Weekly Chat Wednesday 29th January 2014

This week’s Wednesday evening chat had something of a continental feel about it courtesy of Howard’s fine selection of biscuits. Once the preliminary ritual of handing out no longer wanted cycling magazines had ended, it was down to the serious business of discussing MCCC matters.

The MCCC’s inaugural ride was on 25^th February 2012. The 2^nd anniversary of this momentous occasion will be marked on Saturday 22^nd February 2014, with a birthday ride. The emphasis will be very much on people having fun. In this spirit, where possible, members are encouraged to ride a bike they wouldn’t normally use on a club run. The short route of just 15 miles will be the same one ridden back in 2012. There will be free cake for all those taking part.

On a date yet to be decided during July 2014, the festivities will continue with an official birthday. This will take the form of a ride with a route linking all of our favourite cafes. At the moment it’s anyone’s guess which one we’ll actually decide to stop at.

The success of the MCCC events relies very much on members’ participation. Talking of which, we now have 13 members who have renewed their membership and 6 new members. We might be a small club compared to some, but we’re doing pretty well in terms of the percentage of members who turn up to ride.

Club Ride Saturday 25th January 2014

I'm grateful to Howard for his interesting take on Saturday's ride:

It has often been said that cyclists let their legs do the talking. Now, this is just as well bearing in mind that we cyclists often find ourselves alone on the road for hours on end with only our effort for company. In these situations the mouth remains firmly shut and we listen to the chatter of our protesting legs. In fact, on occasions, so incessant has this protesting from his legs become, that the European Professional Jens Voight ( http://www.jensvoigtfacts.com/ ) has sought to answer back and is well known for shouting, “SHUT UP LEGS”.  

The Jensie fan club in full sway in the Tour Down Under (from Twitter Chris Green @chrisadelaide)

However, legs can be a real problem for cyclists – tan lines not quite right, shave or not shave?, never turning the pedals quite fast enough, going all wobbly on climbs, or worst of all, sustaining an injury.

It was from an injury that I was returning to ride with the Malmesbury Clarion peloton and in the true spirit of cycling determined that I would let my legs (or at least the recovering one) do the talking. So determined was I to enjoy the outing that I barely spoke a word for the entire trip!

When I arrived at the start, last as usual, I mumbled to the others that they should leave me behind if I dropped off the pace and that I would be unable to follow a wheel if the speed got out of hand. My intention was only to do ‘the’ circuit and I was quite prepared for the others to go their own way as and when they felt like it. However, as no particular route had been set it was agreed that we would ride together for most of the way.

For those that do not know, ‘the’ circuit starts by going along the Foxley Road and left to the Vine Tree pub.  In the dip, left over the ford (not flowing on this ride) and right to follow the road all the way to Sherston. At Sherston turn right towards Malmesbury and left signposted Westonbirt Arboretum.  Second right to Shipton Moyne and home to Malmesbury.

For my part I enjoyed the ride and thank the bunch for sticking patiently with me as far as the Moyne. Here the group split and I was escorted the rest of the way by Dave.

Coffee was in order so we made our way to the Jackdaw where, surprisingly, something like 20 bicycles were parked outside, and ours made it 22. And this is a final irony, (there were others?), no seats at the inn due to all the cyclists!! So it’s off to mine for coffee, the home of Malmesbury Cycling.

Once again, thanks to the group for putting up with my silence, I was just enjoying the wind in my face and the quiet swish of rubber on tarmac for the first time in a long time.

Weekly Chat Wednesday 22nd January 2014

Tim H’s 100 mile ride will take place on Sunday 3^rd August 2014. Leading up to the event will be a series of reliability rides to be held on the first Sunday of each month, starting on Sunday 2^nd February 2014. The rides will increase in distance and difficulty beginning with one over a 34 mile route.  These will take place in addition to the usual Saturday club rides.  

The key features of a reliability ride are fitness, self-reliance and navigational skills. They are a personal challenge and not a race. Anyone falling behind shouldn’t expect others to support them.  As a small incentive the rider who completes the most miles during the series will be awarded free membership for the following year.

There are no fixed dates yet, but to add a little variety to our cycling, some car-assisted rides are under consideration where we drive with our bikes to a particular location and cycle from there. Some ideas to think about are a possible trip to South Wales to ride with Max Girdler and maybe a joint ride with another Clarion branch such as Gosport, Hampshire.

Weekly Chat Wednesday 15th January 2014

The main thrust of this week's discussion was the planned launch of the MCCC website. With just a few technical problems and the wording of some of the content to resolve, it should be ready to go live within the next week. A global email will be sent to members to let them know once it has.

This Saturday's ride will take place as per usual. There's no designated route, this can be agreed at the time.

Club Ride Saturday 11th January 2014

My enforced lay-off, mostly due to the weather, meant that this was my first ride of 2014. I recently read an article about how many days of inactivity it took before performance levels started to drop. This is the time-line:

0-5 days:  Your fitness is improved. (Phew, it’s not all bad)

1 week: Blood volume reduced by 5 to 12 per cent; muscles become less efficient and able to deal with lactate.

2 weeks: Maximal oxygen uptake down 4 to 20 per cent.

3 weeks: Muscle capillarisation back to pre-training levels and less able to burn fat as fuel.

2 months: Muscle mitochondria less efficient at using oxygen and the heart is less muscular.

6 months: Fitness declines have stabilised and your body has reached an ‘untrained’ level.

Not being a Doctor I haven’t a clue what most of this means. Anyway, I was at the 2 weeks stage with no idea about the state of my maximal oxygen.

As we mustered in our usual spot (has anyone else noticed that we seem to be edging ever closer towards the other door?) most riders confessed to feeling a little rusty and so with this in mind a shorter ride than normal was proposed and seconded.

There was an invigorating air of optimism about the morning. We welcomed Ted for his maiden ride with us and fielded an enquiry from someone who we’ll hopefully have the pleasure of seeing in the not too distant future.

A circular route around the outskirts of Malmesbury was quickly put together with the benefit of allowing riders to peel off at any time, back into town, should they wish to do so.

In glorious sunshine with hardly a flutter, we eased our way out of the car park.  Disaster soon struck when Mike suffered a mechanical problem on the Foxley Road.  Ever resourceful and determined not to fall at the first hurdle, Mike cycled back home, swapped his battery with Maureen’s and headed off to Tetbury where we were later joined him.  Anyway, as Ronnie Corbett used to say, I digress.  

Back on the road our route took us through the villages of Hullavington, Stanton St Quintin, Upper Seagry, Great Somerford, across country to Crudwell, Long Newton and into Tetbury where we met Mike for coffee at Veloton.  Tim H resisted temptation and chose not to have some cake. A sensible New Year’s resolution I wondered. No, he was planning to have eggs and bacon when he got home!

The final leg of our journey saw us returning via Shipton Moyne.  An enjoyable ride, excellent weather and great company, what more can you ask for.

Distance: 33.2 miles

Video of Chippenham Wheelers Christmas Eve Ride

With things a little quiet at the moment, I thought you might like to see this short video I came across of the Chippenham Wheelers Christmas Eve ride around the Dauntsey area tackling some hardcore flooding. Watch out for the rider who comes through at 01:24 and try not to watch it too many times otherwise you won't be able to get the catchy tune out of your head.