Tuesday Trundle:

Finally a road ride! After a downpour last night the roads cleared enough for me to feel comfortable enough to ride my road bike, the first time this month & only 3 days 'till the end of December.

Trundle: v. move heavily on wheels.

Tuesday Trundle:

Boxing Day Biking Breather: by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

After the indulgence of Christmas Day a couple of hours on the MTB was a welcome break on another cold but lovely day!

Boxing Day Biking Breather:

LOOK 695 EUROBIKE 2010 DEMO DAY TEST LOOK 695 SR
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Snow gone, Thaw Starting!

No ride yesterday 'cos I had to wait in for the boiler man to call & not fix the boiler!

Today tho' I was hoping for a ride back on the road as they are now clear of snow again but taking a look out of the window revealed a heavy frost! A closer inspection, outside, proved that the road was rather slippery. Fearing that the normal cycling lanes may be dangerous I decided it would be another MTB ride today.

Sticking with the same local park routes the riding was clearly faster but I did find myself putting in a few big efforts on the uphill drags. As it the thaw was starting there were some wet & muddy bits, so by the time I got back home I was somewhat dirty!

A quick change into warm dry clothes, recovery drink & coffee, then as the hosepipe was now defrosted I was able to jet wash & lube the bike so it's sitting poised for duty when needed.

Snow gone, Thaw Starting!

Social Snowy Spin:

Another cold start to the day, which I was pleased about 'cos I'd agreed to meet up with some guys from Coalville Wheelers & another local lad & I didn't want it to be mucky. Five of the Wheelers turned up so we made a group of seven which made a nice change...

The going was tough again today as the ground was very hard from the frost & the melt that had started yesterday had refrozen so it was also very slippery! We had one puncture in the group today which slowed things down a bit. Then the Wheelers had to head back after an hour so I had a short stint with the local lad before he also headed home upon whence I headed on for another hour. I just can't resist!

I'm starting to get used to the local off road routes now & thoroughly enjoying them.

Social Snowy Spin:

The Wrong Kind of Snow on the Trails:

Not a breath of wind & warmer making the snow sticky, & after a weeks worth of dog walkers it was it was compacted underneath & very slippery:

Riding in the snow again this week but bot was it tough! The weather was turning warmer & just beginning to thaw a little, this made the snow very sticky & the bike got covered & clogged but continued to work faultlessly. Added to this as after a week of walkers around the parks underneath had become very compacted & slippery testing the handling skills to the max. My average speed was a great deal slower than last weekend & boy after 3hrs of it do I feel knackered.

The Wrong Kind of Snow on the Trails:

Fun in the Snow: Day 2.

-9 upon rising today & had thought about going to take pics at a Cyclo Cross event over at Cannock but the urge to ride overcame the urge to shoot pics.

Looking to avoid a copy of yesterdays route I remembered some other local areas that I haven't ridden.

After a short section of road I started with Oakthorpe Colliery which I have walked round, a long time ago, this proved to be a worthwhile venture. Following the border first clockwise from the main entrance & then retracing the same trail anticlockwise. This area is 'Off Road' & fairly technical in places including a couple of cross bars to duck under, no getting off tho'.

After this it was across the road 'Ashby Road' & into Hicks Lodge, a new area of the National Forest. I've not been into this area before & was surprised at the wide open vistas, it's very well laid out & has a very good track although I'm not sure of the surface as today it was snow covered but it was nice & easy & I'm sure it would make a great loop to push hard around. It's basically a fast loop around a big lake. I did notice tho' that there are building works going on which are signed to be a Cycle Centre, I hope they put a cafe in but I reckon it'll be a hire centre.

Skip across 'Willesley Lane' by the Cycle Centre into another area that is under construction, here I must have spent an hour or so disoriented & searching for my way back out, I'll give it a miss in future until it's finished.... Back thro' Hicks Lodge to Ashby Road & back home.

A quick pit stop at home for coffee & bike adjustment & I was away again for similar loops to that of yesterday, Sarah's Wood followed by Rawdon East which I only discovered yesterday. Back to the Furnace where I spotted a Green Woodpecker then along to Spring Cottage with a couple of loops along the way. Over Spring Cottage Road & a big loop in this zone then along to cross Park Road & into Swainspark Wood where there was a buzzard flitting from tree to tree above & in front of me, how do they manoeuvre with suck a big wingspan! Through here & back over Occupation Road for just one lap of Albert Village Lake.

Pretty much a retrace back from here with the odd loop here & there to keep the miles up & the climbing.

National Forest Map

Fun in the Snow:

Fun in the Snow:

Anticipated the snow & prepared the MTB last night, slick move, I got it right for a change…

A lovely morning, bright sunshine, negligible breeze, just right for a couple of hours steady in the fresh snow..

Fun in the Snow:

Steady Solo Sunday Saunter:

Still with sore throat & cold, but the weather was fine & I wanted to test adjustments to my 585:

Success, it feels like I've managed to replicate the position of my 595 to my 585, maybe I'll have to keep both.........

Steady Solo Sunday Saunter:

Short Misty Friday Foray:

Haven't ridden for a couple of weeks & have a sore throat so a steady ride in the heavy mist....

Short Misty Friday Foray:

Another Sunday Solo over Harby & Beacon Hills:

Yet another great day. An unusual easterly breeze for a change so with a tail wind for the run back I was hoping to be a bit quicker but no I was still slower than last week:

Another Sunday Solo over Harby & Beacon Hills:

Steady Saturday Spin:

Steady Saturday Spin with Julie, V.light breeze & glorious sunshine:

This was Julies first ride since our holiday in France at the beginning of September so she was a bit anxious. We set of on a trouble free ride with no stops apart from a couple of quick stretches. She tired towards the end but all in all it was a good ride..

Steady Saturday Spin:

Pedalling on Porridge Power:

I didn't think I'd feel like doing a ride like this considering I haven't been doing much of late. But I couldn't resist on such a lovely day & felt better than I thought I would, great. (GF).

Pedalling on Porridge Power:

Short Solo Sunday Spin:

Taking it easy for a few weeks now so just a short & easy solo ride in great weather:

Short Solo Sunday Spin:

Sunny Shropshire:

Stayed with friends over the weekend & had a good ride in fantastic weather on Sunday!

Sunny Shropshire:

Sportive: Evans RideIt, Cannock:

Maybe not the best Sportive I've ever done! Went off course towards the end, guessing signs had been tampered with & me not paying enough attention to Garmin. A windy day but dry & the sun made an appearance towards the end too.

Planned as my last Sportive of the year for me & luckily I've been able to get a few miles this the week in preparation. As usual it's an early start, partly due to the fact that I didn't pack the car last night, the weather yesterday wasn’t very nice at all & despite the forecast it felt as if it would be 'rain stopped play'. In addition to this the www for the event didn't fill me with much excitement so I was in two minds as wether I’d go anyway.

I arrived at the start area in good time shortly after 8.00am & as I hadn’t pre-entered I’d printed off and completed an entry form at home so made my way to the signing on tent, paid my entry fee & collected my timing chip all without any hiccup & quickly too.

Prepared & ready to go I set off with a group just before 9.00am & soon realized that there wasn’t anybody in the group that was going to go at the kind of pace I wanted, so prepared myself for a day on my own. It was a grey day with complete low cloud cover & very windy but thankfully it was dry.

It wasn’t too long then before I was alone but got caught by a group of about a dozen soon after Blithfield Reservoir so I tucked into the group to conserve energy. Soon we turned onto the a very small lane, grass along the middle type of small. A couple of miles along this lane we found ourselves at the foot of a 13% climb that was tree lined, damp with mud & fallen bits of twigs etc. This caught us all out & the sudden slowing & gradient lead to lots of wheel spinning as we all ended up coming to a standstill in a heap. I did manage to find a dry spot & got going again & made it to the top without further ado but found that my rear brake lever had taken a knock, well I think it was my hand that took the knock, & slipped round. I took the opportunity for a comfort break & knocked my lever back into position. All the other riders had gone by now tho’ so I was on catch up!

The group was now completely splintered but I worked my way back thro’ the riders, passing one walking his way up the climb at Hoar Cross, it took me about 10km to get back to the front group of four. Once I was there I sat with them to recover for a while but within 10km I was edging away from them so started to focus on my own pace as the gap built. A few more kilometers & I arrived at the first feed station. There must have been a dozen or so riders there but I quickly filled a bottle & grabbed a banana & was straight away whilst they all stood there chatting!

Shortly after the feed stop I made the turn for the long route. No riders in sight in front or behind, banana consumed & I hit possibly the best section, well fastest anyway, a short stint along the A518 with a good tail wind! It didn’t last long tho’ before I was back on lanes & climbing. The next point of interest around the mid point was a ford, in flood with the usual cobbled & slippery base. Of course this was at the foot of another climb & once over the top it was onto a short sharp downhill section whereI’d have preferred to have used my MTB.

The weather had picked up by now tho’ but the roads hadn’t improved! I noticed another rider coming from behind just as I noticed three up ahead. I din’t ease off & soon passed the three in front shortly to be caught from behind. We worked together for a while & this looked promising for a fast finish. However at around 110km & despite following the route on my Garmin I think some signs had been switched & we made a right turn where we should have made a left. Of course we didn’t realize this until we arrived at a Tee junction a few Kms along the road. We weren’t the only ones to make this wrong turn as there was another rider looking at his map at the junction. Not wanting to stop we pushed on albeit, it transpires in the wrong direction & on main roads. After another the sharp ascent of Weston Bank I was behind & decided to double check my Garmin. The route had disappeared, so I reloaded as I rode, realized where I was & was able to find my way back & join the proper route at Tixal.

I felt comfortable again now as I was familiar with the route to the finish, this did of course involve mostly dragging upwards but I still managed to pass another half a dozen riders along the way who’d probably been on the shorter routes. A big push towards the last right turn onto the tarmac forest track to the finish & over the timing mat, job done, albeit about 8km short of the full distance.

I did stop & for a cuppa, snack & a chat before setting off for home. Whilst I was there one of the other riders that went off course came in a few minutes behind me, he’d been all the way into Stafford & rejoined at Milford.

All in all the event wasn’t as poorly organized as I was anticipating & for the best part the signage was good, & I was happy with my performance. I was working towards a 5hrs 15m finish & if I look closely at the time I was awarded & adjust it accordingly I think it would have been close to the 5hrs 15m.

Sportive: Evans RideIt, Cannock:

Results:

Saturday Super Spin:

Hoping to do the Evans Ride It Sportive from Cannock tomorrow:

Just a quick blast today, windy! 595:

Saturday Super Spin:

Another Afternoon Spinning into the Sunset:

Another gorgeous day, Another early finish, Another great ride!

Another Afternoon Spinning into the Sunset:

Another Afternoon Amble:

Another early finish from work & another fine afternoon, a little windy but a good solid ride...

Another Afternoon Amble:

Spinning into the Sunset:

After a wet Sunday today was lovely so I couldn't resist the opportunity of a quick ride as the sun went down.

Spinning into the Sunset:

Audax: Over the Trent to Dance & Pray.

Or maybe this ride should be called Snake bite & looseness!

I managed to get a late entry into this ride, my first Audax on the new winter bike, so I was looking forward to the opportunity to give it a good shakedown!

I arrived nice & early for the start at Darley Abbey, a nice setting on the edge of Derby, having driven there in sunshine with a little mist. It was looking like a promising day.

Of we set at 8.30 prompt & by by 8.35 I managed to get a Snake Bite puncture, Curses! I fitted a new tube as quick as I could & popped back to the car to fully inflate the tyre with my track pump.

Restart 8.55 & of course all the other riders had long gone so it I was playing catch up. I managed to catch the first 3 hares after about 23km & the next 4 who had stopped to write down the first information point answer. By the time I reached the first checkpoint at Moira Furnace I'd passed another half a dozen riders, all was going well except for a loose Space Bar, (route sheet holder). As this checkpoint was so close to home I decided to pop into home & get it sorted, so another little detour got the job done with a comfort break & a bun to boot.

Back on course & it's roads roads that I know, so not too much checking of the route sheet required for a while, & of course I'm passing again some riders that I've already passed once. 'Hare & Tortoise'.

Lullington-Edingale-Croxhall-Walton on Trent-Barton under Needwood-Dunstall, fine, then some big lumps over to Abbots Bromley before rolling into the next checkpoint at the Strawberry Fields Garden Centre at Bramshall, a quick turn around here with a comfort break & I'm away again hoping that the breeze that has been on my face all morning will now be behind me & help on the run in back to the finish.

From Bramshall it's onto smaller lanes over to Lower Tean & the 17% climb that followed where at the bottom of the descent from this climb I bumped into another couple of riders, one of whom's front wheel rim had worn thro' & split. I stopped briefly but didn't have the spanner he was looking for, lucky this happened at the foot of the descent & not on it! Onwards & thro' Croxden & Rocester, still no tail wind, & some more lumpy bits thro' Cubley on the way back to the A52 for a quick right/left & into the outside of Derby. The run in from here is very residential with lots of turn instructions & a short section on a cycle route & the tail wind just didn't happen.

Finally I've finished, an hour or so later than I would have planned & with a really tired & aching back. A little disappointed with todays performance & feeling very tired I won't forget however that yesterdays weather was non stop rain all day & the same is forecast for tomorrow!

Audax: Over the Trent to Dance & Pray.

Short Sunday Solo:

Tired after yesterdays ride I decided to ride alone today, to avoid the cafe race! This also gave the chance for a bit of a lie in. I did set off with a 100km ride in mind but it was a route that left plenty of options for a bail out should I not feel up to it or if the weather turned..

As it turns out I felt resonably O.K. but my HR was very low, hope it's just tiredness from yesterday, & the weather started to turn.

I decided to keep it shorter & by the time I got home it had been drizzling for the last 5km or so.

Guess I made the right decision today then...

Short Sunday Solo:

Over Cannock Chase, Club Run:

Today we had a longer than normal club ride planned. Eleven guys turned up at the meeting place in Heather, three of whom needed to get back in reasonable time so they turned off to take a different route soon after we set off. The rest of us continued thro' to Melboure where a quick comfort stop was taken before we crossed over Swarkstone Causeway. Once over the Causeway & onto the next stretch, 10 miles flat along the flood planes of the River Trent & into the wind, we tried to work like a team, constantly rotating with only a short turn on the front. This could have worked better, a few of the newer guys seemed to think that as they 'went thro' they should accelerate, not so, so the pace was increasing & the group started to split, regroup, split etc.

Once we'd completed this long flat section we turned thro' Tutbury & on the climb out the back of the town one of the rider split his chain. This resulted in a 20mins stop for repairs, aided by the loan of tools from a local resident, there are nice people out there!

Onwards again & a quick stop at Abbots Bromley for a water top up at a local store. Then onto a shortish cafe stop at Milford for a warm cup of tea & a teacake. It's a great place for a stop but probably better if you're going the other way as from the cafe it's upwards for a few miles! Over the Chase & back down into Rugeley, the fastest section of the route. As we made the descent we passed a couple of guys in on MTB's in Team Raleigh kit & I thought one looked like Dan Fleeman, a quick tweet once home & he confirmed it had been him.

After Rugeley it's pretty much pan flat again with some long straight sections & now the wind was helping us along. This resulted in the pace going up again! Oh only 25mph & it was just the one guy on the front for most of the way, Hugh, a 20year old ex GB rower & powerhouse. Encouraged by Nigel this pace continued but it meant that the group split up & arrived at the BeeHive cafe fragmented.

Despite this being a longer ride & getting back to the BeeHive later, I still got my magnificent poached eggs & beans on toast, ACE!

Now off for a nice soak in the bath & a relaxing evening.

Over Cannock Chase, Club Run:

Back onto UK roads:

A lovely afternoon & a reasonable finish meant at last I could get a descent ride in. And considering that I have done something untoward to my back today & wasn't sure if I'd be able to ride I'm more than pleased with the output. After all this may have been the last ride this year on my best bike before it gets tucked up for the winter months.

Back onto UK roads:

I was surprised to get this tweet today!

Congratulations to @carbonrider_595 for winning our Cervelo competition. There'll be more soon, thanks for entering.

Here's a link to the prize on the Cyclosport site.

Cyclosport Competition:

New Winter Bike:

Today was the day to collect my new Winter Bike! Up & out by 7.30am for the drive over to Epic Cycles. Arrived shortly after 9.00am to be presented with the new bike for a test ride. The fit is great, replicated from the Look 595 & first feeling is that it is very close, just what I wanted. Once back home I had to have a little fettle & tinker & of course by the time I'd finished doing that the rain came so I fettered & tinkered some more whilst I waited for the rain to ease & it obliged so I did get out for a short ride around home on it today. All seems fine, time will tell when I've spent more time in the saddle but I don't think I'm going to be disappointed..

Thanks to Epic Cycles

Racelight Gran Fondo

First Ride:

La last Limousin circuit:

One final ride thro' the magnificent lanes of the Limousin:

La last Limousin circuit:

Chateau tour:

Weather still not good for cycling so we spent the day driving from chateau to chateau from Rochechouart, Brie-Montbrun, (my fav), Chalus, Jumilhac-le-Grand St Yriex-le-Perche, Coussac-Bonneval & finally Lubersac. Quite some drive!

Pont de Senoueix:

A really lazy day with a late afternoon drive to Pont de Senoueix.

Day out in Tulle:

Raining today so we took a trip down to Tulle for a wander around the old part of town & a nice Plat de Jour, Poullet noti, Frites et Salad Verte. Then we came home via a trek around the cascades at Gimel-les-Cascades, we had the place to ourselves, great.

Wandering around Tulle.

Rain stopped play!

Set out this morning for a 60+ km ride with Julie planning to take in col de Lestards. Sadly the threatening weather got the better of us, & after about 25km there were a few drops of rain so we decided to cut straight back to Treigniac. As the weather worsened we went into town & had a bite of lunch whilst the rain passed. Then on the way back, about 3km, we had another downpour. We took shelter for a while whilst it passed then dashed home to the dry!

Rain stopped play!

Home from the Lac:

Another day pedals by...

After a circuit of the Lac Vassivierie with Julie I rode back to the gite whilst Julie drove.

Round the Lac with Julie:

Home from the Lac:

Off to the Lac again:

Another fantastic day in the saddle, after yesterdays easier ride with Julie my legs felt really strong today. The weather remains great & Julie decided to follow me round in the car with her new camera, hopefully she's got some good pic's. A quick coffee stop together at Lac de Vassiviere & onwards for another planned stop at Bugeat but the Cafe was closed. So onto the final planned stop in Treignac which was stop was taken with Tare au Myrtilles, fantastic! Then just a few km to spin home.

Off to the Lac again:

To Masseret for lunch with Big Chris:

Great day out, riding with Julie over to Masseret to meet up with the Big Man for lunch, what a treat! Got a pastry & a coffee on the way back as well. Well done to Julie too, her longest ride since Feb in Portugal & with more climbing. The day finished off with a great casserole & the compulsory glass or three of vin rouge.

To Masseret for lunch with Big Chris:

30km & home via the Boulangerie:

Just a quick, ish, blast this morning for an hour, collecting pastries on the way back.... They cannot be resisted! Then a car tour with a nice lunch stop, another lovely day...

30km & home via the Boulangerie:

Another 120km in the bag!...

Another fantastic day in the saddle, not a cloud in the sky, mid 20's, ace! 95k loop to meet Julie for coffee & Croissants then 30km together for another coffee & cake.

What a fantastic day.

Another 75m in the bag!...

Limousin, lac Tour:

Now on our holidays in France for 2 weeks. After an early start yesterday, 4.00am, and a long day in the car travelling to our lovely gite in the Limousin. Today, after a leisurely start to the day I went for my first ride, wow, it's great here. Julie came out to meet me for the final 5miles back home, so I had a good wind down at the end of the ride.

Limousin, lac Tour:

Sunday Club Run:

First Club Run I've done for ages, took Ron along for the ride. There was a good turn out & the weather was great, only downside was that it split up towards the end.

Sunday Club Run: by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Audax: National Forest 50km.

This was the second time Julie & I have done this Audax, last time was Julies first ever Audax & it rained from start to finish. This time we had a reasonable day & the rain held off until the afternoon.

This year we completed this ride with our friends Ron & Viv & it was Vivs first Audax...

Oh & I did the ride on my mountain bike because of the threatening weather, as I'm without a winter bike at the moment.

Audax: National Forest 50km by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Monday Mash!

Legs felt really good again today, guess they were mine!

Monday Mash! by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Sunday Seventy!

Still a bit lacking in motivation & energy, feel like I'm turning into a weekend warrior!

Sunday Seventy! by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Sunday Saunter, last 25km with Jules:

My riding is a bit inconsistent of late & so I really felt this ride by the end. Had an hour with another rider in the middle. Good to be met by & ride the last 25km with Julie tho' & her improved pedalling technique, (higher cadence), is paying dividends.

Sunday Saunter, last 25km with Jules: by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Flyin' on Fig Rolls:

Went out late & don't know where this came from, felt good & strong!

Flyin' on Fig Rolls: by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Easy Sunday in Shropshire:

We spent the weekend with friends in Shropshire & rode them today:

Easy Sunday in Shropshire: by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Tuesday Struggle!

Didn't feel like going out today, windy & overcast & lacking motivation!

Tuesday Struggle! by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Saturday Spin!

A fine day, light breeze sunny & warm....

Saturday Spin! by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Just an Easy Spin:

Just a short easy ride to turn the legs, windy!

Just an Easy Spin: by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Not the Tourmalet or the Aubisque, done them before!

An early finish & an eagerness to ride & I got a good local ton in.

Not the Tourmalet or the Aubisque, done them before! by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Another Windy Day!

Another day when it was difficult to motivate myself to ride.

Overcast & blowing hard, rode the 585 today.

Another Windy Day! by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Harby, Beacon & Robinsons Hills!

Harby, Beacon & Robinsons Hills! by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Over Cannock Chase:

Over Cannock Chase: by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Windy!

My first ride in over a week, not good enough!

Windy! by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Sportive: Flat out in the Fens:

Well it was another early start for this ride, the alarm rang at 4:15am, I can't get out of the house in less than 90mins but then that does include some time for stretching. Fed & watered I was off on the 80mins drive to the start, but with empty roads that bit was a breeze.

A new timing set up meant there was no signing on to be done at the start. This was the first U.K. Sportive to use this new system, a stick on label attached to the helmet. These were sent out in advance along with your rider number for attaching to the bars. It's my reckoning that the stick on label could go on the frame but of course telling us that they must be attached to your helmet helps enforce the wearing of a helmet, no problem for me with that.

Having assembled the bike & got kitted I loaded my pockets with plenty of energy bars, gels & stocks of drink powder for the ride. I dread to think how much that lot weighed, about 6 bars, 6 gels & enough drink powder for at least 6 bottle refills. It was going to be a hot day & this ride was going to take in excess of 8hrs so food & drink were going to play a key part of the day perhaps more so then normal.

After the obligatory comfort break I made my way to the start, more activity & seemingly more enthusiasm than last year, which was good. The start pen was filling steadily & groups were being set off at regular intervals so I joined in with the next group & after our pre-ride briefing we were set off. I was keen to take it reasonably steady for a while & so sat near the front of the group to conserve energy. Too far back un the group & I feel you use too much nervous energy, especially in a group of riders you're familiar with. The two guys on the front were setting a good steady pace which was comfortable but quick enough for now. After a while a couple of guys, triathletes I'd guess, came by lifting the pace a bit but not so much as to split the group up too much. However this didn't last long as we shortly overshot a right turn, well the front half of the group did anyway but thanks to the shouts from the back lost time was minimal. I was straight back on the pace & found myself on the front , I made sure I didn't stay there too long tho', we hadn't got to the first feed yet! We soon found ourselves on some very narrow lanes & passed several groups of riders on our way to the first feed station, always a good moral booster. It wasn't too much longer before we got to the first feed tho' & I was glad of the chance to replenish my bottles & empty my bladder!
I didn't hang around too long here tho', although there were plenty of people seemingly taking a leisurely break. Immediately after the first feed the short distance riders take a left whilst the middle & long distance riders go straight on. Back on the bike & I thought a few of the group I was in were setting off but I got that wrong, mind you, there hadn't been too much communicating so far so I didn't really know if anybody else in the group was on the long ride. Turns out I miss judged the movement & was on my own. There was a solo rider up ahead who I steadily reeled in only to find out that he was on the middle distance ride, but a look over my shoulder & I saw that there was a reasonable sized group behind, so I backed off a bit & waited for them to catch up as I was still conscious that I still had over 100miles to go, but I still hadn't found anybody else who was doing the long ride.
There was a slight breeze from the south & that's the direction we were heading so far. The route was feeling familiar from last year & I sensed it wouldn't be too much longer before we got to the roundabout where the middle distance riders would make a left turn & the long ride guys a right. And I still don't know who's going to turn which way! After a bit & still sheltering in the group we approached the next split, me with slight trepidation, still not knowing if anyone else in the group was doing the long route. I soon found out! As ALL the other riders in the group swung left I made the right turn & was now riding alone. Not very impressed I refocused turned the music on & prepared for the next section which I remembered was going to take me out into the open & continue southerly into the breeze. Maybe some of the group had changed their minds as it was very hot & there was a world cup football match they may have wanted to get home to watch.
There's some long open stretches in this next section where I tracked & passed a few steady riders whilst maintaining an average speed still in excess of 30kph. Eventually after, believe it or not a couple of lumpy bits, I rounded a bend to find temporary traffic lights with a short queue of cars & to my relief at the front of the queue a group of about 10-12 cyclists. As luck would have it I didn't even have to dab a foot down & we all rolled off together. I was still keen to keep the pace high so soon doing myself on the front but I went with it for a bit to try & sort who was up for it. This was my sort of ride & I felt good so why not give them a little test. To my surprise we were soon down to just three, & one of the guys had been in the group to the first feed but hadn't stopped. I did a good turn on the front before taking a breather & indicating for the next gut to come thro'. We now entered 3up TT mode which we maintained for a considerable while, the next/2nd feed was at just over half distance, 80miles (ish). We were working really well together, each taking good fair turns on the front & as we passed thro' a village we caught another rider who managed to tag on but was not strong enough to take any turns on the front & in fact he didn't stay with us for too long before he was out the back. Then the guy who'd been in the group to the first feed started to fade & before long we were but a duo. We still carried on relentlessly towards the second feed, with just a few words of pleasantry before we got there. Turns out his name was William, he was probably half my age & as soon as there was any incline I was being dropped. Parr for the course for me mind, but when it's so flat & you push hard the inclines seem to hurt even more! The second feed is really a bit far into the ride considering there are four feeds in all, but it was a welcome sight & opportunity to top up the bottles again. We didn't stop for long & it wasn't much longer before we'd settled back into TT mode, with the breeze now favourably behind us but not letting up on the pace & sharing the work. Somewhere in this section as we approached a right turn a rider approached from the opposite direction & made a left so he was ahead of us, I thought it must have been the point at which the middle distance ride rejoined the route. He was a strong guy & we pushed a bit harder to try & catch him, he was only a couple of hundred meters ahead of us but we were only just drawing him in. After a couple of miles he sat up & we became three again & were soon a new revised TT trio. Turns out I've met the new guy on at least one other ride some time back in Essex & boy is he a big strong rider but also that he hadn't joined from the middle distance route but had missed the turn & put an extra 5miles.

The third feed was busy as the routes were all back together again now & it was a flying stop where I was nearly left behind & had to work hard to get back onto what was a reasonable sized group, we rolled easy with the group for a couple of miles before passing them all & getting back into the groove. Once we were on our own again the pace was full on & I for one was starting to tire, every time our big new guy went thro' it was a struggle to stay on but we steamed on to the final feed which meant there were only about 20 miles left to do. Again it was a quick turn around & we were away again with a fourth rider but he didn't stay with us for too long, he skipped his turns on the front & once he did take a turn he went to the back & was off for good. This was now starting to take it's toll & I'm sure my turns on the front were becoming shorter & the struggle to stay on when the big man went thro' was becoming harder! The finish was getting rapidly closer but I went out the back & managed to rejoin once before I finally blew with what I thought was about 10miles to go. I waved the other two guys on & continued as best I could & was passing riders who I'd guess had been on the shorter rides. Quicker than I thought the road became increasingly familiar of the finish which gave me the boost to push just a bit harder again. With the final few turns there were a few more riders to pass as I continued to push as best I could to the line. Once over the line I had a look around & found the two guys I'd been riding & thank them & bid them farewell.

Last year my time was 8hrs 37mins, (8hrs 09mins on the bike), & I had been riding to better this I'd been hoping, conservatively to better 8hrs 30mins. I knew I'd gone faster than last year & also that I'd gone well within my target time. The provisional times when posted were not as accurate as they should have been, I think there were several riders that switched to a shorter route but didn't declare this to the organisers & also that there were some glitches with the new timing system. Now that the times have been finalised I'm more than happy to find that I completed the ride in 8hrs 2mins, (7hrs 35mins on the bike). This time gave me joint 7th fastest time of the field of 78.

Sportive: Flat out in the Fens:

www.kilotogo.com

Short Friday Floater!

Another fantastic evening not to be missed

Short Friday Floater! by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Slip Slap Slop, Slide onto the Saddle & cycle:

Another fantastic afternoon when riding just cannot be resisted!

A great ride at a pace better than I expected...

Let's hope the pace lasts for Sundays Flat out in the Fens...

Slip Slap Slop, Slide onto the Saddle & cycle: by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Monday, short 'n easy spin:

Didn't think I was going to get a ride at all today, the Longest Day, so pleased to get a short one in.

A good spin after yesterdays ride, trying to keep the cadence up:

Monday, short 'n easy spin: by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Another Sunny Summer Sunday Ride:

In preparation for next weeks Flat out in the Fens, 155m sportive, I wanted to get another big ride in the bag. Boring it may be to do the same route as last week but hey I enjoyed it!

Same route as last week with a bit added in at the start so's I cleared the 200km, & no rain this week!

Another Sunny Summer Sunday Ride: by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Short Saturday Spin:

Having a serious lack of motivation at the moment, managed to drag myself out for a short ride this morning even tho' it was blowy & overcast!

Short Saturday Spin: by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details

Oops!

Mark Cavendish Crash - Tour de Suisse Stage 4 2010

Cav or Hausler?

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A long day in the saddle:

With my mother in hospital for 3 weeks now getting the training in has been difficult. I've done a few odd bits but not the longer rides I like to get in. I was entered for the Magnificat Sportive today but just couldn't face the early start & the drive so I blew that out in favour of a good long ride from home. I didn't feel like there was much wind but I guess, looking at the stats I had a half descent tail wind for the first hour & a half. Looks like I flagged a bit then to Uppingham, where I took a sandwich stop before the long drag back into the wind. Then as I got closer to home the clouds got darker & darker, whilst I tried to keep my pace up to make home before the deluge! The impending threat of rain turned from a threat into reality & I got soaked for the last half hour! Never mind it was a good ride all in all.

A long day in the saddle: by carbon_rider at Garmin Connect - Details