Hello,
Reading all of the RRs, stories and other gubbins on this here
newsgroup has prompted me to get off my fat [censored] and to get "properly"
fit again by cycling. Could do with losing a few pounds too.
I'm not a complete slob, I play 5-a-side football twice a week but my
cycling fitness has gone to pot in the last couple of years. Mainly
since I destroyed myself on a trip to the Alps with my brothers. Not
that I'm blaming Alpe d'Huez, the Galibier or Ventoux. I did enjoy it
but it's a big change from the usual terrain...
http://www.greenbank.org/alex/DSCF0063.JPG
In days of old (read; teen years) I used to cycle up to 400 miles a
week but then I went to University and stopped everything that was good
for me, and took up several things that weren't so good for me.
Two months ago I gave up smoking and looked to do something with my
ever returning lung capacity.
Out came the road bike and straight into the London to Cambridge
(including 35km to the start from SW London). Didn't feel too bad, but
still "only" 110km.
The weekend after and I did two 65km rides around London and felt
perfectly happy.
Some midweek morning rides to and around Richmond Park and everything
looks good. (I'm lucky that my commute to work is a 5 minute walk and
so I can go out on the bike in the morning, return home and shower, and
then wobble down the road into work).
Today, not even half way round RP (i.e. Sawyer's Hill) and my legs feel
like lead. I creep round the rest of the lap and aim back home (no
point doing any more laps). Luckily I know that this means I need rest,
and after that rest I'll come back stronger. And not a problem with the
new B17, felt very comfy from mile 1.
So, "the plan", to which I may or may not stick.
1. Get fit by putting in the hours on the bike. Simple.
This is the hard bit. Starting out again, and doing most of this
cycling on my own.
2. Do a couple of 100s in the local area:
the Autumn Assortment 100 in Ruislip on 24th Sep looks very tempting
and the Denmead-Midhurst-Denmead 100 on 21 Oct is possible (wrt
trains)
some more in nov/dec amongst usual cycling
3. 2007. The Poor Student? We'll see. A 200 a month? I'd love to be
able to!
Anyway, I'd just like to say thanks to all of the posters here for,
inadvertently, spurring me on to do this.
Ta,
-Alex