"The Barsley Brief"

Posts tagged Pedal to Paris

41 miles round Kent

Jun08
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Charles Barsley

A bright an early start this morning at 8am (well early but not so bright. Had a great morning’s cycle with my cousins. It was a clear day but took till around 9am to warm up. The route was similar to the one I took last week but in reverse and slightly lengthened. So headed off to Brenchley and down towards Yalding. Between Yalding and Hunton was the steepest hill I have ever cycled up. Had to stop a couple of times and catch my breath! Then a nice long flat section and steep downhill into Grafty Green. Stopped at Headcorn Green for a chocolate bar, at this point I had averaged 16 mph which I was very surprised by, it was helpped by keeping a good pace on the flats.

After a chocolate bar headed off again towards Frittenden, joined the A262 and saw several classic cars heading in the other direction, past Blanytre House and into Curtisden Green. From here it was the standard route past Lordship Wood, Horsemonden and home.

Stats

41.35 miles

2hours 46mins 42secs

Average Pace 4.01 minutes to the mile

Average Speed 14.9 mph

Max Speed 37.4mph

Calories 2767

The Splits 08-06-2008

Although I dropped the pace slightly in the second half I am still very pleased with an average of 14.9mph especially as it was over 41 miles. I want to try and keep doing these longer cycles each weekend in preparation for the Pedal to Paris. By the end I felt knackered! But still managed to get a few bits done at the house.

0806008map

I mentioned yesterday I got a free pouch of Lemon and Lime Go Electrolyte Sports fuel. I find it hard to know if it helped me more than my normal apple and blackcurrant squash but certainly I kept going faster and longer than I usually do, nearer the end I struggled a bit on the hills to put the power down, I felt better in myself but my legs really ached. I think though practice and getting in the miles is as importnt as anything though.

Off work tomorrow, plenty of kitchen tiling to do! But hopefully will get in a late afternoon ride.

This blog charts my training towards the Royal British Legion Pedal to Paris where I will be cycling from London to Paris, please sponsor me at https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/Barsley

Posted in Cycling - Tagged , , , , , ,

494.8 miles down

May18
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Charles Barsley

After a very gloomy Saturday the weather picked up today.  Unfortunately only a short cycle, as I was not around for most of the day, so just a quick 10 miles or so down to paddock wood and round through to Rams Hill and Castle hill and back through Brenchley.  Still eventful though!

I had forgotten today was the Kent Castle 100 cycle.  So there were lots of cyclists out on the roads cycling 100 miles round several castles for the Action Medical Research Charity.  Well done to all those who took part, particularly Ben who I have discovered is also doing the Pedal to Paris (what a small world!)

The other event was cars!  Generally I have to say I have never had a major issue with cars, but there is always an exception, I was coming down a gentle hill at about 25 miles an hour and a car pulled out of a drive about 15 metres ahead and proceeded to pull off really slowly, As I reached it scant seconds later it had pulled across the road to overtake a cyclist (not part of our group).  I was quite frustrated as I had built up speed and didn’t want to lose it as a hill was approaching.  So I carried on pedalling and with a gap of about a metre to the right hand hedge, squeezed through and overtook it, I kept up my speed and easily made it up the hill, I was of course soon overtaken again by the car, the drive gesturing wildly at me.  All I ask is to be treated like any other road user, if I was in a car you wouldn’t pull out in front of me so don’t when I am on a bike.  Rant over, In all seriousness,  never usually have any problems with other road users.

No stats today, despite having two cycle computers, user error meant no stats.  I forgot to reset my Cateye Mity 8.  My Garmin worked fine, until I stopped it while at a store, and forgot to restart it again, Oops!  Though excitingly up to 494.8 miles since the beginning of February, Will break the 500 barrier soon!

Posted in Cycling - Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
Newer Entries →