Will this cold weather never end!

As I sit looking out of the window pondering going for a ride today I can just see a few snowflakes floating in the wind and its 2c with a windchill that according to Metcheck makes it feel like -3c! This is April its not supposed to be that cold for goodness sake. The relentless cold spell has made motivation a bit of an issue especially for the long rides where frankly you just get too cold when out for 4 hours or more.

This weekend I have the first of several Sportive rides that I have signed up for. I have 2 choices, either a 60 mile ride or the full 90. I'm probably not quite ready for the 90 but hey, no one ever got anywhere without seeing how far they could push themselves. I think it will come down to how I feel on the day and what the weather is looking like. I know I can do the 60 so 90 would be a real test. I remember doing the first London Marathon and the advice given to first timers was "Start slow and then get slower" good advice I think.

Training wise my last two rides have been good, a "hilly" 50 miler on Monday was very good including over 2,300 ft of climbing up some hills that I wouldn't even have attempted a few weeks ago. I wouldn't say I flew up them but I got up them with something in reserve. The steepest was Kiln Lane near Bourne End which peaks at over 15% at a couple of points. Yesterday's ride was a flat 25 and very windy but I held a good pace all the way round and ended with a PR up Lily Hill Road. The saddle sores are still there but getting better - I hope!

On the nutrition front I am now a dab hand at making flapjacks, this weeks efforts taste great, made with Golden Syrup instead of Honey and with half Peanut Butter in place of just butter. Look out great British bake-off !

Having started this blog entry talking about the weather here is a picture I saw on a forum taken up in Yorkshire at the top of a pass. Perhaps we haven't had it too bad down here after all.