THE KIT IS THE ****

 As they say "the countdown continues" with 17 days to go things are really starting to GET REAL. Many people have asked me along the way 'do you feel nervous', 'are you worried' etc etc and the honest answer is that its just another race but with huge amounts of logistics and rulings sitting in the way I'm a little 'apprehensive'.

The concept of shipping my bike across Europe and hoping to open my bike bag and find it in one piece is stressing me out slightly but the race itself is not so. Yes i'll be competing against the fastest age groupers in the world but it will be what it will be.

Tick Tick Tick Tick BOOOM!

Like many triathletes, athletes, racers or competitors I am a little OCD and to be honest when it comes to events like these I actually think it helps a little. ANY professional sportsman would tell you that they have a very specific routine or ritual when it comes to events or competition and perhaps even during training. 

My preparation for any race is fairly meticulous but this one has been unique as the fear of the unknown is whats unnerved me most. My preparation has been pretty good but there has been new kit to implement, work to be done to my bike and a whole new level of training due to the nature of the event. 

I received my proof for my sponsor printed kit and have to say im stoked and cant wait to get it on. Extra special shout out and thanks to my sponsors for all your support. 

LOVE LUTON // TIRO PARTNERS / SB DIGITAL MEDIA // LOVELO CYCLE WORKS & BERKHAMSTED SCHOOL

PRINTING BY BLADE PRINTING

If carsberg did weeks this would be an alchohol free one )-:

As weeks go this hasn't been the best what with the weather, the work and the workout schedule but more importantly a lot of discomfort due to a niggling injury in the form of a popped rib.

What on earth is a 'popped rib' I hear you cry? A popped rib is where one (or more if your unlucky) of your ribs comes out of place / alignment with your vertebrae and / or sternum cause a vast amount of discomfort in both the front and rear of the chest. Seeing as i rode almost 300 miles last week and spent a little under 14 hours in the saddle this could not have helped matters at all, especially whilst cycling in the 'aero tuck' position and desperately seeking the aero flat back.

Those that know me know I detest 'indoor cycling' in the form of the turbo (apart fro the non stop 8 hours i did for sport relief) but with a production in the theatre this week its meant a lot of lonnnggggg days and not much daylight so last night I hit a little bit of high cadence turbo training.

I always said that i would never ride in a 'sperm' TT helmet so i'm delighted in some ways that the ITU have made the world championships draft legal and therefore ruling those lids out as i hate making a hypocrite out of myself. All jokes aside I had medical reasons for buying this bit of new kit as with a benign lipoma on the back of my head the Kask Mojito was never as comfortable as it should have been.

All the cyclists out there know that we never need an excuse to justify new kit and a few grams of weight saving or a few extra watts of gains BUT it's always welcomed when we have one, even if it is as a result of an unwelcome cist.

SPECIALIZED S-WORKS EVADE

As I have said in previous posts as a 'multi sport athlete' with a child, working life and residing in the UK you have to learn to roll with the punches and accept the ups and downs that come with the fluctuations in work, weather and wellbeing!

HERES TO NEXT WEEK.

The ups and downs of a TRYathlete

For those of us that train perhaps a little more than the average bear we are more than aware that much like everyones day to day life its full of ups and downs and you have to learn to 'roll with the punches' a little.

last weeks SOLID week

Some weeks (like last) are as good as they can get with 250+ miles on the bike, plenty of running and lots of sunshine. This week however is juxtaposing to say the least with driving rain, lots of evening work and a couple of niggling injuries that are making keeping up with last weeks efforts nigh on impossible.

I have always loved the bigger miles and endurance side of things so training for a sprint duathlon and having to focus on keeping it short and sharp are something i need to focus on as with 24 days to go the taper will soon be upon us.

if only the run was this short

There have been lots of other exciting developments this week with the development of a new logo for the blog and the completion of my promotional photos (shown above). I was lucky enough to have access to the schools green screen and my resident nerd Andrew Ibbott who put in some incredible photoshopping to create these beauties!

My logo was lovingly mastered by +spencer wilson a fellow Lovelo Cinelli team rider and all round awesome guy. If you need something designing or made to look awesome then he really is your man.

I would like to thank those that have supported me in making this possible, without you this genuinely wouldnt be happening. Love Luton, Tiro Partners, SB Digital Media,  Lovelo Cycle Works (Berkhamsted) & not forgetting my employer Berkhamsted School for being flexible and understanding.

30 days and 30 nights.

With thirty days and thirty nights to go until the world championships I have in some respects been starting to feel a little anxious about what lies ahead. I generally take every event in my stride but this platform and all the logistics make it all the more intimidating. 

THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES

The reality and scale of the event bit down hard when i was sent a link to the competitors list ant when looking at the names in my age group which featured fellow GBR athletes as well as AUS, IRL, USA, BEL, CAN, MEX and obviously SPAIN (as the host nation). Its safe to say the bar has risen as fat dave from Milton Keynes isn't on the list and obviously these are some of if not the fittest dudes in my age group in the WORLD. 

All that aside my training has been going incredible well and i have (he touches wood...) managed to remain in jury and fatigue free. I've had a great mix of S&C (strength and conditioning) sessions, Speedplay & Brick sessions (running off of the bike) and am feeling sharper by the day.

A GOOD WEEK SO FAR

Having links with Dacorum & Tring AC has helped me to keep as run fit as possible and obviously being part of Lovelo Cinelli Race Team have helped tenfold with my bike fitness and race craft. I've not got in as many crits as I would have liked but sometimes its all work and no play. Last night the sun was beaming and a group of us from the team took a cracking social ride.

LOVELO CINELLI RACE TEAM

Due to a hectic work schedule and rather bizarrely a royal visit to the school I am unable to get out this evening so set off this morning at 0545 to join my brother on his commute from Flitwick to Heathrow (53 miles). I managed to squeeze in 44 miles before getting to work which is always a delight. MONSTER KUDOS to my brother who has only been cycling for 6 months and managed the round trip to and from work. Respect!

KUDOS TO THE BIG BRO

I met Simon at 0730 in Harpenden and it was a pleasant surprise to bump into our cousin and fellow caffeine addict Mark in Costa. Mark told me that him and his wife read my blog, to which i replied "at least someone is" so if you are reading this 'Hello Mark'.

 As someone who has as understanding of depression and how it can affect our wellbeing I have learned to capitalise on the positives and and hold tight to those when things get a little rough. this week is a great week and i feel on great form which may not last but the memories i will hold on to.  As a gadget lover there is nothing better than some new toys to help keep you on top of your game and further inspire you to want to get out on the bike and feel those 'marginal gains'. I am currently trialling my new saddle, a Specialised S-Works Power (Carbon) and have to say i'm loving it.

NEW TOYS

It's all about the gains......

No matter how big or small it's all about the marginal gains. As my route into triathlon and Duathlon came from running and only ever recreational I never knew of 'marginal gains' and the only gains I ever noticeably appreciated were the introduction of a new trainer as quite simply they were the onlly gains possible (outside of those though new training methods). 

As a so called veteran, MAMIL (middle aged man in Lycra), cruiser or whatever a more 'senior' bloke into cycling may be called we all know just quite how much kit, how many moderations there are within  cycling that really can make a difference. Any cyclist will tell you and as much as they would hate to admit it, it really is 'all about the bike'. 

I won't go into it in too much depth BUT I've always been intrigued by the concept of MARGINAL GAINS so successfully implemented into British sport by CLive Woodward (England rugby) & Dave brailsfood (team sky) after working on an event of an evening with Clive Woodward. 

The majority of the cyclists I know are either wealthy, intelligent, have a passion for technology or are slightly out there. Road cycling and even more so triathlon can be an incredibly expensive sport, even more so if you let it. Most cyclists love a new weight saving addition to their bike or quite simply the latest carbon aero gadget that will give that all important saving of 50 Grammes or simply shave a few seconds off here or there. 

Today was a good day all round for bike toys and gadgets. I have always ridden SPD (mtb) shoes and cleats as I really didn't see any real benefit to "roady cleats" as I used to refer to them, especially as you walk like a plonker in them and they wear out quickly. After using my road bike for my last triathlon obviously with my road pedals I found the minimal float much nicer to raid in and felt like the power transfer was a little better. More important it shuts up all the people that endlessly ask me and criticise me for riding mtb pedals. 

More geeky toys arrived in the form of my Evoc pro bike bag for transporting my race bike to Aviles for the world championships next month. The bag really does have it all and whilst a bike box ,at be a better idea the though of taking off my rear mech was traumatising me slightly. Obviously I haven't used the bag yet BUT in comparison to my entry level DHB bike bag this ones the nuts. 

Fingers crossed it'll get the bike there in one piece and make me look every part the pro I'm not. 

 

If Carlsberg did Bank holiday mondays.........

Then this would be one of them. 

The day started rather early for a bank holiday Monday seeing me down at the Lovelo Sportive start line at approximately 0645 to help out with the set up ahead of their annual sportive which consisted of a 50k, 80k and 100k route. LOVELO SPORTIF - BRITISH CYCLING

As part of the Lovelo Cinelli Race Team we were all out in force to fly the flag and share the Love(lo) whilst tearing up the 100km route. Occasionally being part of this mixed up family has its benefits!

The Lovelo Cinelli Race Team

We started off the stunning route around the chilterns in a monster group which rather surprisingly lasted at least two miles before it turned into a 'leg massacre'.  The majority of the following 60 miles were ridden through and off and for once we actually rode like a unit until the pace split us a bit and left 'the Inbetweeners' (Me, Mike Kazer, Nick Clarke & Josh Curtis) to tear up what was left of our legs.

The Inbetweeners

The pace stayed fairly consistent and the weather brightened up too allowing us to hold a half decent 19.6 mph average over the 62 miles / 100km and come in just under 3hrs 10mins to take the WIN. (ok there are no winners in a sportif but we were first home).

Healthy numbers for a 100k smashfest

The LOVELO SPORTIF is strongly recommended to anyone as it really does have it all with a post race barbecue and entertainment outside the shop and a route to rival any sportif you will find. Great cake and a couple of feeding stations (for those that wish to stop).

In the evening i took part in the Pednor 5 for Dacorum & Tring Athletics Club (Road Runners) which was part of the Hertfordshire Championship (Veterans). A tough and hilly five mile road race around Pednor / Chesham on what can only be described as broken legs BUT I simply thought of my eight hour rest as a long T1 (transition 1). Despite my ruined legs I managed to dig fairly deep and came in 2nd in my AG and our team took 1st team in the championships. Not too shabby at all.

Pednor 5 - Herts vets championships

If Carlsberg did Bank Holiday Mondays this would be they way they should be spent in my opinion.

Training is important BUT family is more importanterer

I like to think I take my training as seriously if not more so than the next man BUT there is a time and a place for training and a time and place for family, friends and those who see greatness in you.

Yesterday I went "Back to the Roots" and met up with John Sammon & Paul Conaghan some fellow ex Cardinal Newman school boys who have been kind an generous enough to support me in my #roadtoaviles journey to the world championships in a little under five weeks time. 

Whilst I was at a seriously low ebb after doing the sums and realising I realistically couldn't afford the preparation, the trip, the kit and the event costs John & Paul stepped in to assist me. 

We met up yesterday with the kids to have a spot of lunch catch up and take some photos for us to keep and for me to use as part of the blog and promotional trail I'm Rather poorly trying to do. I had framed a couple of customised event tshirts for them as a way of thanks and of course a pocket sized selfie, as who wouldn't want one of those right?

I'm slightly biased I have to say BUT on my return home from meeting the boys I fealt positively inspired and uplifted and thought what a great story it was and took it upon myself to email the school to relay the story to them and also immediately started the ball rolling on organisation of a 25 year "class of 1991" Reunion.

John, Paul & Mathew (what a biblical sounding bunch) have most certainly not been close since leaving school in 1991 (although John & Paul are) bu i think it makes for a great story of how the Cardinal Newman school network is strong. 

I cant put into words (although I'm trying) how grateful i am for the support of Tiro Partners and SB Digital Media and the only way i can see a fitting thanks is if I simply give it my best shot at the championships and do them proud. 

 

I think the kids (even my own daughter) were a little creeped out by the weird man in Lycra and at one stage Lily simply covered her face with the flag but the photos in front of the old school gates make for a memorable back drop.  Rather ironically its our first time back in 25 years and we had to ask to be let in. 

I was occasionally asked to leave!

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