Signing up.

For some reason I signed up for Lap the Lough 2010.  Actually, the reason was I was just back from holiday so was still full of those exercise and general health living goals we set ourselves while were away and disappoint ourselves  with when we get back.

Signing up online was fine and, since I didn’t speak to anyone due to post holiday grumpiness for 2 weeks, I managed to fit in a bit of training.  Most of my cycling is commuting to work – 7 to 9 miles each way depending on where I’m going.  The only other regular outings are with the kids (and sometimes the wife too) which are mentally but not physically hard.

Training

I checked out their training program.  I was already behind and with a month to go before the day new I had to get a decent distance in a couple of weeks before. 

So I did 20 miles on a Sunday afternoon around the outer ring to the west and then across to Shaw’s bridge, down the Lagan towpath through Belfast to Gideon’s green and then up through the Valley park.  Not too bad, though the hills took it out on me a bit.  I particularly enjoyed the stretches along the Lagan.  I’m used to commuting through traffic so being able to go flat out for miles was nice.

Wednesday p.m. I did about 30 miles in the evening, through Mallusk and then across to nuts corner round-about, right along to the international airport and then through Templepatrick and back home.  Other than lack of front light, not to bad.  As usual I had problems with my imap my ride– this time I lost first 10 miles or so.  I’m not using runkeeper which seems much better.

Next Sunday I did about 60 miles (iPhone batteries conked after 45 miles)– out through Crumlin and then along the side of the Lough on cycle route 94, then through Aghalee and along a beautiful path to Moira.

Cycle path between Aghalee and Moira – stunning.

Moria to Lisburn on the road and then along the path from Lisburn to Yorkgate and then up through the Valley park from Gideon’s green.  I wasn't to bad at the end and happy enough that having done nearly 60 miles I’d be able to do the 80 a couple of weeks later.

Next Sunday, despite having drunk a bottle of wine the evening before, I did 30 miles or so.  Again, I headed out towards Crumlin but this time turned left over through Dundrod and, after mending a puncture on the way down Hannastown hill, joined the Lagan towpath at Shaw’s bridge

The day

I probably shouldn’t have drank that bottle of wine the night before but I washed it down with a litre of sports drink and felt not too bad ay 7:30 on the Sunday.  Set off before 8 with a bowl of porridge in me and turned off the motorway at about 8:0.  Stopped at the garage and bought coffee and a couple of bars of chocolate.

Bit of a car queue to get to the car park but it gave me time to drink the coffee.  There were a lot of pretty serious looking cycles around and I was wondering if I was going to get laughed at and left behind on my 14 year old beaten up hybrid with its £1 bell.

Most of the other riders didn’t have bells.

Registration was easy – no queues.  They were out of large t-shirts and the girl suggested a medium which was kind.

Wasn’t too sure what the the score was with starting so I followed a few other cyclists out of the car park and after a while realised I’d started at about 9:20.

It rained heavily but lucking I had my cheap cagool on.  The other riders seemed to have proper cycling gear but I cruised along hapily through portadown to the first stop.  It stopped raining so I took off my coat and tied it round my waste.

Soon after Portadown two girls overtook me so my machismo kicked in and I figured I’d better keep up with them.  This didn’t last too long.

First water stop was just over the footbridge at Maghery.  I discovered I’d lost my chocolate bars.  I took the opportunity to use the outside toilet.

From here the going got pretty tough as we were heading into heavy wind and there were a fair few hills heading along the East of the lough.  There were lots of cycling teams who seemed to shout things, point at the road and wave from there bums as they went past.  They seemed to know what they were doing.

One think I notice though was that although these teams were fast moving, they kept on getting punctures.  So five minutes after they’d soared past they’d all be stopped at the side of the road with someone's wheel off.

Seems to me they should get some fatter tyres like mine and go a bit slower to get there quicker! 

I soon started falling in at the back of groups and tailing them for a while.  Everyone seemed friendly enough.  I found I could keep up with most groups OK but definitely felt outpaced by club riders on hills – not sure if this was fitness or weight (mine, not bikes).

I had been considering buying a road bike but was worried about my back (slipped disk).  Noticed that most riders rested on the top of the handlebars which seemed to defeat the point so I suspect they are too uncomfortable.  Also, I didn’t see any particular speed advantage.  I passed a fair few folk on very expensive looking road bikes and was passed by a fair few on mountain bikes.  I have decided, instead, to build a recumbent. 

Anyway – back to the ride.  Eventually made it to Ballyronan to welcome banana and water top up.  You can see my pace times etc. to this point here.

A cyclist takes a rest.

We then pushed on to through Randlestown to Shane’s castle for lunch – sandwich, fruit and tea! Very welcome.  Would have liked another sandwich.  This section was easier as it was flatter and the wind was now behind or from the side. 

My iPhone ran out of juice somewhere along the way but runkeeper captured some of the leg.

After this it was on through Antrim and along the bottom of the Lough.  This was very pleasant with the wind still at my back and the roads fairly free of traffic.  The riders were much more spread here to but still plenty of chat.  The route followed a lot of the national cycle route 94.  I skipped the last stop – a nice looking pub – and reached the finish at around 5:15.

Despite my short training period, fatness and old hybrid bike, I felt I did OK.  The ride was very enjoyable, helped by a largely dry day and plenty of sunshine, and the other cyclists were a friendly bunch.

Next time I’d take food and a place to carry my waterproof.  I might skip the wine the night before too!