Well I did plan to go out for a Training Ride!

But looking at the view out of my window this morning, perhaps not!

And my cycling companions across the USA are

Sally Fenton, USA, Tour Leader

Cathy Blondeau, Canada, 61
Sjef Streng, Netherlands, 58
Don Youngblood, USA, 69
Dexter Morse, USA, 64
Renate Olaisen, Norway, 36
Jason Pennington, England, 42
Hubert Bol, Netherlands
Jill Perakis, USA
Greg Whitehead, USA
Dave Springett, England
Don Youngblood, USA, 69
Annika Gross, Norway
Ellen Hadley, Canada, 32

And of course myself sitting somewhere roughly in the middle of the age range, pleasantly surprised that I'm not the oldest member in the team !

At last some sunshine!

But not for long with more snow forecast in Yorkshire this weekend. Since the last post I have now clocked up 3 more rides totalling 134 miles and have now upgraded to the medium+ touring pace ride with the Sunday group. The pace was noticeably quicker but I managed to hang on in there. Wednesday's ride of 48 miles with the EG's in the sunshine up into the Yorkshire Dales was absolutely glorious, and a reminder of why I have moved back to God's own county.
I must be getting fitter as the hills are definitely starting to flatten out!

Training Log

Rides                   10
Miles                   434
Average               43.4

Hills, Headwinds, Potholes and Rain

Would best describe today's training ride with Wheel Easy. 40 gruelling miles to Fountains Abbey and back compensated for by a very nice lunch stop in the Visitor Centre and a hot bath at the end of it. It must be doing me some good!

Reality Check?

Been out with the Wheel Easy EG's today and participitated in a vigorous 60 mile circular ride to Masham (the home of Theakstons Bitter to my southern friends). Unfortunately I got left behind on the rather hilly return leg, lost the group and ended up riding back alone in the driving rain and headwind. I can however recommend the smoked haddock soup in the cafe at Masham even though it didn't give me the energy burst that I clearly needed.
And the moral of the story is keep up, pedal faster, take a map and get everybody's mobile number.

Wheel Easy

Finally got round to joining the Harrogate Wheel Easy cycling club after 18 months of thinking about it. And what a friendly welcoming bunch they are. Have now done two forty plus Sunday rides and a Wednesday fifty mile ride with the elderly gentlemen or EG's as they call themselves. They certainly don't ride like elderly gentlemen, are great company  and maintain a a very respectable pace.
Perfect for my training plans. My aim now is to cycle twice a week with the club and as I get closer to the departure date I shall start adding  panniers to increase the load. It certainly makes it a lot easier to get out on the bike on a wet miserable Harrogate day when there's a group to cycle with.

First Training Rides of the Year

Thought I'd take advantage of the sunny weather and get out on the bike if only to see how bad my current level of cycling fitness is!
On Monday I did a fairly flat 46 mile circular route to Tadcaster, popping in to to see my pal Kevin at the Flat Roof Company. Sadly no chocolate biscuits to recharge my weary legs. Tuesday, a much hillier 48 mile circular route to Boroughbridge.
Pleasantly surprised , as I feel reasonably ok after 2 consecutive days on the bike in cold and damp conditions.
One of the great things about cycling around here is that there is always a plentiful supply of delightful cake and tea shops, all overpriced and guaranteed to deplete your wallet by the best part of a tenner as well as undoing all the good work!
Having said that  it might be more appropriate to schedule my stops at Mcdonalds and Burger King, in view of where I'm going!