With still one day of 2005 to go my totals might increase, not by much
though, depends on the weather. Its currently raining and slushy outside.
2005 saw my first full year of randoneering, I completed about 14 AUK
events in all, no DNFs, got myself 44 points and 6.75 AAA points, not
that I was chasing points. At the beginning of the year I had a vague
notion of riding London-Edinbugh-London, I was quite apprehensive and
despite talking about it didn’t really decide to enter until the entries
opened in April/ May. I started training for it in February with my for
200km randonee, my previous longest ride was 132 miles Morecambe to
Scarborough about 5 years earlier. I found it quite easy to build the
miles up, exceeding the recommended 10% increase per week quite
dramatically. March was my very first 1000+ mile month with my second
200km randonee, I was tired, very tired I had to force myself to rest
when not cycling. I pulled through though. April was less hectic but
with still 1000+ miles, some shorter hillier randonees where I gained my
first AAA points and was first home on one event. (On my very first
randonee in 2004 I was actually second home). I did many private rides
of 200km or more. May came as did the really long randonees, two 300s
and a 400. My first over night ride which I thoroughly enjoyed as well
as finishes in the dark. June, my 40th birthday ride was on the NY Moors
then home, only 200km in the rain. Midsummer is the time for 600s. 40
hours to do them. The Three Coasts was carried out easy enough on a very
hot day. My reconnaissance of the route paid off and I finished the
first section with relative ease. The second section was tougher but we
had plenty of time, once the day cooled off I was going better and
finished the ride in 36 hours having had 6 hours off and some sleep.
July was a the time to back off and rest for LEL a the end of the month.
An aborted private 600, we did about 400km before catching a train, then
an easy 200 at the start of the month then two weeks rest. The big event
itself was superb, I was riding well, my preparation had been spot on. A
thoroughly enjoyable time was had. What about the remainder of the year
? My goal had been reached, a handful of 200s plus lashings of private
miles to aim for 9000 miles for the year to double the previous years
total. No more 1000 mile months I am afraid, time to do other things,
not bike related. 9000 was passed in November so a new target of 10000
was made. I did it, at the time of writing its 10160. Four rides have
been in excess of 200 miles, 29 in excess of 100 miles. Previously I’d
done only four centuries in a year. Total number of rides this year was
306, that includes 1 ride for each time I ride to work and back.
It has been a great year. I have surprised myself with my progress, I
have met many other cyclists and visited some new places. Visited
Bridlington twice by bike, never seen the sea though. Visited Blackpool
twice too. Done some more cycle touring, ridden over Britain’s highest
road pass.