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Mark's Training

 

Note - There are more details on Mark's training as he is also webmaster and updates it more regularly.

Update ! Pre-tour European Excursion on-the-road blog here. Post trip summary here.

Mark's more interesting training is recorded in Motionbased - the GPS activity service which can provide pretty much any stat on your ride, including a link to Google Earth.

  • 17th May-20th June, trip round Europe. Some facts and figures, stats and thoughts on this trip here.
  • 11-14/05/07 - 470 miles on the Tour of Ireland Cycle Challenge. Report here.
  • 07/05/07 - 55 Miles in the Southern Peak District, a loop round Carsington Water and back, nursing some post beers hydration issues.
  • 05/05/07 - 50 Miles or so in the Vale of Belvoir, not recorded.
  • 22/04/07 106 miles on the Hereward The Wake Sportive. This ride involved no hills with any serious credentials and so was pretty straightforward and my average speed was the highest for some time at 20.3mph for the full distance. Finally won the respect of a bunch after some lengthy pulls at the front, I felt strong today and did a lot of towing especially in the last 20 miles. Total time was 5hrs 15mins. Special mention to Ray, Ron and Tim who were in my group for most of the day and good companions. Ray was also on the Cheshire Cat, so good to see him again.
  • 14/04/07 - 82 miles on a Lakeland Loop training ride.
  • 01/04/07 - April already. 103 miles Nottingham - Winnats Pass - Nottingham. A great ride, cycling across the Peak District to climb Winnats Pass, turn round at the top and cycle back to Nottingham. The weather was sunny and Winnats Pass looked fantastic in the spring sunshine. A combination of my spangly new bike, a big tailwind up the pass and good weather made it the easiest climb I've done of Winnats. I love that pass (1km at approx 22%), it probably instills more trepidation in me than any other, it's always a beast. But today it was tamed, my heart rate didn't even get that high. I had to do it to prove I could climb the very steep stuff on a compact (thinking ahead to the Zoncolan) and I passed. This ride was also notable for a strong performance from Matt, 111 miles from him today, two centuries in a row and looking good.
  • 25/03/07 - 102 miles on the Cheshire Cat Sportive, the first of the season. It was supposed to be 97 miles, but I took a wrong turning and this tipped it over the 100 mile mark. The weather was great and it also involved possibly the steepest road I have ever cycled up, Mow Cop pictured below. The bunch I was in was shredded on this climb, luckily my sneaky triple was about the only gearing possible to cycle on that gradient and I got to the top first. I never saw the others again (possibly because I got lost shortly afterwards...)

    Picturesque countryside, quiet roads, well spaced feed stops, electronic timing, water bottle souvenir etc - a great sportive. It was also quite unusual for it not to become a suffer-fest, an only moderately hilly course is unusual. I managed to hop between bunches and riders until I found some who were roughly the same pace, felt good to turn the speed notch up a little and I averaged almost 18.5mph which was pretty good for me, Matt also had a strong ride on the course, finishing approximately 50 minutes later. Legs felt good, now need to bring on the serious hills. Full report here.

20/03/07 - Just 4 days until the first event of the season for Matt & I, the Cheshire Cat Sportive.

Although the 97 mile route shouldn't be too tough (now I've said that it will be a nightmare...), the climb on Mow Cop looks like a 25% beast ! Hopefully the training on Winnats Pass will pay off and there will be some spectators sipping beers outside the pictured pub to cheer us on.

A post-ride report will follow.

  • 15/03/07 - Running season started for Mark with the '5K challenge' along the canal. I've been trying for three years to go under 20 mins for 5 k's and still can't do it. I ran 20.43 on Tuesday and 20.52 on Wednesday.
The crazy part is the amount of suffering my legs have given me despite the cycling training, it really shows that completely different muscle groups are used. I am hobbling around with flat feet and calves and thighs that ache like mad, yet on my bike commute to work are fine. I know...I know I am supposed to stretch enough to get rid of all that, but it doesn't seem to work. Knee is ok whilst running, but is still seizes somewhat overnight.
  • 11/03/07 - Peak Distict Loop - 75 Miles. Took it easy, stopped at the cafe in Elton, got involved with some beautiful carrot cake.

The weather was great today, sunny and about 15 degrees, nice for early March and I rode without overshoes/booties for the first time in a several months, although tights and arm warmers are still required. Come on the Summer !

Cycled through Matlock on the way back, it seemed like every motorbike ever made was there, it was ridiculous. Not fast, but there was a big headwind on the way out and 2500 metres of climbing is pretty good for the legs.

  • 10/03/07 - Belvoir Loop, 54 miles. Highest ave (19.2mph) and also now dipped below 12st in weight.
  • 04/03/07 - Sherwood Cycling club's Wilford Bridge spin-off, 61 miles. Being a muppet, I spent too long on the front and 'lachéd' on the last rise back into Nottingham. Horrible feeling as the group disappeared away in front of me, I seemed to slow to a crawl. Felt like Indurain in '96.
  • 03/03/07 - March already !! A little cheeky 55 miler to keep the legs spinning, also puncture. Hovering around 12st now and 13.1% so about 6lbs lost (not sure what that actually means in real life).
  • 22/02/07 - Climbed Mont Ventoux from Malaucene this evening on the Tacx, took it slow after a visit to the masseur the day before and stretched afterwards.
  • 17-18/02/07 - Mountain Biking this weekend in Wales, rode the Marin Trail near Betws-y-Coed, camped in Cwm Nantcol and then rode the Summit at Nant-yr-Arian, a new venue that had some fantastic descents. Had great weather, I could spend many happy days in mid-north Wales, I love it.
  • 11/02/07 - Derwent - Strines, Holmfirth and back. Holme Moss & Snake Pass were closed due to snow, so had to back track. First time over Strines the reverse way which was interesting. Some phone video I took here. 12st 2lbs, 13.3%
  • 10/02/07 - Pyrenees, 7.5km at 7.9% on the Col de Val Louron-Azet and 10.7 km at a 7,6% gradient on the Pla d'Adet. Not in reality of course, we were on the Tacx real video trainer in Matt's house. Averaged 260 watts on the Azet which I think is ok for now.

......On the Tacx Trainer - it's hot ! .......................In Holmfirth wondering what to do....................All the passes closed !

  • 03/02/07 - 120 Miles Notts - Boston - Notts. Been snowboarding and not been out on the bike for a while, so needed to put in a big one, although it was mostly flat to Lincolnshire. Amusingly had to be picked up as it got dark and I sought refuge in a pub. There are worse places to stop than Car Colston - a lovely village. 12st, 3 lbs, 13.5%
  • 14/01/07 - 0 Miles 12st, 3lbs, 13.4% body fat (not measuring BMI anymore, anyone who does any exercise at all seems to be overweight !)

Mark's pre-tour training ramp-up will involve decamping to the dolomites/alps from mid May to ride every day and ensure sufficient form before he hits the tour. He also has the mid-may Tour of Ireland planned.

Athlete Rating : 4/5 (miles clocking up - a good run of rides, legs feeling stronger)

 

Link to Matt's Training

Link to Amy's Training

Link to Kyle's Training