The weekends are quite busy this year. This past weekend for example:
Friday I had an exam that was a real stinker. I managed to write for the whole three hours but it was a load of garbage. I recognised the concepts required to answer the questions but didn't manage to get the answers down on paper very coherently or in a structured manner. It was so bad that I came out of the exam straight to the pub on my own as I needed a drink and some time to think.
My son had had exams the previous Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday at school but he didn't have the option of going to the pub. Hopefully his exams went better than mine.
Saturday morning I had to get the Christmas decorations out of the loft then my son and I had football, a cup match. The weather held off and we won 5-0 (I say "we" because I am team assistant manager and I had to referee the second half). Hopefully that puts us through to the next round (initial stages of the cup are on league basis, only the latter stages are knockout). Of course we cycled there and back (two miles each way) on the recently acquired tandem.
Saturday PM was my usual weekly trip to the supermarket. Our weekly shop seems to be increasing dramatically in price all the time despite the fact we are being told there is deflation in the UK. I then had to get the ladder out to put up the external Christmas lights and clear out the guttering which has been overflowing for a few weeks and which my wife was complaining was wakiung her in the night. Our house is two storey and I was quite nervous up the ladder as two friends have fallen off ladders in the last month, one died leaving a wife and two daughters and the other was in hospital for a few days with a broken arm and concussion.
My son and my wife put up the decorations in the house including the tree (come December 1st my son insists we have the tree up)
Putting up decorations only serves to remind me to get started on the Christmas cards. Those of you who are used to getting Christmas cards from me early December are probably wondering where the cards are this year, well, time, work, exams, etc have defeated me so far but the writing of cards is on my to-do list. Please bear with me.
As for buying Christmas presents, there a couple of weeks yet before I have to start that. The longer you wait the less choice there is in the stores and so the easier it is to buy. That's my logic anyway. Actually the last couple of years my daughter has come out with me but I don't think that is going to happen this year.
I was supposed to go cycling with my mate Big G on Sunday but it was raining first thing so I took my son to the cinema with his cousin to see "Nativity" followed by a trip to Burger King. It is a good film. Made by the guys from "The Office" and very amusing and watchable.
After I got home I got permission from my wife and went out cycling on my own at 3:00 PM. I only went a total mileage of 27 miles but as I got to the furthest point, Box Hill, it got dark and it poured with rain. The tea shop was just shutting so I tempted fate and didn't stop. I didn't have any lights and it was a bit dangerous especially on the busy A217 dual carriageway but even though I was soaking and nervous of the traffic in the dark I was enjoying my first ride for a month. Got home for a quick shower then off to the evening service at the local church.
I couldn't have fitted anything else in if I had tried.
Tuesday 8 December 2009
November 2009
The formation and registration of the Guildford Peloton has been moving forward. Perhaps not at a pace which we would have liked, but it has been progressing. The thing that has moved on most is the website. It is still being hosted on our member developers personal site as we have still to register the official site but please do take a look and give us feedback.
http://www.zarpix.com/GP/index.htm .
We are still awaiting the final designs of the shirts, the registration of the site and registration with British Cycling but those will come.
News from afar. The Guildford Pelotoners Australian associate has emailed me today to announce that despite being over the half century in age he has just won a Category D race. His wife believes that his success should not be broadcast as he was racing against kids (teenagers and girls) but he maintains there was a good cross section in the race with a number of veterans, some older than him. He is over the moon as he says "this is the only time my his life I have won anything" and to crown it he won a AUD $30.00 prize. You can see his picture and winning margin here
http://www.randwickbotanycc.com/Results%202009/5%20Dec%202009/results_5_Dec_2009.htm
In the West Sutton Little League (WSLL) (football) this season my son got selected for the "Hunters". At the first match the team manager asked the parents for a volunteer to be his assistant manager. As usual muggins here was duly elected. When I accepted I assumed (wrongly) that the assistant manager just organised on the weeks the manager can't make it. No sooner had I accepted the post than I was informed that I was now on the executive committee and needed to attend the executive meetings, and that I had to go through a CRB (Criminal Records Board check or as it is commonly known "Peado" check). Fortunately I came out clear on that as I did when the Scouts Association appointed me on to the local group executive committee.
The Tandem has come in handy for the football, the pitches being two miles from home with a lack of parking. My son and I have been cycling up and back on the tandem. I'm on the front, he is the stoker. There is a constant barrage of noise coming from behind me as we cycle. Fortunately I can't hear a word of it and just continue oblivious as to whether he is complaining or conversing (the former I suspect from the tone). Big G has agreed to do a proper road test with me in the Surrey Hills when we get the weather and can coordinate our diaries. We will have the discussion as to who goes on front and who is the stoker on the day.
Anyway, football, the Hunters started the season badly loosing a few games and starting the season at the bottom of the table. Since then we have been improving with some draws and some good wins (last 4 games have been 4-0, 5-0, 2-2, 5-0) and have clawed our way back up to the middle of the table as we have begun to gel and gain in confidence. These results haven't been without a lot of effort by Damien our manager and lots of frustration as we usually get possession for 90% of the game but seem to lack the ability to convert possession or corners into goals or even score easy goals.
My contribution has been a lot of warming the boys up with skills practice before each match, shouting during the matches, and refereeing the matches (some one from each team referees one half of the game) not to mention a near nervous breakdown each week.
There are two games left this season (the season stops at Christmas and a new season starts in January) and a couple of wins will leave us in third place in the league and in the semi finals of the cup. We can't quite catch the two top teams who started the season well but they have found it more difficult each week to keep up their winning ways. If we keep improving it certainly looks good for us in the second half of the season which starts after Christmas and the league starts afresh.
Talking of football. After finishing her degree at Leicester De Montford University (achieving a 2.1 in English and getting a prize for her dissertation) my daughter has been working at Leicester City Football Club. She has been working on the gate, with the youngsters that go on the pitch with the team, organising the half time youngsters penalty competitions and leading a "FanZone" initiative. She seems to be enjoying it notwithstanding that she is paid by the hour at the minimum wage so Dad has had still to help with the rent. She is now quite an expert on The Championship as well as Formula One.
Cycling really has taken a back seat for a number of reasons. Work has got in the way, the weather has been dreadful, I can't get out Saturday mornings because of football, and my training partner M has had a medical condition preventing him from training. Big G has committed to doing the Etape next year and he and I have tried to coordinate our diaries but thus far whilst we have done the odd ride we have not been able to get out together on a regular basis (more my fault than his, he has managed to ride most weekends).
Whilst I still have not got an entry to the Etape next year a good number of the Pelotoners have through various means (Etape.org, Cyclomundo, Sports Tours to name but a few). We will probably have more members doing the race next year than any previous years (and if we had club vests we are still not big enough to be noticed over clubs like London Dynamo, Devere and Addiscombe).
Pootle on everyone
http://www.zarpix.com/GP/index.htm .
We are still awaiting the final designs of the shirts, the registration of the site and registration with British Cycling but those will come.
News from afar. The Guildford Pelotoners Australian associate has emailed me today to announce that despite being over the half century in age he has just won a Category D race. His wife believes that his success should not be broadcast as he was racing against kids (teenagers and girls) but he maintains there was a good cross section in the race with a number of veterans, some older than him. He is over the moon as he says "this is the only time my his life I have won anything" and to crown it he won a AUD $30.00 prize. You can see his picture and winning margin here
http://www.randwickbotanycc.com/Results%202009/5%20Dec%202009/results_5_Dec_2009.htm
In the West Sutton Little League (WSLL) (football) this season my son got selected for the "Hunters". At the first match the team manager asked the parents for a volunteer to be his assistant manager. As usual muggins here was duly elected. When I accepted I assumed (wrongly) that the assistant manager just organised on the weeks the manager can't make it. No sooner had I accepted the post than I was informed that I was now on the executive committee and needed to attend the executive meetings, and that I had to go through a CRB (Criminal Records Board check or as it is commonly known "Peado" check). Fortunately I came out clear on that as I did when the Scouts Association appointed me on to the local group executive committee.
The Tandem has come in handy for the football, the pitches being two miles from home with a lack of parking. My son and I have been cycling up and back on the tandem. I'm on the front, he is the stoker. There is a constant barrage of noise coming from behind me as we cycle. Fortunately I can't hear a word of it and just continue oblivious as to whether he is complaining or conversing (the former I suspect from the tone). Big G has agreed to do a proper road test with me in the Surrey Hills when we get the weather and can coordinate our diaries. We will have the discussion as to who goes on front and who is the stoker on the day.
Anyway, football, the Hunters started the season badly loosing a few games and starting the season at the bottom of the table. Since then we have been improving with some draws and some good wins (last 4 games have been 4-0, 5-0, 2-2, 5-0) and have clawed our way back up to the middle of the table as we have begun to gel and gain in confidence. These results haven't been without a lot of effort by Damien our manager and lots of frustration as we usually get possession for 90% of the game but seem to lack the ability to convert possession or corners into goals or even score easy goals.
My contribution has been a lot of warming the boys up with skills practice before each match, shouting during the matches, and refereeing the matches (some one from each team referees one half of the game) not to mention a near nervous breakdown each week.
There are two games left this season (the season stops at Christmas and a new season starts in January) and a couple of wins will leave us in third place in the league and in the semi finals of the cup. We can't quite catch the two top teams who started the season well but they have found it more difficult each week to keep up their winning ways. If we keep improving it certainly looks good for us in the second half of the season which starts after Christmas and the league starts afresh.
Talking of football. After finishing her degree at Leicester De Montford University (achieving a 2.1 in English and getting a prize for her dissertation) my daughter has been working at Leicester City Football Club. She has been working on the gate, with the youngsters that go on the pitch with the team, organising the half time youngsters penalty competitions and leading a "FanZone" initiative. She seems to be enjoying it notwithstanding that she is paid by the hour at the minimum wage so Dad has had still to help with the rent. She is now quite an expert on The Championship as well as Formula One.
Cycling really has taken a back seat for a number of reasons. Work has got in the way, the weather has been dreadful, I can't get out Saturday mornings because of football, and my training partner M has had a medical condition preventing him from training. Big G has committed to doing the Etape next year and he and I have tried to coordinate our diaries but thus far whilst we have done the odd ride we have not been able to get out together on a regular basis (more my fault than his, he has managed to ride most weekends).
Whilst I still have not got an entry to the Etape next year a good number of the Pelotoners have through various means (Etape.org, Cyclomundo, Sports Tours to name but a few). We will probably have more members doing the race next year than any previous years (and if we had club vests we are still not big enough to be noticed over clubs like London Dynamo, Devere and Addiscombe).
Pootle on everyone
Sunday 25 October 2009
October 25th 2009 We will fight them on the beaches……….
If there is one thing that annoys The Wife more than me, it is mice.
As if I have not got enough on my plate with retakes of the Securities Institute Fund Management exam/paper coming up in December, recovering from Swine Flu, re-applying for my own job, not to mention trying to get an entry to the 2010 Etape (Tourmalet here comes the Guildford Peloton), and considering the Guildford Peloton 2010 reccie and race arrangements, now we have a mouse invasion in our garage where my beloved Specialized Roubaix and Look 585 are stored and where my Orbit Routier II Tandem will be residing once my brother decides he has had enough of it (he did offer to deliver it this weekend but we weren’t around).
Every winter we get mice in our garage. The garage is integral to the house so is nice and warm and the mice get under the up-and-over door. They make nests chewing up any material, shoes, or packaging lying around or just chew and ruin whatever is in ther garage. Every winter we lay traps or poison and we establish a status quo. This year, however, they have come in greater numbers. Not only are they in the garage but I have seen them running up the back garden beside the fence in daylight!
I have been catching one or two mice a month over the summer but this weekend alone I have caught two (using only two traps). This evening I re-baited my traps after disposing of a body. A couple of hours later I was back in the garage sorting some recycling when I glanced behind the cabinet where one of my traps was located only to find the peanut butter bait was missing. I checked the other trap, the same? What was going on?
I went and got the peanut butter to re-bait and as I was laying the trap I saw a mouse waiting nearby watching me. He was so small I suspect that his weight was not enough to set off the traps. Now I don’t apply the best peanut butter for their delight and in the hope that they will suffer from Cholesterol related heart disease. I expect them to co-operate and set the bloody trap off even if that means they have to do a jig on the mechanism (if you are reading this in my garage Mr Mouse please take note).
What these mice don’t seem to understand is that if I don’t get rid of the mice The Wife will make me remove every single thing from the garage so that there is just bare walls, ceiling and floor, spring clean, get rid of anything which I am hoarding “in case it come in useful some time in the future”, and clean and tidy everything before anything is allowed back in the garage. Such an exercise is probably a minimum of a whole weekend’s work and will involve marital disharmony and a lot of expletives and injuries to my person as I clumsily move things in and out of the garage.
In order to avoid the need for the clear-out the anti-mouse campaign is going to be stepped up this week. I am going to be down at the hardware store first thing in the morning getting poison, traps, Napalm. I am also going to be ordering various electronic mice traps off of Amazon. One way or another I have to win this campaign. There will be no mercy or prisoners. Does anyone know how to call in US Airforce support for this one?
As if I have not got enough on my plate with retakes of the Securities Institute Fund Management exam/paper coming up in December, recovering from Swine Flu, re-applying for my own job, not to mention trying to get an entry to the 2010 Etape (Tourmalet here comes the Guildford Peloton), and considering the Guildford Peloton 2010 reccie and race arrangements, now we have a mouse invasion in our garage where my beloved Specialized Roubaix and Look 585 are stored and where my Orbit Routier II Tandem will be residing once my brother decides he has had enough of it (he did offer to deliver it this weekend but we weren’t around).
Every winter we get mice in our garage. The garage is integral to the house so is nice and warm and the mice get under the up-and-over door. They make nests chewing up any material, shoes, or packaging lying around or just chew and ruin whatever is in ther garage. Every winter we lay traps or poison and we establish a status quo. This year, however, they have come in greater numbers. Not only are they in the garage but I have seen them running up the back garden beside the fence in daylight!
I have been catching one or two mice a month over the summer but this weekend alone I have caught two (using only two traps). This evening I re-baited my traps after disposing of a body. A couple of hours later I was back in the garage sorting some recycling when I glanced behind the cabinet where one of my traps was located only to find the peanut butter bait was missing. I checked the other trap, the same? What was going on?
I went and got the peanut butter to re-bait and as I was laying the trap I saw a mouse waiting nearby watching me. He was so small I suspect that his weight was not enough to set off the traps. Now I don’t apply the best peanut butter for their delight and in the hope that they will suffer from Cholesterol related heart disease. I expect them to co-operate and set the bloody trap off even if that means they have to do a jig on the mechanism (if you are reading this in my garage Mr Mouse please take note).
What these mice don’t seem to understand is that if I don’t get rid of the mice The Wife will make me remove every single thing from the garage so that there is just bare walls, ceiling and floor, spring clean, get rid of anything which I am hoarding “in case it come in useful some time in the future”, and clean and tidy everything before anything is allowed back in the garage. Such an exercise is probably a minimum of a whole weekend’s work and will involve marital disharmony and a lot of expletives and injuries to my person as I clumsily move things in and out of the garage.
In order to avoid the need for the clear-out the anti-mouse campaign is going to be stepped up this week. I am going to be down at the hardware store first thing in the morning getting poison, traps, Napalm. I am also going to be ordering various electronic mice traps off of Amazon. One way or another I have to win this campaign. There will be no mercy or prisoners. Does anyone know how to call in US Airforce support for this one?
Thursday 17 September 2009
2010 Etape
The summer break is now coming to an end and the minds of all good members of the Guildford Peloton are beginning to turn to next years Etape and the training (pain or pleasure?) this is going to require.
I have been searching the web to find out any rumours for the 2010 course. There are none that I can see but it does look like the course will be announced in the third week of October.
The AGM of the Guildford Peloton was an impromptu affair held at short notice a few weekends ago. Peter, the Captain, announced outside the Mucky Duck in Shere at 09:30 one Sunday morning the fact that the meeting was to take place at lunchtime that same day on the top of Box Hill (lets not get bogged down with the formality of 21 days notice in writing to all members at their last known registered address).
The urgent matter requiring the meeting was the matter of registering the club. There had been some dissidents to the name Guildford Peloton with an alternative name of The Picon Peloton being proposed, and so a discussion was held as to whether there really was any objection to the name. The Guildford Peloton was proposed and agreed.
In order to achieve registration with British Cycling a design for the club kit is required and the design was discussed and agreed. The Captain was asked to get in contact with his Graphic Designer friend to update the previous proposed design. Rob agreed to negotiate with the suppliers and arrange the order. We are all looking forward to receiving the new Guildford Peloton kit which I think should have been ordered by now (those of you who missed the email trail in this respect contact Rob who has taken on the role of Club Quartermaster).
In addition Mike agreed to get in touch with his friend to look at a club website.
I am supposed to get on with registering the Club which I will do once I get the final kit design in electronic form.
This was only my third ride (and in fact is my last ride) since the 2009 Etape, the other two only being 25 milers around Richmond Park and I must admit that by the time we got to the top of Box Hill I had done 42 miles and was shattered with my head in my hands as we held the meeting and therefore I may have missed a few things. In fact I left Box Hill after the meeting with Rob and was promptly dropped from his back wheel. He waited for me and I was dropped again before I waived him on and cycled home alone in a very leisurely manner. At least when I got home The wife was out shopping whereas poor Mike arrived home after curfew and was in trouble with his significant other who was waiting to go off to work.
Mike and I met at lunchtime today at Gourmet Burger in Spitalfields to chew the cud (or burger) and talk bikes. He has proposed that we need to resurrect the Box Hill Time Trials (an eight mile circuit around Box Hill raced on a handicap basis) to prompt the start of training and engender a bit of early winter enthusiasm. We need to propose a date in late October or early November for the first challenge. What do you think?
I recently bought a tandem and am looking for a stoker for the 2010 Etape . I saw a number of tandems in the 2009 Etape (they overtook me going up the Ventoux). I am assured by my brother (who has yet to release my tandem to me that he kindly picked up for me from Sheffield back in August) that my new (second-hand) Orbit Routtier II aluminium tandem is very comfortable. All applications to me.
Chapeau everybody
I have been searching the web to find out any rumours for the 2010 course. There are none that I can see but it does look like the course will be announced in the third week of October.
The AGM of the Guildford Peloton was an impromptu affair held at short notice a few weekends ago. Peter, the Captain, announced outside the Mucky Duck in Shere at 09:30 one Sunday morning the fact that the meeting was to take place at lunchtime that same day on the top of Box Hill (lets not get bogged down with the formality of 21 days notice in writing to all members at their last known registered address).
The urgent matter requiring the meeting was the matter of registering the club. There had been some dissidents to the name Guildford Peloton with an alternative name of The Picon Peloton being proposed, and so a discussion was held as to whether there really was any objection to the name. The Guildford Peloton was proposed and agreed.
In order to achieve registration with British Cycling a design for the club kit is required and the design was discussed and agreed. The Captain was asked to get in contact with his Graphic Designer friend to update the previous proposed design. Rob agreed to negotiate with the suppliers and arrange the order. We are all looking forward to receiving the new Guildford Peloton kit which I think should have been ordered by now (those of you who missed the email trail in this respect contact Rob who has taken on the role of Club Quartermaster).
In addition Mike agreed to get in touch with his friend to look at a club website.
I am supposed to get on with registering the Club which I will do once I get the final kit design in electronic form.
This was only my third ride (and in fact is my last ride) since the 2009 Etape, the other two only being 25 milers around Richmond Park and I must admit that by the time we got to the top of Box Hill I had done 42 miles and was shattered with my head in my hands as we held the meeting and therefore I may have missed a few things. In fact I left Box Hill after the meeting with Rob and was promptly dropped from his back wheel. He waited for me and I was dropped again before I waived him on and cycled home alone in a very leisurely manner. At least when I got home The wife was out shopping whereas poor Mike arrived home after curfew and was in trouble with his significant other who was waiting to go off to work.
Mike and I met at lunchtime today at Gourmet Burger in Spitalfields to chew the cud (or burger) and talk bikes. He has proposed that we need to resurrect the Box Hill Time Trials (an eight mile circuit around Box Hill raced on a handicap basis) to prompt the start of training and engender a bit of early winter enthusiasm. We need to propose a date in late October or early November for the first challenge. What do you think?
I recently bought a tandem and am looking for a stoker for the 2010 Etape . I saw a number of tandems in the 2009 Etape (they overtook me going up the Ventoux). I am assured by my brother (who has yet to release my tandem to me that he kindly picked up for me from Sheffield back in August) that my new (second-hand) Orbit Routtier II aluminium tandem is very comfortable. All applications to me.
Chapeau everybody
Wednesday 19 August 2009
The Etape du Tour 2009
Monday - Race Day and an early 4:00 AM breakfast. I got up earlier to put bikes on car.
We were on the road before 5:00 AM in the dark. There were six of us in two cars travelling in convoy with the bikes on top of the cars. On the way, I was leading, I took a wrong turning and ended up driving around a remote car park in the dark. The other car followed me. You can imagine the comments being made in that car as they puzzled as to what I was up to.
As we approach Montelimar the roads were already busy. Again I took a wrong turning and headed to Montelimar east, an industrial estate. This time the other car was a couple of cars back and didn't see us take the wrong turn. They took the correct route into Montelimar and found a car park. Once we realised that everyone was going the other way we turned around and headed into town. We found a car park and proceeded to unload. As we unloaded we saw our other car just across the car park - by fluke we had ended up in the same car park.
Once we were ready we cycled with thousands (literally 9000 others) of other riders to the start to find our pens. As our numbers were spread out we were all in different pens. Even if we had wanted to stay together there were so many people you would have had a problem staying together. I got to my pen and chatted to a guy from Dulwich Paragon. At one point whilst we were waiting he had to answer the call of nature. He left his bike with me and jumped over the barrier to find a tree. After answering the call I saw him coming back looking for me and his bike. I could see panic in his eyes when he couldn't see me (I am not the tallest cyclist and when there are that many people it is best to pick landmarks to aim for). It took a lot of shouting and waving to get his attention and getting him back with his bike.
We got away and crossed the start line at 7:16. That first 10 miles was slow and wasn't helped by a desperate call of nature. At 10 miles I stopped and went into the woods to do what bears do. Fortunately I had anticipated such an event and had the appropriate wipes. Such relief when I remounted my bike.
At about 15 miles I came across my Australian friend and we chatted.
There were lots of people even at this early stage with punctures and there were quite a few accidents.
As we went through Nyons, and past the hotel I was really enjoying the ride and continued to do so on the long stretch out to Col de Ey.
As I went up the Col de Ey OI spotted another friend and we chatted. As we chatted someone hit his back wheel and went over. Also someone fell in front of me ands I nearly ran over them.
I went to stop at the first food station which came after Col de Fauntaube. It was chaos. I'm not sure how anyone got anything. Fortunately we ha all taken the package offered by La Fuega. They had their own food station 2 Km past the official station. This was not crowded and had food, drink and energy products. I just had to show the band they had issued me with to get access. Lots of riders who had not paid were trying to get access but were being turned away. It was worth the £20 for the ability to feed and water without having to fight for it.
The food stop was followed by the long drag into Sault. I had promised myself I was going to rest there but when I got there it was chaos. The street was so busy I had to dismount to get through. No point in stopping so I remounted after getting through the mob and proceeded out of town past the chocolatier that some of the guys had taken advantage of during the reccie.
After Sault there is a steep downhill followed by another col. This one has a long drag followed by a number of false summits. As I pulled out of Sault I felt better and was surprised that I was OK going up this col.
We rode into Bedoin, past the chaos of the official food and water station and over the timer cable. The La Fuega food station was after the timer cable. At the La Fuega food station I sat in a chair and watched riders pass. I saw a couple of he guys going past and they called out to me as they passed. As I knew how hard the Ventoux was I was in no hurry.
I set off up the mountain. I was determined to get further than during the reccie before I got off and walked. I Got to the 12 Km to go point and had to dismount. I put on cleat covers and started to walk.
I did get back on at various times but for that last 12 Km I walked most of the way. It was like the battle of the Somme with bodies everywhere. People lying beside the road broken, some like me walking whilst other cycled in the 100 degree heat.
I looked at my watch and my speed. I was walking at between two to three mph and there was 7 miles to go and three hours before the cut off. I knew that provided I kept walking I would make it.
I got to Chalet Reynard before the water before it ran out. It was chaos as you needed to take your water bottle from your bike to be refilled. Most people assumed that they would be giving out the water in bottles and so left their bikes and their bottles only to be sent back to get their bottles.
Just after Chalet Reynard I had tried riding again but after half a mile dismounted. This time my legs were cramping so much I couldn't bend them to put on my cleat covers. I had to walk without them but I knew it didn't matter as I wasn't going to need to clip into the pedals again before the finish.
As I passed Tommy Simpson memorial I felt sick. I could not take any more gels. I was acutely aware that I was short of energy.
As you approach the finish the gradient kicks up from the constant 10% of the previous 10 miles. I looked at it before struggling up the gradient on foot pushing my bike. As I approached the line (some 10 feet before the line) I remounted and rode across the line.
My overall time was 9:02:30. It took 5:42:28 to do the first 93 miles and 3:20:02 to do the last 12 miles up the Ventoux (less the 10 minutes spent at La Fuega food station)!
After finishing you had to immediately cycle down the other side of the mountain to the finishing village half way down where you collected your medal and a goody bag. I had a text from the other guys saying that once you had collected your medal the finishing village was to one side, it wasn't very good, and you had to cycle up out of it. As I couldn't face another uphill I collected my medal but didn't go into village (the goody bag only had a Camelback water bottle so I didn't miss anything).
I then proceeded down the rest of the mountain into Malaucene. There the guys had staked out a table in a restaurant/cafe and were enjoying food and drink. I joined them and enjoyed pizza and tea and war stories. One of the lads was telling us how he chatted to Chris Boardman as he climbed the Ventoux.
As people finished they texted us. There was great joy when the last man finished. Everyone finished, we hadn't lost a single man. The times were much closer than we had expected. The course was a great leveller.
We then had the chore of going to the start to collect cars and didn't get back to the hotel until 8:00 PM.
Dinner was a quiet affair followed by an early night
Now everyone is chatting about next year, especially f Alp D'huez
We were on the road before 5:00 AM in the dark. There were six of us in two cars travelling in convoy with the bikes on top of the cars. On the way, I was leading, I took a wrong turning and ended up driving around a remote car park in the dark. The other car followed me. You can imagine the comments being made in that car as they puzzled as to what I was up to.
As we approach Montelimar the roads were already busy. Again I took a wrong turning and headed to Montelimar east, an industrial estate. This time the other car was a couple of cars back and didn't see us take the wrong turn. They took the correct route into Montelimar and found a car park. Once we realised that everyone was going the other way we turned around and headed into town. We found a car park and proceeded to unload. As we unloaded we saw our other car just across the car park - by fluke we had ended up in the same car park.
Once we were ready we cycled with thousands (literally 9000 others) of other riders to the start to find our pens. As our numbers were spread out we were all in different pens. Even if we had wanted to stay together there were so many people you would have had a problem staying together. I got to my pen and chatted to a guy from Dulwich Paragon. At one point whilst we were waiting he had to answer the call of nature. He left his bike with me and jumped over the barrier to find a tree. After answering the call I saw him coming back looking for me and his bike. I could see panic in his eyes when he couldn't see me (I am not the tallest cyclist and when there are that many people it is best to pick landmarks to aim for). It took a lot of shouting and waving to get his attention and getting him back with his bike.
We got away and crossed the start line at 7:16. That first 10 miles was slow and wasn't helped by a desperate call of nature. At 10 miles I stopped and went into the woods to do what bears do. Fortunately I had anticipated such an event and had the appropriate wipes. Such relief when I remounted my bike.
At about 15 miles I came across my Australian friend and we chatted.
There were lots of people even at this early stage with punctures and there were quite a few accidents.
As we went through Nyons, and past the hotel I was really enjoying the ride and continued to do so on the long stretch out to Col de Ey.
As I went up the Col de Ey OI spotted another friend and we chatted. As we chatted someone hit his back wheel and went over. Also someone fell in front of me ands I nearly ran over them.
I went to stop at the first food station which came after Col de Fauntaube. It was chaos. I'm not sure how anyone got anything. Fortunately we ha all taken the package offered by La Fuega. They had their own food station 2 Km past the official station. This was not crowded and had food, drink and energy products. I just had to show the band they had issued me with to get access. Lots of riders who had not paid were trying to get access but were being turned away. It was worth the £20 for the ability to feed and water without having to fight for it.
The food stop was followed by the long drag into Sault. I had promised myself I was going to rest there but when I got there it was chaos. The street was so busy I had to dismount to get through. No point in stopping so I remounted after getting through the mob and proceeded out of town past the chocolatier that some of the guys had taken advantage of during the reccie.
After Sault there is a steep downhill followed by another col. This one has a long drag followed by a number of false summits. As I pulled out of Sault I felt better and was surprised that I was OK going up this col.
We rode into Bedoin, past the chaos of the official food and water station and over the timer cable. The La Fuega food station was after the timer cable. At the La Fuega food station I sat in a chair and watched riders pass. I saw a couple of he guys going past and they called out to me as they passed. As I knew how hard the Ventoux was I was in no hurry.
I set off up the mountain. I was determined to get further than during the reccie before I got off and walked. I Got to the 12 Km to go point and had to dismount. I put on cleat covers and started to walk.
I did get back on at various times but for that last 12 Km I walked most of the way. It was like the battle of the Somme with bodies everywhere. People lying beside the road broken, some like me walking whilst other cycled in the 100 degree heat.
I looked at my watch and my speed. I was walking at between two to three mph and there was 7 miles to go and three hours before the cut off. I knew that provided I kept walking I would make it.
I got to Chalet Reynard before the water before it ran out. It was chaos as you needed to take your water bottle from your bike to be refilled. Most people assumed that they would be giving out the water in bottles and so left their bikes and their bottles only to be sent back to get their bottles.
Just after Chalet Reynard I had tried riding again but after half a mile dismounted. This time my legs were cramping so much I couldn't bend them to put on my cleat covers. I had to walk without them but I knew it didn't matter as I wasn't going to need to clip into the pedals again before the finish.
As I passed Tommy Simpson memorial I felt sick. I could not take any more gels. I was acutely aware that I was short of energy.
As you approach the finish the gradient kicks up from the constant 10% of the previous 10 miles. I looked at it before struggling up the gradient on foot pushing my bike. As I approached the line (some 10 feet before the line) I remounted and rode across the line.
My overall time was 9:02:30. It took 5:42:28 to do the first 93 miles and 3:20:02 to do the last 12 miles up the Ventoux (less the 10 minutes spent at La Fuega food station)!
After finishing you had to immediately cycle down the other side of the mountain to the finishing village half way down where you collected your medal and a goody bag. I had a text from the other guys saying that once you had collected your medal the finishing village was to one side, it wasn't very good, and you had to cycle up out of it. As I couldn't face another uphill I collected my medal but didn't go into village (the goody bag only had a Camelback water bottle so I didn't miss anything).
I then proceeded down the rest of the mountain into Malaucene. There the guys had staked out a table in a restaurant/cafe and were enjoying food and drink. I joined them and enjoyed pizza and tea and war stories. One of the lads was telling us how he chatted to Chris Boardman as he climbed the Ventoux.
As people finished they texted us. There was great joy when the last man finished. Everyone finished, we hadn't lost a single man. The times were much closer than we had expected. The course was a great leveller.
We then had the chore of going to the start to collect cars and didn't get back to the hotel until 8:00 PM.
Dinner was a quiet affair followed by an early night
Now everyone is chatting about next year, especially f Alp D'huez
Sunday: Registration in Montelimar
Sunday we got up late still very tired. Still no news of the baby.
We needed to travel to Montelimar 40 Km down the road to where the Etape was going to start the next day (Monday). We needed to show our documents, register and pick up our number, transponder and goody bag.
Travelling down on the Saturday we had all three bikes inside the car (both for security when we stopped and to reduce drag on the long drive). I had also brought inside the car roof bars and bike racks to go on the roof as we were going to need them on race day to take bikes to the start, so first thing after breakfast I put these up on the car.
We then drove, five of us in the car, to the registration village. We registered then wandered around the event village at the start. The village was quite small, much smaller than two years ago at Foix. Seeing as it is such a big event you would have expected a much bigger event at the start.
Wandering around the village I met up with S from Team MK who was on a sports tours package. He joined us for lunch. Whilst I was leaving I also bumped into another friend that I had ridden with in Sydney last year and we had a chat.
We didn't hang around the village too long, things to do. We drove back to the hotel and some of the guys drove on to the finish to drop off two of the four cars we had between the six of us (another guy arrived Sunday morning). The plan was that we would take two cars to the start in the morning with the bikes, and leave the other two cars at the finish so we could drive home after the event.
Late afternoon, after putting our bikes together and watching some of the tour on Eurosport on the TV in our rooms, we did a short ride towards the start. After about 10 km we turned around and returned towards Nyons. Really got the cobwebs out of the legs with a fast ride downhill into Nyons.
We had an early dinner on the hotel terrace and went to bed early. Breakfast was booked for 4:00 AM.
We needed to travel to Montelimar 40 Km down the road to where the Etape was going to start the next day (Monday). We needed to show our documents, register and pick up our number, transponder and goody bag.
Travelling down on the Saturday we had all three bikes inside the car (both for security when we stopped and to reduce drag on the long drive). I had also brought inside the car roof bars and bike racks to go on the roof as we were going to need them on race day to take bikes to the start, so first thing after breakfast I put these up on the car.
We then drove, five of us in the car, to the registration village. We registered then wandered around the event village at the start. The village was quite small, much smaller than two years ago at Foix. Seeing as it is such a big event you would have expected a much bigger event at the start.
Wandering around the village I met up with S from Team MK who was on a sports tours package. He joined us for lunch. Whilst I was leaving I also bumped into another friend that I had ridden with in Sydney last year and we had a chat.
We didn't hang around the village too long, things to do. We drove back to the hotel and some of the guys drove on to the finish to drop off two of the four cars we had between the six of us (another guy arrived Sunday morning). The plan was that we would take two cars to the start in the morning with the bikes, and leave the other two cars at the finish so we could drive home after the event.
Late afternoon, after putting our bikes together and watching some of the tour on Eurosport on the TV in our rooms, we did a short ride towards the start. After about 10 km we turned around and returned towards Nyons. Really got the cobwebs out of the legs with a fast ride downhill into Nyons.
We had an early dinner on the hotel terrace and went to bed early. Breakfast was booked for 4:00 AM.
Saturday: Travel to Nyons
I had a 3:00 Am start on Saturday morning. One of the guys supposed to accompany me had a wife who was pregnant and whose baby was due. As (as he put it) “she had not done the business” he had decided not to travel with us. If she had the baby Saturday he would fly down Sunday and meet us. We would still be taking his bike and his baggage.
I picked up M before 4:00 Am and we drove to Dover to catch the 06:00 AM ferry. I cannot recommend the breakfast on the P&O ferry. I have had better.
We got to Calais without further incident and started the long drive south to Nyons. A couple of he other guys had got the 5:00 AM ferry and we didn’t expect to see them, however, just over a hour into the journey we happened upon them on the motorway. For the rest of the journey we leapfrogged each other.
We had hoped to get to Nyons about 18:00 however there was such traffic at Lyon that it was 20:00 before we arrived at Nyon. After being on the road for 16 hours we were tired as we ate our dinner that night and had no problem sleeping.
I picked up M before 4:00 Am and we drove to Dover to catch the 06:00 AM ferry. I cannot recommend the breakfast on the P&O ferry. I have had better.
We got to Calais without further incident and started the long drive south to Nyons. A couple of he other guys had got the 5:00 AM ferry and we didn’t expect to see them, however, just over a hour into the journey we happened upon them on the motorway. For the rest of the journey we leapfrogged each other.
We had hoped to get to Nyons about 18:00 however there was such traffic at Lyon that it was 20:00 before we arrived at Nyon. After being on the road for 16 hours we were tired as we ate our dinner that night and had no problem sleeping.
Friday - A proud father at his daughter graduation
My original plan was to travel down to Nyons on the Friday, however, the best laid plans of mice and men and all that, my daughter’s university had that day planned for her graduation. As I had invested so much money in her getting this degree, and with the degree she was also awarded a prize for the best dissertation, so I needed to be at the graduation as proud father to witness the event.
I took the train to Leicester early on the Friday morning. As I had been struggling to think of the right present to get her I had not got anything by the time I arrived at Leicester station. As I came out of the station I saw a large camera and electrical store. I went in and purchased a pink Nikon camera. I had the shop put the fully charged battery from the demonstration camera in he one I bought and proceeded to the ceremony. The camera was well received and was fully used during the day.
My daughter had had the flu all week and had been off work for the previous days. Obviously she didn’t want to miss her graduation and on the day had dosed herself up with over the counter drugs so that she could get through the day. Her mother was also at the event and together we watched her get her degree. The three of us went to lunch before going to the prize giving ceremony in the afternoon. She was shattered after that so I left her with her mother and caught the 17:00 train home to London arriving home after 20:00.
After a long day I had to be up at 3:00 AM the next morning to travel to the Etape!
I took the train to Leicester early on the Friday morning. As I had been struggling to think of the right present to get her I had not got anything by the time I arrived at Leicester station. As I came out of the station I saw a large camera and electrical store. I went in and purchased a pink Nikon camera. I had the shop put the fully charged battery from the demonstration camera in he one I bought and proceeded to the ceremony. The camera was well received and was fully used during the day.
My daughter had had the flu all week and had been off work for the previous days. Obviously she didn’t want to miss her graduation and on the day had dosed herself up with over the counter drugs so that she could get through the day. Her mother was also at the event and together we watched her get her degree. The three of us went to lunch before going to the prize giving ceremony in the afternoon. She was shattered after that so I left her with her mother and caught the 17:00 train home to London arriving home after 20:00.
After a long day I had to be up at 3:00 AM the next morning to travel to the Etape!
Last Minute Preparations
For the Etape we (The Guildford Peloton) had arranged to stay at a gitte belonging to a member of the Guildford Peloton. This had been arranged for some time. It turns out that there might have been a bit of misunderstanding and that the family that owned the gitte would be staying at the gitte at the same time. As there was to be seven of us and we would be arriving and leaving at odd hours we decided that we needed to arrange alternative accommodation. I got in touch with Benoit at the Hotel Colombet in Nyons which we had used for the reccie and he came back to me immediately confirming that he could accommodate us. A real stroke of luck as Nyons is ideally located 40 Km from the start and 45 Km from the finish (and on the day it proved very handy for the rider with stomach cramps who dived into the hotel for emergency relief before continuing the ride). Also, we had really enjoyed our stay at the Colombet in May, the food is exceptionally good, the hotel clean, and the staff very pleasant and accommodating.
Two of the lads were travelling down with me in my car. They dropped off their bikes at my house on the Thursday night so they could be packed before the early start we had planned on Saturday morning. One of the lads got a £50 parking ticket for having his wheels parked on the pavement whilst dropping off his bike.
Two of the lads were travelling down with me in my car. They dropped off their bikes at my house on the Thursday night so they could be packed before the early start we had planned on Saturday morning. One of the lads got a £50 parking ticket for having his wheels parked on the pavement whilst dropping off his bike.
Saturday July 11th and Sunday July 12th: Last Minute Training
On the weekend before the Etape I was torn between getting last minute training in, overtraining, and spending time with the family (as they would be away the weekend of the Etape for a week in Ireland with The Wife’s family).
The Saturday sorted itself out with no chance to ride and I had lots to do with the family. On the Sunday I wanted to ride but had no one to ride with. At 8:30 Am on the Sunday morning I decided to ring Big G. He does not usually get out of bed early at the weekend but I thought it worthwhile to try him. He did not initially answer the phone but eventually whilst I was leaving a message picked up. He agreed to meet me 20 minutes later for a ride. We got out and did a 43 mile ride in surrey hills with tea at Box Hill. The weather was good and the cycling relaxed. It was very relaxed and much the way cycling should be.
The Saturday sorted itself out with no chance to ride and I had lots to do with the family. On the Sunday I wanted to ride but had no one to ride with. At 8:30 Am on the Sunday morning I decided to ring Big G. He does not usually get out of bed early at the weekend but I thought it worthwhile to try him. He did not initially answer the phone but eventually whilst I was leaving a message picked up. He agreed to meet me 20 minutes later for a ride. We got out and did a 43 mile ride in surrey hills with tea at Box Hill. The weather was good and the cycling relaxed. It was very relaxed and much the way cycling should be.
Weekend July 4th & 5th 2009: A fortnight to go!
The weekend was spent in Bognor. Fortunately I was able to ride down on the Saturday and back on the Sunday. I did the 55 mile ride each way on my own. On the way back up the A29 on the Sunday afternoon I was feeling so good I decided that once I had been over Coldhabour and through Dorking I would go over Ranmore rather than just skirting around it. This does not add any distance but does include an extra climb.
It was during this ride that I noticed that my gears were playing up with difficulty in changing the gears on the front rings. I hadn’t intended getting the bike serviced before the Etape but this showed me that I needed to get it done urgently. On the Monday after my ride back from Bognor I telephone Corridori in Banstead to see if they could help me. They told me that they were very busy but as a regular customer they would fit me in. As it turns out, when I picked it up they told me that my chain and rear cassette were “beyond worn” so it was a good job I got it done rather than struggle with a mechanical on the Etape.
It was during this ride that I noticed that my gears were playing up with difficulty in changing the gears on the front rings. I hadn’t intended getting the bike serviced before the Etape but this showed me that I needed to get it done urgently. On the Monday after my ride back from Bognor I telephone Corridori in Banstead to see if they could help me. They told me that they were very busy but as a regular customer they would fit me in. As it turns out, when I picked it up they told me that my chain and rear cassette were “beyond worn” so it was a good job I got it done rather than struggle with a mechanical on the Etape.
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Etape - I finished
Every last man from the Guildford Peloton who started the Etape finished.
Not one casualty.
My overall time was 9:02:30.
It took 5:42:28 to do the first 93 miles and 3:20:02 to do the last 12 miles up the Ventoux!
The Ventoux was brutal, scenes like the battle of the Somme. The temperature was over 100 degrees (42C) with people lying beside the road, walking, and generally suffering
More to follow when I get a chance
How did you do?
Not one casualty.
My overall time was 9:02:30.
It took 5:42:28 to do the first 93 miles and 3:20:02 to do the last 12 miles up the Ventoux!
The Ventoux was brutal, scenes like the battle of the Somme. The temperature was over 100 degrees (42C) with people lying beside the road, walking, and generally suffering
More to follow when I get a chance
How did you do?
Monday 15 June 2009
June 15th: I wobbled The Dragon Ride
Over the weekend I did The Dragon Ride, a 117 mile race from Bridgend across the Brecon Beacons and back. 3100 riders took part. It is one of the UKs premier Sportive events. Here is the race report:
I drove down to wales on the M4 on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I was staying with family friends in Pencoed (just outside Bridgend) on Saturday night. Nice and convenient for the start being only a mile away. Upon arrival I was greeted with a nice welcoming hot lasagne dinner and a comfy bed.
My day started at 5:30 am when I was woken by the baby in the next room babbling before he decided he had had enough and started to cry for his first bottle of the day. No need for an alarm when there are youing children about. It was bright and sunny outside, no point in staying in bed any longer. I got up, showered, breakfasted (I had Weetabix and Croissant whilst the baby was enjoying his bottle of milk with his Dad) and left for the start line before 7:00 am.
I met up with my friend S from RBS/Guildford Peloton / Team MK in the car park and we proceeded to the start arriving just before 8:00 am.
We were about the fourth group to start at 8:12 am. The start was much more efficient than last year where we had to hang around the start for ages . It was obviously early on that S was chomping at the bit. He had said at the start that as he was on his new Scott bike (he has a new bike so now his wife wants new golf clubs) he wanted to beat last years time even though the course was 20 Km longer than last year (the generous organisers had slipped a new hill at the start and another at the finish). After about 10 miles I let S go and proceeded on my own.
At 42 miles in the middle of the Brecon Beacons National Park I was with a group that was moving quite nicely (but probably faster that would have been good for me overall) when there was a loud "BANG" and my bike shook. The guy next to me said that it was probably a stone but the guy behind me corrected him and said I had lost a spoke and my back wheel was buckled. I got off and my wheel was badly buckled as I had lost a drive side spoke. The wheel was rubbing on the brakes and frame.
As there was no telephone signal and I would have had to wait hours for the sweep wagon I loosened off my brakes and decided to cautiously proceed to get to civilisation. This proceeding cautiously turned into 18 miles of cautious riding until I reached the food station at 60 miles. As I arrived S was just leaving. There I telephoned the mechanical support (provided my Mavic, real French mechanics in a yellow Mavic Tour car with French plates. They didn't swap out my back wheel, the mechanic tweaked a few spokes to slightly correct the buckle so that it was not rubbing too much and told me that should get me home.
As I left I got into a bunch from De Vere cycles who were wearing a bright canary yellow strip and were storming along . I raced with them for the next 25 miles swallowing up groups and spitting them out. At one stage I was racing downhill at 45 mph with only a front brake and a tremendous wobble on the back of the bike.
Eventually I could keep it up no longer and got spat out. A few miles further on I was greeted with a "Welcome Back" as I was swallowed into a group of guys who had similarly been dropped. This group broke up as we hit the hills again.
All the way people kept coming up to me and telling me "do you know your back wheel is buckled", "that looks dangerous", "wow", and "that looks nasty". I don't think anyone behind me could but notice it was so bad but hearing these comments some 100 times over 87 miles got a bit repetitive.
I throttled back as I knew the Bwlch (big mountain 4.5 miles at 8%) was coming up. Last year I had to walk some of it but this year I was determined to get at least further before dismounting. It hurt but even in my lowest gear and with the afternoon heat coming off the road (yes, it was hot and sunny all day with temperatures in the 30s, unlike the usual rain Wales usually guarantees) I managed to get to the top. I knew there was less than 20 miles and only one hill to go. As I came over the top there was a guy lying in the middle of the road who had had a nasty fall and was waiting for an ambulance. While I was waiting to get through I heard some of the guys say he had had a mechanical failure causing the fall. He was obviously badly hurt. I saw the ambulance coming up the mountain as I was going down.
From there to the end I formed a tag team with another guy and we took turns pushing the pace on finishing the last few miles with a sprint .
I finished in 7 hours 38 minutes against 7 hours 10 minutes last year over the shorter course. I would have been pleased with this time even without the mechanical shenanigans so I was very pleased. I met up with S at the burger bar (he had done 7 hours 17) and managed half a burger before my tummy protested as we analysed the race. I then went back to my friends for a shower (very welcome). I had a cup of tea whilst the children were having their sausages and potatoes (I was offered some but after eating stodge all day I wasn't hungry).
I was on the M4 on my way home at 5:30 pm and home at 9:00 pm.
Now to get to the bike shop to see if I can get my wheel repaired before the Etap.
I drove down to wales on the M4 on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I was staying with family friends in Pencoed (just outside Bridgend) on Saturday night. Nice and convenient for the start being only a mile away. Upon arrival I was greeted with a nice welcoming hot lasagne dinner and a comfy bed.
My day started at 5:30 am when I was woken by the baby in the next room babbling before he decided he had had enough and started to cry for his first bottle of the day. No need for an alarm when there are youing children about. It was bright and sunny outside, no point in staying in bed any longer. I got up, showered, breakfasted (I had Weetabix and Croissant whilst the baby was enjoying his bottle of milk with his Dad) and left for the start line before 7:00 am.
I met up with my friend S from RBS/Guildford Peloton / Team MK in the car park and we proceeded to the start arriving just before 8:00 am.
We were about the fourth group to start at 8:12 am. The start was much more efficient than last year where we had to hang around the start for ages . It was obviously early on that S was chomping at the bit. He had said at the start that as he was on his new Scott bike (he has a new bike so now his wife wants new golf clubs) he wanted to beat last years time even though the course was 20 Km longer than last year (the generous organisers had slipped a new hill at the start and another at the finish). After about 10 miles I let S go and proceeded on my own.
At 42 miles in the middle of the Brecon Beacons National Park I was with a group that was moving quite nicely (but probably faster that would have been good for me overall) when there was a loud "BANG" and my bike shook. The guy next to me said that it was probably a stone but the guy behind me corrected him and said I had lost a spoke and my back wheel was buckled. I got off and my wheel was badly buckled as I had lost a drive side spoke. The wheel was rubbing on the brakes and frame.
As there was no telephone signal and I would have had to wait hours for the sweep wagon I loosened off my brakes and decided to cautiously proceed to get to civilisation. This proceeding cautiously turned into 18 miles of cautious riding until I reached the food station at 60 miles. As I arrived S was just leaving. There I telephoned the mechanical support (provided my Mavic, real French mechanics in a yellow Mavic Tour car with French plates. They didn't swap out my back wheel, the mechanic tweaked a few spokes to slightly correct the buckle so that it was not rubbing too much and told me that should get me home.
As I left I got into a bunch from De Vere cycles who were wearing a bright canary yellow strip and were storming along . I raced with them for the next 25 miles swallowing up groups and spitting them out. At one stage I was racing downhill at 45 mph with only a front brake and a tremendous wobble on the back of the bike.
Eventually I could keep it up no longer and got spat out. A few miles further on I was greeted with a "Welcome Back" as I was swallowed into a group of guys who had similarly been dropped. This group broke up as we hit the hills again.
All the way people kept coming up to me and telling me "do you know your back wheel is buckled", "that looks dangerous", "wow", and "that looks nasty". I don't think anyone behind me could but notice it was so bad but hearing these comments some 100 times over 87 miles got a bit repetitive.
I throttled back as I knew the Bwlch (big mountain 4.5 miles at 8%) was coming up. Last year I had to walk some of it but this year I was determined to get at least further before dismounting. It hurt but even in my lowest gear and with the afternoon heat coming off the road (yes, it was hot and sunny all day with temperatures in the 30s, unlike the usual rain Wales usually guarantees) I managed to get to the top. I knew there was less than 20 miles and only one hill to go. As I came over the top there was a guy lying in the middle of the road who had had a nasty fall and was waiting for an ambulance. While I was waiting to get through I heard some of the guys say he had had a mechanical failure causing the fall. He was obviously badly hurt. I saw the ambulance coming up the mountain as I was going down.
From there to the end I formed a tag team with another guy and we took turns pushing the pace on finishing the last few miles with a sprint .
I finished in 7 hours 38 minutes against 7 hours 10 minutes last year over the shorter course. I would have been pleased with this time even without the mechanical shenanigans so I was very pleased. I met up with S at the burger bar (he had done 7 hours 17) and managed half a burger before my tummy protested as we analysed the race. I then went back to my friends for a shower (very welcome). I had a cup of tea whilst the children were having their sausages and potatoes (I was offered some but after eating stodge all day I wasn't hungry).
I was on the M4 on my way home at 5:30 pm and home at 9:00 pm.
Now to get to the bike shop to see if I can get my wheel repaired before the Etap.
Wednesday 3 June 2009
June 3rd 2009: Glorious Summer Weather
This morning I had an orthodontist appointment at 8:00 AM in Teddington / Hampton Hill. To avoid the traffic I cycled there on my old 1980s steel Peugeot 501 (after repairing the puncture again, it turned out I had made a poor job of repairing the puncture the first time and air was leaking from under the patch, Note: I still haven't replaced the old 1980s tyre).
At 7:40 AM as I was locking my bike up outside the dental surgery when my phone rang (see, I do use the lock, I don't just use it for ballast in my saddlebag going uphill). The phone call was from the surgery advising me that the orthodontist had been taken into hospital so my appointment needed rearranging. I went into reception and re booked my appointment.
As it was such a beautiful heavenly morning and I had taken a half days holiday to go to my sons Piano recital this afternoon and I had my bike I decided to take the long way home. Off I went to Hampton Court, Esher, Leatherhead, Box Hill, Tadworth, Epsom Race Course (a hive of activity getting ready for the Derby this weekend), Banstead, Cheam and home. A total of 37 miles (don't forget on a heavy bike and carrying my trusty saddlebag with tools and lock) at a leisurely pace.
Box Hill was deserted, just the odd cyclist coming down, and not a Brompton in sight. The tea shop was only just opening as I went past so I didn't stop.
I popped in to Corridori (bike shop) which was also deserted and had a chat with the owner as it was so quiet. I wanted to know if I had accidentally left my helmet in the shop Saturday, I hadn't. It is still missing.
All together I had a good morning and was at my desk at home by 9:45 AM. Why can't all mornings be like this? Was anyone else enjoying the sunshine or were you all tied to your desks?
Talking of Bromptons, after seeing that guy climbing the Ventoux on a Brompton I have been in touch with the Brompton Owners Club in respect of the 2010 Reccie. We are in advanced talks for a combined Brompton Owners Club / Guildford Peloton Reccie trip 2010, however, they are insisting that the Guildford Peloton will have to form a Brompton Section affiliated to them and that all riders will be required to ride Bromptons (so no more carbon or titanium unless Brompton change their construction materials in the coming months), wear suits and tie (Moss Bros not Rapha and no lycra) and instead of saddle bags you will require a rack and briefcase. I don't think that these conditions are unreasonable but I thought I had better canvass club opinion before tying the Guildford Peloton into riding the Alp D'huez on a Brompton next year.
There is one advantage of this plan, you won't need the bike boxes, just fold up your Brompton and carry it as hand luggage.
At 7:40 AM as I was locking my bike up outside the dental surgery when my phone rang (see, I do use the lock, I don't just use it for ballast in my saddlebag going uphill). The phone call was from the surgery advising me that the orthodontist had been taken into hospital so my appointment needed rearranging. I went into reception and re booked my appointment.
As it was such a beautiful heavenly morning and I had taken a half days holiday to go to my sons Piano recital this afternoon and I had my bike I decided to take the long way home. Off I went to Hampton Court, Esher, Leatherhead, Box Hill, Tadworth, Epsom Race Course (a hive of activity getting ready for the Derby this weekend), Banstead, Cheam and home. A total of 37 miles (don't forget on a heavy bike and carrying my trusty saddlebag with tools and lock) at a leisurely pace.
Box Hill was deserted, just the odd cyclist coming down, and not a Brompton in sight. The tea shop was only just opening as I went past so I didn't stop.
I popped in to Corridori (bike shop) which was also deserted and had a chat with the owner as it was so quiet. I wanted to know if I had accidentally left my helmet in the shop Saturday, I hadn't. It is still missing.
All together I had a good morning and was at my desk at home by 9:45 AM. Why can't all mornings be like this? Was anyone else enjoying the sunshine or were you all tied to your desks?
Talking of Bromptons, after seeing that guy climbing the Ventoux on a Brompton I have been in touch with the Brompton Owners Club in respect of the 2010 Reccie. We are in advanced talks for a combined Brompton Owners Club / Guildford Peloton Reccie trip 2010, however, they are insisting that the Guildford Peloton will have to form a Brompton Section affiliated to them and that all riders will be required to ride Bromptons (so no more carbon or titanium unless Brompton change their construction materials in the coming months), wear suits and tie (Moss Bros not Rapha and no lycra) and instead of saddle bags you will require a rack and briefcase. I don't think that these conditions are unreasonable but I thought I had better canvass club opinion before tying the Guildford Peloton into riding the Alp D'huez on a Brompton next year.
There is one advantage of this plan, you won't need the bike boxes, just fold up your Brompton and carry it as hand luggage.
May 30th 2009: How can you loose a cycle helmet?
I have lost my cycle helmet, I can't find it anywhere? I had it Saturday lunchtime when I returned to the house but now I can't find it. I wonder if I put it on the roof of the car Saturday then drove off?
Friday I cycled to work on my old Peugeot 501 as the weather was good. As I haven't cycled for some time all my access rights to the car park had been revoked and I had to arrange for these to be renewed. Also, I got a slow puncture on the way home. Close inspection of the tyre revealed it is on its last legs being the original supplied with the bike in the 1980s.
Things are a bit tense in the house as my son has a week of exams coming up and there is quite a lot of revision to be done over the coming week. My wife and I seem to be the ones doing the revision (well, mostly my wife, it has added 5 years to her) whilst my son tried to talk, moan, whinge, or delay his way out of it.
I went out riding early on Saturday morning with M. We rode out to Windsor Great Park and back, 50 miles round trip, including coffee stop in the sun in the park, just under 4 hours and back dead on curfew. My wife was in the car with the engine running as I pulled up. I threw the bike in the house, jumped in the car and drove off to drop my son at a birthday party (something I was mandated to do as a condition of going out).
Later on we picked him up and drove on to Bognor.
The ride to Windsor was flat and the park itself is magnificent. Note to self to go back and explore properly with my son and his bike. It was nice not having to worry about hills, cols or mountains. I sat behind M sheltering from the headwind on the way back whilst his legs pumped the pedals like steam pistons.
Sunday we spent the day on the beach at Bognor. My son was in the water for hours and we built a sand castle on the beach. We watched later in the afternoon as the tide washed it away.
I went into Corridori, the bike shop, Saturday afternoon to buy a white jersey after dropping my son at the party in Kingswood. They were very busy. They have some nice Bianchi clothing in stock, but not having a Bianchi I had to opt for the white jersey from Specialized.
Monday, my wife agreed to do the school run so after fixing the puncture I again took my life in my hands and cycled in to the City to work. I obviously hadn't done a good job on the repair as when I went to cycle home the tyre was flat (note, I hadn't replaced the old tyre). I could not be bothered to repair it there and then and so I simply pumped it up and hoped it would last until I got home, and fortunately it did.
Friday I cycled to work on my old Peugeot 501 as the weather was good. As I haven't cycled for some time all my access rights to the car park had been revoked and I had to arrange for these to be renewed. Also, I got a slow puncture on the way home. Close inspection of the tyre revealed it is on its last legs being the original supplied with the bike in the 1980s.
Things are a bit tense in the house as my son has a week of exams coming up and there is quite a lot of revision to be done over the coming week. My wife and I seem to be the ones doing the revision (well, mostly my wife, it has added 5 years to her) whilst my son tried to talk, moan, whinge, or delay his way out of it.
I went out riding early on Saturday morning with M. We rode out to Windsor Great Park and back, 50 miles round trip, including coffee stop in the sun in the park, just under 4 hours and back dead on curfew. My wife was in the car with the engine running as I pulled up. I threw the bike in the house, jumped in the car and drove off to drop my son at a birthday party (something I was mandated to do as a condition of going out).
Later on we picked him up and drove on to Bognor.
The ride to Windsor was flat and the park itself is magnificent. Note to self to go back and explore properly with my son and his bike. It was nice not having to worry about hills, cols or mountains. I sat behind M sheltering from the headwind on the way back whilst his legs pumped the pedals like steam pistons.
Sunday we spent the day on the beach at Bognor. My son was in the water for hours and we built a sand castle on the beach. We watched later in the afternoon as the tide washed it away.
I went into Corridori, the bike shop, Saturday afternoon to buy a white jersey after dropping my son at the party in Kingswood. They were very busy. They have some nice Bianchi clothing in stock, but not having a Bianchi I had to opt for the white jersey from Specialized.
Monday, my wife agreed to do the school run so after fixing the puncture I again took my life in my hands and cycled in to the City to work. I obviously hadn't done a good job on the repair as when I went to cycle home the tyre was flat (note, I hadn't replaced the old tyre). I could not be bothered to repair it there and then and so I simply pumped it up and hoped it would last until I got home, and fortunately it did.
Guildford Peloton Etap Reccie Trip to Ventoux
The reccie was Thursday May 21st through until the following Bank Holiday Monday May 25th. There were 12 riders and 1 driver. Having organised all the logistics: booking the hotel, organising the vans and driver (OK M did that bit), coming up with an itinerary, even designing and ordering the T Shirts; I was afraid that I would get the blame when bikes didn't arrive, the hotel was a dump, the weather prevented decent riding, the tee shirts turn up with a spelling mistake and the flights home were delayed. All in all I worried for no reason. The logistics all worked out and the hotel (Hotel Colombie recommended by Veloventoux.com)not only was good but the food was exceptional. The weather was hot and sunny and the bugs were biting. I am still scratching a week later.
Thursday mornng I had arranged for everyone to meet at Gatwick before security at 5:30 AM. I was picking M up at 4:10 AM when I got the first text message that the first person had arrived, checked in, and was going through security. M & I were some of the last to arrive and we were checking in well before 5:30 AM. People certainly were keen.
The flight was uneventful, with a nice egg and bacon sandwich courtesy of BA. Some of the group had paid the premium and enjoyed a cooked breakfast in Business class. At Marseille the bikes all arrived undamaged (although the handlers had certainly tested the strength of a few of the boxes judging by the marks on them).
Europcar made us wait an hour in a queue to get the vans we had pre-hired. Their service certainly could be improved, and we noted later in the trip that one of the vans had a bald tyre!
There was only one problem. Whilst the bikes and lugguage all fitted in the two vans (just) there were 13 of us and only 12 seats between the two vans - oops. We had to squeeze 4 people on a row of seats designed for 3 people, quite uncomfortable for the 140 Km ride from Marseille to Nyon.
We were origionally told by the hotel that whilst they could accomodate us two people would have to share a double bed. When booking in as I was organising the logistics everyone else was checking in. I was the last to arrive at reception to be advised I was in the triple room. Three of us went up to the room looking suspiciously at each other wondering which two of us were going to share. We entered the room to see two double beds, but then further exploration of the room found an annex room with a sofa bed made up - phew, relief
On the Thursday we arrived we got to the hotel mid afternoon (after stopping for a pizza lunch) so everyone went out for a 25 mile ride from Nyon (40 Km into the Etap) towards the start and back. There was a lot of good humour, bravado and positioning which set everyone up for the night.
Day two, the Friday we rode as a group from Nyon towards the finish. The day was glorious and with everyone in good spirits the ride went well. It really is a scenic route this year. We got to the base of the Ventoux late afternoon after riding 68 miles. It was very hot and very busy (someone was even riding up on a Brompton).
I must admit that I was one of the two who didn't make the top. The heat and the fast motorcycles and sports cars racing to the top got to me and 6 km from the top I got off and walked, in fact staggered. As I came around a corner I saw the support van and really struggled to get to it. As I was collapsed on the ground by the van another of our riders came around the corner, saw me and gave up also. Had I not been there I am sure he would have continued to the top.
Day three we split into two groups with the fast group going up the Ventoux whilst the slow group (which I participated in) cycled the short route from Nyons to Bedoin stopping there for lunch before returning.
Day four, Sunday, the fast group did a three hour drive to Alp D'huez whilst the slow group went up Ventoux from Malaucene. I was with the fast group. At the base of Alp D'huez it was suggested that we warm up with a trip up the Col Croix de Fer (cross of iron). This turned out to be a 25 mile climb gaining 1500 metres, however, every so often you would go down 100 metres and then climb again so the total climb over 25 miles was 1500 metres. At the end of that we decided that we had probably done enough and left the Alp D'huez for another day.
Whilst on the way up to the Col De Croix de Fer I had noticed a creperie. On the way back down I was climbing out of one of the annoying valleys and remembered that the creperie was just beyond the next summit. I really fancied a crepe and a coffee at this point but knew I didn't really have time to stop as the fast guys were in front of me and everyone else was close behind in the van (some people had had enough at the top and decided to ride the van back). There was a sign saying "Creperie 500 metres" as I reached the top confirming my memory. As I reached the creperie the fast guys were sitting outside enjoying a crepe, joy! I stopped and ordered a chocolate crepe with ice cream and a coffee. I was able to enjoy them in the knowledge that the last 10 miles was downhill or flat so no more climbs. It was delicious!!!!
Monday the fast group went up Ventoux again. As my bike was in the van right at the back I couldn't get it out without taking everyone elses bike out first. We had got back from Alp D'huez at 11 Pm and I didn't want to do it then and the fast group left at 7:00 AM Monday morning which was before I could get up (I had to do the admin over the bills with the hotel anyway). Those who didn't go with the fast group rode locally or explored the town.
At 1:00 PM we all jumped in the van and drove to Marseille Airport tired but satisfied after an enjoyable trip.
Be warned, the Etape will be hot, hard and with lots of biting insects. Don't over egg the first 90 miles, save yourself for the ascent of Ventoux.
Thursday mornng I had arranged for everyone to meet at Gatwick before security at 5:30 AM. I was picking M up at 4:10 AM when I got the first text message that the first person had arrived, checked in, and was going through security. M & I were some of the last to arrive and we were checking in well before 5:30 AM. People certainly were keen.
The flight was uneventful, with a nice egg and bacon sandwich courtesy of BA. Some of the group had paid the premium and enjoyed a cooked breakfast in Business class. At Marseille the bikes all arrived undamaged (although the handlers had certainly tested the strength of a few of the boxes judging by the marks on them).
Europcar made us wait an hour in a queue to get the vans we had pre-hired. Their service certainly could be improved, and we noted later in the trip that one of the vans had a bald tyre!
There was only one problem. Whilst the bikes and lugguage all fitted in the two vans (just) there were 13 of us and only 12 seats between the two vans - oops. We had to squeeze 4 people on a row of seats designed for 3 people, quite uncomfortable for the 140 Km ride from Marseille to Nyon.
We were origionally told by the hotel that whilst they could accomodate us two people would have to share a double bed. When booking in as I was organising the logistics everyone else was checking in. I was the last to arrive at reception to be advised I was in the triple room. Three of us went up to the room looking suspiciously at each other wondering which two of us were going to share. We entered the room to see two double beds, but then further exploration of the room found an annex room with a sofa bed made up - phew, relief
On the Thursday we arrived we got to the hotel mid afternoon (after stopping for a pizza lunch) so everyone went out for a 25 mile ride from Nyon (40 Km into the Etap) towards the start and back. There was a lot of good humour, bravado and positioning which set everyone up for the night.
Day two, the Friday we rode as a group from Nyon towards the finish. The day was glorious and with everyone in good spirits the ride went well. It really is a scenic route this year. We got to the base of the Ventoux late afternoon after riding 68 miles. It was very hot and very busy (someone was even riding up on a Brompton).
I must admit that I was one of the two who didn't make the top. The heat and the fast motorcycles and sports cars racing to the top got to me and 6 km from the top I got off and walked, in fact staggered. As I came around a corner I saw the support van and really struggled to get to it. As I was collapsed on the ground by the van another of our riders came around the corner, saw me and gave up also. Had I not been there I am sure he would have continued to the top.
Day three we split into two groups with the fast group going up the Ventoux whilst the slow group (which I participated in) cycled the short route from Nyons to Bedoin stopping there for lunch before returning.
Day four, Sunday, the fast group did a three hour drive to Alp D'huez whilst the slow group went up Ventoux from Malaucene. I was with the fast group. At the base of Alp D'huez it was suggested that we warm up with a trip up the Col Croix de Fer (cross of iron). This turned out to be a 25 mile climb gaining 1500 metres, however, every so often you would go down 100 metres and then climb again so the total climb over 25 miles was 1500 metres. At the end of that we decided that we had probably done enough and left the Alp D'huez for another day.
Whilst on the way up to the Col De Croix de Fer I had noticed a creperie. On the way back down I was climbing out of one of the annoying valleys and remembered that the creperie was just beyond the next summit. I really fancied a crepe and a coffee at this point but knew I didn't really have time to stop as the fast guys were in front of me and everyone else was close behind in the van (some people had had enough at the top and decided to ride the van back). There was a sign saying "Creperie 500 metres" as I reached the top confirming my memory. As I reached the creperie the fast guys were sitting outside enjoying a crepe, joy! I stopped and ordered a chocolate crepe with ice cream and a coffee. I was able to enjoy them in the knowledge that the last 10 miles was downhill or flat so no more climbs. It was delicious!!!!
Monday the fast group went up Ventoux again. As my bike was in the van right at the back I couldn't get it out without taking everyone elses bike out first. We had got back from Alp D'huez at 11 Pm and I didn't want to do it then and the fast group left at 7:00 AM Monday morning which was before I could get up (I had to do the admin over the bills with the hotel anyway). Those who didn't go with the fast group rode locally or explored the town.
At 1:00 PM we all jumped in the van and drove to Marseille Airport tired but satisfied after an enjoyable trip.
Be warned, the Etape will be hot, hard and with lots of biting insects. Don't over egg the first 90 miles, save yourself for the ascent of Ventoux.
Monday 18 May 2009
May 16th: 90 Miles and a lot of wheel hugging
This weekend, on the Saturday May 16, whilst a few of the pelotoners were doing the Etap Caledonia, M and I rode down to Bury Hill.
The weather forecast was foul but we decided to go anyway. On the way down we were following the SWRC 100 course (the painted arrows are still on the roads so it is easy enough to follow the route) popping out on the A29 at Adversane. The headwind was horrible and after about 38 miles I had to duck behind M to shelter from the wind. He just pumped on.
As we approached Bury Hill there is a downhill before the step uphill, the wind was so strong at this point we had to pedal downhill! We stopped briefly at the café at the top of the hill (under new management, a bit more attractive now) then headed back up the A29 to London.
With a tailwind M took the pace up and we were storming along. After 8 miles we reached the café at Toat and stopped for a snack (baked beans and egg on toast for me, cake for M). The flag outside the café was stiff showing a strong wind heading north.
Whilst in the café a cyclist called Richard Newey turned up and we got talking. He was training for the Race Across America (http://www.richardnewey.co.uk/). A 300 mile race from the West Coast to the East with a time limit of 12 days. He told us how he had done the race in a team and was now doing it solo (in a weeks time). M has always wanted to do this race but I think Richard’s stories put him off a bit.
We then set off again and M was laying down a cracking pace with me hugging his wheel desperately. When we got to the Surrey Hills and the road up to Coldharbour I was suffering in my 34 X 28 gear. M was waiting for me at the top of each incline. After that it was down into Dorking then up Box Hill at 6 mph then along to the A217. As soon as we hit the fast tarmac on the A217 M was off like a rocket. We were keeping up 31 mph as we went through the Banstead crossroads and if rarely dropped below 30 mph all the way to Cheam. He was really enjoying the tailwind.
A good 90 miles banked and sore legs for a few days even though I was wheel hugging / sucking for 60 of the miles.
Here is a piece of useless information: What is a Dorking and why do they have a 12 foot giant silver steel cockerel of the roundabout in Dorking? Well, it seems a Dorking is a 5 toed chicken the meat of which was favoured by Queen Victoria. Also, the town of Dorking had the longest poultry market in the country. Now you know.
The weather forecast was foul but we decided to go anyway. On the way down we were following the SWRC 100 course (the painted arrows are still on the roads so it is easy enough to follow the route) popping out on the A29 at Adversane. The headwind was horrible and after about 38 miles I had to duck behind M to shelter from the wind. He just pumped on.
As we approached Bury Hill there is a downhill before the step uphill, the wind was so strong at this point we had to pedal downhill! We stopped briefly at the café at the top of the hill (under new management, a bit more attractive now) then headed back up the A29 to London.
With a tailwind M took the pace up and we were storming along. After 8 miles we reached the café at Toat and stopped for a snack (baked beans and egg on toast for me, cake for M). The flag outside the café was stiff showing a strong wind heading north.
Whilst in the café a cyclist called Richard Newey turned up and we got talking. He was training for the Race Across America (http://www.richardnewey.co.uk/). A 300 mile race from the West Coast to the East with a time limit of 12 days. He told us how he had done the race in a team and was now doing it solo (in a weeks time). M has always wanted to do this race but I think Richard’s stories put him off a bit.
We then set off again and M was laying down a cracking pace with me hugging his wheel desperately. When we got to the Surrey Hills and the road up to Coldharbour I was suffering in my 34 X 28 gear. M was waiting for me at the top of each incline. After that it was down into Dorking then up Box Hill at 6 mph then along to the A217. As soon as we hit the fast tarmac on the A217 M was off like a rocket. We were keeping up 31 mph as we went through the Banstead crossroads and if rarely dropped below 30 mph all the way to Cheam. He was really enjoying the tailwind.
A good 90 miles banked and sore legs for a few days even though I was wheel hugging / sucking for 60 of the miles.
Here is a piece of useless information: What is a Dorking and why do they have a 12 foot giant silver steel cockerel of the roundabout in Dorking? Well, it seems a Dorking is a 5 toed chicken the meat of which was favoured by Queen Victoria. Also, the town of Dorking had the longest poultry market in the country. Now you know.
Sunday, May 10th was the Hampshire Hilly Hundred – not for me!
I have done the Hampshire Hilly Hundred the last couple of years but I was still in no fit state by the weekend so I ducked out. A few of the Pelotoners did the race and we all agree it is one of the nicest races of the season.
On the Sunday I got my Look 585 Ultra off the rack in the garage and got it ready for its first outing of the year. I then did a 28 mile Box Hill circuit at a gentle pace to test it out and at least get some exercise.
I have not been on the turbo or in the gym for some weeks. All that base I did in the winter is going to waste.
On the Sunday I got my Look 585 Ultra off the rack in the garage and got it ready for its first outing of the year. I then did a 28 mile Box Hill circuit at a gentle pace to test it out and at least get some exercise.
I have not been on the turbo or in the gym for some weeks. All that base I did in the winter is going to waste.
Hell of Ashdown: Weekend of May 2nd 2009
Myself with 4 others including my brother from St Albans and M went over to East Croydon to where one of the Pelotoners lives. From there we did a 70 miles loop in the Kent countryside from East Croydon to Lingfield and back basically following the Hell of Ashdown course.
After only about 10 miles we met another large group (Dulwich I think) and after being a bit mixed up for a few miles we separated and upon each going our own way we found ourselves with extra rider. At about 40 miles at Lingfield we Stopped for tea and sandwich. We discovered the interloper was out for the first time with the other group and hadn’t realized there were two clubs and by the time he had realized it was too late to try to find his own riders, so he ended up doing the 70 miles with us.
Towards the end of the loop is a big hill. By this point M and I had been hanging behind the group struggling for some time. We didn’t like the look of the 16% gradient sign and were advised by one of the other riders there was another way up the hill. M and I took the alternative route and met the others at the top of the hill. Whilst hey went straight up then rested we probably had to do another 2 miles of hill which still hurt, we might have been better off going up the steep route.
On the Bank Holiday Monday I was trashed with headache, tummy problems etc. Tuesday and Wednesday I struggled into the City for a training course at BPP financial training for the Securities Institute exams I am taking in June, not that I was ina fit state to learn anything. I just sat in the class trying to concentrate and suffering.
Thursday I got as far as the station and felt so bad I came home. I went to the doctors and diagnosed with a virus. He prescribed 7 day course of antibiotics for swollen glands and throat and ear infection.
It was quite handy going to the doctors as needed a repeat prescription for the drops I have recently been prescribed as I was diagnosed with Glaucoma which means that I need eye drops in my eyes for the rest of my life and I. I got the repeat prescription at the same time.
After only about 10 miles we met another large group (Dulwich I think) and after being a bit mixed up for a few miles we separated and upon each going our own way we found ourselves with extra rider. At about 40 miles at Lingfield we Stopped for tea and sandwich. We discovered the interloper was out for the first time with the other group and hadn’t realized there were two clubs and by the time he had realized it was too late to try to find his own riders, so he ended up doing the 70 miles with us.
Towards the end of the loop is a big hill. By this point M and I had been hanging behind the group struggling for some time. We didn’t like the look of the 16% gradient sign and were advised by one of the other riders there was another way up the hill. M and I took the alternative route and met the others at the top of the hill. Whilst hey went straight up then rested we probably had to do another 2 miles of hill which still hurt, we might have been better off going up the steep route.
On the Bank Holiday Monday I was trashed with headache, tummy problems etc. Tuesday and Wednesday I struggled into the City for a training course at BPP financial training for the Securities Institute exams I am taking in June, not that I was ina fit state to learn anything. I just sat in the class trying to concentrate and suffering.
Thursday I got as far as the station and felt so bad I came home. I went to the doctors and diagnosed with a virus. He prescribed 7 day course of antibiotics for swollen glands and throat and ear infection.
It was quite handy going to the doctors as needed a repeat prescription for the drops I have recently been prescribed as I was diagnosed with Glaucoma which means that I need eye drops in my eyes for the rest of my life and I. I got the repeat prescription at the same time.
Weekend April 24th & 25th 2009
Friday I was working from home. Late afternoon after I had finished work I jumped on my bike and did a very pleasant Box Hill run.
Saturday I went out to join the Dynamos in Richmond Park. I had not taken into account that they go out in the summer at 8:30 am so at just before 9:00 am I was cycling to the starting point when I cam across a peloton of Dynamos heading in the same direction. I jumped on the back. As we went passed the starting point (the crossraods at Sheen Gate) there was only three riders waiting? The group I was with didn’t stop but kept on moving and the three waiting riders jumped on the back. The pace was too fast for me and another guy. He and I dropped off the back and did the 4 laps together chatting. It turned out he was also an ex-oarsman from Twickenham Rowing Club and we must have been there in different squads at the same time. He also had a very interesting tale of the internet booking business he was COO for.
After the laps we stopped at the Café at Roehampton Gate with the other Dynamos for a tea before splitting up and I did another couple of laps then home.
Saturday I went out to join the Dynamos in Richmond Park. I had not taken into account that they go out in the summer at 8:30 am so at just before 9:00 am I was cycling to the starting point when I cam across a peloton of Dynamos heading in the same direction. I jumped on the back. As we went passed the starting point (the crossraods at Sheen Gate) there was only three riders waiting? The group I was with didn’t stop but kept on moving and the three waiting riders jumped on the back. The pace was too fast for me and another guy. He and I dropped off the back and did the 4 laps together chatting. It turned out he was also an ex-oarsman from Twickenham Rowing Club and we must have been there in different squads at the same time. He also had a very interesting tale of the internet booking business he was COO for.
After the laps we stopped at the Café at Roehampton Gate with the other Dynamos for a tea before splitting up and I did another couple of laps then home.
Friday 24 April 2009
Guildford Peloton Etap Reccie Trip to Ventoux
There are 10 riders and one driver booked on the Whitsun Bank Holiday Guildford Peloton Etap Reccie Trip (11 riders now, just had a late response). The hotel and a van is booked, and I assume so are everyone’s flights. Local Picon distilleries and Pizzarias have been advised of the visit.
Judging by correspondence a number of groups are going to be in the area that weekend including GPM10/Cyclefit. The road up the Ventoux is going to busy.
I have circulated an email to all the associates of the Guildford Peloton. Things are hotting up on the organisation front. I have asked the usual questions of the participants, any dietary, medical or other requirements, passports and insurance details, next of kin and disabilities (last year another group in the same hotel incurred an fatality) which I need to advise the hotel of or need to be built into the logistics. No doubt there will be the usual nil return then everyone will tell me on the aircraft and expect me to have a photocopier etc to hand, but I might be plesantly surprised.
I have also asked for peoples entries and excuses and reasons as to they qualify for any of the following categories:
I have circulated an email to all the associates of the Guildford Peloton. Things are hotting up on the organisation front. I have asked the usual questions of the participants, any dietary, medical or other requirements, passports and insurance details, next of kin and disabilities (last year another group in the same hotel incurred an fatality) which I need to advise the hotel of or need to be built into the logistics. No doubt there will be the usual nil return then everyone will tell me on the aircraft and expect me to have a photocopier etc to hand, but I might be plesantly surprised.
I have also asked for peoples entries and excuses and reasons as to they qualify for any of the following categories:
- slowest rider
- best excuse
- most unfit
- best dressed (Rapha suits are banned both on the bike and at meals)
worst dressed (baggy lycra gives extra points) - most camp / only gay in the peloton
- most drug fuelled (Fishermans Friends don't count in this category, only the category above)
- worst steed
- flashest steed
- babe on a bike (not that we are sexist but only the two girls qualify for this unless there is something one of the boys has not told us?)
I have already had excuses like broken ribs, chest infections, athletes foot and late delivery of new bikes.
We will also include the usual Yellow Jersey, Polka Dot Jersey, and Green Jersey competitions. These are wide open this year with the absence of Lance Armstrong, Carlos Sastre, Nicole Cook and the Guildford Peloton Club Champion.
These competitons are all in the spirit of good club ribbing and humour and the organising committee will consider submissions on the flight out and will verify the result on the way home. Prizes will not be awarded, only titles.
*Usual rules apply to this trip, NO YFronts under your cycling shorts
April 24th - I have my Etap Number 3778
The numbers are now coming up on the Etap site thick and fast (go to the French site not the English to find your number, there is a search facility under "Inscriptions"). I suppose that is it, I am committed now.
A friend of mine sent me an email re training in the gym. Now I might not be doing things right but here is what I replied to him.
I went to the gym last night. Majority opinion here is not to train by wattage but to train by heart rate. Most people are looking to do at least two hour sessions (some are doing up to 4 hour sessions) at around 130 bpm with a cadence of 85-95 (that should burn you over 1000 calories). At the end of the session take a note of the wattage (machine usually summarises with avg power) and compare it to a previous session (taking into account how you felt on each).
Don't worry what other people are doing, what works for you?
Training in the gym is very boring so make sure you have a radio, TV or iPod to keep you entertained, and have at least one full bottle of water if not two.
If you go too hard in the first hour you will suffer badly in the second.
I did two hours last night in the gym (boy are those gym bike saddles uncomfortable), my first sesion for a while. I must admit my heart rate was up at 138 avg. The first hour my wattage was about 180 and the second hour I dropped the wattage to about 168 because I was suffering (that was level 8 then level 7).
I suggest you consider doing a spin class at the gym before your session to break up the boredom. When the spin class finishes then jump on the regular exercise bike and do a steady ride to complete the session.
I must admit that I did 5000 metres on the rowing machine before I started the 2 hours (so overall it was a 2 hour 21 minute session).
You might consider incorporating rowing into your fitness regime. The rowing machine is very complimentary in that rowing is a leg sport and oarsmen always perform well at cycling, but it is non-impact, strengthens the lower back and upper body without adding heavy muscle (I have read that cycling neglects these muscles and can lead to problems over time). You will need to get an oarsman (rather than a fitness instructor) to teach you how to row properly on the machine (there are some good instruction videos on youtube such as www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqVmMd7FdAA), set the resistance low (about level 3 or 4) then do sessions of 5,000-10,000 metres (20 to 45 minutes) at a rating (strokes per minute) of 20-22 (top right hand box on Concept II) and wear a heart rate monitor and keep the heart rate between 120-140 bpm. Don't try to race, just to get smoothness and posture. It may feel easy to start but you will be surprised how hard it gets after 10 minutes.
As for the Etap. Treat it like an adventure. If it is your first then trust me you will be back so your aim should only be to finish. If you achieve a silver or gold great but don't go looking for them because it will ruin it for yourself. The first 80 miles is hilly/undulating and will take a toll on you but you need to have something in the tank for the last 22km (which is going to be the hardest two hours of your life) but once you are on that last 20 Km there is no point in not making it. Look to enjoy it, don't ride too hard for the first 80 miles, and just stay ahead of the broom wagon (something I might find difficult this year).
The Etap is a memorable experience, there will always be people faster or slower that you no matter how fast or slow you are. 8000 people riding makes the roads very busy and if it is a nice day very much a party atmosphere.
Take into consideration that every 100 metres you climb the temperature drops 1 degree so climbing Ventoux the temperature will drop 15 degrees between to bottom and the top!
It seems to take over your life, doesn't it?
A friend of mine sent me an email re training in the gym. Now I might not be doing things right but here is what I replied to him.
I went to the gym last night. Majority opinion here is not to train by wattage but to train by heart rate. Most people are looking to do at least two hour sessions (some are doing up to 4 hour sessions) at around 130 bpm with a cadence of 85-95 (that should burn you over 1000 calories). At the end of the session take a note of the wattage (machine usually summarises with avg power) and compare it to a previous session (taking into account how you felt on each).
Don't worry what other people are doing, what works for you?
Training in the gym is very boring so make sure you have a radio, TV or iPod to keep you entertained, and have at least one full bottle of water if not two.
If you go too hard in the first hour you will suffer badly in the second.
I did two hours last night in the gym (boy are those gym bike saddles uncomfortable), my first sesion for a while. I must admit my heart rate was up at 138 avg. The first hour my wattage was about 180 and the second hour I dropped the wattage to about 168 because I was suffering (that was level 8 then level 7).
I suggest you consider doing a spin class at the gym before your session to break up the boredom. When the spin class finishes then jump on the regular exercise bike and do a steady ride to complete the session.
I must admit that I did 5000 metres on the rowing machine before I started the 2 hours (so overall it was a 2 hour 21 minute session).
You might consider incorporating rowing into your fitness regime. The rowing machine is very complimentary in that rowing is a leg sport and oarsmen always perform well at cycling, but it is non-impact, strengthens the lower back and upper body without adding heavy muscle (I have read that cycling neglects these muscles and can lead to problems over time). You will need to get an oarsman (rather than a fitness instructor) to teach you how to row properly on the machine (there are some good instruction videos on youtube such as www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqVmMd7FdAA), set the resistance low (about level 3 or 4) then do sessions of 5,000-10,000 metres (20 to 45 minutes) at a rating (strokes per minute) of 20-22 (top right hand box on Concept II) and wear a heart rate monitor and keep the heart rate between 120-140 bpm. Don't try to race, just to get smoothness and posture. It may feel easy to start but you will be surprised how hard it gets after 10 minutes.
As for the Etap. Treat it like an adventure. If it is your first then trust me you will be back so your aim should only be to finish. If you achieve a silver or gold great but don't go looking for them because it will ruin it for yourself. The first 80 miles is hilly/undulating and will take a toll on you but you need to have something in the tank for the last 22km (which is going to be the hardest two hours of your life) but once you are on that last 20 Km there is no point in not making it. Look to enjoy it, don't ride too hard for the first 80 miles, and just stay ahead of the broom wagon (something I might find difficult this year).
The Etap is a memorable experience, there will always be people faster or slower that you no matter how fast or slow you are. 8000 people riding makes the roads very busy and if it is a nice day very much a party atmosphere.
Take into consideration that every 100 metres you climb the temperature drops 1 degree so climbing Ventoux the temperature will drop 15 degrees between to bottom and the top!
It seems to take over your life, doesn't it?
Tuesday 21 April 2009
April 21st 2009 Wot, no fitness?
I did manage two one hour sessions on the bike in the gym this week
Saturday the Guilford Peloton was riding out to Windsor. I couldn’t make it as I was on family duty.
As you will have gathered from my earlier posts it was my son’s birthday last week and as a present we gave him a Specialized Hardrock. He just fitted on the smallest adult size. During the week he had ridden around the block on it with his mother running behind but he hadn’t ridden it in anger. For this reason (and because it was sunny) we decided to take him to Richmond Park where there is a seven mile long cycling and walking track around the perimeter of the park (well, just inside the perimeter actually). I cycled to Ladderstile Gate whilst my wife and son went up in the car. We then rode our bikes on the track down towards Kingston Gate and all the way around (via Ham Gate, Richmond Gate and Sheen Gate) to the café at Roehampton Gate. We arrived at 10:15 AM just after the London Dynamos who had just finished their usual Saturday morning four laps of the park. There was some 70 or 80 of them all in the Dynamo kit drinking tea (despite being a member I didn’t have my kit on, I was wearing Corridori kit). We sat down with coffees and enjoyed the sunshine with them.
There was a plan in my madness. The Guildford Peloton was meeting here at 10:30 to start the Windsor ride. We got the opportunity to say hello to them before they set off. We then returned around the park to Ladderstile. All total my son did about 10 miles on the new bike so I deem that a success. The bike worked really well for him but I must say though, it was hard work cycling up Kingston Hill using only one hand whilst pushing my son uphill on his bike with the other!
Although I had those two sessions in the gym it made no difference to the pain I encountered getting home on Sunday. Sunday was bright and sunny but there was a cold wind. I met M in Thames Ditton and we cycled the 16 miles through Cobham to Shere to meet the rest of the Pelotooners. We had a steady ride to Shere via Cobham and arrived in plenty of time to get a coffee at the Duck whilst waiting for the others. Whilst waiting we got a text to say that there had been a delay with the trains and those arriving from Central London (via Guildford) were going to delay the peloton. As M and I were on a lunchtime curfew we decided not to wait and pressed on. We went out of Shere up to Peaslake, over to Abinger, up Leith Hill, to Coldharbour, Dorking and up Box Hill (we missed out Ranmore). As we went past the National Trust Tea Shop at the top of Box Hill we were suffering a bit. We parted further on with M heading back towards Leatherhead whilst I went on towards Walton on the Hill and Tadworth.
No sooner had we parted than I bonked. We had done 45 miles at this point and I had to stop for a gel and a drink. I then struggled painfully home the last 10 miles. It only goes to prove the old cyclist myth that you should never ride past without stopping at the National Trust Tea Shop at the top of Box Hill. In fact Big G confirmed that the same happened to him on Saturday when he tried to ride past without stopping.
I managed to get back home before curfew. I showered, bolted down some pasta and meat The Wife had prepared for me then rushed my son over to Tolworth where he was due to march up and down the High Street with the Beavers, Cubs abs Scouts for St Georges Day with a church service. Whilst he was in the church service (thankfully parents were not allowed to attend) I sat in a café holding my head (I was still recovering from the 55 miles) and drinking tea preparing for the next trial, my sons birthday bowling party for 20 nine year olds. Once the parade was over (actually I pulled him out of the parade before they reached the end as they were running late and I had to get him to the party on time) we rushed over to the bowling alley to meet his mates and bowl, followed by burgers and cake.
By the time I got home after the party I was fit for nothing, and he was as bad. My son and I lay on the bed and watched the recording I had made earlier of the Grand Prix. I picked Sebastian Vettel for my fantasy F1 team last year and he came of age, this year he is my main driver so I was pleased to see him win. Now all I have to do is engineer an introduction for him to my daughter so that I can get F1 tickets all the time. He is about the same age as her and he will be rich, and he has a nice smile, what more could she want?
Saturday the Guilford Peloton was riding out to Windsor. I couldn’t make it as I was on family duty.
As you will have gathered from my earlier posts it was my son’s birthday last week and as a present we gave him a Specialized Hardrock. He just fitted on the smallest adult size. During the week he had ridden around the block on it with his mother running behind but he hadn’t ridden it in anger. For this reason (and because it was sunny) we decided to take him to Richmond Park where there is a seven mile long cycling and walking track around the perimeter of the park (well, just inside the perimeter actually). I cycled to Ladderstile Gate whilst my wife and son went up in the car. We then rode our bikes on the track down towards Kingston Gate and all the way around (via Ham Gate, Richmond Gate and Sheen Gate) to the café at Roehampton Gate. We arrived at 10:15 AM just after the London Dynamos who had just finished their usual Saturday morning four laps of the park. There was some 70 or 80 of them all in the Dynamo kit drinking tea (despite being a member I didn’t have my kit on, I was wearing Corridori kit). We sat down with coffees and enjoyed the sunshine with them.
There was a plan in my madness. The Guildford Peloton was meeting here at 10:30 to start the Windsor ride. We got the opportunity to say hello to them before they set off. We then returned around the park to Ladderstile. All total my son did about 10 miles on the new bike so I deem that a success. The bike worked really well for him but I must say though, it was hard work cycling up Kingston Hill using only one hand whilst pushing my son uphill on his bike with the other!
Although I had those two sessions in the gym it made no difference to the pain I encountered getting home on Sunday. Sunday was bright and sunny but there was a cold wind. I met M in Thames Ditton and we cycled the 16 miles through Cobham to Shere to meet the rest of the Pelotooners. We had a steady ride to Shere via Cobham and arrived in plenty of time to get a coffee at the Duck whilst waiting for the others. Whilst waiting we got a text to say that there had been a delay with the trains and those arriving from Central London (via Guildford) were going to delay the peloton. As M and I were on a lunchtime curfew we decided not to wait and pressed on. We went out of Shere up to Peaslake, over to Abinger, up Leith Hill, to Coldharbour, Dorking and up Box Hill (we missed out Ranmore). As we went past the National Trust Tea Shop at the top of Box Hill we were suffering a bit. We parted further on with M heading back towards Leatherhead whilst I went on towards Walton on the Hill and Tadworth.
No sooner had we parted than I bonked. We had done 45 miles at this point and I had to stop for a gel and a drink. I then struggled painfully home the last 10 miles. It only goes to prove the old cyclist myth that you should never ride past without stopping at the National Trust Tea Shop at the top of Box Hill. In fact Big G confirmed that the same happened to him on Saturday when he tried to ride past without stopping.
I managed to get back home before curfew. I showered, bolted down some pasta and meat The Wife had prepared for me then rushed my son over to Tolworth where he was due to march up and down the High Street with the Beavers, Cubs abs Scouts for St Georges Day with a church service. Whilst he was in the church service (thankfully parents were not allowed to attend) I sat in a café holding my head (I was still recovering from the 55 miles) and drinking tea preparing for the next trial, my sons birthday bowling party for 20 nine year olds. Once the parade was over (actually I pulled him out of the parade before they reached the end as they were running late and I had to get him to the party on time) we rushed over to the bowling alley to meet his mates and bowl, followed by burgers and cake.
By the time I got home after the party I was fit for nothing, and he was as bad. My son and I lay on the bed and watched the recording I had made earlier of the Grand Prix. I picked Sebastian Vettel for my fantasy F1 team last year and he came of age, this year he is my main driver so I was pleased to see him win. Now all I have to do is engineer an introduction for him to my daughter so that I can get F1 tickets all the time. He is about the same age as her and he will be rich, and he has a nice smile, what more could she want?
Tuesday 14 April 2009
April 14th 2009 Wot, no training!
I have been so anxious about work that I haven't had the inclination to train. I have been very tired and not able to focus on training on the bike or in the gym (not helped by constant lunchtime meetings in my diary about integration). If I don't do some training soon I will be caught by the Etap sweep van very early.
Not this weekend just gone, but the previous weekend (Saturday April 5th), I cycled to a holiday home on the coast at a place called Bognor Regis, a 58 mile ride with 750 metres of climb over the North and South Downs. At 37 miles I was exhausted and had to stop for tea and cake before struggling the last 20 miles against the wind. I should have been able to do that in my sleep even on the little amount of training I have done recently. Very disappointing. I didn't have the inclination to even attempt to cycle home from there on the Sunday after staying overnight.
This Easter weekend I was tired and stressed all weekend. Good Friday I did a two hour bike ride in the garage on the Tacx then we had some friends and their kids over. Saturday we went to Bognor (by car this time), cycled about a bit along the sea front then had a nice dinner with a school friend, his wife and sons and his parents. Sunday was church, swimming then gardening whilst my son played football in the street with other kids. Monday was my sons 9th birthday so we went with friends and family to a local National Trust property called Polesden Lacey (those of you cycling in the Surrey Hills have probably like me seen signs for it but have never thought to go there) and did the Easter Egg hunt, had a picnic and played on the lawn and in the trees (the weather forecast was rain but it turned out a glorious day). Then they all came back to our house and created havoc.
Next weekend we will also be busy with dinner at friends on Friday night, and St Georges Day Parade and church service with the Cubs on Sunday followed by my son’s birthday party for his school pals at a local bowling alley (twenty hyper screaming 9 year old boys!). Maybe I will get a ride in on Saturday but I am aware that I have a pile of rubbish now in the garden in Bognor that needs to be taken down to the local dump and that might take priority.
I did manage an hour on the gym bike at 184 watts today lunchtime but the heart rate was up in the 150s. This was the only gym session in a good while.
Not this weekend just gone, but the previous weekend (Saturday April 5th), I cycled to a holiday home on the coast at a place called Bognor Regis, a 58 mile ride with 750 metres of climb over the North and South Downs. At 37 miles I was exhausted and had to stop for tea and cake before struggling the last 20 miles against the wind. I should have been able to do that in my sleep even on the little amount of training I have done recently. Very disappointing. I didn't have the inclination to even attempt to cycle home from there on the Sunday after staying overnight.
This Easter weekend I was tired and stressed all weekend. Good Friday I did a two hour bike ride in the garage on the Tacx then we had some friends and their kids over. Saturday we went to Bognor (by car this time), cycled about a bit along the sea front then had a nice dinner with a school friend, his wife and sons and his parents. Sunday was church, swimming then gardening whilst my son played football in the street with other kids. Monday was my sons 9th birthday so we went with friends and family to a local National Trust property called Polesden Lacey (those of you cycling in the Surrey Hills have probably like me seen signs for it but have never thought to go there) and did the Easter Egg hunt, had a picnic and played on the lawn and in the trees (the weather forecast was rain but it turned out a glorious day). Then they all came back to our house and created havoc.
Next weekend we will also be busy with dinner at friends on Friday night, and St Georges Day Parade and church service with the Cubs on Sunday followed by my son’s birthday party for his school pals at a local bowling alley (twenty hyper screaming 9 year old boys!). Maybe I will get a ride in on Saturday but I am aware that I have a pile of rubbish now in the garden in Bognor that needs to be taken down to the local dump and that might take priority.
I did manage an hour on the gym bike at 184 watts today lunchtime but the heart rate was up in the 150s. This was the only gym session in a good while.
March 31st Is it spring yet?
You will all be waiting with baited breath for the result of the West Suton little League League Cup Final Result. My sons team took an early lead only to find themselves 2-1 down a little later in the game, they turned that around to 3-2 up with one minute to got - then disaster the opposition equalised outside of the run of play. The poor parents had to suffer another half hour of tense and close play only to see our team loose 4-3 in extra time.
My training has been intermittent. I didn't ride at all last weekend (March 29th/30th). After doing 150 miles the weekend before (March 23rd) and have only done one 2 hour session in the gym in the last fortnight.
My motivation is lacking at the moment. Other people in my group are off with various illnesses and injuries and things at home quite busy and quite tense. I am looking forward to getting away to the reccie weekend at the end of May because that will make it real and give an impetus to training. It will also give me an indication as to where the others really are (you can't hide your performance when riding up French mountains)
Someone asked my why the Etap has categories for racers, spotivers etc. You probably are not aware of them if you booked through Sports Tours but the company I got my entry through (www.Etape.org.uk) asked us what category we thought we were which influences our race numbers. Also if you look at your number on the Etap site you will see you have been categorised. I have no idea about the organisation for the Etap or why there are different categories as it doesn't seem to make one jot of difference to your start number as far as I can see. I just accept the number I get given because I can't influence it. I am not worried about the first 80 miles - just from there to the finish scares the life out of me.
At least it is getting lighter and warmer here in the UK (so I am told as our office has no windows that let in light, we do have great big picture windows which look out at the ground floor of a 42 storey building 10 feet away so we can't tell whether it is light, dark, sunny or rainy, all we see is the odd pigeon trapped until it rises out of the dark).
On Saturday March 22nd in the morning I did family stuff at the garden centre. We then went to Corridori, the bike shop in Banstead as I wanted to get some energy gels and other bits. Whilst we were there we ended up buying a bicycle (no, not for me unfortunately) for my son’s birthday. We got him a Specialized Rock Hopper. He just fitted on a small adult size but it is considerably lighter than his current bike. He doesn't know we got it and will be (hopefully pleasantly) surprised on his birthday.
As soon as we got home Big G rang me. He had popped into the cycle shop to pick up some bits and they told him I had just left. We then arranged to go out that afternoon. We did 51 miles fairly fast over Leith Hill, probably fastest G has done it on the Bianchi recently anyway (he has been faster on his Look 595 bike). I was really feeling it on my legs.
Sunday I did a 100 mile ride between Reading and Basingstoke and back, a big loop, with a friend and his mates that were raising money through sponsorship for a mate of theirs who has been disabled in an accident. I left the house at 5:30 AM and drove to Reading. There were three of them on aluminium or steel hybrids and me on my carbon racing bike. We set off at 7:15 am at between 14 and 15 mph. The first major stop was just under 6 hours later when we had covered 62 miles (100 km). We stopped at a pub for a roast dinner and treacle pudding and custard (energy food). We then proceeded to finish off the ride with the average speed dropping to 10 mph. The last 20 miles was a real struggle for them and at one point I wondered if they would finish, but energy gels and Ibuprofen (for the knee problems they were suffering) got them through. They did really well and finished the ride at 17:30 some 10 and a quarter hours after starting. The M4 on the way home was a nightmare and I didn't get home until after 8:00 PM. Big trouble with The Wife.
The week after was very busy. On the Monday I was out last night with Big G and a couple of old friends from Barclays Rowing Club. Thursday I drove up to Leicester with my son to see my daughter at university and to visit the National Space Center - bet you didn’t know the UK had one, I didn't! Friday night I was out at drink up for a secondee I have been buddying for the last 6 months. The wife is not happy at all with me being out so much, more negative brownie points. Really in the doghouse badly, desperately need some brownie points but can't see any opportunity this week.
Mothers Day? Was it March 23rd: Oops! It was Mothers Day on the Sunday March 23rd in the UK (different date from the US and Australian Mothers Day) and as I had not seen my mum for a long time I should really have been seeing my Mum and my wife rather than cycling around Berkshire, Surrey and Buckinghamshire. Next year , maybe.
My training has been intermittent. I didn't ride at all last weekend (March 29th/30th). After doing 150 miles the weekend before (March 23rd) and have only done one 2 hour session in the gym in the last fortnight.
My motivation is lacking at the moment. Other people in my group are off with various illnesses and injuries and things at home quite busy and quite tense. I am looking forward to getting away to the reccie weekend at the end of May because that will make it real and give an impetus to training. It will also give me an indication as to where the others really are (you can't hide your performance when riding up French mountains)
Someone asked my why the Etap has categories for racers, spotivers etc. You probably are not aware of them if you booked through Sports Tours but the company I got my entry through (www.Etape.org.uk) asked us what category we thought we were which influences our race numbers. Also if you look at your number on the Etap site you will see you have been categorised. I have no idea about the organisation for the Etap or why there are different categories as it doesn't seem to make one jot of difference to your start number as far as I can see. I just accept the number I get given because I can't influence it. I am not worried about the first 80 miles - just from there to the finish scares the life out of me.
At least it is getting lighter and warmer here in the UK (so I am told as our office has no windows that let in light, we do have great big picture windows which look out at the ground floor of a 42 storey building 10 feet away so we can't tell whether it is light, dark, sunny or rainy, all we see is the odd pigeon trapped until it rises out of the dark).
On Saturday March 22nd in the morning I did family stuff at the garden centre. We then went to Corridori, the bike shop in Banstead as I wanted to get some energy gels and other bits. Whilst we were there we ended up buying a bicycle (no, not for me unfortunately) for my son’s birthday. We got him a Specialized Rock Hopper. He just fitted on a small adult size but it is considerably lighter than his current bike. He doesn't know we got it and will be (hopefully pleasantly) surprised on his birthday.
As soon as we got home Big G rang me. He had popped into the cycle shop to pick up some bits and they told him I had just left. We then arranged to go out that afternoon. We did 51 miles fairly fast over Leith Hill, probably fastest G has done it on the Bianchi recently anyway (he has been faster on his Look 595 bike). I was really feeling it on my legs.
Sunday I did a 100 mile ride between Reading and Basingstoke and back, a big loop, with a friend and his mates that were raising money through sponsorship for a mate of theirs who has been disabled in an accident. I left the house at 5:30 AM and drove to Reading. There were three of them on aluminium or steel hybrids and me on my carbon racing bike. We set off at 7:15 am at between 14 and 15 mph. The first major stop was just under 6 hours later when we had covered 62 miles (100 km). We stopped at a pub for a roast dinner and treacle pudding and custard (energy food). We then proceeded to finish off the ride with the average speed dropping to 10 mph. The last 20 miles was a real struggle for them and at one point I wondered if they would finish, but energy gels and Ibuprofen (for the knee problems they were suffering) got them through. They did really well and finished the ride at 17:30 some 10 and a quarter hours after starting. The M4 on the way home was a nightmare and I didn't get home until after 8:00 PM. Big trouble with The Wife.
The week after was very busy. On the Monday I was out last night with Big G and a couple of old friends from Barclays Rowing Club. Thursday I drove up to Leicester with my son to see my daughter at university and to visit the National Space Center - bet you didn’t know the UK had one, I didn't! Friday night I was out at drink up for a secondee I have been buddying for the last 6 months. The wife is not happy at all with me being out so much, more negative brownie points. Really in the doghouse badly, desperately need some brownie points but can't see any opportunity this week.
Mothers Day? Was it March 23rd: Oops! It was Mothers Day on the Sunday March 23rd in the UK (different date from the US and Australian Mothers Day) and as I had not seen my mum for a long time I should really have been seeing my Mum and my wife rather than cycling around Berkshire, Surrey and Buckinghamshire. Next year , maybe.
Friday 13 March 2009
March 13th 2009 The story continues
I have been very lax about training recently, result of stress of the job and a bit of virus. I have not done an ergo on the rowing machine for about a month. My only exercise has been the odd cycle.
I have now managed to get an entry for the Etap through Ron at Etap.org. The introduction was through a friend in Australia. I had tried Ron late last year but got no luck but this time he had someone who had pulled out and I had 48 hours to get my medical form signed by my doctor and in to Ron with my money. Have you ever tried to get a doctors appointment in a hurry? In the end I camped out at the surgery in the morning and was fortunate enough to get a slot within the hour and now I am just waiting to find out my start number.
I did the SWRC 100 Km race on Sunday March 8th. The weather forecast was for poor weather and I wasn’t feeling great. I felt so bad that on the morning I couldn’t be bothered to cycle to the start so I got the train to Leatherhead and cycled the two miles from there to the start. The weather turned out to be really good. Last year I managed 3:59 and this year I managed 3:56 although the course was about a mile shorter this year and with about 70 metres less climb. S from Milton Keynes was two minutes behind me last year but this year beat me by two minutes. At least that shows my fitness is on par with this time last year. After the race I used the return portion of my ticket and got the train home. It started to pour with rain just as I got in the door.
There was one weekend a few weeks ago when my wife and son were in Ireland for the weekend seeing Nana and I took the opportunity to get a 93 mile ride in. I rode down to Bury Hill just north of Arundel and back. It was that glorious Sunday when we all thought winter had finally come to an end (wrong!) and at 58 miles I was sitting outside a café in the sunshine eating beans on toast and drinking tea: Yes, that is one of the good bits in the life of a cyclist.
My son has been playing football. Mixed results with a loss, a draw and finally an 8-0 win. This means that whereas they won the pre Christmas league undefeated, in the post Christmas league (the season operates in two halves) the team will end up middle of the table. They are however in the League Champions Final (Pre Christmas League Winner versus Post Christmas League Winner) in a fortnight’s time. In addition they were knocked out of The Cup competition at the semi-final stage.
Playing the football in this team this season has vastly helped his confidence and that has been reflected in his sports at school. Also, whereas he wanted to be in goal all the time at the start of the season he now wants to be out on the field. The problem here is that he has proved to be capable in goal so the teams all want him there.
Have you ever had to organise a Bank Holiday trip for a club? I have had to take the bull by the horns and organise the Etap Reccie trip for the Guilford Peloton. First we all booked our flights (Gatwick Marseille with BA) and this went without a hitch. Then we moved on to thinking about the accommodation. It seems that the weekend we want to go, May 21st to 25th, is Ascension and in France this is a national holiday meaning most hotels are already fully booked. After establishing that there would be initially between 10 and 13 riders and one driver I had to find accommodation for us all. Craig at Veloventoux.com was unable to accommodate us but kindly helped us find a cyclist friendly hotel in Nyons. This is about 40 Km into the 2009 Etap course and looks an ideal spot. I have initially reserved 6 rooms and when the number of riders coming stabilises (one has already dropped out because of work) I can finalise numbers and menus with the hotel.
My daughter seems to have a new boyfriend. This news she published on Facebook. She has allowed me to be a Facebook friend so I was able to see the announcement. I Googled him and came up with a picture of him on his football teams website. I copied the picture and sent it to her by email with the question “Is this him” to which I got the reply “I don’t believe you Googled him!” What is a father supposed to do? I just wanted to know he didn’t have two heads.
Tuesday 10 February 2009
February 8th 2009 There is no business like snow business
We had snow Monday & Tuesday (in case you didn’t notice or see it on the news). I woke up Monday morning, looked out of the window. I saw the deep snow and immediately determined that there was no way the trains would be running today and went back to bed. I was right, no trains Monday, or Tuesday (although Tuesday I did very cautiously drive up to the end of the Underground to drop my wife off so she could go to work, but could not risk parking the car and having it stuck/buried in the foot deep snow in the car park, so I wasn’t able to go in myself, I teleconferenced from home).
Cheam on Monday was like a Victorian Christmas scene. Families out walking in the snow. Roads covered in deep snow, very few vehicles, snow ball fights and snowmen everywhere you looked. We made snowmen, had lunch in a local Italian cafe (it was packed with families, not what you expect on a Monday lunchtime) then we walked in the snow over to some friends for a cup of tea, then walked back home to play in the snow again with the neighbours children.
After two days at home and having spent lots of my time building snowmen my back now reminds me of it every time I move. Jolly heavy lifting those snow balls to make snowmens bodies and heads.
My trains to Waterloo were back in service Wednesday morning but every second train was cancelled and my usual train was delayed 25 minutes. It was the same Thursday. The train company’s excuse was that the snow and ice had damaged the electricals on their rolling stock and the engineers were working flat out to repair the trains.
My son was still off school Wednesday but as my wife and I were back at work he had to go to the childminders. The school was waiting on bulldozers to clear the car park and playground of a foot of snow (otherwise parents could not drop off and caterers would not deliver). He went back Thursday and they had a snowman competition in the car park.
No gym visits this week or turbo sessions in the garage.
Saturday Football cancelled as there was snow on ground and it was cold.
Saturday afternoon I wrestled with TACX imagic. It seemed to have blown a fuse and I ended up doing 2 hours without using the computer and video assistance, just my Polar CS600. I completed 32 miles but was again bushwacked. Saturday night I was dead from the training but still managed to stay up (well, lay on the couch) until midnight watching Forest Gump after my wife went to bed early.
Sunday I couldn’t ride as I was helping at a 9th birthday party at Croydon. It was a bowling party with seven 8/9 year olds and one 5 year old. Chaos reigned. I left the house at 9:15 AM and didn't get home until 14:30. Eight boys aged 8/9 and us two fathers. It was hard work. I had no enegy to train so I did admin in the afternoon whilst my wife did homework with my son
Sunday M ventured out on the roads of Surrey with J, another Pelotooner. They were out for 60 Km in the snowy waste of Surrey. I also noticed that another friend cycled from Cranleigh and he commented on Facebook about how few people were out cycling. They were too brave for me.
Sunday night we were all tired and went to a local Toby Jug carvery. Amazing value, all you can eat carvery roast for £7.50 adults and £4.50 children. Total bill was £24 not including drinks from the bar. Food was excellent but the place was extremely popular and very crowded.
All in all not a very productive week and weekend from a training perspective, however, before we complain too much about our weather spare a though for those Australians who are suffering a extraodinary heatwave with terrible fires destroying their houses.
Cheam on Monday was like a Victorian Christmas scene. Families out walking in the snow. Roads covered in deep snow, very few vehicles, snow ball fights and snowmen everywhere you looked. We made snowmen, had lunch in a local Italian cafe (it was packed with families, not what you expect on a Monday lunchtime) then we walked in the snow over to some friends for a cup of tea, then walked back home to play in the snow again with the neighbours children.
After two days at home and having spent lots of my time building snowmen my back now reminds me of it every time I move. Jolly heavy lifting those snow balls to make snowmens bodies and heads.
My trains to Waterloo were back in service Wednesday morning but every second train was cancelled and my usual train was delayed 25 minutes. It was the same Thursday. The train company’s excuse was that the snow and ice had damaged the electricals on their rolling stock and the engineers were working flat out to repair the trains.
My son was still off school Wednesday but as my wife and I were back at work he had to go to the childminders. The school was waiting on bulldozers to clear the car park and playground of a foot of snow (otherwise parents could not drop off and caterers would not deliver). He went back Thursday and they had a snowman competition in the car park.
No gym visits this week or turbo sessions in the garage.
Saturday Football cancelled as there was snow on ground and it was cold.
Saturday afternoon I wrestled with TACX imagic. It seemed to have blown a fuse and I ended up doing 2 hours without using the computer and video assistance, just my Polar CS600. I completed 32 miles but was again bushwacked. Saturday night I was dead from the training but still managed to stay up (well, lay on the couch) until midnight watching Forest Gump after my wife went to bed early.
Sunday I couldn’t ride as I was helping at a 9th birthday party at Croydon. It was a bowling party with seven 8/9 year olds and one 5 year old. Chaos reigned. I left the house at 9:15 AM and didn't get home until 14:30. Eight boys aged 8/9 and us two fathers. It was hard work. I had no enegy to train so I did admin in the afternoon whilst my wife did homework with my son
Sunday M ventured out on the roads of Surrey with J, another Pelotooner. They were out for 60 Km in the snowy waste of Surrey. I also noticed that another friend cycled from Cranleigh and he commented on Facebook about how few people were out cycling. They were too brave for me.
Sunday night we were all tired and went to a local Toby Jug carvery. Amazing value, all you can eat carvery roast for £7.50 adults and £4.50 children. Total bill was £24 not including drinks from the bar. Food was excellent but the place was extremely popular and very crowded.
All in all not a very productive week and weekend from a training perspective, however, before we complain too much about our weather spare a though for those Australians who are suffering a extraodinary heatwave with terrible fires destroying their houses.
February 1st 2009 How to overtrain!
Monday, I was down the gym and did an excellent time on the rowing machine. Because I hadn’t trained over the weekend I was feeling good and knocked another 20 seconds off my recent performances, however, I had overdone it. In the evening my boss was having leaving drinks but I had to leave the drinks early feeling poorly. I didn’t really feel better until Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday evening I did manage 2 hours on the bike in the gym. I took it very gently.
I have entered the 2009 Dragon Ride. Last year we booked our hotels at Christmas staying at the Premier Lodge on the M4 service station. This year I had yet to arrange accommodation for Dragon Ride. When I was prompted/ reminded by another Pelotooner I immediately started phoning around the local hotels in Bridgend. It seems all the hotels within 10 miles of the start are already fully booked. Tourism in Wales that weekend looks like it is picking up. I had a brainwave (thats the one and only for 2009 used up) and remembered that my parents had friends in that part of the world and so I rang them. It turns out they live half way around the Dragon but their son and his family live only 3 miles from the start and they have offered myself and M the spare room for the Saturday night. I think we might be babysitting the kids whilst Mum and Dad get an evening out.
M saw a Time VXR Edge advertised by The Green Bike Company on their website. It was an ex-demonstrator going about half price. He was looking for a winter bike so he could put his Look 585 away and save it for the summer (although this Time is better than a winter bike). He bought it and will be testing it over the coming weeks.
Saturday afternoon I did 44 miles with Big G. We had a leisurely ride around Surrey in the good weather and had a good chinwag stopping for tea, a pastie and cake at the National Trust tea shop on the top of Box Hill. Incidentally, I was reading an article in one of the cycling magazines and it confirmed that it is illegal for a cyclist to pass this tea shop without stopping for tea and cake so it is official, you have to stop there.
Sunday I was supposed to be going out with M and I was not looking forward to it as the forecast was bad. I got up, got dressed in my cycle gear, I then received a telephone call from M to say he was feeling poorly. I was relieved I didn’t have to go out in that cold weather. I wasn’t going to let myself off so I went into the garage and got on the TACX imagic. I did two and a half hours of cycling up the Peyresaud and the Aspin. I must admit I was in the easiest gear all the way up the mountains (I was still pushing 160 watts) and after an hour and a half I had to take a 10 minute break. It was a tough workout and I wished that the old bike I am using on the TACK had more gears.
Tuesday evening I did manage 2 hours on the bike in the gym. I took it very gently.
I have entered the 2009 Dragon Ride. Last year we booked our hotels at Christmas staying at the Premier Lodge on the M4 service station. This year I had yet to arrange accommodation for Dragon Ride. When I was prompted/ reminded by another Pelotooner I immediately started phoning around the local hotels in Bridgend. It seems all the hotels within 10 miles of the start are already fully booked. Tourism in Wales that weekend looks like it is picking up. I had a brainwave (thats the one and only for 2009 used up) and remembered that my parents had friends in that part of the world and so I rang them. It turns out they live half way around the Dragon but their son and his family live only 3 miles from the start and they have offered myself and M the spare room for the Saturday night. I think we might be babysitting the kids whilst Mum and Dad get an evening out.
M saw a Time VXR Edge advertised by The Green Bike Company on their website. It was an ex-demonstrator going about half price. He was looking for a winter bike so he could put his Look 585 away and save it for the summer (although this Time is better than a winter bike). He bought it and will be testing it over the coming weeks.
Saturday afternoon I did 44 miles with Big G. We had a leisurely ride around Surrey in the good weather and had a good chinwag stopping for tea, a pastie and cake at the National Trust tea shop on the top of Box Hill. Incidentally, I was reading an article in one of the cycling magazines and it confirmed that it is illegal for a cyclist to pass this tea shop without stopping for tea and cake so it is official, you have to stop there.
Sunday I was supposed to be going out with M and I was not looking forward to it as the forecast was bad. I got up, got dressed in my cycle gear, I then received a telephone call from M to say he was feeling poorly. I was relieved I didn’t have to go out in that cold weather. I wasn’t going to let myself off so I went into the garage and got on the TACX imagic. I did two and a half hours of cycling up the Peyresaud and the Aspin. I must admit I was in the easiest gear all the way up the mountains (I was still pushing 160 watts) and after an hour and a half I had to take a 10 minute break. It was a tough workout and I wished that the old bike I am using on the TACK had more gears.
January 25th 2009 Wot no cycling?
Thursday and Friday I was at a conference (the UK Asset Liability Managers Association at Runnymede, where the Magna Carta was signed just after lunch 1215 AD) and the food at the dinner Thursday night and the lunch on Friday were absolutely excellent. I can certainly recommend the Runnymede hotel even if it is right next to junction 13c of the M25. I think I might have put on a few pounds in those two days. The speakers and discussions were good too.
My son’s football was cancelled Saturday morning as the pitches were waterlogged. At least he was able to go to his tennis in the afternoon (after playing tennis on the Nintendo Wii he got for Christmas he has decided he wants to play tennis again so in our local park there is a group session for children on Saturday afternoons).
I didn't manage to get to cycle though as Saturday I decided I had some jobs to do in the house in Bognor so I drove down there with my tools. It was glorious down there and there were lots of people out promenading along the front. I wished that I could have forgotten the DIY and got the bike out of the garage for a quick cycle (I keep an old Bennotto in the garage down there, old but perfectly useable).
When I got up Sunday morning it was raining heavily and my lawn was a lake. It didn't look like letting up so I texted the lads and cancelled. I had also arranged to ride with Big G but I also texted him to cancel. This meant that I was delegated to take my son to Church Parade (he is a Cub Scout and they have to parade each month) so that my wife could have a leisurely morning with her mother and sister who were over visiting for the weekend from Dublin. That took up my morning and was followed by a roast lunch after which it is not possible to train on a full stomach.
Late afternoon, whilst my wife dropped her mother and sister back at Heathrow (air traffic control will not allow broomsticks to fly cross border unless originating from an approved airfield), I swapped my bike off my old turbo to the TACX iMagic I have borrowed off my brother. It was not altogether a successful exercise as the computer is telling me there appears to be a file missing that is stopping me using all the facilities. I cannot use the default video settings and have to use the real video? I will have to get my brother to look at it next time he is over my way.
What a write off the weekend was for my cycling. As a result I will have to motivate myself to get an extra session in the gym this week to make up.
Have you all got your entry in for the SWRC100 on March 8th?
My son’s football was cancelled Saturday morning as the pitches were waterlogged. At least he was able to go to his tennis in the afternoon (after playing tennis on the Nintendo Wii he got for Christmas he has decided he wants to play tennis again so in our local park there is a group session for children on Saturday afternoons).
I didn't manage to get to cycle though as Saturday I decided I had some jobs to do in the house in Bognor so I drove down there with my tools. It was glorious down there and there were lots of people out promenading along the front. I wished that I could have forgotten the DIY and got the bike out of the garage for a quick cycle (I keep an old Bennotto in the garage down there, old but perfectly useable).
When I got up Sunday morning it was raining heavily and my lawn was a lake. It didn't look like letting up so I texted the lads and cancelled. I had also arranged to ride with Big G but I also texted him to cancel. This meant that I was delegated to take my son to Church Parade (he is a Cub Scout and they have to parade each month) so that my wife could have a leisurely morning with her mother and sister who were over visiting for the weekend from Dublin. That took up my morning and was followed by a roast lunch after which it is not possible to train on a full stomach.
Late afternoon, whilst my wife dropped her mother and sister back at Heathrow (air traffic control will not allow broomsticks to fly cross border unless originating from an approved airfield), I swapped my bike off my old turbo to the TACX iMagic I have borrowed off my brother. It was not altogether a successful exercise as the computer is telling me there appears to be a file missing that is stopping me using all the facilities. I cannot use the default video settings and have to use the real video? I will have to get my brother to look at it next time he is over my way.
What a write off the weekend was for my cycling. As a result I will have to motivate myself to get an extra session in the gym this week to make up.
Have you all got your entry in for the SWRC100 on March 8th?
Tuesday 20 January 2009
Sunday January 18th 2009
This week I was prompted to put together the Guildford Peloton Club Calendar. This list, which is below, is a list of events that members (used loosely) will be looking to do together with a list of other events that may or may not occur. I myself will be doing some of these plus maybe if Team MK are up for it, the odd Audax.
Despite some brave talk about actually forming a club rather than being a stylish group of cyclist who email each other daily with brave and courageous intentions, meet up occasionally for a ride, letch over each others bikes, and have even been known to get together to go to the cinema in Leicester Square (the Guilford Peloton trip to see The Flying Scotsman, a film about Graham Obree, followed by a gourmet burger), nothing ever came of it. There has even been talk about setting up a Guildford Peloton website but these ideas came to grief when a rebellious and more recent section of the members wanted to change the name to the Picon Peloton.
Guildford Peloton Club Calendar
February TBA Box Hill Time Time Trial Leg 1
March 1st Puncehur Sportive near Brighton
March 8th 2009 SWRC 100
March TBA Box Hill Time Time Trial Leg 2
April TBA Box Hill Time Time Trial Leg 3
May 10th 2009 Hampshire Hilly Hundred
May 17th 2009 Etap Caledonia -
May 21st-25th 2009 Etap Reccie - Mont Ventoux
May 31st 2009 Chiltern 100
June TBA Box Hill Time Time Trial Leg 4
June 14th 2009 Dragon Ride -
July 4th 2009 Marmotte
July 20th 2009 Etap du Tour
July/ Aug TBA Family BBQ and Fun Day - (Venue top of Box Hill)
July/Aug/Sept TBA Club Championship - tba (Venue Guilford Velodrome)
July/Aug/Sept TBA Club AGM - (Venue Provisionally - National trust Tea Shop Box Hill)
September TBA Surrey Legs of Steel
Oct/Nov TBA Club Dinner & Dance
October 18th 2009 Gran Fondo Giro de Lombardia -
After last weeks Watership Down Audax in Winchester I had a headache until well into Monday afternoon. Suggestions that it may be dehydration are probably partially right, but some of the cause might be stress around the current demise of my employers HBOS. Either way the headache has now gone away.
Training was sparse this week with just an hour and a half on Wednesday in the garage on the turbo, followed by the usual striptease in front of the washing machine (The Wife won’t let me in the house dripping of sweat) and the naked dash of shame to the shower. I still haven’t set up the TACX IMagic so I am still using my circa 1990 rusty turbo.
Thursday my son had a rugby match (tag rugby). Year 4 was all called to the gym to get instructions at morning break. My son was told that he had been promoted to the A Team which pleased him, and he was even more pleased when they won 8-6.
Saturday I had to take my son to football. His team was missing their best player so it was a real psychological game. Would the team still be good without their best man? If they won it would be a real boost for the team. In the end they lost 3-2 but it was a good game not helped by the second best player getting a blister from his new boots and being out the game whist I rummaged through a dustbin full of smelly old football boots to try to find him another pair that he could use that fitted him better. Once he had the second pair of boots he was back on the pitch.
Saturday afternoon The Wife had me back out in the garden clearing up where the trellis had been removed over Christmas. It was a lovely day for gardening but jolly hard work moving bushes and flowerbeds and filling 15 bags with soil and carting it down the dump.
Sunday was my first ride since the previous Sunday. 8:15 AM I cycled over to Surbiton to meet M and together we cycled down through Esher and Cobham to Shere. The Peloton were meeting in Shere at 10:00 AM and we arrived about 2 minutes late to find everyone waiting. A number live in London and had taken the 9:12 train to Guildford from Waterloo rather than cycle down as M and I had. No time for a coffee in the Lucky Duck! There were seven of us and we cycled north up the hill and along the ridge, down Ranmore Common into Dorking then up Box Hill. There we stopped for refreshment (they had lovely Coffee and Walnut sponge cake; I had to have a piece to top up my fuel reserves). This was followed by an 8 mile circuit at speed around Box Hill and then we all parted at Rykers Café before M and I went back up Box Hill and home (the others headed back to Guilford).
We managed just over 55 miles on the Sunday morning ride. One of the guys had a camera and has posted the pictures on the web. Try the attached link.
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/cmoar1/PiconPelotonDoGuildfordDorkingColDuBoxOnAWintryMorning?feat=directlink#
I got home and The Wife advised me she had been clearing up the garden and had another car load to go to the dump. I had to advise her that the dump closes at 13:00 on Sundays in the winter so that wasn’t possible. It wasn't received well as you can imagine, especially as her mother and sister will be coming over from Ireland for a long weekend this week and the house has to be pristine. A pile of bags of soil and rubbish still sitting on the patio awaiting transportation to the dump when they arrive is just not acceptable. In the end we ended up going to Kingston shopping (son needed a new mouth guard for rugby) followed by church.
Despite some brave talk about actually forming a club rather than being a stylish group of cyclist who email each other daily with brave and courageous intentions, meet up occasionally for a ride, letch over each others bikes, and have even been known to get together to go to the cinema in Leicester Square (the Guilford Peloton trip to see The Flying Scotsman, a film about Graham Obree, followed by a gourmet burger), nothing ever came of it. There has even been talk about setting up a Guildford Peloton website but these ideas came to grief when a rebellious and more recent section of the members wanted to change the name to the Picon Peloton.
Guildford Peloton Club Calendar
February TBA Box Hill Time Time Trial Leg 1
March 1st Puncehur Sportive near Brighton
March 8th 2009 SWRC 100
March TBA Box Hill Time Time Trial Leg 2
April TBA Box Hill Time Time Trial Leg 3
May 10th 2009 Hampshire Hilly Hundred
May 17th 2009 Etap Caledonia -
May 21st-25th 2009 Etap Reccie - Mont Ventoux
May 31st 2009 Chiltern 100
June TBA Box Hill Time Time Trial Leg 4
June 14th 2009 Dragon Ride -
July 4th 2009 Marmotte
July 20th 2009 Etap du Tour
July/ Aug TBA Family BBQ and Fun Day - (Venue top of Box Hill)
July/Aug/Sept TBA Club Championship - tba (Venue Guilford Velodrome)
July/Aug/Sept TBA Club AGM - (Venue Provisionally - National trust Tea Shop Box Hill)
September TBA Surrey Legs of Steel
Oct/Nov TBA Club Dinner & Dance
October 18th 2009 Gran Fondo Giro de Lombardia -
After last weeks Watership Down Audax in Winchester I had a headache until well into Monday afternoon. Suggestions that it may be dehydration are probably partially right, but some of the cause might be stress around the current demise of my employers HBOS. Either way the headache has now gone away.
Training was sparse this week with just an hour and a half on Wednesday in the garage on the turbo, followed by the usual striptease in front of the washing machine (The Wife won’t let me in the house dripping of sweat) and the naked dash of shame to the shower. I still haven’t set up the TACX IMagic so I am still using my circa 1990 rusty turbo.
Thursday my son had a rugby match (tag rugby). Year 4 was all called to the gym to get instructions at morning break. My son was told that he had been promoted to the A Team which pleased him, and he was even more pleased when they won 8-6.
Saturday I had to take my son to football. His team was missing their best player so it was a real psychological game. Would the team still be good without their best man? If they won it would be a real boost for the team. In the end they lost 3-2 but it was a good game not helped by the second best player getting a blister from his new boots and being out the game whist I rummaged through a dustbin full of smelly old football boots to try to find him another pair that he could use that fitted him better. Once he had the second pair of boots he was back on the pitch.
Saturday afternoon The Wife had me back out in the garden clearing up where the trellis had been removed over Christmas. It was a lovely day for gardening but jolly hard work moving bushes and flowerbeds and filling 15 bags with soil and carting it down the dump.
Sunday was my first ride since the previous Sunday. 8:15 AM I cycled over to Surbiton to meet M and together we cycled down through Esher and Cobham to Shere. The Peloton were meeting in Shere at 10:00 AM and we arrived about 2 minutes late to find everyone waiting. A number live in London and had taken the 9:12 train to Guildford from Waterloo rather than cycle down as M and I had. No time for a coffee in the Lucky Duck! There were seven of us and we cycled north up the hill and along the ridge, down Ranmore Common into Dorking then up Box Hill. There we stopped for refreshment (they had lovely Coffee and Walnut sponge cake; I had to have a piece to top up my fuel reserves). This was followed by an 8 mile circuit at speed around Box Hill and then we all parted at Rykers Café before M and I went back up Box Hill and home (the others headed back to Guilford).
We managed just over 55 miles on the Sunday morning ride. One of the guys had a camera and has posted the pictures on the web. Try the attached link.
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/cmoar1/PiconPelotonDoGuildfordDorkingColDuBoxOnAWintryMorning?feat=directlink#
I got home and The Wife advised me she had been clearing up the garden and had another car load to go to the dump. I had to advise her that the dump closes at 13:00 on Sundays in the winter so that wasn’t possible. It wasn't received well as you can imagine, especially as her mother and sister will be coming over from Ireland for a long weekend this week and the house has to be pristine. A pile of bags of soil and rubbish still sitting on the patio awaiting transportation to the dump when they arrive is just not acceptable. In the end we ended up going to Kingston shopping (son needed a new mouth guard for rugby) followed by church.
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