Good gym sesh!

My usual gym workout is something like this:

• 5 minutes light cardio
• Warm-up stretches
• 20 minutes interval training on bike or treadmill
• 192 reps across 4 sets on a resistance machine
• 5 minutes on the treadmill
• 192 reps across 4 sets on another resistance machine
• 5 more minutes on the treadmill
• Either 2 miles on the treadmill or 10 minutes on the bike
• Warm-down stretches

Quite a good workout, I think. I'm no fitness trainer, but it seems to be an even body workout, not too intense, and varied enough to prevent tedium.

Yesterday, however, I went for something different.

Instead of resistance machines and varying cardio intervals, I went for a solid hour cycle on the exercise bike. Very rewarding, very fun. Entered something similar to flow at around 25 minutes too, so the usual battle against myself to end exercise prematurely was avoided.

Managed to do 31.5km (very nearly 20 miles) as well - a pace I'm proud of!

I'll share a tip with you too: the exercise machines I use are super trendy and modern, with built in TVs. Usually I turn them off because the regular adverts just remind you how little of your workout you've actually done. Yesterday, though, I switched to the BBC Parliament channel, to watch the most banal debate between two vacuous politicians. The time flew.

Think that's worth a quid? Donate!

One In A Million charity wins an award!

Good morning, all.

One In A Million, the charity all money raised from Bike to Berlin goes to, has just won an award.

click the picture to go to the article

They've been named Barclays Community Sports Award winners for their efforts in creating opportunities for disadvantaged kids in Bradford.

Former England footballer Gareth Southgate, who presented the award, said "They are trying to give young people opportunities and they are trying to show them that they don’t have to follow a certain path in life. They don’t have to follow the crowd or a route which might lead them into problems and trouble".

Isn't that nice? Make you feel like donating? :)

50 mile training ride!

The first training ride I've been able to go on; they're normally on Wednesdays (when I have lectures) or Saturdays (when I have work).

It was supposed to set off at 10.30, but only me and one other cyclist (Kate) were there on time. After a few minutes spent speculating as to whether we'd missed the ride and/or we should set off by ourselves, others arrived. The proposed route was Leeds > Otley > Ilkley > Bolton Abbey, and back. Around 25 miles each way. See below for a rough representation:


View Larger Map

Because the group was mixed ability, we stopped every couple of miles to rest / let people catch up. This prevented a solid pace but it was quite nice to have the rest.

We ate lunch at Bolton Abbey café, or some similarly named establishment, rested for ~30 minutes, then set off again for home.

It was a lot quicker getting back. A different route was taken from Otley > Leeds to avoid cycling up a GIANT hill we cycled down on the way.

Points of interest on the ride included:

• A couple having a "steamy Sunday" in a car in a lay-by


• An ostrich


• A sheep with a bad leg (aww)


• A sign warning motorists to watch out for "Golfers Crossing"


• Some stunning vistas

Bring on the next ride!