2nd Joint Training Ride

Well we've both been occasionally sneaking off on our own rides over the last few days, so it was time we had another buddy-ride.  So, at Joe's suggestion (and a good one it was too) we met up at the station at 08:30 and bought tickets to Keith.  One of us of course, not benefitting from the perks of maturity, had to stump up 50% more for the privilege!  The day was a pretty cool one, with heavy cloud but no rain forecast.  We arrived in Keith (as the rain stopped) and set off around 09:35 for what turned out to be a superb ride.  It was taken dead steady; no heroics; no pushing the pace; just pedalling at a comfortable 'all-day' effort and we covered the 54.5 mile back to home at an average speed of 12.4mph.  The climb up from Dufftown towards Cabrach was hardly noticed (bletherin' too much) and the run down to Lumsden was stunning.  Thence to home via Bridge of Alford and Lord's Throat. 

Snack break at Bridge of Alford

Legs were brand new on return, so we clearly got the pace just right.  All helped by the near total, and uncharacteristic absence of wind!

Cross-Training?

Well, Joe has disappeared off to the land of the Norseman for a week to play in the snow on a cross-country ski tour, and the snow has returned to Inverurie.  Well, only a dusting this morning, but it is cold, and it is very windy.  Before he left he sneaked in a 66 mile ride from just past Aberlour, over the Lecht (!) to home, covered at an average of 12.3 mph in pretty strong winds.  What a show-off!  To be fair he did invite me, but Anne and I were hillwalking that day (Clachnaben; 10 km) so couldn't make it.

Feared of falling behind, I have done a 26 mile local loop then a longer 55 mile run out to Glenkindie and back in the last few days.  This was followed by another 8 km hillwalk up an astonishingly windy Ben Rinnes just to keep the legs working.

Just to prove we're not slacking when off the bikes, here's the evidence so far: (waiting on Joe's return for his pic ... April update : Joe's documentary evidence that he wasn't just over in Norway supping Aquavit has now arrived and is displayed for your entertainment)

Lunch stop, Ben Rinnes summit, 841m

Is this what they call a nursery slope? It'll be hillier in Devon!

First Training Ride Together for 2011

So, after stealing away individually over the last few weeks to do our little bits of training on the sly, Sunday 27th dawned bright and breezy and Joe shamed me into doing a decent ride together. This made a pleasant change from watching Michael Palin from my turbo-trainer in the shed.  The winter has been pretty miserable and icy up until a couple of weeks ago so it was great to get some miles in on dry roads in the sun.  


We did the Suie Hill loop, a fantastic ride of just over 40 miles through some of Grampian's finest scenery and taking in some good climbs including, unsurprisingly, Suie Hill.  Virtually all the climbing was on the outward leg which, as luck would have it, was into a 16mph north-westerly head-wind.  we consoled ourselves with the thought that this increased the value of the training ... and with the fact that we absolutely flew along on the homeward leg!


Joe was practising his 'eating on the bike', a habit that I'll really have to try and break or I'm either going to starve or choke!  We completed the ride in around 3 hrs 20 mins at an average of 12.2mph which, I have to stress, is faster than we will target come the trip.  10mph sounds good, and also keeps the maths easy!

Joe 

Phil

I'm sure that Joe thinks my age advantage will challenge him on the hills, but I don't think he yet realises how hard I was toiling to match pace on the flat.  It just goes to illustrate the advantages of a body honed to perfection by a lifetime of club cycling, running and nordic skiing, compared with my scantily muscled, johnny-come-lately frame.


Happily, the slow puncture I picked up towards the end lasted the final 5 miles home.  A great run but, my, was it ever cold!