It seems that December has proceeded pretty much as the whole of the 2013 season has done: appallingly. My training has gone pretty well in fits and starts through the month, and monitoring the Critical Power estimates (obtained by the budget Polar power meter fitted to the turbo bike and analysed by Golden Cheetah) has indicated my training has not been completely ineffective! As I write, I've woken early yet again at the behest of my persistent chesty cough, which is showing no signs of shifting after about 5 days. So my last training was on 22nd December, a day before I left for a brief Christmas break. That turbo session went pretty well, and I was somewhat encouraged. Unfortunately, I've been so ill that it's looking unlikely that I will be able to ride the New Years Day '10'. I have decided to adhere to Team Grumpy's Rule #5:

Team Grumpy Rules

Over the years, Grumpy Bob and 'Grumpy' Art have developed a set of rules.  These are of course intended to be implemented at all times, however exactly.  Originally posted at the Team Grumpy blog. Rule #1. Remember to make your excuses before the race, not after. Otherwise it will just sound pathetic. Rule #2. Don't tinker with your bike the evening before the event. It will break, either then or, worse still, during the event. Rule #3. If all else fails, buy some new bike kit. Rule #4. And if rule #3 fails, new skinsuits are probably a good option. Rule #5. Never train or race with a bad cough - it will destroy your entire season. Rule #6. Tantrums are appropriate if provoked (e.g. by mechanical problems), but try to avoid damage to equipment. Rule #7. Team Grumpy riders are allowed to use whatever equipment they wish (and their wallets permit). However, the official team energy drink is always pop belge.

Frankly, from here things can only get better. Can't they?