Training, #FNSS, #Parkrun and the beautiful Welland Valley!

This weeks blog contains some running. Apologies to the cycling purists. If it makes you feel better I did shout 'Jesus has someone nicked all your bikes,' to a group of runners earlier. Anyway there's plenty of cycling too!

On Wednesday night it was back to Dean Barnett's "Muddy Marvels," and some top quality CX training. Once again Dean had laid out a challenging course and then had the skill to coach all abilities. Knowing I have Muddy Marvels on Wednesday, definitely gets me through the day at work and any stresses evaporate during the session. Talking of work, we're having a big wellbeing push with the trust promoting the '5 Ways to Wellbeing.' More on that later!

Selfie with Super Cyclone Jackson

Friday night saw Friday Night Summer Series at East Carlton Psrk. The first thing that happened to me as we drove in the residents entrance to park at the cricket club, was house envy. I hadn't realised just how many houses were in East Carlton Park and how awesome it would be to live in such lovely surroundings.

It was business as usual before the off: Catching up with people, discussing the race last week, talk about tyre choice, tyre pressures etc. I did a quick practise lap (okay I did a slow practise lap,) and realised this was a stunning course. Hats off to this weeks hosts, Rockingham Forest Wheelers. Big shout out to Mike Deely for his vision and energy (Mike will no doubt point out the efforts of others!)

Starting line pre race worry face

OOH I found Ashley

I had two aims for this race. Don't finish last and beat the bell to get the same laps in as the main field. It was tough! I can keep up on the flat and straight downhill but in the technical sections and the sharp uphills I get left behind. As in previous weeks I need to find about two minutes a lap to feel like I'm in a race. However...I flipping loved it! For me these are still 'live training,' rather than competitive racing...it's preparation for when I finally achieve my goal weight and good fitness for my last season in the CX veteran category.

I hate this photo...I'm such a fatty!

Too quick for the lens

The snaps of me were courtesy of Victoria Bell. Towards the end of my 4th lap the bell went...I joked  to Victoria that I was hoping the race leader would pass me and save me from a 5th. Victoria pointed out he was right behind me!!! No...no...no...I wanted a 5th and somehow beat him to the flag by a few seconds (don't imagine a sprint, I went from slow trudge to slightly quicker trudge and right behind me was a bit of an exaggeration!) Knowing I was the last rider left on the course I sauntered round a last lap without the worry of having to get out of people's way. It was a very nice way to finish. Mission accomplished, not last, everyone above me except the fastest riders also did 5 laps. 

Post race burger and alcohol free beer

After the race. the bar was open in the cricket club and they laid on a barbecue (braii to my South Africa friends, grill to our american cousins but the Aussies call it a barbie and that's good enough for me!) I'm on a booze ban until the Dartmoor Classic so it was Becks blue for me!

What your legs probably don't need, the night after a FNSS is a Parkrun! However, due to that NHFT Wellbeing promotion a team of us are doing some Parkrun tourism to promote the trust and our wellbeing activities! This week it was Bedford. 

Cycling is better for me...I look younger in my helmet!

We had a trust branded selfie window that was put to good use before the run. Hilariously other people were using it later with no idea who or what 'Northamptonshire NHS Foundation Trust,' is.

Bedford is a nice Parkrun in a lovely park.It only had two pacers though and this led to a very mixed start. I found myself doing a funny shuffle for the first few minutes as I tried to find my natural pace. Once that was sorted I had a really enjoyable run. On the way round I chatted to one of the many people running with their dogs. I've had an idea that now Charity, the former Guide Dog Puppy is back in the extended Lindsley family she might be good for doing this.

After the run we went to another colleagues house for a superb breakfast. It was my second house envy moment of the weekend as Lyn, our host, lives on the edge of the park. Her breakfast wraps of bacon, good quality sausage and scrambled eggs (from her own chickens,) were just what the Nurse ordered! 

Next week we are at Corby Parkrun. We will also be doing both the Northampton runs, Towcester, Daventry, Kettering and Market Harborough. I'm away for one of those but will do a Parkrun in Plymouth to make up for it. The team are a great bunch of people. I hope more people join us when we're closer to home, especially in Kettering and Northampton. Big kudos to Anne Linsell for coming up with the idea and organising everything.

All this off road stuff and running is good for general fitness but won't get me ready properly for the ridiculous undulations of the Dartmoor Classic. I'm worried that my good mate Nigel will have to wait for me on every hill so I set out today with the plan of getting up a few hills in Northants/Leicestershire. The best place for that is the beautiful Welland Valley.

Dartmoor Classic...it's lumpy!!!

Just past East Carlton Park (yep there again,) there was a low flying Kite in Cottingham. I saw loads of Kites, they're as common as sparrows now but as you know I struggle to get a picture! Anyway, I had success this time.

You wait for ages for a Red Kite picture...

Then two come along

The first decent slope was into Bringhurst where I couldn't resist the phonebox shot. As with many of our red boxes, this one now houses a defibrillator.

Round the corner I took a picture of Neville Holt, the massive house on the hill! That's where I was headed!

The big house

Across the valley

Other direction

All the way up the hill I was humming the Game of Thrones theme tune. That horse head statue at Neville Holt makes me think the home owner might be Dothraki! It's not the only interesting thing about the place but I've blogged about that before!

Thanks to Isaac Newton, what goes up must come down! I enjoyed the descent to Medbourne way more than the journey up! I'm looking forward to some speedy slopes in Devon too!

Back round to Ashley and it was by far the longest testing slope if you view it as one climb all the way to Desborough. My legs were already pretty dead from the rest of the weekends activity so this could've been a struggle. However I was warmed up and I enjoyed myself. Again I enjoyed the road from Desborough down to Arthingworth more! I'm slipping down this table though...I want that KOM back!!!

On the climb back to Harrington I decided to really test myself. I kept the RPM over 80 and remained seated all the way up. It was a good way to finish training for the day. As I passed the Tollemarche Arms I thought: "I could murder a pint!" The selfie below is to remind me that my booze ban is to get some of this lard off!

In other news the Giro d'Italia is in full swing. I love all of the Grand Tours and with UK riders to get behind it's a great event. I'm hoping Yates can go one better this year and add the Giro to his Grand Tour win collection.

Happy Pedalling

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

Professional Racing and Grass Roots Racing...Rutland Cicle Classic 2019 & FNSS Round 1

This weeks blog features two events. Very different in nature but both led to some fantastic bike racing and some very enjoyable cycling. The first event was the Rutland Cicle Classic 2019, a wonderful professional bike race which is a combination of road and gravel sections. Obviously I just went to watch that one. The second is the start of this years Friday Night Summer Series, MTB racing. What these events have in common is that they are local, very well respected and they've been around for a long time.

In order to see this top quality bike race I joined the KCC Sunday Social ride led by my good cycling friend Ian Bird. I joined the ride at Rushton and at that stage there were 8 of us. We headed out towards Rushton through the Welland Valley and I was very quickly struggling to keep up on the hills. I'm never the best climber but this was me at my worst! I can't explain why, especially when you read later on that I finished the day feeling really strong!

Around the course there were sections where the riders did laps making it great to spectate. At those locations, course maps were handed out. Before we got to our first stop in Wymondham, the group decrease to four as not all of the KCC lads were out for the day. 

Good crowds watched at Wymondham, where a breakaway of three riders had already been created. The lead van had a PA system keeping everyone up to date. We had a quick coffee watching the laps and then 4 became 2 as just Ian and I headed to the next lap section at Owston.

2 mentions in 2 weeks...

We arrived at Owston in good time and a very welcome food station provided sausage and bacon "cobs," (looked like baps to me mate!) I'd brought my card out though and this was a cash only zone so I also owe Ian next time we're out! Also at Owston we started to bump into people we knew David Wilson and his son Huw were there as were a number of other friends from Welland Valley Cycling Club and Rockingham Wheelers Cycling Club. The breakaway was still on and the riders did laps in and out of Owston via various gravel tracks.

Hang on...whose that man in grey? It's Andy Brown...then two became three!

Andy had driven up and parked at Belton. He had a plan to follow the the gravel sections, see the finish at Melton and  and then, because he had the bike carrier we could get a lift home!

Road bikes on Gravel made for exciting racing!

Team cars everywhere!

Love the broom wagon

We rode up here too...thank goodness for strong wheels and tubeless tyres

I only just got out of the way in time as the team cars sped through and the racing hotted up near Melton!

Finish at Melton. Why is there always a giant man with a huge beard blocking the view?

Pies!!!

It was 14 miles back to Andy's car and it was heading back to the lumpiest bits of the days ride. I'd already done more than 50 miles and told Andy that as soon as I hit the 62.1 miles fondo distance I'd be stopping and he could come and pick me up! There was no need though as my legs just totally switched on. Before I knew it we were racing for village signs. The weather at the end of the day was also at it's best. It had been cold all day with the remnants of storm Hannah blasting us about. Then the sun just came out, the countryside was stunning and it was sheer joy to be in it all on a bike! I want to thank Ian and Andy for a great day on the bike. It doesn't get better than this!

As for the pros...you can read all about them here: British Cycling

Friday night saw the start of this year's Friday Night Summer Series. FNSS, has been running since 1992 and is the oldest Mountain Bike Racing Series in the Universe! It's open to all with the age range from 12 through to ancient, superfit amazing cyclists through to well chunky enthusiasts like me!

A large field gathered at Delapre on a superb course organised this week by Northants Outcasts. I'd heard that the council had flattened the trails in the woods at Delapre and was relieved to find I was mistaken. It was other nearby trails on private land! Really great news because these are a hidden gem near to Northampton Town Centre.

I saw many familiar faces from the cyclocross season, all the clubs I'm involved in and of course Dev, the friend I made at one of my first FNSS races. Big shout out also to Steve Coombs for his tyre pressure advice. I'm glad I listened to you not the website that said 90kg+ riders need higher pressures!

Just like cyclocross, it's a mass start but without the gridding. Everyone tears off at max speed to get an advantage as the course narrows. I'm okay for about 30 seconds and then I always seem to blow out of the back...then I feel awful for the rest of the first lap. It's like my legs turn to jelly. As the race goes on I get better and better but most people in my age group are going that little bit faster. I always have simple aims: try not come last, try and do the same number of laps as the main field, smile! Well, as my measure of success...it's mission accomplished!

Thanks to Josh Popham of Action Media for the pic

I look very casual and relaxed in the picture. Hmmm...no, I was knackered! FNSS is very friendly racing. The quick lads are patient and let you know where they want to go to get past. They usually pass on some encouragement..."keep going mate...you're doing well!" Then they blast off into the distance. Some of my technique let me down. I managed to slide my front wheel in the lap timing area and knock over the barrier stake! That was embarrassing. However in other areas, particularly getting up the steep bank I applied some of the learning from Corby Capers and Muddy Marvels and I was able to fly up an obstacle I've previously struggled with.

Harrington next week. This is literally a couple of miles from my house and yet I've never managed to ride it. I'm not going to enter online just in case!

Loads more to do this weekend. No ride today but plenty to look forward to. Big match at the Saints followed by an evening out with friends. Hopefully I can stick to the tipsy not smashed policy and then I'll be good to go for a ride tomorrow!

Here's my favourite video from this week. I watched this on the rollers. I think I'd like to do this route one day...but not in three days!!!

Also if you've missed it ITV have good highlights of the Tour de Yorkshire.

Happy Pedalling!

So, about this weather right...#Easter 2019 recap

For some reason, here in dear old blighty we are obsessed with the weather. This highly unpredictable weather is studied to death by us all and that really ought to make us all meteorological experts...but it doesn't does it? Nope, our approach to the weather is one  of perpetual surprise. Two weekends at HONC it was freezing, last Easter weekend it was glorious and this weekend is a total blowout as #StormHannah batters the British Isles. So no cycling today...however that presents me with an opportunity to get a blog done.

Last weekend truly was a cycling bonanza for me. I was out on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday.

On Good Friday I joined up with a small group of 5 led by Bairdy. Ian, Andre and Andy Payne were also along for the ride. Andy Payne and I reminisced on last weeks HONC as we ventured into the Cotswold like Welland Valley.

I should have some great pictures but I was doubling down on technological dumb moves and took a load of inexplicable selfies! Why did I do this? Well the week before my phone had rapidly lost charge  so I was doing all I could to preserve battery life. This included keeping my brightness down low, meaning you can't see your screen on a bright sunny day...so you've missed a picture of Andre vaping and riding, David Wilson, who we bumped into, being a 'full kit w@*£er,' in his JLT Condor kit plus his very lovely bike and loads of scenery shots. All of this resulted in the only good picture being the one in the pub!

We last used this route on New Years Eve and ended up in the Tollemarche Arms at Harrington that day too. On the way there we had a great ride with the highlights being Neville Holt, numerous pretty villages and the good training drag from Ashley all the way to Desborough. Bizarrely that didn't exist as a segment so I've made one! Don't be fooled I will not be the KOM here, I've just made it...that's all!

Whilst I was out the queen of cakes had a mission to go to bestbuys in Wellingborough to get some good quality charcoal. If you've ever cooked with the good stuff thn you'll know I can't go back to the supermarket/garage self lighting tastes of lighter fuel stuff. However Bestbuys had also been caught short by the weather and they hadn't stocked up...so I remembered my uncle had said some great charcoal was made near us. A quick google revealed it's a private woodland in Pipewell. I made a call to a great bloke called Hugh who lives in the wood and he charcoal covers their cost of living! I couldn't believe where it was when I drove over! We have passed this place on club rides many times and never realised! Here's a link Rawhaw Wood I tested this out on Sunday and wow! Great stuff, this is now my go to fuel! 

On Saturday I took my technodunce achievements to the next level. I knew I wanted to be at Franklin's Gardens for the rugby by 13.00 so I decided to join the C&D Saturday shop ride 'if,' they were heading in a direction beneficial to me achieving that goal. I watched the FB feed and believed a route had not been posted due to other comments and therefore just turned up...I arrived at the shop to be told that the post had updated by our club organiser Andy Ferguson, just somewheer obvious as opposed to the places that I looked. The route was heading out to Castle Ashby, possibly the worst direction for me to head in. My dilemma was nothing though compared to Steve Duke, he needed to be back before all the halloumi cheese was sold out! Anyway others persuaded me that we'd smash this out and I'd be back in loads of time. 

We left Kettering via the hill to Pytchley, half way up the hill my ridiculous Lezyne bike computer announced it was nearly out of charge! So I switched to Strava on my mobile in the hope that my equally ridiculous phone would work for a change. It did, kind of...however in a group who all averaged 17mph, that I was in all the way round my stupid Strava thinks I did 14mph. Maybe I should get a Garmin afterall (nope...joking...never will!)

It was a beautiful day for a ride on roads we rarely travel. On one such road, Bruce, on his beautiful superbike with those gorgeous zipp wheels, got carried away off the front. Bruce blasted off into the sunset as we all turned right...lots of shouting and whistling but Bruce was gone! We waited for him at the next village but Steve, getting twitchy about Kettering's Halloumi supplies decided we need to get moving! My next surprise was after Cogenhoe we headed past smelly old Billing and then turned right on a road I never knew existed and up a nice hill into Ecton. From there we worked our way to Sywell and predictably things got tasty on that fast bit from Sywell to Harrowden. Well eventually it did. Shamelessly we let the rapidly improving Amy Bird take the front, then we let Steve Minney go it alone, before getting organised with a bit of a chain gang. It was great fun and by Harrowden my legs were shaking with effort. Still being worried by time but without the cheese based anxiety I left the group at the Pytchley turn accompanied by Richard G and unbelievably BRUCE...he'd somehow made his way back to us and that was very nice indeed. Big shout out to my fellow Richard who is amazed I have the time to do all the things I do...well mate as discussed I don't and that's why it's great to blog today...I'll get a ride in tomorrow hopefully!

So after a great ride the day worked out really well. Niamh and I made it to Northampton for the Wanderers (2nd team...the first team are the Saints...don't ever ask me why because I will tell you and you may just glaze over,) crucial A league fixture with our good friends Leicester. The news is that the best club in the East Midlands prevailed again on a stunning day for running rugby and selfies.

On Monday morning I woke with the hangover I deserved after a fantastic barbie with good friends. It was difficult to get my butt in gear due to a lot of Labrador cuddles but the best cure for everything is always cycling!

I met Uncle Bob at Geddington's famous cross and not long after Andy Pendred rolled up with some suspiciously placed sheep fluff on his forks. That was us...just 3 for a superb off road ride in still lovely weather. 

The first bit of the ride involved the descent through Geddington Chase to Brigstock. It was lovely, dry and fast leading to me overestimating my ability and having a lot of fun jumping out of ruts and off of tree roots. No offs and no ambulances were required (miraculously)

From Brigstock we rode up Old Dry Lane onto the superbly quirky land around Bocase farm. These sculptures are superb. You won't see these on a road bike!

The tracks around Aldwinkle were weirdly challenging. Having been deeply rutted muddy swamps earlier in the year they're now deeply rutted and rock hard. In fact everywhere is unusually dry for April. The weather is weird...did anyone mention that yet?

This route was just superb. We had a laugh getting a bit lost in the woods, lots of single track, gravel, bridleways. Just perfect. It was the gift that kept giving as we rode around Elinor fishery and onto to Stanwick lakes.

This was the toughest part of the ride. These fields were just lumpy bumpy bone rattlers. Cheers to Andy for the additional pictures. Much better than any of mine...I blame that ropey phone!

As I neared the end of the ride that boozy night was catching up with me. I was shattered but then I realised in a good weekend of riding, the off road ride was the longest. In fact it was a similar distance to HONC, just not quite the altitude! However my reward was an Easter Monday lunch at Mum and Dad's plus an afternoon tea with my very favourite lemon meringue pie!

In other news I've discovered loads of cycling related talks on TED! They're not all good but there are some real gems. I enjoyed the one below just this morning.

I also like to promote other people's blogs. I found this one from Velo Vixen via the Velobants twitter feed. I whole heartedly agree with her 'smiles not miles,' statement.

Before I finish I want to give a big shout out to Dean Barnett for two hugely enjoyable Muddy Marvels sessions in Market Harborough and we are less than a week away from round 1 of Friday Night Summer Series

Happy Pedalling!