This is the only week/weekend that I haven't been on my bike since I started in September.

The roads were covered in snow & it would have been impossible to ride safely.

This was easily the coldest day of my training, it was Christmas Eve & I wanted to get a few miles in because I hadn't done any the previous week.

There was still some residual snow at the sides of the roads & the thought "what am I doing?" definitely crossed my mind.

Roll on spring!

Still cold but warmer than Christmas Eve.

This route is right on my doorstep & one I've riden dozens of times in my earlier cycling days.

Because it's so close I take it for granted but it's a cracking ride, really tough hills & great scenery. Unfortunately the traffic is worse than ever & definitely spoils it a little.

Whilst cycling down the long hill into Darwen at approx. 25 mph, a motorist, not looking where she was going, started to turn into my path!

Fortunately she looked & stopped before I got to experience flying.

On my return trip, about 1 mile beyond the half-way point, I saw a group of cyclists about 500 yards ahead of me. They had stopped at the side of the road but were just setting off again. I put a spurt on to catch them with the intention of tucking in behind them in their slipstream.

2 minutes later they were 700 yards ahead!

I was cold, tired & disillusioned, I thought my fitness was improving but in that brief moment I knew I still had a lot more work to do before I would be anywhere near ready for a JOGLE.

It crossed my mind whether I had taken on too much.

With renewed vigour & determination I set off to break my current record of 35 miles.

This time, just before the half-way point, 2 cyclists came past me, they weren't going much faster than me so I tucked in behind them.... the 1st time I'd experienced the luxury of someone else taking the head-wind for 34 years! I was keeping up reasonably comfortably & was enjoying the ride..... what a change from the previous week.

After approx 3 miles we hit a hill & almost straight away one of the cyclist's I was following had a chain break. I stopped to ask if they had a chain tool with them & the answer came back "no".

So I duly lent them mine..... & whilst watching them, advised them that it would be better if they threaded the chain through the derailluer & frame before reconnecting it!

15 minutes later, with chain fixed, they were off  having passed on their gratitude. I was left to put my tool away (It was very cold so I didn't hang about :-)) & was left to rue my lost wind-break. Oh well, my good deed for the day had put a smile on my face & I went on to complete 37 miles & set a new record.

Another wet day, at least for some of the ride.

Broke through the 40 mile barrier today :-)

Broke through the 50 mile barrier today :-)

Great weather today, spring is in the air.

More great weather.

One of the few rides I've done after work, the weather was great, really hot, so I took advantage.

Broke through the 60 mile barrier today!

Went away for a weekend break so didn't have time to go on a long ride but managed to fit this short one in + did an hour on an excersise bike at the hotel.

Loaded up the panniers & cycled to Kendal for an overnight stay in a B & B to test myself with the extra load + 2 consecutive days cycling.

Also broke through the 70 mile barrier.