Dooh! Finish the long week with a long ride!

Today:

-173km, 5 hours 40 minutes (SLOW!)

-3 major traffic infringements (2 tunnel and 1 bridge crossing with not the right vehicle)

-1 front puncture with tubullar 

-1 broken pump 

- 50km ride with a nearly flat front tyre

-3 Mule bars (2 Hanza nuts and 1 Pinnacolada )

-2 bottles Go Electrolite 

- face wind...face wind... and more face wind (I don't know how does it work... but in the UK you can go any direction and you have face wind all the time...)

I was been awake 6:45 this morning. The plan was 170km, but I had not any idea about the destination. I had a quick look on google map after breakfast and I found my target after 3 minutes. Isle of Sheppey, Sheerness.  Quick Garmin setup and I was on the bike around 9 o'clock. The first 1,5 hours was a hell. The wind was strong, I was tired ..... but after 50km everything was ok.  I arrived in Sheernes after 2 hours 40 minutes. I toke couple of pictures quickly and I turned back. On the back way I rode up Sheppey crossing. The cycling is prohibited on it, but I toke the risk. (anyway, both way I crossed one river on the tunnel, where cycling is not allowed, I was a bad guy today...).

The real surprise came 50km from home. I got a front puncture. It wasn't a prob, quick tub change with Tufo tubtape, 10 minutes job. I started to pump up my tyre.... 50 push with the pump, and crack... My brand new uber-super mini pump went broken.... SHIT! OK, I thought: "I have not other choice, I have to ride home with nearly flat tyre. "

The last 50km was a bit tricky  and harder work as usual, but I got home in one piece. I just checked the pressure in the tyre.... it was 3,5 bars... :D 

Pictures:

1: half way, Thames in the background

2-3-4.: view from Sheerness beach

5-6: view from top of the Sheepey crossing

7: Sheppey crossing (it isn't my own picture)

View from top of the Box hill

I taken this pictures at 6:45 this morning. The view was unforgettable.

I didn' write anything in the last 4 weeks. I told about Transalp in my last post. Unfortunately everything went upside down in the last 2 weeks. No Transalp.... Felt team messed up everything, no money, no entry, no Transalp....

I will back soon with couple of news.... Scalpel..... 12 and 24 hours races....

But I need a rest now. I had a hard week and I have minimum 170km ride tomorrow.

Transalp, Felt team and lots of other things...

Hi everyone!

I didn't write fuck all in the last month, sorry, I know this is really embarrassing...

My last one mount was really busy! (jaja) Ok, where should I start...

I flew back in Hungary for a couple of days 3,5 weeks ago. I did my sport test, everything fine, the engine is in really good conditions, my result was excellent (really high VO2max, good power, only I would like to have lover body fat, the actual was 9.3%, I hope it is lover now).

The hungarian CSC company did my test. They do coaching is well. I work with this guys now. I got a good trainer. He has a lots of experience and knowledge in the power based training. I did my training program alone in the last couple of years (one friend of mine helped me) and I felt in the last couple of months, may be I need somebody's instructions! We work with heart rate monitor now, but we are changing for a power meter couple of weeks time. Thanks for Paligap, I can get one cheaper! My choice is the Power Tap Pro+, I will write a review later. 

Other think! And I think this is a most important one! I got my entry form! Ohh yes, what entry form? :)))

I wrote couple of words about secret plans with Manuela in my Mallorca training camp post. Ohh yes! I am riding with Manuela! Where? On the Transalp! 7 days road race across Germany, Switzerland and Italy. We are riding with the german Felt team. That is the all what I can say this time, but I promise, I keep inform everybody with the details. 

This race totally changed my race plan for this year. I am not riding MTB races this year, and my Scalpel project is delayed now. I will do the Scalpel, but much much slower... because I have to invest the money and attention for the Transalp. But I am back on the off road next year!

If road year, I try the best! :)

I will race couple of crit race just for fun and training. I will do the Crystal Palace League if I can get British Cycling License.... 

After 3 weeks the Transalp finish, I will fly in French. I am doing the La Etap end of July. ( Thanks for somebody, who invited me on the race! BIG BIG THANK YOU!!!!!)

If I am over all of this things and I can rest a little bit, and I can build my Scalpel, possible I will do one or two 12 hours solo race the end of the year.

Other things? Ahhhh... I am training hard and prepare my mind for the 7 days mayhem ... I think thats it! 

Rest week

Oh well! I have a rest week now. I did over 1600km in the last 3 weeks and my body needs a recovery time now. I will fly back in Hungary end of the week and quickly visit my family and couple of friends,  and I have a ECG and sport test beginning of next week. I am looking forward it, I hadn't this test 4 years ago. I just wanna make sure, everything is ok with my engine.

New cockpit for Pinky

Finally! I can say now, my King Zing is nearly done! Just nearly, because couple of small steps are missing (Record headset and Nokon cables). But the last major issue has got sorted. 

I had a lots of play the stem's size before I found the right one. My last stem was a 120mm long FSA K Force. Size was ok, but I didn't like the look on my bike and was a bit heavy. My new choice was the Ritchey WCS white stem in 120mm size. I saved nearly 100 gramms with this change and looks really good on the bike.(Ritchey's weight: 123gr , FSA's weight 218gr)

My other problem was a handlebar. I had a Ritchey WCS Streem with 44cm width. This was a really bad choice. Usually I like Ritchey products but this handlebar's shape was a nightmare. I couldn't fit the ergolevers on the right position, the handlebar's top wasn't comfy and the 44 cm was too wide for my chicken shoulders. After long speculation, my final (and hope the right one) choice was the Ritchey WCS Evolution SL with 42cm width. I really like this handlebar's shape, finally I could fit the ergolevers on the right position and the weight's is really good, 193gr , what is 65gr lighter then the Streem.  

I saved all together 150gr again..... 

I fitted already and finished with white Fizik bartape yesterday afternoon. It looks tasty! :D I am looking forward the first test!

Mallorca-the story

Ehh... finally the story is here (3 weeks later...hmm..). 

Ok, Mallorca. I had a lots of think about this year traning camps. I planed 1 week Tenerife and 1 week Italy. But the plane changed. I had a little chat with couple of hungarian friends beginning of January. These guys booked a hotel in Palma, and asked me, do I wanna to join. I didn't hesitate too much, I booked my flight an hotel one day later. 

Feb. 1. - I left London around midday, just in time, because the big snow arrived on the same afternoon.  I landed on Palma early afternoon. The temperature was 15 degrees. Ohh my God- I thought. After short taxi ride I arrived in my hotel and met with my hungarian friends after long times. 

Feb.2. - Mayhem has been started! The plan was 7 days ride, over 1000km. I nearly did... I rode 6 days and over 900km. I am really happy with this.

We started the rides usually all together and after 1 or 2 hours everybody went for the on ride. 

I did my traning with Csabi Rostler (austrian-hungarian U23-Focus Team) on the first couple of days. I am little bit sorry with Csabi, because he is a XC racer... I am not! I did every day 5,5-7 hours traning... He just followed me... I think , I killed a little bit him, but you know, things what don't kill you, make you stronger!

And something happend! I met with somebody on the third night. We had a long chat, and we discussed a next day ride. Hmm.. Feb. 5. , I never forget this date. The meeting was after breakfest, front of the hotel. Csabi, me and Manuela. The plan was, go to the Ronda hill, and climb up couple of time. We started the ride, but something happend, my Garmin started to biping... what?... aaa... I just realised why! We talked with Csabi about ride to the Mallorca's northern point and I just tried to calculate out the distance with my GPS. After I explained this little story for Manu, she's answer were: LETS GO! DO IT! Heee????? Me and Csabi were really surprised. But we started... First time in my life, I had a ride, 200km, with a girl! I was little bit worried on the first 100km... but after  I lost my all doubts. She hadn't any complain or whimper.  We had a wonderful day!

I did my last two riding day with Manu. She is a great cyclist, and this time was a real cycling holiday and traning camp for me! We have couple of plans all together, but I don't really wanna speak about, before they are not be 100%.

Feb. 8.- these day was my rest day. I just had a short recovery ride, and I little bit explored Palma and the local caffes. I did my pack in (was terrible feel).

Feb. 9. - ehhh, what a shit day. I left the hotel around midday. I checked in really early... but I didn't want to come back. When I felt the island, the temp was 17 degrees, sunshine... I was a last who step on the airplane's board... I given the priority for everybody, I was hopeful, the plain may be overbooked and I have to stay... but it didn't happen... I got back in London couple of hours later, 4 degrees, rain. 

I know, I found and got something on Mallorca, but I left something there!

I wanna say a big thank you for my hungarian friends! YOU ARE GREAT GUYS!!! ALL OF YOU! WAS REALLY PLEASURE TO SEE YOU GUYS! (Balazs, Hedi , Jano, Szilard, Gabi, Csabi (sorry Csab, I didnt wanna kill you))

I think Mallorca is a wonderful cycling place. Quite roads, nice weather, cheap prices! My 9 days holiday costed around £350 with the plain ticket and half board hotel. Easyjet has flight every day to Palma. ( I like easyjet, you can book easly bike ticket on really good price!) 

My hotel was a Hotel Hispania. 3 stars hotel, with half borard. The breakfast and dinner was buffet type, with lots of healthy food. You can find anything what you want! This hotel is 100% bike friendly. You can bring your bike in your own room. If you have any question or need some help , don't hesitate, contact me!

Here is the hotel's link, you can make online booking!

 http://www.hotel-hispania.com

 

Mallorca-traningcamp

I came back from my traningcamp 2 weeks ago. I should write something about it. I had 9 great days on Mallorca beginning of February, I can't just forget it! First of all, photos has uploaded in my web album, you can check it!

I promise I will write the whole story tomorrow night!

Photos: