OutlawBMX is on!

I looked back on my training for Outlaw '12 & '13. I only did 17 swim sessions (inc 3 ow), 40 runs and 26 bike sessions for '12 and only 14 swim sessions (incl 3 ow), 65 runs and 55 bike sessions for '13! I had a look because the BMX training is going pretty well but I've yet to swim and not been able to run for nearly 3 weeks due to a leg injury. I am pretty calm about things as the leg has time to recover and the main challenge this year, the bike leg, is going better than I had hoped it would. The swimming I can get done in April, May & June.

I got a big BMX boost this weekend as I took it long (ish) for the first time. I was up to 25 miles at 14.5mph ave with some of my shorter rides (10-15 miles) getting up to an average of 16 mph! Its all well and good getting the speed up by going hell for leather over a short distance but I needed to check what the drop off was going to be when going long!

On Sunday I managed a 45 mile, hilly, windy ride out with Daz Brady (he on his brand new carbon Planet X geared up thin tyred 26" wheeled roadie!). Managed to clock 14.6 mph ave which I was well chuffed with. I know its only 45 miles but with 4.5 months to go I am really quite pleased. I am only going to get stronger and faster.

A revelation on Sunday was my knew Old School handlebars. They stopped the numbness in my hands from the standard cut down BMX bars, they let me brake properly and provide loads of positioning options I didn't have before! In fact the BMX has undergone quite a transformation so far.

It came to me like this

The first change was to extend the seat post and pop the clip on pedals on

Then we upped the front cog from a 29t to a 32t

Sadly the handlebars were too wide at 70 cm

So they were cut down to 50cm but the bend in the bars made them very uncomfortable and braking was really awkward

Here it is compared to my Merida Ride 75

I managed to track down some Old School BMX bars that I had on my Apollo prototype BMX circa 1985

Griff cut them down for me again

And Daz taped them up

This is the BMX as it is now compared to Daz's Planet X

The only things that will change from now until Outlaw will be a 34t front cog, slick BMX tyres and possibly tri bars depending on whether my back is suited to them and if I think they provide any benefit.

See you on the start line.