The hills are alive with the sound of airplanes

Not quite Julie Andrews but today I ventured onto, and indeed up, some hills. Because I promptly fell asleep as soon as I got out of the bath when I was back, I haven't stretched yet either, so my thighs are burning harder than the crazy world of Arthur Brown (the youngsters will need to ask any hippies they know in the older generation).

Following a flattish warm-up across the moor towards Puxton, I also visited the Cafe of the Year 2009 (as judged by the self-appointed cafe committee of the ACG judging panel, yep, me!) at the Walled Garden in Wrington.

http://walledgarden.co.uk

After a piece of chocolate cake (there being no Victoria sponge, alas!) I was cycling up towards the back of Bristol airport. After being passed by a young guy spinning away at Lance-like levels of cadence, and speed, I saw a cyclist coming towards me, downhill, slowing, grinning, and exclaiming in a pleasant Yorkshire lilt (how I love regional accents, so quaint), "Hello, how are you!" After a second of confusion, where I thought it was some friendly, lost tourist (because let's face it, northerners are friendlier than us) I suddenly realised it was KG, from the ACG, out on his own in a new top!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Northwave_Nomad_MTB_Windproof_Jacket/5360045162/

So used to his yellow jacket, that I didn't recognise him in the fetching green and white. I am pleased to say that the price on this page has changed from the remarkably cheap price that KG managed to get it at, the Wiggle sale was fantastic, allowing such purchases at about 10% of their usual cost.

Somehow I persuaded him to come back the way he had just come, up the hill, round the back of the airport, dodging the tractors and plane spotters, as I told him I could show him a really pleasant way to Clevedon, where he was heading. KG, if you are reading, it was really good for you, you said you needed to increase your lung capacity after all.

We zipped down Brockley Coombe, a bit nippy after the sunshine and marvellous views at the top of the hill, to the crossroads on the A370. KG headed over the road towards the sea, while I headed back down the main road for a mile, then up (yes up, again!) Goblin Coombe. I'd never gone up this way before, and soon realised why when Charlie displayed 17%, there was ice in the ditches, and lots of steam coming off my head. Eventually I crested the hill before hanging onto the brakes down the other side into Wrington.

By now it was a lovely sunny, winter day, so I thought I'd head over and up over Burrington Coombe. This is a long hill for around here, and is also the scene of my 2006 crash on the MTB, ice, carelessness and downhill all involved. Fortunately, today all were reversed and I eventually emerged into the sun again before speeding down Cheddar gorge and then home.

A pretty but slow ride, didn't really fancy bombing down the hills just yet to make up for the uphills, and I still haven't got my Robert Millar legs. Charlie's stats are below, note the big lumps of green on the player, showing that I really did those hills today!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/23108037

http://connect.garmin.com/player/23108037

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside

Today, as the football managers are wont to say, was day of two halves. This morning a ride with the Official ACG (as opposed to the Provisional ACG I suppose, the Irish amongst you will know what I mean. Or maybe not, try Wikipedia page of Irish history), where was I? Oh yes, the ACG went to Brean Down, while this afternoon, I descended into hell on earth, also known as The Mall at Cribbs Causeway. My son wanted to relieve himself of some vouchers, to buy some models he is now making, but everyone else was buying rubbish. Except for those like me who bought Cycling Weekly.

Enough of the judgemental rant. The ride. Just the 4 of us today, JT, KG and the man I shall now call The Doc. It was a bit cold to start with, and was damp pretty much throughout, without being wet, and I don't think I got my layers right, I never really warmed up. For a change I got K 1 out of the shed, even though he is supposed to be resting for the winter, Kona needs a bit of remedial work on the shifters and cabling so I popped him down to the LBS so PB could do the necessary.

It's amazing the difference that grippy tyres and good brakes make, I know I have said this before, so I don't know why it surprised me, but it does.

We went clockwise out to Clewer this time, and after JT's sterling efforts last week I am no longer complaining about her lack of mudguards, or the Doc's, as it's nice to have someone to draft on days like today. It was a really good ride, not too much traffic about, and we managed to avoid all the new potholes, and find all the lovely new surfaces and made good time to the cafe at Brean Down. About a mile out from the cafe I thought I better do some serious interval training so sprinted as hard as I could for a few minutes.

I have discovered a book called "The time-crunched cyclist" written by LA trainer (why does everything have to have a crunch these days?), and it maps out a plan for busy people like me, who have limited time to train. Thing is, you have to have high intensity, which is going to mean some hills tomorrow, and meant some sprinting today.

The cafe must have had a load of crumpets about to go past a sell-by day, they were knocking them out at 2 for pound, with butter and jam. Mmm. Back in the saddle it felt even colder, I think it could have been the sea air, or maybe just the pervasiveness of the damp, but we all got a shift on to get warm.

We scooted back past those twin establishments dedicated to Wedding receptions-Rookery and Webbington- and just before the latter the Doc made a serious burst for home, only for us all to regroup in Cross. At some roadworks I managed to hold on to a post to save unclipping (for the second time today) before I turned for home up the Axbridge bypass. Charlie's figs show the fastest yet this year, probably because we all took our turn and road at similar speeds.

http://connect.garmin.com/player/23008906

Charlie shows an average of 16mph, and the mileage with the ACG was just shy of 34 of the 40 shown miles.

Tomorrow I'm out early to the hills, and intend to hit the Walled Garden cafe around 10.30ish if anyone fancies it, they do a lovely Victoria sponge.

Chapeau to the ACG!

Back in the Saddle

For almost two whole weeks the country has been gripped. No, I'm not talking about Celebrity Big Brother, but ICE. Great big lumps of it lying, condensing and spreading like a cyclist's worst nightmare, all over the roads of Somerset. So for two whole weeks there has been no riding, no sprinting down the Clewer road, no kicking on up Cheddar gorge, and no bowling along to Puxton.

On Friday I could barely contain my glee as the thermometer nudged into positive figures, and my excitement knew no bounds as it hit balmy 10 degrees yesterday morning. An impromptu ride was already planned for Sunday, but I couldn't wait, so had to go and do a 38 mile loop around Puxton, Sand Bay, Weston and Brent Knoll.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/22583250

A great ride, it was fantastic to be out in the fresh air again after two weeks cooped up indoors. Not too taxing, hills are going to have to wait for some specific sessions.

Today we went out as the ACG, and again, it was like 7 hungry animals being let off the leash with a plate of food at the end of the road. At different times every one of us was severing and digesting the bit, never mind the chomping, and despite a tough headwind at times on the way back, it was pretty fast considering we have not really ridden for a while. JT had been up last night, as had KG, and I'll share a secret I have discovered-sleep and good food are wonderfully restorative compared to a night on the lash.

http://connect.garmin.com/player/22583168

Again pretty fast times, and I'm pleased to say I won the points jersey even if KG snuck up on the final stretch to pinch the General Classment (as Sean Kelly would say).

The real point of this post is the session I went to on Friday, not booze, but actual training. Having a training-related job means I'm often the last one to seek it out for myself, and I nearly didn't go. But really glad I did, it was all about goals you see. With the help of a really good crowd, I was coached towards achieving one of my goals for the year-being organised in my training and then achieving the targets that I have set for myself.

A conversation I had been unconsciously putting off, got done this week, solely as a result of that training day. I have always been pretty good at goal setting, but have allowed it to drift for a couple of years.

So thank you to MG, I am pleased to report that stage one is completed, and things are moving in the right direction, more to follow!

Chapeau mes amies to you today, the best day out on a bike in ages.