Richard's blog

Tag: endurance

  • The First Metric Century of the Season

    The First Metric Century of the Season

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 3 minutesYesterday I set off from home at around 08:00 for what I planned would be a one hundred kilometre ride. The rational was that I would cycle to and from Geneva, around 50 kilometres, and participate in a group ride with Bike Club Switzerland, another fifty kilometre ride. It’s because it was…

  • The Day I ran my First Semi-Marathon

    The Day I ran my First Semi-Marathon

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 3 minutesYesterday was cold and grey when I set off on my daily walk/run and my intention was to go up to Cheserex across to Tranchepied and then back down towards Nyon. I had no intention of running a semi-marathon. The reason for which I ran so far is that I saw dog…

  • Cycling Uphill Faster

    Cycling Uphill Faster

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesI have been up the Molard climb four times this year, and each time I sped up by a little. Twice my time improved by two minutes, and when I tried yesterday it improved by only a few seconds. With an average of 2000 meters of climbing per week I can feel…

  • One Weekend – Two Pinnacle Rides

    One Weekend – Two Pinnacle Rides

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesThis weekend I know of two challenging rides that I could do. The first is a 140km ride with 2000m of climbing, eventually getting to the top of the Salève. The second is a 153km walk with 2500m of climbing to the Col Du Grand St Bernard. Col Du Grand St Bernard…

  • Five Days Cycling Out of Seven

    Five Days Cycling Out of Seven

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 4 minutesIf I drove four hundred and thirty kilometres I would either be going on holidays or wasteful with petrol. To do the same thing on a bike is much better for the health of the planet and my own. The reason for this is simple. Good cardiovascular health. Normally I would not…

  • On the Irony of Expensive Cars

    On the Irony of Expensive Cars

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 3 minutesA few weeks ago two individuals in a car yelled abuse at a group of us who were cycling. They were mad that a cyclist did not pull in for them to pass easily. At this point I thought "Despair is not sat on a bench as in the proverb, he is…

  • Ignoring the 80/20 rule with Group Rides

    Ignoring the 80/20 rule with Group Rides

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesYesterday I rode with Group 2 rather than Group 1 with TDC. I believe I could keep up for a second time. I also believe that when you’re cycling hard three times a week it takes a lot of energy.My experience last Saturday showed that I was pushing myself too hard by…

  • The Long Drive

    The Long Drive

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesIt’s funny. It is a drive that I have done plenty of times. Tomorrow I will do the usual twelve hour drive from Switzerland to around Alicante, and I will do so with minimal stops. In essence the drive is easy. I take the motorway from Nyon all the way to Ondara,…

  • Reaching Lactic Threshold

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesYesterday I thought that I would get breakfast for free before the ride but I didn’t. As a result of this I went for a bike ride in a fasted state. I considered having pasta for dinner the night before, even as breakfast but didn’t. The result is that the energy stores…

  • A Metric Century – Nyon to Yvoire

    A Metric Century – Nyon to Yvoire

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    richard
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    Reading Time: 2 minutesIf things go to plan I will be cycling a metric century today. I will be cycling from Nyon to Yvoire via Geneva. It’s the first time in a while that I cycle this far but there are advantages to this route. For a large part of Nyon to Geneva I will…