The Sub-7 Experiment

Tag: Endurance Ride

  • Tour de South Coast: 104km, Wind, Sun, and a Hot Cup of Tea

    I’ve just finished the Tour de South Coast sportive. 104km, about 1,200 metres of climbing, and 4 hours 55 minutes moving time. There were a couple of breaks along the way for drinks and the usual bodily functions, so it wasn’t a non-stop grind, but it was still a proper day out.

    A quick note for future me: the numbers tell the story too. Average heart rate was 130 bpm and average power was 155 watts. That’s a steady, sustainable effort, not a blow-up. My legs felt tough by the end and I definitely had a bit left, but the wind had taken most of it out of them. It wasn’t a day for heroics. It was a day for keeping the pedals turning and staying smooth.

    We were blessed with the weather. It was sunny all day. The wind, though, was a bit hectic at times. Full-on. The kind of wind where you’re pedalling to keep going downhill. That sort of strength.

    But honestly, what a great day.

    The standout upgrade today was the tyres. The 35mm setup completely changed the feel of the bike. Lower pressures took the buzz out of the road, smoothed out the rough sections, and made the whole ride feel less like I was being rattled around. It wasn’t just more comfortable, it felt more efficient too because I wasn’t fighting the bike. Less fatigue, more flow. Over 100km in wind and hills, that comfort matters.

    I also set a load of personal bests all the way around, which is funny because I wasn’t giving it beans. I rode pretty modestly and stayed wary of where I was. I even found myself slowing down a few times behind big groups, getting caught up in their rhythm, then riding my own thing again. And I really enjoyed that. It didn’t feel like a race. It felt like a proper ride.

    It was my first time doing this route. Lots of roads I’ve cycled before, some in the opposite direction, some I’d never ridden, and some I wouldn’t normally choose because they’re main roads. But with a few hundred other cyclists around, they weren’t as scary as I thought they’d be. Drivers were more wary. I didn’t really come across any impatient car drivers at all.

    Back at the start there was a hot burger and a hot cup of tea waiting. Absolutely brilliant. The food stops were good too. Hot tea, delicious. Makes all the difference when you’re out there for hours, at least for me.

    So that’s it. Check-in done. All good. Very pleased with myself.

    This is The Sub-7 Experiment. Still concentrating on rowing and the goal is still a sub-7-minute 2,000m. But today, cycling. And it was great.

  • From “Only Here” to “Already Here”

    I went for a ride on the bike yesterday—60km all in—and it felt great.
    What really struck me was the shift in mindset. I kept recognising where I was and thinking, “Oh, I’m here already” instead of “Oh, I’m only here.” Just a small difference in words and thoughts, but a massive one in terms of progress.

    I really gelled with the bike. Getting a proper bike fit and a new saddle was such a good call. Not just because I’m now physically connected to the bike, but because it actually saved me a load of cash.

    I’d been eyeing up new bikes—maybe a gravel bike, an “adventure” bike, or a racier road model. Something exciting.
    But the bike fit brought me back to the 11-year-old Giant I already own. And now? It feels like new. It’s as exciting to ride as I hoped it would be when I first bought it all those years ago.

    I probably could’ve gone further than 60km yesterday, but I surprised myself by deciding it was a good place to stop. I didn’t push past “great ride” into “slog”—and that feels like progress, too.

    I’ve got a 150km ride scheduled for September. In past long rides, I made rice cakes from a cycling nutrition book. To be honest, I couldn’t face them again. So before the ride, I asked ChatGPT for fuelling strategies and a few recipe ideas.

    I tried one of its banana oat bar suggestions, and aside from a few flavour tweaks and a more refined fuelling schedule, they worked really well.

    This is good.
    I’m pleased with how the bike is performing. I’m pleased with how I’m performing. And the rowing is complementing the cycling beautifully.

    It’s going to be a good summer—training to break the 7-minute rowing barrier and getting ready for that 150km.

    This is the Sub-7 Experiment.