April 2014 Mileage

April 2014 has been my second highest single mileage month since I started road cycling nearly five years ago.  Ably assisted by a long bank holiday weekend (extra two days cycling) and some longer rides, monthly miles have come in at just over 500M (800km).

Repeating last years model of bumping up the ascent in April through hillier rides, ascent per mile in April has been around 42% higher than the previous three months, with average ride speed dropping around 5% to accomodate the harder profile.

Last year I followed the same pattern building up to June when the London to Paris event took place, gradually increasing ride profile and strength which I'll look to repeat in May.  Highlight of the month was the Lune Coal road ride which replicates well the ride profile for the June Tour de France stages in Yorkshire, so good training.  

Also hit my fastest ever speed on the bike of 49.3mph (78km/h) which was exhilarating and pretty scary at the same time as a gust of wind hit my deep section wheels and sent me into a high speed wobble.  Can't even begin to think of what that would have looked like if I'd not got the bike under control, definitely one of the lives used up there.

As with previous months the wind has continued to be a constant presence here in the NW of England with omnipresent gusts almost every time you set out the front door.  Yesterday was a fine example of that with 20mph constant wind with added 40mph gusts, after 70 miles in it, legs were ready to fall off when I arrived home.  It's meant that average speeds have suffered.

So, April exit I'm really happy with.  It's also brought the year to date target back into view, managing only 687 miles(1100km)  between Jan-March, the April numbers have got me back within 50 miles of the original target I'd set of 1,250 miles.

May is going to be all about keeping it moving and maintaining the momentum to arrive into June in good shape, fit and well and raring to go. 

Month  to Date

Mileage- 506 miles (+44% vs PY)
Ride Time - 32hrs 07mins 
Ascent - 20,965ft
Avg. Speed - 15.8mph (+0.6% vs PY)
Avg. HR - 144bpm
Calories (estimate) -19,163
Ride Ascent Ratio (Ascent/Miles) - 41 (Medium/Undulating) (-6% vs. PY)

Year to Date

Mileage- 1,193 miles (-4% vs PY)
Ride Time - 73hrs 34mins 
Ascent - 40,908ft
Avg. Speed - 16.2mph (+5% vs PY)
Avg. HR - 148bpm
Calories (estimate) - 46,463
Ride Ascent Ratio (Ascent/Miles) - 34.3 (Flat) (+2% vs. PY)