The passing of a good man - Jason MacIntyre

Time trial cycling champion Jason MacIntyre was killed on Tuesday after being knocked off his bike by a van while training in Scotland. Story continues...

And then a Government minister suggests that vigilante action against cyclists is acceptable. (LondonCycleSport)

What is going on? How many more cyclists are going to be killed before something is done?

Jason MacIntyre's website
LondonCycleSport.com

South Africa training camp: One week remaining

This week has been pretty tough from a training and work point of view. My commute now takes 3.15 hrs day - not long really, but after a hard day at the office it is. Also, rain each day doesn't make the journey very pleasant. Ok, enough ranting - it's my choice right?

One more hard week of commuting/training and then I'm off to sunny South Africa. Just read Brandon's latest post - looks like I might see (and even train with) Mr Max Knox. Should be a corker and as you might tell I'm pretty excited.

One week after I started at CMPi and things are rocking. My new work colleagues are great. John Welsh (Digital Director) won the award for Publisher/Associate Publisher of the Year at our CMPi People and Culture Awards. John is my hero. He is focused and knows exactly what he wants. He's given me a lot of good advise to pitch myself in the company. This kind of advise cannot be bought. Adele Turner is my line manager. She's the Live Media's Web Manager. She great too and really helpful. The ball is in my court (excuse the cliche) - TIME TO MAKE A NAME FOR MYSELF.

It's festivity time

On Thursday, 20th December we flew to Belfast to spend Christmas with my brother-in-law (Bruce) and family. I had a major potential problem: Should I take my bike out with me? There is the hassle factor (and cost), but this means I take eight days off the bike. I mean I was doing quite well (training) up till then - 18-to-21 hrs in the week - and now ZERO! I guess that's something I'll have to live with. As long as I don't eat too much and try and get out and walk as much as possible. Anyway, as it turns out it was rather a good decision so all smiles from me.

After the Christmas break we arrived back home and my base-training has resumed. I've managed 3.15hrs (29th), 1.45hrs (30th) and 4 hrs (31st) so far. The weather has helped as it's stayed dry. And, it hasn't been that cold either - averaging 5 degrees.

Today is the first of January - Happy New Year! I do hope 2008 will be an awesome year. My first priority is to get some long steady miles under my belt before heading out to South Africa for my annual training camp (step up the intensity). My flight is booked for 20 January - flying to Johannesburg - I collect my hire car and spend the first night in Joburg. I then head (drive) down to Hilton, Kwa-Zulu Natal the next day - to Brandon's house.

The general plan for January is:

- Base miles - long steady rides
- Some small amount of intensity stuff - on the way into work
- Stay healthy and injury-free
- Training camp: prepare plan and equipment.