Lake Taupo Cylce Challenge and Movemeber

Anyone else doing it this year? http://www.cyclechallenge.com/eventinformation-1/categories

Vickmeist and a family member are doing the 160km and I've put myself down to do the Enduro. I want to link it with Movember. Perhaps cool Retro Bradley Wiggins-esque sideburns with a suitable moustache? Also to raise money.

I've got Amy Taylor's Lake Taupo Cycle Challange guide. She's a professional cycling coach and I was amused to read her thoughts on preparing for the Enduro:

"If you are aiming for the Enduro event, you should have completed the solo event once or twice before, (nope not done it before), and need to start training 9 to 10 months out, (erm will 3 and a half months do?), assuming that you are a mad keen cyclist and fit as a fiddle, (what about mad keen and a fat bastard?) For you, personal coaching is absolutely crucial (Does the wife, nagging me about cutting down my drinking, count as a professional coach?) "

So I'm sort of filled with a giddy sense of crazy freedom on one hand icy dread on the other. I fully intend to be, as they say in the Tour De France, the "Lanterne Rouge" The red light or the last cyclist I don't care I just want to finish it.

The Hatepe hill is going to ruin you!

I get tired just driving up it!

I'm just hoping I raise some money for Movember. I'm going to go for 160km this weekend.

I ended up doing 200km in about 8 and a half hours on my steel touring bike. Doable but not pleasant. I rode to Palmy and back.

Hard to disagree with that statement.

Poor old Palmy

luckly I only had to hit the outskirts before turning around and heading back to safety...

Was the stench too much for you?

Grrr damaged deltoid ligament in ankle. No running for 5 weeks but able to cycle. Hit a bit of a "meh" month with August hopefully Sept will bre better.

Yeah.  Mine is a hamstring.  I tried exercising through it but my Physio looked horrified when i said I played 90 on Saturday so my new running regime is parked and I'm cycling to work tomorrow (weather allowing).

Best to listen to the experts, I recently had a bike fit and the guy was horrorfied at my terrible cycling technique, this is down to my achilles tendon shrinking so I cycle on my tip toes. I knackered them by running with sh*tty shoes and I'm slowly getting back to normal with them.

I take the advice and just bite the bullet with injuries these days, I never try and "play" through them anymore.

Hey News I heard you've lost some weight yourself over the off season?

What did you lose and how did you do it?