Andy's first day of the tour C&DCYCLES shop ride

Today's shop ride was simply splendid. Good route, iffy but bearable weather, good company and exceptional scenery, especially in Pytchley. Some exceptional banter too but this is one time when we really do need to stick to the rule: what goes on the ride to start the tour, stays on the ride to start the tour!

Andy (mention) had planned a slightly longer 36 miler to celebrate the first day of the Tour de France, for me it ended up as 48 miles. I had thought about taking on this month's Fondo and doing 80 miles but a combination of not liking the conditions and forgetting my jelly beans stopped me from doing that. In the end that's a good thing because this was a pretty tough route taking in hills at Naesby, Brixworth and Walgrave which teach your legs a lesson or two!

We were going to do two groups but ended up as one. Everyone in the club is making progress but non more than Rich McNab who a few weeks ago struggled on a much easier ride. If he keeps this up Ride London will be really enjoyable for him.

Andy (mention) was showing off his new bit of kit, the Garmin 1000. Apart from the fact none of us could access the planned route from the garmin site everything else about this GPS bike computer is very impressive. I'm not sure I'd part with 500 notes for one but I can see the appeal.

The obelisk at the top of Naesby Hill

Quick change of route in Walgrave

When we got back to the shop it was the usual tea and cake. Then we started having a look at Andy's (mention) new bike. Well the bits. First we handled the saddle which weighed less than the packaging, then the handlebars which were light as a feather and then finally the Boardman Elite 9.8 frame which weighed about as much as my shoe. My goodness that's going to be some bike!

The five miles home from the shop were very relaxing and I feel I had a sense of relief I wasn't going for the Fondo today. Nothing for it when I got home though. Clive was filthy after the damp start and puddly roads so a clean was in order. I know Andy (mention) will approve.

That's what I call a good day on the bike, now I'm settling down with a cuppa for the last 20km of the tour first stage.

Happy Pedaling

My commuting experience...

A bad day cycling beats a good day at work, oh hang on that might be fishing, or climbing, or sailing, or golf of 4WD. WHO KNOWS? I do know however that a good ride to work is a thing to be treasured and this week I've had a few of those. I've also achieved my goal of getting into the top 20 on one of my target segments. Also I'm saving loads on petrol. I can't ride everyday because I have to get around the county some days but just three ride to work days per week seems to be reducing my trips to the petrol station considerably. 

My ride starts really nice with the short sharp shock up bunker hill and into open country side. It's a fairly quiet road all the way to the cycle paths on the outskirts of Kettering. At that point the cycling infrastructure is good with wide paths and a smooth surface. It doesn't last. As you get over the A43/A6003 roundabout it all changes. The pedestrian pavement has had cycle path signs put on it and they installed drop downs at the numerous junctions. There's the first problem. If you use the cycle path it's a stop start negotiation of about ten junctions in the space of a mile. Secondly it's not wide and there's no segregated cycle pedestrian space. So I stay on the road. Half way between the old KTFC stadium and the town centre the path ceases to double as a cycle lane and there is a marked lane on the road. It's not well marked though and drivers ignore it, it's as lumpy as a ploughed field, buses have stops on it and people indiscriminately park all over it. It needs resurfacing, painting green and there needs to be enforcement of parking restrictions. As you approach the town centre there is a brief section dedicated green to allow cyclists to go through town on the bus lane at the top of the Newlands centre. That bus lane should just be named 'dodge the pedestrian.' I've always been bewildered by people stepping out across the junction by Iceland and then yesterday I noticed why. The pedestrian crossing goes green at the same time as the traffic lights that allow cyclists across the junction! What oxygen thief dreamed that up? After that it's not too bad but pedestrians remain a hazard because they can't see you they don't look for you. I guess the emphasis is on us the cyclist to be aware and look out for would be jay walkers. Anyone who looks like they're about to cross gets a cheery good morning from me which usually makes them jump out of their skin.

I came home a different way last night. I used Northampton Road, Bowhill, Gypsy Lane, A14 bike path, violet lane and the back to the more familiar Glendon road. It's quicker. There's no pedestrian issues. It's a bit of a dash across the A14 junctions. The A14 path isn't as wide as the newer ones I mentioned earlier but is still ok. Amazingly I have seen cyclists riding on the A14 next to this path. Not clever! With all the lorries it's blustery enough on the path let alone sharing the road with them! Then Violet Lane which traverses the Slade valley meaning it's a down then an up. Because it's quiet you have to watch for cars, you're not expecting them and they're not expecting you, which can be an issue.

I like my commute but it's not perfect. More could be done to the Kettering cycling infrastructure. I'm hoping we get a forum as cyclists to present our thoughts to the local authority.

There's some relevant articles below and a link to this months bespoked podcast.

Happy Pedalling.

aura-trott-ridelondon 2013

laura-trott-changes-her-mind-helmets

Cycling_in_Copenhagen#Economic_impact

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-2401456/Get-cycling-cheap-taxmans-help.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b047wnzt#programme-broadcasts

Commuting, vrooming, over the chimneys step in time!

Two rides today. The first was my standard ride to work with another PR on Glendon Burn, the second was the supercalifragilisticespiallidocious event that is C&DCYCLES vroom Wednesday. So why the delay with the blog, well frankly I've been distracted by Mary Poppins which has just finished on Disney Movies. Quite a lady, I'd love to take her for a ride!

Photo bombed selfie outside the shop

Vroom is the quicker ride and it lived up to it's name. I never enjoy the start though. Firstly there's too much traffic and secondly I need a bit of time to warm up, others seem to instantly switch on to vroom pace and I get left behind. I don't think I'll ever be the quickest, I'd just like those instant legs everyone else seems to have.

Tonight's leader was our own Burt the chimney sweep, Jonesy. However as Andy (mention) was there too we had our Mr banks to set the pace. Steve who could only be the talking umbrella was also giving his splendid new Boardman an airing. Just what our most improved rider needs, a quicker machine. He deserves it though. One day I'd like to be good enough to justify that sort of investment.

Steve's new beast

The route was enough to make me want to go fly a kite and the hill to a east Farndon definitely goes up through the atmosphere. Like I said I'm not the quickest the 22 PRs is definitely the sugar that makes my medicine go down. At the top of that decent climb, newbie Derek had spd moment and took one of those clipped in tumbles. Thankfully no harm was done.

Top of East Farndon Hill

My gripe of the evening is with my cadence sensor. I have no idea what rpm I was spinning because the battery was dead. So that's two weeks and I've killed the first battery. I'm not that impressed with that. I'd have liked to have known how hard I was working trying to catch the quick lads once again, out of Harrington I felt like I was making an impression when, wham, I got cramp in both calves. Never mind eh!

Another great night with C&DCYCLES cheers all...chim chimerney chim chim cheroo!

Standard commute plus strava mystery solved!

Quite pleased today. As it's Monday I had to lug a big old rucksack to work so the PR on Glendon Burn was a pleasant surprise. Even nicer was the beep beep from Andy in the C&DCYCLES van as I got into Kettering.

On the way home I decided to keep going with the 90rpm obsession but only from the roundabout at Glendon Industrial Estate because town traffic is a pain! During that whizz I hap an epiphany. The missing strava segment from last week is probably because it finishes too near my house. That's exactly the problem so I've recreated it outside my 'privacy' zone. I've also created a segment for the bit I was trying on this evening.

So last week I set myself two commuting targets and now I've got four. Numbers, numbers, numbers!

In the world of pro cycle racing it's been a bit interesting. Firstly big kudos to Laura 'the giggle' Trott and Peter Kennaugh on becoming the road race champions of Britain. No shocks really as they represent the big two in a British Cycling of Wiggle Honda and Team Sky. What is a big shock is the number of British riders in this years Tour de France. It's 3! I thought those days were way behind us. British cycling has been on a meteoric rise which I didn't think had peaked with sir Brad but there's the facts. In the year that two out of three grand tours started in the UK it's the lowest number of British riders since 2008. Is this the decline of British cycling or just a blip?

Happy Pedalling

Hi oh hi oh it's ride to work you know!

So I've managed 3days of bike to work this week, which is nice! Today was just a commute there and back. I have my eye on two segments heading into work, Glendon burn and finish hard. I have a plan to move up the leaderboard. Top of both of them is Mike Cowland who I know of but don't actually know. Also right up there are my friends Jamie, Sinbad and our very own Andy of C&DCYCLES. I'm not going to compete with those titans of two wheels but I think top 20 is a realistic aim. Watch this space for PRs on those segments.

I'm still persisting with this 90rpm malarkey. My legs feel a bit sore so it's definitely doing something. I'm guessing like all forms of exercise it will be a few weeks before it has any impact. Numbers, numbers, numbers.

I'm relieved to see the great tyre debate has concluded with David Tough purchasing 25mm gators. Having been their biggest fan I hope they don't let my Longcliffe 2.0 brother down. I like mine a lot which begs only one question...why am I considering upgrading to the 4000's? Never happy with what we've got are we?

I'm not including the strava because my commute route has been posted many times before. I'm also not riding this weekend because we are on a family camp out. I'm looking forward to a weekend of booze and barbecues but will miss my bike. A guest blog of the Saturday shop ride would be very welcome.

Happy Peddaling 

It's Wednesday, it's vroom, it's beautiful out!

You may wonder why I started in Burton...actually most of you guessed...forgot to start Strava. This was another great Wednesday with the lads. It started with Martin revealing to all that his favourite Spice Girl was Sporty Spice. We then got support from a lovely lady who said she'd followed us for years and thinks we're great. Bit of a busman's holiday for me, the lady clearly didn't know who we were and it was touch and go that she knew who she was herself. Nod and smile! I wish Andy (mention) was there to see it.

Only two disappointing bits to tonight's ride. It's hard work getting out of town on an evening ride and we rode down the horror road that joins Denford to Thrapston. Oh and Jonesy's bike! The squeak was so bad we couldn't hear cars coming up behind us. Sort it out Andy (mention.)

The group size and content was good. Mostly C&DCYCLES regulars but also nice to meet a newbie in David who is another inhabitant of Rothwell. Also good to hear that some of my blog readers are people I haven't ridden with yet. Plenty of banter, no incidents, pushing ourselves without risks and a beautiful summer evening.

Stuart, who I haven't ridden with for ages has clearly benefitted from a bike fit. In fact I don't know anyone who hasn't. The trend seems to be people have their saddle too high. I definitely need to book mine in at C&DCYCLES with Andy (mention.)

For me personally I'm continuing my experiments with cadence. No idea if it will make a difference in the long run it just feels like my legs are getting a good workout. Plenty of cups tonight so not too shabby!

Commuting, cadence and segment chasing

Not a lot to blog about really but I rode so I blog. Those are the rules. Good grief I have a lot of rules! Maybe I should do something about that. This was just a standard commute except now I have the cadence sensor which is the next thing in a long line of things which will turn me into an elite standard cyclist....erm well maybe not! Anyway following another of my rules that some bloke told me to so I should. I am now trying to pedal everywhere at 90rpm. To be more precise I change down under 85rpm and up over 95rpm. It certainly feels like I'm going faster but what's the reality? Well you can't take the averages from this ride because commuting is perilous and caution in urban areas prevents me from being glued to the bike computer. I did however have a crack at Rothwell Rise segment whilst maintaining the holy grail of pedal revolutions. I felt like I absolutely flew down that bit of road so thanks a bunch strava for not recognising that segment on my data! Something to do with inaccurate data at the start and finish points. Numbers, numbers, numbers! Why can't I just enjoy the ride, look at the scenery, do a bit of bird spotting? Who knows? All I know is I can't and I also know if you enjoy this blog you probably can't either!