Lovely Spring Day...

Soaked on the cycle in to work today and, going by the rain currently falling, together with the wind which has developed and since my clothes didn't dry on the cold radiators at work today - it's going to be a fun cycle home!

 

John 

Another shave off time

Well, I went for it tonight and push the mountain bike harder than last week. Took another 45 seconds off the time from last week. Not bad over 8 miles. My intention is to get to sub 40 mins. Last week was 43 mins 15 secs. Tonight 42 mins 30 secs.

 

In true Top Gear style on "Guy on a reasonably priced mountain bike" for the record as well this was on a wet track. Therefore I could have been even quicker. I have invited myself back to attempt it when it stops raining. LOL.

 

Cheers for now

 

Hindo

Rain Dangers

Guys. Remember in June, bring your waterproofs.

 

With our track record we don't want to be risking the

old umbrella trick.

 

Cheers

Achnasheen Sunday

John, Bob and Grant cycled additional distance to the Muir, so I decided I would put some in too before we met. After going through Fort Augustus last week, after a bite to eat and cooling down, I should have known. NEVER DO A HILL CLIMB AFTER FOOD AND A CHILL OUT..........

 

Had a good breakfast, mixed my drinks and off. Being clever took the Teandalloch road from Muir through to Beauly. Must admit it crossed my mind to go to Beauly and warm up first, but no. Anyway, suffice to say it probably wasn't what I wanted at 9am on Sunday morning. Nevertheless, it was worth it.

 

Despite however John came a cropper, I almost lost it too at the bridge in Muir after the ride. Don't know how, but even with my left foot firmly planted on the ground I almost went over to do my own horizontal cycle. Luckily recovered it in time. Must admit it was busy on that junction and I would have looked a right goon falling off at 0 mph. How, I don't know, as I thought it was far near impossible.

 

Anyway, a good ride all round and the boys were on form. The higher mileage doesn't seem to be taking its toll on anyone too badly. We all survived and into work this morning. Keep it up guys. We will have to do it over and over again soon.

 

Fair play to John and Bob for the 86 and 84 miles respectively. Good miles. Grant too with just shy of 70.  We will have to do Ullapool before too long.

 

Cheers

 

Hindo

Sunday - Achnasheen

On Sunday the carbonauts took the bikes out to Achnasheen.

 

John left Inverness about 8:20 in the morning to meet Bob at Tore for 9am. Bob, however, was not there and decided to head to Muir of Ord on his own. John then rolled into Tore at a very tardy 9:04, having missed Bob.

 

The team finally regrouped at around 9:30 in Muir of Ord. We headed out the A832 through Urray and Marybank to join the main Ullapool road (A835).

 

From here, we progressed through Contin (dangerously failing to stop at the 'last shop before Ullapool') and around Loch Garve before branching Westwards, off the Ullapool road and onto the A832 towards Lochluichart. From then on, the wind was constantly in our faces all the way through the Achnasheen, which I think, we reached around 12:30.

 

There was nothing to see in Achnasheen - the cafe and tourist information was closed.....hmmmmm.....there must have been something......Ummm....Oooooh we saw a train!

 

The team refuelled whilst there and then re-traced our route back to Muir of Ord after the half-hour stop. Thankfully the wind was behind us this time and it made a real difference. Instead of averaging 10-12 mph we were firing along at around 20mph+ for large stretches.

 

We stopped once on the way back to Muir of Ord, at Tarvie Services where we had tea and some chocolate/cake. This was a very welcome boost as the miles were beginning to take their toll on us.

 

Smooth Bob was very friendly with the assistant at the snack bar..

 

From Muir of Ord, Grant headed back to Kirkhill, Keith headed 'down t'road' and Bob & John headed back to Avoch and Inverness respectively.

 

Total Mileage for the day was different for all of us but must have averaged out around 80 miles. This is very close to a days work on LeJog so gives us a good idea what's to come.

 

I was personally pretty knackered after the run on Sunday, joints were a bit sore but I'll certainly be keeping the workrate up..

 

And in response to Bob's previous post - Option one makes me sound better, so I'll go with that....;)

 

John 

 

 

 

 

Horizontal cycling update

Johnny boy has gone to the top of the leader board in the Horizontal cyclying stakes after taking a tumble on the road to Achnasheen yesterday.

 

Story # 1

As John is a lover of all small animals and whilst trying to avoid a small field mouse that had inadvertantly wandered into the path of his front wheel he decided he would swerve to avoid the impending collision, saving the life of the mouse but unfortunately falling over at the same time.

 

Story # 2

John was at the back in a world of his own thinking about some IT problem on a dry road with no traffic and just fell over.

 

We will let you decide which one is correct.

 

Current status on horizontal cycling:

 

1st: John x 2

=2nd: Bob & Keith with 1

4th: Grant with 0.....think we will have to do something about this one!

 

Bob

Another Road Section....

Decided tonight to avoid the Turbo and do a road run. Up to Tore, down the cycle path, round Redcastle and back to Muir of Ord via the hill at Mulbuie. Honestly thought the wind was in my face all the way to Tore and down to North Kessock and was looking forward to having it behind me on the way back.  Nope wasn't to be, It was even worse in my face all the way back.

 

Still, happy with the run, 21 miles in 1 hour 15 averaging 17 mph considering the hills I had on route.

 

What will tomorrow be........ hrrrmmmmmmm. Not sure, but likely to involve 2 wheels without a doubt.

 

Bring on the lighter nights to, tonight was getting dark a bit too soon.

 

Hindo

3rd Day cycling to work

Cycled to work (50 mins) and then home again today (48 mins)
 
Was actually very tired all day and thought the cycle home was going to be a real struggle.
 
When I was about 3 miles in, the blood started pumping and I made it home in a good time again.
 
I would imagine that doing 3 times this daily distance for 10 days in a row is going to be a real challenge and will require a certain mindset too. The mental side is clearly just as important as the physical side.
 
Day off cycling tomorrow and Saturday (probably). Planning to service my 'auld' bike on Saturday so might be tempted to take it out for a short spin - maybe some hill work or something later on Saturday.
 
John 

Sunday's outing to Achnasheen

In preparation for the trip I am planning to carry out the run on Sunday from Avoch to Achnasheen with a hangover !! This is not something that I am going to enjoy, more like a social experiment to prove a point that one is able to cycle whilst in recovery mode...

 

I may on Sunday morrning mutter the inspiring words of Captain Oates " I am going out for a cycle...I may be some time"..or similar.

 

Bob

2nd Record Time of the day...

Cycled back home from Muir of Ord to Inverness - 13.7 miles in 45:45 minutes. This knocks about 4 or 5 minutes off my previous time and works out just over 18 mph average speed for the journey.

Feel like I'm getting in the zone with all this cycling malarky!

:)

John

Record time

Change of scenery tonight as decided on the mountain bike for a change. Took my old 8 mile route up through Spittal Wood etc etc and wiped off 7 minutes from my previous best time. Took advantage of the nice weather. Hill climbing was much better as well. All good training.

 

Hindo

Horizontal cycling.....

1. Kieth, Avoch Feb 2011. Couldn't get feet out of pedals and toppled sideways onto pavement
2. John, SGL carpark March 2011. Negotiated route from Inverness but fell of bike 20mts from the gate
3. Bob, Ness Islands March 2011. Negotiated route from Inverness to Fort Augustus and back, took one foot out and fell the other way into bridge 500mts from car
4. Grant,...................watch this space!!!!

Bob

Shorts' first outing in 2011!

Cycling shorts used on the ride to work this morning - first time this year.

 

With temperatures in double figures lately, there's no need for the long ones anymore - spring has well and truly sprung! ;-)

 

John

GlendoeBeg

Pain is a big fat creature riding on your back. The farther you pedal, the heavier he feels. The harder you push, the tighter he squeezes your chest. The steeper the climb, the deeper he digs his jagged, sharp claws into your muscles

Quote : Keith Hinds on Sunday afternoon 20th April on Glendoe.

OK. So I copied Scott Martins Quote, but he is right!!!!

"I thought of that whilst riding my bicycle"

"I thought of that whilst riding my bicycle"

Quote : Albert Einstein on his theory of relativity.

So guys, who knows what is to become of the inspiration of LEJOG?? Time will tell. Time will tell.

Inspiration

Words of Wisdom....

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised that the Lord doesn't work that way so I stole one and asked Him to forgive me.

Emo Philips

or

Pain is temporary, Quitting lasts forever.
Lance Armstrong

Bob

Only 88 Days to go

A quick calculation shows there are only 88 days (12 weeks, 4 Days) until we take on the Lands End to John O'Groats challenge.

 

Plenty more training required in that time. I am cycling into work (29 mile round trip) at least twice a week at the moment but will need to start increasing that.

 

Myself and Grant, with input from the others, have been looking closely at potential routes and stopping points for first couple of days and beyond.

 

John

Carbonauts - First cycle as a team, first blog entry!

The carbonauts met up at the car park outside Inverness rugby club for the first time as a complete team. Sunday's mission was to cycle from Inverness via Drumnadrochit and on to Fort Augustus (32 miles) and then, of course, back home again!

The team set off about 11am as planned (although Grant and Keith's tardiness was noted ;)). Keith immediately ran into some gearing trouble while the rest of the team cruised on. It was a reasonably uneventful and trouble-free run into Fort Augustus and the team reached there around 2/2.30pm.

Soup and Tea was had before the team set off again. Bob commented that there was 'a wee bit of a hill' once we left Fort Augustus and up the east side of Loch Ness....A wee bit of a hill it was NOT. It was rather steep and constantly so for about 5 miles. But we all made it in one piece - bar a moment of protest from Bob's knees - and enjoyed the long ride down to Foyers courtesy of a tail wind which helped push us along!

We reached Inverness by about 5:30pm, having completed around 65 miles at a comfortable pace. This is a great start as we get underway training for the 'Big One' in June :)

Following discussions on Monday, we have decided to tackle Muir of Ord to Achnasheen next Sunday. Should be around 29 miles each way with several ups-and-downs, though likely nothing as severe as the climb between Fort Augustus and Glendoebeg!!

John