New Strada A23 wheels

Today the eagerly awaited new wheels from Strada arrived. It's a pair of alloy A23 rims with DT Swiss 240 hubs and Sapim CXray spokes. They only weigh 1480 grams and with conti GP 4000S they do look the business. I decided to put a new shimano 105 cassette and a new chain. I changed my Selle d'Italia saddle to a Cobb V Flow max saddle earlier this week which hopefully will come to good use in the up and coming time trials and of course LEJOG. Tomorrow I'll be riding the first TT of the new N&DCA 2012 season. It is a 19m TT and on the Rockingham Forest Wheelers circuit. The following day I'll be riding the Quattro, a 63m sportive near Wellingborough, with Clive. More news on both of these events will follow.

Today Clive and I(and 3000 others) rode the Cheshire Cat in gorgeous sunny and warm      (19-20degr) weather. After a hearty breakfast in Clive's VW campervan we set off from Crewe Football Stadium around 9.30am.We took it very easy for the first 15 miles untill we reached the foot of Mow Cop.We both managed to conquer this beast of a climb with an avg gradient of 11% and a 100yd ramp of 25% towards the end.To say that we were both elated after reaching the top was un understatement.After a brief pause and photo's we then scaled another 3 tough climbs when we reached the halfway point.The 2nd half was downhill and flattish and we improved our daily avg to 14.3mph. After the finish we collected our mow cop killer mile medals and celebrated our achievements of the day with a 'cool' beer and a nice cuppa in the campervan.We decided that next year we will give the Kilo To Go 'Cornwall Tor' a go.Next ride:The Quattro on 15th April.

Great news! The stone in my ureter has miraculously disappeared on CT scan and they have called off the operation.Woohoo! There is a small,3mm,stone in my R kidney but that is too small to bother me.Advice from the urologist is to drink more(2.5liters/day),eat less salt and drink some lemon or orange juice each day.
So back to training and cycling again and out this morning on the Gaulby-Saddington Reservoir circuit.Blasted home in1hr10min(avg 16.3mph) with 2 KOM's(Pitt Hill and Carlton Road Ascent) on STRAVA on the way! Also bettered my times on the Fleckney Station Road Ascent,Heart Attack Hill,Carlton Curlieu Hill and Gaulby Hill.
The Cheshire Cat is in 2 weeks. Bring it on!

Training on halt

Bit of bad news.Have found out I've got a kidney stone.It's lodged in my ureter.Have seen the Urologist yesterday and he will try and arrange to get it out asap.In the mean time he has advised me to refrain from any strenous exercise.This means I won't be riding todays planned Snowdrop Audax and any other intensive training rides untill the stone has been removed.Fingers crossed they can do it soon.
On a more positive note,I've been to Andy at Bike Science in Derby for my TT bike fit and this went really well.This was a level 1 fit to find out my stack and reach. With this Andy found me some frames which would suit me.The good news was that my frame of choice,the Argon 18 E80,was amongst the frames.Andy is now going to get the frame and components and build up my bike.Once build up I will go back for my level 2(retul) bike fit.
I can't wait to see the whole bike,have the level 2 bike fit and then take it out on the road.

Kilo to go Mercia ride out

Did the kilo to go Mercia ride out with Clive today.50 Miles from Wolverhampton to Telford,Bridgenorth and back to Wolverhampton.We cycled in the first group,leaving at 9am,of about 30 riders.We lost one cyclist who was hit by a car who was going to fast and didn't give way,about 10 miles out.Thank god he only sprained his ankle but he couldn't carry on.
We had a good run in initially sunny,later cloudy mild weather.There were some good climbs along the way and a quick foodstop half way.Climbing out of Bridgenorth I lost contact with Clive and I managed to cycle home with the 'fast' boys.Riding time 3hrs,4min - avg 16.4 mph.
Next ride will be this Wednesday(20 mile nightride with the club) followed by a 3hr ride at steady pace with the 'fast boys' of the club coming Saturday. 

LEJOG fundraising

Met with Diana from Cransley Hospice Fundraising today.Date set for ET photo at Cransley Hopsice on 21st March.Will need to make a start with making people aware of my fundraising challenge which is only 4 months away.
www.justgiving.com/michielvaal-lejog2012

First ride of 2012

First ride of 2012 with Clive.Cycling from Kettering to Harleston and back Kettering.48 miles in just over 3hrs(15.3mph).Weather sunny with blue skies and a mild south-westerly wind helping us on our way home.