Round the Black Isle

Day 2 of back to backs.

 

After last nights 27 miler with a good few climbs I decided this afternoon to drop around the Black Isle.

 

Left Muir of Ord out on the A832 and passed Grant coming the opposite way.  Good to see the team committing to their task. I hope he blogs his training run.  At Tore, stuck with the 832 straight through past Munlochy, through Avoch and Fortrose and on to Cromarty.  Stopped for 5 minutes to take on board some nourishment andthen on through Jemimaville.

 

I was thinking of taking the long hill up and then through Killen, but decidd to see what turning right would bring. Must admit, this turned out to be quite a long drag up as well, with some good steepish bits thrown in.

 

Road was out through Culbokie, across the A9 and then through Easter Kinkell, Mulbuie and then finally back home to Muir of Ord.

 

Total mileage by CatEye was 46.45 miles in total riding time of 2 hrs 48 minutes. Average speed was 16.1 mph.

 

Elevation and mileage graph attached.

 

Diagnosis so far. Friday 27 miles, not bad. Got about 6 hours sleep, full round of golf and then 46.5 miler again today. Verdict - (answers on a postcard please) Not bad. Can certainly feel it in the thighs, but we won't be averaging 16 miles per hour.

 

Cheerio

 

Hindo

Cracking Training Run

 

Well tonight was a beautiful night for a ride so took the above route.

 

Left Muir of Ord and headed out towards Marybank and out to the main road to Contin.

Took a right up Kinnahaird (killer hill) to Strathpeffer. Into Strath and on into Dingwall and

on to Maryburgh.  From the Maryburgh roundabout took the cycle path up the A835 to Tore.

At Tore, took the right (via the cycle path to avoid being flattened by heavy traffic) and back

down to Muir of Ord.

Back in the Muir took the Mulbuie road to complete the ride with a nice 1.5 mile climb.

Perfect way to finish the evenings ride.

27.4 miles in 1hr 40 mins. Average speed 16.7 mph.

For the first time, I had the delights of riding without the rain jacket. Set off with it, but

after climbing Kinnahaird, decided to shed it. Only option I had was to securely wrap it

around the cross bar. This provided muchannoyance as the thighs rubbed it with every stroke.

Ever so slightly, but just enough to do my head in.

 

Roll on tomorrow PM when I will tackle the Black Isle me thinks. A route of approx 50 miles

followed by one on Sunday of similar. Want to now push the boat out and do back to back

distances to see how the legs hold out.

 

Cheers

 

Hindo

3 Consecutive days cycling to work....

.....3 consecutive headwinds!

 

JM

Wet Weather So Turbo

Well, what can I say.  Thought last night it might be well decent to get out for a spin tonight. Checked the weather and far near decided that it may be time to build an Ark.

 

However, seeing that I couldn't be bothered to "GOPHER" wood, I decided on dedicating time to catch up and re-ignite the Turbo training.

 

Threw on the shorts (Assos was a must as well) and headed out to the garage.  As I hadn't used it for a couple of weeks, mainly due to the fact the garage was a tip after I re-arranged it to change my oil in car, I hadn't really thought about the recent increase in temperatures.  Grant quite kindly notified me of the fact that he noticed it the last 2 nights and finished surrounded by a puddle. However, it turned out he was right.

 

1 Hour 15 mins of Carmichael Training Systems cycling for cadence and well and truly sorted. Can't believe that a Turbo Training looking all innocent, can force your body into some much work. But its does. And as per the comment in the previous paragraph, I finished the session looking like I had actually sat outside in the rain.

 

Nevertheless, a good shower afterwards soon sorted me out followed by lovely dinner. Actually increased my overall average speed and cadence but mainly noticed that my average heart rate during the session has reduced somewhat. Think the cycling may be helping me out.

 

Anyway, tomorrow night may be a road session weather permitting. Forecast looks good and therefore if it is, may go for a brief 30 miler.

 

Hindo

Guilt trip....but spinning

After not being available for Sundays outing and reading the blog I was beginning to feel a wee tinge of guilt running through my thighs, however you will be pleased to hear that I attended a spinning class in Evanston Recreational center on Friday and have booked in for 3 more classes this week.

 

Bikes are a bit strange after getting used to the ones in Black Isle Leisure centre, and the humidity and altitude has my throat drying up after 5 minutes - but I am still trying. Training lapsed at the week-end as the natives took to the bars and I felt obliged to follow, but as you may be aware this is also part of my training.

 

Thought I may take this opportunity to extol the virtues of spinning and for me to say a big thanks to all the guys at the Black Isle leisure centre, especially Laura and Charles. I will go into it at length at a later stage, suffice to say it has done me the world of good and if you are contemplating it...go for it!!

 

Bit disappointed to hear Grant has not joined the vertical cycling league yet.......give it time!

 

Bob

 

Sunday Cycle - Inverness -> Cannich

On Sunday there was no Bob so the remaining 3 Carbonauts, John, Grant & Keith, took a leisurely cycle out to Cannich. An 'Innuendo Free Day' as someone put it.....

I left Inverness at around 9:25 and met up with Grant at the Old North Inn near Kirkhill at 10am. The plan was then to meet Keith at Lovatt Bridge around 10:30 but Keith, being as keen as mustard (really, what's that supposed to mean!?) cycled down to meet us about halfway between Beauly and Kirkhill.

From here, we turned Southwards onto the A833. See the elevation guide below. This part of the trip was pretty hilly (on the chart below, this is the climb(s) between 15 and 22 mile mark.) It was a gruelling climb but at the top we were rewarded with a 3/4 mile 'extreme' downhill which was actually not that easy given that it was a 15% gradient and there weren't really any long stretches, lots of corners so fingers on the brake levers pretty much all the way!

Once we got to be bottom of the hill, we took a right and cycled the 10 miles towards Cannich. About 2 miles into this leg, it began to rain very heavily. My fingerless gloves were clearly not the right idea! I was absolutely freezing, numb feet and fingers. Eventually, the rain subsided and the sun came out to warm us up. The second peak you see in the graph above is the climb into and the subsequent free-wheel down to Cannich. We didn't go straight there though - we agreed to add another 4 miles onto our course by going up and around Fasnakyle Power Station.

I should mention that we faced a headwind all the way from Inverness to the Power Station at Fasnakyle (perhaps with a little break in between, when we were just climbing hills instead!)

We stopped for some refreshments in Cannich - the Spar shop providing us with a great cup of tea/coffee (thanks Keith :)) and some chocolate!

From here we left and travelled down the A831 back down towards Beauly (Cannich to Beauly is around 17 miles on this road). It was a very uneventful cycle back and seemed to be mostly slightly downhill but with a lovely tailwind). Only a couple of small inclines - notably at the Aigas Golf Course.

At Beauly, Keith left us and went back home to Muir of Ord. Myself and Grant carried on along the A832 for a few miles before he peeled off and back up to Kirkhill. I continued along the main road through Bunchrew and Clachnaharry and got home around 3pm.

Tough old cycle today - knees feeling it a bit! But thankfully no 'Horizontal Cycling' incidents to be added to the list :)

Total distance today: 67 miles

John

Hats Off to Assos

Well, for the last few months, suffering is not the way I would ultimately describe it.

But, with the hints given on web reviews, this Assos Chamois Creme is literally a

wonder Product.

 

If you want to avoid the discomfort of saddle sore on your long or short rides, it is a

must. I was sceptical, but todays 55 miles has proved it to me.

 

Purchase and follow the manufacturers guidelines (closely) and enjoy the ride.

 

If Graham Nelson should read this at some point, then thanks for the tip.  This will

definitely be my best buddy on the LEJOG in June.  Cheers

 

Hindo