So here it is.
There was no snow.
The sun shone.
And I gave myself a gift…
It’s a metaphor. For the wheels of time turning. For answers blowing in the wind. Or it’s just a windmill ;).
Cycling time: 1:05:11 hrs
Distance: 17.1 miles
Avs: 15.7 mph.
ODO: 1142.65 miles
This week I’m having a birthday. I’m a bit like the Queen, I celebrate as many times as possible. Since this year, my day falls exactly mid-week, aka as this Wednesday, this means I get to do something the weekend before, and on the day itself, and after work the day after, and then also the following weekend, and hey, I figure ten days that are all about me can’t be bad, right? 😉 *grin*. Allegedly my life begins this year, which means that I have an even better reason for celebrating than usual. I know, celebrating birthdays is a bit de trop. Admitting my age is not supposed to be the done thing. But look at is this way, when you’re moaning about the fact that you’re getting older…consider the alternative! Life’s too short, remember? So yes, whether I want to admit it to you or not, I’m going to be 40. Older, but not wiser, as you’ll see…
Being me, something I now clearly have some experience of, at least one element of this epic celebration had to include a ride, so I planned a birthday ride. Well, to be fair, I picked a date, set up a Facebook event, invited those to whom spending a few hours on a bike doesn’t seem like some form of insanity, and GB sorted us a route. It’s sometimes not more complicated than you think.
Until it snows that is. Honestly, more snow? Really? After the Lionheart we were all like, well, at least this means it won’t snow next weekend, right? That’ll larn us. What is it with the weather this month? Moan, whinge, do the English talk about the weather thing…
Nonetheless 12 of us turned up, at HQ, which in this instance was the Swindon Holiday Inn Express by Jct 16 of the M4 – easily accessible by trains, planes & automobiles. We were, variously, George & Simon, Peter (Mr Tour of Pembrokeshire), Gaz, Figgy (aka Chris), Herbie, Sean & James (fellow Cyclosport writers,), Martyn, GB, and The Pixie (aka Mark). Only one rider had bailed due to the weather, showing how hardcore we clearly are. However in deference to the fallen white stuff, GB shortened the route a little to avoid nasty descents in the slush. But we didn’t bail. Which is where our sanity comes into question…
“It’s not a sportive, it’s not a race, we take no responsibility, and off we go”…to précis GB’s rider briefing. So off we went. I can’t tell you much about the ride. Strava can. Both GB and Gaz have done a better job of writing about it than I’m going to. I do know it was cold, and that it was windy with it. It was, surprisingly, pretty much dry. But it was also bl**dy hard work! On a good day, it would be a stunning route. On a arctic day, it still had its moments, what with Avebury, white horses, all the picturesque snow, trees, & hazy views. I had my moments too, early on at least, but I was mostly outclassed, and to be honest, I was not having a good day. Which is a massive understatement. Initially I thought it was a hangover, since Peter had decided the night before that it was up to him to get me drunk, a task he attacked with aplomb, and I don’t suppose that helped. Nice Pinot Grigio though ;). However the hangover did not go away…and riding is usually the best cure out there for that. Which was probably a harbinger of what was to come. Clearly I had made the decision, since it’s a one or the other thing not both, to opt for celebratory drinking over the weekend, rather than taking painkillers. This turned out to be a monumentally bad call as, with cosmically bad timing, I was in for my worst patch so far…*sigh*. 20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing. I apologise for metaphorically bleeding all over you guys – you were very tolerant!
After a session slogging down the A4 to Marlborough into the headwind, where the group split up to play with the traffic, leaving me on my own in the middle somewhere to get on with it, a coffee stop was less desirable, more essential. I may well have a quasi-religious relationship with coffee, in which case GB’s choice of venue was more than appropriate ;).
It was perfect. Large, friendly, plenty of bike parking opportunities, even inside for the more cautious of us. They put together tables for us especially, so that we could all sit together. Or to keep us away from all the other “normal” customers ;). The coffee was lovely – I think – it could have been instant at the point and I’d still have loved it. And the flapjack that youngest had made for me to take with me didn’t go amiss either. Maybe I should have had more than a banana and bad hotel coffee for breakfast? I got to sit back, listen to the conversation, enjoy the company, watch Figgy eat (it’s traditional) and if it had been a bit warmer it’s distinctly possible that I would never have left. Parting was such sweet sorrow…
…but it was time for another twenty unseasonal miles. There was a degree of elasticity to the group, having brought some race snakes out with us (when will I learn? ;)), but the G continued to be for Group, and it all worked out pretty well. Particularly the very long lovely descent somewhere near the end…that was more like it :D.
The G that is for George did her best to jolly me along on the way back, although I wasn’t really having any of it – I was concentrating too hard on keeping going. She did however insist on a group snow shot, which has turned out quite nicely really – so thank you George!
I got by with a little help from my friends, and survived the ride. It was really nice to spend some time with the usual suspects, as well as people I only usually see in passing before, during, or after a sportive! I am dead chuffed that everyone turned out to ride with me, especially considering the conditions. Thanks guys – you’re all lovely, and I really appreciate it. I’m a lucky girl. The night out afterwards was a good craic, and we put the world to rights for hours…I got to bed at 3:30am! Well, I needed to be sure that I’d sleep ;). It was a massive relief to get back on the pills the next day. It was not so cool to discover that the car had a flat battery but hey, at least by the time the lovely RAC man had kicked it back into action, I’d had enough time and coffee to be fit to drive home. Silver linings ‘n all that. Anyway, it’s taken 3 days to get analgesia back to tolerable levels, hence the delay in writing this. Poor show, old gal, no? 😉 I promise to do better next year…cos we are doing it again, right? 🙂
Cycling time: 3:09:25 hrs
Distance: 45.1 miles
Avs: 14.3 mph.
ODO: 16316.79 miles
Is it important that I’ve done far less mileage this year than this time last year? Probably not.
Is it important that I do some more miles to get ready for all the sportive ahead of me? Definitely so.
And with the slight disaster that was last Sunday’s Endura Lionheart, and with a day off and a forecast that didn’t involve snow, today seemed like a good day to start trying to even the score a little. I wasn’t the only one thinking this back then, and a plan was made that involved three, was open to more…but sadly due to pesky last minute work commitments ended up being just the Pixie and Me. It’s like the Scarecrow and Mrs King, only less retro.
The Pixie, aka Mark, arrived from further afield in time to faff in the sunshine. See look, no snow! There was some, oddly, along some of the roads around Wedmore and Edington though…so it must have snowed, or at least hailed heavily, at some point recently around here? How did I miss that?
Martyn had planned us a route, that he was then unable to join us to ride. C’est la vie! We didn’t 100% stick to it, since the last diversion to ascend Bleadon Hill proper seemed unnecessary, but we did mostly what we were told, using the breadcrumb facility in the Garmin for a change – ooh, the novelty. Maybe I should do that more often and try exploring some new routes?
We rode. The skies went grey, what a surprise ;). We did some hills, slowly. Again, no surprise. Mudgeley, Shapwick, High Ham…up and over. We did the unremitting unrelentless grey Levels which were at least, unsurprisingly, flat. We opted for just the one stop, rather than the possible two, as the first stop in Langport just seemed too soon, though we had an comfort stop at some point for the obvious reasons, for food, for drink, for the view. Admire the thoroughbred and the workhorse, side by side…
The main advantage to riding with a stranger to the area is that they don’t know where they’re going so can’t go hurtling off and drop you. Which he so could normally, even if he wouldn’t. The downside is that you have to lead the way, so end up going faster than you might do otherwise rather than show signs of weakness and also bore your company. Good for training, but quite tiring in the long run…I’m knackered now!
The coffee stop came a little late in the day for me, to be honest. I was gasping for coffee and a rest a good five miles before Burnham on Sea hove into murky view. We parked up, and then Mark re-parked us – happier to have the bikes in view. I just sat and ate gluten free chocolate cake and let him *grin*. Incidentally, the cafe on the promenade there, which may or may not be the Bay View, now has a beans to coffee machine and does a very nice americano. We were chatting so much that I had to have two. Any excuse, right? :). Just as well, since I’m not sure I’d have gotten home otherwise! Oddly the cake may have been nice (it was) but it was sadly lacking from a fuel point of view. Mark, on the other hand, ate chips – well he’s on holiday, and had expressed an urge to eat chips by the seaside, and we’re a very obliging bunch over here in Somerset ;).
It’s a good thing we were only the odd 16 miles or so from home. I’m not ashamed to admit I was tired. I went right off hills, not that it stopped me having to go over them, though I got happier the closer I got to home and the blessed end. My legs felt ok, it’s just that for whatever, probably many and various, reasons, there’s just not as much in the tank at the moment as there has been known to be. Will that improve as the season goes on? Who knows….I guess we’ll see? *fingers crossed*
So now I’m happy, but tired, though in kind of a good way. It was nice to get a ride in that was that bit longer. It made up for Sunday, at least partly. There are now more miles in my legs, hopefully meaning there will be even more miles in my legs to come. And it was about time that Pixie and I finally went for a ride…last time we planned such a thing we brought on a biblical flood!
Cycling time: 3:58:23 hrs
Distance: 63.7 miles
Avs: 16.0 mph.
ODO: 16271.69 miles
In the space of twenty four hours, the weather forecast went from passable to far from it. Snowflakes appeared next to the blue drops under the grey clouds, and the predicted temperature dropped yet further. But what’s a forecast, right? An educated guess? It wouldn’t be the first time a forecast had been wrong, right? Wrong. As in it wasn’t wrong, it was right. At 6:30 this morning, as Martyn loaded my bike on to the rack on the back of his Toyota Picnic, it was already cold and damp and altogether not attractive. And incidentally, what kind of name is that for a car?
My sportive packing is back on track, and pre-pickup faffing was all sorted well in time this morning. Last night I discovered that my brand new shiny clean Topeak rear light was missing – who knows how, where, or when – which was irritating but not a problem. Or so you’d have thought. As we got closer to Longleat and the clouds came further down and the rain became heavy snow, I started to rue its loss a little more keenly. Braving the blizzard, we joined a steady stream of equally insane riders heading in the same direction. Quite a few of my mates were doing the ride, and a regular volley of text messages and phone calls ensued. The first piece of good news to come our way was the cancellation of the 100 mile route…which came as a bit of a relief considering the conditions. The idea of 100km rather than 100 miles was infinitely preferable, and I felt a spark of hope that it might actually be doable. I perked up a little. I also decided that, on the basis that the ride was now going to be shorter, it might be a good time to see if riding on tramadol was something I could do, so I opted for those instead of the paracetamol. I remember the days when I thought heavy dosage ibuprofen was a bit much…*sigh* ;).
We pulled into the estate, well before the 8:00am cut off time, and joined a long and winding queue that was backed up all the way from the parking by the main house to the entrance. Tedious. The snow carried on coming down, covering cars, roads, everything. The side roads looked worryingly coated, and there was a lot of both mental and verbal debate going on. Let’s face it, if I wasn’t reviewing it, this was the kind of day when you just don’t bother!
Finally, and it did take quite some time, we were marshalled onto a parking field, which was already a quagmire, and ensured that we had wet feet practically the instant we got out of the car. First things first, and it was off to the toilets and, I am happy to report, there were plenty of them this year, with minimal queuing, and though I can’t speak for all of them, mine was still suitably equipped and relatively sanitary! Having been sent out our rider numbers and helmet tags in advance there was no need for registration, which is always nice, and removes one element of queuing from the equation. Back to the car, and minimal faffing. Well, who wants to stand around getting cold? Besides which, the layers question was simple..all of them! To be fair, it wasn’t totally freezing, possibly due to the lack of wind, but I still put everything on as wet and cold is a whole new ballgame. Gradually a little peloton massed by the orange coffee tents. Myself, Martyn, GB, Mark and his friends, and Steve… There was not a lot of PMA going on, and quite a lot of doom and gloom, as we joined the long queue for the start. A very impressive array of waterproof luminousity was broken up by the occasional insanity of men in shorts. Shorts! I mean, really, what planet are you guys on? Is it big and/or clever? Methinks not…
We shuffled forward in fits and starts to our rider briefing. Though the snow continued, I gather only 20% of registered riders didn’t make it over the start line, which is fairly astounding, and possibly due to the late change in the forecast. If you’re already on your way somewhere, you’re less likely to bail? Anyway, “be careful, it’s not a race, don’t do 100 miles, and off you go”….so off we went. Cautiously and carefully, since setting off in a bunch is bad enough in good weather, and worse when the roads are wet, slippery, and about to be uphill.
The snow got heavier. As we wiggled our way around the estate, climbing gradually, the white stuff hitting my face actually hurt! Not the kind of exfoliation us girls usually go for. Going up the long main drive, a climb that always seems a little brutal for the start of a sportive, but is better if you’re expecting it, the snow got heavy enough that the hyperspace effect cut in… In its favour, the climb is long enough that my crawler gear engages and I felt relatively happy pootling my way out of the bowl where Longleat House sits, chatting intermittently to Mark as we went. I wasn’t too cold, unlike those poor photographers sat immortalising our misery, and I was feeling ok…but…man, the conditions. The roads were getting even slushier, the snow was making visiblity tricky, my glasses were misting up, and a stream of riders were turning around and heading back past us in the opposite direction to the start. We were two down before we even started the climb, and at the top the remaining five of us regrouped and mulled things over. We decided to head to the end of the estate road and see what we could see…which was snow, snow, and more snow, and many more riders heading back towards us with reports of how grim it was out there.
Sod that for a game of monkeys. Discretion is the better part of valour. Live to fight another day. Etc. We all have big seasons ahead, things we want to be doing, and quite a lot of experience amongst us and, as GB put it, he prefers his collar bone in one piece. We collectively turned tail and headed back whence we had come, picking our way gingerly down the wet hill and ascending riders, to bring us back to the start.
As Mark and I passed a couple of riders mulling their future over, they were heard to say, look at those guys, they’re pro riders, and if they’re heading back, so should we. Very funny *grin*. There were a whole range of excuses/reasons for bailing going on, but essentially it wasn’t the cold or the wet that stopped us, those we can cope with. It was just too dangerous. Maybe it would have brightened up (it did eventually, typically it’s sunny now), maybe it would have been clearer further out (we’ll never know), but the roads were going to be wet, mucky, and slippery for quite some time to come, and it just didn’t seem worth it. Nothing to prove, after all.
Cycling time: 0:37:52 hrs
Distance: 6.3 miles
Avs: 10.0 mph.
ODO: 16207.99 miles
We re-racked the bikes and gathered at the start village. Rather than a free coffee, I opted for paying for a more than worth it, because they make the best americanos out there, coffee from Claud the Butler, which was as fab as ever. We collected our goody bags and took a pew inside the sodden marquee, where the floor under the matting was so boggy it was like walking on a bouncy castle. This year’s Lionheart scarf tube is particularly fine as it’s in shades of blue and thus perfectly matches all my kit and both bikes – result! Can’t knock the voucher for a free bottle of wine either :). It was a bit early in the day for free hotpot, even were I able to eat it, but that didn’t stop GB. I had a chat with Emma, one of the organising team, who was obviously a bit disappointed that 8 months of hard work should have come to this, but you can’t factor in blizzards in March, now can you? Other than the odd queue, which may have been weather related, everything else had, from a rider point of view, gone swimmingly. Almost literally ;). It’s been a great event for the last couple of years, and hopefully next year it’ll be dry and sunny! *fingers crossed*. At least we tried, right? Plus I proved that I can ride on tramadol, although it might take more than 10km to properly test that theory! I hope those that braved it had a good one, and kept it rubber side down :).
Or, more to the point, ride in the wind. In the wind, the freezing cold, the sun, and the snow. Yes, snow. I frequently wonder at my sanity. I’m probably not the only one to do so. Anyway, yesterday I rode with George. It was fairly short, plenty sharp, and there’s not a lot more to be said for it. However, for consistencies sake, it should be documented. That is, after all, what I do. It was not a great ride, the best that can probably be said for it is that I followed all those oft-repeated velominati rules, and got out there. Better out than in, etc.
Cycling time: 1:43:57 hrs
Distance: 22.6 miles
Avs: 13.0 mph.
ODO: 16201.69 miles
I had a fab ride around Exmoor with Gary today. It always feels like going on holiday – riding somewhere completely different but without following little signs. I tried really hard to take some rain with me, but had to settle for damp cloud instead, clearly my weather goddess powers were having an off day…;)
We did some hills. Because that’s the only option around there really. In fact we did what may well be my favourite hill – Porlock toll road. I think if I lived there I’d just ride to it and go up and down all day! :D. It’s long, not too steep, quiet, scenic, just lovely. One day when I ride up there there may even be views…! Which sounds like a very good excuse to go back and do it again if you ask me *grin*.
Here goes:
There. Enough pictures for you? Well I have more…
Bit short on words today, can you tell?
For whatever reason, I really enjoyed it. I didn’t expect to. I didn’t beat any records. But I went up the hills and I loved going down the hills. The whole ride put a smile on my face :). More please!
Cycling time: 2:39:33 hrs
Distance: 33.1 miles
Avs: 12.5 mph.
ODO: 16179.09 miles
As sportives go, the Mad March Hare is not what you’d call a difficult sportive. But, and yes there’s a but, a large but, and not just my large butt, when that sportive is the first one of the season, when the longest ride you’ve done so far is c.50 miles, any sportive is a challenge! Today was no exception…
The Mad March Hare has become my traditional way to start the sportive season. Looking back I see that this year was the fifth time I’ve done it, which I think is as long as it’s been running. It’s just as well they vary the route every year then, isn’t it? Variety is the spice of life…and I have a low boredom threshold ;).
You could tell it was the first event of the season by the amount of faffing that preceded it. That and the fact that I forgot things, like my bar bag, because I’d totally forgotten that I use one, and was only to remember when I missed it later trying to eat en route when getting things out of back pockets under layers in full finger gloves proved to be a challenge! D’oh! By the time I’m back into the swing of things, leaving the house will be a breeze (tail wind of course) and I will have gotten the art of pre-sportive packing down to a fine art. I’m not the only one, Sean forgot his waterproof and his Buff, though I think Mark showed us both up by being totally sorted!
Yes, today I had company. T’was due to be GB, but due to health issues, he sensibly remained at home in recuperative fashion. So t’was Sean “Long Legs” Lacey, of Cyclosport fame, and “Retro Pixie” Mark. I don’t have legs that go up to my armpits. Sean does. As in that’s how tall he is and about where his legs finish on me! As for Mark, it’s a twitter plus kit fetish thing, plus it reminds me a bit of Rocket Dog (I’m a girl, it’s a shoe thing), and he’s fast too! *gulp*.
Which, with repetition, hesitation, and deviation, finally brings us to a newly arranged car park near ride HQ, at 7:45am this morning. I think I prefer the new parking actually; the original field was out of bounds due to the recent weather, but it wasn’t much fun last year even when it wasn’t. There’s a lot to be said for hard standing and plenty of room, and it was only a brief ride to the start so as far as I’m concerned, it was an improvement! I wonder if they’ll keep it for next year?
After yet more faffing under cold but ever lightening skies, I closed the boot, stuffed the car keys in one of my seemingly infinite range of pockets, and headed for the start, where a patient Sean and Mark were waiting. There was a short queue for registration, which Sean kept me company in, and once I had my number and ties, there wasn’t much left to do other than the obligatory pre-ride toilet stop. Man I hate bib shorts! At least there was a female only cubicle and enough portable loos (6 or so?) to ensure that there wasn’t much queueing.
OK, done. Time to stop all that faffing and start riding! We joined the queue, and were duly recorded and sent away in batches. And they’re off!…
You can always tell my winter sportive reviews, they’re the ones with very few photos! There’s just no taking pictures on the go when your camera is at least one layer down and you’re wearing gloves. Stopping breaks up the momentum, and also means losing heat which is not good when it’s chilly. And it was – proper cold! So you’ll have to use your imagination to picture lots of quiet, mostly dry, occasionally icy Cotswold’s country lanes. It’s not so much hilly as rolling. Ish. Which is to say that the ups feel rolling on the way out and, after the big hill of the day and the food stop, start to feel more and more like hills the closer you get to the end of the ride! It suffers from being essentially downhill on the way out and the reverse on the way back which, as we all know, is entirely the wrong way ’round!
And the big hill in the middle? Big indeed. Deceptively so, as visually you could only see the brow of the bit you were doing, then you’d turn the corner and see it continue to go up, and up, and up…! Heaven help those of you who were already walking on the first section…new cleats anyone? I made it up, very slowly as ever, but in an odd way I quite enjoyed it. At least with long hills I can get into crawler gear, get some kind of rhythm, and just get on with it :).
The food stop came at a village hall after that big hill, and also satisfyingly more than half way around, meaning that it was all downhill from there on in. Well, ok it wasn’t, but mentally I’m always happier after the halfway mark! There was a huge array of food on offer, tables of the stuff, being descended upon by cycling gannets. I had half a cup of much needed coffee and a toilet stop…queuing was the only option for us girls, though a lot of less patient gentleman were taking to the greenery outside instead, which I doubt went down that well with the locals.
Once more unto the breach my friends…who were impressively still with me! Bless ’em :). We had a bit of a blast for a while, there being some fun flats and downs to be enjoyed, and you know how much I like those. As I always say, I have to do what I can to make up for what I can’t! On a slightly negative side rather too many of today’s otherwise enjoyable descents ended at a junction of some sort, frequently with a main road to be crossed or negotiated, which took the wind out of one’s gravity filled sails somewhat. At least the signage was pretty good, possibly with one exception near the end, so I didn’t get lost. Not that my Garmin would have let such a thing happen anyway – the gpx file was pretty good :).
After a while, as the miles mounted up, and those ups continued, I was gradually left to my own devices, which was, to be fair, probably a good thing. Paracetamol can only do so much, and by the mid point of today’s ride, even though I took the next dose, it was failing to do even that, so it was a case of doing the best I could and muddling through. Which I did, and which went ok, though I am glad the route wasn’t any longer. This is not to say that I was too far behind, as apparently the guys only got in 5 minutes before me. (See those pink things in the sky? Flying pigs… Maybe that’s where the free bacon rolls come from? ;)). Either way, I was very happy to roll back into HQ and call the first sportive of the year done :).
Cycling time: 4:39:23 hrs
Distance: 74.0 miles
Avs: 15.9 mph.
ODO: 16154.99 miles
So, things I have learnt/relearnt today.
Still, considering that I was reckoning on a five hour ride, I think it went pretty well. Better than I was half expecting, and faster than the last few years too. I also enjoyed the very tolerant company. This all makes for a pretty positive start to the season. I’ve been quietly fretting about how I’d be out there, what with my issues, lack of training, and so forth. Let’s face it, it has all become a little more challenging than it used to be. I’m very tempted to throw an “it’s not fair!” tantrum, but I’m too tired…I got home, had a bath and a glass of white wine and went to bed for an hour…talk about a lightweight! *grin*.
UPDATE: official Cyclosport review is now up here. Photos are here if you feel like searching MMH for 0523 ;). Official times went up today too here: – my time is 5:01 – amazingly only 5-7 minutes behind the lads!!!
Just as I was getting ready to ride today, my new Topeak UFO light arrived from Chain Reaction. Good timing, no? Well the last one may have stopped working, but it was good while it did, so it seemed reasonable just to buy a new one. Not a case of it ain’t broke so don’t fix it, more it is broke just replace it. Very briefly it was the cleanest thing on my bike…which as Andrew will tell you, is not difficult 😉
So I rode today. Obviously. Otherwise this wouldn’t be here and you wouldn’t be reading it. Just me this time, which it hasn’t been for a while, but it was none the worse for it. Even with no-one to witness my antics and shame me into trying to do better, I decided I should do some hills. Well, the odd one anyway. Maybe better without an audience too? Well no, not according to Strava, but those that I did do felt pretty good, so maybe that’s more important than the time from top to bottom? It’s too early in the season to hope for great things…
Yes, that was the big hill of the day. The others can be found here, as Strava tells you what I did, in case you care. A case of, as ever, round in round in circles, goes the teddy bear. Or should that be the Mad March Hare?
I was pondering on the nature of life and how much of it is circles and cycles and wheels. The annual cycle, the monthly cycle. The world spins. Every sportive season starts with the Mad March Hare, to which the year has rolled around again. All the routes I ride that by necessity start from home and go out and back, over and over again in every increasing circles, in spirographic fashion. My monthly cycle determines how much pain I’m in, for which I should apparently blame the moon. And Elton John sang about it, so it must be true. OK, ok, so maybe too much time on my own is not a good thing 😉 *grin*.
Which, join up the dots if you will, reminds me of lions and gazelles, and I’ll be paraphrasing because I can’t be arsed to look up the quote but, essentially it doesn’t matter whether you’re a lion or a gazelle, all you have to be is faster than the slowest gazelle. I like that. As goals go, that one may be achievable…
So here we are again. March is here. Spring may be around the corner, though I wouldn’t lay money on it. It does however look unlikely that it will snow on Sunday which has to be an improvement on last year. I’m looking forward to getting the season started – it feels like time to get on with it. The esteemed GB will sadly not be joining me, due to ill health, but it would appear that I will not be left alone, and am indeed spoilt for choice when it comes to company. Thanks guys – and don’t worry, I won’t hold you to it – apparently I’m still capable of riding on my own 😉 *grin*.
Cycling time: 2:01:19 hrs
Distance: 30.3 miles
Avs: 15.0 mph.
ODO: 16071.99 miles
Apparently using song titles for blogs is a bit clichéd these days. Ah well, can’t teach an old dog new tricks, etc. Habits of a blogging lifetime ‘n all that. Sorry. Ish :P.
Yesterday I spent another happy morning with Andrew, cheerfully contradicting myself by buying upgrades so that I can ride up grades. To be fair, a lot of this was more maintenance than enhancement…honest!
For starters, the Cinelli now has a set of girly wuss gears – having been fitted with a new Sram 12/32 cassette. I have no idea what gear ratios and numbers actually mean, but a lot of you do. When you’re talking to me about them, you’ll find me nodding and smiling a lot. However I’m afraid I haven’t really got a clue what you’re going on about…but talking about it seems to make you happy ;). I gather what I have now is better than what I had before, in that it will make it easier for me to go up hills. That’s my definition of better anyway. Result!
Waste not want not…so the Cinelli cassette is now on the Cube, accidentally giving that even lower gears too! Oops ;). The Cube also got a new rear mech, new chain, and new brake blocks. The only original components on it now are the cranks/front rings and the levers…and we’re going to change the cranks for 165s shortly too! Given that my workhorse has done over 16,000 miles now, I don’t think that’s unreasonable though, right? 🙂
So, as this Sunday’s Mad March Hare Sportive is getting ever closer, it seemed wise to take the Cube, which is the bike I shall be riding, out for a test ride to make sure that everything was working. I was spoilt for choice for company as it turned out, as both Martyn and Mim were around, but first come, first served, and I met Martyn and Paul in the Square at 9:30am for an easy bike testing loop. After some initial bedding-in glitches the Cube was definitely feeling a lot smoother, and it was even willing to change gears when I asked it to rather than when it felt like it – always nice and somewhat novel! It felt good going up the hills too, in so far as good and hills are two words that go together. I did a pretty heavy gym session last night, pushing watts again, and I had fairly heavy legs today, so being able to sit and spin when necessary was lovely :).
Somewhere on the return leg of our loop, heading back into the increasing NE wind, Paul asked me if I was enjoying it. And I was. Cold, but not as cold as I’d feared. Dry roads. Company. Not at work. What’s not to love? OK, love might be pushing it, but I was having a pretty good time out there all things considered, even if the pair of them did keep dropping me! *grin*.
Cycling time: 2:09:14 hrs
Distance: 34.8 miles
Avs: 16.2 mph.
ODO: 16041.69 miles
And finally…I got around to getting my Bike Pure spacer put on the Cinelli. It’s fairly clear from my performance that I’m not illegal substance enhanced, but that’s not the point. Plus it’s blue :).
It was brass monkeys out there today. As forecast. This didn’t stop a few hardy ACG members from gathering in the Square at 9:30am, though at least one saw the few flakes of snow this morning, and bailed (you know who you are ;)). As for us? We’re all mad, quite mad I tell you! We being myself, Martyn, Trevor, and Dave. We did the usual…and decided the route on the spot. And, for my sins, I asked that we go and do some hills. They have to be done, right? Merckx had a point…unsurprisingly. Sportive season starts next week, and I’m fairly sure I’m not ready! Besides, what better way to get warm?
So, up grades it was. Shipham. Burrington. Bishop Sutton. West Harptree. That would be four hills, for the four of us. I got dropped on every one. But I made it up ’em. I put my head down, hid the horizon behind the peak of my toasty winter hat, and just pushed the wheels around until I got to the top. Kudos goes to Dave for taking me up West Harptree on a road I’d never been up before – not easy to find one of those around here! Once again I didn’t feel too terrible out there, I didn’t feel the need to get off and walk, even when it got steep, I was just slow compared to everyone else, and to myself when on form. So that’s ok :).
Coffee was half way round, at the Stables Tea Rooms, and came not a minute too soon. North of the Mendips was, as ever, a good couple of degrees colder than over here, and it’s not like it was balmy to start with! Hot coffee became an essential requirement as various bits of my anatomy started to lose sensation…mostly my face, a bit like after having a filling at the dentists. And the coffee was good too – bonus :).
OK, there’s no denying it was cold out there, but I was all wrapped up in every layer possible, and the hills generated heat as planned. Descents were a little nippy, but very few of them were safe enough to descend at the kind of speed that makes that a problem. Even Cheddar Gorge, which though open again, and well patched up, still has too many obstacles to negotiate for true fun. I had to stick to getting my kicks on the odd flat fast bits I could find. And when I did I did :D.
It probably sounds odd, but I really enjoyed myself today. It was one of those rides that at some point just becomes what you’re doing, and you lose track of what day it is, or where the ride fits into your schedule for that day, it just is what it is. The rest of the world fades away…and the only things in focus are you, your bike, and the road. Nice :).
Cycling time: 2:27:20 hrs
Distance: 32.8 miles
Avs: 13.3 mph.
ODO: 16006.89 miles
