4:41 in the sunshine with two ascents of Toys Hill and another corker round the corner called Yorkshill (yep, one word) which I also did twice. I haven't got the individual stats for the two main climbs but the total elevation gain for the ride was 1,733m. I felt quite good riding back to home and I even braved the fast and busy A21 where I got into time-trial mode and really went for it. .
I do have a problem with the bike. Last weekend I noticed too much vibration coming through the handlebars and a slight clonking. I tightened the headset but while out today it was the same making me nervous on the downhills. When I got home I shook the front of the bike and there is clearly something loose with a clear clonk coming from the forks /headset. I will get it serviced before the Etape so better to find out now.
Sounds like you're building up nicely to the big day. Not long now!
ReplyDeleteI feel okay really. Just can't imagine what it is going to be like taking on the Marie-Blanque or spending 2 hours going up and up Tourmalet. Can any training really prepare you for that except actually getting out there and trying it. Glad your knee is holding up Rob. I do hope we can find a way of saying hello out there.
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit unfathomable at times isn't it. I guess we've just got to keep on pedalling! I managed a century at the weekend on the knee so I'm getting more and more confident about being able to give it a go. I've missed quite a few key training sessions though so it could be a bit of a slog!
ReplyDeleteWould be great to say hello out there, either in the pen or for a celebratory beer.