It was with the greatest intention, Bigman set out on his daily journey west confident in his intention to return full of 'beans' and ready to take on another mighty distance in aid of hitting peak performance on the Caledonian Etape.
It all went downhill from that point.
A late meeting call for 17:30 in Glasgow and the plan was dead.
Any hope of resurrecting died whilst sitting on the 18:45 train back to Auld Reekie to be told the train had a technical fault and could we all get off.
Returning home for 20:20 with the sun disappearing, so had the passion for an outing.
Maybe tomorrow!
Additional kilometres to circumvention zero
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Banishing the Monday blues............ on a Tuesday
As I travelled home last night there were loads of folks out exercising. I toyed with the idea of climbing on my bike however the sofa won ................... and anyway I had loads of chores to do.
Tonight would be different. Come hail, rain , snow or sleet, I would be on my bike 'gunning the garmin'.
Tonight the Aberdour Beastie was the target and would be a benchmark of fitness compared to the peak last year when the Beastie was tamed in sub 4 minutes. The wind was fresh and out of the south west which means more than 50% will be into the wind.
Dressed for a 'summer hosing' the legs felt strong as I climbed the 7% gradient that is Garvock Hill. A good one to wind up the heart rate. It blasted through 150bpm within the first couple of hundred yards. The voices were screaming ' you must be joking'. And then a rest as I zoomed down the other side heading for the wilds of Tough and out into the Fife wilderness. The pace was good and compared to the same period last year, the metrics were looking good.
As I climbed to the Burntisland roundabout the legs could give more but this was only Tuesday and I did not want to push too hard.
In no time the Aberdour Beastie was upon me. 300 ft of climb in less than a mile, on an 11% gradient (this Garmin is brilliant). The heart rate was at a blood vessel bursting rate of 177 bpm (Max recommended for a man of my age is 170 bpm but dont tell the missus, all insurances are paid up!)
The target had been to match the sub four minute climb and the result was .....................X mins, yy seconds. It is not that I am competitive however the Etape is just over two weeks away and some things are best left unsaid.
On return to Dunfie the overall stats were very pleasing for the outing with a couple of weeks to improve. Now it is time for food. Another 27km nearer circumvention of the globe!
PS Mark Beaumont is on the same starting grid as The Ironman at the Etape. Bigman shares the start line with Emma Carrick Anderson, the downhill skier, and Santiago, hero of the Paris Marathon.
Bigman
Tonight would be different. Come hail, rain , snow or sleet, I would be on my bike 'gunning the garmin'.
Tonight the Aberdour Beastie was the target and would be a benchmark of fitness compared to the peak last year when the Beastie was tamed in sub 4 minutes. The wind was fresh and out of the south west which means more than 50% will be into the wind.
Dressed for a 'summer hosing' the legs felt strong as I climbed the 7% gradient that is Garvock Hill. A good one to wind up the heart rate. It blasted through 150bpm within the first couple of hundred yards. The voices were screaming ' you must be joking'. And then a rest as I zoomed down the other side heading for the wilds of Tough and out into the Fife wilderness. The pace was good and compared to the same period last year, the metrics were looking good.
As I climbed to the Burntisland roundabout the legs could give more but this was only Tuesday and I did not want to push too hard.
In no time the Aberdour Beastie was upon me. 300 ft of climb in less than a mile, on an 11% gradient (this Garmin is brilliant). The heart rate was at a blood vessel bursting rate of 177 bpm (Max recommended for a man of my age is 170 bpm but dont tell the missus, all insurances are paid up!)
The target had been to match the sub four minute climb and the result was .....................X mins, yy seconds. It is not that I am competitive however the Etape is just over two weeks away and some things are best left unsaid.
On return to Dunfie the overall stats were very pleasing for the outing with a couple of weeks to improve. Now it is time for food. Another 27km nearer circumvention of the globe!
PS Mark Beaumont is on the same starting grid as The Ironman at the Etape. Bigman shares the start line with Emma Carrick Anderson, the downhill skier, and Santiago, hero of the Paris Marathon.
Bigman
Monday, April 26, 2010
........... and then the sun came out.
Sunday started with the garden getting a good hosing and the likelihood of getting a run today looking less likely than the Fit One winning a bus museum sprint!
And then the sun broke through and everything looked possible.
With no time to gather a posse, I headed out to conquer Col du Cleish and return by Mont Veknockhill. The Garmin was going to feed me all my data to sare with budding bloggers. Did you know the Townhill road has a gradient of 11% almost as steep as the mighty Ventoux. In future, I will pay more respect as I scoot up the 'brae'.
It is only beaten on today's run by Col du Cleish that matches Ventoux with a gut wrenching 12% as you crest the summit..Lance eat your heart out.
The pace along to the Powmill milkbar was a steady 19.9 mph into a feisty wee wind. And then the weather opted for a dose of precipitation as I climbed back over Mont Veknockhill.
As I had discarded much of Saturday's excesses, down to cycling shorts, ( wed did not get into shorts until June last year), it was a tad chilly.
After returning to Dunfie, another 41k was in the bag at an average speed of 27kph.
I will need to pick up the pace for the Caledonian Etape.
The start times have been published and I am delighted to got into the first hundred (out of 4500) to get away. It is going to be busy in the chasing pack!
And then the sun broke through and everything looked possible.
With no time to gather a posse, I headed out to conquer Col du Cleish and return by Mont Veknockhill. The Garmin was going to feed me all my data to sare with budding bloggers. Did you know the Townhill road has a gradient of 11% almost as steep as the mighty Ventoux. In future, I will pay more respect as I scoot up the 'brae'.
It is only beaten on today's run by Col du Cleish that matches Ventoux with a gut wrenching 12% as you crest the summit..Lance eat your heart out.
The pace along to the Powmill milkbar was a steady 19.9 mph into a feisty wee wind. And then the weather opted for a dose of precipitation as I climbed back over Mont Veknockhill.
As I had discarded much of Saturday's excesses, down to cycling shorts, ( wed did not get into shorts until June last year), it was a tad chilly.
After returning to Dunfie, another 41k was in the bag at an average speed of 27kph.
I will need to pick up the pace for the Caledonian Etape.
The start times have been published and I am delighted to got into the first hundred (out of 4500) to get away. It is going to be busy in the chasing pack!
Bigman back blogging
It has been a week since the end of my travels from South Africa to the French Alps and now back to work with a bang!
The Caledonian Etape is just around the corner, three weeks, and more miles need to be put on the road bike clock.
Fear not, complete with a Garmin to record distances ( excluding economic metrics) gradients , heart rates, and a whole range of stats guaranteed to excite readers.
It started on Saturday with ride out to Loch Leven's larder on a fine and still spring morning wth forecasts of 16 degrees. I could not be fooled. Resplendant in full winter longs, fleecy buff and full winter gloves, I blew a gasket with major perspirtation. The Fit One was the only survivor of the original posse.
A good team distance of 185km
The Caledonian Etape is just around the corner, three weeks, and more miles need to be put on the road bike clock.
Fear not, complete with a Garmin to record distances ( excluding economic metrics) gradients , heart rates, and a whole range of stats guaranteed to excite readers.
It started on Saturday with ride out to Loch Leven's larder on a fine and still spring morning wth forecasts of 16 degrees. I could not be fooled. Resplendant in full winter longs, fleecy buff and full winter gloves, I blew a gasket with major perspirtation. The Fit One was the only survivor of the original posse.
A good team distance of 185km
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The joy of Trek's
I set off early on a solo journey into a beautiful warm spring morning.
In the great words of Churchill - not the great leader but the advertising dog off the telly - Oh Yuss!!
I was on my Trek. It is a thing of beauty. Some people love their cars I love my my bike. The car takes me to work, the bike takes me to a place of happiness. It's not a new bike, it's not the best bike, it's not the fastest and it's not the most expensive but I love it.
Now I'm sorry if I'm going to get a tad emotional here but I feel at home on my Trek. The bike rides beautifully. I forgot how good it was to ride after a winter in storage. Unlike Lance, I believe it is about the bike. The bike becomes part of you and in effect the two become seamless. You operate at the most efficient levels for both rider and bike. I'm not the best but fundamentally gear selection to make riding effect and efficient is key to energy usage which is then key to speed. Speed over a long ride is affected by the amount of energy used. You want to make the ride efficient so that the energy spent allows you to finish strong.
Today was cool I looked at the other riders as they went past and they ranged from:
So I knocked off 33 miles off our global adventure. Life is good!
In the great words of Churchill - not the great leader but the advertising dog off the telly - Oh Yuss!!
I was on my Trek. It is a thing of beauty. Some people love their cars I love my my bike. The car takes me to work, the bike takes me to a place of happiness. It's not a new bike, it's not the best bike, it's not the fastest and it's not the most expensive but I love it.
Now I'm sorry if I'm going to get a tad emotional here but I feel at home on my Trek. The bike rides beautifully. I forgot how good it was to ride after a winter in storage. Unlike Lance, I believe it is about the bike. The bike becomes part of you and in effect the two become seamless. You operate at the most efficient levels for both rider and bike. I'm not the best but fundamentally gear selection to make riding effect and efficient is key to energy usage which is then key to speed. Speed over a long ride is affected by the amount of energy used. You want to make the ride efficient so that the energy spent allows you to finish strong.
Today was cool I looked at the other riders as they went past and they ranged from:
- The orange clad hybrid rider.
- The mountain biker with mirrors on his handlebars
- Dunfy road club
- A number of solo road bikers
- A charity bike ride on the cycle path for a primary school
So I knocked off 33 miles off our global adventure. Life is good!
Friday, April 23, 2010
The weekend starts here!
It's Friday, the weather looks good for tomorrow, the road bike is primed and serviced and it's time to start training again.
I entered another race today. I'm so weak willed it's frightening. It's called the Iron Monster - it's basically the First Monster Challenge but you do it by yourself rather than in a team. In an absolute bizzare twist it includes more mountain biking. Bigman will be shaking his head reading this after all I said in South Africa. As I say I'm weak willed and saw the race and really fancied it.
I suppose the option was the London Duathlon but somehow racing round London in the midst of the masses versus running and biking round the hills around Inverness actually meant there was no competition and to be honest the London Duathlon looked fairly easy compared to teh Iron Monster.
It comprises a 40km run over hilly terrain followed by 80km of mountain and road biking. Not sure how the logistics work out but I'll give it a go and see how it works out. I think I may have to drag the posse out for a bit of a recce one weekend - well if there are any willing volunteers.
Anyway, we have the challenge of the Etape in 4 weeks time which is going to be a huge race in itself. We all have our own targets for that race so will be training over the next month to achieve those. I'm also doing the Edinburgh 10km run in a couple of weeks time - I went out and did a wee 10km practice run yesterday to make sure that I could actually run the distance and I was fine. Quite pleased with myself. My twin brother, his brother in law and father in law are also running so it's going to be a bit of a family day out. Going to be fun.
I need to get back early tomorrow because of family stuff so I'm heading out on an early one leaving the bigman and fit one to head off to Auchterarder for what I'm sure will be a fantastic ride. Not sure what I'll do but I'll knock out a few miles.
It's going to be a fab weekend!
I entered another race today. I'm so weak willed it's frightening. It's called the Iron Monster - it's basically the First Monster Challenge but you do it by yourself rather than in a team. In an absolute bizzare twist it includes more mountain biking. Bigman will be shaking his head reading this after all I said in South Africa. As I say I'm weak willed and saw the race and really fancied it.
I suppose the option was the London Duathlon but somehow racing round London in the midst of the masses versus running and biking round the hills around Inverness actually meant there was no competition and to be honest the London Duathlon looked fairly easy compared to teh Iron Monster.
It comprises a 40km run over hilly terrain followed by 80km of mountain and road biking. Not sure how the logistics work out but I'll give it a go and see how it works out. I think I may have to drag the posse out for a bit of a recce one weekend - well if there are any willing volunteers.
Anyway, we have the challenge of the Etape in 4 weeks time which is going to be a huge race in itself. We all have our own targets for that race so will be training over the next month to achieve those. I'm also doing the Edinburgh 10km run in a couple of weeks time - I went out and did a wee 10km practice run yesterday to make sure that I could actually run the distance and I was fine. Quite pleased with myself. My twin brother, his brother in law and father in law are also running so it's going to be a bit of a family day out. Going to be fun.
I need to get back early tomorrow because of family stuff so I'm heading out on an early one leaving the bigman and fit one to head off to Auchterarder for what I'm sure will be a fantastic ride. Not sure what I'll do but I'll knock out a few miles.
It's going to be a fab weekend!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Delayed by volcanic activity.....
We've not made a stellar start to our trip around the world. Sunday's afternoon outing was cancelled due to volcanic ash from Iceland with the fear that the speeds the Fit One and I were going to achieve would clog up our internal engines. We are highly tuned artherletes and any risk to the systems were not to be taken.
Bigman was in Bonnie Tyler mode and 'lost in France' - the volcanic activity cancelled his plane and he took to the road, train and boat to get home from skiing in a John Candy esk approach to travel (remember the brilliant Planes, Trains and Automobiles!)
So any rumour that it was rain and cold that kept the Fit One and I from denting the mileage is scurrilous and will be disputed vigorously.
We're heading out tonight - Bigman's house at 7.05pm for anyone interested in heading out for an hour's ride including the Aberdour Ascent. It's not Chapman's Peak or an Alpine pass but it's a good early season test and a chance to work off a few more of the holiday pounds.
Bigman was in Bonnie Tyler mode and 'lost in France' - the volcanic activity cancelled his plane and he took to the road, train and boat to get home from skiing in a John Candy esk approach to travel (remember the brilliant Planes, Trains and Automobiles!)
So any rumour that it was rain and cold that kept the Fit One and I from denting the mileage is scurrilous and will be disputed vigorously.
We're heading out tonight - Bigman's house at 7.05pm for anyone interested in heading out for an hour's ride including the Aberdour Ascent. It's not Chapman's Peak or an Alpine pass but it's a good early season test and a chance to work off a few more of the holiday pounds.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Off and biking
Well Waverider, Moonwalker and I took a trip out on the bikes to start the globe turning as it were.
It has already been a long day having flown in from South Africa first thing this morning. We had travelled back separately due to a mess up in flight arrangements (by me as you would guess). We had both, however suffered from space invaders on the long haul back. You know the sort, decides that his own seat is too small and wants most of yours. Not pleasant and didn't make for a restful overnight trip.
Having said that on arrival back in a sunny Dunfermline and having picked up Waverider we were all keen to get out on the bikes. First issue was to re-build my bike after it's 3 legged plane ride. foretunately none of the bits were broken and it was easy to re-assemble. Only issue came on pumping up the rear tyre - it exploded rather dramatically. My rear wheel troubles continue....
Anyway, the sun was shining and it was as warm as a Cape Town evening. We climbed the north side of the Col du Carnock before joining the bike path. We rode to the end of the path enjoying the freedom of the bikes after being cooped up on the plane.
The journey home proved interesting. Waverider was on the Cape Epic steed when due to oncoming traffic was forced to practice an emergency stop. He skidded to a halt. A few minutes later I glanced back, no sign of the warrior. So turning back I noticed a forlorn figure peering down at the rear wheel. Somehow the tyre had detached from the rim of the wheel and punctured the tube. Number 2 of the day....
I fixed the wheel in the knowledge that I need a new back tyre. I'd given Waverider the road bike and he set off home with Moonwalker. The final ascent up the Col and we were home. A short but hugely enjoyable ride out.
It's great to be home!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
And in an instant they were back......................
Back by popular demand.
The Posse Ecosse is back with a new challenge but the same old characters. From the frozen north (JR and junior I) to the Emarald Isle ( The Gasman), and all the way east to Kirkaldy (The Doc) right the way down to the far South in Dulloch ( The Fit One) and all the characters in between.
All the adventures of cycling around the world (24000 miles) in 80 (Satur) days.
Join the Posse ecosse for more interesting adventures .................. even more interesting but not disimilar than The Still Game mob!
The Posse Ecosse is back with a new challenge but the same old characters. From the frozen north (JR and junior I) to the Emarald Isle ( The Gasman), and all the way east to Kirkaldy (The Doc) right the way down to the far South in Dulloch ( The Fit One) and all the characters in between.
All the adventures of cycling around the world (24000 miles) in 80 (Satur) days.
Join the Posse ecosse for more interesting adventures .................. even more interesting but not disimilar than The Still Game mob!
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