1st day diet

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Bob

 

Final real test before lejog

Another lovely evening, sun shining and quite a stiff breeze. However, temptation too great not to take advantage.

 

Decided to do another short one, but agin with climbs. Headed out over Mulbuie again climbing from home which tonight wasn't too bad.  At the A835, took towards the Maryburgh roundabout and headed back to Muir via Conon Bridge. Back in the Muir took the Corry Road up the long steady climb and on towards Beauly. This is where, in a stupid moment, I decided at the last minute to stuff it and head off up to Ruillick.  Been up in the car and was struggling in 3rd gear, but it was a challenge.

 

Mistake 1. At the foot of the climb instead of going easier on gears, went right down to 10th and came to a grinding halt. Almost notched up another mark on the horizontal cycling stakes.  Took me from then having got back into gear off the bike, 10 attempts before I got foot hold on pedal.

 

Steepest part whilst standing to get up the hill, a motorist cut me up, lost my rhythm, came to a grinding halt and for the second time almost cycled against gravity. Luckily I was about 1/2 way and a road opening was there so I could get some momentum back. Took a drink too.

 

Finally made it to the top and cannot believe how bloody steep that thing is. But I have now done it. Albeit, I was a forced stop halfway, which in all fairness I was glad of.  Attached is a gradient chart of the 0.7 miles from Map my ride.

 

Back home via Teandalloch and back up Balvaird Road to home.

 

17.5 miles in 1 hr 4 mins.  After that the bike is staying put until serviced at the weekend. May turbo Monday then that is it. Next training after that will be a meer jaunt from Lands End to John O Groats.

 

Cheers

 

Hindo

Guest rider..or ghost rider?

As the team are aware we are being joined for part of the ride by a good friend of mine from way down south and he will be meeting up with us in Lands End.

 

So, for those of you who have an avid interest in this trip I would like to introduce Chris Ring and here is a little back ground on him.

 

Chris was formerly a member of the clergy original practising in his native Wales (apologies for swearing) before taking up a missionary position with the Masai tribe on the great plains of the Serengeti. He spent many an evening with the warrior tribe and even taught them to sing "bread of heaven". It was when he tried to teach them "Men of Harlech" in the baritone style only previously heard in the film Zulu that he was asked to leave. Upon returning to the UK he began his support work in Holloway Prison (a woman's prison) offering advice and a shoulder to many of the frustrated inmates.

 

After several years and a few stone lighter Chris left the clergy and took up a career in cage fighting, this was a short career where he fought under the name of "The Iron Vicar"...not really a name that rolls of the tongue unlike Chris who rolled around the cage quite a lot. Anyway, in recent years Chris has turned his attention to iron Man competitions and travels around Europe competing in many of these events.

 

He is shy and retiring and spends most of his spare time (when not with his family) knitting scarves for the homeless and baking. I would like to welcome him on board and look forward to his involvement.

 

On a lighter note, just finished my third night of spinning, into single figures now so starting to wind it down a bit, planning a little run on Sunday then bowling with the boys on Monday.....getting a wee bit nervous!!!

 

Bob

Quick dash before the rain

In haste of getting out again tonight and beating the rain, decided on a quick route just to take in some hills again.  Route was only short but had a good few climbs.

 

Leaving Rose Croft headed out over Balvaird and Mulbuie. Quite a good climb for fresh legs. Again, somethingwe keep saying we have to avoid. At the A835, took the cycle path over to Tore and then finally back from Tore to Muir of Ord the short way.  Back in the Muir took the usual right and headed off back up Mulbuie and back round the way I started out the ride over Balvaird.

 

Turbo training on climbing is helping. Using the techniques, took the hill back in a higher gear keeping the work rate constant. Not as bad as dropping the gear to lowest. Impressed.

 

Managed to miss the worst of the rain. It was starting to fall approx 1 mile from home, so it wasn't too bad. The new road surface down the hill to home is slick, wet and ever so slightly dodgy tonight. Took my time as I cannot afford injuries at this point in time. 8 days till we leave and counting.

 

Anyway, on just under 14 miles in 46 mins. 17.5 mph average.

 

Cheers

 

Hindo

going it alone...again!

Well, could not make the Sunday jaunt with the gang, I am sure Martin was a more than able substitute and yet again I have missed out on the ice creams !!**~~****  ~=L

Took an overdue day off work today with some things needing my attention but did manage a wee ride, thought I had better get my bum back onto the saddle so headed off at 08:45 on the normal route from Avoch, through Fortrose and up and over the Black Isle to Cromarty.

Cromarty through Jemmaville and then headed up to Balblair and up the other side of the Black Isle, hung right and went down through Connon Bridge, Muir of Ord then up to Tore and home.

Not sure how long it took, or the numbers of the roads I travelled on and I don't do maps!!! I leave that to the cycle boffins

Glad the others enjoyed themselves but probably not the same without me.....

Bob

edit: Here you go, Bob.  Around 47 miles:

There and back again...A carbonauts tale

Lovely morning.

I headed out towards Muir of Ord via Redcastle - the usual work route. Met up with Grant just outside SGL and we pedalled on together towards Dingwall. There we met up with Keith and our honourary carbonaut for the day - Martin Kerr. Bob couldn't make it today due to 'stuff' needing to be done!

From Dingwall we headed out to Evanton via the old road then on to Alness. It was a sharp left on Alness high street and we continued on to Tain, passing Scotsburn on the way.

We managed to stop for 5-10 minutes in Tain - Martin refuelled at the local co-op. From there we continued out East before landing in Portmahomack. We managed a 15-20 minute break there and it was such a nice day in stunning surroundings that I am sure the team would have been happy to sit there much longer..

Grant @ Portmahomack

Keith, after loading up with several Snickers'

Martin Kerr-bonaut

John, photoing himself as no-one else volunteered!

Leaving Portmahomack, we had a slighly more favourable wind to contend with. We took a more southerly route down towards Arabella, Kildary and then Invergordon. At Invergordon, and whilst myself and Grant were admiring the big boat, Keith and Martin decided to have a race to Alness. Myself and Grant made our peace with that pretty quickly since first one to Alness had to buy the Mr Whippy Ice Creams!!

And true to his word, Martin did! We enjoyed the Ice Cream in the splendour of Alness high street before retracing our route back to Dingwall again. At this stage, the team began to go off in their own directions. Martin headed back to Strathpeffer. I left Keith and Grant at the Maryburgh Roundabout and they headed back through Maryburgh, Conon, Muir of Ord (home for Keith). Grant pushing onwards to home at Kirkhill.

My trip back was a tough one - the climb out of Dingwall was particulary testing. But I stuck to the cycle path through Tore and home at around 4pm!

Overall, my trip was 103 miles, Grant around 90 and Keith mid-80's.

Great training trip for the big one and very hard work. Thanks to Martin for the tips and advice throughout, invaluable experience was gained from him.

Mileage: 103 miles (Inverness)

Average Speed: 14.4 mph

Time: 8 hours

John

Oh What A Beautiful Evening

I am sure all the guys will agree. What a fantastic night for a ride. Sun out, 18 Degrees, but still a stiff wind. But that is nothing when you can enjoy the weather finally.

 

Headed out Tore to Inverness, through the city centre and out down A82 towards Drumnadrochit. Turned back towards Clachnaharry past Charleston academy and back towards Beauly on the old road. At the Old North Inn, turned right up to Kirkhill and followed road all the way round, through the trees and back to the old road again. Up hill into wind, a bit tough.

 

In Beauly turned left up Croyard Road and up to take the Corry road over to Teandalloch. Very good testing climb for about 1 mile. At Teandalloch, back down to SGL and the took the black isle road to finish off with the climb up to Mulbuie and back round Balvaird to home.

 

Cracking run, the downfall being the biscuit I took broke up in my pocket. Bugger. Apart from that a great ride and a test back towards Beauly in the strongish headwind. But to have the sunshine all the way, far outweighed any negative of the wind.

 

Total 35.65 miles in 2 hours 7 minutes. 16.9 mph.

 

Cheers