Saturday, 22 February 2014

Beacon blowout learning curve

I think I need to take better care of Rex or at least be more understanding of how far I can stretch him. Having cycled more than 1000 miles in the last 4 months I need to understand that something has to give on poor little Rex and he needs serious TLC under that sort of usage. To put thing in perspective I usually only drive a poultry 2000 thousand miles a year so in 4 months I have cycled half of my average yearly drive projection. CRAZY!

Today’s adventure was not meant to be long but more for exploring roads in my area I haven’t seen and actually only ever circumnavigated and the second part of today's brief was to search out serious hill climbing as that is my current training remit as opposed to the previous distance challenges.

The beast of the beacon challenge beat home hard today but I loved the different challenge of hills. After completing the beacon as a glutton for punishment I took on the Hudnall hill to really test the calves and thighs. After coming through this test I was thinking about more hills, more distance and more cycling in this glorious weather as my spirits and energy were high but the gutter for me is that my tyre “went”.
As I said at the opening to this entry I should have paid more attention to my tools or treat Rex with more TLC as if I would have spotted the wear on the tyre that was about to implode before I even started today I could have been well ahead of the game. Lesson learned indeed as the last 3 miles of todays ride was basically hobbling back to base. The slime in the back tyre allowed me the grace of not trotting home clinking in cleats and at least staying in the saddle to cross the line albeit at a deflated wobbly return.

Having been hindered by the last 3 miles I still maintained a solid rate of 15.2mph for the 33km travelled and importantly over that short distance the elevation was a very decent at 313m for the entire ride.

Immediately looking at Rex on my return I needed to sort him out and make him shine again. A trip down to cycle surgery and this was the outcome with new treads!
LIKE A NEW BOY, ahhhhhh my third child! guuuussshhhh

No comments:

Post a Comment