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Above is a self-updating weather forecast for the bike ride! Hope it changes from the 5 days of rain I'm seeing today (17th April)!
Tags: gym workouts
Post Views: 139
Overview
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Thanks for taking time out to read our Blog.
We are a group of 8 keen cyclists who work for an IT Consultancy in London, and on May 20th this year we shall be cycling from our Liverpool Office to our Kew Office over the course of 3 days to raise as much money as we can for MacMillan Cancer Support.
We will be be updating our blog regularly, so please keep coming back to see how we are progressing.
Cheers
Dan, Peter, Helen, Andrew, Tony, Jan, Gabriel, Andy & Nick
The Team
The Donations
The Quotes
Helen Fenton - "I'm cycling Liverpool to Kew to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of my father, Alan, who died last year. He loved the English countryside - as a walker rather than a cyclist, and I feel he would have thoroughly approved of our route (in particular the sections through Shropshire and Gloucesteshire ;-) Late May is also, in my opinion, when the English countryside is at it's best. But don't get me wrong - I'm not just cycling for the fun of the tour! 265 miles by bike in 3 days is going to be tough! Make no mistake!! I wish that my parents could have had the support of a Macmillan nurse last year. And that's why I'm working hard to raise every penny we can for Macmillan."
Dan Hawker - "I'm doing the ride to prove to myself I can do it! And to raise some money for a great cause."
Andrew Brown - "I have been involved with several organised charity fundraising events for Bluefin, but this is by far the most challenging! MacMillan Cancer Support is a fantastic charity to be raising awareness for and hopefully a great deal of cash for much needed projects."
Tony Harper - "On the 20th of May I will be swapping the pushchair for a pushbike and be joining the Bluefin office to office charity bike ride. This adventure joins a growing line of silly stunts that will surely be followed by more. When asked about the trip I said "what yeah ok I'll do it." It was only later that I realised just how far Liverpool to Kew is!"
Jan van Ansem - "As the 'Cycling Dutchman' in the Bluefin team I welcome any event that raises the profile of cycling. I truly believe that many more people could benefit from cycling, and that it should be considered as a good alternative for local transport. Unfortunately lack of publicity and lack of good infrastructure still leaves the cyclists the odd one out on the road"
Peter Conway - "As a keen cyclist this is a great opportunity to raise money for Macmillan in memory of my Dad who died recently from bladder cancer. At the time there was no local Macmillan support available, so I hope that we can help ensure that others get the benefit of the fantastic work they do."
Andy Wilson - "One of our friends has recently been diagnosed with cancer which has sadly pushed the work organisations like Macmillan to forefront of our thoughts. The cycle ride gives me a perfect opportunity to do something to support an organisation that supports and cares for cancer sufferers and their families."
Gabriel Matesanz - "I'm doing this for 2 main reasons: one, for not to apply the count-10-before-you-answer rule when I was offered and two, being to proud to rectify. As well as them, I think raising money for a Charity like MacMillan is a worth while motive. I'd also like to show my boys the importance of helping other people and justify all the hours daddy spent on top of that stupid bike dressed like a robot and not playing with them. Everything was done for a good cause. Ann, thanks for challenging (not sure I'll be so thankful after the event though!) and supporting me, as always."
Nick Heath - "I have been engaged in a punishing training schedule with the Bluefin S-Max Support Vehicle for over two weeks. Initially practising with short drives of about 5 miles, I have now completed a 75 mile run along similar roads to those we will be using in May. I'm now quietly confident of outpacing the others come the main event.For further preparation in the coming weeks, I will be checking out the inventory in the first aid kit, learning to use the sat-nav, testing the 12V cool box and watching the cycling on Channel 4."
Blog Views: 575 Total Posts: 9 Total Post Comments: 2
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APR
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I can't believe there's only 6 weeks to go!
After 3 weeks of rest (sick, holiday and work) I restarted my training last week and I didn't do too bad, 5 days riding in a row (...riding the bike, that is)
I used the weekend to rest my legs and hopefully I can make it another 5 of 5 this week although the weather is not very promissing: grey sky today and rains forecasted for the week... I suppose I should start training on the rain and stop being so naive to think we'll be lucky with the weather in May.
I want to start thinking in training longer rides, but I'll stick to the 15-20 kms a day program during the week.
Keep on training amigos! - Gab
Ver mapa más grande
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Oops! forgot to add my name to the last post. It was from Peter.
Cheers
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Post Views: 145
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All this technology frightens me to death - at my age I don't really want to know what my heart is doing apart from beating often enough to keep me alive!
My carb loading this week consisted of two lots of fish and chips.
However, I have been managing two trips a week to the office for the past three weeks (44 mile round trip, and the odd 20 miler at the weekend).
I've just replaced my razor blade standard trek saddle for a very old fashioned Brooks B17 (first designed in 1917 - with little change since then) at the recommendation of cycling friends, and it has transformed the nether region area already. It is completely comfortable and produces no discomfort whatsoever. Why change something that works so well?
Hope to up my mileage over the next few weeks and quite frankly am aiming just to be able to keep up and complete the ride in one piece.
Tags: gym workouts
Post Views: 170
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Dan Hawker here.
So I read Helen and Andrew's posts, and I thought for a minute I'd come to some weird AUDAX / Macho Film specialist blogspot.
My training has been slightly more hit and miss. I did a bit of carbo loading last night - had a couple of slices of bread - very nice they were. I might have a sandwich for lunch. Yesterday I managed to cycle into the office and back (50 mile round trip), which was great Hoping to get this up to 2 journeys per week. Got a new saddle at the weekend which I've yet to fit, but looks much more gel-filled than my other razor blade.
Recommendations from me for the ride include - eyewear if it's windy and you don't want to be crying all the time. Cycling gloves - much more comfortable than bare hands and better grip - go for crotcheted back in the warm weather. Anything from www.rapha.cc, which is the coolest cycle gear site in the world.
When I'm on my turbo trainer, I like to put on some TdF classics from the Armstrong era - the climb up Mont Ventoux in 2002 is a good one (although Virenque beats him).
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Back in the garage again this evening on the turbo trainer - film choice this week...Gladiator!
Managed to get my forerunner and cadence sensor working with speed and distance as well as cadence. I still think it needs calibrating as even without hills and wind resistance I find it hard to believe I reached 50 mph this evening! My cadence was about 70-80rpm which is about 20mph I reckon. So, just shy of 15 miles in about 40 mins...
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Unfortunately I'll be spending even less time on the bike in the next few weeks due to tapering with the marathon coming up as will need all the carbs I can muster come 13th. Carb-loading starts for real on the 1st April...and the same can be said for the charity cycle - 1 to 2 weeks before 20th May I will be doing it all over again.
Cheers
Andrew
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Post Views: 141
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Ouch, Ouch and Ouch!
I wore my other pair of cycling shorts tonight whilst on the turbo trainer in the garage - not at all comfortable!
Not sure it was the film I was watching that caused me to feel the saddle more (Minority Report) due to it not focussing my attention enough or because the shorts feel like they have chuff all padding. I have to say I never had that problem with the Matrix, but then again I was wearing the other shorts...
No distance data for tonight's ride as my speedometer is attached to my front wheel, which is stationary, and my Garmin calcs speed and distance from the gps on it (I think) as the cadence sensor is working (I'm not to fussed about cadence at the moment) but no speed/distance readout :( I did keep pedalling throught the film (about 2hrs 15) so not too bad.
I've got my final long run this coming weekend (probably Friday) as the marathon is only 3 weeks away, so depending on how I feel afterwards I'll aim to get back in the saddle again on Monday.
If anyone knows any tried and tested makes of short (normal or bib) which have a good padding, then please, don't be shy...
Cheers
Andrew
Tags: gym workouts
Post Views: 165
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My backside hasn't touched the saddle in over a week!
7:10 p.m. on 15th March 20080 comments | Add comment
Great going Helen, but over 100 miles in this weather...are you mad? (let me rephrase that...265 miles in 3 days...are you mad?!?).
Unfortunately, the marathon has been at the forefront of my mind at the moment, just 28 days to go now! And even closer is the inaugural Bluefin Half Marathon - in fact tomorrow morning at 11am in Yateley (Hugh's Neighbourhood). The weather is looking really grim, so not much fun for the 12 or so runners, or the supporters for that matter. I've been carb-loading the last couple of days (potatoes and pasta....yum yum yum - I can't wait to not have a diet fuelled just to aid my endurance!).
I plan to be back on the bike next week as I will be working from home doing various bits and pieces. But if the weather doesn't change, I'll be back in the garage on the turbo trainer...hmmm...which movie should I stick on...
I can't believe we've gotten nearly £300 already...such generous donations too! I just hope it sets a precidence :) (the more we raise, the more Bluefin can match *hint* *hint*).
Right, off to eat more pasta.
Until next Blog...
Cheers, Andrew.
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Post Views: 146
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