THE GLOW OF LEJOG
Born Nadia Kerr in the 70s – cyclist and member of TeamGlow cycling club, personal injury solicitor tweeting as @CyclingLawyers, setter and, in the main, completer of annual challenges. Challenges are virtually always sporting. 2012 is no different. This year the challenge is on 2 wheels (without power assistance).
The Challenge
The Challenge
Between 1 and 15 July 2012, I am cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats – that’s 909 miles with one rest day. The accommodation is booked. The route is planned. The support vehicle/luggage transportation is organised. The bike maintenance course passed. The group of cyclists defined.
Just one thing left then…..training. This blog will chart my training schedule and my journey.
Collected my brand new Garmin Edge, computer, sat nav and a whole lot more. Charged it. Ready to attach to my Giant TCRW road bike to record statistics for my 2012 challenge. Saturday 7 April signals the start of my recorded training programme with my first Majorca holiday – a training camp cum holiday- with TeamGlow - http://www.teamglow.net/
Week One in Majorca featured, as well as the above members of Team Glow, Dave, Martine, Mike and Julie
Saturday 7 April 2012
Arrival day in Majorca and short spin out to check out the bike building skills of those who took their bikes from the UK and the handling etc of the hired bikes – the ride ended up at an ice- cream shop by the beach. Well, this is a holiday too…..
Extract from the Team Glow blog …..
Mallorca trip...glowing girls in the April sunshine.
So, here is Nadia, smiling on the first ride of the 2012 Mallorca trip. She had just had an amazing ice-cream and was about to ride back along the shore....so, what is NOT to smile about that.
Sunday 8 April 2012
PetraSunday 8 April 2012
Start 09.45
Time spent riding 4h 42m
Mileage 56.39
Climbing 2231ft
Average speed 12mph
Max speed 30.7mph
Monday 9 April 2012
Lluc Monastery
Start 09.35
Time spent riding 3h 28
Mileage 37.96
Climbing 3114ft
Average speed 10.9mph
Max speed 37.2mph
Tuesday 10 April 2012
Muro, Santa Margarita Start 09.53
Time spent riding 3h 16
Mileage 40.84
Climbing 1270ft
Average speed 12.4mph
Max speed 27.2mph
Wednesday 11 April 2012
Sineu Start 09.37
Time spent riding 4h16
Mileage 50.56
Climbing 2146ft
Average speed 11.8mph
Max speed 34.5mph
Sunny. Perfect blue sky. After a very, very, very (4.30am) late night last night and snoring/disturbing my roomie (really sorry Sue) the alarm went off at 8am.....Groggily made a move to my lycra. It was well, well worth it. What a great ride. Pippa, Lisa, Christine, Glynis, Heather and I set off into the sunshine to a market at Sineu. Sprinter's jersey today goes to Lisa 'the CAV' Kemp who WENT FOR IT ....great work Lisa. As ever, Pippa amused us all by attempting to cycle off still wearing cleat covers and as such was unable to clip in!! - but the highlight of Pippa’s adventures today was leaving a bar with the toilet key on her....Some fantastic views on the route, lush fields, bountiful crops, ginger soil, pigs - Christine continues to take the most exquisite photos of the trip.
Thursday 12 April 2012
The Orient
Start 09.11
Time spent riding 5h31Mileage 69.57
Climbing 3934ft
Average speed 12.6mph
Max speed 34.3mph
Sunny. We cycled ‘Over the Orient’ = 498m and then a further climb of 550m. Hard ride after 5 days of cycling. Heather excelled today leaving her bike at a nature stop (how can you do that?), mounting her bike in cleat covers and forgetting the crucial Peppa Pig jelly sweets!! Pippa won the hill climbers shirt today after battling with a big guy to a sprint finish (he later apologised for racing her) and the descent shirt too. Great performance. Lisa retained the ‘Cav’ sprint shirt. Christine was on a hot pace at the front and took more delightful photographs. And the 7 out today rode in a tidy train home. We stopped for a lovely, relaxed Spanish lunch –pie on a service road next to the motorway. Pippa’s toilet stops – I lost count at 10! ...
Christine and Lisa looking very pleased with themselves
Saturday 14 April 2012
Inca/Muro
Start 09.38
Time spent riding 3h40
Mileage 50.15
Climbing 2142ft
Average speed 13.7mph
Max speed 36.7mphMileage 50.15
Climbing 2142ft
Average speed 13.7mph
Sunday 15 April 2012
Sineu
Start 10.01
Time spent riding 3h49
Mileage 56.69
Climbing 1942ft
Average speed 14.9mph
Max speed 32.4mph
Very wet, grey day. Cold and windy. At breakfast said goodbye to Christine and Lisa before heading off out on bikes. Hard to keep going when the prospect of a hot drink and hot bath at home was by far the more tempting option. Persistence paid off when the sky cleared after lunch and the temperature rose. Was dry by the time the hotel was in sight and proud of the miles covered in those conditons. Faster average speed today as the group pushed on to try and keep warm and lose a guy who had lost his own group tour and who kept popping up with a wide grin and over enthusiastic wave thinking he was part of our group.
Tuesday 17 April 2012
Nadia at The Orient
The Orient
Start 09.15
Time spent riding 5h05
Mileage 70
Climbing 4426ft
Average speed 13.8mph
Max speed 38.7mph
The second ride Over the Orient. Stats better this time as the senior group set the pace and the youngsters pushed to keep up with them. Very satisfying day in the saddle with good mileagecovered. Delighted with progress in the training schedule.
I was more pleased than I looked!
Wednesday 18 April 2012
Lluc MonasteryStart 09.29
Time spent riding 3h02
Mileage 39.93
Climbing 3363ft
Average speed 13.1mph
Max speed 37.9mph
Exceptionally windy day slowing speed on the climb. The ascent needed a very hard effort today and I was determined to beat my time set last week for the 7.9km climb. It was close but with the wind against me I was pleased. Felt very unwell at the monastery café stop – I have never exerted myself so persistently on the bike for days on end and that combined with my 110% sustained effort to the social side of things in the evenings for 10 days or so – it is bound to take its toll……sleep needed once I covered the miles home. Unfortunately no option tonight as had offered to host the pre dinner drinks party and wanted to try to raise the bar
Cheers!
Thursday 19 April 2012 Sa Calobra – the ride I really wanted to do. The one I missed. Absolutely stunning day in Majorca. The girls set off to tackle this hard ride Friday 20 April 2012. I had a most frustrating day alone in my room feeling weak but determined to recover. In an effort to think positively I plugged my ipod into my computer and succeeded in deleting my 3000+ music collection…..arghghgh. Decided to sleep to aid recovery – I succeeded with that and felt so much better when I awoke.
Friday 20 April 2012
The Lighthouse
Start 10.50
Time spent riding 2h55
Mileage 34.87
Climbing 3484ft
Average speed 11.9mph
Max speed 38.5mph
The final Majorcan ride. Felt strong today on this amazing ride – beautiful weather. A classic Majorcan challenge. An undulating ride with some long climbs and some amazing descents. Switchbacks. Incredible views of the sea either side of the road. Tunnels to negotiate. Something for everyone. Coffee very disappointing at the summit but those views could not be improved.
The spectacular road to The Lighthouse
Saturday 21 April 2012 Return flight to Manchester and rest day.
Sunday 22 April 2012
Chorlton/Tatton Park
Start 08.47
Time spent riding 1h58
Mileage 22.93
Climbing 781ft
Average speed 11.6mph
Max speed 28.1mph
Absolutely dreadful weather conditions. Driving rain. Was soaked through and ill prepared after 2 weeks of not having to think about technical clothing in Majorca. Decided to return home cutting what was a 50 mile ride short at almost 23 miles. Lesson to learn on preparation.
Tuesday 24 April 2012
Manchester/Marple
Start 08.50Time spent riding 1h51
Mileage 24
Climbing 1657ft
Average speed 13mph
Max speed 36.1mph
Lovely ride out today in good conditions. Had to cut the ride short as it was over running and I had a lunch date with former colleagues. Fast descent into Marple and then train home. I need miles in my legs and this will contribute.
Thursday 26 April 2012
A local pootle for an hour today. Nothing strenuous. But have read that the regularity of turning the pedals is key for back to back riding.
Friday 27 April
Manchester/ Rochdale/Bury
Start 08.56
Time spent riding 2h30
Mileage 32.5
Climbing 1338ft
Average speed 12mph
Max speed 31.5mph
A local spin out to find a convenient after work route. Overtook a guy on a cross bike who then tucked up behind me for a good distance. I can’t blame him as it was fairly windy. But I am firmely of the view that a) he should have told me he was there for the safety of both of us and b) he should acknowledge the help he has had by being dragged along when he peeled off – what is the cycling etiquette on these things?
Saturday 28 April 2012
Chester/Llandegla
Start 14.54
Time spent riding 3h30Chester/Llandegla
Start 14.54
Mileage 47.7
Climbing 3271ft
Average speed 13.6mph
Max speed 38.6mph
My last weekend before I start my new job and a trip into Wales from Chester. Relied upon Garmin SatNav navigation after studying a very general overview of the route. Was happy with the route when I got back to Chester but must admit to a few tense ‘I have no idea where I am’ moments and ‘Can I trust this bike SatNav more than, less than, the same as I (don’t) trust my car SatNav?’
A relaxing bath and hearty meal followed on return to Chester – a lovely ride – a very fulfilling day.
Sunday 6 May 2012
Wrynose Pass – the day of the squeaky cleat
Start 09.59
Time spent riding 3h32
Mileage 41.5
Climbing 4642ft
Average speed 11.7mph
Max speed 38.5mph
Camped this Bank Holiday weekend. Bumped into two friends from the Majorca training holiday who had been fell running – their hard work done and they were setting off to walk the dog. Got some encouragement from them and a pat on my back. Set off after cereal, pancakes and fruit, coffee, juice and some malt loaf. Today’s aim – to conquer ‘the Queen’ Wrynose Pass.
Solo effort - no reliance on drafting , conversation, laughs. Consolation – simply beautiful countryside. Kept mindful for a good length of time. Listened to bird song, took in the bluebell meadows, babbling streams and the spectacular mountain ranges. Cloudy day with sunny intervals. The temperature peaked at 48.1F.
Navigation error lead me on to ‘The King’ Hardknott Pass instead of Wrynose….as I looked up ahead of me I saw a lone cyclist and thought ‘I will be so proud when I reach that point’ –my right pedal/cleat started to squeak and I remembered that it had squeaked on the Chester/Llandegla ride last weekend – I had forgotten to see to it……how annoying…..then after only a few metres, I had run out of gears anyway and could barely turn my cranks. At least the squeaking stopped. I stopped in a passing place …..to admire the views. Whilst doing so, I took the opportunity to catch my breath and take on some fluid. Not yet ready to accept defeat (although I was in reality already beaten), I tried again. Squeak. Squeak. I then tried again. Squeak. Squeak. I then decided that ‘the King’ was a ride for another day and turned back and enjoyed what was a fantastic descent and was surprisingly much, much longer than I expected (I had worked harder than I thought and had got at least some pleasing distance up Hardknott). The beauty of this descent in addition to the speed and the beauty of my surroundings was inspirational – AND it was quiet – no squeak!
So, next to Wrynose. Wow, what an ascent. Simply beautiful surroundings. I was overtaken by a cyclist who grunted – I grunted back. Such a sociable sport, cycling!! The strain on my pedals started a little creak and that developed into a full scale squeak. Just my right foot. Every revolution. How annoying. But I wasn’t in company so that the annoyance was entirely mine. And I made it to the top and over the top and that was way more important than a squeaky cleat!
41.5 miles later and I was back at the campsite taking on protein and taking a long hot shower. A good day in the saddle with time to blog, to read and to think before preparing dinner.
PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM
My steed
The bay I threw myself into at Cala St Vincenc after the last Majorca ride - I was fully clothed in Lycra at the time!
Yes, actually I was standing in a gully....!
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