Hi again to anyone returning for this update. It’s now less than 5 weeks until this little Polaroid Eyewear cycle challenge, and as promised I aim to give you some insight into our various training regimes.
Before I go to some grey pictures of training in Scotland, let’s see how the team’s proper cyclist does it, with this shot of Bennie de Jong (front left in red and white) in the Dolomites from last year. Proper mountains.
Bennie made it out this weekend for around 140km, and it’s safe to say his training remains firmly on track for spending a lot of time at the front.
Eric is indeed a busy man and his training this weekend had to be combined with his duties at the sailing club at Loch Lomond so he cycled from home the east bank of Loch Lomond to register his miles.
For myself, I wanted to get some miles in so I cycled from home to Tyndrum and back. At 106miles it’s my longest run yet, and while it’s a real psychological boost to pass the 100 mile mark, it’s also a reminder of the challenge that remains. This was ‘only’ 2600 feet of climbs vs. the 9700 of the full route. At 80 miles my left knee started to complain and became increasingly sore until the end. And at the end I knew I had done 106 miles and I wasn’t sure how I was going to do another 90.
Despite all this doom and gloom, Ev took my picture and for having been in the saddle for 7 hours I think I hide the grimace quite well.
Paul passes the 100 mile mark!
There are some unexpected upsides from rising at 0445 and leaving the house at 0530 on a Saturday morning – like your parents always said ‘it’s the best of day’ – calm wind, sun rising, birds singing, foxes running riot in front of your house etc. And also it’s a chance to listen to early morning radio. Despite being clearly too old for it, I listened to Radio 1’s Rob da Bank show for two hours and it reminded me about why I love the BBC. Pure quality, even the absolutely un-listenable stuff. My highlight was a band in session called Penguin Prison.
Finally for this week, I know it’s a bit obvious for an employee of Polaroid Eyewear to sing the praises of our own stuff, but once again I had one of my magical Polaroid sunglasses moments while cycling up the side of Loch Lomond.
Relay Polaroid sunglasses help Paul eliminate glare off the wet roads.
I’m using the Relay pair from the sport sunglasses range for this event, and up until now I have had the spare almost clear and non polarised lenses in constantly. I always wondered if that was a bit of a gimmick but believe me when you are cycling in the rain as traffic goes past it keeps the grit, salt and water out of your eyes and they become as important to safety as wearing a helmet. But on Saturday, at Inveruglas, a strange thing happened. The sun came out. And when I stopped for another cereal bar I changed to the grey Polaroid polarizing lenses and there it was again. After 14 years of putting on Polaroid sunglasses I still go wow as it all becomes clearer.
Thanks for reading, Paul.