C&DCYCLES 1st anniversary ride

What an awesome morning with my very good friends the brothers and sisters of the C&DCYCLES cycling club. There was a massive turnout for our first anniversary ride meaning we split into two groups. The rabbits set off whilst I had some last minute adjustments to Clive, who, by the way is back to full health due to the kindness of Nathan and the attention of the lads in the shop. That meant I was in the chasing group! Yikes on a bike. To be honest it did me some good to go a bit quicker and the stack of PRs proves that. I also think the two groups is a good idea because it does get risky when we get groups approaching 20. We caught the other group and spent time with them too so it remained a sociable spin. Anyway route below, the standard Oundle loop.

On our return to the shop we had a bit of a celebration. My splendid wife, Lee, is a cake maker extraordinaire and made us a cake to truly be proud of. It looked good and tasted good, so well done Mrs Lindsley.

I feel proud to be part of this highly inclusive club. It's a real credit to Andy for starting this and to Chris for supporting our activities at the shop. Many of us have led rides and it is this collective responsibility that makes us strong. I've made some great new friends and my cycling has benefitted greatly. Long may it continue.

A last word to the magnificent Mr Major. Big Steve tried so hard to modify his workmanlike vocabulary. He tried but of course he failed. We love you for that Stevie. In future though Lee's cakes are to be referred to as the canine's cadooberries.

The brothers C&DCYCLES in that posh old Oundle

Love these action shots!

Other half of the gang at Wadenhoe...near the infamous Barratt's corner!

My wife made the most awesome cake

First health and safety concern

Andy cuts the cake

You truly deserve to look that happy mate!

No shortage of assessors for cake quality control

rule #9 clarified, if its frost or snow stick to turbo!

So the plan was this...start riding in the morning before work again. I get an hour from 7-8, it's Devine. The most peaceful, mindful, enjoyable hour of my day. The world at that time of day is quiet, sort of still. I've often startled deer that you don't see later in the day, I've rounded a corner to a red kite in the middle of the road, I see foxes and a badger has darted across the road in front of me. At this time of year you also get to see the sunrise. You can't beat it.

As I was leaving my wife said:"be careful there's frost on the cars." "Don't worry the roads will be fine," I over confidently replied. They were fine not a wobble or a slip for more than 10 miles. Then coming up the hill into Draughton I hit ice and inevitably smack! I was off. No harm done to me other than dented pride and initially the bike felt ok. On the very next hill I changed down and the derailleur crashed into the back wheel. Rear hanger very bent. I did a quick Heath Robinson fix and limped home sheepishly.

The less than 6 months old Forme Longcliffe 2.0, known affectionately as Clive, is now back at C&DCYCLES in Andy's capable hands. It's likely to need a new derailleur and definitely a new hanger. I've never needed a new derailleur on any previous bike, Clive is about to get his third after an identical incident at Christmas. I'm not learning am I?

Ok so this blog is about the routes. This is a typical one hour ride for me. I've got 3 regular morning routes. I like to do about 15 miles at my standard plod with a bit of hills and a lot of countryside. I think I'll wait a month before introducing you to the others. I'm going to get back into the habit of cycling at that time but I'm sticking to the turbo until April.

This was the beautiful sunrise looking from Maidwell to Draughton. The keener eyed of you will notice there are some clues on the road to my impending peril!

The wind is back!

So today I've been up some lumpy bits. One of which, Rushton Hill, I just can't get better on. I set my PR on my steel framed triple really soon into discovering Strava and I've never beaten it. Hills are weird. Some beat the hell out of me and some which look similar I get really stuck into. The best example of this is Warkton Hill which I hate and it's sister on the return to Kettering, Warkton to Stamford Road. As they sit either side of the Ise I guess they form the Ise valley and for that reason should be pretty similar. I fly up the latter and I think the reason why is in my head as it's usually the last significant slope on a shop ride. The thing is our bodies are set to protect us from ourselves. Most people can push themselves harder than they think but as soon as our heart rates elevate our body sets about sending signals that we're in distress and whatever we're doing it would quite like us to pack it up! Through training we overcome this but some people can really really really push themselves. In cycling we call this suffering. We have a suffer score on a Strava. There are sufferfest training videos and so on. It was famously remarked of Steven Roche, cycling legend, that he couldn't suffer. I remember watching the channel 4 highlights with my Dad in '87 when he proved everyone wrong about that! I'm not saying we can all be a GC contender if we push harder but every now and then we my heart is screaming, my lungs are burning and my legs feel ready to cramp I think of Roche in '87 and I think: "I wish I could do that!"

Steven Roche Tour de France 1987

Now when you think about it doesn't suffer sound like an over the top word? I'm sure people unable to get back into flooded homes are suffering, people in Ukraine are really suffering etc. so when us lycra clad loonies engage voluntarily in our hobby and in the process exhaust ourselves in a self inflicted sado masochistic manner, well, that's not suffering it's a form of self harm. It's impossible to explain to the uninitiated but for me there is a great deal of pleasure in that pain. Like I said suffer is the wrong word.

Now ruining yourself uphill maybe many peoples idea of a great time and I do like it. However what really floats my boat are the downhills. I joke that I'm a downhill specialist and I certainly have a momentum inducing physique. On this ride was one of my favourite downhill segments, the Desborough Road Drop. I'm currently 2nd out of 220 and today I wanted a crack at the KOM, unfortunately or perhaps fortunately for my health and safety a headwind spoiled any chance of that.

Whether you're a fan of ups or downs. In it for the KOMs or just to survive. I hope you had a good weekend on the bike. I did!

A gratuitous selfie

Desborough road drop

Another Saturday yet another superb C&DCYCLES shop ride

It was a frosty start but with bright sunshine and light winds this appeared to be the perfect day for a group ride. This well ridden route is a regular for C&DCYCLES but we changed it a little to avoid busy roads in the part of the ride with thick fog. I was certainly glad to have my one23 extreme bright light attached for the worst bits.

There was some argument as to whether this was the Pitsford Classic or the Pitsford reverse. I feel it's the reverse but hey does it matter...actually yes, yes it does, we did the Pitsford reverse! Some nice features to this ride include Sywell Airport where Guy Martin attempted his human powered flight record as part of his excellent channel four mini series. It's a nice place to spend a few hours, kids always enjoy seeing the light aircraft taking off and landing and ironically the very pleasant bar does a cracking pint of spitfire!

Here's a link to the speed loving mad man who loves to say everything twice!

It's Guy Martin, it's Guy Martin

Some newbies on the ride to day and very welcome they were too. That's the strength of C&DCYCLES club, we're a very inclusive bunch.

Today's ride was once again led by the king of fruity language Steve Major, another job well done! I can't wait for next week's ride!

On my return I was checking my Strava outside the house with my front wheel in a puddle. The tell tale gurgle told me I'd got another puncture, at least it hadn't spoiled the ride and I got the chance to change it before the next ride. Andy...I'll need another inner tube mate!

Bit foggy in parts

Then totally fine in others

Another Saturday another superb shop ride

Led by the industrial language of splendid Steve Major we enjoyed another C&DCYCLES Saturday shop ride taking in the delights of East Northants. Some good Strava segments on this including one of my least favourite hills out of Thrapston. I got a PR on that slope so I think I may be starting to win that battle!

Monuments and bits of history grabbed my attention yesterday. The Finedon war Memorial was first thing that caught my eye http://www.finedonphotographs.org.uk/warmemorial.html with it's side inscription of 'ENJOYMENT' which I thought was a bit odd and the more appropriately 'COURAGE' on the front. Then we passed the 'Waterloo Round House,' which has a rather interesting history http://www.burtonlatimer.info/property/unique-round-house.html . The next thing I noticed was the war memorial at Denford, https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/node/108946 much more serious with it's 'COUNTRY, SACRIFICE, HONOUR AND ENDURANCE,' inscription.
(ps Steve I hate that lumpy bit of road from Denford to Thrapston.)
Then through Twywell we passed the Toll Cottage which, apart from a mention in a toll or turnpike database I can find nothing of interest about. I guess the thing that struck me was we would have paid to go through Twywell on our penny farthings.

Anyway a great ride and a most welcome slice of cake at the shop at the end.

Great turnout as usual

This is the view of Rushton on my way home to show what a beautiful day it was

Splendid cake at the shop

flipping freezing lap of Pitsford reservoir

The last in the half term Supersam series. We headed to what I consider to be Northamptonshire's best country park Brixworth. This place has it all: great play areas, walks, nature reserves, fishing, sailing, a bike shop (before I found C&DCYCLES I swore by Pitsford cycles,) barbecue/picnic area, outdoor fitness equipment and of course the 7 mile loop of the reservoir. This really is ideal for riding with kids because it's mostly flat, it's also good to walk or run round but hey I prefer to see the world on two wheels.

We were all set for a good ride with Sam confidently predicting we'd easily do two loops. Then we got going. It was cold. Too cold. Poor Sam was in bits but he manned up and we pushed through numb fingers and toes and got round. That's the trick with cycling. Carry too much kit and it annoys you, if you haven't got enough you'll be cold and no one likes that. I got it wrong! Sorry Sam.

We warmed back up in the cafe and Sam picked out a potential new bike. Niamh has a specialized hot rock and he wants one too. Of course that's not all, he told he he needs a road bike too. Back in the cafe Sam had his third hot chocolate of the week.  Now as surveys go this is worth listening to. Sam rated his best hot choc of the week as the one at fineshade. The other places did not do marshmallows, for Sam that's a heinous crime!

It may have been cold but it sure was beautiful. Check out the pictures. How can you not like that?

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Looks beautiful doesn't it?

Action shot on the causeway

What a view

Action shot through the woods

Warming back up

Good carrot cake

Another cafe another hot chocolate

No punctures in Scaldwell!

Today's Strava ride name is in honour of the GB Ladies curling team. If you didn't see it they yell at their sweepers with braveheart ferocity. I wanted to go fairly quick so please ignore my paltry average. Do pay attention to the PR's which I'm quite pleased with.

The route was standard fare for me: Orton, Loddington, Draughton, Lamport, Scaldwell, Holcot, Old, Loddington, Orton, Harrington and back to Rothwell. Some beautiful roads and my all time favourite Holcot causeway which crosses Pitsford reservoir, another local treasure but more about that tomorrow.

Did I mention it was a beautiful day?

Really beautiful!

These days were made for cycling!