Bits and Pieces

Andy poses alongside a member of the Luxembourg National Guard

Andy Poolman's Charity Ride

It's been on my mind for a while now to post up something about Andy's impressive ride. 

Andy rode through six countries in six days. The course through the UK, Holland, Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Germany covered about 450 miles. 

Andy was riding for two charities; the Michael Palin Centre for stammering children, and Beyond Ourselves, which builds schools in Zambia. 

Andy's group of 14 cyclists all completed the journey. They had 10 punctures and apart from a few minor tumbles, no other mishaps, although the Low Countries apparently proved to be surprisingly mountainous!

Well done Andy!

Anyone for cake?

Saturday's Club Ride

Six members rode to Nailsworth on Saturday in two groups. A seventh member rode just part of the way, as he was off later to the velodrome. 

Refreshments were taken at The Canteen.

A special mention must go to Dynamo Mike who whilst recovering from an injury, travelled with a crutch strapped to his bicycle.

Evans Cycles Sportive - Lackham College Chippenham

Having flagged-up this ride probably more times than you'd care to remember, I felt duty bound to actually take part. Riding solo, I completed the 80 mile course on Sunday. 

The early stages were fairly flat around Bromham and Rowde, but things started to get a bit lumpy after Great Bedwyn and then came the long, slow grind up Hackpen Hill, attacked from the Marlborough side. Fortunately, the last feed station was at the top of the hill and having eaten enough flapjacks, chocolate brownies, cakes, bananas, sweets and peanuts to feed a family of six, it was all downhill to Bushton and then back to Lacock via Compton Bassett and Heddington.

Boots & Spurs

It was a shame that our photograph in the latest edition of Boots & Spurs was cropped to the size of a postage stamp, but it was good to see us proudly standing alongside the other sections.

With the deadline for the next edition of the magazine just around the corner, we've already submitted our section news. It's been a busy time for the club and its members. We're restricted to just 250 words and it's no easy task trying to squeeze in all of the different club events, as well as members' individual achievements. Don't be too modest. If you've taken part in an activity outside of the club, be sure to let us know. 

Mid-week Daytime Ride

Following the success of our mid-week evening rides which had up to 12 members participating at various times, we are now introducing an exciting new element to our ride portfolio. 

To keep things simple the destination will be the same every week and the time to arrive there will be the same too. For now the idea is to meet  at the Angel Café in Sherston at 12.00 noon for coffee, or if you feel like it, lunch. They are very cyclist friendly and bikes can be parked safely.

It is not intended that we meet up before at a particular time to ride there together, more that we arrive at the destination at the same time. So how you get there and how far you go is up to you. If you want to arrange to meet others to form a group, that is up to you too. Keeping the destination close allows those who haven’t got much time to still pop out to join the fun. Also if the weather turns unfavourable we will not be far from home.

The first such meet took place earlier today, Thursday 30th October 2014 and was an instant hit.

Steve Turns Back Time in Tuscany

A short note on our trip to L'Eroica, this October in Gaiole in Chianti, Tuscany.

L'Eroica ('The Heroic') is a vintage ride across the strade bianche, or white roads, of Tuscany.

Dressed in woollen jerseys, and, for some, woollen shorts, and on bikes with down tube shifters, and toe-clips and leather straps, the object is to conquer distances of 38, 75, 135 or 205 km over the Tuscan hills. 

We chose the 135 km, which offers a sensible challenge but still allows a little time to enjoy it. The hardy souls undertaking the longer route face 4 am starts and early evening finishes.....

The whole affair is preceded with a vintage Cycle Market on the Saturday before. All of the town of Gaiole is given over to this festival of all things cycling, and in particular old bikes and bike parts. Ancient 'ordinaries' vie for attention amongst masterpiece Hetchins' and glimmering steel framed Colnagos, De Rosas and Pinarellos. 

Above all, there was a brisk trade in woollen jerseys to be worn the next day, many 'originals' of famous teams such as Faema, Molteni, and StRaphael. Everyone could be Merckx, Coppi, Geminiani, Bartali or Anquetil for the day.

And then it was Sunday.  Alarms at 4:30am for breakfast, followed by a drive into town for a 6:00 am start. Everywhere was a buzz of steel, wool, Italian voices and hot, bracing expresso. Having stamped our brevet cards we were off into the dark, quickly climbing up the side of a candle lit castle amongst the best vines Chianti has to offer. Silence, all but the crunching of chalk and flints under rubber. 

The first feed station came at about 9, with an eclectic mix of traditional Tuscan fare served by ladies and gents in traditional rural dress.  No energy gels or isotonic drinks here - all red wine and blackcurrant tart, and tasty Tuscan things drizzled in honey. A glass of Chianti with breakfast - yes, really.  I said it was heroic.....

In all there were five of these stops. In spite of the punishing road surface and 2800m of climbing, I still think I gained weight on this one rather than lost it.  Nevertheless, it’s all very quaint but it ain't easy! For those of you with happy experiences of riding bikes with friction shifters - remember how the gears used to change on their own, just as you were out of the saddle pulling the bars with all your might up a 1:4 - fun huh?

For much of it, I was merrily lost in a bygone era; whilst climbing the lower slopes of the punishing Monte Sainte Marie I was joined by another Eddy Merckx.  'Hello Eddy' my mimic whispered.  'Hello, er, Eddy', I replied. We debated which Eddy would crest the hill first. He brought me up sharp with the news that Roger De Vlaeminck was close behind us.  We both put on a bit of a spurt.

By 5:30, and many Chiantis and bowls of bean stew later, we rolled back into Gaiole, proud of the bumpy, slidy white rural routes we had conquered, but cheery, dusty and perhaps a little rosy cheeked.  We could be heroes, just for one day.....

Jamie Battles the Exmoor Beast

They say the body has no memory of pain. This may be the case but mentally, the memory of last year's event came right back with a vengeance on the first hill. It's not the hardest climb on the route, but coming ten minutes in to the 100 miles, it certainly gives you little time to warm up before the percentages ramp and the gears drop. 

This year, this early burn was exacerbated by my front mech missing the memo about the 6165 feet of gain on the route and refusing to shift down in any meaningful way. This  would lead to a fair amount of standing up and the invention of a new shifting technique, of which more shortly. 

Despite this minor setback, I and my 1.5 litres of Mars milk left Tiverton in the front of the first group of riders to set off, resplendent in MCCC jersey, took a lovely sojourn around Wimbleball lake as the weather continued to hold, managed to stay upright on some pretty tricky slippy and leafy descents and finally arrived at the first feed station in Dunster feeling fresh and limber.

My enquiry as to whether there might be someone with tools and a bike stand to look at my gearing proving negative, I picked up a banana, had a quick stretch and headed off in the direction of Porlock and Dunkery Beacon, the event's main heart stopper.

While treating my gearing like a fixed gear enabled me to overtake and distance groups of riders whose default response to inclines was to go straight to the granny, I realised I was going to have to do something if I was going to make it up to the top of Exmoor. Just before the run on to the main climb, I bit the bullet and went digital - that is, I stopped and moved the chain in to the granny ring with my fingers. This first of four such shifts accomplished, I sat back, gritted my teeth and attacked the Beacon.

Its worth mentioning at this point that last year, I manged to get to the top without stopping, having full use of my gears for the first two hours and a bigger big cog to climb in. This year alas, I must shamefully confess that I stopped briefly to get my breath back and eventually ran out of steam some fifty meters down from the easing of the incline at which point I got off and pushed. This increased my MPH from two to three however. Happy Days!

Having gotten back in to the saddle, and my front mech sneeringly shifting with ease in to the big ring again, I set off on the exposed moors and steep cattle grid strewn descents that make up the middle portion of the Beast. The wind was strong but mainly a tail and I made good time, having to change down digitally before the climb out of Simonsbath, stopping at the top to finally eat my banana and have a quick stretch, before hitting the water station just before Barbrook. At this point I had another stretch and took on more water, before making the third of my digital shifts to climb out of the valley and on to the last portion of the ride on the moor. Around Parrcombe, the last of my four digital shifts occurred to get up a sixteen percenter, and finally I was two thirds round with the last feed station at South Molton in tangible reach of my increasingly aching legs. 

You may have noticed a fair amount of stretching happening - this was only postponing the inevitable. My gels and water intake failed to prevent the onslaught of ten minutes of pretty nasty cramps around the 70 mile mark, partly due to my overgearing. After necking the rest of my water and having a roadside yoga session however, they had eased enough for me to make the descent into the portion of the ride that takes you down fast into the river valley through Brayford quarry, in to the feed station at South Molton. 

Having fully flapjacked, soreened, ham and cheese baguetteed, souped and watered myself, I took advantage of the look of pain on the faces of the group I had been pacing with over the moor, and left before they looked up - setting out on to the last section. At this point I finished the last of the Mars milk, put my head down and manned up. 

The run in to Devon from the last feed station, crossing the A361 and with the finish not more than 15 miles away saw me gaining a second wind as I steamed down the hill in to the Exe valley, around Stoodleigh, in to Tiverton Borough and finally in to Tiverton itself. Its an undulating fast bit of road that last year found me using the last of my reserves of will power, counting down the miles to the finish line. This year, cramp aside, I'd had a much better time over the moor and I worked hard to keep the speedo over 21 mph.

I finally came around the corner in to Tiverton High School to see Verity filming my final burst of speed - I whipped past and in to the sports hall where I took a look at my odometer as I was handed my Beast half pint glass.... finishing in six hours and thirty five minutes with an average of 15.5 mph. I think a return next year will certainly happen. Its a well run event, and the sheer nastiness of some of it creates a survivor mentality spirit with the riders you spend time with en route. See you all there next year?

Weekend Round-Up

This is more of a quick roundup rather than a review of a particular ride.

It’s been another busy weekend for the MCCC. As well as the usual Saturday club ride, members have been participating in events far and near, and that’s just the ones I know about.

It wasn't quite as nice as this at Lacock on Saturday

Saturday’s excursion to Lacock was an enjoyable jaunt and somewhat surprisingly, given the recent rain, we managed to stay dry throughout. Long may the mild weather continue. 

Allow me to apologise though if there was anyone out on the course waiting to join us. Unfortunately I turned right too early and instead of riding down through Kington St Michael to Allington, we ended up on a course which took us through Yatton Keynell, Biddestone and Corsham.

Sunday saw Jamie attempting to tame the Exmoor Beast Cycle Challenge. As formidable as I’ve heard the beast is, my money was still on Jamie coming out on top. Hopefully we’ll see a review of the event from him.

Riders listening to the pre-ride briefing at the Cotswold Water Park

Closer to home, on Sunday I took part in the first of Performance Cycles Winter Mini-Sportive Series. On offer was a choice of courses over either 45 or 65 miles. Both included an ascent of the ‘W’ out of Nailsworth. I was in two minds as to which one I’d tackle and when I reached the split point, with all of the serious climbing already in the bag, I had no hesitation in taking the longer one. The final run-in, especially around the air base at Fairford, might have been as flat as a pancake, but there was a strong headwind to contend with.

With around 100 riders taking part, many of them grouped together in club formations, there wasn’t a wheel to be had anywhere and I was forced to plough a lone furrow. If anyone fancies doing another in the series, then you and your wheel would be very welcome.

Back at Ride HQ there were hot drinks, cake and bacon rolls waiting. 

Finally, just a reminder that this season's Wednesday evening club rides have now come to an end. 

Forthcoming Local Cycling Events

I thought I'd just keep you up to date with some cycling events that are happening locally.

A last shout for the Evans Cycles Sportive at Lackham College, Chippenham on Sunday 26th October 2014. The cost is £17.50 with a £2.50 surcharge if you enter on the day. There's a choice of courses over 34, 62 or 80 miles.

http://www.evanscycles.com/pages/rideit-wiltshire-sportive-ride-26th-october-2014

Performance Cycles Winter Mini-Sportive Series starts on Sunday 19th October 2014. Choose to ride either 45 or 65 miles. These represent excellent value. Entry is just £8.50 and includes hot drinks and food at the end. The rides begin and end at the Cotswold Water Park, and are limited to 150. They proved extremely popular last year.

http://www.performancecycles.co.uk/mini/

There are three Audax rides which all take place during February 2015. Audax events are open to non-members for an extra £2. If you've never ridden an Audax before and you're wondering what they're all about, have a word with me, Howard or Steve and we'll do our best to confuse you.

On 1st February, there's two rides from Ashton Keynes, one covering 108km and the other 155km.

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/15-32/

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/15-344/

On 8th February, there's the famous 102km 'Flapjack' at Chippenham. If you only ever do one Audax, let it be the 'Flapjack' and I promise you won't be disappointed. Last year the event sold out, so don't leave it until the last minute if you want to enter. 

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/15-36/

Finally, before you book any rides for 2015, there's a very good chance that once its been discussed at a Wednesday get-together, there'll be a repeat of our own Sunday Series on the first Sunday of each month, starting on 1st February. 

Max's Two Hill Climb Races in a Day

Max at Hinton Hill

Saturday morning dawned with a pretty bleak outlook for two races in one day - an early start from Cardiff was in order for a 9.30am rendezvous at Lacock village hall, for the Chippenham Wheelers-hosted event. I almost didn't get out of bed, especially as (getting my excuses in early) I'd had a cold for the last week, and wasn't on top form. Nonetheless, bike and kit in the car, and onto a sodden M4. I made it in plenty of time for my start slot (10:44) but not enough time to recee the course - a very important aspect in a hill climb, so you know how to pace it.

I bumped into Tim H in the car park, who kindly bought me a coffee and (completely understandably!) explained the absence of a club ride! Cue then, half an hour of sitting on my rollers, gently steaming in the rain, trying to warm up.

I managed to time my warm up to perfection, with only 70 seconds of stationary-sitting before starting and set off into the unknown. Tim H had talked me through the climb in detail, which helped massively, and I felt I paced my effort really well. Unfortunately, I just couldn't go as fast as I knew I could, especially over such a long hill - my legs were fine, but my lungs couldn't keep up. I'm still waiting to get the official results, but I believe I finished 19th out of 40, with a time of 5:34 - within 50 seconds of the winner.

I then shot off for a light lunch with Mama Girdler in Marlborough, before heading to Hinton for the afternoon's event, hosted by Severn Road Club, and the last in a run of 30 years of hosting the event for the organiser Paul. The weather had done a complete U-turn and, alongside the sun, I was chuffed to see a support team of Tim H, Malcolm and Andy P turn up whilst I warmed up in the car park. I had plenty of time in hand, and rode the hill a few times, making mental notes of certain points to accelerate, slow down and all-out sprint for the line! This course was much shorter - 0.8km at 1-in-7 - and hence easier to pace, albeit, being right on the limit for the whole thing. I was really happy with my warm up, only had 60 seconds stationary before starting, and emptied the tank before the finish, so really couldn't have done more. The MCCC support team were a great boost with only 150m left to go. I finished 17th with a time of 2:23.4 - the winner (who was only 16!) clocked 1:56.8.   

Both events were followed by tea, cake, presentations and a couple of speeches - hill climbs are really 'wholesome' events, where competition is friendly and everyone will offer you advice, help or just a chat. A really enjoyable day in whole, and the Hinton event especially is one that i'll make a return to in the future.

Not the Club Ride Saturday 4th October 2014

The Cumberland Basin, Bristol

The Tasty Cheddar 101km Audax

It was pouring with rain when I arrived at the Cumberland Basin, Bristol for the start of the ride. A waterproof jacket, as opposed to a water resistant one, has been at the top of my shopping list for more months than I care to remember and now there was going to be a heavy price to pay for my indecision.

There was still a while to the start, but things had already gone badly. I’d forgotten to bring my Garmin, so would need to rely on the routesheet. Reference to which, would mean I’d need to stop and put my reading glasses on. And to put the cherry on the cake, I had also managed to leave my Cateye speedometer at home.

Poor form I know, but I decided, where possible, to discretely follow other riders who looked as if they might know where they were going, but far enough back to avoid any suggestion that I was riding on their wheels.

As riders flooded out of the car park, I joined those taking the A4 Portway rather than the alternative Pill Path. Moving past groups with alarming ease, it wasn’t too long before I found myself towards the front, which was the last place I wanted to be.

Despite getting stuck behind a bus at Shirehampton, I just about managed to keep two cyclists in view and it was with some relief that I found my way onto the Avonmouth Bridge. 

Check-in at Portishead

The first control of the day was outside the Lakeside Café at Portishead. Too soon for refreshments maybe, but just right for the toilet. I fished out my 20p coin, as advised. That was one thing I had remembered, but I needn’t have bothered, as the door was being kept open.

Not the queue for the toilet, riders wait patiently to get their brevet cards stamped 

The coast road provided some spectacular views across the Rivern Severn and the first hint of some improvement in the weather.  Along Clevedon’s promenade, a fellow cyclist informed me that it was always sunny there. My own experience of Clevedon told me otherwise.

Turning inland, we headed for Cheddar. Having ridden through Yatton and Congresbury, we joined the cycle path at Winscombe. This ran along the trackbed of the former Strawberry Line, so called because of the high volume of locally grown strawberries the trains once carried.

A highlight or to be more precise, a lowlight of this section, was riding through the long, dark railway tunnel. Just about able to make out shapes inside, I was grateful for a single, central row of what can best be described as landing lights running from end to end, to help guide me through. In fairness to the organisers, Cycle Bristol CTC, they had mentioned the need for lights, but my puny one proved fairly ineffective.

On the outskirts of Cheddar, so late in the season, I was surprised to find Cheddar strawberries still being sold at the roadside.

Time for tea at Cheddar

The next control, the Fortes Ice Cream Parlour and Café, was located at the bottom of Cheddar Gorge. Brevet card stamped it was time for one of my staples, a pot of tea and a slice of carrot cake. Taking my seat and seeing the wide selection of club jerseys on display, it was time to give mine a bit of an airing too. Simple in design it might be, but the green is very bold and always stands out well in a crowd.

After a bit of unnecessary fiddling around with my bike whilst I waited for some riders whom I thought might be of similar age and ability as me, the ascent of Cheddar Gorge was underway. The higher we went, the stronger the sun became and when we eventually reached the summit, we were rewarded with the comforting warmth of the sun’s rays on our backs.

The delightful Ring O' Bells

After some technical descents across the Mendip Hills, there was then an assault on the hill up to Hinton Blewett. AAA points aren’t given away lightly and we’d have to earn the one point the ride merited.  This time our reward came in the form of the control at the Ring O’ Bells public house.  Here, doorstop sized sandwiches piled high with filling were flying out of the kitchen whilst I made-do with a coke and a bag of peanuts.

Setting off for the last leg I became aware of a rubbing noise coming from the back wheel. Inspection revealed that the bracket supporting the rear metal mudguard had snapped off. The best I could come up with in my bag of tricks was the band of rubber wrapped around my spare inner tube. This didn’t help matters and unable to find any bale twine to tie up the mudguard, it had to go. Once removed, I rode with it in my hand for a couple of miles, but negotiating the lumpy countryside was definitely a two-handed operation and in the end we had to part-company.  I lied, promising to come and retrieve it later, knowing I never would.

The final run-in was pain-free and validation at the control outside of the Nova Scotia public house, instant. This was a well organised event with an interesting and challenging course.