None of the below are me...

Total distance this week: 167.86km

Time in saddle: 9hrs 54 mins 
Number of creaking bottom brackets: 1

I just thought I'd get that straight right now :) Summer has arrived in Scotland - temps have been hovering in the mid twenties all week (Celsius)! Woo and indeed, hoo! Unfortunately for the casual observer/tourist/member of non cycling fraternity, this means being treated to thousands upon thousands of lycra clad, pasty white, and in some cases pale blue, thighs. Muscular white thighs, but white all the same. You will note that cyclists start to don dark wrap-arounds at this time of year too. This is to hide their identities until said thighs are tanned (whereupon they will resume the wearing of clear glasses).  OK, ok... its probably got more to do with being able to see in the anomaly that is sunlight in Scotland, and therefore avoiding the white van that's heading straight for you. There is however, no avoiding the inevitable cyclists tan line.....

 I am amongst the White Thigh Brigade. I apologise now. I did put some fake tanning stuff on in an attempt to lessen the shock but it looked so funny I washed it off and put my dark sunglasses on. 

This week has been a recovery week. No, that's not an excuse for being idle, this is a real genuine part of my training program (please see Joe Friel for an explanation). I've been gradually upp'ing the base kilometerage (© Dinkypen) for the last three weeks (166, 176 and 221km respectively) and so I needed to reduce that by a considerable percentage for one week to give my muscles a chance to rest and rebuild - time in saddle not much reduced but RPE on all rides this week moved down to 'chilled'. Recovery is important especially as I am a newbie, keen as hell and in danger of loving my bike a little too much. 

THAT IS NOT ME. 

I would NEVER have a black leather headboard. I just found it on t'internet and thought it quite funny :)

Anyway...

Monday: Rest day after previous days efforts

Tuesday: 60.56km (E2)

Wednesday: Rest

Thursday: 33.5km (E2)

Friday: 31.8km (E2)

Saturday: Rest

Sunday: 42km (Hilly)

Its been a good week. I rode home with a bloke from the club on Thursday night and we chatted merrily while cycling uphill. I'm still in shock. The glorious weather has helped put a spring in my er...cadence, as has adopting a strict 6am rise/9pm bedtime routine and having another week sans cake/crap. Yes its boring, yes its unsociable but if it helps make me fitter through being properly rested and fed then so be it. Today (Sunday) I was out the door at 8.30am for a short but hilly sunday ride - summary below (map in miles, not km). It rained non stop this morning but it was absolutely bloody fantastic and I felt strong and fast (compared to 2 months ago) and just rode around with a grin on my face and aimed for hills.....yes aimed for the buggers! I think I've become an endorphin junkie! Noticed the bottom bracket is creaking so tomorrow will take it to bits an investigate. I am hoping its nothing serious - maybe just put in dry -  as have only done circa 800 miles on the thing!

   

If you are around this area and haven't done this route, do it. Its pure joy.

Other things this week -we've been on a tour of a vessel that may be chartered for one of The Company's next jobs, I've been to see The Footballer (middle son) play in Aberdeen and tell me he's now semi professional (motherly pride) and I've spent a lot of time in the garden weeding the raised beds and tending the aubergines, tomatoes, peppers, chilli's and courgettes in the greenhouse. We lost 'Big Red', one of the cockerels, to old age but the others are enjoying this fine weather and we are all missing Molly the Spaniel who was reclaimed by her father (Bike Boss) upon his return from 10 under the Ben (where he and his partner placed well up on the leader-board in the mixed Vets. Go Bike Boss! I also learnt that Bike Boss son won the thing in 2007!) video here of 2010. I am absolutely doing it next year. 

So, getting in an early Sunday ride and, as from this coming week, leaving the Long Ride till my day off midweek means I'm going to be home at lunchtime on a Sunday which is pleasing N much more than being a bike widower. Plus the sun is coming out and I feel a pub lunch calling......man, I gotta stop grinning :D

The reward descent after the looooong climb up. High up above Deeside Sunday 23/5/10