A long overdue update for any interested parties
I started the month really well getting out for a 50 on day one, unfortunately that was my lot for the next couple of weeks. A typhoon decided to hit Taiwan and we had torrential rain almost non stop. I did manage to get out a few times but sadly never enough time to complete a 50. The weather started to improve last weekend and I was fortunate enough to get out on Saturday for a nice gentle 100k, no plan at all for this ride I just went out and kept going until I was tired then headed home.
I was sat having coffee on Sunday morning with the missus and I casually mentioned to her that I was contemplating trying to do a 50 every day of last week. I don't know why I come up with such idiotic ideas but I am just stupid enough to at least try and see them through. So began a week of 50k rides. Nothing out of the ordinary, a few early starts and a few late night finishes trying to fit everything in around work. By Friday I was starting to feel a little jaded but was invited out by a mate for a Saturday roll down by the riverside. Plan was to do around 65k so me being me I decided to go for the 100.
I was up early (0245) to watch the England-Scotland game, I so wish I had stayed in bed. Anyway after some porridge and a banana I left the house at 0445 and went out for 35k before joining up with my mate. Once we got to the riverside he went off like a steam train and I was struggling to maintain pace with him, this went on for around 30k until we eventually had a brief stop to recharge bottles. After that we went at a much more sedate pace, sadly at the 80k mark my legs just went, I had nothing left and had to tell him to go on alone at his own pace. I did manage to continue but it was a real grind, a combination of very little sleep the previous 5 days cycling and the searing heat (36 degrees) really had knocked me out of sorts. I hadn't hydrated properly during the ride and I blame the wearing of a mask for that (obviously still my fault). Anyway at 95k I felt a lot better and managed to get home all ok.
Yesterday I took the missus out for what was going to be her maiden 50 but after 15k she was suffering really badly with the heat so we headed home to drop her off and I then went on to complete the 50 by myself.
All in all a very good week although I am feeling it now so I am having a few days off, maybe the odd 20k here or there. I set myself a 5000km goal for the year back in January and have now completed that before the end of June. This challenge really is the reason that is the case, it has really motivated me to get out and do some longer rides, so thanks for that.
Sorry for the long thread, I do hope everyone is well. A few pics below to bore you all 😊
View from one of the many bridges over the river
Same bridge but looking back into the city
Sunset
The city at night