A fine Autumn morning and just time for one more training ride before we go. Set off round the Dinnet, South Deeside road, Ballater, Gairnsheil, Strathdon circuit. Stopped in Ballater to play with the camera on the Blackberry, and top up with a black pudding roll:
Distance : 42.6miles
Time: 2hr 50min (on the move)
Av speed (on the move): 14.6mph
My first day off for a while, and a fine Autumn morning. Set off early for Braemar, as it is pretty close to 25miles, and I felt like I ought to go for a 50mile trip.
Total distance : 52.5miles
Time: 3hr 59min (on the move)
Av speed (on the move): 13.2mph
Checked out total ascent, due to my suspicion that memory map gives a huge over-estimate. Here are results from GPS, the route in bikehike.co.uk and the route in memory map. Memory map over-estimates by almost 600m!:
GPS 1143m
Bikehike.co.uk 1176m
Memory map 1740m
Looks like the figures for total ascent from Memory map are complete tosh, pretty bad for software that costs over £100 for full OS coverage of UK!
Another weekend working, but biked in both days. Another 78miles, taking my total since 6th March to 1963miles. Finally got a proper profile off the GPS from Alford to Strathdon- 295m of ascent!:
A sudden chest infection and heavy cold messed up training this week, along with too much work. Went in to work on Sunday on the bike. Took the Blackberry to test out the track logging some more-see below. Click on the yellow spots to be impressed with my speed!
In to Alford along the Glacks, 18 miles, Av 15.1mph
Back along Glack, Upper Towie, Heugh-Head, 17.3 miles Av 11.3mph (wind and hills)
GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com
Had to go to work both days this weekend, but went on the bike. In to Alford on the main road (19.5 miles), back the scenic route via Muir of Fowlis and Upper Towie (17.4 miles) for a bit of hillclimbing practice.
Most people tied up with other stuff today, so Ella and I took our bikes up to Grantown in the car for a venture toward the north coast. Went for a circuit from Grantown to Forres, Dallas and Knockando. Excellent ride, over quiet roads across moorland and forest, past the Findhorn gorge, in warm sunshine. Notched up just over 50miles without a coffee stop, a new personal milestone! Not really intentional, there was a lack of tea shops, so we just kept going.
Total distance : 53.4miles
Time: 3hr 38min (on the move)
Av speed (on the move): 14.7mph
Went round the Cabrach-Dufton-Tomintoul-Lecht circuit with Ella and Alastair. First time for me and Alastair, third time for Ella. Serious headwind over the Cabrach, and some heavy showers in Glen Livet, but a fine trip.
Total distance (measured on the map): 74.2miles
Time (start to finish): 8hr 20min 5hr 48min (on the move) 2hrs 32min of stops in total
Av speed (on the move): 12.8mph
Six of us set out withthe joint aim of clocking up 100miles on a Sunday outing, whilst also taking a bit of Aberdeen traffic to help prepare ourselves for the crowded roads down south. First stop Banchory for coffee, then South Deeside road to Kincorth, Anderson Drive, Langstracht to Westhill. A second stop for Soup at the Broadstraick Inn, then headed back on the main road through Alford. Final Tea break at Mossat. Overall I think we all were pleasantly suprised on on managing the distance without undue wear and tear on body parts. This is longer than any of the days planned on the actual ride, so quite reassuring. Put a few ideas to the test in the way of tactics for riding in a group on different types of road/traffic situations. Weather also turned out better than expected.
Did not quite make the full hundred, although, the extra bits getting to/ from home to start/finish probably take it over the hudred for Ella and Alastair.
Total distance (measured on the map): 92.7miles (Bellabeg to Bellabeg, measured on the map)
Time (start to finish): 9hr 20min 6hr 33min (on the move) so that means 2hrs 47min of stops in total
Av speed (on the move): 14.2mph
We tend to think of the road to Aberdeen and back as a “low level” route without big hills, but a look at the profile still shows that the return journey entails at least 300m of ascent:
Went with Jim, Ella and Alastair, via Tarland, Aboyne, Feughside to Banchory for a coffee and muffin. Return via Torphins, Lumphanan, Glacks, Upper Towie. My most strenuous sunday outing so far, quite a hilly route (see below). Heart rate above 150 for 47minutes, 2170kcal expended (should have had that second muffin!). Lucky to avoid most of the showers.
Dist: 62.1miles total time: 5hr 57min Av speed (on the move): 13.1mph
On Saturday, went with Paul on Ballater-Dinnet circuit (37.9miles) so total for the week: 97.2miles
Ellas friend Charlie was heading back to Braemar from Perth today, with room for a couple bikes, so took the opportunity to explore some new roads. Started in Braemar, as the rain was starting to ease and over Glen Shee (not to bad from this side, very benign gradient). The rain got going again at the summit, which detracted a bit from the descent, making the lumpy bumpy tarmac repairs hard to spot. Soon dried off on the way to Blairgowrie, the A93 was nicer than expected, a roller coaster ups and (mainly) downs and bends- and not too much traffic. After coffee/pancake break in Blairgowrie, took a very scenic back road to Dunkeld, past Loch of the Lowes. Picked up National Cycle Route 77 from Dunkeld, on minor roads via Bankhead, Almondbank to Perth. Last few miles into Perth on traffic free paths along the riverside. Wasnt sure if these were going to to be compatible with thin road tyres, but turned out to be fine and mostly tarmac, although a bit devious and “round the houses” in parts. A couple more miles south to Bridge of Earn to meet Charlie. Great ride, thanks Charlie.
Dist 66 miles, Time 6hrs 7 min Av speed (on the move) 12.8mph
It wouldnt have been so much fun going the other way!
Working the weekend again, but biked in to Alford both days, so notched up another 78 miles. Fantastic weather. If it wasnt for the bike I would have been really hacked off about working on such a fine weekend.
Cycled to work in Alford and back – 19.5 miles each way. Thats all I’ll have time for this weekend. Tailwind on the way down, av speed 18.5mph! Fortunately it at eased off by the evening.
Bit of a thin turnout due to aftermath of Corgarff Picnic. Myself and Alasdair went over to Ballater, back via Cambus O May and Logie Coldstone. Dodged the worst of the showers, but got a bit damp.
36 miles, av speed 12.6mph
Made a few improvements in these areas over recent weeks.
I was getting numb fingers for years on my mountain bike, and more recently on the road bike. Moving the seat back a bit helped (this moves centre of gravity back, reducing weight on wrists and arms). Tweaking handlebar angle to straighten wrists also helped. Keeping elbows straight and locked still tends to give numbness, but keeping them slightly bent on recent rides seems to cure it.
Still getting occasionally numb feet, but new pair of shoes with stiffer soles and Time clipless pedals has been big improvement. The old SPD shoes were too big, necessitating laces tied too tight, and the soles were bendy enough to feel the cleat.
Now using Specialized saddle in widest size (143mm wide) which seems to support pelvic bones better. It seems previous saddles were too narrow. Despite vowing for years to avoid licra, finally went over to “the dark side” in the cause of comfort.
Myself, John , Alastair and Ella set off from Bellabeg on circuit via Bouties, Burn O Vat, Ballater (coffee stop), Crathie (via South Deeside road -Ella headed off to Braemar here), Bridge of Gairn, Colnabaichin, Bellabeg. Fantastic clear calm sunny spring morning, cuckoos singing, but big hills.
Dist: 44.2 miles, ascent: 1612m, time (in the saddle: 3hrs 15min, Av speed (while on the move): 12.8mph
Bellabeg- Burn O Vat-Ballater-Crathie-Gairnsheil Bridge Circuit
Five of us set out from Bellabeg, soon after the rain ended, on hilly but pleasant circuit on minor roads via GlenKindie, The Glacks, Cushnie, Tarland, Bouties. Sun was out by the time we got back.
Dist: 32.4miles, ascent: 885m, time: 2hrs 54min, Av speed (while on the move): 11.9m mph
Bellabeg-Cushnie-Tarland Circuit
Just the three of us (John, Ella and I). Headed off down to Glen Kindie assisted by freezing northwesterly, then the Glacks to Muir of Fowlis (with nice diversion along the back road: Kinclune-Knowehead-Mill of Brux). Then on to Bridge of Alford, returning by main road. I managed to keep John and Ella mainly in sight as far as Littlewood, but then dropped behind in the headwind and with my current trial saddle causing pain. Even if I had kept up, it didnt look as if the suggestion of a coffee and scone at Mossat would have gone down well! So forced myself to keep going. The GlenKindie Arms might have been open by time I went passed, but resisted further investigation.
At 3hours 12min, that was the longest non-stop spell in the saddle for me so far, highlighting that I clearly need to get an acceptable saddle sorted out and get some more miles under my belt.
Dist: 39miles, total ascent: 970m
Mileage on the bike since start of training has stopped at 257 for the last two weeks, while on a ski tour in Norway arranged many months ago. Probably not the same muscles as cycling, but a good all round workout most days nevertheless. Hopefully I am fitter now than I was at the start.
Spring ski touring in Tafjord Mountains, near Andalsnes
View from Naushornet (1770m)
Puttegga (1999m) in the distance
The hut at Vakkerstoylen is an old summer farmhouse
Road trip: Bellabeg-Kildrummy-Bill of Brux-Towie-Heughead-Bellabeg: 25miles, 697m ascent , 2hrs 20min.(plus extra 14miles and 233m for Ella, starting in Corgarff)
Only four this time owing to various injuries and commitments. Fine sunny morning. The rundown to Kildrummy was a cruise, must have been a bit of a tailwind, although the trees didnt seem to be moving. Surprisingly the trip back went fairly easily too, although despite the hills. So we were quite heartened by our mornings progress. Only need to do that three times over, and that’s 75miles!
Off-road route
Paul and I still not fixed for the road, so headed for off road trip in Deeside. Started from Ballater, up Glen Muick, turning east before Loch Muick to return down Glen Girnock, behind Birkhall and various pleasant forest tracks back to Ballater, just in time for coffee and scone at the Station Cafe before closing time. Fine views of Lochnagar with cover of recent snow.
22.3 miles 604m ascent
Ballater-Glen Muick-Glen Girnock circuit
Falls of Muick
Salmon ladder beside the falls
Sunday 22nd, Meeting place: Glen Buchat Hall
Off road option
Jim and John arrived on road bikes and set of fast somewhere down the Glen. Me and Paul battled against the wind past Glen Buchat Lodge and on to GoodBrands for refreshment via Glen Nochty, Lost Track, Candacraig, Culfork, Tornahaish. The return was via the main road, turning off at Glen Buchat castle, past Dockington and up GlenBuchat.
45.1km (28.0 miles)
Ascent 1080m (from memory map)
Sunday 22 March Glen Buchat-Corgarff circuit
A masked rider.Sunday 22 March Glen Buchat-Corgarff circuit
This was the first Sunday ride and the start time from Bouties was bit sketchy. Paul arrived at 9 o’clock and finding no-one around had a bit of a panic that he’d been left behind, but it turned out everyone else was still in bed or on their way over. Fortified by Tea in John’s kitchen, five of us set of from bouties for a nice wee off road circuit starting up the DeskryShiel track, down to the Dinnet road, up past the Ronald Rae’s granite statue above Tillypronie , over Baderonoch hill, returning on the Lazy Well track.
16.1km (10 miles)
514m ascent (memory map)
15 March Bouties circuit
