It's been a while!!!

It has been quite some time (about 2 years) since I even looked at the blog I started in 2015. A whole 2 years of training and racing has happened since then.

For me it's been a whole world of change and lots of lessons learn't. 

The simplest being that I can't effectively train by pushing myself to the limits all the time 7 days a week. Body mind (and legs), eventually get too tired and give up. The result of which being that I end up being far less fit and on worse form than I was before.

Highlights from 2016

There were a few highlights to the year for me. One of the best rides I have ever done (on my own) was around the lake district and included Hardknot and Wrynose. these two epic climbs being ranked quite high in the hardest in the UK's top 100 (by Steven Warren)

Hardknot - Wrynose

(see this in Strava by clicking on the link above)

This was indeed an epic day out!

On the racing side of things I didn't do too well. I kind of gave up on circuit racing as there just seemed to be a few too many crashes going on for my liking. 

I did however get more into Time Trialling with some quite respectable times (for me) over distances of 10, 25 and 50 miles. 

And with me smashing myself around the Cheshire Plains on a regular basis I was able to even start to look the part (at least).

One aim for me this year is to buy a proper Time Trial bike and really start to achieve something.

One of the best racing highlights to my year must have also been the Glossop Kinder Velo hill climb that I took part in. 

After an ok ride in 2015 riding up Snake pass to my time in 2016 in which I knocked off exactly a minute. The hill climb itself was really good fun (on the way down anyway). For 19-20 minutes of suffering, I felt great afterwards and this year I am aiming to do even better.

2016 Snake Pass Hill Climb

Aims for 2017

My aims for 2017 are more on the racing but also I want a record distance for the year too. 

Racing wise I want to TT more, this will be a long hard process but hopefully I will be able to improve my times through a period of hard training over the winter period.

I do regularly ride my arse off on my rollers using Zwift as my training tool of choice.

With regards to distance, I want to ride 10,000km (6,214 miles) in 2017. Thankfully miles ridden on Zwift do count.

So all in all it's going to be a hard year of suffering to look forward too. Combined with the commuting I still do by bike, hopefully it should be fun.

Happy travels :)