April already......

Uh Oh,

Had a couple of weeks with no training (not even Turbo)

Then last weekend we were back on Anglesey, I managed 25 miles on Thursday (it was a long weekend for Easter)
I only planned on doing 8 miles to the racetrack and back as it was very windy, but the road got the better of me and I pushed on for 25. I was using my handlebar phone mount for the first time which was great, I was able to use my phone Strava app to find some back roads and keep out of the wind for some of the ride.

My phone is a Sony Xperia M4 so it's waterproof which makes it ideal for handlebar mounts as I don't mind if it starts to rain (although I have found that big raindrops act like a finger press and make the phone do things I don't want it too)

I've also noticed that the clamps to hold the phone in place press on the volume buttons on the side of the handset which is very annoying.

After that the best weather of the weekend was on Friday, I managed 45 miles on the Island, the first 15 of which were from the caravan site to the top of Parys Mountain, I managed it in 1 hour 5 mins which is brilliant, It was only after I'd gone down the otherside of the mountain to Amlwch and turned right towards Benllech that I realised my rapid assent had been aided by the following wind.
this was now causing me a nightmare and I had to peddle down several very steep gradients as the wind was enough to make me stop if I had a rest.......

The ride past the Pilot boat was mad worse by a few groups of people enjoying an early afternoon pint whilst I struggled up the hill past the pub!

And this was followed by 1/4 mile of 14% uphill, This was a killer, I don't think I've ever cycled up a hill like it (other then out of Stanhope 2 years ago, where I walked the whole way) I had to stop twice, but each time I got back on the bike and struggled on. I'm happy to say I didn't walk a step the whole 45 miles.

This was followed by a few days of terrible weather, where I didn't bother with the bike, Hurricane Katie was knocking on our door and I figured it was much too dangerous to be on a pushbike in 50+Mph winds.

That was it until yesterday (Saturday 2nd April) where we stayed at home and the usual group of riders (Andrea, Cath, Sharon and I) planned to go out at 9:30 this was called off at about 8:45 as it was raining, but as I was already out of bed and dressed in my cycling gear I decided a bit of water wasn't going to stop me.
I hit the road without any real idea of where to go, but decided to go where the road took me.
I ended up doing 30 miles, through Eccles, Irlam, Cadishead, Black Swan, Glazebrook, Culcheth, East Lancs to Langworthy Road (where my favourite chippy is, (It was closed :-( ) ) them back home through Trafford park. 30 miles, 2 1/2 hours very happy :-)

Today the group decided that the weather was good enough to go for a ride, So at 9:20 I set off for Caths (even though we were meant to be setting off from my street)
I met Cath and we made our way back to mine where we met Andrea.
Same as yesterday we had no real plan our route other than it would probably involve Lymm.

We followed a few quiet country lanes (apparently we went past Manchester Uniteds training ground) then a few very muddy tracks (trans pennine way?) and ended up on the far side of Lymm. After a quick back track into Lymm centre for a drink and a photo Andrea set off (as she didn't want us to watch her struggling up the hill over the canal (It's a very steep canal bridge, I think most people have fallen off their bike there at some point, (I have))) she was followed by Cath as I had another cereal bar and I followed a minute later.

We all met up again about a mile or so down the road and headed over Warburton bridge to the Black Swan. At this point Andrea and Cath decided they were going to head home, A total trip of 23.5 miles  for them, which is brilliant as they are both riding simply for fun. I decided I needed a bit more though and carried on through Glazebury (where I snapped a spoke :-( ) then through Culcheth and up through Lowton town (which is in Wigan, Random!!) then onto the east lancs and along the east lancs to Walkden and home through Worsley and Barton Swing bridge, past the trafford centre. total distance 37 miles.

I'm happy with that, but not happy with how sore I am after 2 days on the bike, I need to toughen up more, I have also started to suffer from fatigue which is not good, I have managed to stop myself from riding at approx 10 miles and have a drink and a cereal bar, but this is not enough as I'm getting tired after 30 miles, I'm going to try adding sugary snacks to my routine as well, I think a pocket full of gummy bears might help keep my sugar levels up as I ride, If that doesn't work I'll have to try the Energy Gel pouches everyone else seems to use.

Now that I've had one semi major failure on my bike (snapped spoke) I'm contemplating taking my hybrid as well for LEJOG, I don't like riding it as it's not as comfortable as my Cyclocross, but If I have a stand by bike, My support can be getting mine fixed whilst I continue riding then I can swap back when he catches me up.
Not sure If I'll bother with that but it has at least crossed my mind.

Need to get my spoke fixed this week, Cant decide between just getting the broken one replaced or replacing them all with aero light weight spokes? (I can replace spokes and build wheels myself, I worked for Halfords many years ago and did a few back then)

Until next time...
Axe.