For my birthday, I received a present of some Tour de Ted body wash. The product blurb goes:

For the modern man about town who’s not afraid to change gear or multi-task, the fresh and invigorating top notes of Ozonic, Eucalyptus, Geranium and Patchouli will leave you feeling completely revitalised.

This revitalising Hair and Body Wash works in tandem with your physique to ensure you’re always oiled for choice.

I do love some fun cheese laden prose. Now I could go on about how this product will keep my frame sparkling, my levers glistening, and my saddle supple, but why would I go yanking your chain like that.

Yesterday, Chris Froome, destroyed the rest of peleton with an amazing ascent to La Pierre Saint Martin. Even before he had finished the stage the conversation about doping began again.

If Contador, Nibali, and Quintana, had kept pace with Froome and the stage was decided by a dash to the line, the doping conversation probably wouldn’t have happened.

Porte caught Quintana inside the last kilometer and passed him to finish second on the stage (0:59 behind Froome). Thomas then made it over the line in seventh (2:01 behind Froome).

Does this mean that the performances of Porte and Thomas should be questioned as they performed exceptionally too? I haven’t heard any accusations levelled at them.

Rather than celebrating the amazing ride from Froome, more column inches (wee bit of imperial for you) are devoted to accusations that have no evidence (anecdotal does not count) to back them up.

Cyclists are some of the most tested athletes in the world, yet their performances are questioned much more than other athletes.

Take Wimbledon (as it’s the most recent big sporting event), I don’t remember anyone accusing Williams or Djokovic of anything underhand. Will the performance of the winner of the British Open Golf Championship be the subtext to a wider doping conversation? Of course not.

It’s a tragedy, that the riders who have gone before, who took part in systemic doping programs, have tarnished this sport for so many.

I finished the ten week novice training plan a few weeks ago. I’m leaner and faster as a result, but I’m not sure if I achieved that any quicker than if I went about it in the same manner as last year.

Having a plan was a positive and a negative. On one hand I was more inclined to do specific work because it was prescribed. On the other hand some rides were a chore, and some of the joy of riding was removed.

In saying that, there is now a different type of joy, when you are pushing as hard as previously but your speed has increased.

When I’d completed the plan I took a week off to do my own thing, and then decided to do the Intermediate one. Let’s see where this takes me.

My discipline at keeping this diary up-to-date has been poor to say the least.

With that said, I just finished Week 9 today, a grand three hour spin. My total time on the bike this week was just over six and a half hours.

I have one week to go to complete the plan, and the last week is handy enough compared to the last couple.

It’s a pity I didn’t have an FTP based on power to compare my starting level to now. I’m definitely in better condition than I was, but it’s knowing how much better is the question.

I’m going to evaluate TrainerRoad next to see how that performs. I’ll post my observations in due course.

I took advantage of the rest day to do some maintenance on the bike. The drivetrain is crud free thanks to a detailed degreasing and cleaning.

I also put some new tyres on, and the bike looks very different now as it’s riding on black rubber rather than white. I stuck with Vittoria Zaffiro Pro tyres as the other set performed well for me. It’s time to order some spares.

I’m also considering buying a workstand to make these maintenance jobs easier. Being crouched on the floor cleaning every link in the chain can literally be a pain in the arse.