BACK RIDING AGAIN....

As I mentioned in my last post I have been back riding again this week.
Following the 45 mile ride on that first outing, my subsequent rides were all over shorter distances. This wasn't because of any problem that I experienced on the 45 miles but just that I wanted to pace myself back over a reasonable distance.  It's always a bit difficult after a lay off of more than a week or two to know how much or how little to do. Looking back on the week though I think that I got it about right.

What really annoyed me when I was forced to stop riding just over 4 weeks ago, was that I was only 98 miles short of my first 1,000 miles for the year. During January I was managing to put in an average of just over 180 miles a week and then it went to zero.......
When I started back this week, it was really important for me to do that 98 miles as a minimum in order for me to push past that magic number.

I had to give myself a carrot...! Something that would help me focus on reaching my goal.
Now I am normally (well most of the time) quite strict when it comes to food intake...No chocolate...No cakes...No chips....Etc  etc. I realize how much harder it us to cycle uphill when you are carrying excess weight..As we have a fair few hills in my home area keeping my weight down is something I am constantly aware of.   So I promised myself that when I reached  the 1,000 mile mark I would allow myself to indulge in a 'chocolate topped cupcake'. Well not just one...maybe two or three....Just this once..!!

So during all of my rides this week I have focussed on the cupcake.You could call it the 'Purpletraveller Cupcake Training Plan'. Anyway,  it worked..!   It worked so well that even when I hit the goal I carried on cycling and did not even then allow myself to eat it. Just another 5 miles....then another 5.... then just a few more miles..... Anyway my final numbers on this first week back are:-

TOTAL MILES FOR THE WEEK -  125.80
AVERAGE SPEED FOR THE WEEK -15.20mph
TOP SPEED REACHED DURING THE WEEK - 41.30 mph (downhill of course)
TOTAL ASCENT OVER THE ENTIRE WEEK - 11,016 feet

Now I realise  that these figures are not anything special, but for me following an enforced hiatus to my riding I am reasonably pleased. In truth I am just glad to be back out on the bike...enjoying the scenery and the ride.

In the end ...when the cycling for the week was completed I did eat the cupcake..and another...and another............!

THE 'PURPLETRAVELLER' CUPCAKE TRAINING PLAN