tough. Lots of high zone 4 work with some zone 5 thrown in for fun. I can't complain as it is what I asked for.

I had a strange fever on Tuesday and Wednesday. Headache, muscle and joint ache with hot sweats and cold shivers. It was really horrible. End to end doses of Neurofen made limited difference. Walking was painful, as if I'd already made the attempt, the pain in my lower back stabbed me at every move, and if turned my head I'd get a shot of excruciating pain in my head. I had a headache for two entire days.

I thought I'd head into work on the Wednesday, I felt it would be more relaxing than having two children run over me. I'm not sure how fate knows, but I picked up my first ever double puncture. I suspect like many people, I only carry one spare inner tube. I was facing a walk. However my dejected look paid off. I very kind Samaritan rode past, turned, and introduced himself. He was Matt from my club, and although we had never met he recognised me from my days of running Shavedlegs, and had seen me before in the Shavedlegs kit. He lent me his only tube, so I hope he got back okay.

I felt better on Thursday, so I saddled up and left the house at aroung 8 as usual. The intervals actually went really well, I felt good. And my speed seemed higher than previous sessions. It was the sort of confidence boost I really needed. I got back in at about 11pm and was pretty chuffed. I've been studying the route a little and drawing up the schedule. It made the whole thing very daughting. With 18mph being the best I can hope for through London, the rest has to be done at some pace.

The next day was a different story. I had to start training a 5am in order to squeeze it around the family social commitments. Naturally I still stayed up til midnight chatting with my wife.

I figured I use Richmond Park as it the best place for continous hard efforts. All seemed okay on the way and the Park. It was a little chilly. You wouldn't believe the number of clothing combination I had toyed with, eventually designing a combination which could be undone when it got warmer.

Richmond Park was truly beautiful, with a fine mist. It was sereal to have roads all to yourself, you can't even hear a motor vehicle. I warmed up for an hour then tried the hour in zone 4. But my heart rate just wouldn't rise. I was sweating, my legs were hurting, and yet I could get above 153 bpm. After 15 minutes I was a goner. I cruised the next couple of hours, analysing my position, seeing if I was uncomfortable at all. I may play with a small increase in saddle height. I'm fussy.

I got home dejected, had a quick shower, before heading back out on the 3 year olds birthday circuit. I'm going to get some rest.

Change

2010-04-08T07:53:00.001+01:00

Can people change? I think so, but it rare and it takes something big.
I was having lunch with the local Minister, not because I'm in any way religious but as a friend. He believes in Heaven and Hell which doesn't come as any surprise, but he also believes that if everyone believed in Hell, the world would be a better place, becasue people would all change for the better.
A fair hypothesis, but look around you at the selfishness we encounter everyday, and then look at ourselves. We all accept that we have a problem with landfill sites, rubbish, pollution. We know people are staving in many countries around the world. Yet, we still carry on regardless.
With this attempt I am seeing myself change, I've never been so dedicated to one goal before. However, despite having been told repeatedly, training harder and longer isn't always better, when my training plan was late I slipped back into my old ways. High intensity high volume. I even knew I was doing it.
I'm feeling quite strong at the moment, but so far to go.
I'll expand this post when I have more time.

Sometimes things just work out.

2010-03-20T21:26:00.000Z

Ah, a rest day. I've done my least favourite turbo set twice in a row.

It is based on short intervals at max, then not quite enough time to recover before the next hard effort. The last 10 to 5 seconds of each effort is spend wanting to scream. I'm at that point where everything is telling my legs to push down on the pedals, but I feel no reponse. The brief recovery is spent hunched over the bars.

As a day off at the weekend is rare, we had friends rounds, and I pretty good with the drinking aspect, but certainly ate too much of the wrong things. L can only blame myself for cooking it in the first place. But it is nice to relax and I tried not to talk just about the attempt. Although it is what everyone asks me about.

I didn't get into the Kent 25m TT, so I'll be hiting either the A31 (Bentley/Farnham/Holybourne) or A24 for my training tomorrow. To be honest I'd like to have some turbo time, to guage effort and sustainabilty over time, but I have to stick with the coach's advice, otherwise I may as well coach myself. I'm due to meet up with him soon and we have a lot to discuss, but he thinks we are on track. Of course I feel behind, but I'm impatient for results.

I sometimes post on a forum, I don't get much time and would rather up date this blog. but it is interesting how willing people are to make assumptions, judge and offer criticism. May be I need a thicker skin or just be less genuine, honest and open, but that isn't me. If I have a short coming or I've made a mistake, I want to know, but in the past that feedback has only come from people who know me, colleagues mainly. Strangers judgments seem to either really hurt or spur me on, but always trouble me.

The truth is no-one can really know how much I dedicated to this record attempt. And although I may not have reached the required fitness yet, or planned everything to the nth degree, what I have done is immense. Just shifting child care for example to allow for extra training, getting comitment from friends to man the feed stations, drive the support car, provide back up wheels etc.

The trouble is there is still so much to do, now while I think I have enough time, it does plague me that everything isn't finialised. Of course much cannot be decided until I have ridden the route, and that is what I really need to time for. But in the back of mind, the actual ride is such a huge task, the spacing of the feed points, and what is handed to me is secondary. I'm going to be suffering for a very long time that is what I'm preparing for.

Things will be in place in time I'm sure, I probably won't know whether every decision is right until it is too late, I can debliberate all want.

Time to pack my bag for the early start tomorrow, and put the pedals on the TT bike.

2010-03-15T22:39:00.000Z

The speed work has kicked in, and with it new sessions to learn for which need to find appropriate roads and find the determination to ride above lactate threshold.
I thought I had found the ideal road, only 30 minutes from my door, flat, no traffic lights and lit at night. The trouble is it seems very popular with youths in fast cars. I had the closest call to immediate death last night.
Please remember that to give my family peace of mind, I have all the lights in two modes and wear one of those Hi-Viz vets (over my beautiful Assos top). I was doing an all out effort, I noticed the car coming towards me very fast, just another guy having fun in a car I could only have dreamt of in my day, when another car (a japanese sports) pulled out from behind him to overtake. Suddenly I was blinded by headlights and a deathening roar of an engine. A wing mirror travelling at well over 100mph swept past my arm. A few inches to my right and I would have been a goner, small concolation that it would be instant.

Ah, well I live to ride another day, and that is what I've be doing. Some of the hard speed work is still followed by a couple of hours of riding. My legs are certainly pleased when the rest day comes round.

Saturday was a 21/2 hour, 50 mile round trip, in a high cadence. It probably would have been a nice ride in daylight, at night Biggin Airport seemed like something out of the X files.

Sunday was a 31/2 ride concentrating on hills. I have a love/hate relationship with this session, the 90 minute version leaves me tired, this 180 minute left my legs fading badly on the way home. I used the Dulwich Paragon 10m TT course, which is a nice loop. This was of course a very rare day ride, at night I may have trouble down these unlit roads, which is a shame. I get a nice feeling to have pushed myself.

Once home I became a horsey for my children, which I look on as being core training and may go some way to help me hold the TT position for 9 hours.

I've put a late entry for a 25m TT this weekend. I don't know if it will be accepted. I have a zone 4 training ride booked, so it fits in nicely. Unlike the East Surrey 30m TT where I stayed firmly in Zone 3, I should be able to really push and may try for Z5 for the last 15 minutes. It's nice to feel part of something, my training is very lonely.

I've been checking out 100m TT courses near me to practice on. The A31 seems the most likely, it may get repetitive but it will give an idea of how fast I can go unhindered by traffic controls. If my entry for Sunday isn't accepted, this is where I'll head to. I'll then have a picture of just how far I to go.

The dishwasher now works, although never start plumbing just before lunch is to served.

2010-03-08T20:21:00.000Z

It was very cold at 8am on Sunday, I can tell you.
The day started much the same as any race day does for me. I scrambled for bits and pieces about the house while trying not to wake anyone. Threw it all in the car, and headed off a little later than expected, trying to think what I had forgotten.

We've had a family of four staying with us since Thursday, so I had even less time to prepare, pack etc. And there was more to trip over in the hall than usual.

Amazingly I found the race HQ without having to buy a new road atlas. I have a fine collection, from the AA, RAC and Collins, I just don't kept them to hand.

My start time crept up on me, as I fiddled for far too long with my number and pins. I warmed up all too briefly on the way to the start, and arrive just as the guy in front of me head off.

No time to plan or think, I was in the starters grip. I set off at a comfortable pace, keeping my HR in check. I hit a deep pothole very hard and twisted my left arm rest to an unusable position. I tugged it back up but it kept slowly slipping back down. I must have adjusted it 50 times over the 30m.

It prevented me from relaxing and getting into a rythmn. There is something about my attitude which changes when something like that happens. My confidence goes, and therefore when I really should have pushing harder, I didn't. The hill up to Rusper, was nice test of ones legs, but from then on it was a breeze.

I came 14th out of the 60 starters, which is okay, but nothing to cheer about. I still had something in my legs, so I suppose the base is there, and the speed workout have begun creeping into my training schedule, so we'll see what happens next time.

It was very well organised event I have to say.

Once back home, I plumbed in the dishwasher, which was quickly becoming a piece of furniture. It still doesn't work, but it is out of the way now. I just wish I could stop it making a droning noise.

2010-03-06T07:12:00.000Z

Gosh, it's been a whlie again.
The hard earned and saved money, put aside for new wheel or two has been spent. I now have a Hotpoint FT114 dishwasher, still umplumbed and a Yellow chair from John Lewis. I'm yet to see how either effect my performance.
I've had my birthday on Monday. A very well organised non-event, if you wanted to ensure nothng on any note happened on your special day, then I have the blue print.
The training has now switched to speed work, with a couple of brutal sessions. Hard sprints, increasing distances at max and acceceration sets.
I have also entered the East Surrey 30mTT, which was just going to be a test for how fast I am within my HR for the attempt. But the field is avery strong, so I now I want to see how I measure up against people I have heard of. And last night I noted John Woodburn, the current London to Bath record is racing.
I hope to get a chance to say hello to him and let him know how much I respect his achievements in cycling. Somehow a knighthood for a gold medal seems cheap when you consider what John Woodburn is still achieving after 50 years in the sport.
I'm beginning to feel nervous for tomorrow, not having raced in a while and not knowing the route. I'll dust off the TT machine, drop on some oil and maybe have a jaunt on it today.
We have friends staying at the moment so I need to prepare breakfasts for the locusts.
Until tomorrow....

2010-02-28T07:21:00.002Z

I squeezed in an Hour of Power turbo session on Wednesday. Basically riding at 85% with 15 seconds at max every 2 minutes. It is designed by Peter Black I think. All went well. On Thurday however it was clear my legs were groggy. The commute in to work was not pleasant, even though I tried to turn it into a recovery ride. Difficult on a 53/12 fixed gear bike. To top it all my Thursday session was a very hard speed intervals. I just made it out alive, helped by having to abandon the very last sprint when my chain came off. I was truely in a state. I pulled myself together enough to look fairly relaxed when I emerged from the conservatory (gym/bike workshop) to say night night to my wife.
Thank goodness Friday was just a ride, I tried to find a new route to add a little variety to my life, but more or less went round in circles on unsuitable roads. Unless it is to be a 4 to 5 hour ride, heading towards Dorking is going to be any use.
It’s my birthday on Monday and I was thinking of buying the new real wheel I have been saving for. Instead I have ordered a dishwasher. Oh joy. I guess I’ll have fun plumbing it in.

2010-02-22T23:34:00.001Z

What a shocking test run I had on Friday.
Getting out of London, through Slough I was averaging just 17mph, leaving a lot to be done between Newbury and Bath where the roads are fairly open. There is no getting around the fact that traffic controls make this a very hard challenge.
I was riding into a head 5mph head wind but I decidied to stick to my ideal heart rate and see what speeds I achieved. I could have pushed harder to give myself a better average speed but I couldn't be sure it would be indicative of the whole 9 hours (or slightly less.)
To add to my misery, I left two hours later than planned (unavoidable yet unpredictable) and picked up two punctures. Now I'm no stranger to fixing punctures I wish I was, but in the cold wind, with sleet, in sweaty clothes, I was not enjoying myself.
With the delays I was running late and had to accept a lift at Devizes to ensure I made it to my meeting on time; The supposed real reason for the trip. To really end my day on a high note, like a proper muppet, I turned my computer off without saving the data, so I learnt very little.
From memory, the average was creeping up to 20 mph. Hardly a confidence boost. I'm trying to forget all about it.

The weather on Sunday prevented me from going for a ride outside so I hit the turbo. I nice hard session to get the legs hurting and sweat running. I felt better about everything after a good work out.

I'm going to add morning or lunchtime turbo sessions on weekdays to my training plan to complement my evening rides. Although I'm probably improving, I don't think it is happening fast enough, so more training has to be squeezed in somehow.

2010-02-19T00:51:00.000Z

I'm doing a half trial run tomorrow, just from London to Bath. I'll be getting the train back due to time constraints which is ironic since the idea to be able to complete the journey within my family life style.

Naturally in order to feel fresh, I've just done a brutal traing session on the turbo and I'm still wide awake at 1am.

In truth it is just a 4-5 hour ride, I've done plenty before, but the results will reveal where I've got to and how far I have to go. I'll never be pleased with where I've got to, and I'm worried about how far I have to go.

2010-02-17T21:47:00.000Z

Forgive me blog readers for it has been a few days since my last post.
I've been visiting Devizes in Wiltshire. I took the bike down, having borrowed a Saris Bones car rack from Patrick. I have to say it is a brilliant piece of kit. I'd never attached it to my car before, yet even though it was dark, I had the bike secured in half the time of my old Halfords job.
Training was difficult on the Saturday night, as the roads were largely unlit. I tried to find some sort of safe curcuit, but after an hour went home. I'd managed a few hill repeats.

On the Sunday I rode to Bath to see some friends and then back again. This took in some of the route I'd be using on my attempt. I kept the effort within my percieved bounds for the attempt, but I was deflated to discover my average speed was just 20mph, 3-4 less than necessary for success. Okay so I was on my winter training bike, but it still points to a mountain to climb.
The road surface was appalling in places too, probably due to the recent frosts, but I can't it being sorted by August.

Thanks 'Anonymous'

2010-02-11T09:57:00.001Z

Anonymous said...
Power Meters are over rated - check out Dave Lloyd Coaching website for his review.

Thanks for your comment, he seems to have spelt out the obvious. Powermeters are expensive, and unless you know exactly what you are doing can prove to be a distraction at best. Something my coach also said, but it doesn't stop that craving for the lastest equipment.
My coach edged me to buy a Garmin rather than a powermeter, and to be honest it is brilliant. It records data I understand, which is well presented on the Garmin connect software and easily shared.
The only issue I have is that I want to know exactly whether I'm getting better and by how much. Due to all the variables you get riding outside, timing a lap isn't accurate. And a bad time can leave me feeling deflated, even if the wind was in the wrong direction.
All said and done, setting up the turbo consistantly and timing how long I can hold a cadence in a specific gear is about as accurate as I can be to date, and while it may be not 100% perfect, it's not £1000 too inaccurate.
Thanks 'Anonymous' for helping me clear my mind.

2010-02-11T09:25:00.001Z

I was convinced not to ride last night but settle for a turbo session. The decision had nothing to do with the fact I scheduled to do Hill sprints which I hate. (if you don’t hate them, you ain’t doing them right)

But my wife pointed out we don’t know what the conditions like, whether it is going to get worse, and I’d be an idiot if I got caught in heavy snow and struggling to get back safely.

Personally I would have gone, but then if she was proven right I’d be a real plonker and I’d never hear the end of it.

I did a sort of 5x5 session on the turbo, and it felt good. Legs were strong and my heart rate nicely in the zone. I’m entering a 25m TT in March and this gave me confidence that I may do okay. I’m hoping the event will be a confidence boost as training has been relentless and I can’t perceive my improvement.

I’m confusing myself about buying a new set of wheels, Zipp 808 front and 1080 rear. Mainly because this cold snap has reminded me we need to replace our windows for uPVC double glazing. I know what I should buy and I know what I want to buy.

2010-02-09T23:26:00.000Z

As a work colleague pointed out, a daily blog should updated, well, daily. So to make up for lost days I'm posting twice in one.

The new gloves made a difference, but it wasn't raining and not quite as cold as it has been.
It was a pleasant ride this evening, and despite having a cold and blocked nose, not too taxing. I enjoyed being alone with my thoughts, which is quite a luxury with two young children and their demands.
Amongst other things, and not surprisingly, I wondered if I was capable of the record. I know at the moment I'm not, but I will I be?
It's not a question anyone can answer, but it puts the idea of a powertap wheel back into my head. at least being able to measure my power will give me some perspective.
The downside being it will mean I can't buy a Zipp 808 front wheel for the attempt itself. Decisions, decisions.
The other thing I wondered was who, in Penge, directly opposite a 99p shop opened a 98p shop.

Happy birthday to me!

2010-02-09T12:10:00.000Z

Okay, it isn't my birthday, but I've treated myself to new gloves. So tonight I will wearing 3 pairs.
Once again it's a lonely trip down to Sevenoaks in the cold and dark, but hopefully my nose will be the only cold piece of my anatomy.

Gotta do it.

2010-02-08T23:10:00.001Z

I probably shouldn't have gone out.

It was Patrick's birthday in the afternoon and then in the evening we went to see my sister in law. All fine but then the little boy threw up in style and quantity.
We then didn't get home until 9pm and it was wet, windy and very cold.
Of course nothing was going to stop me going out, even the bleeding obvious.
The rain got worse and coming through Sevenoaks I was literally blinded by it and had to pull over. At best it stung my face.
Once my gloves were wet, the wind stung my fingers. And to think I was looking at new gloves in a shop the day before.

I got home, 50 miles and 2.30 hours later. My hands took forever to warm up, it was agony.

I now have a blocked nose, which I hope will clear up over night so I can repeat my madness tomorrow. looks like snow!

Old hunting ground.

2010-02-07T08:15:00.000Z

I returned to Richmond Park yesterday, my old hunting ground. And rather dissappointingly I felt slow. Now I wasn't actually going for a 3-lap record but doing sprint intervals, but between intervals the speed just didn't seem anywhere the same as last year say.
May be it is because of the max efforts, may be it was windy, may be it's the new surface, who knows but it has left me deflated. Sure I over took people and no one passed me, but it's hard to judge how hard others are trying.
The turbo sessions the last couple of days have been hard work too. I've found it really hard to get my heart rate up, my legs suffering long before I've hit the desired zone. And now I've got a bit of cold/flu, it isn't on my chest so I'm planning to do the scheduled 3hr ride tonight anyway, even though I'm at a mate's birthday this afternoon.

All alone.

2010-02-02T22:09:00.000Z

I still haven't found time for a ride in the daylight. I was set for a morning escape, but then a job for the man of the house came up. Mending the vacuum cleaner. Why I should be better at diagnosing the fault than anyone else is a mystery. I'm not James Dyson or J.Edgar Hoover. Anyhow by the time I'd time I put the thing back together and boxed up the left over screws and parts it was too late to leave.

I was doing my usual night ride, the choice is limited by the need for decent roads which are well lit, when I became lonely and isolated. It's not a feeling I've had before, but gliding down a hill, alone in the dark some way from the nearest house I felt vulnerable.

It would be nice to have company on the rides but because of individual abilities and needs I just can't see it happening.

So I remain alone, hopefully capable of getting back to civilisation whatever happens.

Gym exercises for cycling.

2010-01-30T08:07:00.001Z

I've played some more with the video software, and borrowed a work colleague as a camera man. These are some of the exercises I do in the gym at work.Gym Excerise routine

Blimey

2010-01-28T21:56:00.003Z

With a few long rides incorporating sprints and a turbo session of 1 hour at threshold, I'm well and truely cream crackered. To day is rest day and I need it. I really felt so below par I was going to take the day off work. A combination of training and the little boy waking through night has left me exhausted.

My night rides of 2 to 3 hours have been down to Sevenoaks and back, I could make a loop in the summer but at the moment I need to stick to the well lit roads.

Just for fun and to see if anyone reads this drivel I don't spend enough time writing I have included a link to short video of my training exercises I do at home in spare moments. I took them to play with the video editing software. Still should elicit some comments so I'll know if anyone is out there.Click here - Home excerises video

Solutions.

2010-01-21T23:01:00.000Z

You'll be pleased to hear all the storage solutions bought at the weekend are now in place. I'm not convinced they are a solution really, the stuff still takes up the same amount of space, it's just stacked slighty neater.

Anyhow, my biggest challenge recently has been motivation. I did hill repeats on Tuesday and my heart really wasn't in it. I have no idea how much difference it made to the effectiveness of the exercise but my heart felt it was a waste of time. It is almost certainly just the relentlessness of life which is effecting my attitude. The conveyor belt of cooking, transporting children, shopping, working.

To break free, I changed my weight training a bit, to incorporate plyometrics. Today I did squats, lowering slowly and thrusting back up, then scissor lunges with a medicine ball followed by bench hops. I repeated the process 3 times. It felt good. I then checked my training schedule and saw I had a 40 minute turbo session at lactate threshold booked in. I really didn't think my legs would have it in them.

They did, but the last 10 minutes were unpleasant, as I suppose they are meant to be.

I'm a little preoccupied with the thought of a powermeter again. It would just be a benefit to know how I;m progressing. Perhaps I'll enter a TT soon.

2010-01-19T16:25:00.001Z

My family, always thinking of me, promised I could ride for a ride in the daylight this weekend. I have to say I was quite looking forward to the novel experience of seeing my surroundings. However, a trip to one of those indoor play centres on the Saturday and even more horrific, the annual Ikea visit on the Sunday meant I didn't leave the house until 8.30pm on both nights.

I'm pretty use to night riding and as long as the roads are lit it isn't much bother. The bigger issue is that I'm not back until 11pm, so by the time I've cleaned the bike a bit (it's getting less and less as the enthusiam fades), showered, put the washing machine on (sweaty cycle kit smells like the bottom of a hamster cage) and eaten something, it's midnight.

Phew.

2010-01-11T23:49:00.002Z

Many of you may not know this, but I harbour a sneaky ambition to be a comedy magician on the London comedy circuit. I have in fact been writing an act for a while now. This evening my wife decided to treat me to a trip to an open mike comedy night, for inspiration, encouragement and enjoyment. We haven't really been out much just for fun together much in the last 5 years, and tonight was great.

Typically, having organised and splashed out on the babysitter, when we got to the venue, the night was cancelled. How ever we settled down for a drink (water for me as training later) and just chilled and talked. It just felt like we were young again for a minute.

But then when back home, I had a hard turbo session booked in thanks to my coach. Hard intervals at max HR with a minimum amount of rest in between. It's fair to say that it is the hardest I have worked in training. I wanted to stop half way through, but with everything recorded on the Garmin, Coach would see I'd bottled it. I only just made it through the session.

On each interval I rode for all I was worth, building nicely to top speed only for my legs to fade in the final few seconds despite the determination, no matter how hard I tried to make them push the pedals a little harder, a little faster they wouldn't respond. I'd then slump over the handlebars, unable to turn the pedals once more. Any joy of finishing the workout quickly dispersed when I thought that Coach may suggest I do this session again sometime. It is possible to enjoy training, but not tonight. I just hope it gets results.

Turbo session of hell

Snowthing is going to stop me.

2010-01-11T11:03:00.001Z

Well yesterday it was snowing so I resigned myself to a turbo session. There was no telling whether it was going to get worse and I figured better safe than sorry.

But then once on the turbo, staring at the wall again, I thought. Isn't that one of the decisions that make a champion, the difference between a good cyclist and a great one. These little bit of extra efforts, the accumulation of marginal gains.

Without intension I pushed harder than my target HR on the trainer, I even brought up a little of my lunch on one interval. but it was a very nice lunch so no harm done.

Today I didn't chicken out, the snow started just 30 minutes into my 210 minute ride, but I was turning back. I folowed the Dulwich Paragon route again, out to Pratt's Bottom. A brilliant place name, the fact you pass through Elmer's End on the way keeps me amused in the cold. It reminds me of when I drove through a town called Ugly and past the meeting place of the Ugly Womens' Institute.

The route is great, and I was toasty warm with more layers on than I care to recount, even my fingers remained warm. But the snow flakes really hurt your eyes. I had to keep my head down with just the occasional glance up the road.

The further out of London I got the more it appeared the snow would settle. At the usuall tuning point, 1 hour into the ride, I wondered if it would be sensible to turn back rather than continue to complete the 2 1/2 ride I had scheduled. Again quitting isn't what gets results, and I went straight on for a further 15 minutes.

The ride really seemed to be building my strength, it just felt good.

I arrived home feeling very positive. My beautiful family waiting for me and cup of hot chocolate. Just perfect.

Saturday Turbo Session

Sunday training ride

Is fame sucess?

2010-01-06T22:47:00.001Z

How do you feel when you discover someone you used to know, an old school friend perhaps has made something of themselves?

Perhaps you've caught them talking about their new book on the Today show, or on a television programme.

Some people take it as a kick in the stomach. Why him? She's not special etc.

But to me, some one else's success is encouragement. It's a reminder that things can be done, that these people we see, celebrities say, are actually regular people who have the spotlight. And that spotlight can be sought and coveted like anything else.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I see don't know what I want to do. But I don't want it to come through selling myself. I don't mind promoting a product I may have created, but my being is not for sell. It's interesting that my friend on the brink of celebrity talks and writes about himself in the 3rd person.

I'm deeper than that I think, I want this record and there is no way of cheating, no angles or style over substance. I need to produce the power required, no excuses. It hasn't been fun so far. The weather is rotten, and I'm stuck on turbo. My family still think my hobby is turbo training. It's not. It's cycle racing. They think I doing my favourite pastime in the conservatory. No, I'm preparing for my hobby. It's a kin to revising for an exam. You hate the revision but you want that pass.

To make all this training bearable, the garmin can reproduce every detail. below is a link to the last road ride I did following the Dulwich Paragon Tuesday evening ride. Probably the best ride in the dark you can do in South London.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Strength+

A quick experiment.

2010-01-05T14:14:00.001Z

I was training on the turbo on the 1st of January and my chain broke. Slightly more understandable than when I managed to get a puncture. Anyway as a sort of experiment I've tried to add a link to my Garmin read outs on Garmin Connect.

It isn't the best training activity to post as it is essentially riding on the spot for 30 minutes, but if it works I'll post my outdoor adventures.

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled

To bed a happy bunny.

2010-01-04T00:10:00.000Z

Just back from the days ride.

It was dark and cold outside when I set off at just before 9pm. I had intended to go out early this morning but events and family had other plans. Apparently, at least according to S, the first weekend in January is a good time to start spring cleaning. It's hard to enjoy trips to the dump, the results are quite dramatic.

So the day past without my ride until after dinner. And then I realised I'd left my front light at work. I began unpeeling the winter cycle clothes, when I stumbled on an old light. A quick change of batteries (left over from the kids Christmas presents) and the jerseys went back on.

The ride was actually great, I followed the route used for by the Dulwich Paragon on their Tuesday/Thursday chaingangs. I have to say it is great for a night ride. Not the most scenic perhaps, but hey, lets not forget we are in South London and it's dark. The roads were all wide and well lit which is the most importatnt thing when riding alone at night. There was some traffic, but London traffic never stops, what was noticable was the lack of traffic lights which can hamper a training ride. I really enjoyed myself. I battled to maintain 20 mph on the way which I just put down to the cold weather, but having turned round the reason became obvious, false flats and a winds. I spun home at 23mph plus.

I can go to bed happy, I have a new riding route, ideal on so many levels. Thanks Dulwich Paragon.

Dreams

2010-01-03T11:28:00.001Z

I'm setting up our house for streaming music, which does of course mean converting all our music collection to digital. During this dull highly repetitive task I uncovered some old forgotten CD's from my years of teenage angst.

I put on Echo and the Bunneymen. One song haunts me still, 'What are you going to do with your life?'

I'd hoped to have answered that question by now! But it turns out I've gone through the last twenty years without actually having made that decision. Just drifted, hoping the right thing will pull me out, by claws, hook, or net?

I can't remember the film, but the dialogue goes:
A: When would you consider yourself successful?
B: When someone asks me 'What do you do?" and I'm pleased to tell them.

It ties in nicely with a conversation in a film starring James Belushi. He is chatting to a women in a bar.
W: What do you do?
JB: Do you know anything about boxing?
W: No.
JB. I'm the heavy weight champion of the world.

I'm still drifting, holding on to my raft of dreams for survival. Tempted to make something up when asked about my job.

But then this record is a concious decision and the BBC have come knocking on my door. Okay, a friend does edit for them so it's not a complete miracle and it still remains only a slim chance, but may be a little documetry about my attempt could lead to more? May be my raft has spring a rudder? Move over Ben Fogle and James Cracknell.

I've neglected the charity of the attempt for a while, but I promise to have the Just Giving page sorted by the end of the weekend. I'll then be pressing you for the pledges. Fingers crossed a bit of national coverage could mean I raise more than I ever dreamt possible.

2009-12-17T00:26:00.000Z

With the weather as it is I've been forced into late night turbo training, usually starting at around 10pm. This is fine unless friends are coming round, in which case I'm usually absent for most of the evening, which a decade or so ago wouldn't have been a problem but things have changed.

I have no idea what has happened to my friends. I appreciate we are no longer 19, lord some of us are no longer 39, but why don't we stay over at each other houses any more. We used to crash rather than stay, on a sofa not a bed, in a flat not a house and think nothing of it. Now as an evening draws to a close, probably the right side of midnight and a bed in a perfectly nice spare room is offered, the answer is invariably no.

Why? because 'I really want my own bed'.

What is that about? What is so special about my friends' beds? Personally I'd rather have a bit to drink, carry on talking nonsense and sleep in the nearest bed and have a social breakfast.

If they had to train in the morning like me I'd understand. If it was because they are commiting to a winning season I could see it. But because they want their own bed?

Green tears

2009-12-17T00:12:00.000Z

I watched Wild Swimming Adventures with Robson Green last night. I was intrigued to follow someone else attempting a feat of endurance for personal reasons as it was pretty close to what I am aiming to do. It was quite interesting, but he got emotional and cried almost every five minutes. Irritating to watch, but I couldn't help thinking I hope I don't break down in tears.

It is a long journey, something that Robson conveyed and it is only thanks to family support (at the very least accepting your absence) that it is possible. There is every chance I will cry at some point, because this is something I want to do, I'm being selfish and at some point I my emotions will surface.

Fortunately that is all a long way off. For now I'm concentrating on following the training plan to the letter. It is great to have the guess work removed from the training. I really believe every session is bringing me closer to the record. And having a whole month planned in advanced means I know what is coming up and I can be prepared for it. I can't cut corners, someone is now monitoring me.

Pat on the back.

2009-12-13T07:32:00.000Z

I'm pretty proud of myself these last two weeks. With the coach I have upped my training considerably and yet despite work ( I slept in the office) and family commitments I have kept up everything prescriped. The big issue I have is that my surrounding area isn't really ideal for training. I live in South London and although there are hills, they all have pedestrian crossings or some such similar obstacle. Last night I powered up Herne Hill, imagining the bunch fragmenting behind me, only to have to hit the brakes as a group of people slighty worse for wear crossed in front of me. And if I ever see the the driver of that Morrision lorry, but that's another story.

I do have Richmond Park and I could get out to the Surrey hills, but I don't want my evening rides to be much over 2 hours as I do need some beauty sleep.

I have been using the turbo a lot. Harder than ever in fact. Knowing the coach is going to ask and what I data I have to send him means slacking off or making excuses isn't possible. All good stuff.

Coach

2009-12-07T23:51:00.003Z

It's great having a coach. Just the thrill of speaking to someone intensely about your aims is fun. And they can't show any signs of boredom, in fact they have to offer advice. Brilliant.
I've been given my first months training plan, which pretty much trebles my weekly training hours and includes some core exercises using a Swiss ball (I'm yet to be convinced) and stretching (does anyone stretch). So far despite reservations I have stuck to the plan, what is the point in having a coach if you don't trust what he gives you.
His turbo sessions are harder than anything I've done before. Maybe because he is concentrating on lactate threshold, but also probably because I know he will judge me.

Yo-yoing

2009-11-23T21:47:00.000Z

I haven't bought a new HR strap yet. The thing is, whilst shopping around for the best price, I became curious in upgrading. Perhaps I should get a Garmin 705? It would be useful should I ever get a Powertap.

I have spent an age in deep thought over the idea of a powermeter, yo-yoing from yes to no and back. When training on the turbo I can use gears and cadence as a guide and on the road speed is the most important factor. I'm also considering what wheels to use. Evans Cycles have offered me some vouchers as support for the attempt, I don't know how much yet but every bit will help.

My Dad has been yo-yoing in and out of hospital after having his right lung removed. They sent him home with a drain still in but it leaked. Now he has an infection and looks like spending another week in hospital. It is tough mentally for everyone, and he has lost a lot weight. It is hard as he doesn't have a phone in hospital so I can't speak to him without being there.

It costs a lot to be this clean.

2009-11-19T19:15:00.001Z

I'm feeling better, but still not 100%. I keep waking up with a sore throat. It is not enough to stop me training though, I'm still waiting for my first diary from my coach but I expect that soon.

I seem to have mislaid more than I thought, quite a lot of cycling clothes which I wear whilst training. I blame our new cleaner (actually our first cleaner). This is why I didn't want one in the first place, it's not that I think she stealing or anything, but our house isn't like many peoples I know. We don't actually have a place for everything, quite a few things in fact our roving objects, hobos of no fixed abode. My wife's hair tongs for example can be in the living room, kitchen or bedroom. Often left on so as to leave a burn mark as if marking their terriority. Of course this all means we can never find anything. The telephone address book for example. However I've always rest assured that even with complete neglect my belongings always end up in the miscellaneous pile at the end of the kitchen counter by the conservatory. And my clothes in the pile on my side of the bed, only I know if they are clean or dirty. (with the exception of my cycling clothes as they smell like the bottom of a rabbit's cage)

Unfortunately now we have a cleaner, we have given her the right to allocate homes to our errant belongings. To my horror, we no longer have a miscellaneous pile! and my side of the bed is clear!

I guess I'll have to buy a new HR chest strap as training without just isn't the same, cleaners are expensive.

Tonight, I'm taking my training bike off the turbo and putting my TT bike on. I need to practice in the aero position for sure and the change will be refreshing. The is conservatory is still a mess but I'll make a few trips to the dump on Saturday and put a few things on Ebay to create a bit more space.

Not going my way?

2009-11-17T06:04:00.000Z

It was enevitable. I've been ill all weekend, with similar symptoms to Ziggy. With doses of Lemsip, made palatable with honey and a drop of scotch, I managed to be human. But there was no chance of training.

Of course I'm feeling well enough on Monday to go to work. The commute ride in was fine, probably due to a tail wind. I did try a session in the gym, but I was bringing up mucus so I stopped short.

Irritatingly I've misled my gym bag, containing some training clothes, gym towel and my HR chest strap. When things don't go my way, they really don't go my way.

2009-11-14T14:31:00.000Z

I'm feeling fairly confident about this challenge today, for no good reason at all. May be the sleepless nights have made me delusional. Ziggy has been doped up during the day on Calpol, Neurophen and antibiotics. Consequently he slept a lot, of course by night time, he is in fine form and keen to play.

I commuted to work as fast as possible yesterday. A bit shocked that despite holding 26/7mph between traffic lights, my average speed was just 18mph. Admittedly I was on a fixed with 48x13 so slow to get going from a standing start but still not good news.

I going to clear the conservatory as soon as possible to convert it into my winter training camp. I'm in no means a fair weather cyclist but the gale force winds and rain today make it too dangerous to cycle outside. At least that is the opinion of my family and I've learnt not to prove them right by hurting myself several times before.

I'm still waiting to hear from my coach and my first weeks plan. I'm continuing with my usual sessions at the moment but making sure they are progressive. Previously I've trained at the same level for months without upping the ante. I expect having the record as a goal is helpful.

As soon as the CTT publish events for next year I'm going to create some intermediate goals, in 50 and 100 mile TTs.

2 play catch up?

2009-11-13T05:52:00.000Z

I suppose it was going to happen sooner or later, but I've missed the last two training sessions. My little boy, 2 years old, has been very ill, and I've had to stay at home to look after him. C'ai la vie of course and although I don't blame him it is frustrating, missing my commute ride, and 2 gym sessions I feel a build up of energy. It is very tempting to try and fit in some extra sessions to caitch up.
There is also the fear that by cuddling him for two days I will catch whatever he has, which would put me way of schedule.

2009-11-11T07:24:00.002Z

Although the attempt is still some way away, I'm getting nervous. The size of the moutain I have to climb is huge, and I have real doubts. I've sent the forms back to the coach, who believes it is all possible and hope to have some real structured training soon. The results (I've put the test results graphs below.) I got back from my metabolic testing are pretty positive, I'm fit and endurance is definiately a strength. But 27 mph for 9 hours?

Welcome

2009-11-08T06:57:00.000Z

Hello, and welcome to my training blog for my record breaking attempt.

Over the course of the next six months or so I will be trying to post daily. Mostly about my training but also other details about the preparation for the attempt. Such as route planning and timings etc.

I have just sent of payment to my new coach. The first time I have acknowledged that on the fly self training may not be the most effective way of improvement. The coach believes the record is obtainable, despite the frightening statistic of trying to average 27mph for 9 hours. And that's not taking into account traffic lights and roundabout etc.