Wednesday 22 April 2009


Cheshire cat ride came and went with a new route but a lot tougher finish than in previous years according to other riders. Great organisation apart from no food and fewer drinks at the finish but plenty to nibble on at the food stations en-route.Hadn't felt too good for a couple of weeks with 'man flu' that left me with bad catarrh so probably only 80% fitness and as a result failed on Mow Cop climb but was quite pleased to see the finish when it arrived. A couple of days later it was all but gone and went really well round one of my local routes up Parbold Hill so was quite pleased with that to alleviate any doubts that Mow Cop might have brought on. Been to Tenerife for 10 nights R&R but still ran and even hired a mountain bike for a day. 10 euro's but not bad quality so set off towards Teidi to see how far i could get. I hadn't banked on it being all uphill though but got up to 4500 feet in 20 K in about 3 1/2 hours to a village called Villafloure - the highest in Spain I'm told. Bike top quite wet with sweat and up in the clouds, so going to be chilly on the way down but found a peach tray at the side of the road to stuff up my cycling top, worked a treat though a bit mucky from the dust, see picture. Next ride is Etape du Dales so the training will continue with a long ride this weekend. New Chorley Harriers cycling kit has been delivered to Downsies and picked mine up tonight