Training officially underway

As the weather looked decidedly dodgy, Mark and I decided we should try a joint turbo session instead of getting soaked and cold. As it turned out we just got soaked and hot instead as the air conditioning in the gym wasn't quite able to cope and it got a little steamy.

It's been a while since I'd completed a full hour spinning session and as I sit here writing some three or so hours later I can feel the legs are still a little concerned about my sudden conversion from running to cycling!

I was quite happy with my performance but Mark seemed to spend most of his time trying to sort out his Garmin as it wasn't very happy being so close to my bike sensors so kept bleeping and generally messing about. I think tonight homework will be reading up on how to re sync his sensors!

Just to give some details of the trip, we are due to leave Penzance on August 26th. Our lovely lady wives have been talked into delivering us to Cornwall in time for the Grand Depart so we have booked some extra hotel rooms and will travel down on the BH Sunday and make sure all is in order and have little look around on the Monday. The trip consists of 12 days cycling,with no rest days and an average of 80 miles a day. We cycle up towards Bristol and then up the west of England into Scotland turning right alongside Loch Ness and then going north to John O'Groats. The course is described as challenging with day 2 highlighted as a tough day cycling across Exmoor. We already have maps and profile data and it looks like undulating is an appropriate word!

Our friend Phil Conaty has offered to come and pick us and the bikes up from Inverness when we finish on September 6th. We will stay overnight and head home on the 7th.

So we have about 22 weeks left and a pretty good training plan worked out including several long sportive rides around the midlands. Until they kick in in June we will try to get at least two longish rides in every week, which both of us doing our PT and running stuff should we hope prove enough for us to enjoy challenge.

Onwards and upwards

Andy

In the beginning....

And so it begins....again!

Since returning from the Calais - Paris trip last summer there has been a bit of an itch in the cycle shorts. Watching other friends complete various cycling and running challenges over the last year or so has rekindled the desire to go long again and this time I've managed to persuade a friend of mine, Mark Lee, to come with me on my latest adventure.

After much searching we decided on an assisted Lands End to John O'Groats (LEJOG) which will commence in late August and last for 13 days. It's a fully serviced ride with no tents in sight and three square meals a day so not as rustic as the trip across Canada but at an average of 80 miles a day and no rest days it still represents a significant challenge.

The initial training plan is well under way and now we have both finished our winter running training plans we are about to ramp up the cycling time as we build to some century rides in July/August so we are in the best possible shape for the trip.

Hopefully we will be able to keep this blog up to date as we move through our training and then the grand depart on August 27th 2014.

Onwards and upwards!!

Andy