Bank Holiday Bicycling Bonanza...Another weather turnaround this time it's a heatwave!

In glorious weather this weekend I got out on my bikes and wow, just wow! 3 days, 3 different rides, lots of fun!

Ride one was the traditional C&D Cycles CC Saturday shop ride. I just knew it would be a lovely ride as I headed in to Kettering via that short sharp beast that is Bunker Hill. I felt great, which I really had no right to after following the Dan Lloyd guide to hydration and massively overdoing the Friday night "mineral waters!"

With all that good feeling I elected once again to go with the quick group. For me it was very very quick! Marcus decided to bail at Woodford and waited for the banter bunch. Neil and Andy B set the pace the rest of us held on as well as we could. We had a go at a bit of chain ganging and at times we got it right, steaming along.

There wasn't much time for banter until we eventually stopped for a rest at in the impressive gateway near Pilton which I've never understood in terms of history or relevance. It looks like it leads to a big house. My most recent research uncovered nothing at all apart from this picture...

Now you're wondering why is there a picture of a Red Kite? Well on the 'pictures of Pilton,' page, there's this stunning picture of a Red Kite. I'm constantly trying to get a good pic of these stunning birds whilst we're out on a ride. One has even swooped in front of us and I still missed it. Here's one I took yesterday...

Not quite the same is it?

Back to the cycling stuff. At the break my average for about 25 miles of cycling was over 19mph. That's faster than I've ever ridden. It's not especially quick compared to many people I ride with or indeed the really good riders who've moved on. However, that's a big improvement for me and maybe with a few less mineral waters on a Friday night I could've maintained this for the whole ride.

It has to be said that I let the side down jersey choice wise in this week. They're all in C& D jerseys I'm wearing my Giant Sunshine Coast top. I don't why anyone else didn't make this choice, haven't they been to Mooloolaba? It was pointed out that the jersey in question matches Neil's Giant Propel better than mine but...get your own mate! It was also at this point that someone slipped a banana skin into Bairdy's pocket...what cheeky fun!

The rest of the ride wasn't what I would call a struggle, I just couldn't keep up with the lads at the front. Neil and Andy B tore off. Andy F, Mark C and Bairdy were not far behind. Steve, Graham and I were a bit broken! My average dropped down to 17mph, something a few months ago I would have been very happy with BUT looking at Strava later I discovered I was still getting personal records. Back at the shop we had time for a chat, a laugh and of course that cycling superfood cake!

With tired legs my cycle home was a slow saunter. I took the dogs out for a recovery walk. This glorious weather is good for us, Harvey though was getting a bit too hot!

The next order of the day was a trip to the Saints for the last match of the season. It's been disappointing to say the least this year but we've had some high points. Beating the Tigers twice can never be a bad thing. The big thing today though was saying goodbye to some very good players. It's the end of an era and it all got quite emotional!

Ben Foden deservedly got most of the attention but I can't believe after 12 years of seeing off some of the best fly halves in the world that we won't see Stephen Myler do this again. I can't recall a penalty that was ever cheered so enthusiastically.

Sorry for all that eggchasing...I'll get back to cycling now!

On Sunday I decided it was time to switch bikes and get out on the trails. So I stuck my Forme Ripley on top of the car and headed over to Wakerley Woods. My plan was to do a warm up lap over the road at Fineshade Woods and then come back to Wakerley Woods for a couple of the Scar Tree trail. With  the lovely weather we're having the trails were almost dry so this was the ideal time for this type of ride.

I'm just going to let the pictures do the talking for this one. The woods were spectacular in this gorgeous weather and just a joy to cycle around. Lots of people were about enjoying the sunshine and also lots of kids on bikes!

Fineshade welcome posters

Fineshade family trail start

Got to love the skills loops

Back at the Wakerley Woods Scar Tree Trail

Beautiful bike in the Bluebells

Not everyone had a good day...

On one of my laps of the Scar Tree trail I came across a couple of blokes with an upside down bike. I asked if they needed help and they replied that they thought that would be a good idea. One look at this rear derailleur old me all I needed to know. He'd snapped his cage and bent the rear hanger. My advice "you're pushing that mate!"

After that great ride I got myself home because we were off for lunch with friends at the Old White Horse in Old! I've ridden past this pub often and always thought it looked like a good place to go. I wasn't wrong. This is a high quality boozer with great food too!

This bike belonged to a regular

Best sign on a pub ever!

Best sign in a pub ever?

So we arrive at today...knowing that I'd spent Sunday in a sunny pub garden you'd think I might be a bit worse for wear? Nah...I was fine! I was almost late for the ride though. My problem is I need to fill every minute with activity. Before the 9am start this morning, I'd dismantled Sam's disappointing bed, done a load of washing and got it out on the line. Thankfully they hadn't left so we're all good.

The weather was once again simply stunning. Hot actually and before long my helmet was dripping with sweat. My plan had been to study he route this morning but all those other things had reduced my chances to do that.However I knew the route as far as East Carlton but was struggling after that. We were heading into hilly Rutland and my local knowledge ran out!

Stunning leafy lanes

Rolling hills

Group shot at a duck pond next to the Fox Inn at Hallaton (another good looking pub!)

Quack, quack...luckily Mark C and I are fluent in Mallard Duck

Stunning!

At Belton in Rutland it all went a bit wrong. Heather had designed a great route but Garmin had struck again to send us off road on road bikes. Whilst we stood and debated a plan, Chris rode off. He found a bridleway, walked a bit and then got back on the planned route...The rest of us headed off ion a way around the problem. It got more and more confusing with committee meetings at almost every junction...it also got very lumpy and we did more hills than I thought possible this close to Northamptonshire. Poor Heather, it wasn't her fault, as per usual where sympathy was required, we just took the mickey!

After a couple of phonecalls, a roundabout route and a very lucky near miss with passing cars, we found our way to the Rutland Garden Centre where Chris was waiting for us. He'd been there long enough to write this blog for me and was enjoying some very nice food and drink. We joined him for a well earned beverage or two and those milkshakes in glass welly boots were very popular.

Milkshake in a boot!

Earlier in the day I realised I'd forgotten a hayfever tablet and I was suffering quite a bit. Mark C recommended local honey and I found some at the garden centre. It was pointed out that it wouldn't work because the Northants bees don't cross the county line!

Bairdy needed a wee and the gents was taken so we encouraged him to use the ladies. With no other option he did just that. For some reason he couldn't get out...I was literally hyperventilating when he knocked on the door and then started shouting: "help, let me out!"

After the break it was hills, hills, hills. The closer I got to home the more shattered I became. However this was an awesome day of riding. Great route, lovely weather, very good company. For the last few miles I started to feel sick. I wasn't sure if this was the heat or the effort. However if the cure is any indication of the cause, I was hungry!!!

Following the ride it was round to my inlaws for a barbecue. I wasn't keen on food but a cold beer was welcome. Then I ate, and the sickness just went away in an instant. It's obvious really isn't it? According to my fitbit I've burned 4,759 calories today. That has to come from somewhere and you can't just go: "happy days that's a few pounds lost!" Your body needs some back!

What a stunning weekend. I feel lucky and privileged to have such a wonderful life! It caps a great week really. In addition to the cycling we've had some great family time. Other highlights were seeing Infinity War on Monday and doing the Trapp'd escape room 'Maine State Prison,' on Thursday. I might need a boring week next week to recover!!!

In the wider cycling world, I really enjoyed this years Tour de Yorkshire and the Giro is also in full swing. 

That's it, I need a lie down!

Happy Pedalling

What a difference a week makes or...has Spring unsprung?

Weather wise this week has come as a bit of a shock. Okay so the week before was probably the freak weather for the UK in April. However, after having the world's biggest ironing pile due to the Queen of Cakes getting her entire summer collection back out, I really wasn't expecting to be sat writing my blog with the heating on and the log burner alight.

Also in contrast to last week it was mostly back to the rollers on workdays. Some people find indoor training boring but I'm not one of those people. I do tend to mix it up with intervals or by setting myself challenges but apart from that I'm just happy to sit and peddle.

Look no hands

On Friday SuperSam and I headed to Leicester for an evening on the new college circuit.

Ready to roll

The main aim of the evening was a training session for the older cyclones who are competing in the Silverstone 9up. It was also a chance for the dad's to have a go on the circuit. I know I've written about it before but this is the first time I've been able to get in a good few full laps. The surface is possibly smoother even than Silverstone Motor circuit. The lack of any road hazards means that a consistent pace is easier to maintain. I'm sure I could easily achieve an average in excess of 20mph on this circuit. My good cycling friend Andy Brown led the training session and the kids worked very hard. The Dad's did a near perfect demonstration of how not to: "team time trial!"

My weekend's cycling was at the mercy of a report deadline I have for Monday which means I definitely have to sacrifice a day off. The weather forecast was awful but when I saw the proposed route for Saturday's C&D Cycles CC group ride my mind was made up. As the route came through Rothwell and due to a late night I decided to join the ride in my home town. 

This was the start of frankly a calamity of errors. It was freezing cold and pouring with rain so I was in full winter kit. It's always more difficult to clip in with over shoes on so I didn't worry at first when I couldn't get my left foot in. Then I also couldn't clip in on the right...at this point I discovered I was not wearing my new road shoes but I had my cyclocross shoes on!!!!

Which are which???

A frantic change ensued with the added panic that I might be late for the ride! Come on though, you have to admit they're very similar looking. Fortunately I made the market square with a few minutes to spare and joined the group as they came through Rothwell. On the shoes...they're just what I needed and more great service and value from C & D Cycles.

The reason I was looking forward to this ride is because I spotted a couple of good hills we don't ride up often...OH MY GOD...I have changed! Normally the highlight of the route for me would be the superfast downhill between Sibbertoft and Theddingworth. However today I was excited about the uphills and specifically the 14% grind known as "Mill Hill Murder!"

This sign does not lie

The weather had clearly put a number of people off so we were in one mixed group. Naturally in such a group, a hill of this lung busting reputation meant a wait at the top for the faster riders. After taking possibly a world record 'comfort break,' the cold started to get to Pete. No matter though he has a special dance for such situations, which is where he went wrong really...he needed winter tights!

There is no scientific evidence this will warm you up

We were delayed setting off from the top of the hill by Ian's wet cold gloves which wouldn't get back on his hands! We rolled off slowly but no one came a long the road so we went back to discover Ian had a bigger problem. There was something wedged in his chain rings which all of our combined efforts just could not budge. Meanwhile Pete started to suffer at worrying levels.

Never a good sight!

Richard G managed to move what ever it was to a point where Ian was happy to carry on. In fact as helpful people of the day go Richard G definitely wins first prize...more to come! The road from there through to Lubenham (near Market Harborough,) is fantastic fast riding. I enjoyed it thoroughly but for others the cold and wet was starting to demoralise. Going this way meant we joined East Farndon Hill at a different place to usual. We still had to ride the majority of the climb though and I wanted to test myself again. So I'm really pleased to say this was one of my handful of PR's for the day. At the top of the hill, someone had a puncture...it was Ian AGAIN! I have no idea what he's done to offend the Gods of cycling but...repent Ian, repent!

N on this occasion can be seen to equal 4

Luckily for Ian, who had just discovered his saddlepack was not present, help was at hand. That 'love them or hate them,' item contained things you might consider essential, like levers, tubes etc. He did however have C02 so at least inflation would be quick. As I said earlier Richard G was the most useful person of the day and even pulled the thorn that caused the puncture out with his teeth! At this point we need to discuss the following equation for determining...how many C&D cycles riders does it take to change an innertube? The answer is N+5. Where N is the number on any given day to ensure the necessary collection of equipment and expertise to complete the job and the + 5 is how many are required to stand around taking the mickey! N is an unknown variable but the + 5 collection of piddle takers is mandatory.

Whilst all of this was happening, Pete started to look incredibly cold again, so we decided to split the group. Then Marcus also started to look poorly so we split the group even further. As our experts neared completion the incredibly handy CO2 was administered...the tyre promptly popped off the rim! With all the CO2 gone the tyre was refitted and then a relay of pumpers got it up to pressure. Finally we were on our way!

We were heading home via the shortest route on roads with an excess of standing water. However we were actually making good time when Graham and then Steve slammed into a crater of a pothole. Steve was alright but a few yards later Graham had a flat!

N + 5 all over again!

Having had some practise earlier I'd say that we were almost slick for this change. Heather had to lend Graham a tube because Ian had already borrowed Graham's. At this point I recalled how helpful Ian had been to me during a 120 mile sportive when it was my turn to puncture. My levers were useless that day and just for good measure I stood on his by accident, breaking it in half! The next time we met we had bought each other new levers without any prior discussion. That's cyclists for you, we will take the mickey but we also look after each other!

So was today a rubbish ride? Well not for me! I'm absolutely shattered but I would do it all again (not tomorrow though, that report really does need writing!) I do feel very sorry for Andy back at C & D Cycles who was waiting for us with cake. I was never going back to the shop but I guess most of the others had planned to do so. However we were all so cold and wet that everyone just wanted to get home. WE WILL make it up to you Andy!

My highlights from around the world of cycling this week include news of extreme athlete Sean Conway who is attempting to break the recorded for an unsupported ride across Europe. Follow his progress here!

Okay that's it for now.

Happy Pedaling

The most wonderful week of road cycling!

It really has been fantastic to make use of the better weather this week and get out for four really great road rides. I've already blogged about Tuesday so I'll just do the last three today. Before I get going I just want to say a massive thanks to our club leader Andy Ferguson for planning the "week of rides." It really was a genius idea, with a combined attendance for the week of nearly 100 riders.

Thursday night was a bit last minute with regards to planning as we needed to plot a route to avoid all the clubs out on Time Trials. We like to get on with the neighbours so taking a group ride through a TT was not something we wanted to inflict on anyone.

It was a stunning evening, more like June or July than April at the end of a hot dry day. There was a good sized group of us out and it felt just great to be messing about on bikes with my mates new and old.

It's been a theme for a couple of weeks that my legs felt absolutely great. I am absolutely determined not to let this level of fitness slip. I'm also determined not to forget the ethos of the club that no one gets left behind!

Lord Vader, the undisputed King of C&D!

Glynn and his amazing tattoo

 Riding highlights for Thursday include crossing the Holcot causeway and zooming along that lovely run into Loddington. The riding lowlight is that we ended up losing each other as a group with around 2/3rds taking a wrong turn. Eventually we all got back together but that's always a pain on a road ride.

There's my beautiful Giant Propel in an equally beautiful sunset. Just like on Tuesday I was absolutely buzzing by the time I got home. I also hatched my plan regarding socks. I have always ridden wearing trainer socks, because I like them. I constantly get comments from others about my lack of sock, I've been nicknamed the 'sockwomble,' and they quote velominati at me: Socks should be like Goldilocks...not too long not too short! What my cycling friends don't know is that I like socks, I have lots of socks and due to many factors I'm about to unleash full sockage!

On Saturday morning I arrived at C&D Cycles for the traditional Saturday morning shop ride. Initially I was like the bloke from the Subway advert and opted for the safe 'meatball marinara,' of the banter bunch and then just like that fast food hero I decided NO, today I will go for the beef and cheese or in this case the fast group (Richard fact: I have never had a subway.)

I knew the route would be good when I looked at it the night before and committed it to memory because I don't own a navigation device. This one was easy for me to remember because I have a mostly visual memory and knowing the roads well I could see the route in my mind. I was particularly looking forward to testing my new found legs on a couple of hills, but the main event was Hazelbech Hill which featured in last year's Women's tour. It does in fact still have names of riders painted on the road. I might be lighter and fitter but that hill still hurts. 

Due to the weather lots of people were out and about. In addition to us lycra loonies there was also a lot of walkers, joggers and horse riders. We learned from some of those horse riders that they want us to be noisy when approaching horses. That might seem counter-intuitive but the ladies on the dobbins told us that the horses are less likely to be spooked by us if they can hear us! 

Something much much worse than Pete Squires suggestively eating a banana happened at the top of the hill. Poor Mark got in a right pickle with his banana and the generously shared around jelly beans. Both his banana and a handful of beans ended up on the floor! The three second rule was applied to the beans, then it was extended and then totally ignored. The banana however remained on the floor!

Once the excitement of dropped food had subsided, attention shifted to Bruce's magnificent new steed. The wheels alone are stunning. Bike envy spread like the plague as we had a really good look at this spectacular Cervelo. 

On the way back to the shop w had a practise go at chain ganging. This is alien to the club because we traditionally pass on the right rather than let people through on the inside. It's also dangerous if the whole group doesn't know what's going on. We made it work though and had some great speed at times.

Because I needed to go back to the shop I stayed with the group through Rothwell and up Bunker Hill for the second time in the day. It's a much better climb on warm legs! My reason for going back to the shop was that I need new cycling shoes. More on that later! It was really nice to have one of those splendid Ice coffees before I headed home.

So what about the sock thing? Well the picture above is from last Sunday when I ripped my ankle open yet again on a bramble. It's time I leaned that lesson, trainer socks are for trainers. Longer socks are needed for cycling to protect ankles from this sort of thing. I've always thought that socks and shorts look silly...we're in lycra with a helmet on...it's impossible to look more ridiculous! Therefore I am going to wear proper socks from now on!

The socks above are from a sexual health promotion! They say: "put a sock on it!" The only way you can get them is to take a Chlamydia test! The sexual health team are not interested in testing the over 25s so I had to make a bargain with them. They let me have a pair for promoting the test to late teens that I work with.

At the shop on Saturday I tried to buy new cycling shoes. However they didn't have the size 11 (47) of the shoe I wanted in stock. However more are coming on Tuesday so I just need to be patient. My current shoes were purchased in 2013 and they have been the exclusive shoes for both my road bikes currently registered on Strava. That means that those cycling shoes have done over 20,000km! In the words of Fatboy Slim...we've come a long long way together!

Sentiment aside those shoes are knackered. I very nearly didn't go out on a road ride today because of the shoes. However it was suggested that duck tape would both work and be funny. So I taped them up!!!

Once the shoes were sorted my attention turned to socks. Staying with a theme I opted for a pair of oddballs socks today. If you don't know, oddballs are a company who sell undercrackers to raise awareness and money in aid of testicular cancer. They've branched out into some truly spectacular socks. Here's more about the cause and as we're a 98% male club, lads you need to check your tackle! oddballs

For the first part of the ride we were joined by Marcus and his 15 year old daughter Amy (apologies if this is misspelled). We need more ladies in the club and we also need to encourage as many young riders as we can. I did try to recruit Amy for cyclones but apparently she helps out at Brownies on a Monday so it's a non-starter.

I'd like to say that with young impressionable people around that we behaved ourselves. Of course not! A joke was made about not wanting to be our friends on facebook...it was then pointed out that young people only use instagram and snapchat. All that banter aside I really hope that Amy continues to ride and that we get to help her progress further.

Marcus and Amy left us at Mears Ashby not long after we'd ridden along a section of road called Moonshine Gap. I'm intrigued as to the origin of that name and will do some research to find out! A few miles earlier I had done some segment chasing on the short sharp ramp into Little Harrowden. I actually tried to chase down a moped to the amusement of all. It seemed like a good idea at the time!

From there we were the four amigos! Andy P, Mark C and Mike had what I can only describe as the best of rides. This was Andy's route and kudos to him for it. We ventured to places that don't feature on club rides often and to places that I haven't ridden since we did our massive 200 mile ride a few years back. The climb of the day was at Great Houghton. 

Salcey Forest was lovely to ride through and if you watch the video at the end you'll see that a number of classic cars passed us going the other way. The miles just flew by. 

We also passed a rider whose socks, in vivid orange, were even brighter than mine. He was also in full winter kit which must have been boiling. Mark hypothesised that he must be from a hot climate!

If you've read the blog recently you may have seen that a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday ride, Mark, Andy F and I (now known as the three fivers,) burst into a repertoire of theme tunes from the 80s and 90s. Mark said he was holding one back and as I thought I was doing quite well on a hill he came flying past doing the theme tune to the Six Million Dollar Man top quality ride banter from Mark!

The planned cake and coffee stop was the Boathouse near Earls Barton, they also have a facebook page here! This place is superb.

On Mark's recommendation, and perhaps we were all titillated by the name, all four of us had a Dirty Chai Latte. This is my new favourite hot dink in the world. No more flat whites. I'm a Dirty Chai Latte man now!!!

The cakes were also wonderful and just because I needed to try it, I had a sweet potato, feta and avocado muffin. The staff here are very nice and we very nearly recruited another rider for the club! Apparently we're not the only cyclists to have dropped in. I can see that this may become a regular for many cafe rides! It was a lovely spot, especially in good company.

From the cafe stop it was only another 15 miles back to the shop. We had a lovely burn up going the other way on Moonshine Gap and then came back into Kettering via Burton Latimer and the sweet smell of Weetabix. At the shop we met up with Nat and Andy and the banter ensued. In the best of British traditions it is not the done thing to over compliment a person. Therefore the congratulations I was receiving for my riding improvement are now being replaced by accusations. I mentioned that my new high cadence low gear approach on hills was an attempt to be more more Froome than Contador. This was instantly met with the comeback that only one of those is a PROVEN drugs cheat. There's also a theory that the duck tape holding my shoes together is in fact a sophisticated EPO patch delivery performance enhancing drugs via my big toe! Look everyone...that's not my jiffy bag...my wife has asthma, it's hers!

Another topic of conversation in the shop was about the need to ride to a round number. The bigger the number gets, the rounder we need it to be. For example, none of us would be happy with a 97 mile ride. You'll all be pleased to learn that I rode up and down the hill outside my house until my bike computer said 60 miles!

I also have to say yet another thanks to Andy Ferguson for yet more top service. The only thing wrong with my Giant propel is the stupid saddle stem adjuster bolt. I have a bicycle specific torque wrench but it won't fit into the bolt. This makes me anxious to adjust saddle height. So Andy did it for me as I wanted to try a slightly higher position.

Here's some video from today (only about a minute long so no need to save for later!)

I'm going to finish by thanking everyone I've ridden with this week. It's been an absolute blast. I know we can't do that every week but I think there's a lot more to come this year. Oh Mark...sorry I nearly forgot...

The dogs have not been neglected

This weeks ironing plans

I'm massively sorry if there's anything else I've forgotten. There's just been so much!

Happy Pedalling!