With this year being messed up regarding events I was a bit surprised that the Cairngorm Loop https://www.cairngormsloop.net/ was going ahead. I’ve had previous on this, I got to Aviemore at 160km when I got an email stating that one of the burns (rivers) ahead was impassible. I’m not exactly happy around water, especially rivers in spate, so decided to scratch (quit).
So it was a bit of an unprepared line up at the group start in Blair Atholl. The TR training obviously paid off as I got to the first possible resupply point at 80km some 45mins quicker than previously. The next 20km is the crux and is has a lot of unrideable terrain, still I got to the Linn of Dee nearly two hours up. The next hard section was done in the dark and by the time I got to Aviemore I was on the same time, just before 1am! It was raining by now so I started to look for somewhere to get a couple of hours’ sleep. I eventually found an old horse box next to the route and got my head down - at least it was dry.
I was up and away at 0600 but it was soon obvious that I’d a lack of mileage this year, just no oomph. Things were made worse by a stiffening head wind. I went through the next village before the shops had opened so I had to carry on for another 40km to Braemar where I spent an hour refuelling and, errm, attending to delicate areas 
The next 20km were painful because of the headwind - roughly double the time I normally do it in. I also started to get a bit of cramp on this section so had to walk some flat sections. I also had to walk the last technical section because the wind was so blustery - even so I fell over a couple of times, being upside down on a 40 degree slope of wet heather above a swollen highland river with your bike on top of you isn’t fun.
I basically lost it at this point so rather than finishing by what’s known as “the sting in the tale” I bailed down the easy glen. A decision made easier by the dark looking storm heading towards me which wouldn’t have been fun 400m higher on the tops - a mate said he was blown off the bike a couple of times!
I feel like I’ve been through a full twelve rounds with Mike Tyson AND a game of American Football without any padding! My intervals.icu fitness chart suggests I do nothing until next week.
Here’s my Strava file - https://www.strava.com/activities/4063918989
My trainer road sessions were Pettit to day and the short ‘Volunteer’ tomorrow but as it was so nice I swapped them round and took ‘Volunteer’ outside during my lunch hour. A 45min session would have been perfect time wise (a 4.5h session would have been perfect weather wise). But lol, I didn’t realise I had to press the Lap button after the warm up to actually start the session 
Nothing particularly special to report on my pre-dawn ride in terms of terrain or route, but I did finally manage to “catch” the dog sled team I’ve caught only glimpses of previously. The three dogs are pulling their “dryland” 75kg wheeled sled and the 65kg rider. He’s standing with a straight, mountain bike handlebar and brake levers. Resistance training: the human told me their race sled for snow is much lighter.
On a run block at the moment and today was technically a rest day but the sun was out and I couldn’t resist a ride to the doughnut shop via the Lake Ontario waterfront.
Decided that the 45minutes Volunteer session was ideal for lunch time. So I decided to do it to test my new BB. Everything seems smooth, there’s a new chain/cassette, chaining bolts are tight, the pedals seem good but I am still getting a dry like click when things are under pressure. The search for the source goes on 
No ride today (going to the market doesn’t count because it didn’t end up on strava). I rode 450 km the last 8 days, so I thought it was time for a day off 
Had a great week though riding around Voorthuizen en Waverveen (the Netherlands)
I love this!
Looks lovely!
Two of them for me.
My head wasn’t really in my 25mile TT, it was more in wanting to enjoy what could be the last summer day. Which is probably the route of me messing it up.
Taking ages to clip in (nerve damage) I missed the over bridge, took the road just after it as I was supposed to do but it never felt right (there was no ob, or so it seemed, there was no sign/marshal) so I doubled back in doubt. Then turned left but that didn’t look right either I paused for a sec then saw my latter minute man and saw he was slowing down for the corner so I gave way to him and an equally as lost car. Then started into a strong wind but not the too gusty one I’d feared.
A series of close passes did my head in more, and when I got to the cr@py bit of road with that in my head I rode the whole way covering the brake. To stop me swerving into the close passing cars (I never did)
Ended up with a 44s PB at 1.01.28 (my previous pb was mid chemo though with a severely bruised wrist). According to my Garmin including the giveaway I was 1.00.20 for the 25, so if I get it right the hour is in sight. Turning 45 at Christmas (sorry someone had to mention that event, at least my tree is not up 
) I think I’m running out of time.
Got back early enough though that I got that ride in to enjoy the weather 
Wanted back for the TdF though so I opted for Pettit.
The best bit about the Shotgun seat is that I managed to get in nearly 6 hours of riding over the weekend. That’s 6 hours of good and solid base volume with some pretty hard intervals thrown in when the terrain dictates. (75kgs with an added 21kgs on my XCM rig makes for some hard grinds up the hills).
Actually, that’s not entirely true. The best part was exploring with my son and sharing something I enjoy.
