7 go to Norfolk! the sun is shining

Clarion Club ride to Blackpool - we would have headed on to Ireland but the sea was a bit choppy!

Another very useful mapping utility - shows your elevation and you can search for other folks rides but be specific - there is a Manchester in the USA too ...

www.mapmyride.com

Polka Dot Challenge - 17 June 07 - Gang of 3 tappin it awght up t'Winnats
We were not so much tappin as grinding ... Jude, Martine and Mike all rode the Polka Dot Challenge - a ride over all the major climbs of Derbyshire ..... The 100 mile route includes 8 major climbs – Cat & Fiddle (7 miles), Long Hill (3 miles), Chinley Head (1 ½ miles), Chunal Head (1 mile), Snake Pass (3 miles), Winnats Pass (1 mile at 25%), Axe Edge (2 ½ miles), Gun Hill (1 ½ miles) plus every little bump in the tarmac felt after the 90 mile mark! The stats read .......

• 0 x punctures
• 0 x walkers @ Winnats!
• 1 x bee sting
• 3 x duvet covers ... sorry t-shirts - only xtra large by the time we got back
• 2 x sore behinds (Mike claim his was in fine fettle)
  
• 12 x bananas (between 3)
• 7.16 x hrs in saddle
• 25 x percent gradient @ Winnats Pass
• 100 x miles on the clock (but our computers all said more)
• 2300 x metres of ascent (Snowdon x 2)
• 3300 x Kcal burnt by Martine (or so my heart rate monitor said!)
  

and the location for more pain!! www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/lei/temp_calendar.asp

Manchester 10K
Mike, Martine, Jude and Glynis (white wavers), with pink girls Julie, Jo - all did brilliantly in the M/c 10K(May 20th). Amazingly neither Jo nor Julie were escorted from the start for running in the "wrong wave" - despite massive anxiety by some! Pre race accommdoation was excellent - thanks of the city council!

There were PBs - Mike (running for only 9 mths came in at the head of the gang ... probably down to his smooth "go faster" legs since Mallorca), Martine did a minute under last yrs time (with a promise to herself she did not have to take another minute off next yr!), Jude was flying as usual; Glynis was 53 mins WITHOUT training and Julie, having been liberated from the pink wave managed a PB. Top prize goes to Jo who got round in style.

Liz and Dave supported the team and told us tales of lots of finishers throwing up on the finish line ...... none of us resorted to that!!! And Glynis provided fantastic soup in Chorlton to replenish our tired bodies ...

Hope you have all signed up for the email alert for 2008!

Mallorca!
We went, we saw, we "tapped it awht!


See the action here ..............
www.flickr.com/photos/heatonriders/

Just in case we girls were not sure how to go for a pee when out on the bike, my new shorts came with instructions!!

To be fair they do have a very natty rear exit zip system and i would recommend them highly if you like bib shorts but still want to go to the loo without stripping off! Just remember that when you have finished the ride and are cooling off, do not unzip all the way and wander in the local garage for a pint of milk ... unless you like to flash your arse in public! If you look closely at the second pic. she appears to be hitching a lift very droll!!

Edinburgh Cycles - £60.00 (xcept i got 20% as they had just opened - the shop not the shorts!)

Martine

Cycling Route Database
Check out this new routes database - covers the world but you can search easily for a location near you.

www.bikely.com

Manchester Evening News article about Liz and BikeRight - check it out!

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1002/1002912_liz_is_riding_to_success.html

Before and After!
Great weekend!

Coniston 14

Could the weather have been better ... not a chance .. the scores on the doors were:

Jude 01:51:22 468th
Michael 01:57:17 616th
Martine 02:02:47 743th
Julie 02:20:45 1096th
Glynis 02:23:34 1140th
Susan 02:29:17 1192th

There were 1400 runners overall and just to inspire you for next year ... a few stats:
Fastest (man) 01:15:10
Fastest woman 01:29:46
FV 35 01:35:08
FV 45 01:33:38
FV 50 01:32:52
Lantern rouge 3:38:12 slow but sure wins the race ..... the last man in (and it was a man ...) I think we were in the hot tub by then!

And remember - pain is just weakness leaving the body!

Clumber Park Duathlon, 10th March 2007
Had a great day out in the end and came 3rd in the sprint duathlon!! - 5km run, 20km cycle, 3km run. It all started in a bit of a panic when i realised 2 days before that registration was at 7.30am, followed by several militaristic procedures (it being a world and euro qualifying event). So i decided i needed to enjoy an M1 travel lodge the night before, then realised the road to get there closed at 8pm. So, arrived with wrong food, wrong clothes, dry cough, no friends! Warmed up with heavy legs, set off with lead trainers as everyone else sped passed me. Spent the first 3 minutes telling myself i would stop any second now and drive home. Then i picked up a little and decided i would only go home if the very obese guy passed me. Settled in, happy with transition (new elastics) and thoroughly enjoyed the bike ride (that had something to do with the olympic men all overtaking me, so the view was wonderful. Good 2nd transition, hawked by marshalls ensuring i didnt touch my helmet before my bike was racked. Short distance felt good and was determined that the woman i'd just passed was not overtaking me, infact i sprinted in with footsteps behind me, then turns out it was only a guy failing to catch me! So, i did do it. Hooray!!

Roddlesworth Roller
Mike and I had a good run this Sunday (11/3/07) - a pre Coniston outing and Mike's first running race. With spring like weather - a few daffs blowing the gentle breeze ....

Mike came in @ 48.07 and i managed 49.13 - both very pleased with our times - they defintely reflect the levels of discomfort on the home stretch!!

Here is Mike with his colleague Adam posing as medallion men - Adam managed was just under the hour - impressive considering his training!

Sunday 11th Feb 07 - Jude, Glynis, Mike and Martine managed a run on Sunday - three of us over the fells for an hour and Glynis enjoyed a walk- run -walk - run sequence on her own as her road back to fitness. Amazingly the sun shone (despite 2 inch of snow on Friday ...) and boy did we have a good lunch - homemade bread, gallons of soup (still some left......) followed by ginger cheese cake AND lemon drizzle cake ...

Pilates Anyone? Due to the spate of injuries and niggles many of us have suffering .. discussions have been had as to ways we might preserve our bodies ..... there is a one day 'Pilates & Body Tone' course on Saturday 23 June from 10.15am - 4.30pm @ Lancashire College in Chorley. The cost is £49 and this includes all tuition, lunch and refreshments. (I go there for my French course - it is a nice location and the food is good.)

The day offers the "6 power-packed Pilates Principles" and the following benefits:

· lengthened muscles
· improved posture
· improved flexibility
· enhanced energy & rejuvenation

More details and booking can be found at www.lancashirecollege.com/Learning%20Breaks.htm

One for the girls only! - a weeks fitness bootcamp! Spotted in the Guardian!

Women should check out The Camp (thecamp.co.uk, 0870 033 2375), a full-on seven-day residential fitness and weight-loss camp based in Scotland, run by ex-Special Forces fitness instructors, backed by clinical nutritionists and medical experts. The next course runs from February 17, with courses every month thereafter.

We have set up some "training dates" for the coniston - running from sunny Horwich - Mike and Martine taking responsiblity for routes and providing showers followed by soup/bread - cake baking volunteers welcome!

H-wags welcome - (Husbands, wives and girlfriends ...) - you can watch a dvd, take a local stroll and call in a cafe, try a some "runner spotting"with binoculars from the house ....

We will be aiming to do some hilly miles - but time passes quickly in the company of good folk. The list of mileage and route will be updated as we work it out! We can offer short cuts for anyone wanting less distance. Most will involve some time on the fells.

The dates are Sundays 10:00am

Sunday 7th Jan 07 Burnt Edge
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=608820
It will be muddy (very) so do not wear your best new white trainers! approx. 9 miles 1000ft climbing - you will need a hat, gloves, windproof jacket and thermal layers, plus decent socks (Sue!). Expect to be out for about 1.5 to 2 hrs.

If the weather is really really ..... foul then we have a contingency route - Yarrow and Pike
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=608839 - this is a lower level more roads and tracks taking in the delights of Rivington and back via Rivington Pike approx 9.5 miles 600 ft climbing - less if you cheat and miss out the Pike! Expect to be out for about 1.5 hrs.

Sunday 28th Jan Yarrow and Pike (If not done on 7th ..)

11th Feb TBC

4th March - Limbrick
A long one! - 11.5 miles - some tracks but mainly on roads - we are getting close to the 28th some distance is needed! Expect to be out for about 2 hrs.

If you need details of location/a life get in touch. Be useful to know who is planning to come!

If you are thinking about your new years cycling resolutions then take a look at Cyclosport UK - the site has info about cycle sportives in the UK (and abroad for the more adventurous! - Mike and I can advise on medical documentation ........ )

www.cyclosport.co.uk/events.aspx

For anyone who has not found this is a great tool www.gmap-pedometer.com which uses Google Maps and allows you to map out and measure your route from the comfort of your own home! You can do the Coniston 14 in a few minutes! You need to use the OPTIONS section at the top navigate to the UK.

You can also save it to impress your friends or refresh your memory!

Here is where Glynis, Dave, Sue, Julie, Martine and Mike went on Sunday across the Rivington tundra. It was a typical day on the moors - sun, rain, wind, mud and general wildness! All got totally wet and happy and even happier after Moroccan soup at chez M&M. Rematch is set for 7th Jan!

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=580918

Found this whilst surfing ........

The Polka Dot Challenge and the Spud Riley Memorial ride are 100 mile bicycle rides organised on the lines of the classic Italian Gran Fondo events. The Polka Dot starts in South Manchester and covers eight of the major climbs that have featured in famous tours such as the Milk Race, Pru Tour and the Tour of the Peak. As with most Gran Fondos the ride has an “easier” option of 70 miles which includes just four of the climbs. The Spud Riley starts at the same South Manchester venue and also covers 100 miles through Derbyshire and Staffordshire, there is a 54 mile option.

For both rides the whole route and all the climbs are fully sign posted and at the start of each climb is a sign describing the name of the hill and the distance to the summit. Food and drinks are provided at two feeding/control points on the route.

The dates for the 2007 events are:

The Polka Dot Challenge Gran Fondo - 17th June 2007
The Spud Riley Memorial Gran Fondo - 26th August 2007

Entry forms for the 2007 Polka Dot ride will be published on this site on December 16th 2006. www.polkadotchallenge.co.uk