What a difference a week makes!

I've just got back from a 90 mile ride and I have to say I feel really good, which is saying something since its been raining ALL day. Knees feel fine, and although I took it really easy I still got back in 8:15 which is brilliant (well, for me anyway).

Didn't do the Audax today, the new gears didn't arrive in time so I arranged another route with less hills. I suspect my knees are probably just not used to doing 70+ miles really fast, if I take it easy and don't try and storm up hills then I might even enjoy doing this Scotland ride.

I think I'll do a couple more rides this week, leaving plenty of time to recover completely before the first leg in Scotland. I'll hopefully get all my stuff fitted tomorrow night (if it all arrives) then a couple of rides to check out the new gears and I'll be ready!

More new kit!

Following my weekend's riding I've decided something needs to be done about my gears to give myself the best possible chance of doing this. After some research I've found my rear cassette is a 12-23 which apparently is very long, so I've invested in a 13-28 which should basically give me 2 or 3 LOWER gears with which to battle the hills! I was going to grin and bear it but its clearly not doing my knees any good so I decided to take the plunge. If all goes well I'll be able to get them fitted for this Sunday's 150km Audax.

I've also bought a 2L saddle bag, which should give me enough room to carry essentials and I can take my panniers off to save a little extra weight. Also bought various medical supplies to help me in case the going gets tough. Training this week should be Wednesday and Friday, and the new kit should be going on Saturday for Sunday's ride.

Update Mon 25/08/08

Done 100 miles this weekend, 30 on Saturday and 70 on Sunday. All went well and on Sunday I felt I could have quite happily done another 20 miles. However, it seems my ITBS has come back. Its basically pain on the outside of my left knee. Haven't felt it at all this year, but doing 100 miles in 2 days I really noticed it. Its not too bad at the moment, but I need to try and fix the problem before I get to Scotland.

I'm particularly concerned because this is what stopped play for Mike and I last year. I've been doing special stretches which has probably helped but obviously not cleared it up altogether. After reading up on several forums I've opted to move my seat down and forward a few mm, we'll see if that makes it better.

To give myself the best chance of recovery I'm also going to skip some of my training this week. I've planned to do a 150Km Audax over the peaks on Sun 31st so I need to be in good shape for that and not nursing an injury.

Update Thu 21/08/08

42 miles after a day at work, there's no danger of that becoming a habit! Was dreading it but actually went very well. It'd been raining all afternoon but it soon cleared up. 3h15, not too bad for me that.

Route and Accommodation

All the accommodation is finally BOOKED! It's been a real effort trying to find available places as close to the route as possible but looks like I've finally got there.

Here is a Google Map of the route, the stops aren't marked out on there but the route is as follows:

Day 1
Gretna -> Kilmarnock
81.7 miles

Day 2
Kilmarnock -> Inveraray
80 miles

Day 3
Inveraray -> Fort William
71.7 miles

Day 4
Fort William -> Tain
99.3 miles

Day 5
Tain -> John O Groats
85.7 miles

Whether or not those distances are accurate remains to be seen. If last year's route planning was anything to go by, it could be +/- 15 miles! Hopefully Google Maps is more reliable than Google Earth...

Weird night

Did my usual 30 mile route last night. As I was leaving my estate I remember thinking "something doesn't look right here" , then as I went a bit further I realised... I'd forgotten my helmet and cycling glasses!

Can't stop, no time, I'll just be careful. Other than 2 foiled suicide attempts by pedestrians crossing the road without looking, the ride went rather well. All the hills I was going up at least a gear higher than usual and I finished the route in a shade over 2 hours, my best yet.

However on the last hill I realised my handlebars had moved... every time I moved from the top to the drops the bar turned a few inches! Then as I got home I went to pick the bike up and the rear wheel fell off, no idea how long I'd been riding without it being properly attached but clearly a bad sign.

So onto Wiggle again to order a new bike stem to keep my handlebars in place, and tighten up the back wheel good and proper. No more surprises please.

Also, it got dark about 8:45 last night. Not good for training, Thursday I'm doing my first 42 mile route after work...

Training is coming along

Well I did my farthest solo ride yesterday. 74 miles, in 6h 40. That also includes about 1h 30 of stops (I like to take a relaxed approach to long rides, but I am trying to cut down on my stops) That's also the first time I've done better than a 10mph average for a ride over 40 miles. I decided to give my new energy drink a go and it certainly seemed a big improvement, I just seemed to have energy all the way round. Very impressed.

I was absolutely exhausted last night and had a lot of general aches and pains, but I feel pretty good today, much better than expected. Given myself 2 days off (luxury!) Next week I'm picking up the pace again and doing 30, 40, 30 and 74 miles. Not long to go now.

Kit

I still have my trusty Esperia 5100 road bike, purchased off ebay in Feb 2007 for £200. A bit battered and bruised but still seems to do the job.


A new addition to my cycling arsenal this year will be some SIS PSP22 Energy drink:
Its a carbohydrate drink which is basically has a similar effect to me tucking into a rice and jacket potato meal. Yum!

Introduction

Hi and welcome to my blog on my LEJOG attempt. My first attempt was last year, when Mike and I set off from Land's End in a bid to reach John O'Groats in 10 days. That turned out to be massively optimistic and our trip came to an abrupt end due to injury a few miles into Scotland on the 6th day (read all about that trip here).

I've decided to attempt to finish the route this year and will be cycling Scotland, from Gretna to John O'Groats in 5 days, starting Sept 7th. That's some 430 miles, and I will cover between 70 and 100 miles each day.

I will be cycling alone but luckily I'll be supported by Tom who'll be with me every step of the way, carrying all my kit and plenty of food and drink! Top man!

For the last few months I've been slowly increasing my training and I now have 3 weeks before we set off for the Scottish border.

Thank you for taking an interest in my LEJOG attempt, this blog will be updated throughout my trip so please do check back here regularly.