41 Days Until Trip - Day 118 of Training / Diet

And before some smart ass say's it, no it's not a self portrait :-)

This morning I headed down to meet up with club (The Biscuit Road Cycling Club) for Saturday club spin and was feeling up for a 100k and if not 80k. I planned to go out with club and then just head off and do the rest......but like life, plans often change.

When I got there we had a lot of members and by the time we left there was 50+ members which was great to see.....all of varying levels.....nothing that would frighten Alexander Kristoff or Peter Sagan but enough to cover all types of leisure cyclists.

Off we headed for a spin taking in the local countryside out towards Tramore  and away from it and back towards Fenor and Tramoe again for a break and then back home. It was a spin of around 50k for most of us, give or take a few depending on where you travelled from. 

The route was draggy and lumpy and the route that helps you improve the most.

To clarify.....to a fit cyclist who can climb, today's route was just a series of the odd little bump, but to someone like myself, yes you're right , elite cyclist, who may not be the best at climbing, today was lumpy and draggy.....may not be real words, but either was Google at one time too :-)

Now for the reason for the main picture......you have to listen to your body, and today I had to. On the first part of the  cycle I felt great but then as I was heading out of Tramore a long the Glen Road, my legs died, I just couldn't get up the slightest drag at all, as for the flats, no bother, but any drag...not a chance (I just had to go up them slowly). I even turned around to head back to Tramore at one stage but then I met some of the others and went around with them. 

Am I disappointed.........of course not. Sure my last cycle was last night and I was only home for 20:30. Ok I didn't get the 100 I planned but I still was out on the bike today, time and kilometres done so happy. There's always another day to do more. So listen to your body and if you feel you really need to rest then ignore the gobshites that might say you're a wuss and relax......I'm a happy to be a wuss  :p

So that's it for today as I'm off to have a lazy day and evening.

Keep smiling :-)

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42 Days Until Trip - Day 117 of Training / Diet

This day exactly in six weeks time I head off on my journey, so I thought I'd challenge you to...."Cycle Slow", yes slow down.

You might ask or wonder why or even think I have officially being certified mad ....schhh that letter is in the post. The reason I say it is because in these times, with all on-line resources for us to upload our cycles, some have become obsessed with their averages and have simply forgot the beauty of just being out on their bikes. 

No I'm not asking you to consistently cycle slower but just every now and then just slow up and soak up the atmosphere, the scenery, the sounds.....it's amazing what you miss when you're cycling flat out or pushing hard. I was only talking to a cyclist last night who said his normal averages were 26 to 28 but now that he's returning to cycling after a break his averages are 21 to 22. He said he was cycling out some road and noticed the lake, that he never paid attention to before....amazing but we all miss sights...so go enjoy them and turn off or don't look at your gps on your spin.
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With the weather that has been in it (with exception of today) I have been getting in a few spins and have changed up training on the odd day by getting two spins in so that when I'm away as trying to up my weekly totals as I get closer to my trip so that it's not a complete shock. I'm still in awe at the old timer tourist cyclist I met the other day. I just think he's amazing at being able to cycle with all the load he has on his bike ....just amazing.

Four spins down this week and just about to head out for another so be careful as the roads will be slippy after the dry spell we've had......Keep smiling, keep safe and cycle slow....until the next cartoon....see ya :-)

45 Days Until Trip - Day 114 of Training / Diet

Ok its time to update as its around ten days since my last post but better late than never or never for some :-)

For most of us who have being out and about cycling, the wind seems to be the biggest curse of late and despite the glorious sunshine the wind keeps punishing us.......unless you're one of those elite ones whom it doesn't bother.

Today I had planned to head towards Wexford but the wind soon changed that and it ended up being just to up to New Ross and back. 

At the end of the day its time in the saddle and more kilometres in the legs. While out today I met the young man in picture opposite. 

We spent a some time with each other at the side of the road. We talked about bikes and touring and when wind was mentioned, he said..."the wind never lasts forever", a brilliant way at looking at things.

He's currently on the road for three months on this present trip and what a load of gear he was carrying on his bike. I thought upping mine to over 30 kg today was a lot but Michael from California put me to shame. After we said our good byes, off he went towards Waterford and I towards New Ross . Looking back at him pedalling off it was no bother to him at all....he has done many tours including twice across America, so those legs of his are well used to all this cycling and the load of gear.

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I've had a good few weeks of late and things are going in the right direction....I'm feeling great in myself and have returned to the club again which is fantastic as I love the social element never mind the cycling

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I'm training four or five days on the bike including returning to cycling the beast regular again with a 108k last Tuesday. I've slowly upped the weight in the panniers too so that it's not a sudden shock when I head off for my trip.. I feel I'm starting to get stronger again, although the long spin on beast really hurt me and I was unable to walk for a day and a half. I soon discovered it was the spds (legs clipped too straight with no floating). I've changed to BMX platform petals and the problem is solved. The best thing about training with the bike loaded is that I find any issues before I go on my trip.

Lumpy roads are my main stay of late and are really helping me improve. This as well as not spending all my cycles on the beast it what's working for me. The last two weeks I've started back on my solo rides so that I'm used to it for France. No point being always with people when I'm touring alone albeit I'm sure I'll meet plenty of others on the Euro Velo route.

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The only other thing that was slipping away was my diet but with pressure from one or two of my friends (and/or their kids), I'm back on track from yesterday and today I ate my first ever salad........ok I can feel your shock....but to date if I had a salad it was the ham, chicken or eggs I ate.......why doesn't everyone else ?  :-)

Those green stuff and messy other stuff are for rabbits. However I ate them all today, greens red, foreign objects, dressings the lot....did I enjoy it.....can't say I didn't but equally can't say I did.

I ate it and the deal was I wasn't to be told what anything was until I finished it. I will try it again and hopefully I'll learn to like it as it's just too awkward being a fussy eater. 

I'm a work in progress.....as they used to say in the 6 million dollar man....we have the power to rebuild him :-)

Only 45 days left now to France and I'm more or less organised with things....except I must put up my tent. Can you imagine me on my first night trying to figure it out. As for my camp cooking......guess it'll be pasta and baked beans :-)

Keep smiling talk soon :-)

56 Days Until Trip - Day 103 of Training / Diet

Getting Close

Got my maps the other day and the trip is starting to look more realistic now and I'm looking forward to it. To be honest I'm nervous about it too but once I hit the road and catch ferry I'm sure the nerves will disappear then.......roll on June 5th :-)

For those of you who would like to follow more of the route I plan to take, click here - La Vélodyssée (part of Eurovelo 1) and for more details on all Eurovelo routes throughout Europe click here Eurovelo routes.

With the weather being good this week I've managed to get out again

yesterday and today. Over the last few spins I've really pushed very hard and yesterday I managed my best 1 hour average in a few years.....28kph which felt great although a a big drag and a few small drags brought that crashing down by end of spin....I was delighted.

That being said it's not about averages overall, it's about enjoying your spin and I can say over the last few weeks I've found my love for cycling again.

Yesterdays route was out the dual carriageway towards Kilmeaden, across Portlaw Road to Fiddown and on to Piltown and up to Templelorum across to Mullinavat and back home.

Was with my friend Michael H and we did push it very hard although the usual drags and climbs killed me but I'm doing much better than what I have been.

Today I was out with another friend, Olive C and we headed out Orchardstown X to Tramore and obviously one must stop for tea, where we met up with another a friend Deirdre H.....two hot chocolates later and maybe an hour too we headed back home. Today I used the beast (touring bike) as I hadn't being out for a while so was good to back on it. You would notice the weight difference though :-)

All in all training is going ok and diet wise I'm not doing too bad either. That's it for today, enjoy your day

Keep smiling :-)

58 Days Until Trip - Day 101 of Training / Diet

Before I start, I would like to say a big thank you to everyone for their support on Facebook and in private after my post the other day....thanks a million :-)

As well as people wondering where my blog had gone, there was the inevitable question...."How's the weight loss going?" Now there's a story......my trusty weighing scales I was using from the start, died, so being sensible I went for the same make again. The following morning I weighed myself and .....play the horror music now......I was up 7 lbs, not possible, I hadn't pigged out and if it's real, well then I'm pigging out. 

So I moved it around the room, then different rooms and I got varying results from two to the seven pounds up, so that's not accurate ( never got a bloody less amount though).

I got a lone of another scales and similar happened, so I decided I'm not going to be worrying about what that says for a while and I'm going with how people react and clothes feeling bigger and fitting in to clothes I couldn't before. |Just hope I don't bump into someone, who calls me a fat b$%^&"d..lol. In a month or two I'll check again or might just get weighed on one of those machines in the chemist as they're calibrated regular.

Was in Dublin yesterday so only did a small walk with my young lad, but today was bike time again. Decided I was going to do a shorter one but push it as hard as I can so that I can work on my speed. Weather was beautiful, sun was shining but I was surprised as there was a wind but I went and did what I planned..

I'm very happy with spin, especially as I was on my own....onwards and upwards :-)

That's it for today....keep smiling :-)

60 Days Until Trip - Day 99 of Training / Diet

I was asked by a few people where was my blog gone as I've not really been on line and my blog was one of those things to go.

The reason I have being off line and it's a subject I'm not afraid to talk about but an issue misunderstood by many. Some of my friends know, some may know and other may have guessed but for the last 11 years I have suffered on and off I have suffered with depression, and unfortunately for the last few months I was consumed by it again, so everything went by the wayside. Mental health issues are a taboo subject to some and then there are those who tell me "cop the F$%& on" or " just get over it we all have bad days".

If only it was that simple..................

I have a heart condition but no one would say that to me in relation to my heart, so why do it when it concerns my mind. Mental issues, no matter what you have, are real.

I'm a very social person and love being around people and thrive off it but when I get depressed I'm the complete opposite. It takes time to get right and medication and exercise are a help,,,,but time is what counts,.

So just because I have been avoiding you, it's nothing personal, I just find it hard being near people and large groups terrify me.

That being said I have being getting better and today I returned to my club for our usual Bank Holiday spin to Hook Head in Wexford which is a great location. Initially I had an anxiety attack but with support of friends I went on spin and within a few k's I was feeling great....mentally that is, I was on a dam hill so physically I wasn't :p

When we reached the Hook I kept to a few outside while the main group was inside having coffee and that way I met people gradually and I relaxed even more. In general I'm coming back to myself and am delighted I forced myself out with club and next Sat I'll return to our regular spins. 

So if you know someone with mental health problems, they're not MAD or a LOONY they're just going through a rough patch and just be there for them. If you can't manage or understand that's no bother too. They'll come right but it takes time and it's good to talk....BUT only when they feel up to it. 

These are my views only so if you feel like criticising please don't as I can do that myself too easy so don't need any help there.

BE kind...you don't know how people are suffering on the inside.

Back to normal broadcast tomorrow :-)