Week 26 - Halfway into "52 weeks"
It's the Halfway marker into the project. After losing some dreaded weight, racing anything and everything, training, traveling and acquiring some awesome sponsors, it's time to show you all the results of the past six months in preparation for my race at Mega Avalanche 2010.
Pics, video and more inside..![photo]()
The past week has been a great one - my new frames are currently being ready for dispatch from Haro USA, and I managed to test out my winter training progress at the fast sprinty Racers Guild timed run downhill race. And Result! First place in the Senior Hardtail category and 7th overall on my Hardtail in the Senior category!
![photo]()
Ch, ch, ch, changes
The most significant thing I guess is the little changes in my size and appearance. A lot of my mates and family are shocked with how much weight fell off at the beginning - it was so fast and crazy! Massive thanks to Aquilla for the Diet plan and nutritional advice I have received. I haven't always followed it to the line, but I have made huge adjustments to my Diet and it has paid off and will continue to.
Waist size at week 1 of 52 weeks - 42"
Waist size at week 26 of 52 weeks - 36/37"
Weight at week 1 of 52 weeks - 17.1 Stone or 109.3KG or 241 Lbs.
Weight at week 26 of 52 weeks - 14.7 Stone or 93.3KG or 206 Lbs.
T shirt Size is now a Large not X Large
The lightest weight I have achieved so far was Week 13 - 14.2 Stone or 90.1KG but I have began a lot more Muscle training and some bad eating habits over Christmas and January, which have knocked my weight back up slightly. My aim is to be around 13 Stone (80.1KG or 177 Lbs)) by the Mega Avalache 2010 race in July.
Quick look at my training and diet:
Training has been tough and quite experimental due to the change of seasons and having a family - but it currently looks and feels like this below over the course of a week:
Monday - Gym session and interval turbo trainer session
Tuesday - Road ride or Turbo trainer session - 1hr length
Wednesday - Gym session and interval turbo trainer session
Thursday - BMX/4x track session using freelap
Friday - Rest or XC ride
Saturday - Downhill or XC ride or Race
Sunday - Rest or Race
This will be changing soon as I will be cycling to my new job twice a week - which will be a 30 mile round trip!
Julia from Aquila has been great in helping me focus away from my old diet - after doing a food diary and working with Julia this is what my daily food consumption used to look like..
![photo]()
And this is now..
![photo]()
Now everyone who knows me - knows I ain't the strictest diet guy - I have the odd Twix and Cheese burger - but I try and eat a very balanced diet and only eat a small amount of junk food.
At the beginning...
![photo]()
Very recently...
![photo]()
Broken stuff...
Being that I have been able to do get on my bikes around 4 times a week - it means a rather large tally is beginning to form..
23 Inner tubes
12 Split links
2 Chains
1 Rim
1 Seat and seat post (dont ask!)
1 Drive side splined crank arm
2 Spindles
1 Outer Chainring
1 Bash Guard
7 Gear Cables
2 Rear Derailleurs
11 Spokes
1 Cassette
1 Rear Brake Caliper
1 Brake Lever
4 various Bushings
2 Mech Hangers
8 Sets of brake pads
2 Full face Helmet Visors
![photo]()
Pictures so far...
Thanks to all the awesome guys who have helped make documenting this project more visually interesting for the readers of Pinkbike. Massive thanks especially to Thomas Gaffney and also Charles Robertson, Jon Hawkes, Alex Smith and the Cannock chase snapper Kitman! Here is my favourite shot from the project by each photographer.
![photo]()
![photo]()
![photo]()
![photo]()
![photo]()
Video Diary
Also I am really lucky to be friends with Nico Turner and Ian Harvey who have contributed a huge amount with their time helping me with some "better quality and well edited" videos for you to all watch and below for the first time ever - a Project 52 weeks video montage featuring footage from myself, Nico Turner and Ian Harvey! Massive thanks to anyone who has filmed me out on the trails too! It really helps me out a lot!
Quick thoughts..
Funniest Moment so far - BMX racing - I sucked at the gated start on my first go and on my first race I nearly went over the bars as I pedaled into the gate, just before it dropped!
Worst Moment so far - without a doubt, Racing cyclo cross on my DH bike!
Best Moment so far - Loss of weight and new level of fitness
Biggest Bonus from the project - Sponsors providing all the gear and the valuable input they are giving which really is guiding me and helping me keep focused!
Hardest thing so far - eating less junk food!
Best Result so far - Winning the Hardtail Downhill category in December on my singlespeeded, 80mm travel, slick tyred bike in the icy conditions whilst wearing a suit!
Worst crash- headbutting the tree flat out, when out with Nico Turner filming the week 10 edit.
Best thing about doing this project - Meeting all the awesome people I now ride with and losing all that weight!
Riders I want to thank - Thomas Gaffney, Dan Gibson, The Squadron, Aaron Neumann, Racers Guild, Lauren Smith, Richie Parsons and anyone else who has helped me learn or put up with me!
Person you most want to thank - My wife and son for letting me train and ride as much as possible. It's amazing the amount of support I have from you. Thank you!
Hopes for 2010 and the next 26 weeks - No bad injuries, 2010 frames arrive soon problem free from Haro USA, Mega Avalanche training keeps getting better, lose more weight, get stronger, a top ten result in a 4X race (never raced one yet!), consistent results in DH races and that The Squadron Downhill team I manage, have a really good season.
Thanks to all my sponsors that are helping make this all happen:
![photo]()
Pics, video and more inside..
Back to the races for the start of 2010
The past week has been a great one - my new frames are currently being ready for dispatch from Haro USA, and I managed to test out my winter training progress at the fast sprinty Racers Guild timed run downhill race. And Result! First place in the Senior Hardtail category and 7th overall on my Hardtail in the Senior category!
The long berm
Ch, ch, ch, changes
The most significant thing I guess is the little changes in my size and appearance. A lot of my mates and family are shocked with how much weight fell off at the beginning - it was so fast and crazy! Massive thanks to Aquilla for the Diet plan and nutritional advice I have received. I haven't always followed it to the line, but I have made huge adjustments to my Diet and it has paid off and will continue to.
Waist size at week 26 of 52 weeks - 36/37"
Weight at week 1 of 52 weeks - 17.1 Stone or 109.3KG or 241 Lbs.
Weight at week 26 of 52 weeks - 14.7 Stone or 93.3KG or 206 Lbs.
T shirt Size is now a Large not X Large
The lightest weight I have achieved so far was Week 13 - 14.2 Stone or 90.1KG but I have began a lot more Muscle training and some bad eating habits over Christmas and January, which have knocked my weight back up slightly. My aim is to be around 13 Stone (80.1KG or 177 Lbs)) by the Mega Avalache 2010 race in July.
Quick look at my training and diet:
Training has been tough and quite experimental due to the change of seasons and having a family - but it currently looks and feels like this below over the course of a week:
Tuesday - Road ride or Turbo trainer session - 1hr length
Wednesday - Gym session and interval turbo trainer session
Thursday - BMX/4x track session using freelap
Friday - Rest or XC ride
Saturday - Downhill or XC ride or Race
Sunday - Rest or Race
This will be changing soon as I will be cycling to my new job twice a week - which will be a 30 mile round trip!
Julia from Aquila has been great in helping me focus away from my old diet - after doing a food diary and working with Julia this is what my daily food consumption used to look like..
An example of 1 days consumption of my old diet
And this is now..
An example of 1 days consumption of my new diet
Now everyone who knows me - knows I ain't the strictest diet guy - I have the odd Twix and Cheese burger - but I try and eat a very balanced diet and only eat a small amount of junk food.
Me a lot fatter and tubbier - probably bottomed out rear shock!
Very recently...
A lot thinner and healthier me!
Broken stuff...
Being that I have been able to do get on my bikes around 4 times a week - it means a rather large tally is beginning to form..
23 Inner tubes
12 Split links
2 Chains
1 Rim
1 Seat and seat post (dont ask!)
1 Drive side splined crank arm
2 Spindles
1 Outer Chainring
1 Bash Guard
7 Gear Cables
2 Rear Derailleurs
11 Spokes
1 Cassette
1 Rear Brake Caliper
1 Brake Lever
4 various Bushings
2 Mech Hangers
8 Sets of brake pads
2 Full face Helmet Visors
Another part bites the dust
Pictures so far...
Thanks to all the awesome guys who have helped make documenting this project more visually interesting for the readers of Pinkbike. Massive thanks especially to Thomas Gaffney and also Charles Robertson, Jon Hawkes, Alex Smith and the Cannock chase snapper Kitman! Here is my favourite shot from the project by each photographer.
XC riding at Cannock Chase - Pic by Thomas Gaffney
DH training in Cumbria - Pic by Charles Robertson
Racing DH at Stile Cop - Pic by Alex Smith
First DH race in the project - Pic by Kitman
Training with the Squadron - Pic by Jon Hawkes
Video Diary
Also I am really lucky to be friends with Nico Turner and Ian Harvey who have contributed a huge amount with their time helping me with some "better quality and well edited" videos for you to all watch and below for the first time ever - a Project 52 weeks video montage featuring footage from myself, Nico Turner and Ian Harvey! Massive thanks to anyone who has filmed me out on the trails too! It really helps me out a lot!
Quick thoughts..
Funniest Moment so far - BMX racing - I sucked at the gated start on my first go and on my first race I nearly went over the bars as I pedaled into the gate, just before it dropped!
Worst Moment so far - without a doubt, Racing cyclo cross on my DH bike!
Best Moment so far - Loss of weight and new level of fitness
Biggest Bonus from the project - Sponsors providing all the gear and the valuable input they are giving which really is guiding me and helping me keep focused!
Hardest thing so far - eating less junk food!
Best Result so far - Winning the Hardtail Downhill category in December on my singlespeeded, 80mm travel, slick tyred bike in the icy conditions whilst wearing a suit!
Worst crash- headbutting the tree flat out, when out with Nico Turner filming the week 10 edit.
Best thing about doing this project - Meeting all the awesome people I now ride with and losing all that weight!
Riders I want to thank - Thomas Gaffney, Dan Gibson, The Squadron, Aaron Neumann, Racers Guild, Lauren Smith, Richie Parsons and anyone else who has helped me learn or put up with me!
Person you most want to thank - My wife and son for letting me train and ride as much as possible. It's amazing the amount of support I have from you. Thank you!
Hopes for 2010 and the next 26 weeks - No bad injuries, 2010 frames arrive soon problem free from Haro USA, Mega Avalanche training keeps getting better, lose more weight, get stronger, a top ten result in a 4X race (never raced one yet!), consistent results in DH races and that The Squadron Downhill team I manage, have a really good season.
Thanks to all my sponsors that are helping make this all happen:
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Member since Aug 4, 2008
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p.s.- The "p" in PM stands for private so maybe you should stop being a prick and posting the messages people send you, its embarassing
Thanks once again for sharing this journey with us
Best of luck guys
Sounds like you are working very hard to achieve your goals, keep at it man! Its all downhill from here (don't mind the pun)
I loved the article, well written, and again very inspirational.
Keep at it man, you're doing a great job!
Lenmerderdenfer, I find you offensive. And seriously think you should be removed from pink bike for you’re angry comments!
You keep making discriminatory and racial comments, is veganism strictly a race? I think not! It's a dietary believe, not a race or religious system.
Props to you for not eating any meat or animal products, it's not something most people can do. I trust you live you’re life this way 100% making sure you’re clothing and cycling products are organically and environmentally produced without adversely affecting living creatures, not an easy task I know.
I'm sure the statistics you have provided are genuine, but as any BSC statistics graduate will know you can make stats say anything you want. If I had 3 days of my life to waste I could go online (as you obviously have) and find statistical data to contradict yours. But some of us have jobs, I believe you’re time would be much better spent looking for work than on here dictating to others about what they eat and how they live there lives.
And before you start I’m a black Jewish vegan with Native American ancestry.
I would like to appeal to others out there, not all vegans are like this narrow minded guy or girl, please don’t judge us all by the way this idiot has performed.
Get back!
I for one respect anybody's personal choice and freedom as long as it doesn't infringe on the freedom of others (take note lenmerderdenfer).
We're all riders here on PB and this needless division is not productive at all. Jumble is working really hard to achieve a dream of his and I think the overwhelmingly positive feedback reflects this
And whatthehell seems to be the perfect antidote to this farce of a debate, props to you dude!
it wasn't an insult, merely an observation that if you speak with people like this all the time no one would want to work with you. I have a brother in law who knows all there is to know and does it better I think you would get on well.
I guess it not flying very high must be a french saying that gets lost in translation.
i should do something like this...
im sorry im getting into this but...
to lemnerderfender:
please stop trying to convince us that there is a "right way" to things. as you were saying, i will compare this to "nazi concentration camps" and "The large human massacre ever of Native Americans". what were these? it was people trying to convince others that there is a "right way". this is extreme, i know, but i really think that if you have beliefs, you can let people know, just dont shove them down their throats.
i know that that can be a healthy lifestyle, but it cannot be, and is not a life for everyone.
finally, please stop
1-shoving your opinions in everyone's face
2-responding to others' hate, it just clutters up this comment board.
and to everyone else, please stop
1-sending hate to this guy
2-trying to argue with him
there are forums designed specifically for arguments, this is designed for the sole purpose of biking.
i post this only to hope that no one will continue with this thing, this is about a guy training for the megavalanche, not diet opinions.
also, lemnerderfender, you should go and become an amazing biker, not argue on the internet (which is...well, pretty retarded)
I did 3 Megas, 1998-2000, and think your idea of doing one as a goal is a great idea.
I wouldn't do one on a rigid though (I did the first year) because forearm pump becomes such a major issue. Your old Patriot, or something similar, is the best tool, with 13ish cm front and back.
Look, I don't know if advice is welcome but here you go anyway:
-It's very very difficult to overtake on the Mega track. Really really difficult and in many places impossible. As such getting a really good start is CRITICAL.
-Try and go 'around' the people in front of you at the start line, running up the scree slope or whatever.
-Risk it all on the snow. You HAVE TO or...
-The high mountain singletrack after the glacier is a 4km bottleneck filled with lunatics who risked it all on the snow but who can't ride for toffee... and you can't overtake! It redefines the definition of 'frustrating'.
-The section out of Alp d'Huez is flat and LONG and the altitude makes itself felt... if you don't want to stop to raise your seat post you need a telescopic one, preferably with the release on the bars.
-The fast wooded sections are fabulous. You'll dream of them in years to come.
-Unless things have changed they don't allow you to practice on the course in the week previous but most people do anyway... not the whole thing, but sections, especially where you have to do a few hundred meters on a road and then turn off... sometimes there are ramps up, that you need to get a run up and hit fast or they stop you dead and you're shagged... so it's important to have sussed out where they are before race day.
-However big your brakes are, go up a size. More so the classification races than the actual mega itself, your brakes get fried.
-Have someone waiting at the finish line with a cooler full of beer. You'll have earned it!!!
personally, i think there is a lack of protein in your new diet but it seems to be working anyway so maybe i shouldnt have said anything... Well done anyway
THE LAB RESULTS SPEAK
At Yale, Professor Irving Fisher designed a series of tests to compare the stamina and strength of meat-eaters against that of vegetarians. He selected men from three groups: meat-eating athletes, vegetarian athletes, and vegetarian sedentary subjects. Fisher reported the results of his study in the Yale Medical Journal. His findings do not seem to lend a great deal of credibility to the popular prejudices that hold meat to be a builder of strength.
"Of the three groups compared, the . . . flesh-eaters showed far less endurance than the abstainers (vegetarians), even when the latter were leading a sedentary life."
". . . the difference in endurance between the flesh-eaters and the abstainers (was due) entirely to the difference in their diet . . . There is strong evidence that a . . . non-flesh . . . diet is conducive to endurance."
Wow your screen name is long. I agree with a lot of what you are saying. I tried living a vegan diet, and yes it is a life style. I felt great! veggies tasted better than before and I had a light energy that seemed to last. I have since moved to a Veggie and fruit filled diet because I appreciate the taste of fish, meat and eggs, BUT on a much lighter level. I also am an advocate of Organic/local farms. I feel that it is a more responsible option and it supports smaller family and community owned business. It is more expensive though. In the end, It is something that has to be tried for people to really understand. The part that I struggle with the most is the pride that people hold onto with their lifestyle choices. It is almost like there is a chip on peoples shoulder. Life in moderation, not extremes.
Saturday at Bringewood was ace, I didn't like the open frozen section though (as you propbably noticed) but I guess that'll be excellent practice for the Mega if they run the icey start this year.
Keep up the admirable work and ignore lenmerderdenfer (the neurotic control freak), if your diet and training has produced results like this then they are obviously spot on!
Catch up with you on the 20th if you're racing at Stile Cop
"Cows are exploited! The composition of cows milk is for calves and not for humans. The hormones in milk are for calves growth cycles not humans. Just consider our mass difference. You are certainly not the size of a cow. Furthermore, To have milk you must artificially inseminate the cows to have calves in order to have cows lactate. The calves are then separated from their mothers after birth and starved anemic, then slaughtered to give you a young soft cadaver with white muscular flesh to inhale without asking yourselves the truly hard questions of How?, Where?, Why? and for what true purpose because my arguments and the existence of all the aforementioned athletes I posted, also the censored ones too while not forgetting the 12 years of my comprehensive dietary choice prove that the contrary not only works, but permits Vegans to exceed and excel. How hard can this be to comprehend"
right...
Only chance i get is at weekends, roll on summer i say
Do you find now the Pringles etc. which once tasted ace now taste of fat and that foods which were once bland now taste nice?
but that is an awesome differance in appearance and i bet it has helped emensly with your speed and agility
Carl Lewis (Vegan - 9 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALS) (végétalien- 9 médailles d'or aux J.O.)
Surya Bonaly (Figure skating) (Patinage)
Djamel Bouras (Judo Olympic gold medal) (Judo médaille d'or JO)
Andreas Cahling (Body Building) (Body Building)
James Donaldson, (Basketball) (Basket )
Fausto Coppi (Cycling) (Cyclisme)
Patrick Edlinger (Bare hand climbing) (escalade mains nues)
Ivan Lendl (Tennis) (Tennis)
Robert Millar (Cycling) (Cyclisme)
Alain Mimoun (Marathon) (Marathon)
Edwin Moses (Track and Field) (Athletisme)
Martina Navratilova (Tennis) (Tennis)
Isabelle Patissier (Bare hand climbing) (Escalade mains nues)
Murray Rose (Swimming) (Natation)
Emil Zatopek (Marathon) (Marathon)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVRl8gihrHM
Happy viewing of this historic moment.
Peace to all great and small,
With the amount of supplements for just amino acids and protein that one would have to take, also brings great risk to the human digestive system....over an extended period of time of course. What you have displayed is great athletes, that are oddities in every fashion. Their results are very unusual. Since you have chosen one particular athlete, I have also. Michael Phelps. Game over.
So, I have been just a fashion freek for 12 years? Carl Lewis is an oddity? You know NOTHING about proteins. So, What is Vegetarian according to you? Once a Vegetarian always a Vegetarian or Vegan. There is no way going back. My wife is jobless, I'm on partial unemployment and we eat an orgainc Vegan diet. I race. I sprint. I climb. I excel. I look like I am 23 years old too. No, that is right, I am just odd fashion. What unbelievable bunk, so very predictable of you. Fortunately, you know more about nutrition than I do, however I have spent the last 12 years of my life searching and reading with extreme diligence and method all sorts of dietary literature in multiple languages from various cultures. My knowledge is very sharp on this subject. I know what is in my food and where it comes from and the impact it places on the world. Try the vitamin B-12 argument on me. All of what you have to say pertaining to this topic just sounds like... "fascism you can vote for"
False information? Get it right before posting drivel. I am not trying to convert. I am just saying there is a better way. I have the facts. You need to review yours,
Think about these issues too:
Global Warming disinformation
Cigarette disinformation
Nazi Concentration camps
Fascism towards Muslim schools in USA
Before Black Rights
Christopher Columbus
The large human massacre ever of Native Americans
etc... Keep your predetermined Jesus ideas and do not forget to bury your heads in the proverbial sands of time.
In the mean time I am going to live large and support my base. The Earth is my mother and she is mine.
Classic attention seeking hippie wannabe. Idiot. Keep fighting the power bro.
LMFAO. Someone certainly consumed some green leafy plants, and I don't think you ate them.....