The task

The Challenge :

14/4/13 Brighton Marathon (26miles)
12/6/13 London to Paris cycle (300 miles)

Donate!

As a team we are aiming to collectively raise £25k, which is £1600 individually, to donate please visit www.justgiving.com/greenarmy2013

(don't forget to include my name as then it can be counted as part of my individual total).

Thanks!

Saturday, 4 May 2013

Red Lights and Wooden Spoons



The last week I have spent my newly discovered freedom from revision mostly cycling in the spring sunshine.

Training for the L2P is now well underway and I spent 4 hours cycling in the countryside last Sunday, clocking up 53 miles. What struck me the most was the amount of other cyclists on the roads…they, (and I guess I can include myself in this) seemed to be everywhere!

Along with the cyclists, the spring weather seemed to bring out the best in a few of the motorists, one couple even instigated a conversation from their car whilst we were both stopped at a level crossing…. and it wasn’t even the usual abuse!



On Monday, I officially became an Eastbourne Rover, and only for the paltry sum of £10! Since joining I have been overwhelmed with the welcome into the club and the sheer amount of rides and communication that the club has! Considering the hockey club have spent the last 12 months dragging some of its members kicking and screaming into the digital age, its aspiring to see a sports club fully embracing social networking.

Joining the club means I am allowed to don the yellow and black kit, and although tempting to get everything straight away, the imminent arrival of a GPS unit and the girlfriends birthday have put these plans on hold (for a few weeks at least).

The midweek cycle is beginning to become a bit of a welcome habit, and takes in a similar route with a few strava climbs to help develop some climbing strength. The conditions from last week couldn’t have been any different. From last weeks report you can see the foggy conditions that reduced visibility to around 50ft; This week had clear sunny skies and combined with a favourable wind made for quick descending on pretty clear roads. Awesome!

Thursday heralded the weekly Eastbourne Rovers Cycling Club time trial, this week taking place over 10 miles. In comparison the course was flattish compared to the previous weeks and I opted for ‘The Whistle’ (AKA time trial bike).

Due to signing on slightly late, I was handed number 27 out of 29. For those not familiar with TT’s, number 1 is generally the slowest expected time and higher numbers expected to be faster. I am in no way a fast rider! In fact No. 27 recorded the fastest time that day with No. 28 and 29 close behind.

Upon starting the two guys behind me fairly quickly caught up and overtook me, leaving me last on the course (not that I was too bothered). The course is an out and back, and on my way out I noticed a number of riders on the return stretch swerving around a highways agency van pulled up on the other side of the road.

It would transpire however, that rather than just providing an obstacle to pass on the way back, the agency workers had decided to begin their work and begin coning off half of the road. And erect traffic lights. Which turned red as I pulled up.


Lovely.

Although this did allow me a few minutes to suppress the vomit that was trying to make an appearance, it did force me to wait at the red light (I have a deep seated hatred for cyclists that jump red lights), which is not ideal in a battle against the clock.

Needless to say, I rolled in last, taking my wooden spoon bid to 2/2. Wiggo must be quaking with fear.

 

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