Category Archives: Training

Ticking off the cols

Posted on August 5, 2010 by steve saunders

Seeing as this road was just about rideable, I proceeded upward to the Col du Tronc manualing and bunny-hopping the drainage channels (the Sl2 coping admirable with the abuse) until eventually the descent started, initially quite gingerly on loose dirt, then back on tarmac, although frankly dirt would have been preferable given the state of the road. Continue reading →

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Two climbs and a cop out

Posted on April 7, 2010 by Steve Saunders

Today was the first ‘proper’ Alpine ride, taking in the Col du Pillon and Col des Mosses. The Col du Pillon is a long 22km climb of 1129 metres, and features a deceivingly easy flat middle section before stinging you … Continue reading →

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Winter in the Alps

Posted on February 20, 2010 by Steve Saunders

Three months ago I underwent major shoulder stabilisation surgery (Bristow-Laterjet procedure for those interested). The NHS were predictably poor in terms of communication; firstly a last minute deferral of the operation then opting for a more extreme procedure at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Motivation, Training, reflections | 2 Comments

Building form

Posted on July 3, 2009 by Steve Saunders

One of the advantages of training with a power meter and using software like WKO+ is that it provides an easy way to track fitness. This looks great when things are going well with lots of pretty graphs climbing in … Continue reading →

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Watching and learning

Posted on June 28, 2009 by Steve Saunders

Since the Charlie Cains Road Race a couple of weeks ago I’ve once again had to ease off the gas in a bid to shake off a chest infection. To maintain motivation I kept track of the weeks racing with … Continue reading →

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Muddy mental break

Posted on June 7, 2009 by Steve Saunders

There was very little on in the South-East region in terms of road racing this weekend, bar the Smithfield Nocturne in central London. Rather than stump up the £30 entry fee for that I opted for a bit of a … Continue reading →

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Just let me ride!

Posted on May 16, 2009 by Steve Saunders

I write this feeling a little frustrated about riding. In spite of racing the BEC last weekend, my lower back pain from the “dooring” incident is not fully at bay, and if anything is feeling a little worse. I’m unsure … Continue reading →

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The hazards of cycling

Posted on May 4, 2009 by Steve Saunders

Yesterday I was saddened to hear of the death of a fellow bike racer during the Icknield RC 25 mile Time Trial on the A1. I never knew Gareth Evans, but this news must strike home with all those who … Continue reading →

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The view from the other side

Posted on March 22, 2009 by Steve Saunders

This weekend I took a break from racing to help out with the Kingston Wheelers Surrey League road races near Dunsfold in rural Surrey. I did this race last year and it was just about the wettest experience I’ve had … Continue reading →

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The Surrey Hills

Posted on February 15, 2009 by Steve Saunders

At some points in the winter, I get fed up with using the same roads for training and the same hills in Surrey. Not so today; with all the ice that has been lurking in the back lanes of the … Continue reading →

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