Last minute problems sorted !

Things have turned out OK. Rather than leave things to chance or the last minute, I phoned round the Specialized dealers in the area in search of some new shoes. I found Evolution Cycles in Ipswich who had the full Body Geometery range in stock. I rode over (motorcycle !) and picked up a pair of these excellent Sport shoes.

I've also heard back from Wiggle about the energy drink mix up and they've despatched the correct tub today without charge. Excellent service.

I also got first aid bits and pieces today so it should be just a matter of packing and heading off !

Two last minute problems

Arrggghhhh !!!!!

Just when I thought we'd seen the last of any problems, my riding boots have ripped and despite me ordering energy drink in a huge tub, we were sent recovery drink (in a very similar huge tub). To make matters worse, even though we haven't used any, we took the seal off on Saturday to see if there was a scoop inside before we realised it was the wrong one.

The ripped boots is a big problem. We already have a new saddle that I haven't ridden and now I'm faced with the prospect of finding new shoes/boots in the next 5 days and riding them unbroken in when I line up at the start on Saturday. To add to the problem we don't have any local bike stores that are likely to sell SPD shoes. So I'm going to ring round tomorrow (Bank Holiday Monday) and see where the nearest dealer is that can help. Otherwise we'll have to detour to Milton Keynes Evans Cycles on the way down on Friday. I really don't want to leave it that late.

The drink mix up might not be too bad. If Wiggle can't help us out, the recovery drink I purchased intentionally is also an energy drink so we can switch uses but it's not ideal and we wont have enough for the event as we stand.

The build up to this event has been way more stressful, problematic, time consuming and expensive than I every imagined.

Surely nothing else can go wrong ?

Last bits fitted to the bike and the last training session

I fitted the new saddle, mech and cables Saturday morning before heading out for about 3 hours with my team mate Aaron for a last training session and shakedown of the bike. We've got the saddle height and horizontal position sorted for both of us.

Aaron rode the bike we're using and reckoned the saddle was comfortable although after 3 hours he thought it was not as cushioned as some. This is definately true. I had a run round the block with it when we got back and it felt OK. If we don't get on with it, it's going to be a big problem. So I'm taking all the spare saddles I have with us just in case !

Now the rear gears are all XT'd up shifting is faultless which is just how we're going to need it. You really can't fault XT kit for it's performance and price.

We did an easy 25 miles in around 3 hours on Saturday. We wanted a reasonable ride out to check the bike's OK and return confident and injury free. We've got a tick in every box so roll on Friday when we load up and head for the Mendips :o)

Feeling better for a break !

We went away for a week and I did one ride of about 90 minutes and a bit of riding around while we were away. Everything feels OK again. Maybe I was pushing too hard and suffering the tail end of a cold last weekend ?

I ordered a new saddle, a San Marco Ponza as well as a new XT rear mech to replace the 2 1/2 year old and worn Deore currently fitted and an XT cable set.

Worst ride I can remember

I was planning a four hour ride today but bailed after three and a quarter. I've been getting over a cold, made sandwiches to eat along the way with mouldy bread (urgh !!), dressed for rain and got caught is glorious hot weater, dehydrated as I drunk under a litre over the three hours and hurt my butt bad on the cheaper junk seat I had kicking around the garage.

All in all it was a bad ride !! I'm going to take some time off training and do a couple of short hour rides while I'm away on holiday. I'm taking the training bike away with me. I'll see how I get on with the saddle. If it's OK I'll swap it to the bike we're using for the 24hr event. Otherwise I'll have to get something more comfortable.

To add to the problems, the main bike is suffering from awful shifting from the rear mech. I changed the cable a few months ago so it must me the rear mech that's shot. More expense !!!!

Also, I've had a rule whilst training that I'll do straight trail and fire road riding so I don't run the risk of injury. Training's been getting a chore recently so today I tried the new improved red trail in Thetford forest as part of my ride. I got carried away on a jump, landed wrong and twisted my ankle and wrist. It hurt at the time but now they just feel a bit sore.

Things can only get better ......................................

Two laps done of a waymarked loop

We went out again last night and did two laps of a local waymarked loop. The going is fairly easy fire road type stuff with a few hills thrown in along the way. We both rode well and completed the two laps in under two hours for a total of 18 miles.

I felt strong for the entire ride and still felt pretty fresh at the end of it. The training is starting to pay off !!

I've got a busy last weeks training planned with a 4 hour ride this weekend, a couple of shorter rides during the week and a final get together with Aaron on Saturday for a 4 to 5 hour ride around my local trails. Then that's it !!!

I'm starting to feel a mixture of nervous excitement and fear.

Two weeks and counting !

"Proper" mountain biking training

We went out for a couple of hours on Tuesday evening doing my favourite type of riding - Grab a marked up map and head out type riding. We lost our way a few times but this is what it's all about, much more fun than waymarked routes and man made trail centres.

On the down side we were chasing darkness (without lights) heading back to the car when I got a front wheel puncture. I managed to remove both thornes and fit a new tube in near darkness which is good training for the big event :o)

We're off out again this evening but at a closed waymarked centre this time and with lights so we can keep going regardless ;o)

On the down side it's raining quite hard so it's not going to be as much fun as the dry, warm and sunny ride we had on Tuesday :o(

Two training weeks to go

It's only two training weeks to go and it is all seeming scarily real now ! We've ordered everything we need for the event such as clothes, spares, energy drinks and food. The camping equipment has been checked out and is ready to go.

Stuff is wearing out on the bikes as I do more training which has caused more work and expense. Just when I thought everything was OK, the saddle broke and my gloves ripped over the last week :o(

I've been training pretty hard. Last weekend I did a 3 hour 27 mile ride and yesterday managed a 3 1/2 hour 32 mile ride. Yesterday's was tough psychologically. The first few hours were wet and windy. After a couple of hours I hit a mental wall. I was wet riding up hill in the mud, in the rain, into the wind and my legs had a light ache. I didn't think I'd be able to do the full 3 1/2 hours. The next 30 minutes or so I was fighting the desire to quit, go home and try again "another day". But, I kept going and finished on a bit of a high after a long single track section home. Between these two rides I managed two 1 hour rides and a 1 1/2 hour ride.

All in all I'm feeling pretty confident. Another couple of weeks training should see me in better shape. I just need to get my brain to believe I can do it !!.

I'm going over to ride with Aaron a couple of evenings this week and may do a short morning ride too. I've still got bits and pieces to get ready with the bike and need to fit some new cleats to my shoes.

Wales weekend away and this weeks training

We got away for two days in Machynlleth as planned last weekend with some of a group who I normally ride with (Phil, Gareth, Mike and Andy).

The weather was fantastic on the Saturday with warm sunshine and blue sky. We attempted the 22 mile Syfydrin trail at Nant-yr-Arian. Things went well until about the 12 mile point when Aaron ran out of steam. We agreed to cut the ride short. The rest of the group went on to finish a very gruelly remaining 10 miles. We walked about 2 miles to the nearest road where I left Aaron with his bike. I headed back to the car and returned for him a little under an hour later.

We all ended back at machynlleth at about the same time. Showered and changed we had a relaxing evening and a cracking curry in the town.

Sunday went well with the exception of the health of the group. Aaron was in a bad way but managed to finish the cli-machx loop along with myself and a crash damaged Mike. Andy was only down for the day on Saturday. Phil had a knee twinge and Gareth was completely done in so both bailed out before the ride on the Sunday.

Personally I got on well but the last couple of climbs on the Cli-Machx really hurt. Aaron did well but is a way off our original plan for the 24 hour event. So he now has my excercise bike and is going to do some serious training between now and the event. With some hard training he's aiming to complete 3 laps. The target in my mind is 5 laps but neither of us will know what we can do until we get there and see how demanding each lap is.

I had a rest early in the week then did 1 hour Wednesday and 1 1/2 hours today. So far I don't feel too bad. I'm planning a long ride at the weekend. Then 3 morning rides next week.