Le Tour 2007 Blog

Welcome to Le Tour 2007 Blog

Great Sites

Friends

Bravenet

Tag Board

This tag board is currently empty.

Monday, December 18th 2006

14:48 (1148 days, 8h, 53min ago)

Welcome to your new Bravenet Blog.

Mood: Excited!

You can maintain your blog by logging in to your Bravenet account. Once you are logged in you can customize the layout, colors, and features. In addition, you can add your own links, edit your profile, add your friends, and change many other options to personalize your blog.

Once you begin using your blog, you can view statistics in your members area to see how many people are reading your blog as well as where they come from.

We hope you enjoy your Blog. Be sure to tell all your friends about this great new service from Bravenet!

32 Comment(s).

Posted by Mark:

24th December and although it's only been a few weeks of over-eating, it seems to have combined with under-cycling. The result is a larger belly than normal which I am increasingly not happy about. The better news is that I have purchased some race blade mud-guards which should tempt me out a bit more on a belly reduction mission. The mission just got harder, I need to get back to the form I was in before and then I need to get better.

Sunday, December 24th 2006 @ 13:27 (1142 days, 10h, 14min ago)

Posted by Matt:

1st Jan 07
Pre-emptive strike here!
1st training run of year and i had to turn back early! Rather than complete the 90 mile circuit with Mark, i only did 62.5 miles. However before Mark gives me some stick in my defence;
- I did only get to bed at 4:30 and therefore only had 2.5hrs sleep
- 62.5 miles isnt bad for a first run out of the year
- there was a 40 mile an hour head wind
- and loads of other excuses!

Monday, January 1st 2007 @ 6:14 (1134 days, 17h, 27min ago)

Posted by Mark:

1st Jan '07 - Happy New Year ! This is a rather special year, so few sherberts and 75 mile training ride on New Year's day to kick us off.

Felt better than on day after Boxing day when I cycled Cheddar Gorge but the right knee is seizing up quite easily afterwards and I got slight cramp on a bike for the first time.

Words have been exchanged with Matt regarding the abridged version he did. No need to air that laundry here quite yet.

Monday, January 1st 2007 @ 9:37 (1134 days, 14h, 4min ago)

Posted by Mark:

Woke up with the knee being very troublesome. Cycled into work, but there is no way I could cycle long stages like this, I would have a potential DNS/DNF on my hands. Worried it might be a repeat of the trouble I have had with the left knee when younger which involved operations etc. Doctor booked for Friday AM. Fingers crossed.

Tuesday, January 2nd 2007 @ 2:24 (1133 days, 21h, 17min ago)

Posted by Mark:

Just seen the doc about my knee.

He said there wasn't much fluid, prescribed Diclofenac Sodium (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory) and - here's the bad and slightly predictable part - told me not to do any strenous exercise for six weeks.

That's obviously a bit of a disaster, so think I'll take the knee out this weekend and see what happens. Fingers crossed thus just goes away.

Friday, January 5th 2007 @ 0:33 (1130 days, 23h, 8min ago)

Posted by Matt:

2nd big ride of the year and this one felt 100% better
83 lumpy miles in fairly constant rain - but spirits not dampened this time.
Managed at least 4 hours sleep this time rather than the 2 before the previous ride - i am sure i should learn from that!

Sunday, January 7th 2007 @ 11:49 (1128 days, 11h, 51min ago)

Posted by Mark (on behalf of Kyle):

Mark, you can downgrade my training and preparation rating a few more stars. Ankle diagnosis is torn ligament and bone marrow edema (essentially stress fracture), so will be waylaid a few months.

No need to train, though. I've gone and bought myself one of these.

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=31944&in_page_id=2

Wednesday, January 10th 2007 @ 13:10 (1125 days, 10h, 31min ago)

Posted by Mark:

Knee responding very well to the anti inflammatories and seizing up gone away. Not sure if it is the pills hiding the problem or if it has genuinely healed, either way I can cycle !

Wednesday, January 10th 2007 @ 13:14 (1125 days, 10h, 27min ago)

Posted by Matt:

Chest finally cleared up!
45 miles today and legs felt great
Need to significantly step it up

Saturday, January 27th 2007 @ 11:06 (1108 days, 12h, 34min ago)

Posted by Mark:

The knee still a problem. 120 miles on it and there light bruising ! eeek. Taken more pills and it's better, but I would love this to go away. Not used to having injuries, they are rubbish.

Sunday, February 4th 2007 @ 1:18 (1100 days, 22h, 22min ago)

Posted by Mark:

The big plan in the fine weather yesterday was to cycle to Boston (Lincolnshire coast) and back. It was very frosty when we set off, the fields were white and it was somewhat chilly despite gloves etc. Made to to Boston fine, but unfortunately at the speed we were doing we didn't have enough day-light and got caught out on the way back. Matt made it to Grantham, I made it to Car Colston after 8 hours of cycling. Luckily Emma came to save the day. I found the Royal Oak to be a very nice place to stop. The rugby was on the telly, Jonny was back to his best, they served Guinness and I got chatting to a lovely couple from Wollaton. Could have been worse. Anyway - Thanks Emma ! :)

Sunday, February 4th 2007 @ 9:44 (1100 days, 13h, 56min ago)

Posted by Matt:

150 mile weekend - proper training finaly started.
Some serious chaffage that i am going to have to work through - but feel better for having made the effort.
Focus still on weight loss for now!!

Monday, February 5th 2007 @ 0:59 (1099 days, 22h, 42min ago)

Posted by Amy:

After the 2+ week setback of a ski holiday, moving out of the flat, and a chest cold, training has finally begun.

65 miles in sunny Arizona with spectacular views and rolling hills- hit a high of 75 degrees today!

Monday, February 5th 2007 @ 19:56 (1099 days, 3h, 44min ago)

Posted by Amy:

Did a century today (60 miles with Dane from Pinnacle Peak Cyclery and a few other local riders/racers).

40 miles yesterday with a 4100 meter swim. Ironman training is on!

Checked out the Bicycle Ranch with beautiful Serottas...hmmmmm.

Thursday, February 8th 2007 @ 17:06 (1096 days, 6h, 35min ago)

Posted by Amy:

Definitely can't complain about the full time training schedule. Totals for last week weren't bad- 17 miles running (still building slowly from recent injury), 350 miles on the bike and 7 miles swimming.

The Arizona desert is the perfect place for winter training- outdoor pools, shorts and short sleeves everyday, and great people to train with.

Monday, February 12th 2007 @ 21:10 (1092 days, 2h, 30min ago)

Posted by Mark:

First of (hopefully many) pre-work training rides this morning. Involves dragging myself out of bed and riding as soon as it's light enough combined with some creative work diary juggling. Feel good, now better find out what important meetings have I've just missed....

Thursday, February 15th 2007 @ 2:15 (1089 days, 21h, 26min ago)

Posted by Matt:

Good couple of rides in Winchester at weekend - 105miles total
Big thank you to Elite rider Michael who was gentle with me on Sunday - thoroughly enjoyed the ride

Monday, February 19th 2007 @ 14:36 (1085 days, 9h, 5min ago)

Posted by Amy:

First day in Hawaii. As expected, the sun was in full force. Got in 65 miles and a short swim in the ocean- feeling good.

Thursday, February 22nd 2007 @ 0:38 (1082 days, 23h, 3min ago)

Posted by Mark:

An appointment for a sports massage this week, to see if the ongoing knee problem can be diagnosed/resolved. Felt good and I'm trying to adhere to the stretching advice, doesn't come naturally for me though. Climbed mont Ventoux on the Tacx last night, let's see what happens in the real world this weekend.

Friday, February 23rd 2007 @ 14:54 (1081 days, 8h, 47min ago)

Posted by Mark:

114 miles yesterday and the good news is that my right knee (the bad one) ended the ride feeling better than my left knee. I think that's good. It was a good distance (see training section), unfortunately it wasn't sprinkled with HC climbs....that's when it gets serious.

Sunday, February 25th 2007 @ 23:51 (1078 days, 23h, 49min ago)

Posted by Amy:

I've started week 1 of 'overload' training. Last week totals were 295 miles on the bike, 32 miles of running, and 4 miles of swimming...it's really helping to be in Hawaii and not have a job!

Monday, February 26th 2007 @ 20:28 (1078 days, 3h, 13min ago)

Posted by Kyle:

Mark's riding 114 miles and climbing Ventoux on the trainer. I managed 60 minutes on the trainer and considered it a grand accomplishment! Let's wait and see who peaks too early....

Can't wait, but am scared out of my wits.

Tuesday, February 27th 2007 @ 20:00 (1077 days, 3h, 40min ago)

Posted by Mark:

Wakeling laché ! See 'training' section. Not good. :-(

Sunday, March 4th 2007 @ 6:03 (1072 days, 17h, 38min ago)

Posted by Mark:

Mountain biking this weekend and got blasted by icy snowladen winds from the artic that came whistling in over the Welsh hills........freezing !

Sunday, March 18th 2007 @ 15:51 (1058 days, 8h, 50min ago)

Posted by Matt:

1st sportive of the season complete - Chesire Cat. 97 miles in 6hrs 18mins which i am pretty pleased with. Only 15.5mph average speed but a couple of steep climbs so room for improvement but a solid start

Sunday, March 25th 2007 @ 11:41 (1051 days, 13h, 0min ago)

Posted by Amy:

Haven't been on the bike in 3 weeks, but trying to stay fit with hikes and runs. The road rash is healing quickly and the collar bone just needs a few more weeks. I should be on the bike in no time!

Friday, March 30th 2007 @ 19:43 (1046 days, 4h, 58min ago)

Posted by Amy:

On the bike for the first time since the crash (exactly one month ago)! Rented a touring bike and enjoyed Melbourne's endless cycling roads. Not quite the Tour of Flanders distance, but it's a start!

Sunday, April 8th 2007 @ 4:31 (1037 days, 20h, 9min ago)

Posted by Kyle:

105 miles in the mountains of West Virginia and the Monongahela National Forest. Plateau de Beille it was not, but plenty hard riding and the legs are starting to respond. 225 watts avg for the 6.5+ hours in the saddle.

Monday, April 30th 2007 @ 11:19 (1015 days, 13h, 21min ago)

Posted by Mark:

In the Alps on l'Alpe d'Huez yesterday for a training run up to to the top and then up to the Col de Croix de Fer. Fantastic weather, awesome scenery as usual.

Drove to Cesenatico on thh Italian Adriatic coast today, the Gran Fondo Nove Colli Marco Pantani is tomorrow in the birthplace of Marco Pantani. The whole place is heaving with cyclists.

Saturday, May 19th 2007 @ 10:21 (996 days, 14h, 19min ago)