Beware of a smiling coach

It was a tough ride this morning. The sort of ride that had me double checking the program, since I was pretty sure I mustn't have read it right. Nope, it was right. Some hill repeats and then some very tough intervals. I got through, but it wasn't easy, and I must admit I started to hit the wall on the last interval or so.

All up it was a good ride though, the hill repeats felt the strongest they have felt since I moved down from Darwin. Even the intervals felt pretty good, it is just that they were long, fast and numerous. Their toughness made them hard, rather than the way I was feeling. The toughness of the intervals was not helped by the gentle but persistent breeze that was blowing this morning. I was pretty happy to roll into the drive at the end of the ride, and pretty happy with myself for having got through the session.



We had a mad couple of days last weekend, so this weekend we deliberately didn't plan to much. Since we didn't have much on our plate today I indulged myself in the luxury of heading out on the bike on the lateish side. It was very nice to spend nearly the whole ride in daylight and relative warmth. Very nice.

Good swim down with Swim Smooth this afternoon. It was a fairly typical Saturday afternoon lacticpalooza smashfest. You go down each Saturday thinking that perhaps this time it won't be, but knowing that it is probably going to be, and sure enough it is. However, the pain is with a purpose, it isn't just to make the coach laugh, although I am pretty sure it must do that to. Everything we were doing was aimed at open water skills. Strength work, drafting work, sighting work, it was all there. Whilst it is a painful session, it is always a useful one.

Nipped into Churchill Cycles this afternoon to grab some new brake pads. It occurred to me during the week that the brake pads on my training bike are well and truly beyond the recommended change out point of wear. Less of a brake pad and more of a slim sliver of rubber that rubs on my rims. I think tomorrow will be change out day.

Interesting day in the tour last night. Just when you think it is all over, something comes along to bring some interest back into the race. I still think it will take a minor miracle to stop Froome from being in yellow in Paris, but last night showed that it certainly isn't a done deal. Could be very intereting when they hit the Alps. Only question now is which to watch tonight, the tour or the Ashes. Decisions decisions.