Big update (20% to target!)
So it has been a while since my last blog post, and since then quite a lot has happened - I'm going to try my best to recall as much as I can.
Box Hill is the most recent ride I've done and it was very enjoyable. It was over the bank holiday weekend and we were lucky to have amazing weather for it!
Our challenge on the ride was to try and keep our heart rates down so we can keep a more consistent pace after climbing hills. It worked. Even after the mammoth climb up box hill, we felt good enough just to keep on going.
I also tried loading up my water with electrolytes. It definitely helped, though after the ride I had finished all my drink - which contained the maximum daily allowance. This isn't going to work on the ride, but maybe I'll have a bottle as well as my hydration pack which can contain the electrolytes.
Drumroll, please...
So far I've made an awesome 20% (£100) of my target! Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far. I still have quite a way to go so don't forget to carry on sharing!
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pp-martin-garnett
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pp-martin-garnett
Snow, snow and more snow
The weather has been all over the place this year in England. One minute it's snowing, the next its glorious sun. Just after my last post, however, it was mainly snow and rain.
This was a problem for me as I really did not feel like doing anything, let alone jumping on the bike and freezing my butt off!
Ride 1
Shortly after I last posted, (remember the vlog?), Paul and I went out for a ride around our local woods (known as 'Porridge Pots' - but I'm not sure why). We got lucky. Whilst the air was fresh, it was clear and somewhat dry.
The light that morning was spectacular as the days were just starting to get longer. Although we set out for a normal ride, it was actually quite a strange one as halfway around, Paul had a random incident with his back wheel coming loose.
After sorting it all out, and pedalling on for a few meters, he realised he had no back brake! Turns out during his incident, one of his rear brake pads had pinged out! So Paul was without a back brake for the rest of the ride - and I decided to join him.
It was a lot more challenging than I expected. You don't realise how much that back brake actually does for you. We found a nice downhill trail that seemed quite new and, sticking to the mentality of no rear brake, we tackled it slowly. Oh. My. God. We were sliding all over the place. I think I fell off about three times down that hill?
Ride 2
The next ride (that I remember), was a very snowy one. Not that we knew that it would be when we set off...
This was a ride we went on with a friend from work, Richard. We had planned to do an Evans RideIt event that April and I participated in last year. I had a printed map, and... that was about it.
It started off fine, however, we quickly got lost, and ended up taking the route in reverse. This didn't help me trying to remember the route (my memory is bad enough). But, in true "I have no idea where I'm going but I'm sure this map will be easy to follow" fashion... (more on this later), we continued on taking what we thought were the right paths.
And then it happened...
... It snowed. Lots.
Before long, everywhere looked like it did a few weeks before, and it suddenly got very cold. Thankfully the ride wasn't too difficult with climbing. That being said, there was one climb that had an awesome view at the top - perfect bike photo opportunity.
We pedalled on to a cafe by Fairoaks airfield and had a nice warm coffee which gave feeling back into my fingers and toes.
At this point, I should have probably had something more to eat. It's been a real struggle eating properly and it's something I'm now focusing on. Keep an eye out for a blog post coming soon about my struggles with food and exercise.
As we came to the end of the ride I felt like dying. I was shaking from lack of fuel, and all out of energy gels. Still - it was a good ride with a good amount of miles and climbing.
Bike Service
After not riding my bike for most of winter, something felt off about it. It felt slower.
At first I thought it was just me being unfit, but during that last snow ride with Paul, I was able to confirm my suspicion. Usually, when descending down a hill, I can usually overtake Paul just by coasting - even when he's peddling. However, on the last hill back home on the ride, I noticed I literally couldn't keep up - even though Paul was barely trying.
So I called up Andy from Purple Bike Shed and he came to my flat, picked up my bike, and brought it back feeling all nice and new. Good service, good price. Check him out if you're in the area.
At first I thought it was just me being unfit, but during that last snow ride with Paul, I was able to confirm my suspicion. Usually, when descending down a hill, I can usually overtake Paul just by coasting - even when he's peddling. However, on the last hill back home on the ride, I noticed I literally couldn't keep up - even though Paul was barely trying.
So I called up Andy from Purple Bike Shed and he came to my flat, picked up my bike, and brought it back feeling all nice and new. Good service, good price. Check him out if you're in the area.
Stains to Richmond
Quite a popular ride that Paul and I like doing is along the Thames River. Paul lives in staines so I meet him at his, and off we go.
It's quite an easy ride - strange how the miles rack up on flat, easy, terrain. This was the first time I went along with him all the way to Richmond - we usually have to turn around half way due to running out of time.
On this occasion, we detoured to a cool pump track that's along the way. It was my first time on anything like this so I was a bit scared at first - looking forward to trying it again.
This was actually the first ride with my clipless pedals and shoes. I was scared I was going to fall off all the time, but where it was so flat, it was actually quite easy.
I bought some Nukeproof pedals, as they're the same brand as my flat pedals and I absolutely love them. I already miss my flats however and I can't wait to go back to them after the big ride!
It's quite an easy ride - strange how the miles rack up on flat, easy, terrain. This was the first time I went along with him all the way to Richmond - we usually have to turn around half way due to running out of time.
On this occasion, we detoured to a cool pump track that's along the way. It was my first time on anything like this so I was a bit scared at first - looking forward to trying it again.
This was actually the first ride with my clipless pedals and shoes. I was scared I was going to fall off all the time, but where it was so flat, it was actually quite easy.
I bought some Nukeproof pedals, as they're the same brand as my flat pedals and I absolutely love them. I already miss my flats however and I can't wait to go back to them after the big ride!
The Gym
Well... this is going to be a short section. I signed up for the Gym! Yay!...
I've been 2 or 3 times... oops...
When it was cold and miserable, I really didn't feel like getting up early and walking 15 minutes down the road. Lazy, I know. But it's just how I felt.
I still have the membership, as I know I need to get going back there, but there's been another problem - a new job.
New Job
Between all these big rides, I was able to fit in a little bit of commuting miles which helps to keep the stamina up. I also had quite a bit of time in the mornings where I was planning to go to the gym, and I got home relatively quick which allowed me to meet up with Paul for the odd ride around Swinley forest.
But then I went and got myself a new job!
Now I'm not saying this is a bad thing - it's doing more of what I want to be doing, better pay, and in a huge company where I can hopefully learn lots from. Unfortunately, it is about 50 minutes commute each way. Losing 2 hours out of your day doesn't sound like much, but that could be a gym session and a bike ride.
It may sound like a huge problem, but now I'm getting settled, I'm starting to see a few benefits.
Did I tell you my new job is in Shere - 5 minutes drive from Peas Lake!
Just a couple of weeks ago I went for my first ride around what my colleague called it "Mountain Bike Mecca". And he was right!
The trails there are fast, with some cool jumps in, and some absolutely terrifying descents (where I was leaning so far back, my arse was tapping my rear tyre).
It was an awesome ride and I can't wait to go again.
Pauls Maps
Paul has a folder full of rides in our area that we've decided to slowly start making our way through. It's great riding new trails all the time, however, it does get tedious keep having to look at a map literally every 2 minutes.
We're going to invest in a GPS and add the routes to that so we can just follow that and not have to get the map out constantly.
1. Alton Ride
The Alton ride was our first ride, and my 2nd time out on flat pedals. Needless to say, the hard, rutted fields quickly proved to be a problem, along with boggy forest ground. I came off my bike 3 times on this ride, 1 of them being quite painful as I landed on the hard, spiky mud, and in the stinging nettles.
2. Box Hill Ride
Box Hill is the most recent ride I've done and it was very enjoyable. It was over the bank holiday weekend and we were lucky to have amazing weather for it!
Our challenge on the ride was to try and keep our heart rates down so we can keep a more consistent pace after climbing hills. It worked. Even after the mammoth climb up box hill, we felt good enough just to keep on going.
I also tried loading up my water with electrolytes. It definitely helped, though after the ride I had finished all my drink - which contained the maximum daily allowance. This isn't going to work on the ride, but maybe I'll have a bottle as well as my hydration pack which can contain the electrolytes.
Summary
I know I went on a little bit in this blog post, but there was a lot to catch you all up on! I'll try and post more frequently from now on to prevent a mega post like this again.
Thanks for taking the time to read it anyway, and remember, please share and donate:
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