Of course, from 08:45; I'm not Christian, I'm single, but more importantly, the roads are all-but empty & I have 2x Strava Challenges still underway; 354Km still to do in the next 6 days for the Rapha Festive 500.
Very dastardly training indeed, Cap'n. But not like a pirate to go out when there's grog to be drunk. Grog also gives a warm glow. Can't believe any of the regular crew would have been out on secret training today. Are you out tomorrow? I won't make the 9am ride, but can get out later once the relatives leave. Brother in law is cycling home from Hitchin to Reading, puts me to shame. Text or whisper me if you can make some festive dastardly training.
My turn for some dastardly Christmas training today.
Having been consigned to base for the last week, due to work and 'family' days (i.e. go cycling and I'll kill you!), the Flying Dutchwoman finally relented today, having seen it was freezing cold, pouring with rain and blowing a gale. A definite glint in her eye as she saw me out the door....
Nevertheless all character building stuff:
Rule 9/ If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a bada*s. Period. Fair-weather riding is a luxury reserved for Sunday afternoons and wide boulevards. Those who ride in foul weather be it cold, wet, or inordinately hot are members of a special club of riders who, on the morning of a big ride, pull back the curtain to check the weather and, upon seeing rain falling from the skies, allow a wry smile to spread across their face. This is a rider who loves the work.
I think the wry smile was more on the Dutchwoman's face, as she told me she would be thinking of me while she was in a warm gym, heated swimming pool and sauna..
Anyhow, almost a couple of hours out and soon warmed up after the sleet relented. Strangely, I didn't see a single cyclist out during my ride...wonder why?!
More dastardly festive training today. Should have worked off some of the grog....
Out on the Cotic orange cyclocross tractor for 22 miles @ a steady 15mph.
The only icy patches were in Ashwell itself and on the Malton-Orwell road.
Lovely conditions, with afternoon sun and a very light westerly breeze. Seemed a bit warmer than late, temperature even rose according to the Garmin, when the clouds rolled in later on.
More again tomorrow, hopefully...eyes on the Race to the Sun in September!
Another day of sneaky, dastardly festive training, just to keep the momentum going!
At last managed to get off the Cotic cyclocross tractor and revert to the trusty Condor Fratello. What a difference!
Shorter, higher intensity effort along the Hitchin to Welwyn B road, initially returning on the Kimpton Road, but had to scratch that as it was still covered in deep ice, making for some very alarming moments! Discretion the better part of valour, I turned off to the B road at Codicote for more intervals. Be careful if you're heading south along those lanes!
Comments
Fancied it, but overruled by the Flying Dutchwoman!
Saw 2 out on bikes and 5 joggers on our 8am dog walk around the Letchworth Greenway...
....Returned home to open plenty of cycling related prezzies from Santa...just need to test them out now!
FD
It's enough to give a warm glow to a pirate
I feel even fatter now :-)
Bring on the new year
Merry Christmas
Very dastardly training indeed, Cap'n.
But not like a pirate to go out when there's grog to be drunk. Grog also gives a warm glow.
Can't believe any of the regular crew would have been out on secret training today.
Are you out tomorrow? I won't make the 9am ride, but can get out later once the relatives leave.
Brother in law is cycling home from Hitchin to Reading, puts me to shame.
Text or whisper me if you can make some festive dastardly training.
FD
My turn for some dastardly Christmas training today.
Having been consigned to base for the last week, due to work and 'family' days (i.e. go cycling and I'll kill you!), the Flying Dutchwoman finally relented today, having seen it was freezing cold, pouring with rain and blowing a gale. A definite glint in her eye as she saw me out the door....
Nevertheless all character building stuff:
Rule 9/ If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a bada*s. Period. Fair-weather riding is a luxury reserved for Sunday afternoons and wide boulevards. Those who ride in foul weather be it cold, wet, or inordinately hot are members of a special club of riders who, on the morning of a big ride, pull back the curtain to check the weather and, upon seeing rain falling from the skies, allow a wry smile to spread across their face. This is a rider who loves the work.
I think the wry smile was more on the Dutchwoman's face, as she told me she would be thinking of me while she was in a warm gym, heated swimming pool and sauna..
Anyhow, almost a couple of hours out and soon warmed up after the sleet relented. Strangely, I didn't see a single cyclist out during my ride...wonder why?!
FD
Admire the courage
I am on a round of eating and drinking too much
Short walks best I am doing
Not good
Injury still limiting
Patience running out
Hope to catch up soon
CP
Been desperate to get out for a ride...It would have taken snowdrifts to stop me!
Hope the ribs are on the mend....in the meantime keep eating and drinking...give everyone else a tilt at the green jersey for 2015!
'You've Lost That Sprinting Feelin'
The Righteous Dutchman
More dastardly festive training today. Should have worked off some of the grog....
Out on the Cotic orange cyclocross tractor for 22 miles @ a steady 15mph.
The only icy patches were in Ashwell itself and on the Malton-Orwell road.
Lovely conditions, with afternoon sun and a very light westerly breeze. Seemed a bit warmer than late, temperature even rose according to the Garmin, when the clouds rolled in later on.
More again tomorrow, hopefully...eyes on the Race to the Sun in September!
Figgy Pudding Dutchman
Another day of sneaky, dastardly festive training, just to keep the momentum going!
At last managed to get off the Cotic cyclocross tractor and revert to the trusty Condor Fratello. What a difference!
Shorter, higher intensity effort along the Hitchin to Welwyn B road, initially returning on the Kimpton Road, but had to scratch that as it was still covered in deep ice, making for some very alarming moments! Discretion the better part of valour, I turned off to the B road at Codicote for more intervals. Be careful if you're heading south along those lanes!
Torvill & Dutchman
Ready for the gulag now
Great uncle Bulgaria
CP
My time off the bike has involved interval training with various 'ice & tonic' drinks.
In other words, a truly balanced approach to cycling.....the 2 don't go well at the same time though!
Enjoy the gulag cabbage and so hello to Solzhenitsyn for us.
See you in 2035!
FD