Laps of Richmond Park

Despite wonderful conditions my training last weekend was restricted to Richmond Park.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy riding Richmond Park - I like the scenery, the lack of traffic and the convenience, but in reflection the conditions deserved going further a field.  It does seem an opportunity lost.  Oh well.

Though I rode the same route, Saturday and Sunday, the experience couldn't have been more different.  On Saturday morning, I hooked onto the back of two experienced riders as they passed our house then followed them all the way to the Park and a couple loops.  They maintained a brisk pace, and I realised I was working hard just to stay with them.  Throughout they maintained a conversation, and indication they had more in reserve.  In my mind, it was a question of when not if they were going to drop me.  That moment came at the bottom of Kingston Hill - a short, sharp rise.  They looked at each other, got out of the saddle and exploded - it was very impressive.  I completed another lap by myself.  Three laps in 65:03 ... somehow I need to find 5 minutes in the next year to achieve my 60:00 goal.

Sunday I joined Mark on a couple laps.  We had planned to ride to Brighton, but due to time constraints this wasn't possible.  These laps were completed in a much more leisurely pace.

PS - The French anti-doping agency (AFLD) has announced another rider, Bernhard Kohl has tested positive for the blood-boosting substance CERA.  He becomes the sixth rider from this year's tour to have been caught.  Kohl won the King of the Mountains jersey, and finished third in the General Classification behind Sastre and Evans.  Kohl was set to join Evans in 2009, having been signed by Silence-Lotto.