Five links for the five days I hope to complete next week in 100 hours, inclusive of stops, yes including sleeping. To get the elevation data you need to check the box on the right of each page. Day 2 is where all offers of prayer will be gratefully received-that's Wednesday 8th September!
Day 1: Hendaye to Arudy
http://www.mapmyrun.com/ride/france/-france/874127697758463852
Day 2: Arudy to Campan
http://www.mapmyrun.com/ride/france/arudy/536127697804938697
Day 3: Campan to Massat
http://www.mapmyrun.com/ride/france/-france/940127732902294126
Day 4: Massat to Prades
http://www.mapmyrun.com/ride/france/biert/249127733001436669
Day 5: Prades to Cerbere
http://www.mapmyrun.com/ride/france/prades/232127748988116323
Tuesday 31 August 2010
Monday 30 August 2010
What was I thinking?
Bank Holiday. Two words that should strike terror into all road cyclists. It's worse than Sundays, by a long, long shot. All the signs were smacking me in the proverbial. For starters it was sunny, very sunny. After weeks of rain and damp and drizzle. The schools all go back this week (ahem, most of them anyway). So what is every self-respecting couch potato going to do today? Go to Cheddar gorge that's what. Homo cheddarisbankholidaystupidicus, a new species of mankind, and I found them, millions of them, in their cars, on the pavements, in the roads (mostly), and probably in the pubs and shops too. Is this incredibly judgemental of me? If so, I'm castigating myself for choosing to end a ride with a descent of the world famous gorge and around 2PM on August Bank Holiday, 2010.
It had all started so well. I had planned (I know what you are thinking, plans and me are not best mates) to do about an hour or so, up to the top of the Mendips via the gorge, then down the Coombe and home. But it was a shame to waste the sunshine, and both Skip and Bunny had done various century rides over the weekend, so I felt maybe I'll push it a bit, one last time before France. I promise on the life of the Madonna del Ghisallo, that any rides I do between now and the 7th of September will be easyish ones.
Unfortunately I had forgotten to charge Charlie, so no stats from him today, but it actually made for a more free-spirited ride in that I was no longer a slave to the cadence sensor or at the whim of the gradient. I started to really enjoy myself. All the more because I have swapped K-1's saddle over to the Red Madonne, and a furtive fettle underneath as I rode along revealed a bulge of chamois pad that was now goiing down and not up. So, hopefully no flow problems in later life now, if you get drift. Knight of the Realm and I had discussed how we had politely refused THAT test at our recent company medicals. May have to reconsider next time if the experience of that hard Bonty saddle is anything to go by. The cutaway is definitely coming, so to speak, up the Tourmalet with me.
So I headed over to Wrington via Congresbury, and up Wrington Hill. Yes the steep one which catches you out because you need granny gear for the steep ramp at the bottom. Then down into Cleeve, through Claverham and across to Nailsea. If this seems convoluted it is because I had a plan again. And I didn't want to go over the same ground if I could avoid it.
Which I just about did. By going up Belmont Hill to Failand, down the steep way into Long Ashton, and along the Festival Way cycle path to Backwell. There were loads of walkers, families and even a tandem or two, out enjoying a pootle. All well-behaved, walking/riding in straight lines on the correct side of the road.
Next up was Brockley Coombe before buzzing down to Winford, back up to the Manor and down Long Lane past the Walled Garden to Wrington. From there it's short hop to the base of Burrington, which was a joy in the sunshine, a quick detour to the highest navigable point (Henceforth known as HNP) then down the gorge.
I think I now hold the record for the slowest descent of Cheddar gorge on a road bike without a puncture or any type of mechanical breakdown. All the usuals were on display, inappropriate overtaking followed by sudden braking. Stopping to look at the scenery. Using hand-held phones. As I came down the steep bit with the hairpin, there was a traffic jam,caused by some drivers who had stopped to look at some climbers or the goats, or something. It caught me unawares despite only doing about 15mph, and the new tyres got a chance to shine. And smoke a bit as the back brake locked the wheel. But don't worry Bunny I kept the bike upright, but without being overly dramatic, it was a close-run thing.
Still no harm done, until down in the shopping area, where I encountered people ignoring the pavement, well the roads are so much smoother and less crowded aren't they. Crossing without looking? Of course, why should they look? I need to get over myself I think. The rest of the world was enjoying itself in it's own way and I should really have known better.
My average speed was 14.9 mph, caused in large part by the slow descents of all of the hills today, my ascending speed is a lot better than it was a few months ago. So that was pretty good. And I didn't swear, so my swearbox didn't get any benefit from all the crowds in Cheddar. But my self-contol impressed even me. Skip would be so proud, I think she thinks (mind-reading again) that I'm a bit bonkers.
Anyway I really enjoyed myself actually, despite the gorge. It's a lesson learned after all. I did manage to plot the route on Bikely, so 58 miles and just over 3500 feet of climbing. So now I am as ready as I'm going to be. Honestly.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bank-Holiday-Madness
It had all started so well. I had planned (I know what you are thinking, plans and me are not best mates) to do about an hour or so, up to the top of the Mendips via the gorge, then down the Coombe and home. But it was a shame to waste the sunshine, and both Skip and Bunny had done various century rides over the weekend, so I felt maybe I'll push it a bit, one last time before France. I promise on the life of the Madonna del Ghisallo, that any rides I do between now and the 7th of September will be easyish ones.
Unfortunately I had forgotten to charge Charlie, so no stats from him today, but it actually made for a more free-spirited ride in that I was no longer a slave to the cadence sensor or at the whim of the gradient. I started to really enjoy myself. All the more because I have swapped K-1's saddle over to the Red Madonne, and a furtive fettle underneath as I rode along revealed a bulge of chamois pad that was now goiing down and not up. So, hopefully no flow problems in later life now, if you get drift. Knight of the Realm and I had discussed how we had politely refused THAT test at our recent company medicals. May have to reconsider next time if the experience of that hard Bonty saddle is anything to go by. The cutaway is definitely coming, so to speak, up the Tourmalet with me.
So I headed over to Wrington via Congresbury, and up Wrington Hill. Yes the steep one which catches you out because you need granny gear for the steep ramp at the bottom. Then down into Cleeve, through Claverham and across to Nailsea. If this seems convoluted it is because I had a plan again. And I didn't want to go over the same ground if I could avoid it.
Which I just about did. By going up Belmont Hill to Failand, down the steep way into Long Ashton, and along the Festival Way cycle path to Backwell. There were loads of walkers, families and even a tandem or two, out enjoying a pootle. All well-behaved, walking/riding in straight lines on the correct side of the road.
Next up was Brockley Coombe before buzzing down to Winford, back up to the Manor and down Long Lane past the Walled Garden to Wrington. From there it's short hop to the base of Burrington, which was a joy in the sunshine, a quick detour to the highest navigable point (Henceforth known as HNP) then down the gorge.
I think I now hold the record for the slowest descent of Cheddar gorge on a road bike without a puncture or any type of mechanical breakdown. All the usuals were on display, inappropriate overtaking followed by sudden braking. Stopping to look at the scenery. Using hand-held phones. As I came down the steep bit with the hairpin, there was a traffic jam,caused by some drivers who had stopped to look at some climbers or the goats, or something. It caught me unawares despite only doing about 15mph, and the new tyres got a chance to shine. And smoke a bit as the back brake locked the wheel. But don't worry Bunny I kept the bike upright, but without being overly dramatic, it was a close-run thing.
Still no harm done, until down in the shopping area, where I encountered people ignoring the pavement, well the roads are so much smoother and less crowded aren't they. Crossing without looking? Of course, why should they look? I need to get over myself I think. The rest of the world was enjoying itself in it's own way and I should really have known better.
My average speed was 14.9 mph, caused in large part by the slow descents of all of the hills today, my ascending speed is a lot better than it was a few months ago. So that was pretty good. And I didn't swear, so my swearbox didn't get any benefit from all the crowds in Cheddar. But my self-contol impressed even me. Skip would be so proud, I think she thinks (mind-reading again) that I'm a bit bonkers.
Anyway I really enjoyed myself actually, despite the gorge. It's a lesson learned after all. I did manage to plot the route on Bikely, so 58 miles and just over 3500 feet of climbing. So now I am as ready as I'm going to be. Honestly.
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bank-Holiday-Madness
Saturday 28 August 2010
Slow down, you move too fast....
Tapering. Ummm. Nice theory, very difficult in practice, at least for me. Today was an Impromptu Ride (IR). The Doc's IR to boot, and as with all IRs, there were more of us that with the official ACG rides. Aside from the whole concept of can "can you organise an impromptu ride?", we also have the vexed question of whether these are if fact Official ACG ride, or some form of Provisional ACG? Students of Irish Republican history can advise on that one.
Anyway, there was Doc, me, Skip, Knight of the Realm, RPM and The Communicator gathered in front of a very sandy Square, early this morning. I'm on a taper, so the idea was a gentle spin of the legs after yesterday's hills, followed by, well an early bath and not much else. I really want to cycle to London with Skip and Rosa tomorrow, but I am holding firm and not doing the AMR Bristol to London ride. Definitely. Not. Really. At all. No.
But it didn't quite work out like that. There is something about Knight of the Realm that reminds me of my older brother and it brings my competitive streak to the surface. We did head over the levels to Sweets cafe, and they kindly served us Scones and coffee despite it being 20 minutes before opening time. But in the last 300 metres I couldn't resist the opportunity for a quickish sprinting head to head with him, just because it's been so long since we did it.
Then on the way back I just, well sot of pushed it a bit. The Knight always does this thing where he sits on your shoulder till the last little rise, and then gets the jump on you to be the first home. So I decided to go early. About five miles early. I know what you are thinking, juvenile stuff, but it was fun.
Not content with that, I thought, seeing as I was out and it was such a nice day, that a couple of hills would be a good idea. Shipham, Rowberrow and then the Airport, down Brockley Coombe and then home again. About 53 miles but only about 2000 feet of climbing, so that's all right surely, counts as a taper doesn't it?
Just a reminder, definitely not going to London. I'm not.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46465717
Anyway, there was Doc, me, Skip, Knight of the Realm, RPM and The Communicator gathered in front of a very sandy Square, early this morning. I'm on a taper, so the idea was a gentle spin of the legs after yesterday's hills, followed by, well an early bath and not much else. I really want to cycle to London with Skip and Rosa tomorrow, but I am holding firm and not doing the AMR Bristol to London ride. Definitely. Not. Really. At all. No.
But it didn't quite work out like that. There is something about Knight of the Realm that reminds me of my older brother and it brings my competitive streak to the surface. We did head over the levels to Sweets cafe, and they kindly served us Scones and coffee despite it being 20 minutes before opening time. But in the last 300 metres I couldn't resist the opportunity for a quickish sprinting head to head with him, just because it's been so long since we did it.
Then on the way back I just, well sot of pushed it a bit. The Knight always does this thing where he sits on your shoulder till the last little rise, and then gets the jump on you to be the first home. So I decided to go early. About five miles early. I know what you are thinking, juvenile stuff, but it was fun.
Not content with that, I thought, seeing as I was out and it was such a nice day, that a couple of hills would be a good idea. Shipham, Rowberrow and then the Airport, down Brockley Coombe and then home again. About 53 miles but only about 2000 feet of climbing, so that's all right surely, counts as a taper doesn't it?
Just a reminder, definitely not going to London. I'm not.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46465717
Friday 27 August 2010
There and back again
I must be a hobbit. Not only do I always feel hungry about 10 o'clock, but on days when I ride to work I'm ravenous when I get there. Fortunately, this conundram has been solved, and I can now have my second breakfast in our sparkly new cafe. Lean bacon and beans, with just a few mushrooms, and yes a couple of hash browns. Well I did consume 1200 calories to get there.
Do you remember the summer of 1976? It was the seminal summer, baking hot, no rain for weeks, no months, and standpipes in the street. For me it was the year I left junior school, big school was an exciting adventure on the far horizon, and the whole six weeks stretched out ahead of me. Nothing to do but play football and cricket, paddle on the beach (for I lived by the sea) or ramble about in the fields and woods. And of course ride our bikes just about everywhere.
If people of my generation looked back on summers that were always sunny, this was the one. Then we grew up and went to work for nearly 30 years, and some point we all realised that once the booze, girls, and politics phase was over, we just wanted to do all the stuff we did in those summers. Of course, rambling about on beaches and in woods tends to get Middle-aged Men arrested, modern or otherwise, but we can all ride our bikes, especially when they are as bling as mine is, hahahaha! Yes I am part of a social phenomena before, apparently I am officially a MAMIL-Middle-aged man in Lycra- and it feels great to me.
How things have changed for our children. When my son looks back on his summers, he'll remember them as full of rain, and Nintendo DS.
Other bitersweet news. K-1 has a crack in the headtube. So much for all my remarks about carbon. But the good news is that it should be covered by a warrenty and if so, I will get a new frame. Just got to get the bike to Stroud and back for inspection and replacement.
So today's ride followed much the same route and hills as the last few weeks, except that I climbed Dundry Hill from the A38 for a change and came down the steep main road with all the hairpins. Not nice in the wet and the traffic, I will avoid in future. Autumn is galloping over the hill towards us i fear, it was very gloomy first thing, and a lot of surface water about, necessitating Backup lights, leg warmers and overshoes. Which were all in the back pocket for the trip home.
I also got to try an experiement with a work colleague. I lent the Power my car park pass, and dropped it off at her house in south Bristol on the way in. On the way home we both left the car park at the same time, and then informally raced up to her house, 4 miles away. I beat her by about a minute, mainly due to the benefit of the cycling lanes through the rush hour traffic. That said I was pretty slow today, coasting down the hills, ambling in traffic and trundling along in big gears on the flat. My Risk Management strategy has become one of Risk avoidance.
Charlie's cadence sensor was also playing up, so not sure if the figures are accurate, but I was not spinning like the Texan today. may give it a go on the flat tomorrow, just a very social bit of gentle cycling to keep the legs turning.
To finish, an apology. It's Madone. I really had no idea,until Bunny pointed it out to me. He likes things to be right after all.My bike, on the other hand, is called the Red Madonne, because, well I don't need a reason do I?
For route:
http://connect.garmin.com/player/46380643
For stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46380643
Do you remember the summer of 1976? It was the seminal summer, baking hot, no rain for weeks, no months, and standpipes in the street. For me it was the year I left junior school, big school was an exciting adventure on the far horizon, and the whole six weeks stretched out ahead of me. Nothing to do but play football and cricket, paddle on the beach (for I lived by the sea) or ramble about in the fields and woods. And of course ride our bikes just about everywhere.
If people of my generation looked back on summers that were always sunny, this was the one. Then we grew up and went to work for nearly 30 years, and some point we all realised that once the booze, girls, and politics phase was over, we just wanted to do all the stuff we did in those summers. Of course, rambling about on beaches and in woods tends to get Middle-aged Men arrested, modern or otherwise, but we can all ride our bikes, especially when they are as bling as mine is, hahahaha! Yes I am part of a social phenomena before, apparently I am officially a MAMIL-Middle-aged man in Lycra- and it feels great to me.
How things have changed for our children. When my son looks back on his summers, he'll remember them as full of rain, and Nintendo DS.
Other bitersweet news. K-1 has a crack in the headtube. So much for all my remarks about carbon. But the good news is that it should be covered by a warrenty and if so, I will get a new frame. Just got to get the bike to Stroud and back for inspection and replacement.
So today's ride followed much the same route and hills as the last few weeks, except that I climbed Dundry Hill from the A38 for a change and came down the steep main road with all the hairpins. Not nice in the wet and the traffic, I will avoid in future. Autumn is galloping over the hill towards us i fear, it was very gloomy first thing, and a lot of surface water about, necessitating Backup lights, leg warmers and overshoes. Which were all in the back pocket for the trip home.
I also got to try an experiement with a work colleague. I lent the Power my car park pass, and dropped it off at her house in south Bristol on the way in. On the way home we both left the car park at the same time, and then informally raced up to her house, 4 miles away. I beat her by about a minute, mainly due to the benefit of the cycling lanes through the rush hour traffic. That said I was pretty slow today, coasting down the hills, ambling in traffic and trundling along in big gears on the flat. My Risk Management strategy has become one of Risk avoidance.
Charlie's cadence sensor was also playing up, so not sure if the figures are accurate, but I was not spinning like the Texan today. may give it a go on the flat tomorrow, just a very social bit of gentle cycling to keep the legs turning.
To finish, an apology. It's Madone. I really had no idea,until Bunny pointed it out to me. He likes things to be right after all.My bike, on the other hand, is called the Red Madonne, because, well I don't need a reason do I?
For route:
http://connect.garmin.com/player/46380643
For stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46380643
Sunday 22 August 2010
Some days are better than others
Some days are dry, some days are leaky
Some days come clean, other days are sneaky
Some days take less, but most days take more
Some slip through your fingers and onto the floor
Some days you're quick, but most days you're speedy
Some days you use more force than is necessary
Some days just drop in on us
Some days are better than others
Not my lyrics obviously, see if you can work out where they are from? The rest of the song is pretty good, and if you are feeling very tech-savvy, go on youtube and have a listen. It's from a period most commentators rate as a bit fallow, but I think it's subversively brilliant.
The point of this? Oh just to say that today was so much better than Friday, in all senses of the word. What a whingefest I had on these pages, I apologise unreservedly for behaving in such a fashion.
It's amazing what a couple of good night's sleep can do for you, but I was still feeling a bit tired this morning as I bounced out of bed, bright and breezy at 7AM, all ready for a long, hilly day in the saddle. Skip had sent me a couple of e-mails last night, hinting that I may have overdone it a bit recently, and that my taper should start today. I could see the sense in what she was saying, so after a flurry of texts, I agreed to meet her in Axbridge at 9AM.
That gave me just enough time to do a quick loop up through Shipham from Winscombe, and then down the other side. After a couple of minor adjustments, the Red Madonne was all ready to hit, or should that be click, the road. It was a delight to cycle this dream of a bike. If K-1 is a sports car, the Madonne is a Ferrari. A few things are different. The brakes for one (new bike brake syndrome, first pull on them and nearly find you have left the bike 10 yards behind you) the lack of cables at the front gives a different perspective, the frame is a compact one, with sloping top tube, which I think feels easier when climbing, the overall set-up is slightly more relaxed, but that enables me to get on the drops more (perversely!) and then there is the saddle.
There was an advert years ago when a child got given a bike for his birthday and the Dad makes a remark about the raciness of the saddle. Well, my new one is rather hard on the "in-between" area. So after over four hours on that new saddle I feel a bit like Marsellus Wallace.
Anyway, I met Skip down in the Square, and she indulgently allowed me to plot a course over to Glastonbury that enjoyed a couple of hills. Once down on the levels we took turns along the long straight roads, and zipped into the heart of the town at a cracking pace. Actually she was more than just great on the bike today, managed to totally de-stress me with a mixture of perspective, humour and charm, which majorly contributed to a lift in my mood. Not only that, but even when in charge of route-plotting on the way back, she found a couple of hills just for me. So, thank you.
We parted in Cheddar, me heading up the gorge on my own. Apart from around 10,000 holidaymakers underestimating the speed of a Red Madonne. But I was good, I used the word "Look" to prevent any nasty accidents and didn't swear at anyone.
I climbed all the way to Charterhouse before peeling off and up to the twin Masts at the highest navigable bit of tarmac on Mendip and then really testing the bike down Burrington Coombe. It's fast, into a headwind Cateye measured 43.9 mph. Just think what it could do on a steep and straight hill.
There was just time to dip down to Butcombe (nothing to do with the saddle) then up to Redhill and down Long Lane to Wrington. I was shattered by now, so came home, a round trip of around 65 miles with about 3500 feet of climbing. As Skip said "you are as ready as you will ever be". I'm just going to do some easy riding for the next couple of weeks and do my best to take things easy and STAY CALM! I won't cut out hills completely, but I'll do just one or maybe two per trip. I've just got to remember that over training is caused by too high a load of stress overall, not just the riding bit.
One last bit of kit news is the "compression tights", they are just very tight lycra leggings and they seem to be working. A full set of stretches combined with these has produced no cramp today, for a change.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/45663082
Some days come clean, other days are sneaky
Some days take less, but most days take more
Some slip through your fingers and onto the floor
Some days you're quick, but most days you're speedy
Some days you use more force than is necessary
Some days just drop in on us
Some days are better than others
Not my lyrics obviously, see if you can work out where they are from? The rest of the song is pretty good, and if you are feeling very tech-savvy, go on youtube and have a listen. It's from a period most commentators rate as a bit fallow, but I think it's subversively brilliant.
The point of this? Oh just to say that today was so much better than Friday, in all senses of the word. What a whingefest I had on these pages, I apologise unreservedly for behaving in such a fashion.
It's amazing what a couple of good night's sleep can do for you, but I was still feeling a bit tired this morning as I bounced out of bed, bright and breezy at 7AM, all ready for a long, hilly day in the saddle. Skip had sent me a couple of e-mails last night, hinting that I may have overdone it a bit recently, and that my taper should start today. I could see the sense in what she was saying, so after a flurry of texts, I agreed to meet her in Axbridge at 9AM.
That gave me just enough time to do a quick loop up through Shipham from Winscombe, and then down the other side. After a couple of minor adjustments, the Red Madonne was all ready to hit, or should that be click, the road. It was a delight to cycle this dream of a bike. If K-1 is a sports car, the Madonne is a Ferrari. A few things are different. The brakes for one (new bike brake syndrome, first pull on them and nearly find you have left the bike 10 yards behind you) the lack of cables at the front gives a different perspective, the frame is a compact one, with sloping top tube, which I think feels easier when climbing, the overall set-up is slightly more relaxed, but that enables me to get on the drops more (perversely!) and then there is the saddle.
There was an advert years ago when a child got given a bike for his birthday and the Dad makes a remark about the raciness of the saddle. Well, my new one is rather hard on the "in-between" area. So after over four hours on that new saddle I feel a bit like Marsellus Wallace.
Anyway, I met Skip down in the Square, and she indulgently allowed me to plot a course over to Glastonbury that enjoyed a couple of hills. Once down on the levels we took turns along the long straight roads, and zipped into the heart of the town at a cracking pace. Actually she was more than just great on the bike today, managed to totally de-stress me with a mixture of perspective, humour and charm, which majorly contributed to a lift in my mood. Not only that, but even when in charge of route-plotting on the way back, she found a couple of hills just for me. So, thank you.
We parted in Cheddar, me heading up the gorge on my own. Apart from around 10,000 holidaymakers underestimating the speed of a Red Madonne. But I was good, I used the word "Look" to prevent any nasty accidents and didn't swear at anyone.
I climbed all the way to Charterhouse before peeling off and up to the twin Masts at the highest navigable bit of tarmac on Mendip and then really testing the bike down Burrington Coombe. It's fast, into a headwind Cateye measured 43.9 mph. Just think what it could do on a steep and straight hill.
There was just time to dip down to Butcombe (nothing to do with the saddle) then up to Redhill and down Long Lane to Wrington. I was shattered by now, so came home, a round trip of around 65 miles with about 3500 feet of climbing. As Skip said "you are as ready as you will ever be". I'm just going to do some easy riding for the next couple of weeks and do my best to take things easy and STAY CALM! I won't cut out hills completely, but I'll do just one or maybe two per trip. I've just got to remember that over training is caused by too high a load of stress overall, not just the riding bit.
One last bit of kit news is the "compression tights", they are just very tight lycra leggings and they seem to be working. A full set of stretches combined with these has produced no cramp today, for a change.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/45663082
Friday 20 August 2010
At least I haven't got to ride tomorrow
I'm sorry, I have no imagination left today, having used some up at work, and then left all the rest of my energy on the hills of North Somerset. So the title reflects how i feel, although to whinge a bit more, it could also be "How to get a posture-derived headache through your eye socket", or how to ensure you are as stiff as a board for a drive to London tomorrow".
I must go and stretch, so this will be short. I didn't really fuel up properly given that a ride to work and back consumes about 2000 calories. Having done it yesterday, I decided to push myself up all the hills in both directions, and despite eating manfully at work today, I was pretty tired on the way home. My neck is going to need some treatment before France (I have it booked in for just before I go), but the good news is my legs are not too sore. I know the hills around here are nothing like the length of the ones in the Pyrenees, but they are steeper, or at least some of them are. I have to eat for England, or France, or somewhere, to ensure I have the energy levels to get up them.
Anyway, trip today included Long Lane on the way in, with a secondary up to Felton, and then Dundry Hill and Redhill on the way back, the latter climbed from Chew Stoke for a change. Roads covered with grit and mud so I washed the bile. The bottom bracket is gone, the wheels need truing and I think it needs a new headset. Obviously having a new bike comes in handy as I'm going to take K-1 for a service, hoping it will be back in time for me to ride it down to Land's End at the end of September.
I am also going to stop swearing at bad driving. I am, really. I am going to give a pound to my charity every time I do it, and I'll rely on my companions to remind me of this pledge.
I was also even more cautious today than yesterday, so despite hitting a top speed over over 40mph (in the wet too, what was I thinking?), my overall speed was slow. Still, we did have that favourite wind on the return leg-south west strong!
I have a tentative plan to do a century ride over as many hills as I can on Sunday. Then taper for the following two weeks and focus on sleep, which I am lacking at the moment as there seems to be so much to do. Right now it's all on top of me, and, dear reader, if you are there, I need some encouraging words, having used my own on everyone around me at the moment. I took something personally at work, so I know I'm a bit "resource light". Did I just type that? I really need to go to bed.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/45367789
I must go and stretch, so this will be short. I didn't really fuel up properly given that a ride to work and back consumes about 2000 calories. Having done it yesterday, I decided to push myself up all the hills in both directions, and despite eating manfully at work today, I was pretty tired on the way home. My neck is going to need some treatment before France (I have it booked in for just before I go), but the good news is my legs are not too sore. I know the hills around here are nothing like the length of the ones in the Pyrenees, but they are steeper, or at least some of them are. I have to eat for England, or France, or somewhere, to ensure I have the energy levels to get up them.
Anyway, trip today included Long Lane on the way in, with a secondary up to Felton, and then Dundry Hill and Redhill on the way back, the latter climbed from Chew Stoke for a change. Roads covered with grit and mud so I washed the bile. The bottom bracket is gone, the wheels need truing and I think it needs a new headset. Obviously having a new bike comes in handy as I'm going to take K-1 for a service, hoping it will be back in time for me to ride it down to Land's End at the end of September.
I am also going to stop swearing at bad driving. I am, really. I am going to give a pound to my charity every time I do it, and I'll rely on my companions to remind me of this pledge.
I was also even more cautious today than yesterday, so despite hitting a top speed over over 40mph (in the wet too, what was I thinking?), my overall speed was slow. Still, we did have that favourite wind on the return leg-south west strong!
I have a tentative plan to do a century ride over as many hills as I can on Sunday. Then taper for the following two weeks and focus on sleep, which I am lacking at the moment as there seems to be so much to do. Right now it's all on top of me, and, dear reader, if you are there, I need some encouraging words, having used my own on everyone around me at the moment. I took something personally at work, so I know I'm a bit "resource light". Did I just type that? I really need to go to bed.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/45367789
Thursday 19 August 2010
Take the rough with the smooth
An unexpected opportunity arose today. Mrs MMAM came back from London a day early, and for all sorts of reasons I got the chance to ride into work.
This was not the straight forward choice you might think it is.For starters the weather forecast was very mixed. The morning looked like it was going to be perfect cycling weather, while the evening was forecast to be as bad as it could be-wet and very windy, in the wrong direction. I don't mind bad weather, wrong clothes and all that. But it would mean I would have to be very imaginative about the choice of clothes, given the promised warm morning.
But in the end I was always going to ride, I mean, solo car journey or ride some hills before breakfast, what would you do?
The journey is was delightful, so I cycled over to Wrington, up Long Lane past the Walled Garden cafe, before zipping over to Winford, and up Dundry Lane to Dundry Hill. That road peaks at about 17% but it didn't feel too bad, except for having to dodge some hedge clippings on the way up, being spewed out by an early morning cutting from the farmer. I made a mental note not to come down that way, it's steep enough in the dry, and add in the wet, the clippings and the poor sight lines and it has "Accident or puncture" written all over it.
Once down from Dundry I popped over via Long Ashton and Ashton Court and into town. My workplace is now by Temple Meads, which means negotiating a fair amount of town traffic. As my Pyreneen adventure draws closer I am becoming increasingly cautious on the bike, especially in traffic. I just can not afford to get injured right now, there would be no time to recover. The net effect was that I crawled through the last 2 miles, bringing my speed down, which hadn't been the highest in any case.
On the way home it was wet, and windy. Although judging by the torrents of rain falling out of the sky right now, it could have been a lot worse. As I had my windstopper, now equipped with sleeves that I had detached this AM, as well as my overshoes (stuffed in a pocket in the morning), as well as waterproof socks, it was actually pretty good. I contented myself with climbing up to Winford, over to the Manor and then down through Wrington. I took it very, very easy on the way down too.
So very slow, but it's all good practice, gets me used to rainy riding, which we could have in France. I also managed over 2.7K feet of climbing, which can only help with the hill-climbing.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/45244297
On a sad note, one of my work colleagues was a close riding companion of Cath Ward, the time triallist who was killed following a collision with a car whilst riding last week. Obviously I don't know what happened, but it did remind me of why I get so cross when cars drive so close to People cycling. So perhaps I am justified when I get cross with a motorist using a hand-held mobile phone, or overtaking us when there is no room. My condolences go to her family and friends.
This was not the straight forward choice you might think it is.For starters the weather forecast was very mixed. The morning looked like it was going to be perfect cycling weather, while the evening was forecast to be as bad as it could be-wet and very windy, in the wrong direction. I don't mind bad weather, wrong clothes and all that. But it would mean I would have to be very imaginative about the choice of clothes, given the promised warm morning.
But in the end I was always going to ride, I mean, solo car journey or ride some hills before breakfast, what would you do?
The journey is was delightful, so I cycled over to Wrington, up Long Lane past the Walled Garden cafe, before zipping over to Winford, and up Dundry Lane to Dundry Hill. That road peaks at about 17% but it didn't feel too bad, except for having to dodge some hedge clippings on the way up, being spewed out by an early morning cutting from the farmer. I made a mental note not to come down that way, it's steep enough in the dry, and add in the wet, the clippings and the poor sight lines and it has "Accident or puncture" written all over it.
Once down from Dundry I popped over via Long Ashton and Ashton Court and into town. My workplace is now by Temple Meads, which means negotiating a fair amount of town traffic. As my Pyreneen adventure draws closer I am becoming increasingly cautious on the bike, especially in traffic. I just can not afford to get injured right now, there would be no time to recover. The net effect was that I crawled through the last 2 miles, bringing my speed down, which hadn't been the highest in any case.
On the way home it was wet, and windy. Although judging by the torrents of rain falling out of the sky right now, it could have been a lot worse. As I had my windstopper, now equipped with sleeves that I had detached this AM, as well as my overshoes (stuffed in a pocket in the morning), as well as waterproof socks, it was actually pretty good. I contented myself with climbing up to Winford, over to the Manor and then down through Wrington. I took it very, very easy on the way down too.
So very slow, but it's all good practice, gets me used to rainy riding, which we could have in France. I also managed over 2.7K feet of climbing, which can only help with the hill-climbing.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/45244297
On a sad note, one of my work colleagues was a close riding companion of Cath Ward, the time triallist who was killed following a collision with a car whilst riding last week. Obviously I don't know what happened, but it did remind me of why I get so cross when cars drive so close to People cycling. So perhaps I am justified when I get cross with a motorist using a hand-held mobile phone, or overtaking us when there is no room. My condolences go to her family and friends.
Sunday 15 August 2010
Lists
One of my favourite films (probably in the top twenty) is High Fidelity. Though not as good as the book by Nick Hornby upon which it is based, it does include the salient feature of the story- men's constant desire to make a list of things, usually with a ranking. I'm not a natural list-maker, it's all learned behaviour, unlike Bunny who, this week, sent me his list of kit to take to France, but I am getting better. So I thought I'd start this post with:
Ten Things I love about my new bike
1. It's red. Mostly. It has white and black too, which are the 2nd and 3rd best colours for a bike, but it's the red I love. Truth be told, it was that colour that drew my roving eye in the shop. All the best bikes are red. Irrespective of anything else, it makes them go faster.
2. It has beautiful lines. Grace, a much-maligned spiritual concept, also applies the well-formed structure of this machine.
3. It is made of carbon. I know steel is aesthetically more "in" and you can not repair carbon if it breaks, but it is the material of my "cycling time", in much the same way as the 70s will always be a naff decade to me (no matter how many style gurus say it's cool to be clad in retro 70s stuff).
4. It fits me. I'm making an assumption because it hasn't been ridden for 100 miles in a day, or at all in fact, but it's been measured around me, meaning it will be comfortable. A sign of my age, but it's important nowadays.
5. The screws for the bottle cages go into specially-recessed threads. One of many tiny design details that count.
6. It's won the Tour de France. OK, not this exact bike, but loads of the same design, and even if the Texan is tainted, on this occasion it is about the bike.
7. The tyres have a red stripe on them-see 1 above
8. The wheels make that fabulous clicking sound, musical engineering.
9. Some of the cables are internally routed-see 2 above.
10. It is clean. Mainly because it's not been outside or ridden yet. Which is why I chose to do today's ride on my K-1 bike. K-1 needs a wash (he still does) so I'm not washing two bikes when I eventually get round to it. And as I need to be accustomed to the bike I ride down to Land's End in September, it could be a while before the Red Madonne gets ridden at all. Mrs MMAM will not be happy!
So today's ride. A ride of two parts. Firstly an impromptu ride with Skip and Knight of the Realm to the Rocky Mountain Cafe and back, via Cheddar Gorge and the top of the Mendips. 9AM this morning was very unseasonably cold, misty and a bit damp, and this persisted all the way to the cafe. I was slightly surprised I managed to persuade them to do hills tbh, but the timely arrival of a random club cyclist called Ian, from Bicester cycling club, just as we were about to set off, seem to swing it. He was down here on holiday and was looking to cycle up Cheddar Gorge.
So away we went, forming up as a four, then a three as Ian swung off towards Burrington at the top, leaving us to toil into a cold North-easterly headwind to the cafe. Unfortunately their landlord is kicking them out and setting up his own cafe there from September, and the present operator told us of a much better cafe to use when that happens. She was genuinely upset about it all, especially as a number of people will be out of work as a result.
After cake and coffee we dropped down through the Horringtons to Wells, a lovely fast descent, made much more interesting by the Sunday drivers. I was trying to restrain my annoyance but it is difficult when faced with such stupidity. When will some people realise that some bikes travel quite quickly?
We wended our way across the levels via Burcott Mill, and the Wedmore Road, eventually leaving Knight of the Realm behind. He has been doing a lot this week, and even the gel I gave him could not keep him going. Skip too was feeling the effects of near-constant cycling in France for the last fortnight. Between you and me, I think she may have done a bit of drinking too, and then her left knee went and she was reduced to one-legged pedalling. Never good.
So while those two returned to their respective homes, I started Part two of my ride as a lone breakaway. By now it was getting hot, and it seemed summer was here at last. Here is a list of my hills:
1.Shipham gorge/hill (not sure which it is, but it's a constant 9-10% for a mile and a quarter). Going down into Shipham on the other side of the hill, the craziest driving of the day-overtaken on a corner at the top of the hill, then car slams on her brakes in front of me, while I am doing 40mph. Clever. I confess I did have a polite (honestly, it really was) word at the bottom of the hill and said car-driver apologised, saying (get this) "she didn't realise how fast I was travelling".
2. Up to the hill above Rowberrow. Not much of a hill, but still counts.
3. Long Lane out of Wrington past Walled cafe, then up round the back of the airport. One of my favourite climbs, lots of variation, and generally quiet.
(Around the airport perimeter there were loads of plane-spotters [more than usual], with their cameras and ladders. Why do people do this? I understand train-spotting, my brother did it, and though it never interested me, there is a certain romance about steam trains, and there are dozens of other numbers and trains to spot. But there are probably only about 8 planes flying in and out of Bristol every day, and where is the romance in those lumbering fuel-guzzling machines.)
4. Down Brockley Coombe
5. Up Goblin Coombe
6. Down Wrington Hill, a favourite that ends with a 17% down into a T-junction which I had forgotten about. Stopped in time though.
7. Winscombe Hill, a must if you want to get to your own house, which I did.
So, a great ride, reasonable speed considering I was just short of 100km, and did a fair amount of climbing. Andy Schlecck I am not, but in the words of the 2nd least-talented Beatle, "it's getting better all the time".
Three weeks to go......
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/44610924
Ten Things I love about my new bike
1. It's red. Mostly. It has white and black too, which are the 2nd and 3rd best colours for a bike, but it's the red I love. Truth be told, it was that colour that drew my roving eye in the shop. All the best bikes are red. Irrespective of anything else, it makes them go faster.
2. It has beautiful lines. Grace, a much-maligned spiritual concept, also applies the well-formed structure of this machine.
3. It is made of carbon. I know steel is aesthetically more "in" and you can not repair carbon if it breaks, but it is the material of my "cycling time", in much the same way as the 70s will always be a naff decade to me (no matter how many style gurus say it's cool to be clad in retro 70s stuff).
4. It fits me. I'm making an assumption because it hasn't been ridden for 100 miles in a day, or at all in fact, but it's been measured around me, meaning it will be comfortable. A sign of my age, but it's important nowadays.
5. The screws for the bottle cages go into specially-recessed threads. One of many tiny design details that count.
6. It's won the Tour de France. OK, not this exact bike, but loads of the same design, and even if the Texan is tainted, on this occasion it is about the bike.
7. The tyres have a red stripe on them-see 1 above
8. The wheels make that fabulous clicking sound, musical engineering.
9. Some of the cables are internally routed-see 2 above.
10. It is clean. Mainly because it's not been outside or ridden yet. Which is why I chose to do today's ride on my K-1 bike. K-1 needs a wash (he still does) so I'm not washing two bikes when I eventually get round to it. And as I need to be accustomed to the bike I ride down to Land's End in September, it could be a while before the Red Madonne gets ridden at all. Mrs MMAM will not be happy!
So today's ride. A ride of two parts. Firstly an impromptu ride with Skip and Knight of the Realm to the Rocky Mountain Cafe and back, via Cheddar Gorge and the top of the Mendips. 9AM this morning was very unseasonably cold, misty and a bit damp, and this persisted all the way to the cafe. I was slightly surprised I managed to persuade them to do hills tbh, but the timely arrival of a random club cyclist called Ian, from Bicester cycling club, just as we were about to set off, seem to swing it. He was down here on holiday and was looking to cycle up Cheddar Gorge.
So away we went, forming up as a four, then a three as Ian swung off towards Burrington at the top, leaving us to toil into a cold North-easterly headwind to the cafe. Unfortunately their landlord is kicking them out and setting up his own cafe there from September, and the present operator told us of a much better cafe to use when that happens. She was genuinely upset about it all, especially as a number of people will be out of work as a result.
After cake and coffee we dropped down through the Horringtons to Wells, a lovely fast descent, made much more interesting by the Sunday drivers. I was trying to restrain my annoyance but it is difficult when faced with such stupidity. When will some people realise that some bikes travel quite quickly?
We wended our way across the levels via Burcott Mill, and the Wedmore Road, eventually leaving Knight of the Realm behind. He has been doing a lot this week, and even the gel I gave him could not keep him going. Skip too was feeling the effects of near-constant cycling in France for the last fortnight. Between you and me, I think she may have done a bit of drinking too, and then her left knee went and she was reduced to one-legged pedalling. Never good.
So while those two returned to their respective homes, I started Part two of my ride as a lone breakaway. By now it was getting hot, and it seemed summer was here at last. Here is a list of my hills:
1.Shipham gorge/hill (not sure which it is, but it's a constant 9-10% for a mile and a quarter). Going down into Shipham on the other side of the hill, the craziest driving of the day-overtaken on a corner at the top of the hill, then car slams on her brakes in front of me, while I am doing 40mph. Clever. I confess I did have a polite (honestly, it really was) word at the bottom of the hill and said car-driver apologised, saying (get this) "she didn't realise how fast I was travelling".
2. Up to the hill above Rowberrow. Not much of a hill, but still counts.
3. Long Lane out of Wrington past Walled cafe, then up round the back of the airport. One of my favourite climbs, lots of variation, and generally quiet.
(Around the airport perimeter there were loads of plane-spotters [more than usual], with their cameras and ladders. Why do people do this? I understand train-spotting, my brother did it, and though it never interested me, there is a certain romance about steam trains, and there are dozens of other numbers and trains to spot. But there are probably only about 8 planes flying in and out of Bristol every day, and where is the romance in those lumbering fuel-guzzling machines.)
4. Down Brockley Coombe
5. Up Goblin Coombe
6. Down Wrington Hill, a favourite that ends with a 17% down into a T-junction which I had forgotten about. Stopped in time though.
7. Winscombe Hill, a must if you want to get to your own house, which I did.
So, a great ride, reasonable speed considering I was just short of 100km, and did a fair amount of climbing. Andy Schlecck I am not, but in the words of the 2nd least-talented Beatle, "it's getting better all the time".
Three weeks to go......
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/44610924
Friday 13 August 2010
Enjoying Myself
Here's a question for you. What have Axl Rose, Marco Pantani and me all got in common, and which is the odd one out?
There was a moment this morning as I cycled to work when I realised yet again how fortunate I am to be able to do this. We may not have had a great summer, and I don't get to ride whenever I want to. But the weather today was just perfect. A very slight chill to the air, but hardly a breath of breeze. Sun peeking up over the horizon, and down below me, spread out in an easterly direction, panoramically framing the city of Bristol, were dozens of balloons-all rising from the Fiesta at Ashton Court. I got to experience that.
Now that we have moved into our new building at work, we have even better facilities for cyclists, state of the art changing rooms and lockers, racks etc. So the whole process of commuting has been made even easier, and even in the winter it will be great. Just colder, darker and wetter probably. Please remind me of this if I complain come December.
On the way in I elected to go up Wrington Hill, over past Felton, then down through Barrow Gurney and past the fiesta at Long Ashton. It's slightly shorter in miles, but seemed OK in terms of time, so I may stick to it until September. I was getting pretty tired of my usual route.
So hills were the order of the day. I have decided I can't get enough of them in the next two or three weeks, and the old adage of "they don't get easier, you just get faster" is in part true. I say part, because I was dawdling a lot today, it was such a lovely morning that I wanted it to go on forever. Even coming home, with a lovely tailwind and a few specks of drizzle, it was still good.
It was a slightly odd experience on the way home as I had to visit a podiatrist to be measured for some new orthotic insoles. My feet are wrecked, I have no arches to speak of, and am starting to get numb areas in my toes. So I took the plunge and let a slightly eccentric, but very nice, lady wrap plaster of paris round my feet in a clinic in Knowle. All on a promise of better skeletal balance or some such, and less pain.
What that did mean was that I got a bit lost coming home, trying to get out of Knowle West before someone stole my bike, and I was moving pretty fast then too. Eventually I found the base of Dundry Hill and it would have been rude not to climb it. Down to Winsford, up to its Manor and then after Wrington Hill again (down) I headed up past Rowberrow and Shipham, skirted Cheddar and back home up the Axbridge by-pass.
I have taken possession of a bright and shiny and supposedly cooler (temperature-wise) buff, extending my collection to four. Like Marco, I favour the pirate look, unlike Axl who tied his in a bandanna style. Unlike both of them I have not consumed vast quantities of drugs of one form or another. Still, I can't hold a high note or storm up Alpe d'Huez (yet), but who knows, there's still time.....
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/44372548
There was a moment this morning as I cycled to work when I realised yet again how fortunate I am to be able to do this. We may not have had a great summer, and I don't get to ride whenever I want to. But the weather today was just perfect. A very slight chill to the air, but hardly a breath of breeze. Sun peeking up over the horizon, and down below me, spread out in an easterly direction, panoramically framing the city of Bristol, were dozens of balloons-all rising from the Fiesta at Ashton Court. I got to experience that.
Now that we have moved into our new building at work, we have even better facilities for cyclists, state of the art changing rooms and lockers, racks etc. So the whole process of commuting has been made even easier, and even in the winter it will be great. Just colder, darker and wetter probably. Please remind me of this if I complain come December.
On the way in I elected to go up Wrington Hill, over past Felton, then down through Barrow Gurney and past the fiesta at Long Ashton. It's slightly shorter in miles, but seemed OK in terms of time, so I may stick to it until September. I was getting pretty tired of my usual route.
So hills were the order of the day. I have decided I can't get enough of them in the next two or three weeks, and the old adage of "they don't get easier, you just get faster" is in part true. I say part, because I was dawdling a lot today, it was such a lovely morning that I wanted it to go on forever. Even coming home, with a lovely tailwind and a few specks of drizzle, it was still good.
It was a slightly odd experience on the way home as I had to visit a podiatrist to be measured for some new orthotic insoles. My feet are wrecked, I have no arches to speak of, and am starting to get numb areas in my toes. So I took the plunge and let a slightly eccentric, but very nice, lady wrap plaster of paris round my feet in a clinic in Knowle. All on a promise of better skeletal balance or some such, and less pain.
What that did mean was that I got a bit lost coming home, trying to get out of Knowle West before someone stole my bike, and I was moving pretty fast then too. Eventually I found the base of Dundry Hill and it would have been rude not to climb it. Down to Winsford, up to its Manor and then after Wrington Hill again (down) I headed up past Rowberrow and Shipham, skirted Cheddar and back home up the Axbridge by-pass.
I have taken possession of a bright and shiny and supposedly cooler (temperature-wise) buff, extending my collection to four. Like Marco, I favour the pirate look, unlike Axl who tied his in a bandanna style. Unlike both of them I have not consumed vast quantities of drugs of one form or another. Still, I can't hold a high note or storm up Alpe d'Huez (yet), but who knows, there's still time.....
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/44372548
Sunday 8 August 2010
Easy over the Edge- Evans Ride It, Cotswolds
As sportives go, this was one of the easiest I have done, if not the easiest. But to paraphrase the idiots on MOTD, you have still got to ride the course. It was also great to hook up with five of the people I'm going to be riding with in September, on my charity ride down to Land's End. I don't know them well enough to ascribe sobriquet (does the plural have an "s"?) so I will call them N, S, S, V and R. N and one of the S are boyfriend and girlfriend, and N and the other S are clearly young and fit and allowed me to tag along for 25 miles or so till the road pitched upwards.
What tends to happen on these big charity events is that you end up riding with those about your speed. S and V decided to do the 60 mile ride today, while the rest of us entered for what proved to be just over 91 miles. S and N claimed to have finished only abut 5 minutes before me, but I don't believe them. They looked far too fast, and while N is the big, fast cyclist I have been dreaming of drafting, I really don't think I could keep up with him.
All of that said I wasn't too bad today, relative to my usual sportive performance. OK, only 4000 feet of climbing and light winds, but I rode at an overall average speed (moving) of bang on 17 mph, and completed the whole ride in 5 hours 34 mins (with stops). Don't feel too tired either, although the numbness in my fingers shows I need to adopt different riding positions for my hands.
It was a lovely day. Bright sunshine but not too hot, around the 20-degree mark, and as long as I kept moving I felt nice and cool. There were a couple of sharp climbs in the middle, and one long drag towards the end, up to the top of the Cotswolds escarpment at about 3-4% for around 12 miles, before plunging down to Wootton-under0Edge, a descent of about 650 feet in little more than a mile. Hairpins too, good practice eh?
I'm not very good at giving advice. The advice itself is generally sound, well thought-through and very helpful. It's my delivery that is usually poor. That and/or the timing. But here is some advice for anyone who regularly cycles and wears a helmet to do so. The day before a 90-mile ride, avoid walking, at speed, into the sawn off stump of a branch of a tree, with the impact on the line of your temple.
As injuries go, it's in the bottom category of minor, but combined with the need to put a close-fitting hard hat across the impact site, it's elevated to the very category of annoying. Oh, and stupid, yes I know, I worked that out pretty quickly.
Still it made me wear my new Kask helmet which I was planning to save, for I don't know what. The extra padding on it was most appreciated, and I have to say that it is a fantastic investment. Not that it was expensive, in the sale, of course.
So no more long rides before the Pyrenees, just a bit of commuting and ACG stuff, and the odd impromptu ride with Skip. I think I need to focus on doing as many hills as I can between now and then, and may commute via hills both ways. We'll see.
The Charlie stats are odd. To get the route, paste the first link. For the speed, climbing profile, cadence etc. paste the second. There are all sorts of wonderful stats in there if you are feeling bored or can't sleep. They should get me on an advert for Garmin.
http://connect.garmin.com/player/43666345
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/43666345
What tends to happen on these big charity events is that you end up riding with those about your speed. S and V decided to do the 60 mile ride today, while the rest of us entered for what proved to be just over 91 miles. S and N claimed to have finished only abut 5 minutes before me, but I don't believe them. They looked far too fast, and while N is the big, fast cyclist I have been dreaming of drafting, I really don't think I could keep up with him.
All of that said I wasn't too bad today, relative to my usual sportive performance. OK, only 4000 feet of climbing and light winds, but I rode at an overall average speed (moving) of bang on 17 mph, and completed the whole ride in 5 hours 34 mins (with stops). Don't feel too tired either, although the numbness in my fingers shows I need to adopt different riding positions for my hands.
It was a lovely day. Bright sunshine but not too hot, around the 20-degree mark, and as long as I kept moving I felt nice and cool. There were a couple of sharp climbs in the middle, and one long drag towards the end, up to the top of the Cotswolds escarpment at about 3-4% for around 12 miles, before plunging down to Wootton-under0Edge, a descent of about 650 feet in little more than a mile. Hairpins too, good practice eh?
I'm not very good at giving advice. The advice itself is generally sound, well thought-through and very helpful. It's my delivery that is usually poor. That and/or the timing. But here is some advice for anyone who regularly cycles and wears a helmet to do so. The day before a 90-mile ride, avoid walking, at speed, into the sawn off stump of a branch of a tree, with the impact on the line of your temple.
As injuries go, it's in the bottom category of minor, but combined with the need to put a close-fitting hard hat across the impact site, it's elevated to the very category of annoying. Oh, and stupid, yes I know, I worked that out pretty quickly.
Still it made me wear my new Kask helmet which I was planning to save, for I don't know what. The extra padding on it was most appreciated, and I have to say that it is a fantastic investment. Not that it was expensive, in the sale, of course.
So no more long rides before the Pyrenees, just a bit of commuting and ACG stuff, and the odd impromptu ride with Skip. I think I need to focus on doing as many hills as I can between now and then, and may commute via hills both ways. We'll see.
The Charlie stats are odd. To get the route, paste the first link. For the speed, climbing profile, cadence etc. paste the second. There are all sorts of wonderful stats in there if you are feeling bored or can't sleep. They should get me on an advert for Garmin.
http://connect.garmin.com/player/43666345
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/43666345
Friday 6 August 2010
New Stuff
As reported on these pages I have bought lots of stuff this week, and most of it has arrived. First there were some replacement gel gloves, the old ones being worn out. Then some summer cycling socks, that have that horrible srcatchy feeling against the skin, but if they keep my feet cool in the mountains I'll wear them. I have also bought a new, coolmax, UV-protective Buff (for the pirate-look, which is making a comeback), in my favourite cycling colour, to keep my shiney head free of sunburn and insect stings.
I had a long conversation with Bunny yesterday and we are both like kids looking forward to Christmas, and we talked through various options and plans. In the course of the conversation I did my usual rant about Italian kit (all style no function, that kind of thing). So of course I fully deserve all the ribbing I can take, and more, for the fact that I had ordered a new Italian helmet (by Kask) without realising it. For once, it does look and feel like the business though. And of course it is in red too.
I also can't let the week go by without mentioning our new offices. Absolutely fantastic they are too. Although very stylish, they are not opulent, everything is very minimalist. And the facilities for cyclists are even better than in our old place, and all logically laid out too. I have managed to cajole our security chap in to giving me one of the first lockers-I have number 2, which made me laugh as my cycling is sometimes compared to the same- and I am hoping to be one of the first people to cycle to work there next Friday.
So today was a commute, with a light tailwind and bags of energy on the way in, and a very strong south-westerly headwind on the way home, mixed with some hill-work. Pretty uneventful except I nearly got taken out again on Wrington Hill as i was descending. That's the second week running, I may have to avoid it, can't afford any injuries now. With the RP only 4 weeks away there would be no time to recover. Although Franck Schleck is riding the Vuelta apparently.
Overall average speed is pretty good, I have had a pretty busy week at work so I guess I should be pleased with the return leg too, it was a tough wind, honestly.
Stats here:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/43410603
Sunday sees me off to the Cotswolds to ride a sportive. I'm hoping to hook up with some of the people I'm doing the charity ride down to Land's End with in September. If you haven't sponsored me yet, PLEASE DO SO NOW! It's for the charity that supports Bristol's oncology centre, you can read about it on my justgiving page below:
http://www.justgiving.com/Guy-Buckland
I had a long conversation with Bunny yesterday and we are both like kids looking forward to Christmas, and we talked through various options and plans. In the course of the conversation I did my usual rant about Italian kit (all style no function, that kind of thing). So of course I fully deserve all the ribbing I can take, and more, for the fact that I had ordered a new Italian helmet (by Kask) without realising it. For once, it does look and feel like the business though. And of course it is in red too.
I also can't let the week go by without mentioning our new offices. Absolutely fantastic they are too. Although very stylish, they are not opulent, everything is very minimalist. And the facilities for cyclists are even better than in our old place, and all logically laid out too. I have managed to cajole our security chap in to giving me one of the first lockers-I have number 2, which made me laugh as my cycling is sometimes compared to the same- and I am hoping to be one of the first people to cycle to work there next Friday.
So today was a commute, with a light tailwind and bags of energy on the way in, and a very strong south-westerly headwind on the way home, mixed with some hill-work. Pretty uneventful except I nearly got taken out again on Wrington Hill as i was descending. That's the second week running, I may have to avoid it, can't afford any injuries now. With the RP only 4 weeks away there would be no time to recover. Although Franck Schleck is riding the Vuelta apparently.
Overall average speed is pretty good, I have had a pretty busy week at work so I guess I should be pleased with the return leg too, it was a tough wind, honestly.
Stats here:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/43410603
Sunday sees me off to the Cotswolds to ride a sportive. I'm hoping to hook up with some of the people I'm doing the charity ride down to Land's End with in September. If you haven't sponsored me yet, PLEASE DO SO NOW! It's for the charity that supports Bristol's oncology centre, you can read about it on my justgiving page below:
http://www.justgiving.com/Guy-Buckland
Monday 2 August 2010
Running on empty
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/42902105
What a treat a Monday commuting run. Now it's August and we are past the height of summer, so to be up and ready to go at around 6.15AM was slightly surprising. Especially given yesterday's hill work and late night. The daylight is now a bit later in coming, there is a dampness to the air and it won't be long before I'm rooting around for the long tights. Cycling tights. Just clarifying.
I had a bit of a clothes clear-out at the weekend. Got rid of loads of stuff I don't wear and freed up some space for my cycling kit to occupy. Mrs MMAM says it's the only fashion I'm bothered about which is certainly true. I am pleased to report I also donated a couple of old bib-shorts, winter longs and some mitts that I no longer wear to the charity shop. Make a very nice starter pack for someone converting to the road.
Speaking of conversions I think mine is pretty much complete judging by the events of today. For years and years I played football on a Monday night, six a side, lots of enthusiasm, not much talent. Much like my cycling. Plenty of goal-hanging though. I absolutely loved it. (As a side issue young junior MMAM won the Headmaster's prize for "Sporting Endeavour" at prize-giving in June. The Head, when giving his speech said "he'll never be the greatest at any sport, but he has a go at all of them with much gusto and joie de vivre". I was so proud.)
Earlier this year Mrs MMAM took a job in London so the football got put on ice. Now she is working at home on some Mondays and two weeks ago I did dust down (literally) the astro boots and banged a couple in from two yards. But today, I decided to get up with the lark, clip in and make like Cancellara. Only slower, obviously.
Not only that, but I also gave away a set of MTB tyres to a colleague at work, who is commuting on knobblies and wants to go a bit faster. I used them for the Coast-to-Coast back in 2008 and never tired (pun intended) of reminding everyone of how much lower my rolling resistance was. They all thought I was hilarious I'm sure (oops a bit of 1940s John Mills has just crept in, and no mistake), as they pedalled off into the distance.
So today's commute. I felt a bit sluggish as i said, but surprisingly I was quicker on the way in than I was on Friday, when I was as fresh as a daisy. Must have been the Monday commuters in cars, I'm sure there was a different vibe to the driving today, bit more urgent and impatient. I was starving when I got to work, spent the day eating, or so it seemed, but despite this I felt really light-headed on the way home as I struggled up the A38 into a stiff headwind, over the shoulder of the hill near the airport.
I stopped just outside Felton and ate a gel. The ones with caffeine in them. I hope they never make them a banned substance, it was like lighting the blue touch paper, stand well clear. Heading down the the hill towards Wrington I was about to see how fast you can go into a headwind when an oncoming bus reminded me that these lanes are quite narrow. Even so, I had got the average speed up to a respectable level by the time I got home.
After I finish this I'm going online to order a few bits and bobs to break in before I go to France, gloves, socks, that sort of thing. Maybe a new helmet as the lining on mine is falling to pieces and the straps are giving me a rash on the neck. Got to be done.
One final thought, if you haven't already, please can you sponsor me-I'm cycling down to Land's End over three days at the end of September, for a Bristol Hospital charity. It will almost certainly be three days of westerly gales and misery, make it worthwhile by parting with your cash. Please.
Charlie stats at the top.
What a treat a Monday commuting run. Now it's August and we are past the height of summer, so to be up and ready to go at around 6.15AM was slightly surprising. Especially given yesterday's hill work and late night. The daylight is now a bit later in coming, there is a dampness to the air and it won't be long before I'm rooting around for the long tights. Cycling tights. Just clarifying.
I had a bit of a clothes clear-out at the weekend. Got rid of loads of stuff I don't wear and freed up some space for my cycling kit to occupy. Mrs MMAM says it's the only fashion I'm bothered about which is certainly true. I am pleased to report I also donated a couple of old bib-shorts, winter longs and some mitts that I no longer wear to the charity shop. Make a very nice starter pack for someone converting to the road.
Speaking of conversions I think mine is pretty much complete judging by the events of today. For years and years I played football on a Monday night, six a side, lots of enthusiasm, not much talent. Much like my cycling. Plenty of goal-hanging though. I absolutely loved it. (As a side issue young junior MMAM won the Headmaster's prize for "Sporting Endeavour" at prize-giving in June. The Head, when giving his speech said "he'll never be the greatest at any sport, but he has a go at all of them with much gusto and joie de vivre". I was so proud.)
Earlier this year Mrs MMAM took a job in London so the football got put on ice. Now she is working at home on some Mondays and two weeks ago I did dust down (literally) the astro boots and banged a couple in from two yards. But today, I decided to get up with the lark, clip in and make like Cancellara. Only slower, obviously.
Not only that, but I also gave away a set of MTB tyres to a colleague at work, who is commuting on knobblies and wants to go a bit faster. I used them for the Coast-to-Coast back in 2008 and never tired (pun intended) of reminding everyone of how much lower my rolling resistance was. They all thought I was hilarious I'm sure (oops a bit of 1940s John Mills has just crept in, and no mistake), as they pedalled off into the distance.
So today's commute. I felt a bit sluggish as i said, but surprisingly I was quicker on the way in than I was on Friday, when I was as fresh as a daisy. Must have been the Monday commuters in cars, I'm sure there was a different vibe to the driving today, bit more urgent and impatient. I was starving when I got to work, spent the day eating, or so it seemed, but despite this I felt really light-headed on the way home as I struggled up the A38 into a stiff headwind, over the shoulder of the hill near the airport.
I stopped just outside Felton and ate a gel. The ones with caffeine in them. I hope they never make them a banned substance, it was like lighting the blue touch paper, stand well clear. Heading down the the hill towards Wrington I was about to see how fast you can go into a headwind when an oncoming bus reminded me that these lanes are quite narrow. Even so, I had got the average speed up to a respectable level by the time I got home.
After I finish this I'm going online to order a few bits and bobs to break in before I go to France, gloves, socks, that sort of thing. Maybe a new helmet as the lining on mine is falling to pieces and the straps are giving me a rash on the neck. Got to be done.
One final thought, if you haven't already, please can you sponsor me-I'm cycling down to Land's End over three days at the end of September, for a Bristol Hospital charity. It will almost certainly be three days of westerly gales and misery, make it worthwhile by parting with your cash. Please.
Charlie stats at the top.
Sunday 1 August 2010
Sunday Driver
Here is a song what I wrote:
"The hills are alive with the sounds of cyclists
With slopes they have climbed for a thousand years
The hills fill my heart with the swiftest gear change
My bike wants to stop as my eyes fill with tears"
I think you get the idea. Music never was my strong point, but for some strange reason Julie Andrews had invaded my head today, as I seemed to spend a lot of time going uphill. So I adapted the lyrics a bit, let me know if you want to hear the rest.
The plan. Yes, the plan. Today was supposed to be about Endurance. I planned to cycle in a big loop down to the Quantocks (missus) and come back via Bridgwater and Mark. A few lumpy bits with about 2.5K feet of climbing, and 80 miles of riding. Get up early, (you can already see the flaw, can't you?), leave at 7AM, be back by early afternoon.
For reasons I won't go into, the windows in our bedroom were open last night, and around 3AM I was briefly stirred from my slumbers by the noise of torrential rain. I was soon asleep again but it obviously disturbed my psyche, because when the alarm woke me at around 6AM, I was convinced it was a cold, wet and damp day outside. It was a bit cloudy, and the ground was damp, but I think it was the lure of more sleep that made me hit the snooze button.
By the time i was awake it was 8AM, by the time I was fed it was 8.30AM, and by the time I was dressed in my kit it was about 9.15AM. The plan would need to change, and I reasoned that I would be doing a long ride next Sunday when I'm off to the Cotswolds for an "Evans Ride-it" event. I can do long distance, I don't need to spend hours cycling around the levels, in a stiff westerly breeze on my own, just to get to some hills I've not cycled up before.
So I decided to cycle to Wells, and then do as many ascents and descents of the Mendips as I could in the time left to me. Which was about 3 hours by now. It would also have the benefit of being able to cycle with a tailwind on the flat, and get some climbing practice, for the Pyrenees are only 5 weeks away. Skip is en vaccances en France as I type, and set me a text to say how great the cycling is over there. For sure. Mixing my idiomatic use of English a bit, but it's all continental isn't it?
Not so in Angleterre. What is it about Sundays in England? Especially after about 11AM. It's as if everyone rushes out to do stuff they have been avoiding all weekend, and are impatient to get it done. Too many cars today seemed intent on passing me in dangerous places at dangerous speeds at dangerous distances. In the end i resorted to cycling in the middle of the lane when I was descending. What they don't seem to realise is that I'm doing 35-40mph, and if they pass me with their trailer full of rubbish they create a back draft that sends me all over the place.
The other thing that got my goat today was the "it's a cyclist I can see in the mirror so I can pull out with impunity". No. You. Can't. I'm doing 15-20mph on the flat and I'll make a mess of your front wing.
So please, just wait, be patient and wait till it's safe. Rant over.
There were lots of nice things today though. Before the mid-morning rush, it was really very quiet and the lanes were not too hot. The weather brightened up, but not too much, and if you discounted the wind, or got it behind you, it was perfect cycling weather. I bombed over to Wells, and then cycled up through the Horringtons, then wiggled across to the TV mast on top of the hill over Wells. You can even cycle right up to its base via a tarmac path (17% though, so be brave!), which I did because you can. A buzzard swooped down over me as I was going up the hill, and I could feel the draft from its wings.
The descent down the main road to Wells was a blast, and even the climb back up the Old Bristol Road, didn't seem to bad today, a lot better than last time I did it. As I was climbing, a white butterfly flew through the spokes of my front wheel and out the other side. How did it do that?
Once at the top of the hill I followed the undulating road over to the top of Burrington Coombe and hit 43.5mph on the descent. From there it was across to Churchill, back up to Shipham via Rowberrow (where do you live RPM? I keep wondering every time I go up that road), before whizzing down Shipham hill and home again.
Just over 44 miles, but with much more climbing than I would have done had i stuck to the original plan. It was dry too and I'm re-energised by the whole ride, and looking forward to a treat-commuting by bike on a Monday. My new bike is coming soon too, but the way I was riding today I don't know if it will make me any faster, and I'm starting to really love cycling up hills. Is it a disease?
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/42675534
"The hills are alive with the sounds of cyclists
With slopes they have climbed for a thousand years
The hills fill my heart with the swiftest gear change
My bike wants to stop as my eyes fill with tears"
I think you get the idea. Music never was my strong point, but for some strange reason Julie Andrews had invaded my head today, as I seemed to spend a lot of time going uphill. So I adapted the lyrics a bit, let me know if you want to hear the rest.
The plan. Yes, the plan. Today was supposed to be about Endurance. I planned to cycle in a big loop down to the Quantocks (missus) and come back via Bridgwater and Mark. A few lumpy bits with about 2.5K feet of climbing, and 80 miles of riding. Get up early, (you can already see the flaw, can't you?), leave at 7AM, be back by early afternoon.
For reasons I won't go into, the windows in our bedroom were open last night, and around 3AM I was briefly stirred from my slumbers by the noise of torrential rain. I was soon asleep again but it obviously disturbed my psyche, because when the alarm woke me at around 6AM, I was convinced it was a cold, wet and damp day outside. It was a bit cloudy, and the ground was damp, but I think it was the lure of more sleep that made me hit the snooze button.
By the time i was awake it was 8AM, by the time I was fed it was 8.30AM, and by the time I was dressed in my kit it was about 9.15AM. The plan would need to change, and I reasoned that I would be doing a long ride next Sunday when I'm off to the Cotswolds for an "Evans Ride-it" event. I can do long distance, I don't need to spend hours cycling around the levels, in a stiff westerly breeze on my own, just to get to some hills I've not cycled up before.
So I decided to cycle to Wells, and then do as many ascents and descents of the Mendips as I could in the time left to me. Which was about 3 hours by now. It would also have the benefit of being able to cycle with a tailwind on the flat, and get some climbing practice, for the Pyrenees are only 5 weeks away. Skip is en vaccances en France as I type, and set me a text to say how great the cycling is over there. For sure. Mixing my idiomatic use of English a bit, but it's all continental isn't it?
Not so in Angleterre. What is it about Sundays in England? Especially after about 11AM. It's as if everyone rushes out to do stuff they have been avoiding all weekend, and are impatient to get it done. Too many cars today seemed intent on passing me in dangerous places at dangerous speeds at dangerous distances. In the end i resorted to cycling in the middle of the lane when I was descending. What they don't seem to realise is that I'm doing 35-40mph, and if they pass me with their trailer full of rubbish they create a back draft that sends me all over the place.
The other thing that got my goat today was the "it's a cyclist I can see in the mirror so I can pull out with impunity". No. You. Can't. I'm doing 15-20mph on the flat and I'll make a mess of your front wing.
So please, just wait, be patient and wait till it's safe. Rant over.
There were lots of nice things today though. Before the mid-morning rush, it was really very quiet and the lanes were not too hot. The weather brightened up, but not too much, and if you discounted the wind, or got it behind you, it was perfect cycling weather. I bombed over to Wells, and then cycled up through the Horringtons, then wiggled across to the TV mast on top of the hill over Wells. You can even cycle right up to its base via a tarmac path (17% though, so be brave!), which I did because you can. A buzzard swooped down over me as I was going up the hill, and I could feel the draft from its wings.
The descent down the main road to Wells was a blast, and even the climb back up the Old Bristol Road, didn't seem to bad today, a lot better than last time I did it. As I was climbing, a white butterfly flew through the spokes of my front wheel and out the other side. How did it do that?
Once at the top of the hill I followed the undulating road over to the top of Burrington Coombe and hit 43.5mph on the descent. From there it was across to Churchill, back up to Shipham via Rowberrow (where do you live RPM? I keep wondering every time I go up that road), before whizzing down Shipham hill and home again.
Just over 44 miles, but with much more climbing than I would have done had i stuck to the original plan. It was dry too and I'm re-energised by the whole ride, and looking forward to a treat-commuting by bike on a Monday. My new bike is coming soon too, but the way I was riding today I don't know if it will make me any faster, and I'm starting to really love cycling up hills. Is it a disease?
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/42675534
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