"The Barsley Brief"

Posts tagged royal british legion

Counting down the days

Aug27
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Charles Barsley

I first posted on this blog in February.  Back then the pedal to Paris was far in the distance.  But not any more.  As I write this it is just 7 days away.  At 8am I will leave Greenwich Park in London bound for Paris on my bike.

Last week my training peaked as I cycled over 100 miles in the weekend, including 76 to Farnham.  Since then I have started to slow up on my training as recommended to ensure I am ready for the start.  However, every time I have been out it has started overcast and then poured with rain….. usually at the point when I am furthest from home!  I try though to put a positive spin on this, if the training is as bad as possible eg wet, cold, hilly and I can get through it then I will enjoy the actual ride.  That said I do hope it doesn’t rain!

I visited France on a day trip last weekend and am now so looking forward to getting there, there were fields as far as the eye could see, being harvested, the sun was beating down and there were mny people cycling along the coastal roads.  I can’t wait!

I will post an update at the weekend to give some more information about the Royal British Legion Pedal to Paris 2008!

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A new week

Aug14
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Charles Barsley

It’s been a busy week.  Sorry I have neglected my blog slightly recently.  I have finally got broadband installed at home so I hope it will be easier to keep you up-to-date now.

On Sunday I set off from home with one goal in mind!  To surpass 1000 miles on my speedometer.  I have done a little more actual miles as there were times when it wasn’t plugged in or I forgot it.  But I cycled out the house with 30 miles to do.  I didn’t really know where I was going, in fact I even got lost but I just ploughed on the same road and eventually found something recognisable.  I set myself the little challenge of seeing how close to 1000 miles I could get too.

I cycled through sun and rain, a previous storm had also meant the road surface was very gravelly.  My route took me out to Tunbridge wells, to Pembury, Capel, East Peckham and back through Paddock wood, Rams Hill and Brenchley to home.  I came in at 998.9 miles Doh!!  So I did a loop of the village green which got me up to 1000.5

Then on Tuesday I went out after work with 2 of my cousins, they had completed the London Triathalon at the weekend, so I pushed hard at times to keep with them.  But pleased with my performance.  Another 12 miles done.

This weekend is my last weekend of heavy training.  So all being well with the weather I will do my biggest weekend ever!  Then I slow it down in preparation for the Pedal To Paris!!!!

Please sponsor me here.

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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

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