Now that May has finally arrived, the time has come to dig out the summer cycling gear and hopefully banish the long leg bib shorts, thermal jackets, long sleeve baselayers and heavy duty winter gloves to the back of the wardrobe. Although there doesn’t appear to be the same emphasis on getting the this seasons … More Essential summer cycling wear
In my last blog, posted at the end of February, I wrote, “It is amazing how quickly everything can just slip away from you, when you are thinking you are totally on track with your plans and preparations for the 2020 season, so a timely warning for everyone to not take anything for granted.” When … More Me versus reactive arthritis
As I rejoice at the fact that February has now finished, it is time to review my training for this period. As per my previous post, January had been a good start to the year once I got over my Christmas lurgy and with over 50 hours of training, and I was very keen to … More February 2020 training update
As January’s go this one has been kind from a weather perspective, unseasonably mild temperatures have allowed for more time cycling and running outdoors than even most optimistic people in the North East of Scotland could have anticipated. The year didn’t get off to the best start for me as I was still struggling with … More January 2020 update
Looking through my list of cycling objectives for 2019 there was one remaining that I hadn’t attempted, everything else had been cycled even if not achieving the target result. Then the good people at Grampian Cycle Partnership (GCP) launched their cycling friendly North East250 route, this was the catalyst for spurring me on to complete … More North East Scotland loop
Monday 1st July 2019 – Day 1: Start 0900hours Edinburgh Cramond Beach Day 1 Target destination: Grantown on Spey Finally the day had arrived, the start of the inaugural Trans Alba Race, 1720 kilometres with 20,770 metres (or 2.3 times the height of Mount Everest) of cycling around Scotland. Months and months of training and … More Trans Alba Race – my race
Is there anything more than frustrating than being out injured and looking at your Strava timeline all weekend? I certainly don’t begrudge anyone the fun and enjoyment everyone appears to have had, whether running, cycling, walking or swimming in the brief periods of sunshine that we enjoyed this weekend, because after all I wanted to … More The impatient patient
Having alluded to some achilles tendon trouble in my previous blog, I am now paying a price for failing to listen to my own concerns about this, and soldiering on regardless. I rested for 3 days leading up to the Etape Loch Ness to try and resolve the issue and to an extent it helped, … More Love me tendon, love me true
Having entered for my 4th Etape Loch Ness in October last year and before I had entered for the main focus of my 2019 season the Trans Alba Race, I have struggled to be motivated for the Etape and wondered how to make it as meaningful as possible given there were other events this weekend … More Etape Loch Ness – the gas is 2/3rds full!
I’m mindful that it has been a while since my last blog, 5th November to be exact, and the boldly entitled “Winter Training doesn’t have to be boring” actually stood the test of time. A 6 week period of being “between jobs” and the relatively benevolent winter weather we experienced in the North East of … More Springing into Spring!
