Been a long time since my last post. A lot has happened with not much happening.
Where do I start. In March I had my first taste of the Velodrome at a disability get together weekend. Very strange. I had trouble starting and stopping but when I got going the only problem that I had was that my right leg wings out when I put pressure on the pedals and little did I realize at the time, the clips on my shoes had slightly warn away. A couple of times my right foot came loose but I just quickly undid the left and free wheeled with my legs held akinbo until I stopped.
We were told to do a 1 lap time trial to see how fast were were. I was determined to show everybody. So I set off head down and sprinted as fast as I could. I rounded the last bend, crossed the finish line and mentally relaxed and lifted my head up not realising the bike was still going at top speed. My right leg came off but I didn't get chance to do my left before I was flung over the handlebars, smashing my face, hands and knee on the floor and wrecking the bike.
Went to A&E but fortunately nothing was broken but the swelling and the pain took several months to go away.
When it did I ended up with several months of a flu type weakness bug so my training went back a long way.
I tried the British Championships road race again but was in no fit state. I got cut up on the first corner and never recovered and with a strong wind I felt myself going backwards at times.
I hard to take a long hard look at myself afterward. Needed to find a mirror first to do this.
Was I going to get anywhere as a cyclist? I feel I had crossed the path of was it just for fun or was I taking it seriously. And if I was then I needed to train not do bits and bobs, but then again I wanted a long run of time without illness.
After I'd said to mself and my family that I was never going to ride at the Velodrome again, I ended up going down to Newport to ride there. To save money seeing as I didn't have any to save so I didn't really save anything, I drove down the night before and slept in the car. Woke up, had a bowl of cornflakes then went into ride. I was also going through that period of flu type headaches type fatigue so was up to the limit on beta blockers and pain killers so was not in the best state of mind & body to ride. I did though, didn't fall off, was invited down to an international race the next week, but my illness state took a turn for the worse so didn't make it.
At the time a Solicitor Firm in Sheffield (Aston Morton Slack) heard about my trek to Wales and sleeping in the car so decided to kindly sponsor me with clothing, equipment and paying for a B&B wherever I go.
So that gave me a big lift and made me carry on ............... a bit. I still had the mortgage to pay and was having to see benefits advisers and job centre's offering me nothing jobs, but as Martin Luther King once said ........ 'put kettle on love am spitting feathers !!!' or was it something about having a dream?
The next confidence boost was that I was picked for the New You Achievement awards at Fitness First. Out of 466,000 members that the competition was open too, I was picked as one of the 12 finalists with a holiday of a lifetime and further media work after. It was quite a big thing for the winner and I ................... didn't. Story of my life you might think. I did meet some really brilliant people and made some great friends and contacts at Fitness First that maybe putting me forward for a Personal Fitness Instructor Course !!!
Another thing that gave me great inspiration was watching the GB team at the Olympics and more so at the Paralympics. Absolutely brilliant. Did depress (in the not at all made me a trifle glum until I heard the sound of the kettle boiling type of way) me a bit thinking these are the people I've to compete against to get to London 2012. You never know, I might become Irish soon !!!
Next on my training plan was a 12 hour bike'a'thon at Asda for Tickled Pink - Breast Cancer Charity. I did it well with the help of Glynn and Fitness First and managed to do (mileometer said) 200 miles in the 12 hours and we raised over £1500
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Dom's Cycling
Well the summer cycling started pretty late and was pretty rubbish. Had my first race in Doncaster. I'd just had a stomach upset and from the start there was nothing in my legs. I was also really taken aback by the speed of other riders and the cornering !!!
My next race was the British Championships Road Race in the disability. This didn't start well as I couldn't get my left foot clipped into my pedal and finished early when I got a puncture on the third lap.
My third race started badly again with my pedal but then with my speedometer clip on my front wheel catching. After stopping I was a lap behind and struggled to keep up so decided to just pedal round and get the miles in. This was going fine for about 10 laps until I caught a hole in the road and smashed my right leg.
Then I turned to time trialling with The Rudy Project.
My first one was 20 miles but guess what, this didn't go too well either. I was going round daydreaming most of the time and not knowing how to pace myself. I was just over 10 minutes behind the winner. The only thing that made me feel better was that I still fet I had plenty more to give. The second one was slightly better but I still was about 5 minutes behind the winner.
So if I'm going to take cycling seriously I really have to spend the winter training well so here is the blog I'm gonna try and keep
Thursday 15th November
Did a gentle 40 miles with John from the gym. I felt ok today after my neck problems and headache problems I've had recently so it was nice to get back on the bike and get some miles in.
Saturday 17th November
Went out today with Mitch. We did 52.3 miles in the Peak District.
The first 30 or so miles were going well until bizzarely, we came across a road full of sheep !!! Must have been changing fields, which is the nicer reason why sheep move !!!
Anyway as we stopped at the side of the road, I went to get off the bike, forgetting I had raised my seat the night before. My leg caught the seat and rather embarrissing in front of a bunch of sheep, I crumpled into the middle of the road with the bike falling on top.
Didn't think I hurt myself that bad, but when the sheep and shepherds had stopped laughing (now I know what sheepish grin means) every pedal hurt.
With being the Peak District there were some very steep hills to get home and I hurt but I also felt very out of condition and I really have to work at my fitness, or conditioning.
Monday 19th November
Went to fitness first in Rotherham and did an hour spinning. Felt pretty good.
Monday 26th November
Haven't done anything for a week and I feel FAT. What with sorting peoples computers / networks or not sorting them as the case may be, the weather and shher laziness I've missed everthing. Went to fitness first in Rotherham and did an hour spinning. Felt pretty good though. Thank God I've finally done something !!!
Friday 30th November
Went to see the Cycling Coach - Pete Read. This was a really good session. Put me through diferent exercises and we had a chat. The session lasted nearly two hours and from what he discovered was that I was out of condition, and a bit overweight so set me a training regime to help me improve. This involves over 150 miles a week. The Peak District on Saturday as I'm doing but further, a couple of days going steady or at least at 135 - 145 bpm heart rate, a turbo training session, and a copule of rest days.
As I've said it was really good and gave me back a bit of get up and go and stop felling sorry for yourself you lazy %^&$. He gave me his training book and offered to see me again to see if I've improved. I definitely am gonna try and see this training regime through or as much of it as I can. I really needed this and I'm so grateful.
Saturday 1st December
Went into the Peak District with Mitch again. Nearly killed me. Well no I felt better than last time but it were hard work. On the hills I just kept in low gear and head down and got up them. I didn't try to race any, I just wanted to get round, and I did. We did 36 miles in 3 hours 5 mins so it wasn't at any great pace but to say I've done so little lately and felt not good it wasn't bad.
I'd weighed myself in the morning and I've gone up to 12 st 7 which is some 7 lbs I'd put on in the last few weeks as I was 12 st which I feel is about my fighting weight.
\think I was better after seeing Pete Read too as I was psychologically fitter.
Monday 3rd December
Did one and a half hours on the spinning bike today. Did the first hour wuite steady then finished with a
Tuesday 4th December
Went out with a couple from the Gym. Speedo stopped working but they reckon we did 65 miles but it took us over four and a half hours. Was a bit slow and as I haven't yet got a HRM I think it would have been slower than my training recommends but at least I got the miles in.
Wednesday 5th December
Was my static training session but it was rather cold to be in the garage so I went to the gym. Wasn't really looking forward to it as I was to do a 5 min warmup. Then 5 secs fast, fast secs slow for 4 minutes, then have a two minute rest and repeat it 7 times. I thought how boring !!! 5 seconds, thats hardly worth bothering about. How wrong could I be. I still had that feeling for the first 2 or 3 reps but ohh how my minset changed when my thighs were burning and I was gasping for breath. Couldn't believe it, the 5 secs fast felt like about 20 secs, even when I counted in my mind it never added up to my stopwatch. And the 5 seconds slow didn't really exist. No sooner had I slowed down then it was time to go again.
Felt really good after it but it was hard work.
Thursday 6th December
The weather was pretty &*^%e so I decided to go to the gym and do no. 1 session in Pete's book, the 40 minute session. The only trouble was I had forgotten my bandage for me knee. Although I started off at a constant for 10 minutes my knee started playing up and I did the other 30 minutes just with my right leg so I didn't have enough speed and my heart rate wasn't that fast but I got some good training on my right leg.
Friday 7th December
Had a rest day but decided to stay up and watch boxing !!!
Saturday 8th December
Staying up was a big mistake as I was far to tired to go out on the bike today
Sunday 9th December
Still too tired to do anything, how stupid am I?
Monday 10th December
Did an hour at the Gym. Just gentle spinning
Tuesday 11th December
Went out on the bike but I am really paying for staying up at the weekend. Only managed an hour and a half. Felt garbage.
Wednesday 12th December
Did my interval training at the gym, moving up to 8 sets of 4 minutes. Feeling good at last and decided to carry on, at least till the CD finished which was nearly another half an hour. Wanted to carry on to try and make some time up from the bike rides I'd missed, but decided maybe that this was not the right way around it.
Thursday 13th December
Weather still garbage and things to do in the morning, so decided to do a longer gym session. Did a good 2 and a half hours then there was a spinning class and before I knew it I was taking part in it. As people knew my spiining experience I was the centre of attention and made to to extra sprinting. Was hard after a long spin but I was feeling good again.
Friday 14th December
Good job this was my rest day as I awoke with a belting headache and had lots to do !!!
Saturday 15th December
Like a fool I went to a Christmas party last night. Didn't drink but didn't get in till after 2, so felt garbage when I woke up and didn't get any riding done again. In the new year I really have got to buckle down if I'm going to take this seriously. I can't afford to spend weekends with mates, staying up or going out and suffering for the rest of the week and not doing any proper training. It really is no good. I feel the weeks of training before are a waste and I'm as Pete would say 'de-training' myself. I've got to buckle down and sort my head out. I've got to sort my eating out too. Went up to me Ma and Da's last night and had a couple of plate fulls of a chinese then mince pie. Today I just feel FAT. What with going out and my eating I'm wasting my time and Pete Read's time. I know people say it every year as a resolution but I really have to take it seriously.
Monday 17th December
Went to Dorren's (My Wife) house in Germany to spend the Christmas period with them. Had a loverly time but it was far too long to be away from any exercise and it didn't help that from the third day onwards I was badly with severe headaches. And when I didn't have headache I would eat far too much and do far to little until another headache came on. I souped myself up with pain killers so even if I could have done any exercise I was in no fit state to do any. Got back on boxing day. The headaches continued but at a less severe rate. Think this might be because I stopped drinking coffee. But what with the family meals and still the headaches I didn't do any cycling until the new year. I felt fat. Just weighed myself and upto 12 st 9.5 lbs. Now to say I felt best in myself at 12st that is a lot of weight to get off to my required weight.
Wednesday 2nd January
Got back to doing my first hour on the spinning bike at the gym. So much hard work. Felt like I was just getting into riding several years ago. Maybe it felt like this as I had reached a high fitness level before Christmas but it was still a long way short of what I was
Thursday 3rd January
Managed an hour then a 30 minute spinning class to follow. Felt better than yesterday but it was still very hard work and I knew I'd done it afterwards.
Friday 4th January
Had a rest after me two days getting back into it
Saturday 5th January
Decided not to try the peak today. Didn't think the weather would be that good (how wrong I was) but mainly thought it's silly going in the peak district when my fitness level is at a very low level. Ended up going round Ikea instead. How nice did struggling up hills in the peak district look !!!
Sunday 6th January
Finally got back out on the road on the 12th day of Christmas. Only managed about 20 miles. I got some overshoes, waterproof jacket, mudguards and bpm / milometer for Christmas. Couldn't get the milometer on properly and the mudguards are not to cleverly attached. I really need to spend time looking at my bike and a bit of maintenance.
Monday 7th January
Did an hour spinning today. Feeling better all the time and I've got a long way to go. Think all the weight has ended up in my backside and thighs. Got to keep at it this time.
Tuesday 8th January
Did another hour spinning in the morning. The weather was still bad. Was a faster spin than yesterday. Meant to do another hour later in the day but time passed like a ship sailing in the night. Still not got my bpm monitor set up. With so much time away / in bed every thing's backed up and there's not enough hours in the day.
Wednesday 9th January
Did my training session at the gym
Thursday 10th January
Did a spinning class
Saturday 12th January
Went to the gym and did a couple of hours spinning.
Tuesday 15th January
Wen to see Pete Read today so did any cycling on the turbo there. Gave me another boost, as although I've been feeling sh&%e over the last few weeks I approved on the results fromthe first time. He was pleased that I was improving and believes that if I want to be a good cyclist, then I can be, but means putting in an awful lot of work. He set me a new regime and this time I've got to keep to the six days training.
Wednesday 16th January
Did the first of my new training regimes that Pete set me. I did it at the gym on the spinning bike. I know it's not ideal and it's better out on the bike or on the turbo trainer but I chickened out of the cold. It was a set regime of interval training going faster and faster over shorter times. I felt good doing it and added another 10 minutes to the end of the session.
Thursday 17th January
Supposed to do a two hour ride but it was raining like a man pouring a bucket of water down on a sandcastle. So I set about doing a two hour turbo session, but after only 30 mins I checked my back tyre and it had warn down again, so I'll have to go back to James Cycles and buy another tyre and sort out my stupid turbo trainer.
Saturday 19th January
Loads of computer work today so didn't get out. Mitch was at the Sheffield Derby so there was no peak district ride to miss
Sunday 20th January
More computer work
My next race was the British Championships Road Race in the disability. This didn't start well as I couldn't get my left foot clipped into my pedal and finished early when I got a puncture on the third lap.
My third race started badly again with my pedal but then with my speedometer clip on my front wheel catching. After stopping I was a lap behind and struggled to keep up so decided to just pedal round and get the miles in. This was going fine for about 10 laps until I caught a hole in the road and smashed my right leg.
Then I turned to time trialling with The Rudy Project.
My first one was 20 miles but guess what, this didn't go too well either. I was going round daydreaming most of the time and not knowing how to pace myself. I was just over 10 minutes behind the winner. The only thing that made me feel better was that I still fet I had plenty more to give. The second one was slightly better but I still was about 5 minutes behind the winner.
So if I'm going to take cycling seriously I really have to spend the winter training well so here is the blog I'm gonna try and keep
Thursday 15th November
Did a gentle 40 miles with John from the gym. I felt ok today after my neck problems and headache problems I've had recently so it was nice to get back on the bike and get some miles in.
Saturday 17th November
Went out today with Mitch. We did 52.3 miles in the Peak District.
The first 30 or so miles were going well until bizzarely, we came across a road full of sheep !!! Must have been changing fields, which is the nicer reason why sheep move !!!
Anyway as we stopped at the side of the road, I went to get off the bike, forgetting I had raised my seat the night before. My leg caught the seat and rather embarrissing in front of a bunch of sheep, I crumpled into the middle of the road with the bike falling on top.
Didn't think I hurt myself that bad, but when the sheep and shepherds had stopped laughing (now I know what sheepish grin means) every pedal hurt.
With being the Peak District there were some very steep hills to get home and I hurt but I also felt very out of condition and I really have to work at my fitness, or conditioning.
Monday 19th November
Went to fitness first in Rotherham and did an hour spinning. Felt pretty good.
Monday 26th November
Haven't done anything for a week and I feel FAT. What with sorting peoples computers / networks or not sorting them as the case may be, the weather and shher laziness I've missed everthing. Went to fitness first in Rotherham and did an hour spinning. Felt pretty good though. Thank God I've finally done something !!!
Friday 30th November
Went to see the Cycling Coach - Pete Read. This was a really good session. Put me through diferent exercises and we had a chat. The session lasted nearly two hours and from what he discovered was that I was out of condition, and a bit overweight so set me a training regime to help me improve. This involves over 150 miles a week. The Peak District on Saturday as I'm doing but further, a couple of days going steady or at least at 135 - 145 bpm heart rate, a turbo training session, and a copule of rest days.
As I've said it was really good and gave me back a bit of get up and go and stop felling sorry for yourself you lazy %^&$. He gave me his training book and offered to see me again to see if I've improved. I definitely am gonna try and see this training regime through or as much of it as I can. I really needed this and I'm so grateful.
Saturday 1st December
Went into the Peak District with Mitch again. Nearly killed me. Well no I felt better than last time but it were hard work. On the hills I just kept in low gear and head down and got up them. I didn't try to race any, I just wanted to get round, and I did. We did 36 miles in 3 hours 5 mins so it wasn't at any great pace but to say I've done so little lately and felt not good it wasn't bad.
I'd weighed myself in the morning and I've gone up to 12 st 7 which is some 7 lbs I'd put on in the last few weeks as I was 12 st which I feel is about my fighting weight.
\think I was better after seeing Pete Read too as I was psychologically fitter.
Monday 3rd December
Did one and a half hours on the spinning bike today. Did the first hour wuite steady then finished with a
Tuesday 4th December
Went out with a couple from the Gym. Speedo stopped working but they reckon we did 65 miles but it took us over four and a half hours. Was a bit slow and as I haven't yet got a HRM I think it would have been slower than my training recommends but at least I got the miles in.
Wednesday 5th December
Was my static training session but it was rather cold to be in the garage so I went to the gym. Wasn't really looking forward to it as I was to do a 5 min warmup. Then 5 secs fast, fast secs slow for 4 minutes, then have a two minute rest and repeat it 7 times. I thought how boring !!! 5 seconds, thats hardly worth bothering about. How wrong could I be. I still had that feeling for the first 2 or 3 reps but ohh how my minset changed when my thighs were burning and I was gasping for breath. Couldn't believe it, the 5 secs fast felt like about 20 secs, even when I counted in my mind it never added up to my stopwatch. And the 5 seconds slow didn't really exist. No sooner had I slowed down then it was time to go again.
Felt really good after it but it was hard work.
Thursday 6th December
The weather was pretty &*^%e so I decided to go to the gym and do no. 1 session in Pete's book, the 40 minute session. The only trouble was I had forgotten my bandage for me knee. Although I started off at a constant for 10 minutes my knee started playing up and I did the other 30 minutes just with my right leg so I didn't have enough speed and my heart rate wasn't that fast but I got some good training on my right leg.
Friday 7th December
Had a rest day but decided to stay up and watch boxing !!!
Saturday 8th December
Staying up was a big mistake as I was far to tired to go out on the bike today
Sunday 9th December
Still too tired to do anything, how stupid am I?
Monday 10th December
Did an hour at the Gym. Just gentle spinning
Tuesday 11th December
Went out on the bike but I am really paying for staying up at the weekend. Only managed an hour and a half. Felt garbage.
Wednesday 12th December
Did my interval training at the gym, moving up to 8 sets of 4 minutes. Feeling good at last and decided to carry on, at least till the CD finished which was nearly another half an hour. Wanted to carry on to try and make some time up from the bike rides I'd missed, but decided maybe that this was not the right way around it.
Thursday 13th December
Weather still garbage and things to do in the morning, so decided to do a longer gym session. Did a good 2 and a half hours then there was a spinning class and before I knew it I was taking part in it. As people knew my spiining experience I was the centre of attention and made to to extra sprinting. Was hard after a long spin but I was feeling good again.
Friday 14th December
Good job this was my rest day as I awoke with a belting headache and had lots to do !!!
Saturday 15th December
Like a fool I went to a Christmas party last night. Didn't drink but didn't get in till after 2, so felt garbage when I woke up and didn't get any riding done again. In the new year I really have got to buckle down if I'm going to take this seriously. I can't afford to spend weekends with mates, staying up or going out and suffering for the rest of the week and not doing any proper training. It really is no good. I feel the weeks of training before are a waste and I'm as Pete would say 'de-training' myself. I've got to buckle down and sort my head out. I've got to sort my eating out too. Went up to me Ma and Da's last night and had a couple of plate fulls of a chinese then mince pie. Today I just feel FAT. What with going out and my eating I'm wasting my time and Pete Read's time. I know people say it every year as a resolution but I really have to take it seriously.
Monday 17th December
Went to Dorren's (My Wife) house in Germany to spend the Christmas period with them. Had a loverly time but it was far too long to be away from any exercise and it didn't help that from the third day onwards I was badly with severe headaches. And when I didn't have headache I would eat far too much and do far to little until another headache came on. I souped myself up with pain killers so even if I could have done any exercise I was in no fit state to do any. Got back on boxing day. The headaches continued but at a less severe rate. Think this might be because I stopped drinking coffee. But what with the family meals and still the headaches I didn't do any cycling until the new year. I felt fat. Just weighed myself and upto 12 st 9.5 lbs. Now to say I felt best in myself at 12st that is a lot of weight to get off to my required weight.
Wednesday 2nd January
Got back to doing my first hour on the spinning bike at the gym. So much hard work. Felt like I was just getting into riding several years ago. Maybe it felt like this as I had reached a high fitness level before Christmas but it was still a long way short of what I was
Thursday 3rd January
Managed an hour then a 30 minute spinning class to follow. Felt better than yesterday but it was still very hard work and I knew I'd done it afterwards.
Friday 4th January
Had a rest after me two days getting back into it
Saturday 5th January
Decided not to try the peak today. Didn't think the weather would be that good (how wrong I was) but mainly thought it's silly going in the peak district when my fitness level is at a very low level. Ended up going round Ikea instead. How nice did struggling up hills in the peak district look !!!
Sunday 6th January
Finally got back out on the road on the 12th day of Christmas. Only managed about 20 miles. I got some overshoes, waterproof jacket, mudguards and bpm / milometer for Christmas. Couldn't get the milometer on properly and the mudguards are not to cleverly attached. I really need to spend time looking at my bike and a bit of maintenance.
Monday 7th January
Did an hour spinning today. Feeling better all the time and I've got a long way to go. Think all the weight has ended up in my backside and thighs. Got to keep at it this time.
Tuesday 8th January
Did another hour spinning in the morning. The weather was still bad. Was a faster spin than yesterday. Meant to do another hour later in the day but time passed like a ship sailing in the night. Still not got my bpm monitor set up. With so much time away / in bed every thing's backed up and there's not enough hours in the day.
Wednesday 9th January
Did my training session at the gym
Thursday 10th January
Did a spinning class
Saturday 12th January
Went to the gym and did a couple of hours spinning.
Tuesday 15th January
Wen to see Pete Read today so did any cycling on the turbo there. Gave me another boost, as although I've been feeling sh&%e over the last few weeks I approved on the results fromthe first time. He was pleased that I was improving and believes that if I want to be a good cyclist, then I can be, but means putting in an awful lot of work. He set me a new regime and this time I've got to keep to the six days training.
Wednesday 16th January
Did the first of my new training regimes that Pete set me. I did it at the gym on the spinning bike. I know it's not ideal and it's better out on the bike or on the turbo trainer but I chickened out of the cold. It was a set regime of interval training going faster and faster over shorter times. I felt good doing it and added another 10 minutes to the end of the session.
Thursday 17th January
Supposed to do a two hour ride but it was raining like a man pouring a bucket of water down on a sandcastle. So I set about doing a two hour turbo session, but after only 30 mins I checked my back tyre and it had warn down again, so I'll have to go back to James Cycles and buy another tyre and sort out my stupid turbo trainer.
Saturday 19th January
Loads of computer work today so didn't get out. Mitch was at the Sheffield Derby so there was no peak district ride to miss
Sunday 20th January
More computer work
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