Rumble on the Tumble

Well. Talk about an adventure.

Lurvly day out and here are the stats.

http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=2096703

Fantastic weather and great to catch up with the Hereford crew. Everyone was on fine form and they even brought a mountain goat along who was called Rob.

LTB joined us for the Tumble and the ribbing and build up was sutiably justified. Keep doing that un and we'll have legs of steel. Ow.

LTB turned round at the top and headed for home and took nearly as long as us to get back to base due to his 25th blow out of the week. We however, looped round Brynmawr, Beaufort and over Llangynidr. Views absolutley spectacular and the descent down to the Usk valley was awesome.

Hereford crew continued on a loop round the mountains from hell and ice climbing and bike carrying was the order of the day. Sufficer to say they were ready for a few bevvies after the full 80 miler (which 7 of which were pushing due to ice).

F

IMG00011-20100220-2104.jpg

Tempo training...
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Tuesday evening crispness

A pleasant Tuesday night velo out for Farmer and Tempo.

http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=2084682


Think the chat may have brought down the average, but felt good anyway. LTB is frustratingly busy at work, but we know he will make up for it with some "private" sufferfests when he can.

Out with some triathletes on Saturday, so presumably I need to wear my trunnies in case we stop for a swim in the Honddu or Usk or summit.....?

Going to bed.....tired.

F

A game of three halves

First half: Llanfrynach to Builth on the 'Old Road'. Lumpy, general upward climbing for the first 15 miles then a 16% wall set to test the legs and the motivation to carry on and do another 45, or turn for home, the sofa and some daytime telly. The reward was the descent into Builth down (fortunately) a 25% gradient and hitting speeds of 50mph.

Second half: Builth to Crickhowell. Great spin along the back road following the course of the Wye. Hit Pengenffordd with nearly 40 miles already in the legs - which really hurt. Developed chaffing in some unexpected and unwanted areas. Good descent to Crick.

Third half: Crick to home. Never actually aware before that this section is really a gentle climb, but my legs now know that to be a fact! Idiot in a landrover with a trailer almost killed me at Talybont, but did inspire a sprint to catch him so I could bang on the side of his van and give some constructive advice on cyclist awareness.

Three hours fifty something in total.

The Route.

Here is toady's effort by Farmer and Tempo.

http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=2077382

Definitely felt better going up to Storey Arms and the pace was quicker than previous, but comfortable. Awesome downhill once over the top. Comfort was soon left behind as a couple of "Walls" to contend with. Suffice to say we had to dig deep and "completion" was high on my agenda.

Worryingly, Tempo is going to probably get a couple of hundred miles in this week. Just what LTB and Farmer need..........However, no surrender means that grit and determination will undoubtedly bring us through......

Farmer.

Sub-team "Special"ized .....

Here is Farmer and LTB's effort for Tuesday night.

http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=2061697

Interesting to compare stats versus the night before, which can only demonstrate when you have just a beeping Polar for company you tend to push on a little bit more consistently.

Not sure what the weekend brings us yet as LTB is slaving over a hot stove (ahhhh) a lot. In fact I am rather hoping he will be in charge when Me and Mrs Farmer and some mates visit the lurvly P.Court tonight.

This trip out is in fact why Sunday morning may be better........either way, Farmer and Tempo can do Sat or Sun morning, we are simply awaiting instructions from Suffer fest king.

F

Only 13 points in it.....

Mental note........never invite an Englishman round to watch the game........gloating blighters....

Here is my solo effort tonight. No enhancements, except to my thighs.......

http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=2056284

Whilst not on a par with Tempo, I do believe this is my quickest pace since Farmer records began. Maybe I dont need any Chinese Hamster Ovary stuff after all LTB......

Also I was in the HB "zone" for 51 mins (of 1 hr 3 mins) and above it for 9!!! Is this a demonstration of my unfitness or my inability to set my limits correctly in my Polar? All I know is that the little blighter beeped at me a fair bit, which although slightly annoying, was quite good company....

Farmer

ENGLAND 30 - WALES 17......

Good evening veloists, it's been a while. Just in case anyone missed the 'match' I thought it would be nice for everyone if the score was put on our blog......a public service if you like.

Farmer we are getting left behind by 'tempo' even though i felt i'd done a few miles this week, he has to go and spoil it. Thats some speed there tempo and looks like a good route, maybe we should start calling you 'Brad', or were you hanging onto the team car ?

but don't worry we have a secret weapon coming !!!!

Farmer maybe this will help you choose a light, they are all carbon and over £9000 pounds each.


Isn't brownhill lane where they make Aston Martin engines ?? or did, probably made in TAIWAN now. My mum used to tell me off for skiding but thats another story !!


Because i picked up leaves this afternoon instead of riding i decided on a little bike maintenance this evening - ooooooooops i now have a rear cassette in pieces !!.

As my Garmin is bust I can't upload anything, but maybe something new is coming soon.....

Here is Saturdays trip for Farmer and LTB.

http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=2045615

(Tempo - how do you make a link into a word with a click through??? - lessons please)
Full and robust training is going to commence this week as recent endeavours have been weak from the Farmers camp.

The fitting of a Polar Heart Rate Monitor may help proceedings and hit home some hard truths!!!!

Have you been skidding on your bike again?

...was the question my mother always asked me when I had worn through yet another tyre on my much loved "Raleigh Striker" and, surprisingly at the age of 40, it was the same question posed by my wife when I needed to spend thirty quid on a new back tyre for my equally much loved Scott CR1. At the age of seven the length of the skid you could pull speeding down Brownhill Lane was a measure of status but is not something we would risk endangering quality carbon fibre for any more (honestly).

It's been a week of variety on the bike with a couple of short swift ones midweek - Sean's Wall (as it shall now be known) and the staple Llangorse Loop - followed by yesterday's longer border crossing 45 miler. Another trip out planned for this afternoon if the legs can be persuaded to play ball....