Marginal Gains!

It’s been 11 years since my last major solo ride. I was 52 years old then and I will let you do the maths to work out my current age. Can I still manage the physical demands of cycling with my own luggage day after day, up to 100km each day, for over a month. I hope so.

I am not the same person who rode across Europe in 2013. I have a dodgy hip and knee and an extra tyre around my middle (could come in handy for a puncture!). Yes, I have continued my regular riding but I definitely need to find ways to improve my fitness with minimum effort. With this in mind I have been picking up tips from Olympic athletes to maximise marginal fitness gains!

I have picked up a couple of performance enhancing methods….both seem a bit wacky. The first is re-breathing carbon dioxide in training sessions to help monitor improvements in blood/oxygen recovery after exertion. This method is used by Tour de France cyclists during altitude training….mmm….I’m not sure that sucking the car exhaust is going to help much. The second is taking bicarbonate of soda before an event (used by Keely Hodgkinson, 800m gold medalist) which helps endurance. Apparently it’s totally legal. I could imagine that it might provide extra wind power. It’s a pity they don’t manufacture Andrews Liver Salts any more but Eno’s will do nicely….

The Olympics are managing to keep me distracted from my imminent cycle tour. The dedication and ability of these athletes is amazing. There is a 51 year old skateboarder competing for GB, maybe there is time for me to compete? On reflection….perhaps not, unless tiddlywinks makes it into the Olympics.

My rides have been continuing. My favoured routes have been around South Lakeland, the scenery has been gorgeous!

Also, into the Kentmere and Longsleddale valleys and up to Bowness and Windermere. Aren’t I lucky that I live in such a beautiful area.

As well as visiting my county of birth….

After much thought I have picked a theme for the cycle blog. It is the Days of the Year according to https://www.daysoftheyear.com/. Check out the link. Every day has numerous ‘National Day’ or ‘National Month’ options….most are humorous, serious, charitable and often nonsensical. They should give me a wealth of light-hearted and silly material for the blog….but of course, not distracting me from my mission.

Sadly, I have just missed National ‘Bloggers Day’ which was August 5th. I am currently trying to support National Crayon Collection Month….I didn’t fully appreciate the need to collect crayons until now. So, get collecting, you have the rest of August to make a difference and turn your life around. Crayons have feelings so don’t buy any more felt tip pens and show your love for the crayons. I could wax lyrically about crayons for hours but…..

I’m sure the National Days will provide me with plenty of daft ideas and give me an opportunity to virtue signal whilst I cover the miles on the bike.

Lastly, I have had some blog feedback already. Regular reader Yvonne has already taken the ‘Michael’ out of my blonde locks (no offence to Michael’s, after all it is one of my middle names). She disputes that my hair is blonde AND she accused me of starting a ‘mullet’ style. Well thank you. Am I not entitled to a bad hair day? Janice has already threatened to give me the mother of all haircuts before I set off.