Due to some changes in my life, I've had a lot more time free in the evenings recently, so I've been getting the miles in... riding three or four times a week instead of once or twice and trying to make an effort to get out whatever the weather. And riding the singlespeed exclusively - my logic for this was that it would be the cheapest one to keep going while riding as much as possible in mostly muddy conditions. I didn't really know what to expect; I was hoping for an increase in stamina that would let me take on longer rides without feeling dreadful at the end. Rather wierdly though I have found myself going significantly faster both up and down hill... I might even be tempted to take on a race or two towards the end of the summer if my fitness keeps on improving like this.
Back in the world of proper bike racers, I will be looking after wee man Luke at Mountain Mayhem; he's racing solo, so I'll be filling bottles and fettling bikes again for him. The weather forecast isn't looking brilliant; another muddy Mayhem ahead, at least I'm not riding this year.
Over in the States, spanky Mike is taking the whole ultra endurance thing to ridiculous levels by racing in the Tour Divide - 2700 miles from Canada to Mexico, self supported, offroad. He's currently 4th, and about 1000 miles or so in, covering 175 miles or so every day. He's a tough little bugger (he won the solo class at the Puffer this year), I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him on the podium at the finish.
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