2012 Week 20

Week 20 (w/e 20 May 2012)
Miles: 147.1 

After the struggle of last week, this was much more like it: cycling every day in a steady progression towards a decent total. My kind of week.

Monday. The afternoon was clear and sunny until around 5, when a short shower sprang up. This delayed my usual cycling trip, so it was closer to 6 when I got out there. I came back with 12 miles but was able to top that up to 20 with an evening trip. Tuesday's weather was initially showery, but from the afternoon onwards it was clear and sunny. The only downside was the brisk northerly wind that pegged me back a bit. I got a full hour of pedalling done in the afternoon, moving on to 33 miles in the process, then pushed on to 41 miles in the evening. Wednesday's weather was very nice indeed, clear and sunny. A sign of things to come, as it turned out. My usual afternoon excursion took me to 55 miles and the traditional 8 mile evening ride pushed me on to a satisfying 63 miles for a Wednesday night.

Thursday was cloudy but warm, with hazy sunshine. I got just under an hour's cycling done in the afternoon, advancing to 77 miles in the process. This became 85 miles after I'd been out on the usual loop in the evening. Friday brought a downturn in the weather, with overcast skies and spots of rain in the air. With an eye on the looming magic number 100, I dragged myself out for an hour in the late afternoon despite the spits of drizzle. For the last few miles of the journey home the rain became increasingly more organised. Nevertheless, I came home with the ton in the bag. An hour later the rain was steady and constant and lasted until well into the small hours, so no more miles were added. Still, job done with two days to spare.

Saturday. Hazy sunshine for the afternoon. I made my usual trip into town, then came home and dashed off another quick 8 miles before tea. That pushed things along to 118 miles. In the evening I watched the Champions League final. With the extra time and penalties it didn't leave any opportunity to add to the total. Sunday's weather was mostly cloudy throughout the afternoon until the sun burst out at teatime. I got out for an hour around the time that the clouds dispersed, rolling home with 134 miles. Naturally there was still time for another ride out in the evening. I went on a slightly longer route than the usual one that produces 8 miles. This done, I closed the week with 147 miles.

The stats:
Time taken to get 100: 6 hrs 33 m.
Total for 2012: 2371.7
2012 average weekly mileage: 118.58
Consecutive 100s: 19
Miles needed for 6000: 3628.3
Percentage of target reached: 39.52%
With 32 weeks to go, average weekly miles needed for 6000: 113.38

A disappointingly slow time for the 100 this week. Must have been the gusty wind earlier in the week.