Tingle's in Amsterdam

OK time for another guest blog and this time it comes from a genuine club man in C&DCYCLES Iain Tingle. Iain was often at the back helping less experienced riders long before the rest of us thought this was a good idea. He's also the man who put me onto the excellent 'Dancing up Hills,' biography of Charles Holland the first British rider in the Tour de France.

Here goes:

When I think of the Netherlands I think of 3 things, Tulips, Clogs and Bicycle’s. Now this isn’t trying to be stereotypical or narrow-minded they are just the three things that spring to mind. A word association if you like. Britain does the same Fish and Chips, The queen and Jeremy Kyle (Ashamedly I must say for the latter).

So on a recent business day trip to Amsterdam with a little free time on the side I decided NOT to do the normal stumble around trying NOT to look like a tourist taking photos and cranking my head upwards. This is one thing about try NOT always leads to…you always try to hard and end up being what you set out to avoid. This time I decided to go in feet first swallow my pride and be a total tourist.

Now in the past I must admit I have done a Segway tour of Bruges. To be honest I know I must have looked like a total tourist wally but in all fairness it was some great fun and highly recommended too if you get the chance. So visiting Amsterdam one tour sprang to mind, A city that loves it cycling there is only one way to see it by bike.

Searching online for options one company came up trumps http://www.yellowbike.nl/ great reviews, excellent response via email and the bonus of reserving via email and paying on the day. Situated in the heart of Amsterdam and roughly a 5 min easy walk form Amsterdam Central Station.

The staff were friendly and helpful. In a group of 8 we had a quick briefing and set about collecting our steed for the day. FYI YELLOW BIKE is exactly that. There is no missing these things.

All set up and ready to roll the tour guide ran off back to the office, returning with a handful of yellow ponchos just in case, as it turns out the best call.

We headed off taking some time to adjust to the European style of bike, front break on the left handlebar and rear break applied by peddling backwards. Even a keen cyclist like me it took a while to come to terms with this set up.

The route was set out and incorporated some of the main sights of what this Dutch capital had to offer. Every 10/20 minutes we would stop at a location, carefully selected to include severely talking points. And before setting off again we were told of areas to look out for on the next part of the ride.

This was a real time travels tour, we saw and heard about Amsterdam past and present. Amazing architecture, lovely views and all described by a tour guide that knew her history but at the same time knew not to over do it.

Now going back to the poncho, I was unlucky enough to pick a day that 1 hour into our tour the heavens opened and it poured, it came down like Amsterdam was going to be reclaimed by the water that once covered it.  The poncho was the saving grace, donning my bright yellow rain cape and looking more and more like a giant banana on wheels the tour continued. Rule number 5 and 9 http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/ adhered. This was the only this was the only slight downside to the tour, it is open to the elements but that is no worry some times you have to take the rough with the smooth.

Now I don’t want to go about what we saw and heard, just in case you get the chance to take it on. This is a tour that is perfect if you want an idea of what Amsterdam has to offer. It gave me a chance to see a little of everything from the house that Anne Frank graced to the many stunning bridges over the canal system, the galleries that house masterpieces and are themselves a work of art to look at to a famous coffee shops and everything in between. It is perfect start to a trip and with a few extra days there would have given me a list of places to go a visit with more time.

It showed me how the Dutch embrace cycling, biking in Holland is a way of life and an excellent way to get around. The cycle lanes dominate the cities landscape everywhere you look you see cycling and its culture and you start to understand why the Dutch love pedal power.

If you get the chance and you have day in this amazing city I highly recommend trying one of these tours. I leave you with this, no matter whatever the weather forecast take a tour poncho better safe than sorry.

Cheers Iain that's top blogging!

Happy Pedalling

There once was an ugly bracket...

With bearings all rusty and brown,
Clank clank, get out,
Clank clank, get out,
Clank clank, you make me frown!

You may have guessed that my bottom bracket was indeed wrecked to bobbins. Chris at C&DCYCLES kept the evidence for me to see and how that rusty smashed up article got me round the Squires and Spires is in fact a modern day miracle. Still it's all fixed in the space of the day and Clive was super smooth for a splendid vroom Wednesday.

What a ride! Perfect weather. Warm and sunny but not too warm and very light winds. We did have a planned route and right up to Boughton Crossing we stuck to it. Then Steve decided to tinker. His aim for the evening was hill collecting and collect them we did. At Ravensthoroe Steve wanted to head North even further I'm not sure how far he wanted to go but I suspect Scotland. At this point I pointed out I might be expected home at some point and we headed off up the minor lumps through Coton to Guilsborough and then on to that monster climb into Naesby. From there we remembered it's vroom Wednesday and not mountain goat midweek and things got quick. Really quick! I got two 9th places on Strava. That 11t cog does make a difference and I love it.

The scenery tonight was stunning as ever. We passed so many landmarks again with tonight's highlight perhaps being Holdenby_House. An interesting fact about Holdenby House is my daughter Niamh had a living history trip to Holdenby House where she was a kitchen maid for the day. Later that year she did a family tree for school and we discovered that my Nan's great Aunt was actually a kitchen maid at Holdenby House!

Ubiquitous selfie

There not just jelly babies they're M&S jelly babies

Stomachs in boys and check out Olly's Gran Fondo 3 jersey

New 105 Casette, quick spin, like the gears...bottom bracket noise sounds terminal!

So I deliberated and deliberated and did some research and in the end decided not to change my chain rings to 52/39 but instead change my cogs from 10 speed 28-12 to 28-11. I did this because I found a gear ratio chart showing I'd gain more top end speed with a 50-11 (4.6) than a 52-12 (4.3) and lose none of my Granniest of Granny gears which I definitely employed on my last epic ride.

I dropped my bike off the day after the brothers and sisters of C&DCYCLES had enjoyed a grand day out at the Women's Tour. I couldn't get the day off an to be honest I'm still sulking. To make matters worse the promised guest blog from that historic occasion and splendid ride has yet to materialize. That was a week ago and as you can imagine I was literally itching to get back on the bike.

The route I chose was deliberate as there were two segments I wanted to test the new ratio out on. The top gear certainly felt like it had more oomph but no PR's this evening. An average of 15.9mph remains pretty ok by my standards.

Shiny new cogs!

However there are bigger fish to fry here. Clive is making odd noises. It sounds like the bottom bracket. In fact it sounds awful but not all the time. It's very weird and I can't blame them in the shop for not noticing it because you can ride for ten minutes or so without a squeak. Then it's clank, clunk, scrape. I keep expecting something to fall off but the only effect it appears to have on the bikes performance is it knocks my confidence and I whittle about the noise rather than get my head down. Anyway Andy at C&DCYCLES (there's your mention Andy,) said get it in first thing and they'll try to have it ready for vroom Wednesday. I hope so as I'm riding to work tomorrow and if there's no bike I'll have to walk home!

On my return to Lindsley 'Home Sweet Home,' I was presented with a slice of the most glorious recovery cake. Lee was experimenting with a new recipe for Orange & Lemon loaf. Bloody handsome!

Happy Peddaling

Hightower does the Fred Whitton Sportive

C&DCYCLES rider Nathan 'Hightower' Gallon took on one of the toughest UK Organised rides in the 112 mile Fred Whitton Sportive. Taking place in the Lake District this ride goes up just about every high pass in the Cumbrian Fells. I've been up those roads too...in a car! I've also done a lot of fell walking and all I can say is chapeau Nathan chapeau!

Here's Nathan's account of the ride and some pictures:

I blame it all on my wife Kate!! She came home from work late last year and said that she had been chatting to one of her patients. Turns out he was a keen cyclist in his youth and said that if her husband fancied a real challenge he should enter the Fred Whitton. A little cycle through the hills of the Lake District. The ride is named after Fred Whitton, a cycling enthusiast and member of The Lakes Club who sadly lost his life to cancer. The event was set up by friends in his memory and has steadily grown in popularity over the years. As a now keen cyclist myself I went straight on-line and looked it up. I saw that it was a 112 mile ride with around 11000ft of ascent, was heard to say ‘don’t be daft’ and shut the laptop lid.

So don't ride up it numpties!

Kate however kept on nagging me to enter and so I looked at it again and again and eventually thought what the hell and entered. So I was in the ballot for a place, fairly confident that I wouldn’t get in as it is a very popular event, with around 2000 riders getting a place. Imagine my surprise when I got the email.... Congratulations on getting a place on the Fred Whitton. 11th May 2014.

No excuses now. A lot of winter training ahead of me and a bit of hill hunting too. A few sportives to boot in the spring and we are only a week away from the event. Disaster strikes when I bust a spoke and my other set of wheels is looking a bit poorly too. Andy and Chris at C&D Cycles really came through for me and put the bike back on the road, ready for the event. Thanks guys.

Rule 5!!!

A smooth journey up to Cumbria finds us at our B&B in Grasmere which is only a stones throw from the start line and after registering it was back to our digs for an early night. The alarm goes of at 4am and already the nerves kick in. Looking out of the window, although it’s not raining, I decide to go for winter clothing and full waterproof jacket. Turns out to be the best decision I made that morning. Out the front door to go to the start line at 6am and the heavens opened. Standing with my bike at the start line, drenched, I wonder what I have let myself in for. I fire up the Garmin, and were off.

OK it does look a bit challenging

The first 6 miles are flat and alongside a beautiful lake, as you would expect in the Lake District. Just ahead I see a marshall with a huge smile on his face and his arm pointing right. I smile cheerily back, make the turn and hit the first hill, Kirkstone Pass. My smile disappears! A 454m ascent over 3 miles. Incredibly steep in places and granny gear all the way. The decent is amazing. Long sweeping downhill, and I had a job to keep it under 40mph. This was followed by two more ascents of Matterdale End and Honister, both climbs of over 350m. 50 miles done and it’s the first feed station. A quick rear tube change which had a slow puncture and I was off again, straight in to Newlands Pass (455m) before reaching the first cut off point with time to spare. 3 miles later and it’s in to the 318m climb of Whinlatter. I was very happy to see my wife at the top of the climb, so stopped for a cheeky little rest before going down the other side. On to Cold Fell with a vicious 1:4 proceeded by a 290m climb. The view from Cold Fell was awesome, being able to see the Isle of Man and Scotland too. 

Cadence up...cadence up

At 83 miles I arrived at the second feed station and after the best cup off tea in the world and a couple of jam sandwiches I set off again. Not long after leaving the feed station there was a sign I had been dreading. Hardknott Pass, 10 miles. You arrive at the bottom of the slope to a lovely set of signs which warn of the approaching climb. I pass over a small bridge and begin peddling in earnest. After about 40 feet or so I stop, get off and start walking. It is so steep, 1:3 in places, I’m struggling to keep the front wheel on the floor and to be perfectly honest, I am about all out of beans. A bloke cycles past me on a fixie before I walk past a bloke who is cycling up!! Massive kudos to all those that cycled it. As I summit, the wind whips up and I see the decent. Scary would be an accurate description. Brakes on all the way down with arms aching from braking and holding on. I reach the bottom, chuffed that I made it, only to hear the Air Ambulance overhead for a cyclist who has fallen at the bottom. He was airlifted with serious hip and back injuries. A beautiful 2 or so mile ride later and it Wrynose Pass. Same as Hardknott, but not quite as steep. Yes, I walked up it. After another scary decent, only 12 miles to go and with renewed vigour I race off, only to find myself in the granny gear again at any kind of hill!! With only 3 miles to go it’s flat again and I see the finish at Grasmere approaching. I turn in to the finish and see Kate amongst all the supporters, dutifully pointing the camera my way to capture the pain and elation in my face. She then yells at me, “The bloody battery has died”. I stop only metres from the line and wait whilst the phone comes out for those all important pictures. I cross the line, exhausted but elated all at the same time.

The big buffoon clearly miles behind everyone else

I could describe the weather for you, but it was typical Lake District all the way round. Wet and windy, but not too much wind which was a relief. The views were stunning throughout. Met some great characters on the route, ranging from fellow officers of the law to managing directors and ground workers. Think he was your long lost twin Steve Major, judging purely by his language about the f###ing weather!!

Jesus he's nearly the size of a mountain!

All in all a fantastic ride, well organised, great camaraderie, great marshalls and all ended with a great feeling of achievement and satisfaction at completing a truly tough, brutal and beautiful ride in Cumbria. Would I do it again? You do it first, then ask me again........ 

Good weather for Eskimos?

Back to me: Well what can I say Nathan. That Kate really has got you by the nadgers if she talked you into this. Great bloggage mate, thanks again and yes you do qualify for one of Mrs Lindsley's very special cakes. Any requests?

SpiderSam and I take on Rockingham Motor Speedway

 
Tonight Sam and I had the rare opportunity to cycle around Europe's fastest motor racing circuit Rockingham UK.

This event was organised by the Scouts as a fundraiser and that's why Sam is in his Cubs uniform. He is however wearing his Spiderman buff to keep it real as far as cycling attire is concerned. It was a real privilege to ride on such a smooth surface and although banked it's not severe like a bike track, in fact it's fair to say the banks at Wickstead Park Go-Kart track (which is in reality a vintage velodrome,) are more of a worry. My fastest lap was 19.3mph which is way off the 24mph record for the circuit, I did however hit a top speed of 29mph so I'd love to be able to go back as a club and have a real smash at a fast lap as a train. I'm not sure if it was the tailwind or a slight downhill in the first section but it was much quicker starting than finishing.

Sam enjoyed a couple of leisurely laps whilst I thrashed round. I hope the Scouts do this again, I'd love to go back and have another crack at it.

Happy Peddaling

First sportive of the year, first century of the year, Gran Fondo 5 completed and a load more stuff on Star Wars day

Due to a convenient family situation I had today all to myself. I'd signed up for the Squires and Spires a few weeks back as a Sportive I heard good things about but it was 'only' 75 miles, so why not ride there and back plus a little bit more for the 100.

The scene at the start in Naseby

From the start this Just Racing event felt well set up. Our only mistake after arriving early to register was to wait until everyone had used the toilet before joining the start queue. At the registration I caused chaos. They called out A to K this queue L to Z the other queue. So I moved into my queue and told Andy Brown 'A to K,' that queue. He thought I said 80k that queue and stood with me. As I explained his error 4 or 5 other blokes joined him agreeing 'I thought he said 80k too!' People continued to discuss this outside, that bloke said 80k when he meant A to K etc.

All tooled up with his gel utility belt

I took this pic of a classic Bianchi

As usual there were some serious machines on view. Bianchi, Pinnarello, Van Nichols etc. my favourite of the day was the classic steel Bianchi above.

Quick pic with Pete and Nic

Cycling is about friends. I have some friends who also cycle and some friends I've met through cycling. Nic and Pete fall into the first category. Andy Brown and Paul Kelf are friends I met through cycling and we 3 amigos were the C&DCYCLES representatives for the day. They were superb to ride with. We worked as a team on the flat bits, at one point leading a long train with no other riders assisting. On the hills where Paul is strong and Andy is immense they were kind enough to wait for me when required. However my downhill specialism caught me up often, especially in the first half of the ride.

Today's food sponsors was Ultimate Sports Nutrition, USN. I picked their blue drink which we dubbed 'smurf juice,' because it matched Clive. I'm sure Mrs Lindsley will approve. Their other stuff was good, the nuts and grain bars were delicious and I like the mocha caffeine gels. My only gripe in the whole day would be at the second food station they'd run out of everything. There was plenty of food but no sports stuff. My remark that Hi5 wouldn't run out was not well received! Smurfette did however replenish the blue drink and we got a recovery drink at the end.

The Squires and Spires is so named because of the number of stately homes and church spires that dominate the landscape. The most famous big house being Althorp, the family home and burial site of Princess Diana. There are too many others to name in one blog when there's so much else to say.

Althorp pronounced Altrop by no one except BBC Look East

To the ride. It had a fast start with a descent of the hill from Naesby towards Guilsborough. It continued this way as we seemed to go downhill all the way to the first feed station at 30 miles. Our average to there was over 17mph. It was lovely to go through places I rarely ride. I was planning to check out the outer limits of Northants to the South and West but this ride ticks that box. Downhill all the way to Woodford Halse it felt and then it became a lot more lumpy. From the last feed station at Althorp it changed to brutal. The hills into East Haddon, Ravensthorpe, Coton, Guilsborough and out of Holdenby were granny gear specials and the cramp warning signs started. Then with only a few miles to go we went up Haselbech Hill. Ouch! Paul Kelf got off and walked until he saw a photographer and manned up! Andy was out of site when I was only on the foot slopes. With all that done they chucked us up the second hardest hill into Naseby to finish. Naseby is on top of a hill thats why Fairfax viewed the battle from there. Anyway we'd done it. A nice greeting, a recovery drink and a t-shirt was a good way to finish the Sportive bit. Needless to say the average was no longer at 17mph. A really good Sportive and I feel a good showcase of our beautiful county and excellent cycling.

Haselbech Hill

Andy and I still needed to ride home and I need a few extra miles to top the ton. It was hard! The euphoria of hitting 100 got me home and then as I pulled into Rothwell I met a man on what looked like a racing folder bike.

Dahon

It was the bike above, a Dahon TT. He rides it in time trials and is amused that he's never the slowest entrant. The blokes name was Rob Draycott if anyone knows him. He told me he also used to ride another 16in wheeled bike in Time Trials, the Moulton Major.

Moulton

All very interesting and frankly, blog worthy overkill on a day with so much else to say!

I'll look out for the official photos from today and may add them as a separate blog. Right now I'm knackered and I believe I deserve a beer.

Happy Peddaling

One year anniversary of my first C&DCYCLES shop ride

It was on the 4th of May 2013 that I went on my first C&DCYCLES shop ride. That day I didn't know anyone there but had a friend of a friend, Nathan 'Hightower' Gallon greet me and welcome me to the club. People I met that day and over the coming weeks have changed my life in terms of cycling. I love this club and especially what I love about this club are my brothers and sisters of the road. I hate missing a Saturday shopride and because of the support of my family I very rarely have to.

Due to the large numbers of riders and the mix of abilities in the club we now split the Saturday ride into two groups. Those who want the traditional beginners ride and a group for those who want to go faster. As I have the Squires and Shires Sportive tomorrow I wanted a gentle spin and volunteered to be the 'tailgunner,' or 'arse end Charlie,' for the traditional ride (I'm not going to call it the slow ride, because that's not accurate.) Arse end Charlie is the rider at the back that makes sure no one gets left behind and assists the ride leader with things like pace and communication. 

As the Major was smashing his big ring with the other testosterone laden quick lads and Andy was busy, today's ride was led by Corporal Jones. Jonesy the begetting baker, did a fine job today despite being once again plagued by insects. He really is the unlucky Eddie of the road with insect incidents. So far I have been with him when; a wasp has flown into his jersey and stung him, a fly has got in his eye and today another fly exploded all over his glasses (note to all that's why you need eye-wear when you ride.)

Owen got a puncture

Just 1.8 miles into the ride Owen hit a pothole and punctured. To be fair to him it's pretty impossible to miss all the potholes on Rockingham Road and would be quicker to point out the intact bits than all the craters. Unlike other clubs we don't just leave people and expect them to catch up. We did however stand around and laugh in the unhelpful way that is common among groups of men.

Tyreweld in hindsight wasn't a great plan

It was a big old hole in the tube but Owen wasn't that confident about his spare and opted to inflate with tyreweld. Oh dear it really wasn't a good idea and just got foam everywhere. Of more help I'm sure was the way that the mocking and sniggering turned to fits of laughter and hyperventilation. There's nothing like a bit of support and well that was nothing like a bit of support!

The offending product

Back to the ride and the first significant slope was my old nemesis Rushton Hill. At this point, as there's a picture of them coming up, I'd like to say how nice it was to see some more ladies in the group today. Wednesday in particular was a bit masculine or as Nathan described it: 'a biggest balls contest.' The smuttier among you will be thinking 'oh yeah Rich like a ride with the ladies do you?' Well calm yourselves down. You might also remember that as a Nurse (where I get to see more than enough ladies at work,)  I get on my high horse about health promotion and in particular the role of exercise in physical and emotional well being. All sports need more female participation and cycling needs to do as much as possible to encourage more people to ride.

Claire and Rachel conquer the hill

There were more good hills to come. I have a thing with climbs I do regularly. Every now and again I like to ride down them. I do this to teach them a lesson and to make gravity understand that when he's being my friend I appreciate him a lot more. Well today the opposite happened. I almost always ride from East Farndon down the hill to Market Harborough. Today we rode the opposite way and what a splendid hill that is! Good plan Jonesy, I'm definitely doing that again.

I might be taking this tail gunner role to seriously...wait for me

No no I wasn't getting dropped. Even I can cope with a 14mph average. I wanted a photo to reflect the scenery, the splendid weather and get a bit of a group shot. I still can't believe how nice it was out today. It started with a frost but by ride time the light winds and sunshine made it near perfect for cycling. 

Another selfie photobomb thing

The other group did catch us on Farndon Hill and again coming into Rothwell after taking a detour to go up Naesby Hill (masochists,) they were not there for the selfie though. I did inform the Major that I had made up for his absence (I said something to which one of the ladies remarked, I didn't think Steve was with us today.) All excited with myself I told the sweary man that I'd stolen his crown. The potty mouthed maelstrom that ensued left me in no doubt that, there is only one Prince of Profanity.

Maypole dancing advertised at Kelmarsh Hall - news of delays was premature

Missing friends from today's ride had warned us that there could be hold ups due to an event at Kelmarsh Hall. Around this time last year we had to go off road due to such an occasion. This time however there were no such problems and I can only conclude that Maypole Dancing advertised on the board outside the entrance isn't 'all that!'

A Better Group Shot

The ride from Kelmarsh back to Rothwell was one of the highlights of the day. The roads were so quiet that we didn't see a single car between Harrington and the A14. Very pleasant indeed!

OK so that's that done. Another great ride in Northamptonshire and briefly Leicestershire. Good leading, great bunch of people, good banter and the ideal preparation for tomorrow's big ride.

happy Peddaling

ps if you're wondering about my ride name, regular C&DCYCLES rider Ken Matcham lost the use of his rear shifter meaning he had just two gears available via his chainrings. This didn't seem to slow him up but I doubt he'll want too many rides like that.