Preparation for Colorado

Since Sharm, the closest we have been to water is in the shower.

We have been busy though. As usual, straight after a holiday it's always 'catch up time' and I spent mine on the road for a week. Knowing it was coming, I made plans to take Molly with me. The week away was eventful though. I spent the first day in Middlesbrough, where the security guard at the Sports Centre apprehended three local 'scrotes' who were trying to steal the bikes off the back of the car. Luckily the rack locks to the tow ball and the bikes lock to the rack. Apparently it was the feet sticking out from under the car that alerted him ...

Due to the somewhat excessive travel (1500 miles in a week, plus appointments) I only managed one ride - the North Face Trail in Grizedale.

This is another of our pretty good short trails. Just 10 miles in total, no BIG climbs, plenty of boardwalk and generally not very busy. The only disadvantage is that it located in a difficult place to 'go past and drop in'. I was going past for the first time in years and couldn't resist. Managed a PB at 64 minutes too !

The weekend saw us in Holland, Lincolnshire, one of England's flattest areas, with my brothers. We enjoyed a family ride at Rutland Water followed by a picnic. I wouldn't chose to ride there too often at the weekend because it is really busy. But, as a family venue, it is perfect. It's accessible, with good parking, bike shop (http://www.rutlandcycling.com/), cafes and it's brilliant for the kids who have improved no end since we last rode with them. How much better would we all be if our parents had dragged us out from such a young age?

Molly and Elly (above) having a breather on the dam wall at the eastern end of Rutland Water.

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Lucy - cruising (right). With mandatory tongue sticking out at Uncle Freddie !

The weekdays have been full of work, gym and local loops and we appear to be getting better. I have my 9.3 mile local loop down to 31 minutes on the ARC and determined to break 30 before Colorado. I also managed to cycle to the Body Pump class last week and managed 9.6 miles, mostly uphill, in 34 minutes. Will try that again this week ....

Off to the West Country next for a retirement dinner. Not a normal one - a mate retiring from the Royal Marines and starting another career. Apart from excessive socializing, Molly and I rode the Princetown loop across Dartmoor again, but clockwise - the slightly easier way round.

I managed a quick mid-week visit to see some mates over near Guildford and ride a nice circuit from Brook, Hindhead, Gibbet Hill and around the Devil's Punchbowl. The fitness level stacked up favourably with Adrian and Andrew, so I was relieved / pleased about that as they are quite a bit younger :-)

You are reminded that you are getting old as your daughter's 30th birthday approaches. Oh no .. another party and another present ! One of my brothers made the pilgrimage south to celebrate Toni's happy day and we took the chance to introduce him to a few hills. Dick hasn't been riding that long or that much, but has really got into it during the Sundays at Rutland with our neices. I told him not to bother with a bike, I thought I would lend him the 575.

We had a slightly shorter than normal route and avoided the bigger, steeper pulls and he did really well. Barely two miles in, we had the hardest climb (above) up to The Comp from Blackstone Bottom. Not too long or steep, but Molly struggled up this last winter when it was frozen. We could have avoided it, but I couldn't have Dick thinking it was too easy down here ! We rode the loop and finished off with a blast down through Friston forest on an unofficial trail known as Stumpy (I think). Not too technical but loads of fun. Molly, complete with new integrated shin / knee guards, rode it like she was born to shred and admitted afterwards that it was really enjoyable - yee ha, bring on the Rockies.

I think Dick wants a Yeti :-)

The reward was a lunch in Badgers Tea House in Alfriston (http://www.badgersteahouse.com/ and 01323 871336). Expensive but worth every penny. (You can get 2 or 3 bikes into the garden so you can keep an eye on them but bigger groups will need lock and chain)

We fly to Denver in three weeks ... let's just keep riding.