The indoor exercise bike I bought recently that I was intending to send it back due to the damage on the cowling and foot part it, well, I decided to set it up last night, because it was getting on my nerves looking at the box sitting there for the past week and not being able to get out because of the lousy weather.

I went on it today, did 3 short sessions to test it out, 1 x 4 miles and 2 x 5 miles, I find I can do 5 miles in 15 minutes at a good pace above 20mph, but for my first try doing the 4 miles, I was going way too too hard, spinning the cranks like crazy and my heart rate on the monitor was 177 bpm's, I am 42 years of age and that makes my max heart rate 220, minus my age = 178, what are the dangers of riding at or above my max heart rate?

I felt a bit dizzy and had to stop when I was at 177 bpm's, it worried me a bit due to my heart problems, getting off the bike my legs felt quite wobbly and my head was spinning a bit, also had a sick feeling in my stomach.

I didn't go as mad for the other 2 x 5 mile sessions, using either lower resistance with a highish cadence of around 120 rpm's and trying to keep my heart rate between 124 - 142, which is 70% - 80% of my max heart rate, or increasing the resistance and using a lower cadence whilst keeping at the same % for heart rate.

It feels strange riding indoors and the saddle isn't very comfortable, no honestly, it's terrible, never felt so sore, why can't they put a normal bike saddle on them, hopefully it will bed in with use. There is also the boredom factor, I have moved the bike from the bedroom in to the kitchen so I can at least have something to look at out of the window whilst riding. I'm going to do at least 10 x 5 mile sessions per day, building up the distance for some of the sessions, and then do less sessions but with more milage.

My ankle feels better now after coming off the bike, just a bit of bruising on the right knee now, the weather here is proper lousy, winds above 25 mph for most of the last week and the same for the next few days, and rain, horrible, next Monday and Tuesday look a bit brighter with 12-14mph winds, I have missed going out recently.

Sep 5th (sessions on excercise bike)

1 x 4 miles
3 x 5 miles
1 x 8.07 miles
1 x 8.55 miles

Total miles ridden = 1964.08

Posted: 05/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I got 50 miles done on the excercise bike today, nice strong pace for all sessions, mostly between the 20mph - 22mph range, I thought that rather than do 10 x 5 mile sessions, I might as well do some mixed 10 and 5 milers, that gives me a better base to work up from there. The saddle felt a lot better today, maybe the saddle wasn't as bad a I initially thought it was after first using it, and the soreness was probably where I have not been using my bike for a while.

Something I wasn't aware of, for example, working at 60% -70% of maximum heart rate will burn fat, I thought it still did the same if you worked up to 80%, apparently not according to this maximum heart rate site link that was given to me, it says it makes you fitter and stronger, but you don't burn any more fat than going beyond the 60% - 70% max heart rate range, mind you, fitter and stronger sounds good to me and increasing lung capacity, so I might mix it a bit, some days higher, some days lower, I'll see how I feel each day, log for today.

Sep 6th (sessions on excercise bike)

10.07 miles (time 00:32:21)
10.09 miles (time 00:30:47)
5.02 miles (time 00:15:37)
5.06 miles (time 00:14:42)
10.08 miles (time 00:29:32)
5.13 miles (time 00:15:39)
5.05 miles (time 00:14:48)

Total miles ridden = 2014.58

Posted: 06/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I did 4 sessions to get the 50 miles up today, all were pretty intense, especially the last one where I kept the speed constant at around 20mph, and did a 30 second sprint every 3 minutes and held it at about 25mph for the duration of the sprint, I was sweating like a pig at the end, well, all the way through actually :D, and that's another reason why it's best to have the bike in the kitchen, wipeable floors, although I do catch most of the sweat by tucking a towel in to my waistband and putting the other end of the handlebars leaving just a bit of the display showing.

I think I'll be out for a ride tomorrow, lunchtime looks like it will be sunny with a 13mph wind and the rest of the weeks looks similar, log for today:

Sep 7th (sessions on exercise bike)

15.03 miles (time 00:47:44)
15.05 miles (time 00:45:21)
10.11 miles (time 00:30:40)
10.07 miles (time 00:29:19)

Miles on mountain bike = 1928.46
Miles on exercise bike = 136.38

Total miles ridden = 2064.84

Posted: 07/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I did the following sessions today, the first one was 20 miles whilst holding a steady pace of 16mph - 17mph, the 15 miles was done at a pace of 17mph - 18mph, I increased the tempo a bit more for the rest and added in some sprints.

I did the 10 miles at 18mph - 19mph with a 30 second sprint every 2 minutes and held it at 25mph for the duration, and the final 5 miles was done at 20+ mph with 30 second sprints every 2 minutes at 25mph. I also went for a night ride, my usual 14 mile loop through Bexhill and Cooden, it was nice being back out on the bike again, and the saddle felt so much better than sitting on the exercise bike, I can feel the difference where the bike bloke removed 2 links from my chain, it feels smoother, but turning the cranks felt very strange after being on the exercise bike. Note to self, the pulse increase at 60 minutes after the night ride, was due to me doing the last 5 miles on the exercise bike 30 minutes after getting back from the night ride, log for today.

Sep 8th (sessions on exercise bike)

20.08 miles (time 01:12:25)
15.13 miles (time 00:51:19)
10.16 miles (time 00:30:02)
5.14 miles (time 00:14:32)

Sep 8th (on mountain bike)

Top speed 26.2 mph (cycle path hill)
Avg speed = 14.8 mph
Distance = 14.63 miles
Time 59:15:07

Pulse before ride = 78 bpm's
Pulse after ride = 114 bpm's 11:14pm
Pulse 10 minutes later = 92 bpm's 11:24pm
Pulse 20 minutes later = 86 bpm's 11:34pm
Pulse 60 minutes later = 98 bpm's 12:14am

Miles on mountain bike = 1943.09
Miles on exercise bike = 186.89

Total miles ridden = 2129.98

Posted: 08/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

After going offline last night, I was getting a fair bit of dull pain in the top of my left calf and the side of my knee area, it was still achy this morning today, so today, I decided to take it easier on the exercise bike than yesterday. The first 20 miles was done nice and steady at around 15mph - 16mph, but the calf/knee pain got a bit worse even doing that, I did the 15 miles at the same speed, got the same pain afterwards, it seems to subside a bit about 20 minutes after stopping riding, I think I probably pulled a muscle or tendon slightly when doing the sprints yesterday, as it was alright before that.

The exercise bike is starting to make strange noises, there is a slight grinding noise on every revolution of the cranks, and during the second 15 mile session, after about 11 miles, there was a rapid succession of clunks as I was spinning the cranks, it goes away and comes back again for a few seconds, then after about 13 miles, the clunking came back, only this time, it stayed making the noise until I finished the session, surely it can't be breaking already after only 5 days of use, log for today.

Sep 9th (sessions on exercise bike)

20.09 miles (time 01:17:47)
15.09 miles (time 00:58:30)
15.10 miles (time 00:58:16)

Miles on mountain bike = 1943.09
Miles on exercise bike = 237.17

Total miles ridden = 2180.26

Posted: 09/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

My knee felt a lot better when I got up this morning, and the calf did as well until part way through doing the first 20 mile session, this time there is soreness from the top half of the calf going up to just below the bottom of the back of the knee, but not on the actual knee like it was yesterday, again, a short while after stopping, the pain subsided a bit, I did the 20 miles at 16mph - 17mph.

I increased the speed for the 15 miles, which was done at 17mph - 18mph, I didn't want to increase it because of the calf, but I often find myself creeping just over the target speed anyway and feeling the need to go faster. The two 10 mile sessions were done at 18mph - 19mph, the pain was getting a little worse after the first, and worse again after the second 10 miler, after getting of the bike, walking was quite painful, and if I raise myself on my toes, it's agony, it feels like a very severe calf cramp pain but without the spasms you get with cramp, I have a slight limp when walking as well.

I was in two minds whether to do my night ride or not, but I did in the end, as I wanted to get 70 miles done for the day, had to do about a mile extra than I normally do on the night loop, the leg felt ok on the ride, not as bad as on the exercise bike, I wonder if it could something to do with the exercise bike having toe straps, which means my feet are at a different angle when pedalling compared to my bike with no toe straps, anyway, I think I will give my leg a rest tomorrow.

The bike was making the same rumbling noise today when I first used it, but it eased up after that and was pretty quiet again, maybe it just settling in, log for today.

Sep 10th (sessions on exercise bike)

20.12 miles (time 01:13:41)
15.04 miles (time 00:51:26)
10.06 miles (time 00:32:56)
10.07 miles (time 00:32:53)

Sep 10th (on mountain bike)

Top speed 25.9 mph (cycle path hill)
Avg speed = 14.2 mph
Distance = 15.43 miles
Time 01:04:55

Pulse before ride = 78 bpm's
Pulse after ride = 102 bpm's 11:20pm
Pulse 10 minutes later = 86 bpm's 11:30pm
Pulse 20 minutes later = 82 bpm's 11:40pm
Pulse 60 minutes later = 78 bpm's 12:20am

Miles on mountain bike = 1958.52
Miles on exercise bike = 292.46

Total miles ridden = 2250.98

Posted: 10/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

So much for having a complete rest day, I couldn't help but go on the exercise bike, it's sitting there 5 feet away, begging me to ride it :), plus, it was suggested to me that the saddle height might need changing as that might be causing the pain in my leg, so I raised the saddle up another notch, although I felt it was ok as it was, having raised it, I did 10 miles at a steady 15mph - 16mph, I got no extra pain in the calf other than the very slight dull pain that's been there since I got up.

I did 2 more sessions at a higher tempo to see if the calf would hold up, 15 miles at 17mph - 18mph and it felt ok, another 10 miles at 18mph - 19mph and still no pain like there was last night, no worse than it was before riding today, looking good then. I wish I could say the same about the saddle, I take back anything positive I said about it previously, it's bloody agony sitting on it again, why oh why do they make them like that, on the back of it it says the words, "Super Soft", are they having a laugh? They might as well have made it out of concrete with metal studs in it, it also totally numbs the family jewels, I mean totally, I wonder if it would be worth getting a cheap saddle, or even a free one from my local Freecycle group and welding it on to the metal plate that this saddle is bolted to, that would make a hell of a difference, have to do something as it's getting annoying now, log for today.

Sep 11th (sessions on exercise bike)

10.06 miles (time 00:39:57)
15.04 miles (time 00:51:35)
10.04 miles (time 00:32:56)

Miles on mountain bike = 1958.52
Miles on exercise bike = 327.60

Total miles ridden = 2286.12

Posted: 11/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I didn't do any riding indoors or out for the last 2 days, my ulcers have been giving me hell again, because of that, I got hardly any sleep for the last 2 days, and wasn't able to eat much as I can't eat when my ulcers are bad, that left me feeling too weak to do any riding, on the plus side, it gave my calf a rest and there has been no pain at all today or yesterday.

Back on the exercise bike tonight, I did 15 miles at 16mph - 17mph, I think it was that speed, can't remember as I forgot to write it down at the time, the second 15 miles was done at 18mph - 19mph, and the third was done at 19mph - 20mph, after that one, a slight twinge returned to my calf, I finished off with a quickish 5 miles at 21mph - 22mph, calf didn't feel too bad after that, log for today.

Sep 14th (sessions on exercise bike)

15.05 miles (time 00:54:48)
15.02 miles (time 00:48:36)
15.05 miles (time 00:46:08)
5.05 miles (time 00:14:12)

Miles on mountain bike = 1958.52
Miles on exercise bike = 377.77

Total miles ridden = 2336.29

Posted: 14/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I didn't have a lot of time today, so I only did a couple of sessions, first 15 miles at 17mph - 18mph and the second one at 18mph - 19mph. My legs felt unusually heavy even after the first mile, thighs were burning quite a lot and I was sweating a lot quicker than usual, not sure why, but I felt better the more miles I did, I could do a lot more miles on it but for the damn saddle, I have to stop a few times through each session to stand up as I get completely numb below to the point where I can't feel anything at all :-/. I will be back out on the road tomorrow, log for today.

Sep 15th (sessions on exercise bike)

15.04 miles (time 00:51:46)
15.06 miles (time 00:48:55)

Miles on mountain bike = 1958.52
Miles on exercise bike = 407.87

Total miles ridden = 2366.39

Posted: 15/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I had a run over to Eastbourne today, outward trip was fine with the following wind, but it was a killer coming back in to the wind, speed was down to 10mph - 13mph a lot of the time. I'll do a couple of sessions on the exercise bike this evening as well, log for today.

Sep 17th

Top speed 24.8 mph (flat cycle path)
Avg speed = 13.6 mph
Distance = 38.12 miles
Time 02:47:28

Pulse before ride = 70 bpm's
Pulse after ride = 102 bpm's 6:23pm
Pulse 10 minutes later = 92 bpm's 6:33pm
Pulse 20 minutes later = 80 bpm's 6:43pm
Pulse 60 minutes later = 78 bpm's 7:23pm

Miles on mountain bike = 1996.64
Miles on exercise bike = 407.87

Total miles ridden = 2404.51

Posted: 17/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

Rather than do 2 sessions on the exercise bike tonight, I did one of 10 miles, which was split in to 5 miles at 18mph - 19mph and 5 miles at 19 - 20mph, I then went for my night ride instead of doing the other indoor session, log for tonight.

Sep 17th (session on exercise bike)

10.08 miles (time 00:31:41)

Sep 17th (2nd ride of the day on mountain bike)

Top speed 26.1 mph (cycle path hill)
Avg speed = 14.8 mph
Distance = 14.63 miles
Time 59:06:4

Didn't bother with pulses, would be all over the place from session directly before the night ride

Miles on mountain bike = 2011.27
Miles on exercise bike = 417.95

Total miles ridden today = 62.83
Total miles ridden = 2429.22

Posted: 17/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I was asked on Bike Radar forums, what did I want to achieve by doing all my riding/training, was I interested in doing some endurance races at some point?

Well, I would like to think that the riding I have done so far and for the next 6 months, will set me in good stead to do some sort of Merida marathon or other endurance race next year, not to be competetive, as I know my lungs wont allow that, just to be able to get round the course would do me.

I would prefer something in the summer months, as I don't fancy riding in gloopy mud during the winter, plus going down steep rocky hills makes me nervous, never been down an offroad rocky hill before and have no technical skills, then there is the climbing, I'm useless at it, well, maybe not useless, but my lungs cause me problems, also not helped by my bikes weight, but I will have a much lighter bike when the time comes, and would prefer it on a dry summer course so my lungs can cope with it better.

An acquaintance of mine on a non bike related site I am a member of, has put me in touch with an Australian friend of his who has won 24 hour endurance races in Australia/New Zealand, I read up on him online, he covered 400KM in 24 hours, his closest rival was 90KM behind in second place, and the kilometres he covered were more than the 4 man teams combined, he was ridng individually, he must be some sort of cycling animal, I've got his email address and will hopefully be getting some good tips about training schedules etc from him.

I didn't do much today, I had to make a website for scambaiting purposes and that's taken all my time up, hopefully, on Monday, there will be a disappointed Nigerian scammer hanging around in St Leonards On Sea :). All I did today was ride over to Aldi for some cycling stuff, I got some gloves, socks and pair of long bib and brace cycling trousers, tried them on, not a very good fit at all, I'll take those back and get my money back, log for todays little ride.

Sep 18th (on mountain bike)

Top speed 20.6 mph (flat cycle path)
Avg speed = 12.0 mph
Distance = 9.82 miles
Time 48:57:4

Didn't bother with pulses

Miles on mountain bike = 2021.09
Miles on exercise bike = 417.95

Total miles ridden = 2439.04

Posted: 18/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I still had some of my scambaiting website to finish off today, it's now completed, so I didn't do the daytime ride I had planned to do. One session on exercise bike, 15 miles at 18mph - 19mph, followed shortly after by my night ride, I only had about 5 hours sleep last night, if that, so I felt pretty jaded on the ride, I'm definitely getting an earlyish night tonight and hopefully have a longish ride out tomorrow, log for tonight.

Sep 19th (sessions on exercise bike)

15.08 miles (time 00:48:50)

Sep 19th (on mountain bike)

Top speed 26.4 mph (cycle path hill)
Avg speed = 14.4 mph
Distance = 16.20 miles
Time 01:07:25

Pulse before ride = 78 bpm's
Pulse after ride = 98 bpm's 10:54pm
Pulse 10 minutes later = 82 bpm's 11:04pm
Pulse 20 minutes later = 78 bpm's 11:14pm
Pulse 60 minutes later = 74 bpm's 11:54pm

Miles on mountain bike = 2037.29
Miles on exercise bike = 433.03

Total miles ridden = 2470.32

Posted: 19/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

Another lousy nights sleep last night, no more than 5 hours kip again, felt shattered today, I left the ride as long as possible and went out late afternoon, did the usual, over to Pevensey, then headed towards Hooe, loop back to Pevensey, three runs along a 1.5 mile section of tarmac track that runs alongside some fields, useable again now that the pikey caravans have been booted of it, then back home.

My heart beat was a bit erratic during and after the ride, and my pulse has not come down much since getting back from the ride, and it has actually gone up to 90 bpm's again an hour after the ride, I got a couple of little twinges in my chest and felt a little dizzy a couple of times, seems ok now, though, just the pulse that is high. I was going to do 10 miles on the exercise bike and then my night ride, but I think I'll give it a miss and just do the night ride, log for today.

Sep 20th (on mountain bike)

Top speed 30.1 mph (road near Hooe)
Avg speed = 14.2 mph
Distance = 33.55 miles
Time 02:20:56

Pulse before ride = 64 bpm's
Pulse after ride = 106 bpm's 7:52pm
Pulse 10 minutes later = 94 bpm's 8:02pm
Pulse 20 minutes later = 86 bpm's 8:12pm
Pulse 60 minutes later = 90 bpm's 8:52pm

Miles on mountain bike = 2070.84
Miles on exercise bike = 433.03

Total miles ridden = 2503.87

[edit]

My pulse gradually dropped to 76 bpm's, but then went up again, so I am not doing my night ride either, the computer will be going off extra early tonight, I need some sleep.

Posted: 20/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I decided to have a few days off to give my body a proper rest, I have been running myself in to the ground lately, what with riding, very late nights on the computer, and then other nights where I was not able to sleep much either, it was probably starting to take it's toll on me, and is probably what brought the erratic pulse on and the twinges in my chest, which have now stopped, I certainly feel better for the rest. Not wanting to go mad after not riding for a few days, I did one session on the exercise bike, 15 miles at mostly around 18mph, and then my night ride, log for tonight.

Sep 24th (sessions on exercise bike)

15.06 miles (time 00:50:54)

Sep 24th (on mountain bike)

Top speed 26.5 mph (Bexhill Road)
Avg speed = 14.5 mph
Distance = 16.48 miles
Time 01:08:11

Pulse before ride = 64 bpm's
Pulse after ride = 108 bpm's 11:22pm
Pulse 10 minutes later = 88 bpm's 11:32pm
Pulse 20 minutes later = 76 bpm's 11:42pm
Pulse 60 minutes later = 72 bpm's 12:22am

Miles on mountain bike = 2087.32
Miles on exercise bike = 448.09

Total miles ridden = 2535.41

Posted: 24/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I did a bit further for my first session on the exercise bike in the afternoon, 20 miles at 18mph - 19mph (mostly around 19mph), I took a rest after that, had a chicken sandwich, 3 small bananas and some fig rolls, fuelling myself up for what was going to be a 40+ mile ride out, no rain was forecast, but the sky suddenly blackened, it looked like it was raining out at sea and coming this way, so I didn't bother going out.

Should have gone out because it didn't rain in the end, the sky cleared up at about 1/2 an hour later at tea time. I had a nice plate of pasta and tuna for tea, relaxed for a while to let that go down and then did a couple of 15 mile sessions at a good pace to make up for missing my ride, doth done at 19mph - 20mph, my thighs were burning badly, finished the last 15 mile session at 8:35pm, had a break until 9:10pm and did another 10 miles at 20mph - 21mph, that one really hurt, had another short rest afterwards and then went out for my night ride, 74 miles for the day in total, my best yet, shame more of them wern't done outside, but a mile is a mile and it did me good, log for tonight.

Sep 25th (sessions on exercise bike)

20.05 miles (time 01:04:29)
15.05 miles (time 00:46:06)
15.09 miles (time 00:46:18)
10.12 miles (time 00:29:32)

Sep 25th (on mountain bike)

Top speed 24.7 mph (cycle path hill)
Avg speed = 14.7 mph
Distance = 14.66 miles
Time 59:45:4

Pulse before ride = 88 bpm's
Pulse after ride = 106 bpm's 11:25pm
Pulse 10 minutes later = 90 bpm's 11:35pm
Pulse 20 minutes later = 86 bpm's 11:45pm
Pulse 60 minutes later = 84 bpm's 12:25am

Miles on mountain bike = 2101.98
Miles on exercise bike = 508.40

Total miles ridden = 2610.38

Posted: 25/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I took it a bit easier today after yesterdays pretty high mileage, it was fairly windy, so I gave the outside rides a miss, but if the weather forecast is to be believed, the next 3 days gives us loads of glorious sunshine and winds right down to around 6mph, ideal opportunity to get some longer rides in on the road, with a little session indoors in the evening.

I did two 15 miles sessions on the exercise bike this evening, first 15 miles at a lower resistance at 18mph - 19mph, second 15 miles at 19mph - 20mph at a higher resistance, compared to yesterday, I felt really tired on the second one, more than likely due to not eating much today, all I have had to eat is 3 slices of toast, 2 small bananas and 4 small cherry tomato's, reason for that was, I weighed 11 stone 13 (167LBS) this morning and didn't want to eat much as I knew I wasn't doing much riding today, roll on the weekend, log for tonight.

Sep 26th (sessions on exercise bike)

15.04 miles (time 00:48:33)
15.06 miles (time 00:46:19)

Miles on mountain bike = 2101.98
Miles on exercise bike = 538.50

Total miles ridden = 2640.48

Posted: 26/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I went and rode the Cuckoo Trail again today, I felt drained riding through Stone Cross, there are some hills around that area, and I couldn't make it up one of them as far as I normally do, I had to stop and rest for a minute, my legs literally felt like lead, I was ok once I got to the trail and fairly flew along it to the end.

I rode half way back down the trail, then sat down for a rest, had a drink, a couple of bananas and nearly a whole bag of jelly babies, I only had about 2 mouthfuls of drink left after that, and still about 20 miles to get home, I was planning to buy a few bottles of water from the Spar shop near the trail entrance, but it was closed, and there were no other shops open on my route back, I started to flounder without enough water, I stopped at Pevensey Castle, had about 6 fig rolls and the last couple of mouthfulls of drink, they seemed to give me a bit of a boost and I was ok after that.

According to the signpost at the Cuckoo Trail, it's 13 miles each way, any websites about it also say it's 13 miles or so, but my bike computer tells me I did 11 miles from one end to the other, when I first set my computer up, it didn't have a wheel size setting for my 2.30 tyres, so I had to set it to something like 2.25, so is it a case that I have actually ridden a lot further over the last 6 months, as in, for every 11 miles I ride, I have actually ridden 13 miles? I weighed 11 stone 10 (164LBS) after the ride, wind is down to 1mph tonight and foggy, might do my night ride later, I'll see how I feel, log for today.

Sep 27th (on mountain bike)

Top speed 24.2 mph (Hill at Stone Cross)
Avg speed = 13.5 mph
Distance = 53.88 miles
Time 03:58:21

Pulse before ride = 66 bpm's
Pulse after ride = 108 bpm's 7:45pm
Pulse 10 minutes later = 94 bpm's 7:55pm
Pulse 20 minutes later = 82 bpm's 8:05pm
Pulse 60 minutes later = 80 bpm's 8:45pm

Miles on mountain bike = 2155.86
Miles on exercise bike = 538.50

Total miles ridden = 2694.36

Edit

Just about to go out for my night ride, hmmm, back tyre seems a fair bit flatter than it was earlier on, down to about 40psi, pumped it back up to 60psi, and I can hear a low hisssss, checked the tyre and I can see a small slice in the tread, when I put my thumb nail in it, the air is pouring out even more.

Because I was late getting back from my daytime ride, it had got almost dark by the time I reached Bexhill, I couldn't use the road with no lights on the bike, so I had to use the shingle beach track for the last couple of miles, I reckon a bit of sharp seashell has gone in to the tread.

Oh well, I have been waiting for an excuse to fit my Continental Travel Contact tyre to the back wheel, the one that came delivered with a hole already in the tread from new, I'll have to plug that hole by cutting a bit of rubber from one of the knobbles on my knobbly front tyre, and superglue it in place to fill the hole, then stick some more super glue in the current back tyre to seal the slice in the tread and stick that one on the front wheel, this should be fun and games trying to swap tyres and tubes, really can't be bothered to do it at the moment, I'll try it tomorrow, there is not a drop of wind outside either, proper annoyed.

Posted: 27/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I didn't do any riding during the day, my legs and lungs were killing me after yesterday, it was also my other halfs birthday today, and I don't think she would have been overjoyed had I went out riding, but you know how it it, tell them you really wanted to go out today, but as it's their birthday, you will give up your ride and spend time with them instead ;)

I did manage to squeeze in some time to do my puncture repair and tyre changes, though, it was a lot easier than I expected, and the only tool I needed was a desert spoon handle to get the last bit of tyre over the rim, it took about 25 minutes to take the rear wheel off, remove the tyre and tube, put the new tube and new Continental Travel Contact tyre on, but then I had to take it off again as I had forgot about the direction of the tyre, and I had it facing backwards, doh.

The front tyre change was a doddle, only took 10 minutes, I decided to put a new tube in to be on the safe side, and the Continental Double Fighter II tyre from the back is now on the front, I superglued up the hole and split in the 2 tyres, that worked out well, although the Double Fighers have done me pretty well, they are just a little bit soft and fragile, so I might have to invest in another Travel Contact tyre for the front wheel to make it a bit more puncture proof.

I took the bike for a spin tonight, it's so much quieter without the buzz from the knobbly front tyre I had on there, I can't say I noticed much difference speed wise, thought it would have been a fair bit quicker with the tyre changes, then again, it's a funny wind out there tonight, it seemed to be against me going there and back, anyway, log for tonight.

Sep 28th (on mountain bike)

Top speed 26.5 mph (cycle path hill)
Avg speed = 15.0 mph
Distance = 15.18 miles
Time 01:00:33

Pulse before ride = 62 bpm's
Pulse after ride = 90 bpm's 11:28pm
Pulse 10 minutes later = 76 bpm's 11:38pm
Pulse 20 minutes later = 74 bpm's 11:48pm
Pulse 60 minutes later = 72 bpm's 12:28am

Miles on mountain bike = 2171.04
Miles on exercise bike = 538.50

Total miles ridden = 2709.54

Posted: 28/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I might not be able to get out much for the next couple of days, winds in excess of 30mph are forecast, along with rain, it's proper dreary looking down here, at least I can ride indoors :).

I took a ride over to Bexhill earlier on to take a few photos at sunset, I didn't bother taking my pulse for that ride as I was stopping a lot to take pictures. I went along the shingle beach track to test the tyres out on it, the tyre change isn't very good for going along there mow, I came off once when the front wheel sank in to the pebbles, and nearly lost it a couple of other times with the wheel sliding away from me, I managed to stay on those times and keep going.

I went out for my usual night ride, the wind is getting right up now, pretty bad headwind tonight, I struggled to keep the pace up to about 13mph -14mph at times, legs were burning, I know I'm definitely fitter now compared to what I was, but a lot of the time I don't feel fitter, if that makes sense? Log for tonight.

Sep 29th (on mountain bike)

Top speed 27.8 mph (cycle path hill)
Avg speed = 13.0 mph
Distance = 11.26 miles
Time 51:38:8

Didn't bother with pulses after slow ride to Bexhill for photos

-----------------------------

Sep 29th (on mountain bike - 2nd ride of the day)

Top speed 28.1 mph (cycle path hill)
Avg speed = 14.6 mph
Distance = 14.66 miles
Time 01:00:10

Pulse before ride = 68 bpm's
Pulse after ride = 100 bpm's 11:07pm
Pulse 10 minutes later = 74 bpm's 11:17pm
Pulse 20 minutes later = 74 bpm's 11:27pm
Pulse 60 minutes later = 70 bpm's 12:07am

Miles on mountain bike = 2196.96
Miles on exercise bike = 538.50

Total miles ridden = 2735.46

Posted: 29/09/08 By: O.G.O.A.B

I decided to have a rest day today, it is windy as hell anyway, and give the indoor bike a day off as well. October was a pretty good month, I got quite a lot of miles in on the new exercise bike, that has been a godsend, and with the winter weather approcahing, I will no doubt be on it a fair bit, I would have liked to have got a few more miles in on the road, but such is life, just over 800 miles for the month isn't too bad at all, I should hopefully clear 1000 miles in october if all goes well.

Miles per month I have ridden since the start:

February = 34.69 miles
March = 197.93 miles
April = 286.61 miles
May = 343.63 miles
June = 279.84 miles (missed riding for about half of this month)
July = 600.76 miles
Aug = 184.92 miles (many days missed with bad weather, broken spoke and injured ankle/knee)
Sep = exercise bike = 538.50 - mountain bike = 268.50 - Total = 807.00 miles

Posted: 31/08/08 By: O.G.O.A.B