A stones throw away...

Since I began this training program (around Jan 1st) I have been watching what I eat. I hesitate to use the word diet (as that is something my Mum would do) but I have certainly been eating less than I was before and definitely eating less crap. It is the first time in my life I have actively not eaten whenever I am hungry, so I have spent significant periods wanting to eat!

I have a long held theory that if we returned to the diets of the 1950's (the pre-junk food age) and just concentrated on eating three square meals a day - our health as a nation would be much better. So this is predominantly what I have done. I have still maintained a hearty breakfast (cereal/ toast), I have had a lunch including fresh fruit (unfortunately the chocolate is absent!) and an evening meal. I have given up the snacks mid-morning (this was usually a cereal bar - a wolf in sheeps clothing if ever there was one). I have also tried not to snack in the evening on biscuits or confectionary (a danger time for all parents of small children. You definitely crave a treat once they are packed off to bed!).

I am not perfect though, I still have one or two achilles heels. Mainly mine are eating late at night and eating too much breakfast cereal (I usually have a bowl at night after my evening training sessions). I have tried to steer towards wholegrain cereals and muesli rather than high sugar brands but I am sure any dietician would tell me I would be better off with neither!

The net result of all this? I weighed myself last night and I have lost a stone in weight! This is since Jan 1st, so about seven pounds a month. I am now 14 1/2 stone, so about half way to target. I imagine that the next stone will be much harder to shift but that doesn't stop me feeling pleased with my progress so far.

While I am on, another half way target nearly reached this week. We are just shy of the £1,000 mark in the fundraising! A great effort from all who have contributed. Many thanks to you all.

Take care and happy eating,

Col.

Oh dear...Oh dear, Oh dear...

After some meticulous planning and some brownie-point storage, I went for my first "longer" training ride on Sunday. In total I covered just over 30 miles in around two hours. These statistics tell only a fraction of the full story...

In the words of Janice from Friends..."Oh My God!" Talk about dawning realisations. I had been plodding along quite happily until now. I had lost a bit of weight, I was training regularly and I was generally feeling well about things. However, what the ride on Sunday brought home to me was, I can do all of the short, half hour to hour sessions I like...but they won't prepare me for the big day. It appears that the only preparation for riding a bike a long way is riding a bike a long way! Doh!

There are some other mitigating factors in my calculations. I had planned to do some climbing during the ride because as well as covering the miles, I also need to teach my body to ride uphill before the big day. No mean feet when you are my size. With that in mind I headed for nearby Paisley and in particular the climb of the Glennifer Braes Country Park (Glasgow and the surrounding area has some good climbs, The Crow Road, The Tack me Doon, etc. some longer than Glennifer but it is the closest real climb to me).

The journey there was an eye-opener in itself. It was really windy and riding into a head wind is never fun. It made me miss my regular riding chums and also wish for the crowds of the Etape (a rider can conserve up to 30% of his energy by sheltering in the slip stream of others, one of the reasons professional riders need good teams).

Once there, another eye-opener. I was in nearly my bottom gear before I even reached the climb itself! There is a horrid short, sharp hill just before. I was not feeling super confident at this point. However, it was a nice day, sun was out and no rain. I managed it to the top! I had one gear to spare even on the steep bits (I was riding a normal road double chainset, higher gears than my usual triple chainset or the compact I will use in the Etape - all bodes well ;-) I timed myself and what do you know, I got to the top in 13 mins 13 secs - an omen?

Once I got to the top, I stopped for a call of nature and then went back down again. Yep, you read that right. I rode back down. 13 minutes up, about 30 seconds down! I had always intended to re-trace my steps as if there is one thing I am worse at than riding uphill, it is riding downhill! I am a total coward and the Etape has a pretty big descent in it, so I need to hone my bike-handling skills. The Braes is a bit odd in that there is no "down the other side" so you have to go back if you want any downhill. I managed down in one piece and then re-climbed the monster, 13 mins 30 secs this time although bizarrly I felt better!?

I continued the ride home, managing 30 odd miles in the end. About one-third the Etape distance. This is what I mean by "dawning realisation". This was under half-distance and although I wasn't dying on my return, I sure felt it (mainly in my neck and lower back). It is like a runner who is training for a marathon realising what is in store when they do their first run of an hour (ie they still have more than double that to go!). Hey, ho better to figure that out now. I will just have to work hard on saving up some more brownie points!

Take care and keep riding,

Col.

Spin City

One of the cornerstones to my new training regime has been the discovery of spin classes. I have known about spin classes for ages but have never found one at a location and time that suited me - until now. Since the turn of the year I have been spending an hour or so every Tuesday evening getting sweaty in a squash court with about twenty other people. Sound like fun? It is!

For the uninitiated, a spin class involves a group of people riding stationary bikes (similar to normal gym bikes but a bit more bikey - no huge foam saddle or upright handlebars) lead by an instructor at the front of the class - aerobics style. During the course of the class the riders will copy the moves set by the instructor. These vary in such ways as sitting, standing, fast pace, slow pace etc. The main variable for the participant is the resistance calibration of the bike. Each bike has a large, heavy flywheel at the front, which is driven as the pedals turn. There is a friction "brake" attached, which can be turned gradually on or off. This makes it either easy or hard to pedal.

One added plus of the spin bikes I found is that their double sided pedals are compatible with my (shimano) cycling shoe cleats. So I can clip into the pedals and don't have to use the toe clips and straps. This is particularly good news for me as I have a dodgy big toe on my right foot and the straps dig into it.

I have found the classes really useful. Turbo training is ideal for fitness riding and weight loss (what the coaches would call Zone 1, or low heart rate, riding) but to ride at a higher level requires a good deal of self motivation and discipline. Spin class takes care of that no problem. Being in a group fires the competitive spirit and you can make it as easy or as hard as you like as you choose your own resistance.

We usually cover a range of riding during the 45 minute class. We warm up, then there are a range of hill riding (high resistance), sprinting (high cadence) and posture (horrid riding in an upright position between seated and standing, which makes the legs really burn). You can certainly feel it in the legs at the end of a class. My only problem with it is that I seem to sweat enough for two people! Very unattractive but I am taking it as a sign of the good hard work I am putting in!

Happy training,

Col.

Geoff Thomas Foundation

I am a confirmed sports anorak, always have been. Ever since I can remember I have read the newspaper back to front (well mostly just the back actually). I have loved watching every sports bulletin going and loved reading about all sports (apart from horse racing - that's not sport, it's just odd). I devour all sorts of sports literature - books, newspapers, magazines and latterly the internet.

When I was younger my sport (to follow rather than necessarily to play, although I obviously did) was football. Not a thing happened in the Premiership (or First Division as it was then) without me knowing about it. I am a particular type of fan, armchair if you like. I don't particularly enjoy live football. I have never been a terrace man. This is partly a comment on football crowds in the UK, partly a comment on my love of sport at the highest level rather than local level (sorry, I would always take the Milan derby over Grimsby v Scunthorpe...), and partly because growing up I watched football on the telly - and that spoils you with regard to close ups, replays and camera angles. Live football can come second as far as watching quality is concerned. Talk about opening a can of worms...

Anyway, because of this fan boy worship, I was very aware of who Geoff Thomas was. I knew he played for Palace. I knew he was their captain. I loved him for guiding them to a win over Liverpool in the cup semi-final (a very hot day as I remember, both semis played back to back, watched them at my mate John's as a sixteen year old). He was also then soon the enemy when they played United in the final (my team - who else would a boy from Grimsby grow up supporting? in actual fact it is Bryan Robson's fault - one of my early heroes).

I was also very aware that Geoff had played for England. To be honest, I liked him as a player. I liked him playing for England. I am very clear that England players need to have good quality but I also want them to really want to play for England. Geoff certainly seemed to want to do that. I was not a Graham Taylor fan - he didn't unfortunately have the requisite quality - but I did think Geoff merited his call ups.

That being said, I know about "that chip". I think it was and is blown all out of proportion, so I am not going to talk about it too much. Players have done much, much worse and kept their place without ridicule. Personally, I would have chosen Thomas over some of the others about at the time, Carlton Palmer anyone? I think he was treated very harshly but I also think he can have the last laugh - as they did crap without him.

I do not remember (as always, memory failure) whether I knew he was ill. I am not sure if I just knew about his illness retrospectively once he started riding his bike.

Later in life, I had a personal return to cycling. I have become a cycling anorak now. I devour all sorts of cycling literature - magazine, books, internet, forums etc. It was through these (and watching the tour highlights) that I heard of Geoff's Tour de France ride in 2005. I donated money to his cause via justgiving.com I was amazed by his story and was only too aware of my own cancer link.

To be honest, I kind of forgot about him after that apart from the odd article in Cycling Weekly (I read about his failed plans to do the RAAM - Ride across America - and his second Tour ride in 2007) until I bought and read his incredibly honest book just after Christmas. It coincided with my final hospital visit (I was still reading it when I was sat in the waiting room) and therefore The Geoff Thomas Foundation was very much in my thoughts when I was seeking a charity to support for my ride. I think their work is incredibly worthwhile and I was also impressed that they had a specific plan for where the money they raised would be used. I am also in awe of Geoff as a person and I have great respect for his work and his achievements.

The Geoff Thomas Foundation can be found here:

http://www.geoffthomasfoundation.org/

videos of his 2007 Tour ride are here:

http://www.cyclefilm.com/geoffthomas.html

I hope that my efforts can help Geoff and his team to reach their targets. I also hope you approve of my choice of charity.

Take care and all the best,

Col.

Chocolate

My name is Colin. I am a chocoholic. There, I said it. I feel a little better now. Stll hungry, but a little better. Let me try and explain.

Ever since I can remember, or at least as long as I can remember being allowed to make choices about food (this usually comes around the same time as your parents allow you to handle money!) I have loved chocolate. It is my favourite foodstuff bar none. I love fish & chips, I love roast dinners, I am a total fiend for breakfast cereal but chocolate has to win - hands down.

For example, look at its versatility.

Q: Could you have fish & chips for breakfast?

A: No.

Q: Chocolate?

A: Of course!

Q: Could you have roast beef for a snack?

A: No.

Q: Chocolate?

A: Of course!

It is the ultimate in convenience/ comfort/ nourishing/ healthy food. It covers all the major food groups. It is equally at home raw or cooked. Ok, I lied about a few of those qualities but it just tastes sooooo good!

Now, when we talk about chocolate we have to be specific about what it is we are talking about. We are talking about Cadburys. We are specifically talking about Cadburys Dairy Milk. This is without doubt the finest chocolate known to man. Not for me any of your posh nonsense. No siree. No Thorntons or Green & Blacks here thankyou. No plain, no fruit and nut, no turkish..yuk..yuk.. It has to be Dairy Milk. Everytime.

You may have already guessed but in the aim of this challenge - to ride the Etape Caledonia - I have given up chocolate. Yep, me, the confirmed chocoholic has not eaten a single piece of the lovely brown stuff since Jan 1st....and it is killing me! It is all part of a wider dietary plan which I will share with you at a later date but I feel cutting out snacking is a big part of getting my diet healthy.

Prior to the New Year I was averaging about two bars a day. Some days I would go without but some days I could be up to four(ish). It really is pretty easy. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Supper. I told you, so versatile! I would love to tell you that I don't miss it but I would be lying. I have a small incling of what it must be like to be a smoker (never had one, never will). I am not standing outside my office wishing I could have one whilst everyone else is inside looking at me but I do find there are certain life situations where I automatically feel a craving. I have obviously developed some reliance on it (bizarre as that may sound to the non-chocos out there) for stress relief and relaxation.

I gave up once before. I managed over a year (about 16 months) before crumbling at a mates stag party (two Twix saw the end of it, I still remember them!). Once again it was in pursuit of sporting excellence (my previous hockey career) and also just to show myself I could. I wonder how long I will manage this time? I hope at least until May so that I won't feel guilt ridden if I don't get around the route.

Lastly, I ask you a favour. Please have a bar of Dairy Milk on me and let me know how fantastic it tastes!

Cheers,

Col.

A bed, a bed, my kingdom for a bed

Those who know me will vouch for the fact that I am not the most organised (the memory problem again...). I spend most of my life managing to be vaguely organised thanks to the hard work of two women in my life, Marnie - my wife, and Tracey - my practice manager. If it weren't for them, who knows what a mess I would end up in.

So far, I haven't enlisted either of them in the organisation for the ride. That's how I ended up last Saturday reading an article saying that entries for the Etape Caledonia were up around the 3,000 mark and thinking...I should really get around to booking a hotel room...ooops....

For various reasons, including trying to prevent total bedlam on the Sunday morning, the organisers of the event stipulate that riders must sign on in Pitlochry the day before - the Saturday. As you can imagine, this leads to a huge demand for accommodation in what is a reasonably small, rural area.

It didn't take too many phone calls for me to realise the chances of a hotel room/ B&B or guest house bed were slim to none. I kept trying and ended up with the choice of a hotel room about 10 miles from the start or a bed in a backpackers hostel.

I have mentioned before that one of the main attractions of the EC is that it is run on closed roads. This is great for riding but not great for getting to the start by car in the morning (I had dismissed out of hand adding an extra 20 miles onto my route!). So I decided on a bed in the dormitory of the Backpackers Hostel, Pitlochry. They were very pleasant on the phone and promised me plenty of like minded cyclists to share with! I hope it is going to be 13 quid well spent! I also hope it is not too noisy, although I don't expect to sleep much anyway ;-)

Wish me luck,

Col.

View from a training ride

I managed an hour or so in the great outdoors today. It was fantastic!! Sunshine, clear air and perfect scenery. I took a favourite route of mine out of south Glasgow into East Renfrewshire. It only takes a little imagination and you are on the roads of Northern France or Belgium, riding the famous "classic" races.

Here is a snap shot of what it was like:

Absolute cycling perfection. I timed it really well too as half an hour after I got home, the snow came down again and all this is a few inches under as I write!

Take care,

Col.