The Adventures of Tintin

I've just returned from a weekend in Belgium participating in the Liege-Bastogne-Liege sportive.  Most sportives in the UK top out at just about 100 mile mark, but this was over 170 miles, lots of climbing and most of the hills in the last 1/3 or the race - so a very good test of preparation for the Tour De Force. The day started clear and cold.  A strong northerly wind blew and it was about 3degC when we rolled out at 7:00am.  The route meandered through the grim industrial outskirts of Liege before we eventually reached 'Km 0' - where the official 'race' begins after 12 miles or so.  From there the route climbed out of the town and into the lovely Ardennes countryside.  There were some good groups for the first 60 miles and I made good speed powered by the Jo's chocolate flapjack and the tailwind. At Bastogne, the route turned sharply into the wind, and for the next 45 miles it was vital to get into a good group to counter-act the effects of the wind.  A c

We've just returned from Devon, where the weather went overnight from the cold easterlies caused by the blocking high over northern Europe to warm southerlies, driven by a deep low west of Ireland.  The result is not only  a lovely increase in temperature but a change in the pacing on my standard ride.  Yesterday I was 5 minutes quicker on the 1st hour, and 7 minutes slower on the 2nd hour, into the wind.  For those who care, or haven't got anything better to do, you can see my training on  Strava . I'm now starting to fund-raise in earnest, so if you would like to support my attempt to ride the route of the Tour De France, please donate  here In a few days, we'll be off to do the Liege-Baston-Liege sportive.  160 miles of rolling Belgian countryside.  That will be the first proper test of the winter's training.