Friday 30 September 2011

Thursday 29 September, Flat & Easy

Flat and easy was the order of the day for my last ride before the Epic, a railway bridge was about the steepest thing I climbed whilst on a gentle spin around the Sutton Bonnington, and East & West Leake areas.  It's a good area for a recovery ride/gentle spin as there are lots of small loops that can be strung together easily, meaning you can always bail out or extend the ride depending on how you feel.

It doesn't get much better than this ride weather wise, 28c, Sunny and a cooling breeze, perfect!

Distance = 60.6 km
Time = 2 hrs 11 mins
Ave Speed = 27.8 kph
Top Speed = 56.5 kph
Ascent = N/A

2011
Road Bike = 3180 km
Single Speed = 102.2 km
Fixed = 26 km
Indoor = 71.5 km
Total = 3379.7 km

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Local Bike Shops

A subject that often arises is supporting your local bike shop, now I'm as guilty as anyone else of using the online stores for buying bike bits on the cheap, and I probably will do in the future too if the right deal presents itself.

But what you don't get from your online dealer is the kind of service I have recently received from my local bike shop TS Bikes.  In the last two weeks I have had the misfortune to need to visit my LBS, once to sort a rather buckled wheel due to a spoke gone, this was repaired on the spot and even though I supplied the spoke cutting his profits in the job I still got 25% off the job (he does discount Beeston CC members 10% standard).  £8 to replace a spoke and true the wheel all within 20 mins, you can't beat that service.

Today I needed to visit again, a ticking noise from the BB area, now given my distinct lack of knowledge of all things mechanical I was expecting a new BB to be required, I had checked for play on the cranks etc but found nothing.  A quick glance and a good tighten of the crank bolts and the ticking was gone, all for free!  Can you get this service from an online cycle dealer??? 

Yes I know they cant be expected to repair the bike when it goes wrong, but if we buy all of our stuff from them then our LBS's are in real danger of going out of business, look how Tesco are killing our village shops. 

And without our LBS we won't get these good deals and free tweaks and advice, my return for a free solution to my ticking was to buy some nutrition powder which I would have bought from Tesco for £1 cheaper, but that pound is far better spent at the bike shop for those invaluable nuggets of advice you get when your in there chatting to them.  So whilst I may not buy everything from my LBS I will make an effort to keep him in business with regular trips.  Next time your LBS does you a favour, return it and buy something from him, invest what he has just saved you ;)

Monday 26 September 2011

Monday 26 September, Burton Blast

Took a flatter ride today around Burton, out into the wind back home with it giving me a little push, old favoured training roads around Melbourne, Repton, Hilton, Tutbury and Burton.  Gave it some gas today, 27+kph ave speed, and a new PB over 100km by over 4 minutes, all good :)

Bike has developed a very annoying 'ticking' from the bottom bracket area though, lathered it in WD40 overnight, will clean and re grease tomorrow and hope for the best, haven't the time for a new BB before the epic....



Distance = 102.5 km
Time = 3 hrs 45 mins
Ave Speed = 27.3 kph
Top Speed = 66.5 kph
Ascent = 676m (6.6 m/km)

2011
Road Bike = 3119.4 km
Single Speed = 102.2 km
Fixed = 26 km
Indoor = 71.5 km
Total = 3324.1 km

Chasing Rainbows

Mark Cavendish, top of the world
Great Britain woke up today with a new men's senior world road race champion for the first time since 1965 and for only the second time in history.  This victory has been 3 years in the making for Cav and team GB and man did team GB deliver for Cav, a victory not just for Mark but for the whole team.  I'm proud as punch for British Cycling!

I'm sure Cav will wear the rainbow jersey with pride next year and do it justice, here's to an even better 2012 for the Manx Missile.  But first of course there is the tour of Lombardy, maybe a bit too much for a pure sprinter, but still a good opportunity to show the world his new jersey and a fitting goodbye to team HTC Highroad.

Sunday 25 September 2011

Makes me smile every time I ride past

Saturday 24 September, More Hills

Sunrise over Sandiacre
Up and out early on a bright and chilly morning for the last hilly ride before the epic next Sunday, and within ten minutes I was treated to a sunrise at the top of the first hill Stanton Road, rising from Sandiacre.

From there it was familiar hilly ride roads, No Mans Lane, through Dale Abbey and West Hallam to Cloves Lane then onto Spanker Lane via Holbrook and Heage.  Holly Lane next up, and today I felt as though I had my best climb of Holly Lane, I definitely feel as though my climbing is becoming better.  On the way up Holly I climbed into slightly foggy conditions which stayed with me until Wirksworth, reminding me that it was still a chilly morning.

From Holly a little short tester up Bent Lane and then down into Wirksworth, a lovely little Peak town which I keep meaning to pay a visit with Mrs H.  The climb out of Wirksworth up West End is the last real tester on this route (bar Drum).  Shortly after this it's along the banks of Carsington Water, time for a little speed to build up as the roads become flatter as I headed towards Hullands Ward.  There's a lovely pub here with a B&B called The Black Horse where Mrs H and I spent a romantic night a few years back, another place I keep meaning to take her.  The speed is really getting up now and the rouleur in me is pressing on toward Kedleston and then Duffield.  Now back on familiar 'local' roads its Eaton Bank and Drum Hill before the usual Spondon, Borrowash, Risley run home.

A very nice ride on a lovely autumnal morning, well worth getting up early for.  With the epic looming  I'll have a couple of steady flat rides this week to keep the legs turning but nothing requiring much effort.





Distance = 94.2 km
Time = 4 hrs 5 mins
Ave Speed = 23 kph
Top Speed = 67.7 kph
Hillometer =16.3 m/km

2011
Road Bike = 3016.9 km
Single Speed = 102.2 km
Fixed = 26 km
Indoor = 71.5 km
Total = 3216.6 km

Friday 23 September 2011

UCI World Road Race Champs

"you like my stripes eh?"
Cav eyeing up the stripes of world champion Thor Hushovd at the Tour de France this year, this year is supposed to be Britains best chance since the last 'best chance' at winning the rainbow stripes of world road race champion.  Can Cav pull it off this Sunday afternoon?  We hope so, but I can't help feeling that a certain Mr Gilbert might have something to say about it, he has dominated this season and what better way to finish it off?  Also look out for Sagan, might be a bit too long for him this race but worth an each way bet I reckon, also good for an each way bet are Fabian Cancellara and Matt Goss (if you loose your life savings on these don't come back to me, it's entirely at your own risk, on the other hand if you win a few quid I'll take a drink off you)

Tom Simpson, our only senior world road race champion to date

Thursday 22 September 2011

Thursday 22 September - Hilly TT

For the first time this year I went for it on the 30 mile hilly TT, well about 90% effort anyway, I know where I could have put a bit more in but opted to take a quick breather.  Almost 4 minutes quicker than two weeks ago but still 3.5 minutes outside of my PB, at time of 1:54:00, not bad.  It was also the first time this year I've felt that surge as I'm climbing a hill, you know, the one where it almost feels as though someone's pushing you.  A breezy day day for it, but it was good to feel that bit of zing for the first time in a while, the rouleur in me loved it out there today :)

Distance = 48.3 km
Time = 1 hr 54 mins
Ave Speed = 25.2 kph
Top Speed = 62.7 kph
Hillometer = 7.4

2011
Road Bike = 2922.7 km
Single Speed = 102.2 km
Fixed = 26 km
Indoor = 71.5 km
Total = 3122.4 km

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Legends - Fausto Coppi

Angelo Fausto Coppi, (15 September 1919, Castellania, Province of Alessandria – 2 January 1960, Tortona, Province of Alessandria), was the dominant international cyclist of the years each side of the Second World War. His successes earned him the title Il Campionissimo, or champion of champions. He was an all-round racing cyclist: he excelled in both climbing and time trialing, and was also a great sprinter. He won the Giro d'Italia five times (1940, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953), the Tour de France twice (1949 and 1952), and the World Championship in 1953. Other notable results include winning the Giro di Lombardia five times, the Milan – San Remo three times, as well as wins at Paris–Roubaix and La Flèche Wallonne and setting the hour record (45.798 km) in 1942. 

Source - wikipedia

Loving my retro cycling stuff at the minute, reading books, reading the net, these boys really put themselves through the mill, racing hard all year, non of this 'toning and training' for certain events, much respect to these past legends.  Coppi's humble upbringing on the farm and his obvious desire to succeed can not fail to inspire.

Monday 19 September 2011

Sunday 18 September, Mamma's Mountain Views

Audax time again, and this time some Welsh hills, and boy(o) do they know how to do hills, Old Horseshoe Pass was a best, but more of that later...

GPS Stats
I arrived at the start in plenty of time, and next time I do so remind to switch my GPS on as it took 15 mins to get a fix, by which time I was 2k's from the start!  It was a bright start but chilly so of I went with leg and arm warmers fitted.  The roads however were wet and quite dirty.  About 15 of us formed a nice group which lasted all the way to the first control which came after 44 mostly flat k's.  Flat been the operative word as just before said stop I picked a bloody great hawthorn up in my front tyre.  So after a quick flapjack and tube change I headed away from Chirk, past the castles rather elaborate gates and into the hills.

Short and steep was the order at first gradually getting longer as I rode further into Wales and eventually descended into Llangollen, then there was a big kick up to Old Horse Shoe Pass which was an even huger kick up, one like which I have not encountered before, it was evil, long and evil.  The stop at the Penderosa Cafe at the top was most welcome.

From there it was a good steady ride bar one short steep climb after the last control point, I had to bail out on this one as a car was blocking the road.

After that last climb at was a nice wind assisted 30k's back to base, most of which the old diesel engine opened up and I was away.

Another lovely ride from the Audax folk, 130km around Wrexham and the surrounding mountains.  And a good taste of what the Welsh mountains have to offer in two weeks time.




Distance = 130 km
Time = 6 hrs 3 mins
Ave Speed = 21.4 kph
Top Speed = 62.8 kph
Hillometer = 20.4
Weather = Sunny Spells, Showers 12c

2011
Road Bike = 2874.4 km
Single Speed = 102.2 km
Fixed = 26 km
Indoor = 71.5 km
Total = 3074.1 km

Thursday 15 September 2011

Thursday 16 September

The sun was out so I took advantage and grabbed a couple of hours on the bike, nothing strenuous, a flat 58k around two of the local TT circuits in West Leake and Kingston.  Kept a good tempo going and felt fresh as a daisy when I got home.  Next up a 130k hilly Audax on Sunday.

Distance = 58.7 km
Time = 2 hrs 4 mins
Ave Speed = 28.2 kph
Top Speed = 46.1 kph
Hillometer = N/A
Max H/R = N/A
Ave H/R = N/A
Weather = Sunny Spells 16c

2011
Road Bike = 2744.4 km
Single Speed = 102.2 km
Fixed = 26 km
Indoor = 71.5 km
Total = 2944.1 km

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Tuesday 13 September - Tour of Britain Stage 3

A couple of years ago I drove to Stoke for the departure of the riders and then drove up to Gun Hill to see them reach the top, this fuelled my desire to actually ride out to the stage. Last year as a group with some club mates we attempted to do so but underestimated the ability of the group and the time required, thus missing the riders by about half an hour.

This year I was determined to make it, I opened it up to clubmates again, but with it being on a weekday this year no one was up for it, either that or they didn't want to ride with me! Obviously this was going to be a hilly ride as the first climb for the pro's which was my destination was in the Peak District the other side of Ashbourne than I. I set out on familiar roads, up through Stanton and West Hallam and on to Cloves Hill yet again, then the route turned towards Holbrook, another good climb through there. This should have been followed by a quick descent into Duffield was anything but, a viscous headwind meant me peddling down the hill! Once through Duffield a tough climb into a square on headwind was a killer, it was steady up hill all the way to Ashbourne from here, into the wind, this was tough.

Kom - Ramshorn

I was starting to feel the efforts against this wind by the time I rode through Ashbourne town centre and was looking forward to reaching my goal, I was also a little concerned that I was maybe to miss the peloton again, surely if I was slower because of the wind so they would be.... I hoped.

It was a lumpy ride from Ashbourne to the bottom of Ramshorn without any real hills but plenty to keep the pain up.  Ramshorn was the first climb of the day for the tour, a cat 2 climb none the less.  I hit the bottom of the climb and to my surprise it took me up at a very favourable rate, this isn't as bad as I was expecting.  Then things levelled out, what's all the fuss about I'm asking myself.  The 'fuss' is that this goes on and on and on, a little ramp, levels out, bigger ramp, levels off, bigger ramp, you get the picture.  It not the severity of the climb, it's the length of it!

About half way up I pass the most ridiculous of things considering a professional bike race is about to pass, a tractor cutting the hawthorn hedgerow by the road side, great planning by the local authorities!

Almost missed the leaders

At that point I should add I didn't know I was half way and it kept heading towards the sky, by now the crowds are getting bigger, and old fella tips his hat "well done lad, not far to go" some one shouts "go Beeston" I'm genuinely getting encouragement from the crowds.  The road starts pointing downwards, I have a horrible feeling I'll pay for this, and yes I did, one last dig upwards and finally I can see the banner at the top of the hill.  By now the ride marshalls and police bikes are passing, the riders are near by.

A few minutes to catch my breath and a quick snack and the riders are upon us.  Three breakaway riders who by the time my phone is out and camera switched on I just manage to catch two of them.  Three minutes later the peloton approach and pass in a blur.

As quick as I've caught my breath it's all over, time to head home, first of all enjoying the descent I had just climbed.

I love descending at speed, my weight and size means it's one thing I am good at on a bike, a natural build for gravity assisted speed.  Not only was the ride home more down than up it was also down wind.  That wind that had hampered my ride out would now give me a friendly push home.

The peloton approach
The ride home was to the south of Ashbourne and back towards Keddleston and Duffield, back onto familiar hill training roads, Eaton Bank and Drum Hill.  The last few k's were fantastic, dead flat road and the strong wind square on my back, Borrowash to Toton, ave speed 40kph! Brilliant end to a brilliant ride and a brilliant ride.




Distance = 120.5 km
Time = 5 hr 11 mins
Ave Speed = 23.3 kph
Top Speed = 66.6 kph
Hillometer = 14.7 m/km
Max H/R = N/A
Ave H/R = N/A
Weather = Sunny Spells 18c

2011
Road Bike = 2685.7 km
Single Speed = 102.2 km
Fixed = 26 km
Indoor = 71.5 km
Total km = 2885.4 km

Monday 12 September 2011

Saturday 10 September - Hilly, Bulls, wheelies and spins

Carrying on the hilly theme of my riding I headed out toward the Peak and Holly Lane on a hilly ride.  Headed to No Mans Lane first of all, a local climb which always warms the legs up only 2 miles from home, after the steady incline through Stanton By Dale and decline of Cat and Fiddle lane (not THE Cat and Fiddle) it was onwards to one of Beeston CC's favourite locals, Cloves Hill, short but pretty steep.  A couple of weeks ago you may recall I came across two cows at the top of this hill, well Saturday I came across about 10 young bulls in the same place.  These young fella's didn't look too impressed as I rounded the corner headed right towards them.  I gingerly picked a course through the bulls only to spook one as I rounded the back of him, well his legs went out nearly clipping me but also spooking the rest of the herd, it was time for me to leave and quick.  I got out unscathed but lets just say my heart was pounding as I rolled down the other side on Sandy Lane.

No incidents onwards towards Heage and then the comically named Spanker Lane, Spanker climb despatched Holly Lane was next, for those who do not know Holly, she's a bitch!  Very steep first section of approx 25-30% the a relentless 10-15% drag.  The only way for me to stop pulling the involuntary wheelies is to get out of the saddle, so I did just that.  A greasy road surface under trees now meant that when out of the saddle the back wheel was spinning as I put the (limited) power down on the pedals, so I'm now wrestling the front and rear of the bike to get up the steepest part of Holly Lane, she didn't beat me though.

Across the top of the hills toward Shottle it was a bit drizzly but not enough to crack the waterproof jacket out, and once the descending began the air soon dried up, a quick section to Duffield is always a pleasure.  The little kick up onto Eaton Bank always catches me breathless before another BCC favourite Drum Hill.  Drum is another good climb which kicks up a little about half way as you pass under the A38, it seems to be easier for me this year though thankfully.  Once Drum was dealt with it was a simple ride home through Spondon, Borrowash, Risley and Long Eaton.

Really enjoyed this hilly run on what was a very warm autumn morning, too warm for the short zipped jersey I chose to wear....


 Distance = 76.6 km
Time = 3 hr 25 mins
Ave Speed = 22.4 kph
Top Speed = 57.8 kph
Hillometer = 15.3 m/km
Max H/R = N/A
Ave H/R = N/A
Weather = Sunny Spells 20c

2011
Road Bike = 2565.2 km
Single Speed = 102.2 km
Fixed = 26 km
Indoor = 71.5 km
Total km = 2764.9 km

Thursday 8 September 2011

Thursday 8th September

Rode the 30 mile hilly route today, gave it some beans today and given the breezy conditions I'm quite pleased to have got round in under 2 hours (1:57:52). Still taking rides on the easier side of the scale and just getting miles and hills in before the Epic.

Route

Distance = 48.3 km
Time = 1 hr 58 mins
Ave Speed = 24.4 kph
Top Speed = 60 kph
Hillometer = 7.4 m/km
Max H/R = N/A
Ave H/R = N/A
Weather = Overcast, Sunny Spells 16c

2011 Road Bike = 2488.6 km
Single Speed = 102.2 km
Fixed = 26 km
Indoor = 71.5 km
Total km = 2688.3 km

Sunday 4 September 2011

Camelia and Canal Bridges Audax

Rode this 100k Audax with Paul, a fellow Beeston CC member.  Did this one last year with Dad and enjoyed it just as much this year, quite a flat route from Moira nr Asby de la Zouch heading into Warwickshire past Tamworth, continuing towards Sutton Coldfield before turning back towards Atherstone and on to Hinckley, turning back to Twycross and then back onto Moira for coffee, sandwiches and cake at the end.  As the name would suggest it was mainly a flat route, but away from the canals it does throw a few hills at you.  We started out in the rain at 09:30 after a cup of tea, after about an hour though things cleared up and the rain jacket came off.  The sun came out and dried things up before the cloud returned but it stayed dry.  We missed the first cafe stop and just got our cards stamped heading for the 2nd cafe stop and some flapjack and coke.

Last year I struggled on this route after time off the bike, this year I felt much better, strong all the way round in fact.

Not hilly enough to be classed as real Epic training, today was really about getting some miles in, hills come next weekend, followed by another Audax with grimpuer (climbing) points in a fortnights time.




Distance = 105.5 km
Time = 4 hrs 20 mins
Ave Speed = 24.3 kph
Top Speed = 61.6 kph
Hillometer = 7.9 m/km
Max H/R = N/A
Ave H/R = N/A
Weather = Overcast, Showers, Sunny Spells 16c

2011
Road Bike = 2440.3 km
Single Speed = 102.2 km
Fixed = 26 km
Indoor = 71.5  km
Total km = 2640 km

Thursday 1 September 2011

Thursday 1 September

Took the Hoby route today, lovely little village near Melton Mowbray, wanted some miles in the legs but easy ones in light of Sundays 100k Audax ride.  Didn't really push it at all today apart from up a few short hills, when it felt tough I slowed down, don't want to fade out on Sunday!

Still got a lot to do for the epic, need some base fitness and also some hill practice but only four weeks to get it done!  3 big hilly ones each week and then a gentle week with a couple of short rides tapering to the 2nd October.



Distance = 92.6 km
Time = 3 hrs 32 mins
Ave Speed = 26.2 kph
Top Speed = 70.9 kph
Hillometer = 6.4 m/km
Max H/R = 195
Ave H/R = 163
Weather = Sunny, 19c

2011
Road Bike = 2334.8 km
Single Speed = 102.2 km
Fixed = 26 km
Indoor = 71.5  km
Total km = 2534.5 km