2 Up TT If you go down to the woods today.............

If you go down to the woods today...............

The 2nd of March saw Stephi and myself heading further south to the new forest to ride a 2 up 10 mile TT .

Now as a team we do seem to have a fascination with zoo's , and singing children's nursery rhymes such as daddy's gona take  us to the zoo tomorrow, not the normal run of choice motivational songs!!! (Iona) 

The day was slightly overcast but dry, and the location lovely right in the new forest.....

Stephi and I duly got our faithful steads ready, with much phaffing to be done!! 

Onto the rollers and the turbo, and we were happily warming up.

A little time later, Stephi and I went down the rode for a bit just to get a little bit of 2 up practice in.

For both of us it was the first time we had ridden our TT bikes since last season, so a few adjustments here and there and we were almost ready to get down to the start......

On the way down, I spotted a few little donkeys in the road, we casually passed them by and over the cattle grid (Not sure Abe my TT bike likes cattle grids) down to the bottom of the road, and just to the left for the start.........

After last minute Important tasks to be done, we timed it to the start with perfection, mouth going dry, heart starting to race, 30 seconds to go, phaffing to get the position right, 5,4,3,2,1 off we went......it was about a mile to the first turn, which I have to say came up quite quickly, with the turn negotiated, it was a bit of a windy up and downy road , thus far the course I thought was nice, we were really enjoying it, and the scenery which will be more evident later on in this blog.....

Sandra and Stephi

Had we reccied the course first we would have noticed a bit of a shortish sharp climb up to the next left turn, but we dug in deep and put a good hard effort in up to the left turn thanking the marshals as we went by. 

As this road cleared of bushes and houses it proved to be a bit of a cross wind which was hard going but nonetheless we kept working hard, another bit of a small drag then another left where we were now on the top of the hill form the start.

There was a lovely swooping downhill to another stiff drag, however we did get held up by a car that got stuck behind another 2 up team. One final left hand turn and we had the finish in our sights, pushing harder and harder as you do, we crossed the finish line, happy with our efforts.......

The course was varied and interesting, and the wildlife a welcome site.

We started off the day seeing a couple of donkeys, then we saw horses, and then a couple of happy chomping pigs searching for truffles!!!

Our Friend

But there was one species we couldn't  identify!! 

We have called him Steve, we realised he liked Coffee!!!

We cooled down, and then went to the Nomansland Reading Room, to check the times, and we were pleased to see that we had won the ladies side of the competition, which was really nice. 

We received some lovely prizes of Water bottles and some lovely flowers and some prize money, a totally well organised friendly event, of which I am certain we will be back again soon. Thank you to Antelope CC for a lovely well organised event.

A suffolk Sportive followed by Death by Little One... Or was it?

The title of this blog tells a tale, a long tale.....

Once upon a time the little One (Nicola Soden) came to sunny suffolk to ride a suffolk sportive, followed by a bit of more riding on the Sunday. 

Friday night came, and the little one arrived after a long trip from Manchester, (neither of us had any better offers on valentines night) so fed and watered we set to bed ready for the Amis Velo Valentines Sportive the next day.

On waking up we both talked about the winds the night before. We decided to text Mary as she too was meeting up with us and see what she thought about the current wind situation.

It was decided that it was far far too dangerous to go out on a sportive, so we ate, we watched TV and then at about 11:30/12 we decided that we would go out.....Hmmmm thinking the winds had died down it appeared that the winds picked up, and were rather gusty, and we both agreed a wise decision was made earlier in the day to not ride the sportive, especially as we both got blown across the rode at certain points.

Sunday however I found another local sportive, so not all was lost. Mary sadly couldn't join us, as she was riding with others, going slightly further afield, so 100km of sunny suffolk roads were to be had, we turned up, got asked if it was because of us arriving that the sun was shinning......... Now in normal circumstances I don't fall for quick witted chat up lines , and come back equally quick with a more quick witted response, instead we just agreed that yes, it was down to us, only to be told, I've asked 5 others so far........either way it made us chuckle, a good start.....

So we register sit in the car wait, then get ready..... We decided we would go in the medium group that went off first, reason I think, not wanting to hammer it, however , hammer it we did, I know what I was thinking "I don't want my heart rate to be here , not for this long, not now" trying to follow a good wheel as well Prooved difficult so I ended up 2 behind Nic's watching hers as the person in front of me weaved about like a wiggly worm.....

Still thinking 45 minutes in, ok we are hammering it, and I don't want to be here, saw Nic stick her thumb up and I thought "oh blast, she's signalling she's ok" so I muttered a long resounding yeeeeaaaap

Silly Sandra Dee

I then decided to pull alongside and say, "I think I fancy a bit of a recovery" and to my delight we both sat up, discussing the fact that we both didn't really need to be going this hard.....and that left about 12 guys in the main group...

We carried on our merry way, recovering, then picked another group, and then puncture, yes my faithful turby decided he wanted to have a rest, so on the side of the road, puncture fixing we set off again.....

Now I'm not really too sure at what point things happened , but let's just say, I didn't feel the full sandwich, and legs were dead , maybe too many hard efforts,  heart rate way too high for what I was doing, and so I guess you call it the wall or the bonk....so, being a local I knew a few shortcuts and we got back to HQ still with 58 miles in the legs, but me feeling not the best....I was nursed back for about 20 miles by Nicola, I tried not to moan too much....

The best suggestion all day was lets get chips on the way home, so back near mine the little one popped out of the car and bought back salt and vinegar soaked chips, I took one chip, it hit my lips and mouth and nom nom nom, a chip had never tasted so good, it was as if my body wrapped itself around this one chip and the sensation of yummy yummy and give me more , and lots of other yummy noises were made, so home and chips and lasagne .....just the job.......

The following weekend was up in Manchester , with the peaks on the menu, so lots more efforts up hills etc, including Wynnats pass and Mam Nick........ so having bonked Sunday, I spent a bit of time loading food, maybe I'd cut the wrong things out, and hadn't got the right stuff in my body, but that whole week I loaded, road when I wanted to  leading up to a fitness test on Friday, which I have to say went fairly well.....

Friday I arrived in Manchester, told that I was going to be fed properly ready for Saturdays ride.....sounds good to me, I never argue where foods concerned, unless there is none!!

So like a savage who hasn't eaten for a week, I sit down to diner and rip into the garlic bread pulling it apart with the eagerness to taste the smell of garlic, .......whilst happily eating I notice Nicola staring at her lovely painted green wall........there are a few spots on it.....what can it be??

Garlic from the ripped into garlic bread???

Nooooooo.......

Ahhhhhh but yes,, and it has stained said wall

So just found out Nic's rest day is re painting her wall, 

Watch out I'm back in 2 weeks time 😝 

Saturday morning came, we left later than planned, but we set off to Sett Valley Cycles in New Mills To get brakes sorted on Nic's bike, by the wonderful Stu and Sam, and also to be told all the horror stories of today's steepest of climbs, which silently un nerves me, especially when boys shake their heads, 

When it comes to downhill and bomb holes I never like to look, I just want to go, otherwise I analyse far too much and that nasty chimp sits on my shoulder talking me out of such things..........so we left the shop, down the hill and boom, cerveee punctured, it sounded like an air compressor going off, so he too wasn't keen on too much hard work today..........so back to the shop, once again for the 2nd time all sorted and off we went, for real this time, no turning back, no punctures, up snake pass and other bumps I'm not used to in suffolk, but with doubt in my head, following last weeks bad Sunday ride, it had affected me, can I do it? will I do it?the doubt monkey was talking a lot louder than I normally let him, and my confidence monkey was no where to be seen. 

This is when you need your team mates around you, this is when you need the right things to be said, even if it is said in silence, you know your team mates understand, having been there before themselves to have had all the doubts that are now filling up in your head.......

But I hadn't been like this in a long time, doubting if I could climb, visualising myself walking my bike up the 25/28% ramps of wynnats pass.......instead of my usual positive visualisation work that I do , on the approach I slowed back off Nic's wheel having an argument with myself, I was really winding myself up about something that now I can see is so simple, something you should enjoy..... 

But it was a confidence issue, so basically failure isn't an option, was repeated over and over and over, knowing Nic would be just up front ahead of me helped, she said the right things prior to me slowing up......but once over that cattle grid, that was it........ 

Failure wasn't an option, the walking the bike up had gone, focus was now the option, focus and a few expletives to ones self over took that doubt monkey who was left sitting at the cattle grid.......... It was hard, it was windy, I could see Nic climbing, and I could see how it was, but kept calm and just plugged away, to the cattle grid at the end, it was shorter than I thought, but done, and I said to Nic at the top, "I NEED a hug" didn't get one, just got to man up really, but job jobbed, and so it was now a few moments away to filling ones tummy monster with food.......I felt good, the confidence was back, and the doubt for today was gone..... 

We set off downhill then up to go down Mam Nick, then to a nice little cafe to get some lunch.

Leaving the cafe behind us we set off again concerned that maybe the light was against us, up Mam nick and then off we set.....

The last bit of a test for the day was Long hill, which was about 4 miles gradual to the top, which we did together to the top and then back down and back to the start some maybe 10/15 minutes away from the start, pretty chuffed that we got another 58 miles in , but Hilly, so both happy and both ready for a good feed.

Saturday evening saw us pretty tired, got some good food, and Sunday we had a more flattish ride around Cheshire, a thoroughly great weekend, absolutely loved it, and really needed a good ride to just give back that lost confidence, Nic really helped, and that's the beauty of team mates, we are always there for each other, and always willing to help out, it's what Team GB Cycles is all about.....as well as the racing 😄.

In Spain with Iona.........

Day 3 and another 4hr day planned.  This time up the climb we had descend on the first day, Val d' Ebo.  Then the roller coaster of a road, as it's nothing but steep ramps up and down.

Just over 2 hrs in and after just stopping for water, going up another series of ramps, my right gear lever decided to just stop working!  Brand new cables, cables are fine, the shifter just breaks!  Fantastic!  So luckily i'm stuck in a gear I'm able to get home in, well over the ramps at least, 39/25!   But after that not so lucky as it was down hill all the way!  Down the super highway  from Castells....not so happy, it was spin spin spin, aero tuck trying to carry as much speed as I could in the 53/25!

By the time we got back to the apartment I'd come to the conclusion that pedaling is over rated!

Next thing new shifters for bike, so a trip to local bike shop!  It could have been worse I guess, (apart form the cost), at least it happened day before a planned easy/rest day.

Tuesday, day 4.

After a couple of trips to bike shop, I finally got my bike back at 2:30, half an hour after the bike shop supposedly shut for lunch!

Bike back and I notice there was a chain ring bolt missing!  Grrrr another trip back to the bike shop then, from where I'd just been, only problem, it now didn't open again until 4:30!

Is it really that cold in spain? I wasn't even dressed like that for a ride in the dark here :-)

So an hours spin on the bikes, then back to shop and new bolt for chain ring.  Finally problem solved!  For the past 3 day's my bike's been creaking up every hill, and felt like something was moving when climbing out of saddle.  So hopefully that was the issue all along and so maybe it's problem solved! 

Report back tomorrow, a long 5 or 6 hour day is the plan!

Team Training Weekend in Lumpy Leicestershire

So the weekend started off on Friday night, with ride fuel of chilli and jacket potatoes.  We had a longish ride ahead the next day so it was an early night, well for all apart from the sleepover girls in the room downstairs.  There was raucous laughter and loads of giggling going on, I nearly moved my bed downstairs so as not to miss out...Apparently it was something to do with a half naked man swinging on a huge metal ball (don’t ask!!) or was that Saturday...

Anyway, back to the cycling, the plan was to do one of my normal winter training routes which was around the Vale of Belvoir, the flattest route around, apart from a 19% climb out the Vale (well done little Soden for QOM on that one)!

The wind gave us a real battering throughout and I had a good lesson in what I should be eating by bonking half way round (how embarrassing), but we carried on and feedback was that the Yorkshire lasses enjoyed the flat terrain as it was a nice change from the norm. 

Saturday night included a feast of bangers and mash by head chef Karen (spot on) and more sleepover laughs.

On Sunday, I decided to take the GB team out around the Charnwood Forest and sample a few of the hills, including (hill climb race) Polly Botts, Beacon Hill and the lumps around Whitwick.  

Overall a fantastic weekend, great to ride with teamies, thanks all! 

by Linda 

Feb 2014

Iona out in Spain with Team GB Cycles

Friday and a train ride to the airport.

Then just in time for the winds to pick up, it was a bummpy take off from Manchester airport, as we left the gale force winds behind and headed for the warmer sunnier weather in Spain!
We arrived at apartment late, so time for cake!

Not much cake left now!

Day 1, glorious sunny weather and 25 degrees for the first ride, a steady 3 hr 40 min warm up.
Time for a water stop.

Top of Val d' Ebo.

View for the balcony, got to go in at some point!

Day 2 and up Col d' Rates climb, not too long not too steep, awesome climb!
Reached the top, to find next to ride up was Lizzie Armistead and the rest of her team.  We were then all nearly mowed down by the cafe owner at top of Rates, as he accelerated his car towards us, angry that we we're standing in the way, blocking the entry to his cafe!

Back along the main road, and a road i don't remember too fondly, as it came at the end of a 6 hour ride last year, and it drags on and on!

A couple of months winter training in the life of Baby Tate

After the team weekend at my house which was great fun including lots of banter, Christmas was dawning closer. A couple of weeks before the team travelled up to the Tate Household I had just started out training with a coach which I have never done before in cycling. After finding someone who I felt I would work well with I took the leap and began the programme. I have really been enjoying the training plans and my coach is great! Hes detailed with his plans, he understands how work can affect cycling, and also seems to have picked up how my head works when it comes to training very quickly! This has been great for me particularly when it came to being ill for over a week and a half (still have some symptoms remaining) during the week of Christmas as he guided me step by step each day as to what I should do depending on how I felt and iv never felt so stress free during a period of time off training. 

I feel finding a coach in cycling is a really hard task, but I would definitely recommend making the effort to find someone you feel you will work well with, if you havnt already, as its such a great help to have that support behind you, more mentally than physically in some respects!

After a dramatic Christmas, involving my Nan going into Hospital and eating loaded potato skins and scraps from the fridge for Christmas dinner, I was out from training for nearly 2 weeks with a cold. Coming back into training now that im feeling better, winter training is commencing as per usual, cold wet days on the bike but with the excitement of the up and coming Spain training camp with afew of the GB girls and the prospect of competing in the Tour Ta Malta warming me up and keeping me going through the tough weather conditions. 

I have also been planning and looking at the race calendar for the up and coming season with my main targets being the Elite Crits and the Womens Tour Series. I am really looking forward to competing with my teamies and getting some great memories like I have from last year!

Sorry its not a very exciting blog but thats all for now, Baby Tate x

P.s Iv also bought a GBcycles coloured woolly hat, very pleased! 

Team training weekend in Ilkley

End of November and time for our first team training weekend of the winter.  We all headed to Brit's in Ilkley, West Yorkshire for the weekend.  I was first to arrive, with living the closest it was just a hop across the boarder from East to West Yorkshire.  The rest were to arrive much later, with an accident on the A1 not helping the others in their attempts to get there.  Brit and I went to a spin class Friday, while we waited for the others to arrive!

10pm before eventually Sandra and Karen arrived.  Then Jo arrived just in time for chocolate fondue and to find Karen, Brit, Chris, Rob and Sandra hiding in the pantry!  I had left the room, so they all decided to hide, like small children!  Giggling coming from the pantry and the joke was back on them as they emerged form the pantry, I jumped out on them and they nearly wet themselves!

Next it was chocolate fondue time, and Brit decided on chocolate face paint!

Nicola then arrived, along with new team mascot bears for everyone!

https://www.facebook.com/kathsteddysuk

Next day and it was a ride out to Malham.  Time for a photo stop and a sit in the road (not a single car in sight!).

Then it was down the awesome decent into Arncliffe, dodging sheep on way down!
Bottom of the climb and we met Chris and Rob, who had ridden out other way to meet us.

Caffe stop at the trout farm!  Then it was back to Ilkley via Burnsall, Barden Towers and Bolton Abbey, an awesome bit of road to ride!

That evening it was out for food in the little village of Appletreewick.

Next day was an easy hour and a half's spin.  As few of the group had long car journey's back to the deepest darkest south!