Here comes summer

April and May have been a bit of a mixed bag in all respects. The weather has been wet and windy – even some snow persisting well into April – just to make preparations for the club race weekend a little lively. Then it was scorching hot – sunny up here in Scotland last week whilst the rest of UK got a good old-fashioned bank-holiday dousing. I’ve managed to get some good miles in on the road bike – mainly just an hour to one and a half after work and two hour stints at weekends.

This all helped me ride a fantastic sportive in May. I think I’m becoming one of the many converts to this type of event – you can “race” if you want or just pootle around at your own pace (mine’s a tad shy of leisurely). This one took in one of the biggest climbs in the UK – a 625m job – in about 10k brutally steep and long with it. The fact that I got up all the way without a foot down was my own personal triumph for the day. So thinking about another in two weeks time - the Cairngorm classic - but will whimp out and do the short version.

I’ve also dabbled once more into the world of competitive cycling – well I’ve raced one open event, entered another and have completed a few of the clubs summer league events. It’s a great way to train and gives you that focus you need to go training the days when the comfy sofa and trash TV beckon strongly. So easy to succumb to that temptation. The summer league is a great little format that allows the kids to get an introduction to cycling and to racing – anything that helps the youngsters into our sport – or indeed any sport has to be a good thing – and its great to see so many of them coming along – but we could still welcome a few more young and old alike. Come along and enjoy a spin around some quiet roads near Forres – you’ll love it.

I’ve not hung up my running shoes either and the launch of the Moray series of forest runs gave the running legs a try out last night for the first time in a good while. Bit of an effort the day after the summer league TT – and there’s 3 more weeks like that through the summer. Oh well guess it’ll just be a few sessions less training needed – I’m counting a Tuesday league and a Wednesday forest run as double training sessions – they may be short but very hard work they are – fantastic