Training Truths

I'd meant to go to a Pilates class at the gym, but for some reason I'd thought it was at 5 instead of 4 - so missed it. That wasn't a problem, because I'd planned to do a bit of cardio work afterwards anyway, so I just went up to the gym, and added a few weights and core work to what I'd been planning to do anyway.

I did ten minutes on one of the exercise bikes at an average power output of 185 watts (effort levels 8/9), but by the end of this I was suffering somewhat and my heart rate was above 170, which sets off alarms on the machine (!). What the whole experience brought home to me was that I have the strength in my legs (I'm leg-pressing 190kg - the highest weight available - fairly comfortably), because they weren't really tired, but my aerobic fitness isn't anywhere near where it needs to be. I'm going to be climbing Mont Ventoux (assuming I get that far) for more than an hour, so I'm going to need to be able to cope with prolonged periods of high effort.

I don't feel too downhearted though - I've got 5 months of training to get to the required level, and hopefully the fitness will come as long as I continue putting the work in.

I emailed the Twickenham Cycling Club yesterday to enquire about joining, because I think that'll be a good way to get used to cycling in groups etc., and they seem to do fairly regular long rides. I'm going to need to do plenty of those and doing them on my own might get a bit tedious.

On their website they had a list of Sportive rides, which are exactly the kind of thing I'll need to do to get in shape - the Etape being regarded as the ultimate Sportive ride. I like the fact that they seem to emphasise that Sportives aren't competetive - they're just challenges to be completed, a bit like doing a marathon. I've already got in mind a few that I might want to do -for instance the Dragon Ride which takes place around Bridgend, which is where my sister's boyfriend is from, so would be a nice weekend away for the whole family.

Having said that the Etape is a bit like doing a marathon and isn't competetive, there are a few crucial differences. Very few marathons are held on mountains for starters, but crucially, there is a functional time limit on the Etape. This is enforced by the dreaded "broom wagon". Riders who fail to keep up a minimum pace are hoovered up by the wagon, and forced to drop out of the event.

On my regular bike, a Specialized Sirrus Comp,  my current "cruising speed" is around 15 mph. I've got a rack and stuff on this bike, so obviously its a bit heavier than a proper road bike would be, but I'm clearly going to have to get this up a bit if I'm going to avoid ending up on the broom wagon. I read an interesting article in today's Sunday Times which amongst other things suggested that the exertion used in cycling as compared to cycling can be figured out by dividing by a factor of 4. Eg. If you're cycling at 16mph, that's the same in energy terms as walking at 4mph. The problem being that 4mph is just that - walking -  and I need to be "running". Hopefully that increase in speed will come with greater aerobic fitness...but today has very much been about getting a handle on how much work I need to do.

Bike Porn

So today I got the news that I'd kinda been hoping for, but also kinda dreading. I've been "lucky" enough to get on Sky's team for the Etape du Tour 2009, which takes place on July 20th.

For those of you that don't know, it's basically a ride over one of the actual stages of the Tour de France, which is open to moderately hardy and spectacularly foolish amateurs.

This year, the stage begins in Montelimar (where the Nougat comes from) and ends at the summit of Mont Ventoux. 

Ever since I first heard about the Etape, I've wistfully dreamt of one day attempting it, without ever thinking it might really happen. However, this year, as part of Sky's tie-up with the GB cycling team, they've decided to send a team, and that's where we came in.

I would have wanted to do the Etape any year, but the fact that this year's stage finishes on Mont Ventoux is really a dream come true - one that I'm really hoping doesn't become a nightmare. 

The "Giant of Provence" holds a very special place in the history of the Tour de France - which I've been mildly obsessed by, ever since watching Stephen Roche win it in 1987. Britain's Tom Simpson died on the mountain in 1967, and there's a granite memorial that marks the spot where he fell. If that wasn't enough to put off the faint-hearted, 7-time Tour Winner Lance Armstrong describes it as his least favourite climb.

I've always been fascinated by the stories which surround Mont Ventoux, and a couple of years ago - whilst staying with my friend Manny, who lives near Avignon - I took the opportunity to make a visit.

Thankfully, I can't remember too much of it, but I do recall thinking that it was pretty hard to get up it in a car - I couldn't really believe that anyone could do it on a bike....well, now I'm going to try to find out if it really is possible.

This blog was inspired by Rich's Etape Du Tour. While I was waiting to find out if I'd got on the team, I discovered his really well written, informative and interesting blog and decided that if I did get to do the Etape I'd have a go at doing something similar.

One of the things I liked about it was all the gadgets he used to monitor his training - those of you who know me will also know that I love a gadget - any gadget. So today, I've spent a lot of time checking out what gadgets might suit me, as well as eyeing up a few road bikes - that's the Bike Porn of the title.

I popped into Moore's cycles in Twickenham and Ben - the very helpful assistant there - immediately recommend the Specialized Allez Sport. I've just noticed that by coincidence, that this is exactly the bike that Rich did the Etape on, so it looks like it might be a decent choice. Ben let me have a ride round the car park on the Sport, and also on the model below. There are obvious cost implications, but the Sport definitely felt smoother and lighter, and if I could notice the weight difference over 50 yards, I think that would make a huge difference over 100+ miles.

I also had a quick look in BikeHut, but true to its Halfords lineage, the staff were less than helpful. They did have some nice looking Boardman bikes, but at the moment I feel like I'd be likely to get a better initial setup and ongoing care from a "proper" bike shop. More on this over the next couple of weeks I'm sure. I love the "process" of buying something, the research and trying out and imagining what it would be like to own the "thing". As I said to Ben at Moore's...."I love a brochure, me".

Now to the tricky bit....training. I'm a pretty regular gym-goer, and do Yoga and Pilates and play badminton as well as the normal cardio stuff. However, I've let the cardio stuff slip over the last month or so, so have been easing my way back into it this week and feeling very unfit.

I got back on my bike for the first time in a couple of weeks too, and remembered how much I love it...but also realised that if I get a bit achy cycling back from Twickenham, then that doesn't bode well....I'm sure the fitness will come anyway. I've resolved to do something training-related every day from now on and when I've got all my gadgets, I'll post some facts and figures on how it's all going.

Something that will hopefully keep me on track through the dark times is that I'm planning to do the Etape for charity (assuming that fits in with Sky's plans). Specifically, for Childline - where I'm training to become a volunteer telephone counsellor. It wasn't until I I signed up with them that I realised that because of a lack of resources, many children who call Childline don't actually get to speak to someone. After merging with the NSPCC, they're now embarking on a programme aimed at answering every call, and so hopefully I can raise some money to help towards that goal.

Like I say, all that was just by way of introduction really. Over the next few months, I'll do my best to keep this blog updated and hopefully make it a bit more interesting, with pictures and videos and stuff. This is my first attempt at doing something like this (the blog AND the ride!), so if you have any thoughts, tips or suggestions then do let me know.

Thanks for reading,

Shirish