New Giant Contend AR 1 2021

So on an impulse I bought another Giant. Check out the full details at the link below and in my initial video review.

Giant Contend AR 1 2021

 

Summer became Autumn became Winter

200km Day 

 So July became August and then Autumn came along with plenty of miles under the belt. Alas they didn't as I was hoping include miles of smiles in Mallorca with covid claiming my holiday as another casualty and although much cycling was done in July the weather was wet and left a lot to be desired at times. However there were many opportunities to continue riding my new Giant TCR and getting in one or two cracking rides. I managed another 200km day on a fine hot day which was epic to say the least. I wanted to find the Paisely end of the cycle track that heads past Loch Winnoch. I made my way there via, Strathaven and East Kilbride, Pollok and then into Paisley itself where I quickly spotted the Blue sign directing me onto the track. It was pleasant and easy to follow with only one diversion on to the road and back half a mile later (where the police were investigating a murder!) before it joined with the section I was most familiar with. After continuing to Kilbirnie I made the decision to take a moor road to Largs which I have done in another direction before, before heading south down the coast and heading back across the Fairlie Moor road. I highly recommend this tough climb from Hunterston as you are rewarded with stunning views of the firth of Clyde and a long descent back to Dalry. I made my way through Kilwinning to Irvine then along the coast Barassie for a much needed refuel at my parents house. I then took the cycle track along to Prestwick airport before heading home via, Tarbolton, Mauchline and Dungavel. This was a spectacular day out owing to the weather, lack of wind and the distance but also because I never felt like the tank was empty. Especially good as I am considering an attempt at the NC500 next summer so to be able to pump out 200km and have something left feels good. This route could be shortened slightly to include a surprisingly large amount of cycle track. There can be a bit of snobbiness about using track from some cycling corners but on a big day when youre not pushing particularly fast they can be a relaxing experience, especially of in a group of 2 or 3.

 

Galloway Hills 

 I also completed my now annual loop through Galloway to Newton Stewart and back from Dalmellington. This route is always spectacular with climbs of Largs Hill, Tairlaw, the road to Glentrool and the Queensway but also remarkably car free for a such a scenic route. I did it anti clockwise this year and the only complaint I would have is the small road I take from Glentrool to Newton Stewart down the left side of the river wasn’t in as great nick as its been before but it was another great day on the bike. Covid was still making it trickier to refuel as the Forestry Commission cafes at Glentrool and Clatteringshaws remained closed but Newton Stewart has a garage that I regularly use to fill the water bottles and I continued to rely on gels for longer rides this year with the café options close to zero. The road has been resurfaced on the long descent back into Dalmellington so the final 10 miles were a joy and just after Casphairn I also beat an electric cyclist up the climb!

   

 Autumn Smiles 

 My October holidays usually see the last rides of the “good” bike before it goes away for the winter and avoids the dreaded salty grit. With a good weather window of sunshine and little wind I decided to try for a (possibly) last century ride of the year. I headed to Dalmellington first (via an alternate route to normal owing to road closures) then across to Straiton. I had bailed at an attempt to cycle to Girvan in the summer as I came across a road resurfacing in operation so returned to test out the new road and try it out. As it headed to the coast it was mostly downhill and with the exception of a stop to rescue a stunned blue tit on the road I sailed there with ease. On the outskirts of Girvan I then headed along the A77. Although the coastal views are nice this is a busy section of road and wasn’t the most pleasant so I was pleased to see the turn off for Turnberry which took me off the main road and past President Trumps other Whitehouse. I followed the coastal route through all the coastal towns before turning for home at Irvine and finishing the day as the sun was setting on both the day and on a good 6 months of riding on the new bike.

 

Lockdown Long Ones

In the last month of lockdown I managed 2 extensive 100 mile+ tests of the new TCR, both heading in completely different directions on cracking days weather wise.

HEADING SOUTH

The first headed in to South Ayrshire then along the coast and into the Ayrshire alps where i took on Glenalla, Nic o the Balloch and the Tairlaw before climbing from Straiton over to Dalmellington over Largs hill.
The weather was roasting, which I would choose anyday but during lockdown it becomes a harder proposition for refueling. the usuall wee cafe stops were all closed but petrol stations remain open and a good source of finding water and fuel so the back pockets were filled with snacks to sustain.
I have been refueling recently with Kendal Mint Cake Co gels and energy drink which I have really enjoyed and find they are very easy on the stomach. Pockets full of these and easy carry refill drinks sachets made the lack of cafe stops not a problem.
The scenery of the Ayrshire coast and its alps can be spectacular and I soaked it all in especially as the ride was the furthest I'd been from home in 10 weeks and great day to give blue its first big test and with new mavic Kysrium Elite S wheels.
The day was finished with a great southerly tailwind which blew me all the way home.

HEADING NORTH

The second of my centuries took me north. The last time I tried the cycle to Greenock was just before the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. The route north goes under the flight path to Glasgow Airport and on my previous run plane after plane arrived over headfrom all over the world for the games where as this time the skies were nothing but quiet blue.
The route around Inverclyde draws a circle around the Clyde Murshiel Regional Park skirting Bridge of Weir on the west side before arriving above Greenock to some spectacular views of the Trossachs over the Firth of Clyde.

The route steeply drops into Greenock before rising steeply outwards into the regional park along the Old Largs Road.......to Largs, through some stunning moorland.
A 10km descent takes you down to the coast. I battled a southerly all the way back down to Troon before I headed back home with the days climbing behind me.

Two centruy rides and the new bike gets pass marks. Heres to more in July!

New Giant Advanced 1TCR

Don't it always seem to go.......

...........that you don’t know what you’ve got till its gone. So wrote Joni Mitchell and as I have turned 40 I have discovered in the body terms it can be very true! 

Now I say can this because at 40 I am the fittest I have ever been. I now cycle between 8000 – 10000km a year including endurance events like the Dirty Reiver (200km off road) and last year managed 4 century rides on the bike. Indeed on the day of my 40th Birthday I chose to run all the stairs at Ibrox for charity.......and boy did my calves thank me for it. 

But while I am staying fit I have discovered that the older you get the more you need to treat your body like a car or indeed in my case a bicycle and take part in proper maintenance so you can keep getting fitter. 

In my case the best thing I did over the last 5 years was start doing Pilates. It was suggested by my physios Kelly and Kate at Physioflexx as a way of strengthening my core in a low impact way which would greatly increase my comfort on the bike and keep injury at bay. 

It worked. My back, which was suffering on the bike improved and I found myself pain free for longer and in turn could push out longer faster miles. 

I am also still playing football. Mostly 5 a sides but some 11s too, and had found it getting more painful after every match. Eventually the Pilates kicked in there too meaning after match I didn’t wake up the next morning feeling like a cripple. 

But I made a mistake. I stopped doing Pilates. Thinking I was “cured” I gave it a break for 6-8 months and over that time everything crept back. The tight hip, the sore back, elbow and knee pain and post 5 a side crippledness. It wasn’t broke and I tried to fix it. In that time I’d also lost weight changing my training adding a lot of dynamic HIITs and cross training. Thinking this would fill the Pilates gap was a mistake. If anything these types of workouts need the back up of a proper core to support and I had let my deep core disappear.  

I am now back on Pilates for the last 8 months and starting to feel the benefit of it. I am not back where I was but I have to remind myself I worked hard at Pilates for 4 years previously. 

Now in your late 30’s and into your 40’s I can testify as an active sports person you don’t recover the same way you did when you were 18-25. Get yourself checked over regularly. In the last 6 years I have used my physio the way I service my bikes or cars by checking in once a month and getting niggles sorted while they are still that and working on techniques to stop them becoming niggles. This is especially important if like me you’ve had previous health issues (see previous posts on my spinal surgery). Also a great physio will help you if you are changing up your exercise and/or sport to keep you fit and healthy and in turn change and adapt how they treat you. 

My other advice to anyone is even if like me you have a 4 – 5 week check up don’t wait if something is wrong. The sooner you can get something looked at the better. I learned the hard way if you let, say a stiff neck, go unchecked then everything round the neck, posture, back shoulder all start to degenerate and by the time you see a physio there's a whole basket of issues to sort. You wouldn’t keep driving with a flat tyre so why would you treat your body differently.  

Physioflexx also has a great system. If I have needed an ASAP appointment and couldn’t get my regular physio they keep detailed notes and records so by the time my “normal” appointment comes around Kate already knows what has happened since my last visit and can adapt quickly and appropriately to my care needs. 

My last bit of advice. I had had a regular physio for 3 years, Kelly, who knew her way round my niggles and joints better than some people know their way round their homes. It was ideal. I walked in, said what was bothering me, and Kelly could get straight to work on the various triggers for that injury and the point of pain itself and I was in great shape. 

Kelly left the practice and I saw several physios in the practice over the next 9 months who were all excellent, but it just wasn’t working for me. I believe like anything in medicine, good practitioner/patient relationships are key to success so don’t be afraid to do what I did next. 

I wrote an email to Kate the lead physio at Physioflexx and explained the return of my aches and pains and frustration at my ability to get them fixed. Like any good company or physio, Kate wanted to sort this and took on my care herself. We got back to the root of the niggles, got consistency across my care and of course she got me back doing Pilates. A happy customer is their goal. What can be better advertisement than keeping us aging athletes from decrepitude. 

Within 4 months I can feel a lot of niggles disappearing and the importance of my physio hit home while we are in lockdown this week. I was meant to have an appointment, and my back is giving me grief, and while I am doing my best with a foam roller and a vicious spikey ball, I am missing my regular MOT and service! 

So while it is important to stay active and healthy as you age (and I plan to get fitter) it is equally as important to do it right. Eat right, exercise right, maintain right and get the best team around you to help you. If you can do this, you’ll enjoy sport and fitness for years to come....... I can’t guarantee any medals though but it’s the taking part that counts isn’t it?