Progress

Two milestones in the last week or so - 2000 miles on the bike since last July and 1000 miles now completed in 2007!

A ride without excessive wind would be nice to top things off - meteorological rather than colonic.

Pags has promised to send some photos from the Spain trip, hopefully not too embarrassing.

Out last Sunday with the Howester - he's becoming a bit dangerous on the Bullers' bike. Went out to Old Warden and back, and he regularly extinguished the Flame - particularly on the Millbrook straight.

All the good work was undone, however, by tucking into Mrs Howe's beef and veg and then a plum crumble and custard.

Marriage:

Dear Stato,
I am sorry to hear your concerns over the effects of marriage on cycling.
I feel the Garmin is unlikely to produce any meaningful data as it has no means of differentiating altitude climb or descent. I suggest you couple the Garmin gyroscope to a standard Presta valved pump attachment to achieve any useful statistical information.
I am also reliably informed from others in the married fraternity, that marriage activity follows a hyperbolic downward graph, and should be of no consequence by the third weekend - assuming there is no imminent requirement for a new dress / coat etc.
I am sure we have enough control samples within the team to effect a decent group experiment, with funding available from the EU to considerable value.
Regards
Event Psychoanalyst team

Bedford Charities Route Map

To see the route in detail. go to http://www.BedfordRotary.org/Park/LeJog2007.pdf

Can married men cycle

I am researching the effect of marriage on cycling cadence. Can anyone give advice to a newly married man?

Will marriage effect my performance?

Will my average cadence increase?

I have tried using the Garmin in bed but with no satisfactory output for analysis.

Update:

Glad to see another blogger - though his Napier's Logarithm style prose has baffled me.
Did 463 miles in Spain last week and the saddle sores remain for anyone wishing to inspect the evidence - Pags has some good photos and I will update when I have these.
Graham has palced the route on another website - http://www.BedfordRotary.org/Park/LeJog2007.pdf
Just a reminder too about the justgiving link -

Howe's Bianchi ready to roll

Getting the hang of this, as I have 4 different e-mail addresses, it is the e-mail address to sign in under username not Tech Man.
So as Tech Man I can report that I have now overhauled Bullers Bianchi S3, cleaned it, re-alighed the rear gear mechanism, removed & pressure cleaned the front & rear wheel bearing. Cleaned and re-oiled the chain, fitted spd's. Removed handle bar tape & replaced with thick new cork handle bar tape. Supplied & fitted new speedo magnet.

He has a 53/39 with 9 speed cassette 13-25 but it is Campagnolo

The had to watch as Howe tried to measure his inside leg measurement:

NB Seat height = inside leg measurement (cms) x 0.882 which is the distance from the top of the seat to the centre of the crank in a straight line down the frame.

Had to drop the seat by about 4" so Bullers must have very long legs.

That all for today.

Training on Sunday. Two 30 mile laps, starting at 9.15 from Cocksedges, weather permitting.

Stato / Tech Man

Howie has shorter legs than me, or maybe bagger levi's

Howie then tested. Another statisfied cyclist from the Biddenham Cycle workshop.

Stato needs help

I have a pdf file of the route. How do I post it as I can see no icon to allow me to attach the file?

Also, signing in is a nightmare, I am so far, Stato, Techman, MapMan & RouteMan but can only get onto the site under my e-mail address.

Confused.

Bedford Charities LeJog 2007 Route

The route is now almost at publication stage, have sent it to Brendon & Oakley for approval. It's short at 64 pages, with maps, elevations.

Stato

Justgiving

We are now online with Justgiving - you can efficiently sponsor our event with Justgiving reclaiming 28% tax to maximise the amount raised!!
45% of the money raised goes towards the Proect to relay the Astroturf pitches at the Hockey Centre, 45% to the Bedford Hospitals Charity and 10% to Rotary Charities. We won't take any deductions for our own or support expenses.

Quiet week:

Spoke to the Howester yesterday - he was lost in Gayhurst I think.

Pags is cleaning his bike, Oakers is heading off to Vienna and I think Brownie is clocking up the miles quietly.

Off to Spain with Pags - good chance to put in some miles and hills away from work. Weather +30c - acceptable.

Cleaned the bike and packed it for the flight today - Sue has an eye on spare space in the bike bag for hair dryers and other implements!!

Coco helped me pack - running off with the saddle bag to the far corner of the paddock!!

I'll get Pags on the Blog when we get to Spain.

54 sleeps left to LeJog!!

Bren

Training:

Went with the mad Welshman to Surrey yesterday for a 'Sportive'.
62 miles across the Surrey Hills with 4100 feet of climbing - with one 1:7 hill at the end to test the legs. Rain and wind didn't help the day, but it was a good workout.
I can see how regular eating can work - hit a bit of a brick wall at 52 miles and needed an energy bar - and how cramping can onset when cold and wet. With stops for the eating and cramps, with a lovely welcome cup of tea at the halfway stage, my time was 4 hours 53 minutes - giving an average overall of 12.7mph.
I don't think that everyday of LeJog would be as hilly, nor the weather so bad, but this shows that 10 hour days will be a minimum on the ride!!
I will be working on longer rides as the days get longer to build up against the cramps - still a good deal of work to do.

Progress

Just been out for a ride with the Howester (rhymes with coaster).

Bit worried that his training is overtaking mine, with reports of 100 miles + a week and alarming weight loss - see the first picture!

Found a mother of a new hill in Bow Brickhill - extreme exertion resulting in heavy breathing the like last seen as Brookesey welcomed the Pink Ladies on tour last year!!

The UK Etape entry opened today, and I stupidly reserved a place - 118 miles from Woolwich to Canterbury on July 1st. 5000 riders will give me a taste of the numbers and congestion of the French Etape later in the month, only without the hills.

Only seventy two sleeps 'til the LeJog ride - still plenty of training time left.

Oakley reckoned he had posted on this Blog - but on closer inspection, he appears to have started his own Blog - rather poor on the team front, but that's Dad for you.

Just so you can keep an eye out for him, here's another photo of the Syrup enjoying post-ride conviviality after last years race - sorry ride - to Rocamadour.

There are a few more photos I have up my sleeve - I will save these for a later Blog.

Bren