I have strict views on cycling. Cycling should be enjoyable. Going up hill can be enjoyable. But going up stupidly steep climbs is just stupid. With some exceptions, any road that is more than 15% should be banned to all cyclists. Enjoyable climbs should be alpinesque - these are pleasurable. Anyone who gets pleasure out of climbing really steep hills is just nuts. This is why I would never ride up Porlock hill; why I wouldnt be bothered with Woolacombe hill; and why Id rather ride longer than go over caerphilly mountain (main road route).
So why did I today ride up the steepest climb near Cardiff? That's right the lane from Gwaelod y Garth up to Pentyrch. Probably because I'd never done it before; compact gearing makes anything seem possible; and the profile of the hill doesnt seem to bad on the computer, despite its two arrows on OS maps.
I got up, but it was bad. Walking pace. Heavy breathing. Grunts. Not nice. I wont do it again, ever. For good measure I also rode up past Castell Coch. We used to organise a hill climb up here, but I struggled to find the climb until the end - so in that sense it was a good climb, but I expected more. But after going up the Garth, probably anything seems easy.
Just noticed that the altitude gain on this 20 mile ride is nearly 400m, not bad.
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Monday, 10 August 2009
Recovering
According to this, wearing compression clothes helps your recovery. That means you can ride longer, harder, faster. Or as they put it:
"Skins™ BioAcceleration Technology™ has been developed over years of scientific research. Ongoing testing of elite athletes have proven that Skins™ BioAcceleration Technology™ creates marked improvements in reducing the build-up of lactic acid immediately after periods of sustained exercise (2hrs and 15 mins up to 37% ), and allows for more rapid return to normal levels (up to 38% at 20 minutes). You experience less fatigue, minimise soreness and recover faster".
My legs are still tired from yesterday: I had to put it in the middle ring on the way home from work today. So at this rate, I thought Id need all the help I can get so Ive invested in some of this. Not the skins stuff - thats exhorbitant, but a nice pair of compression socks, that'll even help me stop getting DVT on the way to New Zealand in a weeks time.
And here's a pic of me wearing them:
Please note: hairy legs. Not sure when to shave them, probably not until a couple of weeks before Ventoux.
"Skins™ BioAcceleration Technology™ has been developed over years of scientific research. Ongoing testing of elite athletes have proven that Skins™ BioAcceleration Technology™ creates marked improvements in reducing the build-up of lactic acid immediately after periods of sustained exercise (2hrs and 15 mins up to 37% ), and allows for more rapid return to normal levels (up to 38% at 20 minutes). You experience less fatigue, minimise soreness and recover faster".
My legs are still tired from yesterday: I had to put it in the middle ring on the way home from work today. So at this rate, I thought Id need all the help I can get so Ive invested in some of this. Not the skins stuff - thats exhorbitant, but a nice pair of compression socks, that'll even help me stop getting DVT on the way to New Zealand in a weeks time.
And here's a pic of me wearing them:
Please note: hairy legs. Not sure when to shave them, probably not until a couple of weeks before Ventoux.
Sunday, 9 August 2009
Cowbridge
Another sunday morning ride followed by a swim. Went out via the lanes and managed to get a tow off a tractor coming into Cowbridge. Once I had a tow off a van from Barnstaple to Braunton at 40mph: he had zero acceleration and once up to speed it was really easy for me. Anyway, I went round the back of Cowbridge through some fiddly lanes and then was overtaken by someone on a Cervelo. Nice bike. I caught him back up at the start of the climbs and we had a chat. He had done 70 miles the day before and was on a short quick ride. I would have gone a lot slower had he not been there and by the time I went a different way at Bonvilston I was a bit tired. Coming back into Cardiff I decided to go over Rhydlafar. I got back in just over 2 hours - and the best average speed of the comeback so far!
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Rhiwbina Hill
Today I learned that going up Rhiwbina Hill is not a good idea. Not that it is not a nice climb - in fact I think it is, particularly if you wanted to go up over Caerphilly mountain. No, more the fact that it means 5 minutes into the ride you are faced with a pretty tough little climb. Within about 5km you have almost climbed to 200m! After that shock to the system I didnt feel like doing much else so just trundled around the taff trail which was surprisingly quiet for a saturday afternoon.
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