Like Coz I'm on a rest week this week. Must be that thing where hanging around together too much brings our body clocks into sync!

This weekend was some solo riding for me doing 40 miles to the mother-in-law's house on Saturday, and then 60 miles round the local B roads on Sunday. Considering the nasty weather Sunday was only supposed to be a 40 miler, but due to the poorly signposted roads of Essex which maliciously sent me in the wrong direction I ended up shamefully having to get out the map and find my own way back home. 20 extra miles and 60 minutes of cycling in the pitch black got me home for a very gratefully recieved roast dinner and chocolate cake! (Thanks Ann and Celina) After 3000 calories burnt on the bike there was also a distinct absence of dietry guilt as I polished off 500g of dairy milk.

According to my friend Mr diary, I've increased from 100 minutes (30 miles, ave 18mph) on the bike in week 1, to 8 1/2 hours in week 4 (148 miles, ave 17.4mph), clocking about 21 hours in total. Week 5 is a well earned recovery period to get over some of the aches starting to creep in. Next month I hope to push my way up towards 200 miles in a week which means making way for about 12 hours on the bike, and hopefully if magic physio Clare can fix my shoulder (been problematic since my weightlifting comp in December) I'll get myself back in the gym too.