Training: EF-Ivinghoe Beacon-Bison-Cathill-EF

I sometimes have nightmares about the route we took today - the Chilterns with climbs over Ivinghoe and Bison. The last time we went this way I was horribly dropped, punctured and left out to make my way back home alone - embarrassment turned to anger, turned to despair all on one fateful summer day. I was not happy to hear we were going the same route again.

The ride started off freezing cold - everyone was wrapped up well except for a couple of head-cases with bare legs showing (;-). The pace leading to Ivinghoe was a lot more casual this time, with Stav going on about his knee and Darren telling him not to panic. I prepared myself mentally and stayed sheltered in the bunch a few km's before the first ramp. Amazingly I stayed with the front group until about halfway but I could feel the pace picking up slowly. I looked back and saw that another group had formed further down the road, so I let the front group gradually pull away and climbed at my own pace to the top. Everyone regrouped there after a piss stop.

Bison was another matter - every man for himself as the gradient strung everyone out. I came over the top feeling strong and me and a couple other guys chased after the front riders. Regrouping again at the bottom we rode the next 30km in a paceline at 25mph over the mostly flat country back to St. Albans, with me contributing for most of this part.

The pace was upped again over the short but steep hills through Shenley and I suffered a bit of cramp, but caught back up with the group before we reached Barnet. The ride ended up with coffee in Whetstone - I'm pooped!

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Training: EF-Colney Heath-Radlett-Whetstone-EF

Nice big turn out on today's ride with between 16 and 20 coming along. Pace was frantic during the second half as Werner and a Cat 1 rider broke away and the chase was on. Lungs were burning badly by the time we arrived at the coffee shop - good session!

Afterwards a few of us went down to Costa's place to pick out our club kit - ended up getting a s/s top, thermal long sleeve, bibs and mitts. Looks pretty cool and will try them out on tomorrow's group ride.


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Training: EF-Nazeing-Chipping Ongar-Waltham Abbey-Northaw-EF

Tough ride out to Essex again with the Finchley guys, though there were only seven of us out today. Lots of rolling countryside and small villages on the route done at a slightly above base miles pace.

Legs felt pretty sore after 3-hours covered and ended up getting dropped on the last climb just before Potter's Bar. Glad to be back home and resting.

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Training: EF-Colney Heath-Radlett-Whetstone-EF

Ride started off with a nice 30kph avg on the flats and I felt pretty good. On the first ascent a Rapha Condor rider (I think he was their manager or something) had a nasty crash and we all stopped to give him a hand. His left crank arm had been over-greased and came off under the torque of the climb. His legs were pretty scatched up and he banged his head on the road (no helmet) and it appeared he could have been concussed.

After Stav put his crank back on we carried on at a mediocre pace, but we stopped a couple more times because the guy who'd crashed was having some more problems. Most of us carried on at a more aggressive pace after the last stop while Stav and another guy stayed with the injured rider. The pace was reckless al the way back to the coffee shop and I was just hanging on at the back, but managed to stay on.

Good, hard paced ride, but a pity about the crash. I'm now a bit paranoid as to how much grease I have in my cranks!

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Training: EF-Broxbourne-Essex-Whetstone-EF

79-mile club ride today which was done mostly at base-miles pace over gently rolling hills. Forgot to charge my Garmin Edge GPS last night, so none of the ride was captured and I ended up wearing my HR strap for nothing. The last 20-odd miles were over some stiffer hills and some of the stronger guys went to the front to make our lives miserable - ended up getting slightly dropped off the back on the last big hill with another guy, but we managed to latch back on with 5-miles to go.

Coffee and carrot cake to finish off the ride at our usual cafe. Although I felt a lot of pain in those last miles, I'm feeling fine and refreshed an hour after getting back home.

Distance: 127km
Time: 4:05:31
Avg Speed: 31kph

Training: EF-Colney Heath-Radlett-Whetstone-EF

Typical Saturday ride with the first 20km on flat done easily and the last 30km of hills done at full-on attack pace. My form was lacking a bit today after taking 2 days off the bike. Found out some more info about the Hillingdon Winter Series today - looks like I could be a Cat 3 by the beginning of next year - can't wait to start racing!

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