Author: frankkinlan

Monday: The big day, doctors at 11 for a reveiw and a medical for my Etape entry. The Oval first for a hill session on an exercise bike. 30 mins at about 200 watts. Shower then to the waiting room. Blood pressure was up a bit so soon after the session but back down to 130/80 after a few minutes.  This probably sealed it for me as it’s that long since I’ve been there that if you look at the record it says overweight and blood pressure problems. I’d also said I’d been taking home measurements and it had been about 130/ low Eighties. The fact that I was wearing a Heartrate monitor and knew what my max was helped.
Was warned about the heat in July and with that I was done.
It was a far cry from the early days when I dreaded the place.

Signed form in hand it was back home to get it posted ASAP. Popped into Aldi for lunch and ended up Etape Caledonia was on the news as I came home from work lastnight as someone had sabotaged the route with carpet tacks.

The plan now is to up the mileage in the hills and learn some French, giving it up at 13 wasn’t one of my wisest moves come to think of it.

Went to see StarTrek at Vue it was great but at £7.10 a head you wouldn’t want to see a dud. Sweets work out at £12.40 a kilo or whatever unit they use. Great film, reminds you just how bad the first ones were with William Shatner as Kirk.

Tuesday: Gym and a spin in the morning. Sort out a few thing later on with the Northend 14.1 TT in the evening. Now I missed out on this event last year as turned up to the wrong location as the club events don’t start at the CTT location. Never done a 14 miler before so it’s a first. Chased around like an idiot looking for the start only to find another club doing a TT, the Wrexham Fibrax 10.

Co-opted the satnav to get me to the right location this time. Then drove the route to see what I was up against.

It looked like a quick course sitting in the luxury of the car, I was thinking easy 23-24 mph on sections I hadn’t ridden. After a bit of misdirection I started at number 2.  Mark was first off and it was remarkable how windy it was. Sections where I thought would be easy were hard due to a headwind.
The first test is at Aldford bridge, here you come down the hill and hope there is no traffic.  After the bridge  I make time on a club ride with my minute man in the distance.
Somewhere along the route there was a flagpole on a corner all this did was remind me I was turning straight into a headwind.

I pass about 5 clubrun guys  before I pass Mark, this was a bit disturbing as I was only about 3.5 miles in.

There are a few climbs where I think I was letting myself down but it’s the same for everybody.
Garmin logged the Heartrate at about 184 BPM max with a lot of it about 172 bpm.
The time 38 minutes 8 seconds.
Next in was Janet with a time of 37 minutes 58 seconds, beating me by 10 seconds. It’s been like this for the last 4 time trials. The lowest was 6 seconds I think. (i’ll check) At least it’s consistent. Been told it’s a good thing as she’s been doing it for years. Can’t quite justify a set of Zipp 808 yet.
Vicky is improving and starting to catch up without any aero aids.

Wednesday: Ride day, out to the Eureka for breakfast. I was in the queue when someone rushed it to call for an ambulace as someone had had an acident. It’s always a bit risky crossing to the Eureka but you wouldn’t want to become an A540 statistic.
Ended up riding to Caerwys and coming back via Halkyn.
58 miles.
The police had come into the cafe looking for witnesses but no one had actually witnessed the accident.
I’d set out with Dave Newby chasing the big hitters that included the Springbok.  This wasn’t going to last so I tagged along with Carols group going over the blue bridge. Met Steve another 705 owner and with Lionel that made 3 on the ride. Discussed maps and Routes as you do, now if you use MapSource it’s version of a route is different to what I do as it tries to autoroute you.

Back to the ride, It split at Northop Lights as Lionel and co went up to the green (steep) once Ronnie was back with us Carol led us up to the A55 and then on to Pentre. It’s a bit of a lumpy ride and once at Caerwys we discover the Cafe is now a Delicatessen. That’s a bit of a blow so we have a look at the pub that has a sign on the wall with ” Nice Cat” on it. Took a picture of it.
Set off for the golf club, you think that with 3 Garmin 705 owners in a group of 4 we would have things sussed. Wrong. About a mile past the club we realised we were headinf for the wrong one.
Lionel did a search, found the club and took us right to it. It was easily missed. Even when we got there there was no sign of the others.
Good job the others persevered as the rest of the group was there and had already ordered.
It’s a 9 hole golf course and looks nice.  Food was good, didn’t see a menu but whatever asked for was provided. Scambled egg on toast with a cup of tea was £3.

Rain was forecast between 1 and 2 and sure enough it arrived on time.  Trouble was the top of the Halkyns is not the place to be when it arrives. The Discovery windshell was put on as we descended back via the green back to Northop. Hopefully this is all I’m going to need on the Ventoux if the weather turns, talking in the Eureka I’d been warned how bad it can get. As it was my hands in fingerless gloves(Aldi) were freezing.

One of our group had put on the Aldi Lightweight Jacket and gave it a good reveiw on the way back.
I couldn’t find mine in time for the ride.
Good ride, bike was a bit of a mess along with myself as I had no mudguards but thats what it’s going to be like for a lot of us if the weather turns in July.

Disscussed Routes with Lionel at the Eureka then rode home for the Giro. Cav won again, Armstrong had a turn on the front, all good stuff.

Nearly missed Barbara’s spinning class at West Kirby being 5 minutes late. Gave it a bloody good go as half a days ride isn’t going to be enough in July. Barbara said I was wasting away but I’m down to 85 and a bit kilo’s today.

Thursday: Got my timing wrong for the morning spinning class and missed the start by 15 minutes, only one class on a Thursday, it starts at 10.15  and I went to the gym think it was due to start at 10.30. Gym afterwards, shower and home.  Another section of the Scenic exhaust started blowing, this is weeks after having a new back box for the MOT. I had toyed with the idea of scrapping it under the scrappage scheme but  it’s had new tyres the exhaust is nearly all new. A large bill would see it off.
Had to see the Giro time trial first though, well most of it.
Downloaded the Aqueduct route uploaded it to Bikeroutetoaster.com then saved it as a Course to the Edge.

Whatever happens on the Aqueduct I’ll be calling in at the world,s best  Cycling cafe on a big ride. Junction of the B54407 and B4391. Was the highest petrol station in the UK I think, certainly in Wales. It’s a roller coaster of a ride to it with me locking it at about 40mph to avoid a straying sheep last year. Unbeleivable cake stop.
Friday: Work, first day.  Took half a pint of milk in for tea over the weekend only to have some light fingered person pinch most of it for cornflakes. Wouldn’t mind but it was Organic to boot. Cycling on ITV4 when I got in and then the Giro on Eurosport so no gym.
Looked at carbon wheels on ebay with it finally dawning on me that the cheap ones all have crash damage.
Saturday: Work
Sunday: Work.  Lost out on a bidding war on Ebay item I was bidding on. Giro delayed on Eurosport when I got in for tennis. First in the Northend Handicap League by one point from Janet Hassell. It won’t last as now we are starting the 10 mile section. I’ve done 5 out of 6 events and your best 6 count. This year should be a bit better as some of the rides have been a bit low on riders, elevating my points.

Monday: Nice day should have been out on the bike but had to ring up about my entry for the Etape.
A recent diet change to Oatibix has proved to be a disaster and I’ve switched back to Oat Granola.
The next couple of months are all about the ride of a lifetime. I’ve thought hard about it as I don’t want to try and fail. The Tacx ride up the Ventoux means I’m going to spend at least two hours on that one climb. 21 Km @8% is a tough climb in anyones eyes.
Still it’s done now.
Watching the Giro, will hit the gym afterwards. No time trial this week.
Spinning class had me burning 750 calories and hitting 181 BPM. Shower an home.
It was time to do some research on what training I should be doing and Stan,s Aquaduct ride cropped up in one of the searches. I’d rode it last year and it’s hilly enough.
Tuesday:Morning Spinning class then the gym, 650 calories in this one. About half of it was out the saddle.Sort Vals bike out. Aldi cycle computer (£5) got fitted. Don’t bother with the handpump, it’s useless on a presta valve.
Giro then a ride.
My Booking for the Etape has come through and I need a medical exam for it AS SOON AS POSSIBLE so thats Wednesdays ride out of the window. That and the Invoice which is a bit eye watering when your used to cheap as chips Audaxes, CTC and club rides. Entry £140, 10 days of living the dream about 10 times that for starters. I’ve signed up for the 10 day Coach Tour which has the bikes travelling down in a trailer.
I get to ride the Etape, watch the stage and see another stage. Another £90 would see me at the finish on the Champs Elysee
Wednesday: Medical, if I can get one. Ride maybe but I need that medical first.
No medical until Monday, added a new page with the BBC link.
Read Janets Spring 50 write up, I was first back for the third year running but only a minute in front of second place newcomer Nick Cavil. Competition is getting tough with a lot of carbon bikes now.
Took a trip out to Eureka Sports for some bits and bobs for Vals  bike.
Lifestyle and Weight management Course followup class. Same time same place.
A big followup class as the course has been shortened to 8 weeks from 12. 8 or 12 weeks is small term when you look at the larger picture. If more turn up because the numbers are larger it has to be a good thing.
Dined out, home to watch the Apprentice which a bit of a miss this week.
Thursday: Work. Time to focus on getting ready for the Etape. Club meeting. Venue change coming up.
Friday: Work. Automation has it’s downsides when it doesn’t run. Just about read the comic.
Saturday:Work. Staying late. Sad to learn that Pauls Twe2 has had to have the plug pulled on it. It was great while it lasted. Free Twitter texts from those you followed. Don’t follow Lance Armstrong on it as it would drive you mad.
Sunday: Work

Monday: Bank holiday.  Late start and I mean late. Faffed around looking at the weather and waited for things to brighten up which didn’t happen.  By the time I’d decided enough was enough it was nearly 2pm.
By the time I got to the Eureka it was closing time. 3pm on a bank holiday Monday. Time for a tea and a piece of cake. That was about it for the rest of the day with only a bonk break at Lidl as everywhere else was shut. Headed to Parkgate which was a bit subdued given the wheather. The better the car the more obligation to park on a double yellow. Resisted an Ice Cream and just took in North Wales in the sunlight.
Right of  Way seems a strange concept to some as I nearly get taken out by an eighty year old with the obstuction on his side of the road. This is the second time in less than a mile.
Enough is enough I’m back on the Wirall way.
I bump into a few family groups along the way one of them is the three legged dog and a group of six further on by West Kirby where I pickup a puncture.
Hit a large stone where I picked up a concussion punture. Took a bit of time to fix and I took the route out via Acton Park after having a word with one of  the custodians who confirmed that people will complain about anything, even the band.
Further on things are better with a water stop at west kirby. Hoylake was OK and things were much of a muchness until New Brighton.
The puncture took a while sorting as it was important to sort out what type of puncture it was. Nothing was conclusive from the tube as I couldn’t find the leak. Couldn’t find the cause either.
Much went on and met 3 Americans by Woodside who where about to miss their Ferry. They may have made it but it would be close. Called in at Lidl for some bonk busting bites. 2 banannas, a drink and a tuna salad in a tin.
Another puncture, it was glass this time and it also gave me time to look at the first puncture.
Finally made it home.
It’s getting late and I had rear lights on when a car passed  far too close too me for comfort, It may be only short but it’s a very dangerous section of road to cycle on. It’s hard for a lorry and a bus to pass and  yet the lights at Clatterbridge squirt cars every 30 seconds or so through Brimstage.
42.9 slow miles, the figures don’t flattern. All I can say I was out there doing it.
Tuesday: Nothing daft today, no double spinning classes or the like. Saving it all up for the Brimstage 7 along with the new hat.
Rain during the day had me worried about a wet ride but it turned out OK if a little windy.
A couple of faces missing tonight, surely it can’t be the match.
Started off 18th two minutes behind a big chap from Manchester Wheelers.
The time 18 minutes 38 seconds, now the excuses.
Got baulked at the Glegg with a car keeping in tight and then turning in to the pub. That wasn’t too bad but I’d made a good sweep into Liverpool Road slotting in behind two cars that had come through the lights. Trouble was the first one wanted to turn right and this slowed things down. These things happen and there is nothing to do but get on with it. Quicker up the climb by the Seven Stars I’d had a few problems with the big ring jumping on to the middle ring. Passed the Manchester wheeler going downhill to the roundabout which this time was clear. It was great to have a clear run through here with 30 mph on the 705.
Things were going OK with Drayton Motors coming up then the drag back up to the roundabout. Just past here due to the open nature of the ground it was really hard. You don’t like to see these sort of speeds knowing your losing time all the time.
Most of us had a worse time than last due to the conditions. Janet had 8 seconds on me this week so a fancy helmet is worth a second on a 7 mile TT.
Tempo posted a picture on Facebook, I’ll try and post the link.
85.4 Kg this morning and the blood pressure is OK so things are back on track.

Slower start with the Glegg visible at 0.5 miles. Next up was the car slowing me down at 2.4 miles, faster up the Seven Stars at 3.6 miles  and a lot quicker on the drop down to the roundabout. From Drayton Motors it was all down hill and I lost time consistently to the end.
Wednesday: Work. Aldi summer cycling offers are on tommorow.
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/58_9679.htm

The £2.99 gloves are always worth a buy and I’ll have a look at the tops.
Stuff like the cycling computer and a track pump will get you going if your starting from scratch.
I’m a bit more selective now as I’ve a shedfull of stuff and grown out of it.

Watched the Apprentice and was surprised to see Dave from the Bike Factory on it pointing out faults on the saddle bag the team were pitching. I’d only  been speaking to him at the Eureka on Saturday.
Thursday: Work. No chance of getting to Aldi after it to check out the stuff on offer. No X Bike class either.
Friday: Work. Stopped late so no gym. Still trying to get a chance to read the comic.
Saturday: Work. Website blocked so a couple of texts to Paul to see what was happening. Need to get out early tommorrow if I’m to get out at all this weekend.
Called in at Aldi on the way home and bought the ultra lightweight jacket. There wern’t many left and I’d have like the white one but you can’t have everthing.  It packs into it’s own bag which sewn on to the back. Includes a pocket with flap that the bag slips into so it’s not flapping around.
Sunday: Jack day. Watched F1 and Cav get pipped at the finish of the Giro. No spinning tonight as I gone and entered The Etape Du Tour. 172 kilometres with the finish up Mont Ventoux. The next two months are all about this event. The figures blow the mind, the Ventoux alone took me 2 hours and that was on a trainer. Confirming entry tomorrow, way to go on hitting the big 50.

Monday:Barbara’s morning spinning class (640 calories), Gym for weights, crosstrainer for a Mars Bars worth ( 284 calories) in 26 minutes 30 seconds. Row for 2 km, 9mins 30 and a 1km run at 10km/hr.
Spent the afternoon sorting out the 705 side of the site and getting to grips with WWW.Bikehike.co.uk and the new GPXX format for the 705.
Planned, downloaded and rode the Brimstage 7 TT using GPXX  hardpoints. Worked quite well but I had way too many of them for a short TT but it was all about seeing what it was like to ride. Two mph down on the TT ride with an average of 21.5 mph. Didn’t put any gloves on and my hands were frozen on the ride back home.
Put the carbon fibre wheels on the Toy and had a trial start, felt good, just the feel of the wheels upping my spirits for tomorrow.
Tuesday:Work, off early for the Northend Club 7. The time 18 minutes 17 seconds so a 16 second improvement on the first one. One advantage of the Edge series is that you can overlay rides in Garmin TrainingCenter. The gains this week were all made on the Chester High road, the stretch into Thornton Hough being virtually identical with a smoother taking of the rugby club roundabout.
I was actually slower in the final 2 miles this week with a better final half mile but a slower finishing speed.
Janet Hassell put some more time into me this week but she did turn up on a new Scott time trial bike with a Zip 808 wheel on the back and a 303 I think on the front. It really is something else especially the chainstay which looks like something off a F1 car. Passed Brother James again but further along the course.
Looking at last years results my best time was 18:51 so tonight was a PB.
Wednesday: Work, watched The Apprentice. Version 2.70 upgrade for The 705 out. Would have been a nice day for a ride.
Thursday: Work, with a bit of luck I’ll get to the gym or a class. A passing comment about my future had me signing for voluntary redundancy. (I may not get it, but If I don’t put in for it I’ll never get it) 
Remembered to pack the gym kit and rang up  for a X bike class at Guinea Gap, got a place no problem.
Class had 5 in it and consisted of half an hour of Instructor led exercises and fifteen minutes of video.
Mountain biking and New York and San Francisco for the first time in full. Adds a new meaning to jumping a red light and getting a tow.
Friday: Work, last day. 
Saturday: Ride day. Late start. Eureka for a tea and a chat then down to Eureka Sports for a new aero helmet. In view of a potential redundacy coming up I’m not buying a new TT bike until I know which way things are going to turn out. Met lionel at Eureka Sports and he recited “What do call a group of Garmin owners?”: Sad. He’s been riding Routes with only 3 waypoints, letting the Garmin autoroute the ride. Tried it on the way home and it didn’t work for me other than want to route me down the A540 when I had avoid major roads set. Part of the problem is you can’t set routing options  other than avoid major roads, another thing is I’ve a hybrid map in with the free.

Well I’ve got the hat.

Had some issues with the 2.70 705 software, the ride out to the Eureka not showing up on Trainingcenter and a couple of logging issues. It could have been because I was letting it navigate me back home.
Sunday: More trains with Jack. 86 Kg again which is good news as it’s taken a while to lose it.you just
Spinning class at West Kirby for 550 calories worth and 173 bpm on the HRM. Fresh berries for the breakfast took a bit of searching out. Looking forward to Tuesday’s time trial. Last Tuesday we all got spanked by a 15 year old kid. R.Mullen taking 25 seconds out of our current leader Steve Gauller and nearly 3 minutes out of me. I don’t think it was on a flash TT bike either. One to watch.
Some day the club handicap scoring will be explained to me but until then you just race against your peers.
Bumped into Myles yesterday at Eureka Cycle Sports he’s doing a 50 mile TT today which is a level I’ve yet to obtain, as is a 25 or a 14 for that matter. Went to the wrong start last year and missed the event.
Rode home in the TT helmet yesterday which was a bit over the top but I couldn’t carry the box. All was OK until Willaston where I went past a group of novices attempting the Wirral Way for the first time. There was a few startled  cries and I was going slow.

Monday: Work
Tuesday: Work, packed the gym bag but forgot to take it out of the door. Own goal.
Wednesday:Work, had the gym bag but worked late to 8pm. No gym, another own goal.
Thursday: Work, some joker swapped some of the keys on the computer and after putting in the wrong password too many times I was locked out and had to phone IT for a password reset. Even this wasn’t straight forward as they didn’t have me on the system. It gets better, IT reset my password but I still can’t login because R and T have been swapped and you can’t see what you are typing when entering a password.
It doesn’t click until I log out and can’t enter my login name correctly.
Made the IT guys day.
Picked up the comic on the way home and there is a full page article about the Eureka Cafe in it.
The picture looks like it was taken last week.
Friday: Looked at the satellite distribution system for the flats as one of the residents is having trouble with sky reception.  Tuesdays time trial start positions came out last night, with me having a 2.5 minute handicap. Wondering if a new bike will make me any better as I could have done with some bar end shifters at times the other week, it’s going to be too much hassle swapping bars and cables over every other week.

Called in at EurekaSports to see Keith working on an Orbea timetrial bike that was going out with it’s new owner. I was thinking of buying it but I was beaten to it by another northender.
http://www.eurekacyclesports.co.uk/store/store-product.php?p=7&b=Orbea

Updated the link to the Eureka Cafe after Dave reported a problem. Ann had a look at the links a Google search generates and the first one was faulty. Cheshire Oaks for some cycle mags, Tesco’s for some fruit and a carwash.

Margaret’s spinning class at West Kirby. Starts off easy then ramps up eases off a bit and up again. Last sprint is Sandstorm by Darude and Margaret asks the class if the want the full 7 minute version as Frank wants the full version.  I hadn’t but they ask who’s Frank?. I’ve the whole of the class looking at me as I’m stuck on the back row. Some were going to have words after the class, Margaret sure know how to drop a guy in it. 640 calories worth and a bucket of sweat, no water bottle so had to buy a bottle of Lucozade Sport out of the vending machine and it isn’t enough. Shower and home.
Saturday: Ride day. Rode out to the Eureka for Frank’s breakfast  with it looking a bit overcast in the distance. The Northend arrived and it was a toss up to which group to ride with. Tempo has a new bike and that means a pub stop, could be a big round looking at the size of the group. It’s starting to rain as we assemble outside which is not the best start as I’m in summer kit, armwarmers on and a Disco Channel gilet that I removed the label on, so it’s new.
Spoke to Big Phil of The Sunlight in the cafe as our paths haven’t passed in a while.
Went out with Muriel’s group but it didn’t last long. Not equiped for the ride with no waterproofs I dropped of at the Strawberry roundabout and headed back to the Eureka. I was shortly joined by the “Dog” who had had enough of the club ride at Hawarden with a river running down the road.  Very few had mudguards as it was supposed  to brighten up. I ended up doing a Wirral coastal ride back to the Eureka and back home via Route 56. Took some more pictures at New Brighton but the sun wasn’t in my favor. At Woodside I took to the front that leads you to Cammel Lairds. Went down Rest Hill, turned around climbed it for the first time in a while. It was a decent pace with it slowing when I was into oxygen depletion.

Just made it past the cow milking time and past the motorway bridge two guys on carbon bikes pass me as I’m a world of my own. Not a word is said, coming the other way is another Disco Channel wannabe with two mates. Big ring stuff up Talbot Avenue had me passing the guy on the Dolan but not catching his mate who promptly stopped at the top. Back to the Eureka and then home to clean the bike. 68 miles now dried out, could have done more but it’s early in the season. Peter told me about last Sunday’s ride which sounded like a real leg breaker after Saturday.

Sunday: Didn’t do a tap today as Jack was around. Didn’t even get a spinning class in as Liege-Baston-Liege was on Eurosport but delayed because of live snooker. Missed out on Stan’s Horseshoe Grimpeur which I would have liked to have ridden.  Watched F1. Superbikes and MotoGp and read the paper. Started to update the Dummies guide to the Garmin 705 page, which was called the knowledgebase.
Listened to a 10 minute  version of Confusion by New Order, OK but you couldn’t spin to it for 10 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QjYx6drVaA&feature=related
I keep coming back to this clip another Darude mix but it is good and something I’ve watched over ther years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOQflZqzn_U&feature=related

Monday: Work. I’ve just had a look at the Google Analytics statistics for yesterday. I normally get about 150 to 200 visits a day. Yesterday it was 3,415. Which is pretty amazing.
The bike wants sorting for tomorrows time trial this evening.
Work went badly at the end of the shift and I ended up stopping an extra hour to sort it out on  Bank Holiday of all times. Put some air in the tubular tyres for tommorrows time trial as I start at number 7. I’ll try and get around to all your comments as soon as I can.
I’m a bit rusty for the time trial but I’ve give it a go as things can only get better.
Back up to speed with the comment replies I think, all are welcome.

There are a lot of comments coming through that mention inspiration but I didn’t see it that way, I was just doing something to help myself.  I’ve been running the site  for a few years now and Janes article has unleashed massive interest. I still remember the struggle of those early rides as the extra weight absolutely kills you on hills.  I’ll endeavor to update the pages across the top and keep it relevant to those looking to make that change in their lives.

The Weekending Posts that I write about now are what I do day to day now along with Big Ride writeups.

For those starting out on a new plan the dieting industry needs a before picture which in my case was pretty hard to come by.  For all those following Weightwatchers and Slimming World plans and others the main problem is that they are an industry and don’t teach you the essential exercise component of weightloss.

Don’t be afraid to post a comment, I don’t bite  I’m trying to help.

Tuesday: Work, followed by time trial.
Came home through Liverpool as I didn’t want the congestion of the Runcorn bridge. This is the first event of the Birkenhead Northend club time trial series. It’s also my first outing in the new club kit. Tempo has just put a picture of me up on Facebook which shows the colour clashes with my usual Discovery channel kit.
They call time trials the race of truth as it is just you against the clock. That may be true but there is a lot more to it when you are up against your peers.
You set off at minute intervals on a fixed course timed to the second. Tonight’s was the Brimstage 7 which starts on the doorstep.
Starting at Heswall Hills it’s half a mile up a rise to Gayton Roundabout. This is hard to judge as going all out tends to leave you in deficit on the Chester High Road (A540) which is where you should be fast.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/3685580

Feel free to look at all the data as I was maxxed out for a lot it, every time I looked down it was looking at 177 BPM.  There was traffic at Gayton roundabout but it was Ok if a little tight. Then it started to shower, not much of a problem until the turn for Thornton Hough. Slackened off for the turn as it may have been slippey and managed to miss one pothole by the Grange only to hit another. All this time I can make out my minute man in the distance. Wasn’t too pleased with my speed over the crest by the 7 Stars as it dropped to a little over 15mph. Which is much the same as last year. Next obstacle is the roundabout on the Clatterbridge- Willaston road. Two cars pass ok but a third can’t wait a couple of seconds and chops me up then stops as a car may have been doing a full circuit but didn’t.
I was miffed.  Next up was the Drayton Motor roundabout, this went Ok and I was still gaining on my minute man Brother James. I finally drew alongside and passed him at the roundabout as cars allowed a bit of a draft. The time 18.33 which I’m pleased with(it could have been a lot worse). Average 23.2 mph. 

Had a pint in the  rugby club with Liverpool-Chelsea match on the screen and rode home.
Going to be a nightmare tommorow, best apply myself to the job. The Liverpool supporters taking it quite well taking heart in putting 4 past Chelsea.

Wednesday: Work, last day. MOT time for the Scenic means I’ll  be under it tomorrow by the sound of it.
Thursday: First day off,  the Scenic got a new exhaust. Had a look at the handbrake and took it for an MOT which it passed. Called in at Europa pools and booked a spinning class as now you get 2 hours parking free if you have an Invigorate card, finally they are using some common sense.
Spoke to Louise after a hot class as she has just restarted after getting her leg broke by a Liverpool Echo van.  Mentioned that Barbara had finally found the site after me writing about her classes for over two years.
I didn’t want a war between the instructors over whose was the hardest class. Tonight was a 707 calorie class by the way.
Home via Lidl which has cycle shoes and helmets along with track pumps on offer. If your starting out after seeing the BBC story this is where I started. It’s great value and you need to start somewhere.
I’ve bought the shoes before. They take an SPD cleat and you can walk in them.
Friday:Rain stopped play in the morning so I read Cycling Plus. There is some good stuff in it this month.
Including a ride based on the Horseshoe Pass. Now it’s a tough climb but nothing like the Old Horseshoe Pass. It’s too narrow to send the Milk race up or any race but gives you a sense of achievement when you’ve done it.
If your looking to start on the road I’d recommend Cycling Plus as it’s the only publication based on road riding. The Mountain Bike magazines don’t feature any road content as they are wholly off road.

107 Dining Room for lunch, should have stuck with the one course for a fiver but thought I’d try the two for £8 as there was more selection. Couldn’t fault it but it’s going to take some burning off.
Had a look at the GarminConnect link for Tuesday as I’m now third in the Northend time trial handicap league. I’m only 2 BPM off my max for this year which is 184 BPM, no wonder it felt hard. Tempo sent me the pics he took at Gayton roundabout and I’ve got my raceface on them all.

Margaret’s spinning class at West Kirby, thought I had scewed up the HRM settings as all the instructors want to know how many calories are burnt in a class. After looking at at wrong page for 45 odd minutes  it was 637 calories which is about right.

Sort the bikes out when I got home, a light dinner and watched a DVD. Blog to keep up to date.
Saturday: Ride day. 81 miles and 1537 Metres of climbing, deserves a seperate write up. Had a great day ended going up the Horseshoe Pass for good measure and doing a lot if not all the Cycling plus ride. Great day for a ride

I’ll post more on the ride write up.

Sunday: Another nice  day for a ride. Locked out of my GarminConnect account which is not a good start. Not planned to do a ride today as it is a Jack day. Took a trip out to Carrog to see the steam engines.

Monday: Work
Tuesday: Work
Wednesday:Ride day. Missed all the rides by the time I got to the Eureka. Fitted the tri bars to the Trek so it was time to give them a try.  The weather forecasts haven’t been too good lately promising rain and then it doesn’t. Decided on a Wirral rideas it’s not that bad a place to do a ride.

Had to stop and take a picture of this. It deserves a place in the Warrington CTC Cycleways book.
New Brighton boating lake so it sees a fair bit of traffic.

Took to the Wirral way at Parkgate leaving at Caldy village stopped at Morrisons and then it was along he front at Hoylake. There was a lad on a mountain bike that didn’t take too kindly to being passed so he retook me by the lifeboat station. There is a strong tailwind and I was pratting around. With the gloves off it was time to engage the big ring and go into time trial mode. Cranking it up I’d repassed the mountain biker and was doing over 30 mph 31.9 to be exact.

By Harrison drive I’d rejoined the cycleway and should have stopped to take some pictures of the kite boarders. That or the wind shifting the sand across the beach. I’d got off the bike to carry it over the sand that had drifted across the path and then got sandblasted as the wind funneled the sand over the coastal defence.
Another stop in Vale Park had everybody sitting outside in the sun.
Then on to Woodside to look at the U-Boat which is now open.
44 miles.  Cleaned the bike when I got home, the chain having a lot of sand in it.
Lifestyle and Weight Management followup class, this month the topic of conversation was about maintaining focus.
Thursday: Second spinning class at West Kirby had me late for the class. One of the girls stopped me after the class to ask how far we had gone as she has entered a 26 mile charity ride and is unsure how long its going to take. As she is doing 2 spinning classes back to back and goes hard I’d think it would be under two hours once she changes the tyres on the mountain bike.
Gym afterwards for 45 minutes, picked up the comic on the way home from a congested Tesco’s.
Followed Tour de Tweets on twitter as there is no cycling on Eurosport.
Northend club night.
Friday: Bought a new laptop eventually and transfering data across didn’t quite go to plan.
Saturday: A late start on a brilliant riding day. Rode to the Eureka via Parkgate and Denhall lane.
Spent an hour or so at the Eureka chatting in the sun. (added all this later after the Sundaypost)One of those I was talking to was Terry Galvin who picked me upon a Eureka 50 mile ride a few years ago.
Keith Boardman was there and Carol turned up after a ride to Summertrees.
It’s really amazing the number of people I’ve come across in my relatively short cycling career each one a character in their own right.

Back via the missing link, Eastam, Raby Mere, and the coastal cycle route. 44 miles. Punctured at Seacombe  due to hitting a pothole. That wasn’t so bad but pumping it up with a mini pump was a chore.
Sunday: Work.  Had a few comments already about the BBC article more of which later.

Confessions of a Weightloss Cyclist.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7953197.stm

What a day this has turned out to be. I started off driving through Brimstage and had two Pheasants darting across my path. Listening to the radio there was comment about making kids eat porridge in the morning and why it won’t happen. I’ve just had Quaker Oat Granola and 3 berries and it tasted fine to me and I’ve been eating it for the last years.

A couple of weeks ago Jane Elliot from the BBC contacted me through the site and we arranged a phone interview. I didn’t post anything on the site as thing’s don’t always turn out the way you see them.
That’s all changed today as her article was posted on the BBC website.
It’s a good article and I thank her for it. The response has been overwhelming with lots of comments coming in. (all of which I’m trying to respond to)
They are dotted all over the site so don’t fret if you haven’t got a reply yet.
I look at the Google stats from time to time and guess they are about to go through the roof.

Stayed up to watch Paris- Roubaix on Eurosport which is burning the candle at both ends.

Ran the spelling checker over the page as the laptop is suffering from a sticking keyboard and is missing letters and spaces amazing what you can miss.

Monday: More decorating, managed to get a cancellation for Barbara’s spinning class which is just as well as the woman in front of me was trying to get a cancellation too. Full class with 4 first timers. Good class. 
Twe2.com settings altered as the volume of texts is flattening the battery on the phone.
Tuesday: Gym and a spin. Gave out the site address to one of Barbara’s first class. Beryl asked how many calories I burnt when she saw the HRM. It’s around 600 calories for 1 class and 1100 for 2 classes. You have to go hard to achieve these numbers though.
Gym for some weights and ran 1km on the treadmill at 9.9km/hr.
Shower and home for lunch.
More decorating.
8PM X Bike class at Guinea Gap. No space on the 7PM class but there are only 6 bikes. Spent the afternoon washing all the kit. HRM chest strap battery has given out. The Toy’s cadence sensor has had a new battery.  Not as many position’s as a spinning bike but it exercises a totally different muscle group. Particularly upper body due to the adjustable damped spring loaded handlebars.
Wednesday:  Ride day. A dry day would be nice.
A cool start with it brightening up later meant many would be overdressed. A Discovery windshell over a winter jersey would be enough. The usual Franks Breakfast proving to be too much again on another tough ride. Tried out the Brimstage 7 from the Clegg to see if I was up for it. 24.9 mph with no Time Trial bars or carbon wheels mean it’s going to be tough.

 
Took a picture at the start and then it was time to play catchup again.
Just when I though I was getting on the back before Woodbank a CTC group with oncoming traffic meant I couldn’t make the turn in time. Caught them up a the A5117 lights and headed out with them along the cycle path.

All went well until the lights at Queensferry, here Carols group had caught us up and then I got asked if I was sure I was in the right group by going out with the big hitters.  It was fair comment and I’d opted to go with the big hitters. Soon to be undone. I was soon off the back on the climb to Hawarden , a lorry had split the group on the roundabout and I never made it back on. Things didn’t get much better as I’d only the destination and not the route. Where I took a route to Higher Kinnerton taking the walkway  over the dual carriage way the others took the main road to Hope. CTC habits die hard.

First serious climb was the Steps: B5102 from Cefn-y-Bedd look at the profile on the link to see how it got it’s name. Halfway up I stop at the turnoff to Brybo to look at the Edge, a lorry driver says my mates are waiting for me at the top but it was not to be.

Second serious climb is from Minera to Worlds end, it’s no use saving a gear as it’s that steep your not going to get into it once into the climb. It’s another climb with a couple of turns in it that hide the summit. There is a white house that you can see from the other side of the valley that looks a long way up and is.

This is the Ford at Worlds End, one way or the other you’ve had a decent ride to get here. It’s a tough climb from Minera and it’s a tough climb towards Minera. The Fford is treacherous for a cycle, I always take the stones.

This is the bottom of the Old Horseshoe Pass which is a hard climb it’s about twice as steep as the Horseshoe pass and peaks at 21% but a lot of it it is 16-18%. Engage your lowest gear or you’ll blow up by the cattle grid.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/2884477  

Thursday:Morning spinning class at West Kirby no calories counting as I wasn’t wearing the HRM. I hadn’t had breakfast and forgot the water bottle. Ended up getting a Lucozade sport drink from the vending machine which was just as well as the bike didn’t have a bottle cage.
Tough class because of heat lack of fluid and still suffering from yesterdays ride. Gym afterwards for some weights and 2km on the rowing machine.
Picked up the comic on the way home but refused to pay £3.99 for 225g of blueberries.
I go through a lot of soft fruit and it all adds up.
The Toy got a dose of looking at and was found a lot wanting. Front wheel wanted truing so it went to Colin at Wheelbase. The rear wheel had the cassette removed the wheel not spinning too freely but couldn’t be sorted. The lockring on the cassette came off on yesterdays ride an I was doing 30 mph at the time. The chain was too long and has had 2 links taken out, rejoined with a Shimano pin.
The 705 is a year old and I’ve broken another bracket.  Other than that it’s been OK the altimeter fault sorted itself out.
Back on the bike the Look Keo classic pedals are worn out the outer bush has worn a ridge in the axle. Time to upgrade to something better bearing in mind I’ve spent more on cleats. Probably going to go for Ceramic bearings for the rear wheel.
Missed the Northend chaingang.
Friday: Last day off, read the comic from front to back, going to pick the wheel up and go out for a short ride. Entry for Sunday in the post, it’s full with 150 riders with me in the final group.
It’s going to be fun getting to Overton which is going to be very busy. No entries on the line.
Picked the wheel up from Colin went shopping and turned up for Margarets Spinning class.
During the day I’d swapped batteries as the cell voltage was low. Margaret’s also counting calories tonight.
The HRM has been erratic lately and it’s the failing battery on the cheststrap.
Tough class and after another good stretching session the number was 725 calories.
Shower and home.
Transporter 3 to watch on DVD.
Saturday:Work. Plotted tommorrows ride on BikeRouteToaster http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=40605 

Sunday: May format this at a later date.  Turn up at the parking for the event to see a grass track event underway.  In the Event the event  was over subscribed with over double last years entries.  There was an excellent spread at Overton (as usuall), the halfway distance.  With  150 riders on the roads in blocks of 10, with the slower riders  going off first you would think there you’d be problems. Due to the large entry the opposite was true.

I’d chatted with others at the start waiting for the sign on time with groups often going off at ten minute intervals. Someone had a tyre go down rapidly on the line probably due to the tube being pinched.
Just before we set off a guy in Astana Kit goes past on a Trek Madone this was a cue to set off in pursuit.
It’s a 2 mile drag up to the junction and I didn’t make any headway with him turning off somewhere before the Straight Mile Road. I felt a lot better going up Marford hill this time expecting the control to be at Borras Head. Due the numbers and congestion it  been moved to a layby further down the road.

The good news was parts of another group were in sight. I’d caught them up by Holt and the lights on the bridge had stopped the others. A green light was another cue to hare across the bridge to get a bit of momentum for the climb through Farndon. Holt and Farndon are a common section of the ride on the outward ride and the return.  If you let a satnav route you, you’d bypass all this and let it take you down the A534.

From now on it is a flat big ring ride, which it has been since Borras Head. Pass another puncture just after Crewe by Farndon, it can happen to anyone.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/2956729