Looking for a couple of challenges, this year and next!

[Elliot M]

OK, as in the case most years I'm having issues with motivation, commitment, laziness, other priorities... call it what you will, but the upshot is I'm not getting on the bike more than once every 2-3 weeks, and find myself in mid April with no fitness, and my first real beer gut -- and no real plan to improve...

So I want to do something about it and I think having a programme of goals - to start with, one for late this summer, one during the winter and one spring next year might be a good idea.

Any suggestions? Could be MTB or road. I like the idea of being semi-competitive rather than elbows out racing, so I guess sportives are the obvious answer... would be good to do one with other ACCers.

Now I already have a week MTBing in Alps mid August planned, but will be mostly chairlifts up, ride down. So need something else too towards end of summer that is a bit more endurance based, and doesn't need time off work. But other events could be abroad.

I wish I had signed up for Sean's Italian challenge and will certainly check for similar stuff. I think a key factor for me would be being able to book up (and therefore having some cash in it!) as far as possible in advance...

Any suggestions welcomed!

[Elliot M]

cheers marco - that's a good start. you got a date for the s downs?

whatever the reason it is time to climb back on -- it's not too late to get reasonably fit for the summer proper. and i've just fixed up my bikes which have been knackered for a while.

will put both in diary to start with.

actually maybe what i need is a great big calendar of the whole year on my wall...

[Elliot M]

i wouldn't make the first climb! unless you mean to carry all your gear?

but will be the first to commit for 08 if you want to do it again!

[Andrew G]

You could have a go at some racing? TTs or Road.

I'm going to be dying on an almost weekly basis at Palace from next Tuesday, so you won't be alone . If you want a more low key entrance how about the Evening 10s? A nice simle how fast can I go test in the company of club mates. Do the 1st one then you could make a target to try to get to by the last one.

[Grahame]

Next spring - Hell Of the North Cotswolds.

Honestly, the worst I've felt during and after a bike ride for many years.

Great ride and route though. And tea and sticky buns halfway round.

Good target for next spring? Next year I'll be doing it on a mountainbike rather than the cross bike, though (I think).

[Elliot M]

[quote="Andrew Green"]You could have a go at some racing? TTs or Road.

[Andrew G]

Oops, yeah sorry Elliot, just re-read your original post.

The hill climbs are good though. Addiscombe's club one (members only) is mid-late September I think and on Ranmore.

The Bec one would be a good target, and you could use the club event on Ranmore (run on a Staurday morning, so just a CR varient to get to the start) as a nice practice run.

[Will]

you could come out for an mtb ride from dorking tomorrow morning fattie?

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

What about the going for a gold medal (ave 17mph) in the Southern Sportive 9th September? last time I looked they'd added an additional 300 places. 65/90/140 kms routes.

[Elliot M]

cheers for the suggestions all!

Will I shall be heading to Liverpool, attending a association football match (first time in over 20 years) and then drinking myself senseless for my bro's stag do, otherwise i'd be there.

[Elliot M]

hmm, not sure it's really lack of motivation to actually go for a ride. more like having a bit of a reason to not have that extra 2 pints, or go to bed before midnight on friday that makes me more likely to feel like getting up at 7:45 for a ride Sat am.

[Dominic]

Elliot have you thought about audax riding. It's not very sexy, but you do get a wide cross section of cyclists. Distances start from 100k and go upwards. Cost is minimal, there's usually some food put on and it's not taken too seriously.

This year is Paris Brest Paris which means a lot of the longer rides will be very busy but if you stick to the short 100k or 200ks you should be fine.

One to aim for which is local is the Battle and Back on the first weekend of July. This starts from Warlingham. There is a 150k, that I have never done, a 200k sporting which is fairly hard and the full on 200k grimpuer (hilly) which is testing. Usually not helped by the fact that it is hot. You have a maximum speed and a minimum speed in which you can do it. You are given a card that you have to get stamped at controls along the way, usaully cafe's or pubs and you just follow the route sheet that the organiser provides you. The minimum speed equates to about 13.25 hours.

I did it for a couple of years before joining the club and it is good stress free bike riding in some really nice parts of the country. I am even contemplating doing the Battle and Back myself and the Cheddar Gorge 300k at the beginning of August to get some miles in for my first 12 hour

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

Definitely not sexy but it's a lumpy old route. Could be something to work towards. I'll be doing the 150kms (I'm not sexy) . There's been a change of date - now 3rd June.

[Dominic]

It's good news it's moved as I was going to aim to do the 150 if at the beginning of July because of having to be back for a family thing, but this way I can do the 200k after a 5 days of sunning myself in France.

Anybody else?