Day 135 - The Pint Run

Today is the 17th day of the Tour de France and with only 4 more days remaining until the final stage,Versailles to Paris Champs-Elysees, it is amazing to see how well Chris Froome is performing. He is now sitting over 4 minutes ahead of his nearest rival and this is even more outstanding considering there are only 2 minutes then between the times of the next 5. What surprises me about cycle racing at this level is how the whole team pull together for their lead rider. It is a team event with the one goal of getting their man to the front of the pack when they cross the line. It is fascinating to watch the strategies and tactics unfold over a 200+ km race.

In heady support of Team Sky, I could not resist using their Facebook Avatar Creator to create a vision of how my team jersey may look ...

For my circuit today, I felt I had to do more to make up for yesterday's lacklustre performance. So heading out up over my 3 hills, along the estuary and into Colyton, my plan was to get up to 10 miles and also reach my 500 mile marker. It was with great disappointment, therefore, to see on my return that I'd missed this by 0.2 miles! I could not leave this like that, a lunchtime ride would have to be squeezed into my busy schedule. Riding out at midday is a totally different prospect to that of an early morning one, the heat hit me as I left the office and built as I rode. What kept me going was the thought of a lovely cool pint at the end! As always, the homeward journey seemed quicker and I now have the measure of a lunchtime pint run, which when the mood takes me again, may very well be brought into play!

Today's stats:

am: 9.83 mi, 46m 16s, Avg 12.7 mph, Max 28.9, 513 kcal

pm: 3.75 mi, 17m 34s, Avg 12.8 mph, Max 18.8, 195 kcal

Day 76 - Return to the Three Hills

After what seems an age, I decided this morning that I could not put off including the Three Hills in my circuit any longer. These are the short but steep Seaton Down, Bunts and Beer, and they were, when taken together, as tough as ever. Every morning I've ventured out this week I've been shocked by the coolness of the air and today was no exception. Out of the sun the temperatures reminded me of my icy circuits back at the start of March. Unfortunately the long stretch of road which follows the estuary into Axmouth was very much in the shade and the wind whipping up over the water was turning my exposed fingers blue and numb. I think this just pushed me along faster in an attempt to build up some warmth, hence my new average speed record of 11.4 mph, which considering this included my Three Hills was amazing.

Once past the 1940s gun emplacements, pill boxes and over the tram lines at Colyford station you know you are on the home stretch. The Colyford post office is the turning in point and I stopped to capture a picture of this old white building bathed in sun but the butcher decided at that moment to go and park his van right in my field of view! I'll try again on my next outing. In the meantime here's a snap of the approach to the Colyford tram crossing. 

I feel I am now back in the zone, my legs have returned to their old complaining self and I'm looking forward to getting out into the saddle again tomorrow.

And the route art today .. the running gnome takes a rest.

Stats: 6.99 mi, 36m 43s, Avg 11.4 mph, Max 28.2 mph, 407 kcal