After being pretty pleased with myself in the week for shaving 6 seconds off my 10 mile time trial, this weekend I have come back down to Earth with a bump.
The North East of England isn’t what you’d call a warm place. Even in Summer, despite local ladies wearing next to nothing on a night time, Tyne and Wear doesn’t feel as warm as say, Greenland. Yes, it’s an exaggeration, and yes it does get warm here (sometimes) but because of the ever present North Sea wind, the wind chill factor makes it feel slightly colder.
Despite warnings of a cold front coming in this weekend, I planned a Sunday ride. The weather has been getting milder over the past few weeks, and it’s predominantly the cold that has kept me indoors. On saturday, I invested in an XL (yes, XL - not XXL!!!) Endura Gridlock jacket (which has more technology in it than my living room) and some legwear from my friends at KB Cycles. So, wrapped up like a big blue eskimo, I ventured out into the wild.
Now, on the turbo trainer I can pedal along at 19-20 mph on a 40 mile ride. On my 10 mile rides, I average between 25 and 27 mph. Outside, it felt like I was pedaling through mud. On the flats I was doing 15-18 mph, and on the hilly bits between 9-11 mph. After 15 miles, I was cold and tired and ready for home. I’d stopped by a park and had a banana and a drink, and caught my reflection in a window. I know I’ve come a long way, as of today I weighed 18 stone 3lbs and 7oz (that’s a loss of 4 stone) and I have dropped 6 inches off my waist and wear an XL instead of an XXL. But looking at my reflection, I realised that I’ve still got a long, long way to go.
Particularly so, when you consider that the Great North Bike Ride is 56 miles long, and outside today I’ve managed 17 miles. I’m sure on a sunny day in August, with 6 months training and weight loss under my belt, I’ll be in a better position. But for now, it’s a little demoralizing.