Lovely little spin, clank identified and remedied!

There was no club ride this morning due to hangovers so I took the opportunity to watch Super Sam play his first ever rugby match and I'm really pleased I did. I was put off mini rugby by an experience with older brother Joe and I'm pleased to say things appear to have changed for the better. Then it was a cracking stew and dumplings lunch at the inlaws and it wasn't until after 4 that I got out on Clive.

So off I set with the clicking which we think is the pedals and the clanking that inexplicably Chris at c&dcycles couldn't detect. Even so the noisyness wasn't a hindrance to riding but I was convinced only one noise was in the pedals. The clank appeared to be coming from the frame.

I went through Harrington to Kelmarsh, past the Buddhist centre on to Haselbech and then Naseby. At Naseby I headed off down my favourite downhill towards Guilsborough. When I say favourite downhill it also doubles as my favourite uphill in that masochistic way where I think it's the hardest slope in Northants. I turned off down the gated road to Cottersbrooke where I had my epiphany.

I needed a wee. As I got off my bike I put pressure through the bars on one side and I got the clank noise. As I urinated I cogitated and came up with a plan. I tightened everything on the front end of the bike. All of the bolts on the headset and the handlebars took a good couple of turns so they were a little loose. For good measure I tightened the front wheel too. Hey presto the clank was gone. Andy, the king fiddler, did say it could be in the headset. It's not a surprise because I'm one of those straight armed sportive riders that real racers pour scorn on. It made me recall that I'd read about the need to ride with a bend in the elbows, which I don't do naturally and it made me notice just how much weight I put through the bars especially when climbing. The click is still there so tomorrow I'm buying new pedals. I have a feeling after that I'll start noticing my creaky old bike shoes again but that, I'm definitely going to live with that...well I expect I'll buy new shoes too when funds allow. Stroke your till Chris! Anyway the clank is sorted. I'm just a little disturbed how many good thoughts come to me whilst relieving myself!

I headed up through Brixworth up that mega lump from the ladies tour and crossing the Brixworth bypass I was pleased to see traffic being held up by something other than a lycra clad group. Take your medicine car drivers the road does not belong to you.

Steam engine thing probably contains beards

Next up was beautiful Scaldwell, onto Old, up Mill Lane and down the very fast slight downhill into Loddington. I was feeling great at this point turning into Orton green lane and decided to really go for the mini lump segment of the Col de Loddington. Big mistake. As I rounded the fast downhill corner at full speed I encountered a big white car in the middle of the narrow lane. Evasive reaction required, frankly I pooed my pants (metaphorically no lycra was damaged on this ride!) A miss is as good as a mile so no damage to bike or person but a lesson learned and a sharp reminder...if you can't see round the corner don't fly round it at warp speed! Needless to say I was a bit more tentative over the last few miles.

Tomorrow it's a potentially soggy commute and as long as people behave themselves I can get some new pedals from the shop.

Happy pedalling

Foggy Saturday Club Ride

The loop is the ride, to and from Rothwell is just my bit!

Another Saturday and another super club ride. I got to the shop early so that the king fiddler could have a look at my clicky, cranky bike. To my surprise Andy handed the bike to shop owner Chris so I guess I was looked after by the Emporer Fiddler. Some expert fiddling and I was assured that the clicks and clinks were not terminal. It does however look like new pedals will be required at some stage. At the shop there was a few familiar faces including the bushy beard of Neil.

Unbelievably Neil is only 53

Andy asked me if I could lead the social group and I was more than happy to do this. I knew he'd be reluctant but I asked Rich to tail gun for me, I was hoping a more positive experience would get him back into the swing of things. To be fair the group didn't need a leader. It was very safe, very considerate group riding. Rule 1 was well observed and everyone appeared to enjoy the ride. It wasn't the best day for it either as a thick fog engulfed the countryside. However any group riding in the illumination of my one23 extreme bright doesn't need to worry.

The dead centre of Finedon (sorry)

We stopped for a group shot in the nice bit of Finedon. No that's not an oxymoron, there is a nice bit! If you've only ever driven through on the A6 you've missed it but Finedon from the Burton Road going into Bell Hill is a beautiful place of traditional Northants sandstone buildings. If you can be mature enough to handle the name the Bell Inn looks ok too. We stopped for our pic outside the cemetery which features Commonwealth War Graves so I might need to stop for a proper look one day.

On our return to K town Rich decided he wanted to improve his time on the Deeble Road segment and gave it a blast. Well huge kudos to him because he got a KOM. In contrasting fortunes I achieved a puncture at the same time. Thankfully Andy took pity on me in the shop and helped me sort it out. I can do it myself but like everyone I felt under pressure from interested onlookers.

Also of interest was the new gadget Rob was testing out with his Go Pro. I'm not sure about it being strapped to the chest as it looks more like nipple cam than helmet cam but I'll be pleased to see the results. As we're all worried about incidents like I suffered with the water attack I'd imagine that c&dcycles should get in a job lot of those go pro's. I'm sure Chris could get us a good price.

Cousin Iain

After the ride it was a quick turnaround for me and off to Franklin's Gardens home of the English
Champions, Northampton Saints. It was great to catch up with my cuz and his mate DanorSam just to see beardage to rival Neil. Iain bought a road bike quite recently and is getting to grips with it. So we had a chat about all things cycling and some C&DCC quality banter before the match. The Saints won 43-10 and remain top of the league so that's all good too!

The club are having a social tonight but I'm not going. After cycling all morning and spending all afternoon at the rugby I thought I'd better spend some time with the queen of cakes and the kids. There will I hope be other socials. Have a good time everyone and someone please don't let Rich lead Andy astray again!

Happy pedalling

Good morning ride, hideous evening ride...

So today was pretty much these ride as yesterday. Thankfully the wind had dropped and it was dry. I felt good on the bike and a much healthier average of 16.7mph was achieved. The only downer was Clive was noisy again, and it was the same clanking as Sunday. I had thought this was fixed with the new bottom bracket expertly and swiftly fitted by Andy at C&Dcycles, especially as it was obvious after removal that the old BB was indeed shot. However I'm sure the King Fiddler will find the problem and all will be smooth again soon.

So after a good days training, where we were interrupted by a fierce gale in the afternoon, I was looking forward to my ride home. Then it happened. Between Rockingham Road and Cottingham Road on the A6003 I was passed by a Blue Ford Transit. Then whack I was hit square on my ear by something cold and wet. My best guess is that they threw water at me. Luckily I didn't lose balance because I'm sure if I'd come off the next car would have gone straight over me. I was furious. Unfirtunately I didn't get the number plate. I reported itto the police anyway so they can track this in case it becomes a worrying trend. The rest of my ride was filled with angry thoughts.

Nothing else to say, I hope you had a better day!

A different kind of commute

Today I had the good fortune of working in Corby. This not only gave me the chance to ride a different route but also to take part in some Theraplay training. Now you may not know that Corby is the epicentre of a very impressive attachment Therapy but hey now you do!

For me this was a pair of very weird rides. I dawdled over in the morning at a miserable 14mph average so I decided on the way back to improve on that. I smashed along between 17-20mph all the way to East Carlton Park and the I turned into the wind and well that was that, a load of PRs set in the first couple of miles and then an even slower average!

The route itself is a real Jekyll and Hyde. It's lovely country Lanes to a East Carlton Park and then fast A roads into Corby. If I could leave half a hour earlier I could of course detour through Cottingham and then take on Rocky. Let's see what time I get up tomorrow with that silly idea now planted in my head.

I made it home tonight just before the weather broke! News from my club mates is that vroom was a washout so it sounds like I made it just in time. I'm now sat blogging in front of the log burner powered by wood from my good cycling buddies! The weather looks better tomorrow though so we've all got that to look forward to.

Happy pedalling

Sunday club ride without the Major

Stuart, Justin, Stuart and Martyn

Well what a great ride with good company. Only five of us met this morning. I'm grateful that they waited for me because I was late. I'm not entirely sure what happened. First I woke up later than usual, probably because I get a better nights sleep without booze and I'm going sober for October. As I got up Lee reminded me I always end up in a rush and I don't like that. Yes dear I said and at that point a normal person would have got their kit on first and fart arsed around second, oh no not me. I fed the dogs, emptied the dishwasher, put washing on the line, made the queen of cakes a coffee, just about left on time, then realised I'd forgotten my pump, then left then realised I'd forgotten my glasses so had to go back and finally set off at about ten to eight for an eight o'clock start. When I got there Justin let me know they'd waited and were about to make an executive decision. So sorry to Stuart, Stuart, Martyn and Justin for making you wait!

I'm glad I went back for my sunnies, it was a very bright day, in fact I could've done with swapping from Orange to Black lenses. It was a total contrast from yesterday's rain but also it was cold enough for me to break out the base layer for the first time in months. Everyone was in varying degrees of additional gear with Martyn winning the Cub Scout prize for best prepared with leg warmers, boot covers, winter Jersey and full finger gloves. That would've been too much for me but then I still have
an excess of insulating blubber. It was cold though with frost on the grass verges. The roads were ok though so there's no need to retreat to the turbo trainer in the shed yet. Also it warmed up nicely and became the most beautiful day.

Justin was our leader for the day and he kindly responded to my selfish suggestion of a route back through Rothwell to get me home in time for family duties. Even more rude of me then to turn up late! The route we used was Steve's hill fest of a couple of weeks ago, also my suggestion and on the way round I once again questioned my sanity!

We set off at a healthy pace, well so I'm told because another error on my part was not charging my bike computer. I was wondering what else would go wrong. This route lulls you into a false sense of security until you get through Market Harborough and then boom its that hill into a East Farndon, from there it's downhill all the way to the hill into  Naseby. I meant to do this last time but to give you an idea of that part of the route here's my blog of the Naseby battlefield ride I did earlier into the year: http://richardscyclingblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/roundheads-and-cavaliers.html. Martyn left us at Naseby due to a family gathering.

From Naseby to Cold Ashby was a relief from the lumpy stuff and then through West Haddon and on to Ravensthorpe we got into a nice pace and rode in a tight group. Again though this was lulling us into a false sense of security. Out of Ravensthorpe, which is a beautiful village fully ticking my proper village boxes, we hit the lumpy stuff with three climbs of increasing difficulty. From Teeton to Spratton was hard, Spratton to Brixworth was brutal. That hill into Brixworth doesn't even look like it belongs in Northants with rocky outcrops and dry stone walls. As Justin accurately remarked, it looks more like the Yorkshire Dales.

Everything after that was easy really. There were still some uphill bits out of Scaldwell, into Old, up Mill Lane and from Loddington to Rothwell. I left the ride there as I'd already done the ride to the shop to start the day, the others obviously had the final pleasure of Bunker Hill.

The only downside of today's ride is the ominous sounds which suggest Clive may be about to need his third bottom bracket. Justin, with yet another accurate observation stated that these expensive FSA bottom brackets appear to be made of cheese! As ever though a swift message to the King Fiddler, Andy at c&dcycles and my trusty steed is booked in for an overhaul. I better make sure he's clean!

Another weekend, another brace of brilliant bike rides

Happy pedalling

Soggy Saturday Shock to the System

Well that was a bit damp! I'd say it was the first day of Autumn after we've been spoilt by this extended Summer and what a shock to the system it was. We all struggled a bit in the cold and wet but I remember laughing at much worse weather last year, especially my New Years Day ride with a long lost brother of C&DCYCLES CC.

The route was a variation on our classic Oundle loop. Most of the places we visited have all been mentioned in previous blogs. The county is a bit different in that direction. It's less hilly and the cottages in the villages tend to be made of a light grey stone rather than the vivid deep orange of Old Red Sandstone. It's all still a bit picture postcard though. Andy led the quick lads, Steve led the social ride and I was as usual arse end Charlie. I was really pleased to see so many riders despite the weather and I must comment on some excellent group riding. After a couple of weeks of needing to remind people how we do things, today went without a hitch. Communication, role modelling, consideration for others and sensible riding was observed by all. So thanks to all C&D Cycles CC riders, you are a credit to your club.

Struggling the most today was Claire. She suffered the quadruple whammy of the sudden change of weather, riding her heavier less responsive winter bike, having a bug in the week and the desire to ride being stronger than common sense. I've been there myself. Last year I tried to ride the Silverstone Circuit Breaker after a week of flu (flu, not man flu, don't start with me ladies.) I knew I wasn't 100% but I didn't want to let people down. It was stupid and is a lesson learnt. So my advice is: if you've been unwell, recover properly before you ride. Easy advice to give, as demonstrated its not as easy to follow!

On the roll out

Action shot on Warkton Hill

Ginger Tom

Up the hill from Pilton

Going round the bend

It's the dark one's birthday

Storm trooper Cake 

Guinness cake gets demolished 

Rich is relieved to get the last slice of apparently the greatest cake ever!

Back at the shop the general air of dampness descended into the usual comments of "moist," and usual banter. Rich had requested Guinness cake from my wife, the Queen of cakes. Because he kindly made sure Claire got home ok he very nearly missed out on a cake demolished in seconds. He was relieved about this though as he claims he'd happily eat his own weight in Guinness cake! Andy also provided cake as it was his birthday. As Darth Vader was unavailable he settled for a storm trooper cake. I'm faithful to my wife so didn't try it, however it did look good! Never underestimate the relationship between cycling and cake.

I love it when people who haven't been for a while join us for a ride and on that I was thrilled today to see Tom. He's been racing this year and is well above our standard, he also works a lot on Saturdays. I will never forget how much Tom has helped me in the past. In particular Tom was part of a group of riders who "carried" me round the 3 counties sportive, my first 100 mile ride. So don't be a stranger mate!

Well that's that. I'm now waiting for my sporting heroes to get under way and for a break in the rain to walk the dogs. Great ride and I'm looking forward to doing it again tomorrow.

Happy Pedalling

Super Sam and an elongated commute

This morning Sam decided to bring his bike along for the dog walk which was good because since he moved to a bigger bike he's lost a bit of confidence. Anyway he seemed to enjoy it so I guess we're getting back on track.

Talking of tracks I decided to take the long way home. I wanted a bit of an extra spin and to be honest I also wanted to stay away from the so called bike paths. I didn't go particularly quickly so the stack of PRs is a bit of a surprise. I also saw someone in a C&DCYCLES CC winter shirt but I wasn't sure who it was. I did use the 'joke' cycle route along gypsy lane but rather than head for the grot of the A14 I went up to Loddington, round to Foxhall and back hone using Orton Green Lane.Very pleasant!

That's the commuting over for another week so now I'm free to concentrate on my favourite ride, the Saturday Shop ride or perhaps it should now be called the club run. No idea where we're going yet or what my role will be. All I know is that it will be a good ride if potentially a tad moist!

Oh it's all a bit blurry

And again