Tis a long road...

biomed32

I'll start off by saying I'm not a complete newbie to cycling but have not been cycling for the last two years or so for a number of reasons, one being too pre-occupied with doing a masters. Considering I now have a bike, I have no excuse not to get out at the weekend and the eventual plan is to commute from Blanchardstown to Leopardstown industrial park to work once I work out a good route and get some Km's in the legs.

The bike is going to be one of three elements that I plan on using to improve my level of fitness and loose some weight. At present I swim 2-8km a week depending on work and I have begun to do some rock climbing every second weekend which is a combination of wall climbing and bouldering.

Beyond the short term goals of getting fitter and leaner, the longer term goals for the bike will be:
- A build up to the Maynooth Students for charity: The Galway Cycle, an organisation I have been heavily involved in for the last 5 years but unable to cycle the journey through illness, injury and other commitments getting in the way of training.
- Commute to work, a round trip of some 42km a day starting off cycling once or twice a week and building if only to save some money, the 4hr a day and 50 euro a week at present is ridiculous.

First cycle was down to the Phoenix park, if only to get acquainted with the bike and literally how to use a bike properly again in terms of roads, cleats, brakes and most important, gears. Total cycle was roughly 25km.

I am hoping this log will both encourage and help me keep track of my progress and hopefully entertain/help some people here

biomed32

Two 30km cycles over the weekend with an average speed of 19 km/ph. A starting point to which most of the time was spent getting used to a bike again and getting used to the pedals and gaining more confidence on the road.
I have decided to add another long term goal to the list and that would be to do a triathlon next summer and perhaps a duathlon or two, basically a year from now which should give me plenty of time to reach a level of fitness.

biomed32

So its been a couple weeks but I haven't been up to nothing
I was down in Sligo and went onto Bundoran two weeks back, no bike with me but made use of the beach to do some jogging at sunset


Last weekend I went rock climbing and bouldering for around 5 hours. I had a slip-up on the wall and banged my left knee pretty bad, I continued on and proceeded to strain my ankle bouldering so was in no state on Sunday to go cycling.

Today I was out on the bike and did 35km at an average speed of 20k/ph which is steady enough. I went to my usual haunt that is the Phoenix park, plenty of cycling around there. Did a loop of the whole outside of the park and went on through the park and down the keys with the intention of mapping out a route to work. I got through the Quays fine, O'Connell bridge was hairy, bit more road cycling to be done yet before I attempt a commute I think!

Haven't done much swimming in the last three weeks as I have very long hours in work but managed to squeeze in 6km's. A couple friends are heading to the 40ft on Monday so going to join them after work, I miss the open water!

biomed32

So, I have taken a month off the bike in order to recover. The leg and hip just got worse but everything seems to be back in order now.
I have started going out on saturdays and sundays on the bike doing anywhere etween 40 and 50 km just to get the km's in the legs. I plan on gradually increasing over the next few months.
I have joined a gym and am working on cardiovascular fitness and core strenght during the week.
I have signed up to do the great Irish Fjord 2km distance swim in october so its something to aim for and something I am looking forward to and hope to raise some money for the Childrens Medical Research Fund (CMRF). Unless told not to, Ill post a link to my fundraising page on this training log if anyone would like to spare a euro or two.
I have lost about 3/4's of a stone in weight so far over the last month through altering my diet and exercising and am guessing this will translate to general fitness on cycles.
I would finally like to say that last night the Maynooth Students for Charity: The Galway Cycle handed over a cheque to the Jack and Jill Foundation, the charity chosen for 2013. The final total, and its still sinking in, came to €151,007 an amazing achievement and something I am immensely proud to have been a part of yet again.

fixie fox

biomed32 wrote: »

So, I have taken a month off the bike in order to recover. The leg and hip just got worse but everything seems to be back in order now.
I have started going out on saturdays and sundays on the bike doing anywhere etween 40 and 50 km just to get the km's in the legs. I plan on gradually increasing over the next few months.
I have joined a gym and am working on cardiovascular fitness and core strenght during the week.
I have signed up to do the great Irish Fjord 2km distance swim in october so its something to aim for and something I am looking forward to and hope to raise some money for the Childrens Medical Research Fund (CMRF). Unless told not to, Ill post a link to my fundraising page on this training log if anyone would like to spare a euro or two.
I have lost about 3/4's of a stone in weight so far over the last month through altering my diet and exercising and am guessing this will translate to general fitness on cycles.
I would finally like to say that last night the Maynooth Students for Charity: The Galway Cycle handed over a cheque to the Jack and Jill Foundation, the charity chosen for 2013. The final total, and its still sinking in, came to €151,007 an amazing achievement and something I am immensely proud to have been a part of yet again.

That's an impressive amount of dosh - well done!