Category Archives: ACG

Rolling on, moving on

“I’m behind the times and busy as can be,
so all you’re going to get
is a short précis..”

and a little poem apparently… If I had time I’m thinking a haiku might have been amusing. But then if I had time I’d be writing a decent length entry so no haiku for you *grin*.

Ride 1
On my own in the sun on Wednesday. When the sun shone, making my improvised wiggly loop far more attractive than it would otherwise have been. There were views. Serenely reflected swans. Petrified herons. Life on the Levels. Although I didn’t stick to the flat – I did the Loxton hilly loop to start, and finished up with Mudgeley Hill and the hill up to the golf course from Wedmore. Daring of me, n’est-ce-pas?

Cycling time: 2:06:11
Distance: 31.93 miles
Avs: 15.1 mph
ODO: 6293 miles

Ride 2
In which Mim and I accompany George on an errand running mission to Wells, and drink large amounts of coffee in the pasty shop awaiting her return. Four of us rode. George, Mim, me, and my mp3 player 😉 Well, got to listen to something when you’re out at the back, or the front for that matter. Nice quite fast ride – the legs were feeling good and so was I 🙂 I have to admit to having pretty much done my own thing, and I was definitely faster on the flat. Shame about the hills though 😉 Ah well…my time will come.

Cycling time: 2:11:37
Distance: 35.03 miles
Avs: 15.9 mph
ODO: 6328 miles

Ride 3
The ACG sallied forth once more – to the Castle at Kewstoke. I wouldn’t call it riding. More swimming with wheels. Normally when I’m that wet I’m doing the Tour of Wessex… Well, you certainly can’t call us fair weather cyclists *grin*. And at least the bike doesn’t need washing now…

Cycling time: 1:54:15
Distance: 28.75 miles
Avs: 15.0 mph
ODO: 6357 miles

In summary
Although the weather has been variable this week, I got the kit right, so even when soaked to the skin, the cold was rarely an issue. Even the knee has been better – twisting the foot back and left is the way to go, and I’m going to get that adjusted properly when I see Andrew next. Presumably the exercises are helping too.

In the meantime I’ve started work on next year’s event calendar. Mad March Hare and the Dragon so far…one booked, the other I have to wait to book. And patience so isn’t my thing! *grin*

Fragile

Note to self. If you’re going to go riding first thing on a Saturday morning, then spending the night out on the “town” and going to bed rather the worse for wear at 4.00am is possibly not a good idea. Scratch that. Make that definitely not a good idea. Mind you, at least I made it, unlike last time when I totally slept through my alarm and missed doing the Burnham Run with Simon.

The alarm went off at 7.30am, which seemed only minutes after I’d gone to bed. Oh yes, that would be because it was. Coffee wasn’t so much nice as essential. I made myself eat breakfast, which frankly was a struggle, mainly so as to be able to take my painkiller, as they have to be taken with food. I was also to discover that the other downside to these painkillers is that although they work really well on the knee that, unlike ibuprofen, they don’t do a whole heap for hangover symptoms…

Of course, in order to have what passes for a hangover with me, you need to have sobered up, and without a shadow of a doubt if you’d breathalysed me this morning I’d still have been way over the limit. However, as I’ve probably said before, cycling is one of the best ways I know to get over the night before, so I gritted my teeth and made it to the Square for 9.00am where GB charmingly informed me that I looked dreadful. Charming. To be fair, and not having checked, he probably had a point *grin*.

We were 7, including a newbie, when we set off for the Gorge. Man, I must be insane. But kill or cure, right? I fell off the back of the peloton pdq, and GB dropped back to keep me company. I suggested he might like to head on up and make sure no-one got lost, whereupon he said that he was going to stay with me…before the penny dropped and it occurred to him to ask me if I’d rather he went. As I was clearly cycling along under my very own little grey cloud, this was definitely what was required – so I told him that yes, he should p*ss off, which he duly did. No offense taken I hope. I appreciated the sentiment, but my misery really does not love company *grin*. (BTW, I hope some of you are now singing the theme tune to the Flumps. And if you weren’t, I hope you are now).

I had been worried about how my knee would cope with the Gorge, and now I’ll never know whether it was hard work because of my self inflicted handicap, or the knee, or the restrictive strapping on the knee. Suffice to say that it was not my finest Gorge hour. The group waited at the top, which was nice, but they soon left me behind again. I was grateful that Kevin, due to holiday jetlag, was also not on form, so I did have some company. The rest of the pack were streets ahead – so far in fact that they took the planned route from the top down Milton Hill into Wells and up to cafe. Kevin and I just slogged into the headwind and drizzle to get straight there. Well, there didn’t seem a lot of point going down just to go back up again. I wouldn’t do that on a good day! 😉

Coffee was at the Rock Cake Cafe. That would be the Rocky Mountain Cafe as was. It’s changed, but not too drastically. More importantly cyclists are still welcome, and most importantly of all – they still serve coffee. Manna from heaven. Darn silly name though. Having been fool enough to catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror there, it was obvious that even though I may well have been sweating out alcohol to get there, I clearly had a long way to go before I looked at least half human *shudder*. GB was right. So not a good look…

I ended up doing the route home, via Charterhouse and down Shipham Hill pretty much on my own as the group spread out and broke up, which was hard work. With a Rebel Yell she cried more wind, more drizzle, more slog. I’m guessing I kinda deserved it though – karma, penance, whatever – so oddly I wasn’t complaining. My knee, thanks to the strapping, didn’t exactly hurt, but it did feel weird. Weak, unreliable, and kind of queasy. I know, how can a knee be queasy? Well, it is. So there. It was just best to stick to being me doing my thing – every girl for herself. After a few failed attempts at regrouping, where I eventually met up with Steve and Mike caught us up (I could have sworn I was behind him), we finally found the others in the Square where they had courteously waited for us.

Cycling time: 2:10:58
Distance: 32.34 miles
Avs: 14.8 mph
ODO: 6195 miles

My max speed today was 37.3mph which shows that I managed to hold it together on a couple of the hills better than usual. I’m pleased to have managed something positive out of what was otherwise not one of my better rides. All things considered, I think it went quite well… It’s just that the peloton were very fast today – maybe due to our fast newbie triathlete – and I didn’t stand a snowball in hell’s chance of keeping up with them.

Ah well. “…a little bit older but not so worldly wise…”. I should so know better by now 😉

Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest… I’ve iced the knee, managed a siesta, and finally gotten my stomach settled enough to eat venison steaks, mash, cabbage, with a very lovely jus, so as to take another painkiller. Well, it seemed like a good excuse *grin*.

The animals came in two by two…

Yes, I’m two ride entries behind again. Shocking isn’t it?

The first took place last Thursday morning with George, the artist previously known as GW. Yes, I’ve given up on initials. There are too many cycling folk in my life now that share initials and trying to figure out how to get ’round that has been doing my head in… It was getting to the stage where I was going to have to a crib sheet just to remember who I was talking about! So, names it is. If you find yourself mentioned here and were rather names were changed to protect the innocent, let me know, and you can have your initials back.

Anyway George and I were both suffering from feeling oddly tired, as I have been for a while, so our ride was not a challenging one. I’m pleased to say my fatigue didn’t transfer to the bike too much though, and my legs were feeling pretty good. We spun our legs around the Levels in wiggly fashion, chatting a lot, and generally not pushing it too hard.

Cycling time: 1:49:13 hours
Distance: 27.55 miles
Avs: 15.1 mph
ODO: 5995

As the weather has been noticeably cooler of later, I finally bit the bullet and ordered my new longs. OK, so they’re expensive, but my last pair lasted two years before starting to come apart at the seams, and I got a lot of wear out of them. In fact I’m sure I have pairs of shoes that have cost more and been worn less, which makes the longs seem like quite an economical purchase by comparison. It’s amazing how you can rationalise things away isn’t it? *grin*.

It’s just as well that they arrived on Friday, since this weekend was chilly, and I was glad of them as I stood in the Square with Dad on Sunday morning, waiting for the ACG to gather. And gather they did – 9 of them to be precise – with a fair sprinkling of newbies. The ACG beast is growing!

Since a lot of us had done the Cheddar Cyclosportive last weekend we agreed to take it a little easier and flatter this week by heading over to Brean Down for coffee. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as we headed out at a more reasonable pace than sometimes. We negotiated our way past queuing tractors, over past the Webbington, over Bleadon Hill, and across the main road to follow the railway line as usual. The unusual number of spectators along the roadside made me wonder…and yes, a steam train was due shortly! So we gathered on top of the next bridge – ok, I made them – and waited until the Tornado blasted its way down the track, whistle blaring, and engulfed us all in smoke before chuffing off into the distance. Very cool 🙂

It was then nice and flat, and not too busy traffic wise, for the wiggle out to Brean Down. It turns out it was the last weekend for the café (of fab scone fame) there. The NT are going to be taking it over, which probably means the prices will triple and the place will get gentrified, though I hope to be proved wrong… We colonised a rickety round wooden table and put the world to rights for a bit, in the sun, sheltered from the nasty North wind.

Time came to get going again, and we headed south along to Burnham, doing 20mph+ without even breathing hard. Yep – that would be the wind for you. Not that we’re complaining you understand 😉 We took the little scenic wiggle along the coast path to Highbridge, before turning more into the wind and heading for home. I was cycling at the front with one of the newbies, long-legged Paul, and trying to chat, and go at his speed…which I’m sure was good for me. Honest. We managed to pretty much stay together, more or less, until near the end when we lost a couple. Some of us had found the long fast road from Wedmore as irresistible as usual – ok, maybe it was just me – and the sprint for home spread us out rather.

Cycling time: 2:19:26 hours
Distance: 37.19 miles
Avs: 16.0 mph
ODO: 6032

Another good ACG ride. It’s so nice to see the group growing. Chris, who came out with us for the first time, had only done 16 miles in one go before and so more than doubled his record, on a heavy hybrid – very impressive. That’s what the ACG should be all about 🙂

PS: look – the odometer ticked over the 6000 mark….!

Cheddar Cyclosportive 2010

It wouldn’t be too far a stretch of the imagination to call this an ACG ride as well as a Sportive, as 8 of us turned out bright and early Sunday morning, nearly all resplendent in our new kit. We even went so far as to get someone to take a photo of us before we set off…

Mind you, that was pretty much the last time we were all together. Best laid plans and all that…

We set off, en masse, nearly at the front of the line, at around 8.30am, and headed out along the ever so familiar road to Wedmore. We were doing fine until the kick up out onto Mudgeley Hill, where we started to fall apart as the gradient took its toll. Any plans to reunite the other side were scuppered somewhat when I discovered my PC wasn’t working and stopped to try and sort it out. Which didn’t work *grrr*, leaving me with just the clock to go by for the rest of the day, and also putting me behind the cows that were now crossing the road.

However, courtesy of all this, and even though I was sure I’d seen him go past me as I was attempting to fix things, as I finally set off again Dad caught me up and we cycled off together. I’d like to say this state of affairs lasted but I’m afraid it didn’t. We got separated again and that was that really – I have to admit that I just kept on going and headed off towards Glastonbury on my own. This is where the first hill of the day turned out to be. Now, I know my way around Glastonbury, and there are many ways to get out the other side that don’t involve going up a hill that big! It was brand new to me, and although I made it all the way up without walking, unlike some, I’ll probably not bother doing it again. “Get off and walk” said some old codger with his cup of tea watching us from the pavement. Motivational of him, no? It might well have been quicker but, ultimately, less satisfying I’m sure. You can keep the Old Wells Road, I’ll be sticking to the new one!

From there, I had a moment of deja vu as I passed our ToB spectator point as I headed for Somerton via Butleigh. This turned out to be more familiar than expected as I’ve done that bit in reverse with SH. I was, briefly, part of a little group here, some of whom it turns out work with hubby. There must have been some up in there somewhere as there was also a very nice downhill 🙂 I cycled past Andrew’s house in Somerton and waved mentally, what with there being no-one there to wave to in person.

I knew High Ham hill was coming, and wasn’t precisely dreading it, but I know it’s a long way up and though there may be several ways to get to the top, none of them are going to be easy! And it wasn’t. It was steeper than the usual route up, and did seem to go on for quite a while…but again, I managed to stay on the bike, and made it to the food stop, unattractively sweaty, but pleased. I grabbed half a banana from GW who was wo-manning the station, and saw IH and DMC briefly before heading off again. I really didn’t want to stop for long, because what with it being marginally chilly and a bit windy all day, it’s too easy to get cold. The possibly lovely descent was marred by both my nerves, and by encountering a large trailer-pulling tractor forcing us all to slow up behind him. Did I mention that whenever I try to properly enjoy a bend/corner I can be guaranteed to meet an obstacle of some sort? Not that I’m paranoid at all, but… At least by the time I passed the photographer on the bend I was under control and smiling 🙂

SH was marshalling at Ashcott, and we chatted very briefly as I waited to get across the main road. Then it was up School Hill – another way I never go – and out to Shapwick and beyond. After a well-marshalled wiggle through Catcott I was on the Levels, with the wind kind of behind me, pushing on. I was definitely on home turf here and quite enjoyed going as fast as I could for a while, all the way to Brent Knoll. This year we took in both ups – the little steep kick before the church, then the big up and over which was about as much fun as expected. For some reason there was a group of late middle aged male cyclists standing at the top watching everyone, and I was tempted to point out that it’s kinda rude to stare at suffering like that. Dad says they were still there later – there’s no accounting for folk… Those that can, do, those that can’t watch?

The second food stop was just the other side of the traffic lights at East Brent but since I was stuck at those lights for quite long enough I didn’t bother stopping again and just headed for home. I knew I only had two minor challenges remaining – the Webbington hill road, which we do all the time, and the hill up Notting Hill Way at Weare which I do a very good job of avoiding most of the time. However I did my best not to let either of them slow me down too much, though by now I knew a gold standard time was, as ever, out of my reach. As I cycled up the Long Hill to Clewer I overtook MD, and then reached my favourite stretch of road. I sprinted my way all the way home for the fun of it though, obviously, such things are more fun with an audience *grin*.

I cycled over the mats the same way I’d spent the day, on my own. I have to admit to quite a few “toys out of cot” thoughts on my way round since, let’s face it, if I want to cycle round here on my own I can, and do, do that any time. Plus the only way I was ever going to get a gold time was with peloton assistance. However as we all know I’m better at downhills and corners on my own, so it may well have been for the best. And allegedly I’m a grown up and therefore not allowed to throw such childish tantrums 😉 (*stamps foot quietly*).

However I’d eaten well, paced myself well, pushed myself harder than I usually do at a sportive, and felt like I’d had a pretty good ride, despite everything. I made my way to the HQ, where I found GB, his Rabbit, KG, and the Cheddar newbies, all having clearly been there quite a while, dagnamit! Time to sit around drinking exceedingly bad instant coffee as the others arrived in dribs and drabs, including IH and DMC who had managed to inadvertently add an extra 10 miles or so to the route. Now there’s keen for you! *grin*. Then Dad got in, not too cross with me, having had a pretty good ride himself, which was a bit of a relief. In fact I think everyone enjoyed it to a greater or lesser degree – the ACG done good! 🙂

I treated myself to a very lovely ten minute sports massage to try and help my left knee. I’d had to take a pink pill first thing and again towards the end, so I figured it was a good idea. Apparently he could feel some ligament damage and he worked on that as well as explaining it all to me properly and giving me some exercises to do to help. I think I’m going to try and find the money to go and get a proper treatment from him as some point because he was brill! (And I can’t believe I just used the word “brill”…).

Finally Dad and I cycled home around the reservoir in leisurely fashion, before performing the necessary ablutions, grabbing my family and hitting The Lamb for rehydration therapy. Sadly, due to other people having other commitments, it was just us, but that wasn’t going to stop us. Besides which, I felt like I’d earnt it 🙂

Cycling time: 3:55:19 hours
Distance: 64 miles
Avs: 16.5 mph
ODO: 5968

I’ve managed to find some results here so my time is accurate. The rest is fairly accurate guesstimate based on those who had working PCs. I’ve now replaced the battery in the sender unit and it’s working fine – typical! I was the 2nd home in my category, and only 3 minutes off being first, which makes a change. Silver time, and silver place. Mind you, the older women were faster than us “youngsters”, making me 4th woman overall. At least I got a silver…and if I could have shaved 10 minutes off…oooh, close but no cigar!! *grin*.

My life would suck without you

Once again I’m two rides behind. Shoddy I know.

In my defence the first of the two rides, on Friday with GW, was uninspiring, unexciting and oddly unsatisfactory, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to say about it anyway. The only noteworthy thing about our ride to the seaside and back was that GW was on her shirehorse which meant she actually had to ask me to slow down. This happens but rarely and should be savoured at all costs…*grin*.

Cycling time: 1:54:34
Distance: 28.6 miles
Avs: 14.9 mph
ODO: 5803

Sunday’s ride with the ACG was far more pleasurable. For starters the sun was shining, which always helps. And there wasn’t any wind. But then there never is in Axbridge, and I’m not daft enough to fall for that anymore. Which is just as well as when we got out of the shelter of the Mendips, there certainly was wind! Anyway, there were 8 of us to start with, including three newbies. One of which is also a GB which could get very confusing so I’m going to have to think of a way ’round that… One of the other two had tried to join us before and on this, his third attempt, had turned up on what he termed the wrong bike, and sadly didn’t make it even as far as Shute Shelve with us, for which I feel quite guilty. Since I’m unable to get in touch with him – I shall apologise here in the hopes that the ether will carry my apologies in the right direction…

So, we were seven, and three of us were wearing shiny new ACG kit, which gave me a chance to see what it looks like out on the road rather than just on me. Not only is it comfortable, it looks pretty good too, and when we’re all wearing it, we’re going to look awesome! *grin*.

We let DM set the route today which is always well, if not a mistake, a challenge. Today he took us to the cafe on the seafront on Burnham which, going direct as normal folk would do, is relatively flat and easy. Which would presumably be why we went via Winscombe, down past Banwell Caves, just so as to go up Canada Coombe and over Brent Knoll. Canada Coombe is really quite an up – I think I had been up it before, and the views along the top to Bleadon are awesome – but it’s very easy to avoid, and there are views in other places so, on balance, I may not add it to my repertoire *grin*.

Our coffee stop on the seafront was very good. Well, the stop was, the coffee isn’t. The sea wall nicely sheltered us from the strong winds, and stopped us having to watch the posers on jet skis messing around on the uncommonly high water. In fact all the water made the coastal path to Highbridge, where the boats are usually sitting on vast expanses of unattractive brown mud, seem positively pretty. I reckon some of them must only get to float about twice a year, which is presumably, as someone commented, when you discover that they leak *grin*. Mind you, I couldn’t hear anyone swearing so…

Due to the hills and the roads and terrain, it had been a fairly slow ride, so once we got out of Highbridge and on the road to Mark, I have to confess to having had to put my foot down and stretch my legs out. We fair hurtled out way along until the left turn after Mark, which was a lot of fun. After that things went a little haywire as the group spread out, split up, splintered apart… There was a degree of reuniting at junctions and the like, but we were down to six for the last bit up the A38 and back to the Square. Having said that, we’ve done worse in the past, so from a start of 8, ending up with 6 wasn’t bad! And the last rider in arrived shortly afterwards, thus restoring the status quo.

Cycling time: 2:23:03
Distance: 35.33 miles
Avs: 14.8 mph
ODO: 5839

Hopefully we’ll be out again on Wednesday to see the Tour of Britain come into Glastonbury. Any excuse for a ride 🙂

Spark in the Dark

When I collected my bike on Monday, I discovered my rear tyre had a large bulge and gash in it…which hadn’t broken the tyre wall. I did think it was riding a little funny but since it wasn’t deflating, I ceased worrying about it! I’ve no idea how it happened, but if it had actually punctured, with a hole that size, I’d have never finished the ride. Well, not without waiting ages for the mechanics to turn up and loan me a spare tyre, so I’m very relieved. And impressed. But slightly concerned as to how it happened – is it a repeat of the flaw problem? Did the damage cause the bulge or vice versa? Chicken? Egg?

Either way, I dug out my spare set of tyres – silver stripes this time, different model – and put them on. Only to discover the next day that the valve was faulty, and I had to (well to be honest I got hubby to) change the darn thing. That rear wheel has been off too many times of late! At least, with the shiny new and still relatively clean chain set, the whole process is less mucky that it sometimes is.

On to today. The mob went back to school and, no sooner had they left (well almost) GW were back on the road. We did my usual training loop, stretched a little, as I couldn’t, quite frankly, be arsed to think of anything different. As it was it demonstrated that my knee would have benefited from more rest, and that carrying painkillers around with me is a good thing. GW was off on one as ever, and I kept up for the first half before deciding that I didn’t need to be doing that and slacked off a bit. To give her her due, she did slow down and stick with me.

Cycling time: 2:02:03
Distance: 32.36 miles
Avs: 15.8 mph
ODO: 5678

It was a very nice ride really. I don’t suppose the weather will hold for much longer but for the moment it was warm and lovely. Albeit a tad windier than I like, and sadly not behind us this time 😉

In other news, the ACG kit has left the building! How exciting is that?! I’m not sure how long it will take to get to me, but the chances of it being here before the Cheddar Cyclosportive on September 19th have to be fairly high 🙂

Where’d he go? Where’d who go?

I wouldn’t normally go for a ride the day before an event. However Andrew made some more changes to the bike yesterday and recommended that I get out and try them out beforehand. He sorted the seat post – something to do with degreasing, the addition of hair spray and much tightening of various collar bits. He also put a new chainset and chain on. Apparently I now have a slightly lower bottom gear than before – can’t be bad – which means that when I switch (if I switch) to compact, there will be no noticeable difference. We’ll see.. As MD had announced an impromptu ride for this morning – thus guaranteeing a better turn out than the usual ride – it seemed like the perfect way to see how it was all working out.

So, we gathered on the edge of the sand covered Square (it’s Pageant, remember?) in early morning Bank Holiday weekend sun. Yes. Bank Holiday and Sun in the same sentence, who’d a thought it? There was me (obviously), GB, MD, DMC, IH and KG – a fairly evenly matched six. We did a fairly short, keep it simple, loop which included a coffee stop at the barely open Sweets cafe. They kindly did us tea and cake and so forth, but weren’t yet up to KG’s bacon roll…heinous *grin*. I had the usual can of Rio (fizzy fruit water) possibly just to attract the wasps that wind him up so much… 😉 We keep telling him that if you kill them by swatting them, they give off a pheromone which calls in their mates…but then I keep telling my Mum that and I’m not sure she believes me either!

The weather was gorgeous, especially on the way out when the wind blew us across the Levels, averaging 17mph. Going home was somewhat slower, but not a lot. I did resist the temptation to race for home though, which I thought was very restrained of me…

Cycling time: 1:35:46
Distance: 26.80 miles
Avs: 16.8 mph
ODO: 5530

GB was flying today. So much for keeping me company in taking it easy. I’d have taken it a lot easier today if I wasn’t having to keep up with everyone trying to catch up with him! Hardly saw him for dust…. Clearly very expensive bikes do actually make you go faster…either that or he didn’t want to be associated with our comparative mediocrity 😉

The bike is now clean for a change, and I’ve even used some proper paint to touch up the odd chip and scratch. It felt pretty good to ride today. I definitely feel a bit higher up and that bit lower than before when I’m on the drops. I was just as high when I came back as I was when I set out – result! Changing gear also felt very smooth, although I didn’t put the gears under much strain – no big hills. All good stuff.

There is this theory (and there are many on the subject) that tapering should actually be doing the same as usual but less of it. By which I mean the same intensity training for less time. So I only did 90 minutes at the gym yesterday instead of the usual two hours, and today’s ride was only 90 mins not two hours. I’d like to pretend I was tapering deliberately and being all sensible, but that’s rubbish, it’s just the way it worked out, and it seemed like a good excuse to do a bit less! But hey, it was tapering by my standards..

I’m looking forward to tomorrow, and am nearly all packed up. I’m looking at it as getting to spend a nice day out on the bike, rather than as a sportive. Well, sportives don’t usually include a lunch stop! If anyone is listening I’d like a nice strong westerly wind and a reasonable amount of sunshine. I know, I’m very demanding 🙂

PS: The Cycling Mayor, being now an “ex”mayor, is looking for some form of part-time gainful employment so if you have any decent suggestions…let me know…

Simple pleasures

9.00am. The Square. And the usual suspects gathered. KG, M&S D, DM, and me. The only notable exception was GB who has bigger fish to fry soon, and is apparently off to do every hill in the Mendips tomorrow. Each to their own. Having said that, both MD and DM have been up the Tourmalet (and other Cols) this summer. I wonder if the hill bug is catching? I’m feeling quite jealous of everyone with all their great achievements this year and am definitely feeling the need to set myself some kind of goals for next year to avoid feeling left out!

Anyway. Our merry band spent the usual 10 minutes debating where to go, and we ended up doing my usual training loop, which is apparently much less familiar to everyone else. This is good as I don’t like to bore people. It’s also great for me as I don’t even have to think about where I’m going, and I know all the ups, downs, and bends. This doesn’t mean I’m good at them I hasten to add, but there is at least no fear of the unknown. Which leaves fear of the known, a wet and gritty Winscombe Hill in this case. SD had taken a detour and was due to meet us in Loxton, so I let the machismo head down the hill and preceded down at my usual panic stricken pace. It was the first chance to try out some new braking techniques as explained to me in terms that I could actually understand yesterday. Rear braking to slow down, front braking for stopping. Simple enough even for me. If I go through less brake pads as a result that’ll be no bad thing…it’ll be a cheaper thing…so it’s worth a go 🙂

On the road to Loxton we hit an enforced go slow. Otherwise known as a slowly moving single cow shepherding road block. We dawdled along, avoiding the fallout, bemoaning the effect on our average speed, for a good ten minutes. Once released it was hard to avoid the temptation to head off like a bull at a gate (to maintain the bovine theme)… Luckily SD was still waiting in Loxton so, no harm no foul, and we made it over to Mark fairly swiftly. She then peeled off – something to do with a Pageant – and the four musketeers took the Burtle route to Sweets cafe. There was plenty of wind about, doing a fine job of never being in the right place at the right time, until the final straight to the cafe. Enjoying the push/relief, I made a break for it, leaving KG to give chase and cruise past me before the inevitable bend. We are so juvenile *grin*.

Coffee was duly had, plans for seeing the Tour of Britain and doing the Cheddar Sportive were all discussed and advanced, and various people ate various fried things between slices of bread. I did the can of drink + espresso thing. Rehydration + boost, theoretically. Besides which, I am not a hobbit, and do not need second breakfasts. If I did, I would carry it with me in my little pocketses…

We came back via Westhay and Panborough as usual, before taking the next left to go up over Mudgeley Hill that way, henceforth to be known as Dave’s hill. Well, John has a hill, so why shouldn’t Dave? He’s the one who has been slowly introducing us all to it after all. It’s a nice long slow climb, and it’s really nice at the top – quiet road, nice views, ups and downs – a huge improvement on the main road to Wedmore. Once out of Wedmore we lined up to minimise traffic impact, and headed for home. Down the dip at Cocklake, seizing the momentum to get up the other side…up out of the saddle, push and…I got the jump on KG and kicked my ar*e down the hill *grin*. If you get going there you’re doing a good 33 mph by the time you run out of hill and are pretty much set all the way to Cheddar. DM managed to catch me and hook on at some point and we blasted it all the way back which was immense fun. GB would have approved *grin*. It’s a good ride when I’m doing 25mph down there. We would have waiting for the missing duo but we got stuck with a bus behind us as we turned right and there was no convenient way to let it pass even though we tried…so there was nothing for it other than to head for home and to not spare the horses, which meant more silly speeding stuff down the bypass. Did I mention we were juvenile? Or maybe it’s just me…*grin*

Cycling time: 2:01:56
Distance: 32.75 miles
Avs: 16.1 mph
ODO: 5470

That was a whole heap of fun. As you can tell by the number of times I seem to have used the word fun. Maybe I should go back and replace it with a better choice of adjectives? However that seems a tad OTT, and besides which, that’s what it was. Fun. I do like going fast 🙂

The ride definitely felt smoother, which can only be down to the new saddle post, so that was interesting. My knee didn’t hurt – which either means changing the cleats worked, or that it’s just one of those days when it didn’t hurt! Nothing conclusive there then, but I do like pain-free 🙂 Imagine how much fun it might be when I’ve upgraded/replaced/repaired everything? Oops, sorry, used the fun word again… 😉

Rock me Amadeus

An impromptu ACG ride yesterday. By which I mean GB and I had agreed to go out, and then opened it to all comers. In this case that meant just KG. However we picked up a tourist too who found us in the Square- we’re a friendly bunch us cyclists – and he joined us for the first part of the ride.

GB had mooted the idea of doing hills the night before. Since I’ve been totally wiped out since I came back from France I wasn’t sure about this. Well I went to the gym for a couple of hours on Saturday and was so tired when I came back I ended up asleep on the sofa for two hours! However I was feeling marginally better on Sunday morning and since forewarned is forearmed (or something) the idea of hills wasn’t quite as horrific a one as it might have been. Plus I was kind of curious to see how much damage my two weeks (make that practically three) of excess had done.

So when, after some discussion, we decided to go up the Gorge, I wasn’t too cross. In fact I wasn’t cross at all. And, to be fair, it wasn’t half as bad as I thought it would be. It was, in fact, much the same as ever. GB played mountain goat at the front, our hill-hating tourist proved to be anything but, and KG and I took turns in bringing up the rear. Reassuringly the same as ever.

Once up the top it was proper cold and windy, and pretty hard to believe it was the middle of August. Or maybe not considering the British weather’s tendency to not do what it’s supposed to do. We pushed our way to the Rocky Road café which, as it turns out, in is in its last throes. And they didn’t have carrot cake either. The apple cake was ok, but not quite in the same league. I do hope the replacement café turns out nice as it’s a good place to head to, to motivate you up those hills. Bet they won’t do coffee and cake for £3 tho 🙁

We came back down into Wells and across the Levels to home. There was a scary bit on the Burcott Mill road bit when I wasn’t paying attention, was just following the other two, and they slowed to a stop for an approaching horse and cart. My back wheel locked, met gravel and…luckily I yelped, stopped braking, and it all worked out. Bit of an adrenalin kick there… Especially with the happy ending and all.

My left knee went in a big way not long after that and I was reduced to one leg pedalling for a while. After some wiggling around of my left foot it did improve a bit which shows that I really do need to look at my set up again. GB went off down the final straight like a bullet out of a gun leaving no chance for racing. Outclassed again *grin*. When, in Cheddar, he suggested heading off and doing more hills I might otherwise have been tempted, but I decided it would be unwise. Besides which he’s so fast at the moment I’d have been lagging behind big stylee. He is in training though, I’m not. That’s my excuse.

Cycling time: 2:12:46
Distance: 35.8 miles
Avs: 16.1mph
ODO: 5436

I’m surprised to see how fast we were going. Maybe that’s because GB was going so much faster that I just felt slow! And the wind did make it feel like a slog at times… Quite encouraging really. Especially as I didn’t end up sleeping the afternoon away either so was able to go to the Crown at Churchill for a pint of Mendip Magic in the sun, and an impromptu fly past by the Red Arrows. Sounds like a pretty good Sunday to me 🙂

A Gentleman’s Excuse Me

Oops. I’m two entries behind, and GB is showing me up something chronic by having blogged both our rides before I’ve done one. Simply not acceptable.

So. Yesterday the ACG were out and about again. A mixed group gathered in the Square and, after a wait to make sure the ever tardy KG wasn’t going to arrive, headed off towards Glastonbury. (As it turns out he’s been ill, so we’ll let him off). The group rapidly split in two, but luckily there were enough of us at the right levels to allow that to happen without anyone getting left on their own. I wish it worked out that way more often… Anyway, we arrived at the café at the bottom of the high street and I had my caffeine fix – a notably nice americano. The others joined us a little while later, and we sat chatting in the sun for a while. I think that’s one of the best things about the ACG – we laugh a lot. Which is good for the soul 🙂

Eventually we had to leave, and once again, two groups made their various ways back. The “fast” group pushed across the Levels, into the wind. I know, I’m always going on about headwinds, but it wasn’t as troublesome as sometimes as my caffeine fueled legs were happy to take the lead. I get to feel all powerful and capable that way – very good for the ego. Dad was hoping we wouldn’t do our usual daft race down the Wedmore road but I couldn’t promise him that…which is just as well as we were as juvenile as ever. I played leadout team for GB, allowing him to sprint for home and get over the line first. To be fair, the rest of us did stop and wait for Dad who’d gotten stuck behind a tractor, so GB was deprived of an audience to cheer him over the line 😉 Next time he tries to come past me I may have to head butt him…

Cycling time: 1:57:28
Distance: 34.2 miles
Avs: 17.5mph
ODO: 5196

So, that was Saturday. Weren’t we fast? That’s what happens when you avoid hills. GB and I jested in very non-serious fashion about cycling again on Sunday…and then somewhat surprisingly we were both given leave passes to do just that. So, as such opportunities should not be missed, he and I did it all over again this morning!

However it was a different route – since repeating yourself is wrong. Firstly it involved wiggling down towards East Brent. We ended up going that way having taken an unintended detour at Rooksbridge but, as is often the way, this proved to be a good thing. As we headed back towards Uphill alongside the railway line we noticed that there were more spectators than one might usually expect for that line. Ah hah we thought…and, as one anorak confirmed, they were waiting for a steam train. We headed at speed to the next bridge along, where we joined an over-equipped motorcyclist to await the arrival of what turns out to have been the Duke of Gloucester (I know a man who knows these things). It powered under the bridge, engulfing us in nostaglic steam, and we ran across to the other side, like a very fast game of pooh sticks, to watch it disappear off to the south. A very good way to put a grin on my face – and it quite made my day 🙂 I even took a photo which I’ll try and post at some point… And if we hadn’t detoured we wouldn’t have been in the right place at the right time and I would have even less to write about *grin*.

After that it was off through grockle infested WsM to the Castle in Kewstoke for more good coffee, more good chat, and then the usual route home. GB suggested taking in some form of incline on the way home but by that point my legs weren’t feeling it. Or rather they were, in painful knee fashion. The right knee is coming out in sympathy with the left one now. Misery loves company? Also, it being the second day in a row, with no need for such intense training, it felt like time to go home.

Cycling time: 1:56:47
Distance: 33.12 miles
Avs: 17.0 mph
ODO: 5230

It turns out we were much faster than I was expecting which just goes to show. Not sure what it shows. Something of significance of no doubt. Probably that I should go cycling more often, right?