Cracking Sunday in the country for Tom and I. We set out not really sure about how far we’d cover - just a plan to head for the Cotswolds and have a pub lunch on a river bank somewhere. Pedalled up the Lambourn valley into a constant headwind - we had a good go at drafting behind each other which was really effective but neither of us was exactly enamoured of the view we had to tolerate - brother’s buttocks in tight lycra.

Eventually made it to the Trout Inn in Lechlade, met up with our cousin Edward, but with an hour long wait for lunch we had to forego the pub grub our bellys had been crying out for and find a supermarket. Ended up scoffing flapjacks in a layby. Not so idyllic.

Pressed on South to Wantage, picking up a handy tailwind, then a big 160-metre vertical climb up from there, then pretty much downhill for the next 12 miles home - speed rarely dropped below 25mph.

End result: 73.3 miles (Ollie’s longest ride ever) at an average of 17.4mph (very happy with that), max speed of 46.9mph (particularly chuffed with that!)

Gags about Ollie’s lack of thatch while passing a thatched barn: 1
Flies swallowed: Tom 2, Ollie 0
Speed limits broken: 1 (’nuf said)

Well back on the bikes and an early start for 130km on Saturday, down on our usual route to Starnberg and an extra loop on the bottom of the lake to give us some decent hills to climb and stunning scenery. Scorching hot and plenty of flying bugs in our path!! Sore legs at the end, a little reminder of our holiday time last week! But still energy and enjoying the great weather on our way!

Sunday was a little more leisurely, down the Isar River, and 40 km, looking forward to getting our road bikes this week and doing some longer distance at the weekend… 160km next Sunday is planned! Will keep you all updated!!

Plenty of warm weather forecast so many more miles on the bike this week and plenty of sun cream!!

We ventured down to Italy on the weekend of James birthday and our 1^st wedding anniversary! A 6 hour drive took us to the sea and only a few kilometres from the boat to Venice. Camping by the sea and temperatures of 25 degrees made it a lovely weekend. We cycled on the Friday for 40km, explored deserted seaside towns, stopping for some seafood lunch and a glass of wine, followed by a little more cycling a few espressos to keep us going!

Venice was stunning, exploring on the gondolas and sight seeing, with the sun shining made the city even more beautiful. James had a great 30^th with another toy to the collection, RC car and one happy man!! Also a few bottles of champers to celebrate a year of happy marriage! Long will it continue!!

We ate and drank the Italian way! Swam in the chilly sea and relaxed. Back to the training properly on the return to Munich!!

Glorious sunshine, the sweet smell of spring in the air, more flying insects than you can shake a stick at and a strong breeze in my face as I set out yesterday on a training run - With the weather getting warmer there is a new league table we need, I have completed for my ride yesterday……

Flies swallowed - 4
Stinging things that got through the helmet - 1
Cycle top tan line - 1/10
Cycle Shorts Tan line - 0/10
Miles - 41
Average Speed - 16.9 mph (27 kph)

And with that strong wind in my face I had to contemplate this….

To mark the passing 4 friends birthdays a merry band of sixteen travelled up to Gresham in Norfolk to celebrate with four days, with good food, wine, beer and for me cycling.

I took the trusty mountain bike and getting up in good time managed a 22 miler on the Friday in the glorious sunshine. I heard a rumour that Norfolk is flat, and can say that it certainly did not seem that way as armed with map I took to the byways and ‘quiet lanes’ (yes it was written on the signposts!) of the local area. The mountain bike was a bit of a change to the road bike to which I have become accoustomed to and less speed and far more effort needed to get the road miles done, but far more fun on the rough stuff.

Saturday was a gentle boat trip on the broads with Alex and Nicko followed by a 30 miler and a very late night as the birthday dinner went on into the small hours - as a result only managed a gentle 10 miles on the Sunday, followed by a relaxing afternoon with Alex and Nicko, who tried his first ever ice cream, all went well but he did not get the hang of holding it by the cone!

Monday was another stunning day and as Nicko decided we should all be up at 6am I though I would take advantage and got on the bike completing a 34 mile ride. However to my horror when I totalled up all the miles of the weekend it was only 96, so had to re-tog and pedal another 4 miles to reach my Norfolk Century - job done.

What, you might ask, is that? Surely a weapon of torture rather than a suitable perch for ones nether regions?

Wrong, it’s a weird new saddle that I’ve been loaned to try out. Made by an American firm called ISM, and called the Adamo road, it’s mainly designed for triathletes and claims to offer better bloodflow into the legs than a conventional saddle.

Due to a happy coincidence, the European importer, Nic Breese, happens to be an avid Auto Express reader. I met him on an event, we got chatting and he offered to send me a saddle to try out.

So here it is. With those two prongs, it looks very strange and feels equally weird to sit on as it pushes your thighs slightly further apart. The prongs do flex slightly though and that, plus the saddle’s short overall length, means there’s little friction, so to speak…

This means maximum power is transferred to the pedals - and it really does seem to work well in that regard. Trouble is, I didn’t find it very comfortable on long rides - there’s simply not enough padding for my taste! It’s fine for shorter rides, though, but with 100 miles a day to see off on the big ride, I’ll stick to the hammocky comfort of the standard saddle.

If anyone fancies trying it out, let me know. In the meantime to find out more about it, go to www.ismseat.com.

Ollie

Some light news today from Georgie and I. Saturday and Sunday we spent a wee bit of time near the Austrian border in a place called Berchtesgaden. It’s a lovely area! We managed to squeeze in some fun summer sledging and site seeing before going on a hike into the Alps for 3hrs where it was very foggy and some snow left on the higher ground. Have to say the legs were not used to hiking and we both felt a tad inflexible Monday morning. All was loosed of though in the afternoon with a 65km cycle in the glorious sun!

OK, so I didn’t manage to get close to matching Tom’s 100-mile ride over Easter - but I bet I had more fun on my bike. Trouble is, it wasn’t the road bike…

We spent Easter with Pen’s Mum in North Wales and she lives right on the doorstep of the Snowdonia National Park, home to some of the best trail centres around. So on Good Friday I rode the Penmachno loop, and on Saturday I did the Marin Trail above Betws-y-coed.

Both are an absolute blast. It was the first time I’d ridden Penmachno
and it’s a bit trickier than the Marin with a couple of sections that seem to have been designed to catch you out. I fell off twice…

But great weather meant both were dry and there were loads of other riders around enjoying the trails, which is good to see. I do enjoy my road bike, but hammering along twisty singletrack just can’t be beat. Just a shame I was riding them both alone - the only thing that could have topped it is to be out there with a load of friends. Anyone up for an excursion in late May? I’m also planning an assault on Snowdon…

Ollie

A text from James on Friday night to say their 140km challenge was complete inspired me to put in a few more miles than originally planned to try and crack a 100 MILE (161 km) day - the furthest I have ever cycled by some margin and three times further than a standard training run.

Blue sky, scattered cloud and a light breeze made for good conditions. I decided to roughly follow the direction Ollie took on his recent ride and set off from Newbury over the downs and looping south of Andover past Thruxton Race Circuit.

Then made my way to Pewsey where lunch beckoned, well it was almost 4pm, but all the pubs had stopped serving so the Guinness and burger had to go on hold and sandwiches, chocolate and energy drink took their place.

After 80 miles my average speed dropped as legs started to feel a bit heavier and the hills became a bit more of a challenge, I was conscious not to let myself think I was almost there are still had 20 miles, well over an hour, left in the saddle (which was becoming a bit of a sore point)

The last few miles were tough but knowing I was on the home straight helped and as I drew into the outskirts of Newbuty the magic three digits apeared on my speedo display. Very pleased to have hit the 100 mile target however I don’t quite feel like I could jump on my bike and do it all again the next day - we have a couple more months…

Distance = 101.1 Miles (163 km)
Av Speed = 15.6mph (25.1 kph)

Inspired by last weeks 100km challenge set by Tom we decided to up the stakes and set out today on our mountain bikes to crack 140km (87miles). Georgie and I can now report back with success having completed exactly 140.5km averaging 24.8 kph with the last 35km all being off road too! Naturally we are very tired and our butts are very sore…

The route took us on the same one from last week out of Munich towards the Austrian Alps along Starnberger See, only this time we extended the route. The weather was also on our side as the skies were blue and the sun was shining. Temp was around 16 degrees with no wind (apart from me – chuckle)

Considering this is the furthest Georgie has ever ridden, she coped perfectly and no tantrums emerged due to the constant supply of Mars Bars! All in all it was a cracking days cycling and we just need to hit the big 160km (100miles) soon.

That’s all for now off to rest our sore bodies… and do a bit of hiking tomorrow down in Austria. Will report back with pics on Sunday.