Life is not a Practice

It snowed on Sunday and yesterday but the roads were clear today so I went for a bike ride. It was about 5°C in the shade so I was well wrapped up but still cool going down hill.

I went via Enthalb der Ach and the Römerbrücke which seemed to add about 70 meters of climbing to the "normal" route.

24km and 320 meters of climbing.
Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=xcyealhfmxxoiwmt

North America has the Great Lakes and we have the eight lakes.
Today I opened the mountain bike season with a tour past eight local lakes with Max.



Schönenwalder Weiher, Grundweiher, Trollweiher, Luimooser Weiher, Schwaltenweiher, Neuweiher, Attlesee and Kögelweiher.


The picture taken by Max while I was photographing him.

23km with 350 meters of climbing.
The track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=tpdsbwhlfkowwdtw

Max's blog is at http://maxhogarth.blogspot.de/2014/03/saturday-seven-lakes.html and his pictures are at https://plus.google.com/photos/102257273463070793435/albums/5988092975507307873/5993728140579974546?pid=5993728140579974546&oid=102257273463070793435

It is still March and at lunchtime I was out in my short trousers and tricot. I am really enjoying this early summer.

Another lunch time of hill climbing. This time straight up to Ellegg in the hope of getting a good section in zone 3 - didn't work too well.

Got nearly to the Metzeler Alp and then turned back as the road still had snow on it.

22.6km and 530 meters of climbing
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=azmcfbbblkvhdqmt

Another lunch time cycle ride. From Wertach up the Ellegg and then back down with a little extra at the end to fill the time.

I can remember when cycling up the Ellegg seemed impossible and now I do it lunchtimes on my race bike.

16.5km and 336 meters of climbing.
Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=ijpfpmewacepflbm

Another day of "mountaineering" on my race bike. This time with a 50km wind from the south west to help get my pulse nice and high.

Had a puncture near Vorderburg but luckily I had the necessary bits and pieces with me - lucky because I had forgotten my mobile phone.

39km and 770(!) meters of climbing.
Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=xiqduiocqtxxyjqx

The two little peaks towards the end was me riding up and down the same hill twice to finish my training time for this week.

Another lunch time race bike ride round the lake. My pulse meter said that I was top fit (despite step aerobic last night) and "suggested" that my pulse should be really high. You can see the result in the track - 580 meters of climbing in 34 kilometers.

Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=woeqxggbdqxeqxqb

Big choice - eat lunch or go out on my race bike. I postponed lunch.

Once round the Grüntensee to warm up and then up the hill to Vorderreute and back down.

26 kms and 400 meters of climbing
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=jjabktmuojfyzoko

After the amazing skiing this morning we all decided to continue to make use of the weather. Alison went nordic walking, Max went mountain biking and grilling at the lake and Jon and I cycled the 50 km in to Austria and back.



We stopped off for a coffee and parked our bikes on the "ski rack". Others were turning up on their Langlauf skis.



We cycled past the foot of the mountain we were skiing on this morning. It really is a great life.

50km and 530 meters of climbing
Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=swjxyofiksykxsxa

Off spinning this evening so didn't want to do anything too strenuous but the sun is shining and it is 13°C in the shade so I had to go for a bike ride.

Rode round the Grüntensee but anticlockwise for a change. Also tried to avoid hills. The result was 21km with only 230 meters of climbing.

Track is at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=dmqkhocuygfgwmrd

15th of February and +15°
Out on my race bike getting in some training in fitness zone 2 - that is what my training plan worked out by my FT60 said I needed.

Lots of cyclists out on the roads round the Grüntensee. As it was so nice, I also included a diversion to Schwarzenberg.

24.8km with 300 meters of climbing
Track at http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=yivrnypqawdbhiwx