Off-Road, Road and #FNSS Round 2...another stunning week of cycling!

Following the first round of Friday Night Summer Series (still no sign of Summer,) my cycling bank holiday weekend just got better and better. I had a great off road ride with Brixworth Velo MTB on the Sunday and got a road Fondo in on Bank Holiday Monday. Last night was the hugely enjoyable FNSS round 2 and as I'm resting my legs today I thought it was a good time to blog.

An early start on a chilly morning saw the four amigos set off from Brixworth library at 07.30...well we went past the library but actually met at my car as I unloaded my Forme Ripley from that very solid Thule towbar bike carrier. 

Our group was Sarah, Dawn and Ian (aka Clint Bhoodist.) We set off for some of the best bridleways in Northamptonshire and some new routes for me.

obligatory selfie

We went from Brixworth, round he back of Lamport and past the very impressive houses at Foxhall onto a piece of Harrington Airfield I'd never seen before. This bit of WW2 concrete concludes behind the war memorial on the other side of the road to the main runway. From there we headed towards Harrington by road but diverted onto track and then past the aviation museum. Another new bridleway for me took us through to the A508. I can't believe I haven't been that way before because it was great riding.

How can you not like that?

Back on the road we headed to historic Naesby (if you want to know why it's historic, check some of my older blogs.) In Naesby we turned down Carvells Lane. The Bhoodist and I had a good chat about life, the universe and everything on a lovely gravel track which I'm sure will become a regular feature of my off road rides. The Lane comes to a somewhat grotty end on the A5199 but it was only a minute of tarmac before we were back on bridleway heading up to Cold Ashby.

or that???

A bit more road through Cold Ashby took us to a bridleway that got us all the way back to Guilsborough. This particular off road section was just MINT! Obviously we're not talking lengthy downhills but for Northants this is as good as it gets.

The hill out of Hollowell was a bit evil

Having enjoyed all that top quality off road riding the end of the ride was a bit of a shock to the system as we rushed to be back for 11am. Firstly the hill out of Hollowell is a bit of a git as it pretends to be over before getting even steeper and then we finished on that infamous local climb back into Brixworth.

Top of station road...used as a QOM in the ladies tour

This was more of the same for me in terms of my rides with Brixworth MTB. A great group of people with some fabulous local knowledge of the best trails in the county.

The next day it was back to C&D Cycles CC with an Bank Holiday Monday ride which was reconnaissance for a future cafe stop Fondo route. We headed back the way I'd been the day before and I was pointing out all of the off road stuff I'd done the day before. The hill after Cold Ashby, it turns out, is nearly as much fun on a road bike as it is on a MTB.

Very nice war memorial

cheers for the route Marcus

The cafe stop was at the Manor Farm Shop in Catthorpe. It was all part of Marcus' master plan and what a splendid place it was too! The cake selection was bamboozling and looked like the quality stuff that my wife, The Queen of Cakes or my Mum is capable of. With all that choice, you might find it bewildering that I went for a sausage sandwich! No not really, I was enticed by the 'locally produced pork,' blurb and the truth is I often prefer a savoury option.

Impressive array of cakes

Top notch sausage sandwich

We had a great ride back with a bit of drafting and blasting before we realised that we'd lost Michael, who only joined us at the farm shop. After some fiddling around and huge dollop of shame we conceded defeat and abandoned our search. I needed an extra few miles for my Fondo so I went home via a circuitous route, doubling back through Orton to Harrington and home. A very splendid ride! Mike you'll be glad to learn got home okay!

I arrived home last night at ten past six knowing it was only 65 minutes until the race started. A very quick turn around saw me out again by 18.35 and as this was my most local race I was riding to the start on Harrington airfield. Yep there again! On the way the heavens opened and it got pretty cold. I arrived with just enough time to sign on and no time for a sighting lap...which as it turned out was a good thing.

Pre race apprehension...note clean top!

On the start line I caught up with a few people I know and of course I found my race mate Dev and then Chris B also said hello. Chris warned me that there was some slippy bits and he wasn't wrong. Then boom, we set off down the old runway and out onto the trails. It was filthy! 

Another mid ride "action" shot courtesy of Josh Popham at Action Media

On my first lap I overtook a fellow veteran on the very muddy uphill section. He then tried to get me back and his bike went from under him nearly knocking us both off. I checked he was okay and then carried on. No worries on his count he caught me back up half a lap later and I never saw him again!

On my second lap I was passed by a world champion. Yep 74 years young Vic Barnett, flew past and I had no way of keeping up. Vic on the other hand looked like he could've conducted a lengthy chat possibly passing on coaching tips. I hope one day, after I've had that much practise, a mere 40 something may be similarly impressed by me...I doubt it though! 

On that second lap I saw a fellow rider in a heap at the bottom of the hill. I asked if he was okay and he replied: "yes, carry on!" Now Nurse Lindsley was conflicted by this but I decided to push on...push being literal as opposed to metaphorical as at that point my wheels ground to a halt clogged by mud. This was more like an Andy Pendred Sunday ride than a race but never the less some of the superfit human beings smashed on through it whilst I yearned for my patented GKN dikstick. On my 3rd lap I saw the faller must be okay because he was gone. In his place was Neil Holman, marshalling the tricky bend and offering mud clearance help to any stuck individuals. As I headed to the finish Dev lapped me...and then my chain was forced off by the mud. It took me a minute to clear it all and get the cogs moving again and I could hear the bell...one more lap I thought...but no...the race leader came past and saved me from more muddy mayhem. That blessing has become a regret, I only made three laps. My target was four and I was only 30 seconds short of getting through in time for a 4th lap (or about the time it took to sort my chain.) 

dirty boys!

At the end I caught up with Chris and Dev but I couldn't get my muddy fingers to work my phone. Luckily a nice lady took a picture for us. It was great to catch up with a few others too. I can't wait for next week! A friend who has seen the picture above described it as: "the happiest I've ever seen you!" Yep that's what riding my bike does for me!!! Massive thanks to the FNSS organisers for a top race last night...after a very dry MTB like CX season...we had a CX conditions race on MTBs!!! I also understand that the weather meant it was a huge effort for the timers to get the results done...so big thanks to them too.

My ride home was thankfully mostly downhill and on tarmac. The only peril was bits of mud flying into my face as the wheels cleared themselves. Once home I gave a good blast with the jet wash and then a quick spray with GT85 with the intention of a better job in the morning...when I got it out this morning rust was already forming on the chain and cogs! That mud had totally stripped the chain of oil, it was completely clean and bone dry! So a proper scrub took place and then I glugged oil all over the drive train. It took ages! I also followed advice I had from Andy Ferguson and removed the saddle and turned the bike upside down. Loads of water, that would have sat around my bottom bracket, came out and it was still dripping a few minutes later! So top tip, do this or you'll be replacing that BB sooner than you think!

Happy Peddling