Sting in the tail.....

The day started brightly - sun rising in the east, warmer than of late and a day working at home which equals an hour out on the bike at lunchtime....

The fit one turned up and we set off after I'd removed the loose and ill fitted tri bars. The aim was to do a fast circuit of the Carnock Epic route. The benefits of the compact chainset are beginning to pay off as I felt strong and climbed the hill to Saline with ease and fast! We turned the left and flew down the hill as the rain began to start. I'm fairly convinced that the bigman is the rainking and seems to generate a good sprinkling of the stuff every time he comes out with me. In Aviemore, heavy showers were forecast but with no bigman present there was no rain.....

Anyway, with the fit one struggling to see through his rain spattered shades we turned off towards Forestmill. Speed was good but as it turned out not fast enough to avoid a wasp, a sharp yell from the fit one heralded the sting - on the kneecap. We stopped. The clock stopped and the dream of a fast run was dashed. We set off with the fit one rubbing his wounds.

The rain turned really heavy but we soldiered on deciding not to take the short cut - a huge temptation. At the turn we were behind time but we had stopped....

The cycle path was a long drag, the wind seemed to have turned and we seemed to be fighting a head wind. Our pace slowed slightly as time passed quickly. We discussed gear ratio's and cadence - not hugely exciting but interesting if you bike. There is a definite efficiency ratio that I'm still working out. How do you get the best out of your leg strength to maintain the highest speed....

The final turn took us up the Col Du Carnock - a breeze with my new gearing. The fit one laboured behind only to discover that his brakes were faulty and had gripped the wheel - maximum effort and a great training tip!

So we finished 66 minutes - less the time stopped for the sting. A good days work done.

Tomorrow I need to run and probably spin....