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.
Monday, 18 May 2009
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.
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