A month into my new training plan and so far I have managed to complete a couple of turbo sessions and one 15 mile ride outside, so not really an ideal start.
I am a fair weather rider at the best of times and those of you who know how easily I fall off bikes will understand how the British weather over the last few weeks hasn't really assisted me in my training with frost snow and lots of rain all seeming ever present. I continue to run and do strength work so I'm not too worried about my overall fitness but my first ride out in the cold yesterday brought my lack of cycling fitness clearly into my thoughts.
After weeks of agonising I had made the decision not to buy a new bike and just change the gearing on my trust Trek 1.7. A couple of weeks ago, I visited the local bike shop to but the new rear cassette and left the proud new owner of a Trek Madone 4.9.Last Tuesday I went and picked the new bike up and have a bike fit. I brought her home and then instantly caught the lurgy and spent the next week coughing and hacking through my days. Yesterday I finally got to try the Madone out on the roads and despite being wrapped up like a Michelin Man to combat the subzero wind chill managed to get a pleasant 15 mile ride in. Sadly today I appear to have pulled my calf a bit so it looks like even more time off my feet.
All in all I was impressed with the new stead. The Carbon frame seems much more forgiving and flexes much more giving a smoother ride and the Di2 Electric gears, although a bit fiddly with big gloves on, were really efficient and smooth. I'd opted for a 11-32 rear cassette having seen other riders on the LEJOG climbing the steeper hills with relative ease so my ratios are a little different which will take a little getting used to but I'm sure I'll work them out in a few rides or so. I know the 32 rear chain ring gear makes a huge difference compared to a 28 and so I'm not too concerned about the big climbs now.
I've spent some time this month loading the route onto my Garmin and can had a look at the detail of the 12 days of cycling. The route looks well thought out and is very rural, as I would have expected from our organisers. The first section from London to Paris is relatively flat, it gets a bit hillier as we approach Geneva and then seriously hilly between Geneva and Nice. I've had a look on Google maps and some of the Alpine Stages look stunning so I'm really looking forward to those mountain rides.
Just to add a bit more spice to the year I have now committed to ride the Gran Fondo New Jersey USA in September. With a bit of luck Mr Lee and I will be reunited for a trip across the pond and to a brief but busy visit to Morristown where we will be hosted by my Tour Du Canada companion Bill. With 106 miles and over 9000ft of climbing it will be another worthy challenge and I'm sure the weekend will be great fun.
So the next month is all about building the mileage up on the bike whilst also trying to maintain my marathon training. I think the time might come this month depending on how long the dodgy calf keeps me off my feet when I have to decide if I will actually complete a marathon or not and use the time allocated to marathon training to cycle instead.
Onwards and Upwards!
