Tats' Training Blog

Long day in the saddle today as I completed a solo 100 miler around the Dales.  The forecast for wind wasn't ideal, but I took the view that 'what's the worst that could happen' - well, you pays your money, you takes your chances!!!

A quick opening blast due south through Kirklington, Wath and the Tanfields before turning west for Masham.  Note to self - must learn not to go out like a TT in the early stages when there's plenty more miles to be eaten up.  Some short sharp lumpy bits through Middleham, Leyburn and Bellerby to get the legs in appropriate mode before climbing up through the Bellerby Ranges.  Always windy here and what should have been a half decent tailwind turned out to be a blustery cross wind.  Always windy on the ranges!!  A very steep and technical descent off the top and down into Reeth for a welcome brew at the Dales Bike Centre.  Having found the climb over Bellerby Ranges hard work only 3 weeks ago, I'm pretty happy with the speed and form they were dealt with today, maybe the old climbing legs are finally coming back.....

Next leg was the 12 mile climb up to Tan Hill.  I took the 'hit it hard' option to get it out the way sharpish as lunch at the Tan Hill Inn was on the cards.  Hard work, big cross wind again, with a blustery headwind getting towards the top of the moor.  No compact chainset and a 12-25 on the back made for hard work in the last stages and got me on the rivet in the final couple of steep bits, but I made it up in 65 mins and was rewarded with a big open fire and steaming bowl of soup at the top.  With the wind picking up all the time, it certainly made the descent interesting with some serious crosswinds looking to deposit me in the ditch on the way down. 

The valley road to Richmond was sheltered and pretty fast, although I always find that last incline into town hard work.  Out to Brompton on Swale, then turn for home and catch the wind big time - always a special treat when you've already got 85 odd miles in the legs.  The last 10 miles were properly painful and I had to engage emergency man-up mode in order to stay in the big ring and make reasonable progress.  Another good reason to stick a compact on before the 1000-miler methinks!!

Back through Northallerton and Leeming Bar before the welcome sight of CG9 and the last stretch to make up the century.  I'm seriously impressed with some of the High 5 stuff we've been using, particularly the High 5 Zero.  Two bottles of Zero per 50 miles, plus water and I haven't even had a twinge of cramp all day, which makes a change.  Probably need to work on the fuel side of the equation though and eat more on the way round.  Next time.

Weather forecast isn't good for tomorrow - high winds and thunderstorms in the morning, so I'm sensing a rest day tomorrow.  Really need to get a new turbo trainer.