During 2020, I've done three months of hard, hilly cycle training: 37 cycle rides, most of which I've arrived home exhausted from, nearly 102 hours (moving time) covering a distance of 1782km and climbing 22,200m of hills and yet..... I've climbed just over twice the height and twice the distance that we need to do … Continue reading Training Stats
Snail’s Pace
Another sunny day, another day of social distancing and another day of 'stay at home' except to exercise. There is much concern about the impact on people's mental health and wellbeing of social distancing and isolation, amidst health, employment and financial concerns and so much uncertainty. My antidote to all things stressful is to get … Continue reading Snail’s Pace
Family Time
With the go ahead from Boris to leave the house once a day to exercise, I yet again opted to cycle. None of my three boys are particularly keen cyclists. There are frequent mumblings that parental obsessions with all things cycling may have put off any budding Bradley Wiggins in our family! So it was … Continue reading Family Time
A Little Normality
Amidst a stark 'Stay at Home' message from the Prime Minister, a little gift....we're allowed to leave the house to do one form of exercise a day. After debating for a nanosecond what kind of exercise that might be, John and I chose cycling! During these unprecedented times, it is lovely to be able to … Continue reading A Little Normality
Gratitude
Even in these difficult times, I have found a lot to be grateful for this week. I am grateful beyond words that my Dad is recovering well following his heart surgery. I'm grateful for the skill, expertise and dedication of the doctors, nurses and all the other NHS staff who made this possible during such … Continue reading Gratitude
Some Normality
For all sorts of reasons, we haven't cycled together since Lanzarote: Work commitmentsFamily commitmentsThe weatherThe CoronavirusEwan living 450 miles apart from the rest of us! So, it was lovely to cycle today with John A, John A, Roland and Caroline. A socially distant cycle - note the lack of team photos, no sharing of snacks, … Continue reading Some Normality
Lighthearted Learning from Lanzarote
1. Uphill is Hard, Downhill Terrifying! 2. The Heavier We Are, The Harder It Is 3. Regular Rest Stops are Essential 4. The Cycle Tracking App Relates To Your Menstrual Cycle Not Your Bicycle! 5. Rehydration is Vital 6. Team Kit = Team Work 7. Style is a Personal Thing 8. You Can Never Carry … Continue reading Lighthearted Learning from Lanzarote
Quote of the Week
I thought 'Bloody Hell - I'm going to have to wait for Alison again.......and there she was, right behind me!' Anonymous Either, I'm getting quicker or everyone else is getting slower.......sometimes I'm even at the front! Great to have the support of these fabulous guys.
A Small Matter of Percentages
Guest Blog by Ewan Mac<ean Preparing for the Raid Alpine 2020 0-10%: An honest assessment of how prepared I felt arriving at our Lanzarote training camp to cycle previously unattempted distances and heights over consecutive days in a totally new environment. 25%: Approximately the number of the Cure Parkinson's Trust Raid Alpine group that met … Continue reading A Small Matter of Percentages
Longest Day
With everyone feeling at least a little better, we set off with some optimism for our last day's cycling. Optimism proved an essential component for our longest day in the saddle...... The Challenges of the Day With different bikes, I struggled to clip into my cleats and should have guessed I would struggle to clip … Continue reading Longest Day
Plan, What Plan?
The Plan 9am start prompt - 'No pfaffing'!160km route (100 miles)2300m climbTo complete within 8 hoursA few brief stops onlyCycle all day with the wider group The Reality 9.30am start Lots of pfaffing (mainly me)80km route1454m climbCompleted within 10 hoursLong lunch stop and frequent other stopsCycled for 20 minutes with the rest of the group … Continue reading Plan, What Plan?
No Plan!
(Just Realised I Hadn't Posted Sunday's Adventures!) Our plan today was to have no plan today. To keep things flexible, have a range of options and see how we felt as the day progressed. Ewan has the same stomach upset that John had, so couldn't cycle this morning. Miraculously, he joined us mid afternoon, feeling … Continue reading No Plan!
Too Windy
20km into the windiest cycle imaginable, I completely lost my bottle! Having been swept across the road more than once I couldn't do today's route. John, putting aside his competitive streak, had the patience of a saint and stayed with me. Finding a roadside cafe, we stopped for a drink, some respite from the wind … Continue reading Too Windy
My Big Sis
Guest Blog by Lucy Ferrier Well, where to start? Growing up as the eldest of three girls, Alison always had a sense of responsibility and she embraced her role as the elder, more sensible one! She took her role seriously and enjoyed keeping her younger siblings in check. Alison was kind, fun and as I recall, … Continue reading My Big Sis
Team Training
For the first time today, twelve of the Raid Alpine team are getting together for some training in Lanzarote, many of us meeting for the first time. After an easy journey, we arrive at the resort reception and only half an hour later, with our hire bikes fitted, we were ready to cycle together. With … Continue reading Team Training
Guest Blog
TRAINING & TEAM-BUILDING by Ewan MacLean The Cyclopaths have all been training in our own way: individually, in pairs and in a variety of groups. We are only one small part of a much bigger 'Raid Alpine' group who have all been doing the same across many different UK geographic locations. Between us, we have … Continue reading Guest Blog
Wading Through Treacle
Keen to have one more training ride before heading off to the sun for our 5 day training camp, I set off for a hilly few miles. Cycling with Roland who thankfully was happy to take an easy pace, we set off up Harp, Ham and Castle Hills. It could never be considered an easy … Continue reading Wading Through Treacle
One of Those Days
Cold, wet, windy, hailstones, headache, hangover, tired, torturously slow....... On reflection I was wise to go out alone, I wouldn't have kept up with the Sunday morning group today. Today's effort is definitely not one to dwell on, so, I got to thinking...... So far this year, I have cycled 1060km, burning approximately 34,000 calories. … Continue reading One of Those Days
The Ups and Downs
The Ups Another training ride completed50km cycled894m of elevation climbedBeautiful sunshine for spellsFabulous stop at The Prison in Northleach for coffee and bacon baps Beautiful countrysideLovely villagesA new routeLittle traffic Lovely company Home just as the rain and hail started904 calories burnedOff to Lanzarote next week to cycle in the sunshine The Downs A slow … Continue reading The Ups and Downs
Going Global……
I was delighted to see that this blog has been read by people from around the world from each of the following countries. Please forward the link to your international friends and let’s see how many more countries we can add! Image Source: Amazon
A Windy Walk
A 7.5 mile walk from Stanton to Snowshill and back. Much of the walking across fields but some of it along some very familiar, well cycled roads. I'm not sure it will help my cycling but with strong winds, that wasn't an appealing option this weekend. Stunning views, spells of sunshine, super company and two … Continue reading A Windy Walk
Excuses, excuses……….
Excuses, excuses, or seriously adverse weather conditions? Some of our very regular cycle routes underwater this week....including Ashleworth where we used to live. The road to The Boat inn, Ashleworth Image Source: gloucestershirelive.co.uk The Boat Inn, Ashleworth Image Source; bbc.co.uk Image Source: gloocestershirelive.co.uk Image Source: gloucestershirelive.co.uk Sunnier Times at The Boat Inn The Yew Tree … Continue reading Excuses, excuses……….
Wild, Wet, Windy and Wintery
With a dislike for indoor training, despite the threat of rain and a moderate breeze, the great outdoors won my vote. The weather forecast wasn't great but it painted a more optimistic picture than was the reality! Heavy rain, strong winds, debris on the roads, flooded roads, fields, cars...... Emergency tree felling to avert an … Continue reading Wild, Wet, Windy and Wintery
A Good Idea?
In my last post, a little 'tongue in cheek' I began to wonder why I ever thought this challenge was a good idea. Having recovered from today's training (more about that later), there are many reasons why this challenge is a good idea: I'm supporting a fantastic charity The Cure Parkinson's Trust which funds research … Continue reading A Good Idea?
Mountains to Climb……
After each training session, I check my Strava data - distance cycled, elevation climbed, maximum speed, overall time spent out, time spent moving, etc, etc. Yes, I know, I'm turning into a geek! This time, I also reviewed my stats since January 1st this year. As of 10th February, I had ventured out 17 times, … Continue reading Mountains to Climb……
‘The Cleevage’
The 'Cleevage' is the term used by local cyclists, to describe cycling up and over Cleeve Hill and back again........ My recent Strava profile shows why!
And then there was one
Before the weekend storms draw in, John A, Roland, Caroline, John W. and I set out on a cycle together today. 'Together' being a term applied in the loosest possible way! John W and I slogged our way to the top of Sudeley Hill, with gradients of up to 18% over 2.5km, then realised the … Continue reading And then there was one
Road Closed
If you've followed The Cyclopaths before, you will know that we view the 'Road Closed' sign as a challenge, rather than a warning...... Naturally, news that our favourite, Cleeve Hill has been closed to traffic for three weeks, made us immediately think - how wonderful it would be cycle the hill without a steady stream … Continue reading Road Closed
In a Nutshell
Even I recognise that there is a limit to how many details I can post about cycle training without sending everyone to sleep. So, in a nutshell, in between stormy winds, torrential rain, snow and ice, we have managed to find pockets of calm, dry(ish), warm(ish) weather in which to venture out on our bikes. … Continue reading In a Nutshell
The Original Cyclopaths
I have cycled 1,000s of miles together with these wonderful people. Thank you to the original and very fabulous Vietnam to Cambodia Cyclopaths 2017. Caroline, Chris, Claire, Jim, John, Julia, Marianne, Matt, Mick, Paul, Paula, Roland, Ruth, Sheena & Steve
Challenging Times 
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