Today was the first time in two weeks I've had a clock on me. I had somewhere to be in two hours time and I was on it. My legs felt fantastic and I was rattling along at my normal Sunday club pace. I have nothing to fear from Belgium. As I was riding I was thinking of the value of rest days and the long term or benefit, if any, to my cycling ability of doing this trip. I have certainly noticed I am riding differently and can't help but wonder if I will be faster once I get

"I would tell you about the things they put me through, The pain I've been subjected to" Depeche Mode - Walking in my Shoes 'Good morning Paul' said Belgium. 'Are you ready?'. We touched gloves and off we went again. Both Garmin and Google maps agreed last night it was 125km to Brussels and I think I can handle that. The first 20k was easy, but at 21km I hit a 750m 7% hill. When I got to the top there was a road deviation sign and I had to go back down again. Belgium rai

Well it makes bugger all difference what I write today because no one is going to read it. We will all still be happy in the afterglow of the football result. I'll say this though. I watched the game with three Germans and a Serbian and they all cheered when England won. That is not something you see every day. Aside from watching the football with me, last night's Airbnb hosts were amazing. Not just because of the kindness and friendship they showed me, but because they ar

I finally got around to riding the Infinito fully loaded on a short sail around the Warwickshire countryside in the sun. Although I am looking forward to the sights and sounds of the ride next week, I doubt I will ever get bored of riding my home roads. However, fully loaded I climbed local hills like an asthmatic pensioner. Here are some home truths I learned this morning; (a) Everything is going to be a lot slower. Like, a lot slower. I already knew that, but this confirmed

I have crossed that point that many cyclists get to I'm sure - I have spent more on a bike than on a car. Specifically more on my bike than on my wife's car because don't own one. That means that along side the childish excitement I have of picking up my new Infinito, I am also acutely aware that I am spending a fortune on it without really knowing if the changes I asked for will work or be worth it. (For the cycling tech geeks of the world, the changes are all detailed on th