Three weeks. 3,000kms.

Lusk_Doyle

pprendeville wrote: »

You could try and get out for a few longer rides with someone else? Not sure of that's your style but it usually makes things that bit easier to get in longer distance.

It's not being alone and not having the will to do longer spins that is holding me back. It's just finding the time to do it what with work and what I have to do at home also.

I prefer to generally cycle alone as I can do my own thing and push when I want to and take it easy when I want to.

smacl

Fair play for making it over the Sally gap today at all, I had planned on heading out to Laragh after the boards spin, but turned off after the featherbeds to Glencree and found the wind over the featherbeds plenty tough. Not the day for it, better luck tomorrow.

Lusk_Doyle

smacl wrote: »

Fair play for making it over the Sally gap today at all, I had planned on heading out to Laragh after the boards spin, but turned off after the featherbeds to Glencree and found the wind over the featherbeds plenty tough. Not the day for it, better luck tomorrow.

The boards buff from a few years back helped. My whole body was freezing except for my ears and head under that! The funny thing was that I was belting past the WAR participants up and down the roads there today. I'm no great descender but it was like some of them were barely moving at all. That was the highlight of the day for me!

Raam

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Day thirteen.

Simply horrible. Wind all the way into me as far as Sutton. Wind all the way into me and across me up the Sally Gap. Sideways hail all the way into me down from the Sally Gap via Glenmacneas waterfall until near the bottom when it was just torential rain straight down. I had intended on getting up to the Shay Elliot to cheer the lads on but it was just too awful out there and I was really suffering from not having adequate clothes for the weather. Had to call for rescue from Laragh as I would never have made it back home and not gotten sick as a result.

I'm extremely disappointed with how it turned out today as I was looking for a 250kms + ride and the body felt great after the previous rest day. Oh well, nothing else for it only beer!

Morning ride: 98.8kms. Average speed: 24.2kms per hour.

Remaining to target: 1,796.3kms.

That makes it you and your sister-in-law who both had to be bailed out from deepest darkest Wicklow by the old man.

Lumen

Would it not make sense at this stage to get back on track to 100km/day and see how it goes? 2100km in three weeks is still a hell of distance given your lack of preparation.

Lusk_Doyle

Raam wrote: »

That makes it you and your sister-in-law who both had to be bailed out from deepest darkest Wicklow by the old man.

It wasn't the old man!

Lusk_Doyle

Lumen wrote: »

Would it not make sense at this stage to get back on track to 100km/day and see how it goes? 2100km in three weeks is still a hell of distance given your lack of preparation.

Probably but I've never been one to heed advice or wisdom from the village elders. Ask Raam. I know that I won't maks the 3,000. It's not physically possible and I've no intention of riding myself into the ground in order to get there. 3,000 was literally a number that I picked out of the air that tied in with 3 weeks and has a nice ring to it. The main thing was getting a nice base of mileage to be the platform from which I can:

A. Do the randonee next Saturday in good time.
B. Be set up for the club league which starts next week.
C. Have a good base for my visit to Italy in July.
D. Target a result in an open race mid summer.

I'll just keep spinning away and see what I get done in the allotted time.

Raam

I think that you should be more headstrong with your refusal to take advice from others.

Lusk_Doyle

Raam wrote: »

I think that you should be more headstrong with your refusal to take advice from others.

OK!

detones

You think about doing the Giro Stage 3 with the lads from the club tomorrow? Would help you chip a nice chunk out of the distance and with some company. Say you b*ll*xed after that effort today though.

Lusk_Doyle

detones wrote: »

You think about doing the Giro Stage 3 with the lads from the club tomorrow? Would help you chip a nice chunk out of the distance and with some company. Say you b*ll*xed after that effort today though.

The body is fine actually. I was just freezing cold and like a drowned rat at the time. I was small ringing it most of the way so not too much effort on the legs.

The timing doesn't suit me tomorrow as my mammy wants to feed me so I'll head out on my own early enough, away from Wicklow!

detones

Your flying anyway and considering the base you came from its mighty impressive. I've been cycling all through the winter and your already out performing me in 2 short weeks! This threads been a depressing read ;-)

Lusk_Doyle

Got my photo taken by the WAR crew while out today!

http://actionphotography.ie/image/5696/44545/

kennyb3

You look miserable for sure!

Lusk_Doyle

kennyb3 wrote: »

You look miserable for sure!

I smiled for the next shot!

doozerie

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Got my photo taken by the WAR crew while out today!

http://actionphotography.ie/image/5696/44545/

So this thread was just a ruse to break the news that you have become a triathlete? Shocking!

Though I guess we should be thankful that the weather conditions meant the photo didn't capture you riding your bike in triathlon-approved speedos and man bra. From that point there is no return, you can still save yourself if you repent now, perhaps.

Lusk_Doyle

I wasn't taking part in the event. I swears it!

Lusk_Doyle

Day fourteen.

Seeing the wind this morning when I woke up just reminded me too much of the experience of yesterday. I went back to bed instead.

Worked in the garden, had dinner, then watched the end of LBL and finally decided to go out and do something on the bike. I had earlier gotten into my bibs and socks but then didn't have the heart to go on so actually getting myself out the door today was an achievement in itself!

Evening ride: 37.8kms. Average speed: 30.9kms per hour.

Data: http://www.strava.com/activities/134839568

Remaining to target: 1,758.5kms.

I used this one to work on my pedaling technique, focusing on the pull through and not just the downward stroke. I had cycled last Wednesday with a club mate and we were discussing that aspect of the pedal stroke and making it more complete. A great little workout with a specific purpose, distance aside.

Scored a Strava 9th, 4th and two 3rds overall too which was nice! Just you wait until I get the TT bike in operation Beasty and then your illegally gotten gains are mine (just before the Giro comes to town and too soon for you to do anything about it!!!)

Lusk_Doyle

Day fifteen.

No morning ride.

Evening ride: 77.8kms. Average speed 27kms per hour.

Data: http://www.strava.com/activities/135187400

PRs are coming thick and fast now and my speed is coming back quickly also. The back wheel was a bit soft today so it felt hard at times with that to get around.

Remaining to target: 1,680.7kms. I don't know why I'm even putting that last bit of info in anymore. Maybe I should change it to distance to date!

Edit: Completed to date: 1,319.3kms.

Lusk_Doyle

Day sixteen.

Evening ride: 69.4kms. Average speed 28.2kms per hour.

Data: http://www.strava.com/activities/135568611

Completed to date: 1,399.7kms.

I've really nothing more to say about this as the fun has gone out of it since the drowning session in Wicklow on Saturday. A challenge like this, regardless of the distance, is difficult to stay motivated at each end of the day in order to get up and out!

Raam

I reckon you could make 2,000km by the end of it if you wanted to.

Lusk_Doyle

Raam wrote: »

I reckon you could make 2,000km by the end of it if you wanted to.

Orwell Randonee is on Saturday. If I ride out to it and back then that will add a further 220kms, maybe slightly more. Tomorrow and Thursday, I'll aim for 100kms each day. Friday morning is available for maybe 50kms but the evening is out as the wife is back that day. That still leaves a bit more to reach 2,000 unfortunately!

thebouldwhacker

Well done, a good spin.

kennyb3

I'd pack it in tbh - you're saying you don't have the motivation and aren't enjoying it. Take a few days off, let the body absorb the training and by saturday's event you'll want to get on the bike again. It's meant to be enjoyable not another daily chore.

Lumen

kennyb3 wrote: »

I'd pack it in tbh - you're saying you don't have the motivation and aren't enjoying it. Take a few days off, let the body absorb the training and by saturday's event you'll want to get on the bike again. It's meant to be enjoyable not another daily chore.

That's loser talk.

kennyb3

Lumen wrote: »

That's loser talk.

He's already lost

thebouldwhacker

Nothing is lost. Sure the planning and goal setting could have been better but the only point which isn't positive is that an abstract amount of cycling which was to be compleated in an abstract amount of time may not be achieved. However the learning, training, sence of confidence, saddle time, distance covered, fitness gained, expertise earned, self knowledge gained etc etc show that this was and remains to be a very worthwhile project which will give him a large amount of benefit.
See it through to the end and these benefits will multiply, quit now and the true end and satisfaction of pushing through to the finish line regardless of obstacles will never be met.

Lusk_Doyle

kennyb3 wrote: »

He's already lost

I'm not lost. I know exactly where I am.

Lusk_Doyle

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

Nothing is lost. Sure the planning and goal setting could have been better but the only point which isn't positive is that an abstract amount of cycling which was to be compleated in an abstract amount of time may not be achieved. However the learning, training, sence of confidence, saddle time, distance covered, fitness gained, expertise earned, self knowledge gained etc etc show that this was and remains to be a very worthwhile project which will give him a large amount of benefit.
See it through to the end and these benefits will multiply, quit now and the true end and satisfaction of pushing through to the finish line regardless of obstacles will never be met.

+1 on this. I have had a level of success. It might not be the traditional "success" that the masses understand with strict regard to the OP.

Ever hear about TEFCAS, Kennyb3?

kennyb3

I think you know I didn't mean you failed - you set a highly unrealistic target given work etc. The lost bit was responding to a specific post. I get the idea behind it - to get back into form, which it seems you have.

As i said with my prior post, just do what's best going forward don't become a slave to this log ( I use to keep a log on the athletics forum and I use to find myself running for the sake of it just to log km's). If you aren't enjoying it, which based on your post your not, have a couple of days off and wait for the urge to get out to come back.

Lusk_Doyle

kennyb3 wrote: »

I think you know I didn't mean you failed - you set a highly unrealistic target given work etc. The lost bit was responding to a specific post. I get the idea behind it - to get back into form, which it seems you have.

As i said with my prior post, just do what's best going forward don't become a slave to this log ( I use to keep a log on the athletics forum and I use to find myself running for the sake of it just to log km's). If you aren't enjoying it, which based on your post your not, have a couple of days off and wait for the urge to get out to come back.

I took this morning off. I have the urge again!

thebouldwhacker

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

I took this morning off. I have the urge again!

Jez get a room you two!

Lusk_Doyle

Day seventeen.

Club league race 1 this evening. I was on marshal duty so I rode over, did a recce of the course, marshaled and then rode home.

Evening ride: 61.3kms. Average speed: 29.8kms per hour.

Data: http://www.strava.com/activities/135928759

Completed to date: 1,461kms.

Lusk_Doyle

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

Jez get a room you two!

The last person who did that with him ended up having twins! No thanks!

Bloggsie

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

The past nine months has seen very little cycling for me. We had a baby and I've started a new business. Until a couple of weeks ago, I had probably cycled my bike four times since the baby was born at the end of August. Anyway, the wife and son have headed off to Poland for three weeks so I've set myself the above target.

Yesterday was the first day.

Morning ride: 31.1kms. Average speed 25.3kms/per hour.

Data: http://www.strava.com/activities/130138395

Evening ride: 73.6kms. Average speed 25.2kms per hour.

Data: http://www.strava.com/activities/130300397

Daily total: 104.7kms.
Remaining to target: 2895.3kms.

It hurts.

morning, your nucking futs totally & utterly nucking futs, but there is a part of me that wants to applaud what you are doing. When I go out I follow the mantra, go as hard as you can for as long as you can! I try to ensure that Im well fed & watered before I go & I bring some gel's & some cash in case I feel the knock coming.

happy trails.

Lusk_Doyle

Bloggsie wrote: »

morning, your nucking futs totally & utterly nucking futs, but there is a part of me that wants to applaud what you are doing. When I go out I follow the mantra, go as hard as you can for as long as you can! I try to ensure that Im well fed & watered before I go & I bring some gel's & some cash in case I feel the knock coming.

happy trails.

Thanks! Unfortunately, the target was not reachable but I still got a lot of good kms in and some resemblance of my former self on the bike has surfaced!

I usually do the same as hard as you can for as long as you can but that wasn't possible due to my lack of conditioning.

Unknown Soldier

Interesting read. Thanks!

Do the best you can and enjoy it.

Lusk_Doyle

Epic fail on my part. After the pounding I got from the weather in Wicklow last Saturday my heart just wasn't in it anymore. Too busy with work and other things to get mega distance during the second and third week tied with stiff legs from the first week all conspired against me.

The wife came home on Friday with the baby who has had an amazing amount of development while away so I skipped the Orwell Randonee to spend time with them instead.

At least I'm in much better shape than I was before I started the challenge. TT wheels have arrived so I'll try the bike out next week and hopefully do it justice and be used to it and able to do a sub one hour 40k by the time it rolls around in the club league.

Pacing Mule

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Epic fail on my part. After the pounding I got from the weather in Wicklow last Saturday my heart just wasn't in it anymore. Too busy with work and other things to get mega distance during the second and third week tied with stiff legs from the first week all conspired against me.

The wife came home on Friday with the baby who has had an amazing amount of development while away so I skipped the Orwell Randonee to spend time with them instead.

At least I'm in much better shape than I was before I started the challenge. TT wheels have arrived so I'll try the bike out next week and hopefully do it justice and be used to it and able to do a sub one hour 40k by the time it rolls around in the club league.

Bull****. Plain and simple bull****.

I'm not even into cycling. Do a small bit as a cross train. Yet I have been following this since it popped up on the main page.

The amount you put into the last 3 weeks was savage. Yeah 3k was in hindsight an over reach but if you had started the log with a target of what you actually did you would be rightfully respected and applauded.

Congrats on everything. Enjoy the time with the baby. It's precious time.

thebouldwhacker

So finish with the stats, what did you get done, climbing too.
Well done and enjoy the family time!

Lusk_Doyle

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

So finish with the stats, what did you get done, climbing too.
Well done and enjoy the family time!

The snooker is on! I'll close it off tomorrow.

Lusk_Doyle

Here are the final stats:

Total distance covered: 1,450.1kms.
Total meters climbed: 13,604m.
Total time: 55 hrs 31 mins.
Number of rides: 21.

Before I started this I had only cycled a total of 261.5kms since the beginning of December so I am not surprised that the distance fell away after the effort of the first week. I note that the thighs are still tight when I move in a certain way (sitting on the ground with my legs under me almost kneeling but legs bent double under my bum).

Hopefully, I now have a nice base from which to build to the rest of the season, which includes 4,100m of climbing in Italy in July over 140kms and the club league and an open race or two. In particular, I'd like to have a bash at the Wexford two day event with the club.

Thanks for reading and for the comments!

thebouldwhacker

That's pretty impressive, basically you did a Mille Failte 1200 and then some.
You did really well, esp when you knew you wouldnt reach the target, there are no levels of surrenderer, you either surrender or you don't, and you didn't. I hope this pays dividends for a long time to come.
Chapeau!

doozerie

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Here are the final stats:

Total distance covered: 1,450.1kms.
Total meters climbed: 13,604m.

You've severely undermined my faith in thread titles. Whatever next, they *do* even pay road tax, Joe? Outrageous!

My outrage is fickle though, it's secretly impressed that you managed to average almost 500km per week, and with an impressive total for metres climbed thrown in too - fair play!

Lusk_Doyle

doozerie wrote: »

You've severely undermined my faith in thread titles. Whatever next, they *do* even pay road tax, Joe? Outrageous!

Back to your mild musings thread with you!

Lumen

Your original goal was akin to doing a Grand Tour with no training.

I'm impressed that you're not permanently disabled by the attempt.

Bloggsie

Fair play to you, you nut. I am shaking my head in awe at your stats. A fantastic effort. Your my kind of crazy, I wish I could give that much time to the bike. Best of luck next time!!

Lusk_Doyle

Right. It's that time of year again. The missus is away for two weeks from yesterday. I've a head cold that I need to shift before I can get out on the bike again but the improvement from last night to this morning is promising. I might be able to get out tomorrow hopefully.

The thing is, what challenge will I set myself this time around? Any suggestions are welcome.

Buzwaldo

Try covering 1549.9km (see where I got that from??)

Edit - do not attempt this - too much for two weeks. Head out for some enjoyable spins, mix up short and long, try some new routes.
Target is to enjoy.

Raam

This years challenge is to find a challenge that you can actually complete.