Cross-training - remembering how to suffer!

Last night I went along to a Manchester Wheelers Club 10 time trial, the last time I did one of these was in 1993, a whole 18 years ago! Crikey that makes me feel very old.
To welcome me back to competitive (only gently) cycling I managed to be the 13th person to sign on at the event - not sure I believe in superstition but wasn't very happy all the same!

So I coughed up my £3 and lined up for some lung burning, leg cramping suffering and pain.
26.35minutes later I was practically vomiting but safely back from my 2 laps of the quite windy circuit. It definitely wasn't one of those "float" nights they talk about!
My personal best at the peak of my cycling obsession was somewhere between 22 and 23 minutes - alzheimers setting in I can't actually remember the time!

These time trials happen every couple of weeks during the summer so I think I'll be heading back to try and improve.......

Looks like the training is working......

Well it seems all this climbing must be doing something for my rock climbing - I managed to finish off my very first 7c yesterday - Comedy at Kilnsey. After a day last week trying the route and getting too knackered to redpoint it I headed back yesterday and managed it second redpoint - very chuffed. No pictures of me actually climbing as Ruth was a bit busy belaying and knew she'd get shouted at if she tried to multi-task.

Maybe the 8a dream could happen one day?? Just need to find the right route - ie. one that isn't all about tiny crimps.......any suggestions greatfully received!

Check out the swans!! (Andy is going to kill me for sneaking this one in after he wrote the post! Ruth)

The time has come to train.....

The summer seems to have arrived a bit quicker than I had hoped, which means I need to be climbing better! All the sunshine is totally amazing and I've been getting out quite a lot over the last couple of weeks. Pretty psyched to sport climb at the moment and get strong and fit, so I've been sampling the delights of Cheedale which is right on my doorstep and has a good selection of low 7's for me to get stuck into. The main crags are all pretty dry, although a brief visit to the Cornice did show that it's still really dirty and dusty.

Further afield I've had a couple of days up in Yorkshire, Jonny G and I headed for Malham to start with but ran away with our fingertips blistering after 1 route and headed instead for Kilnsey (we weren't too popular with Ruth as she was out on her bike and it meant an extra few miles for her!). Perfect conditions for climbing at Kilnsey, in the shade and needing a warm jacket for belaying and a t-shirt for climbing. Just a shame it's all so steep and hard!! Not a fully successful visit but made some progress on a route and feel armed to go back and finish it off next time - and it's all good mileage.

The most successful bit of the day as far as I was concerned was the use of Jonny's CU Belay glasses - they are awesome - no sore neck at the end of the day, and I don't care if they look ridiculous!!

The more observant may also notice that the mop has gone - I'm hoping the weight loss will have a positive effect and not a Samson weakness effect!