Testing Week #1

Looks like I'm the only one here, so I should probably do another post. Luckily, I've got some info to share, as I just finished the time trials for my first training cycle (or, really, about 1/3 of a training cycle).

Swim - 500m in 11:26 (could've been better tbh)
Bike - 9mi in 34:19 (mm, lovely new bike)
Run - 3mi in 23:59 (very happy with this, used every ounce of energy available to me, and didn't get a stitch)

That's a combined time of 1:09:44, which is so close to my target time that it looks like I've made it up (I haven't). However, I'll probably have to shave at least 10 minutes off somewhere to finish inside 70mins on the day. Still, there's 7 months to go, so I guess that's plenty time.

I've also been very good and not ridden my bike today. Instead, I ate malt loaf for the first time in years. It's still nom-a-licious. The nutritional information is pretty terrifying though, more than 100 calories per slice? Ouch. I suppose that's why it's ideal for long rides and the like.

I also have an exclusive review of "coffee bags". Like tea bags, except with coffee. I got one free through the post today. It was quite nice. Although really quite large. Nicer than instant anyway. It surprises me that it's not been tried before actually, there can't be that much difference between normal filter coffee and the stuff in coffee bags...

Well, I've had a decent ride now, and... (EDIT! With slightly rubbish pictures!)

...it's well awesome.

Fast, fast, fast and fast (not sure how fast, as I don't think I'll be able to get my speedo to work on it), pretty, nice handling, fast, good brakes, and did I say fast? Thing is, it retains speed very well, which has a super bonus benefit of you don't have to pedal so much, meaning there's ample energy left for the climbs etc.

Pretty good timing for the day after receipt to be the first day for the Greenway to have thawed, as well. Hopefully I'll be able to do the 9 mile time trial to see how much faster it really is.

Also need to master the whole 'pedalling all the way round' thing now my feet are adhered to the pedals. I'm guessing that's worth a whole bunch of speed.

SO! If any Stonehouses are reading this, and I haven't rung you yet, I really really want to ride on Monday. I suppose this is entirely predictable. Oh well.

UPDATE: Here are the pictures. They're not that good. Sorry. I shoulda checked the quality setting on the phone camera. Hm.

NEWBIKENEWBIKENEWBIKENEWBIKENEWBIKENEWBIKENEWBIKENEWBIKE

Yes.

Today though, not Friday. Needed the chainrings swapping out, like.

It's nice. It's silver. It's light as flip.

It's got clipless pedals.

Egads.

It took ages to get used to them. But now they're second nature. In fact, it took about 30 seconds to go from "aaargh, this is impossible" to "wheeeeeeeeeee!!!!". That's life, I guess.

One sausage sandwich (Gas Mark 7, 15 mins, jolly nice) later...

It has 24 gears. I haven't quite got around to changing gear yet, though. So yes, I rode all the way from the shop in the same gear. It has a bit for attaching a pump, which I haven't really looked at yet (also, Paul still has the pump...). It's Valentine's Day, after all, I was already super fortunate to be allowed out to the shop :-)

The first review of the 880 (actually the second, but the one in 220 doesn't count for some reason) said:
"The Merida reminded us of what it was like heading out on a road bike for the first time, way back when we were kids. We’re big kids now but the Merida took us back to a time when that excitement of speed fuelled our desire to ride"

That.

(Will do a picture if I can, it's v.pretty.)

6 hours

That was my training volume this week. In retrospect, this is pretty insane. Although Bill Black would approve. And he should know. As I type, it's snowing again, which bodes ill for my swimming tomorrow (I'll have to cycle, most probably).

However, next week is my last hard week for a while - 6.5 hours, followed by 3.5, 0, 0, 4, 4, 4 and 4. So I should be able to deal with it, snow or no snow. No point having a training plan if I'm not going to follow it, after all.

In other news, Ilkley Tri won the 220 Magazine Readers' Poll award for Race of the Year (<500 competitors). Which is nice. Semi-relatedly, I checked when entry opened for the 2008 event. T'was May 1, however the race is two weeks earlier this year, which would suggest mid-April. There's a good chance that I'll be in foreign climes at that time, but knowing me, I'll still be checking...

WTF???

...was my first thought on passing the gateway of Odd Towers this morning and seeing cycle tracks in the snow. Yes, the Corporal, by his own admission, is mental. Even I was snowed off, and I hold the record for the most bike fails yet.

Missed bendy lessons tonight as my car has the stability of a roller skate in the snow. Bah.

Crunch!

Was approximately the sound made by my left foot this afternoon. Officially my first fall off the bike as far as I can remember. Was on the pavement about to cross Yorkshire Drive when I was mildly surprised to encounter a car exiting. (On a Sunday? Grr.) Seems like a pretty difficult junction to see round, which didn't help. Anyway, slammed brakes on, and, due to the dominance of my front brake at the moment, tipped me out onto the road. Not far enough on to endanger anyone, but far enough to startle the (by this time stationary) driver. Hurt like all hell. Still does, I guess.

Anyway, being mental, I remounted and continued my cycling. With a smashed foot. In the snow. For another 40 minutes. I worry myself sometimes, I really do.

In other news, 12pm Sunday is a really rubbish time to go to Bowling Pool. Luckily, I have no consideration for anyone other than myself, so I still managed a decent extensive endurance (a.k.a. plodding up and down) session. Primarily by swiming straight through people.

(Slight digression: I always feel faster in Bowling Pool than anywhere else. Not sure if I am or not, but I always feel it. I assume the temperature of the pool is key.)

Lastly, it should be noted that the first phase of the Greenway closure is in effect, although the diversion is relatively entertaining.

I lied about that being last. I worked out a rather nice 20-miler for this weekend (for me, at least), which involves going to Shipley, and from there, taking the Aire Valley Towpath to Bingley. Basically no hills at all, excepting Bowling Park on the way back. And not much traffic to speak of, either. Potential epic win.