Augusts been and gone

Well my stats for August show I'm starting to get back into the cycling to work, not really any big runs or anything this month just in and out safely, can't say my fitness has improved much but that will be my goal for September although I do like trying to improve some of the Strava segemnt times..
August looked like this according to Stava.

• August
• 153.2mi
• 11hr 29m
• 4,773ft

• July
• 107.5mi
• 10hr 49m
• 3,322ft

I'm off on holiday for the first week in september so I don't use the bike the week before in case I crash and I'll not be doing much if anything whilst on holiday but I'll be straight back into it on my return and have set myself a 200mile goal for the remaining 3 weeks. NO EXCUSES

Saturday Service

On a slow tired ride home from work I got soaked by heavy rain and about a 100 meters from home got a puncture. The gears are clicking a bit and the brakes need adjusting so I think Saturday will be spent giving the Raleigh Team Sprint a bit of a service. The Muddy Fox Seeker Mega needs looked at too to see if I can salvage it or if its really for the the scrap heap.I also need the brakes sorted on the Genesis Core 10 but that will need professional help and can wait till I come back from my holidays.
With about 10 rides on the Raleigh so far I really am impressed by it as my first road bike I think I've made a good choice.

Strava slave

Strava is addictive you know, As someone who usually rides on thier own Its the only thing that makes me push myself. I've already improved my cycle to work time by around 10% and my time up Bradshaws Brae today was 3,30 mins faster than my first recorded one.

Rank	Name	Date	Speed	HR	Power	VAM	Time
1	The CYCLE2WORKER	Aug 10, 2012	8.4mi/h	-	153W	497	16:33
2	The CYCLE2WORKER	Jul 29, 2012	7.0mi/h	-	123W	412	19:57

 Its not much to be proud of but its a good start and encouraging. I don't mind being one of the last people listed for any segment I try, I know I'm out of shape and over the hill.but its still embarrasing when some one powers past you up a hill not even out of breath like today.

I need to learn to push or hurt myself without falling off :- )

A Big Ride- For me anyway

I must have been getting really grumpy or hard to live with whilst not cycling as my families attempts to rehabilitate me continue.
My son invited me out for a "Club Ride" on Sunday saying it was a mixed group and he would stick with me if I couldn't keep up.It turned out it was a mixed group some really good cyclists and me !!!
I was OK until the first hill which apparently doesn't slow down the club riders. Anyway I stuck at it managed to cut  out the Ballygowan bit just in time to meet up with the group at Daft Eddies and had lovely tea and scones.

 
 Up Bradshaws doing my best Tommy Voeckler impression.



I eventually clocked up 45 miles including a two or three category 4 climbs (According to Strava).



 I was a bit disappointed in my average speed but in total I had climbed over 1800ft   so not bad for my first Big day out..

Getting into the swing of things SLOWLY

After a couple of more runs out on the costal path with my wife the Muddy Fox is starting to give up the ghost. Really since the accident it has needed scrapped with only sentament making me hold on to it. Its uneconomical to repair but i know that won't stop me from fixing it eventually.

In the mean time I have taken the Raleigh Tem Sprint ( Miranda) out for a 17 miler round Bradshaws Brae setting some of the slowest times on Strava :-) but hey I made it back safely and its all to aim for Confidence in the bike, Fitness and then speed  eventually.

Ive taken it to work 3 times now as well very gingerly it must be said the first time I maybe could have walked it faster.

I wouldn't say it was fun yet as I'm worrying like Woody Allen but at least I've taken the bull by the horns

3 Rides

On the 1/7/12 at my wife's suggestion we went out on our bikes for the first time together. Its been 5 months since my accident with only my aborted ride on Miranda in between.
I'm half way through my second set of Physio which has really helped my back and neck but the longest lasting effect of the accident has been to my head.( mentally ).
I keep thinking "What if i'd been left in a wheel chair or brain damaged.
So far we stayed well away from traffic using only country lanes and coastal path. We covered 7.5 miles first time out with another 7 and a 5 mid week. I spend most of my time worried about my "Very special lady friend" which keeps my mind from worrying about what I'm doing. although with an average speed of around 5mph I'm more in danger of losing my balance than anything !!!
Any way so far so good. using the Mudy fox at the moment , Although its still needs abit of work after the accident and using the team liquigas helmet which just looks stupid when dressed casually. I'll be getting a Bell helmet soon if I'm going to take to the cycling again. Twice now I've had Biggish accidents on the bike and both times the helmet has taken a battering but done its job so Iin Bell I trust I Trust.

6 Miles

6 miles is all I managed, I got off the bike and felt dizzy and my head was sore even before I got on the bike unbelivible.
The reason I started this blog was so I could look back see how far I had come in my training and endurance
I saw the 250 miles I did in January as a good marker, Confirmation of the work I'd put in and weight I had lost on the old Muddy Fox before graduating to to Miranda a good but lets face it beginners road bike.
Now after my accident and todays ride I can't believe I was doing that much cycling. I see guys on my way to work and it seems alien to me, I am truly gutted at todays performance.
I think I'm an ex cyclist and I don't know how to find my way back in.