24th October 2012 Oundle and back

As winter approaches I am determined to stay cycling, and stay fit, like I did last winter.
So under grey skies,  with a NE wind, I decided to head...North east and looped up to Oundle and back via Brigstock. I pushed it pretty hard all the way round as I listened to the fantastic debut CD by ASTRA ('The Weirding')
I'll do that route again & try to break the 2hours next time!

32.98m 2h0m12s @16.5mph 1425ft

21st October 2012...conquering Box Hill...

We were on our way down to the Beach Hut at Goring-by-Sea so I stuck Belle on the bike rack and jumped off just past Dorking, as the family continued on. In the event with rain foreecast we stayed in Barns Green to celebrate Tom's birthday.
I was soon onto the hairpin road, and with fresh legs ground up fairly easily...I was overtaken by quite a few faster (and younger!) cyclists, but decided not to stop at the busy cyclists cafe at the top. I  reckon that would be a tough climb NINE times as they did in the Olympic road race.
I have signed up for the RideLondon100mile event on 4/8/13. 20,000 cyclists will do the 100 miles from the Olympic park to Boxhill and back, more or less following the Olympic route...I hope I get in.
Dropping down the other side I sped through the flattish Surrey countryside and on through Horsham to Barns Green, the village where my wife grew up, and family still live.
I took a small diversion to go and see the lovely Itchingfield Parish Church...where we were married 28 years ago!
As I arrived the rain started....

28.7m 1h58m at leisurely 14.6mph 1386ft

7th October 2012 - The St Neots 125

This was an event to celebrate 125years of the St Neots cycle club. I was keen to go as the route brought us almost back to Kettering. The Grafton Underwood->Brigstock->Kings Cliffe section is one of my frequent routes.
I got there just as they were about to start on a foggy but clear day. We sped out of St Neots passing over the new cycle bridge that spanned the Ouse and a section of swampy land on the east side.
Being flat countryside we sped along in nice peloton groups, as the sun broke through, and soon we were halfway (at Southwick).
A fantastic cup of coffe & cake went down a treat. I must say that all the SNCC members & support staff were very friendly - I think there was 150+ on the ride.
I suffered a little on the final 10-15miles, as we turned south through Elton,  paying the price for the fast start but ended up with a good average speed. A ride I'll do again if I can
81.42m 4h47m @ 17mph! 2933ft climb

September fun....before the Winter arrives....

2nd September   ...a tale of three punctures...

Contacted by young Hamish baxter over the road (I went to med School way back when with his Dad! - and he is now a neighbour) about a ride. So we set off on a nice circular route taking us down to Sywell, accross and up through Yelvertoft and home via Market Harborough! In the latter part Hamish punctured 3 timmes and we used up all our tubes...but got home safely
56.4 3h48m @14.8mph 2664ft
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1660128

9th September MACRIDE 2012

Warmer weather & I met up with Michiel at the start for my third time on this well organised ride. No Toby (away) or Thorpy (bike nicked!) this year... Out in the rolling countryside on a slightly flatter course we whizzed around at good pace, overtaking group after group in the sunshine. Perfect cycling weather. Another one to do again.
We passed through Studley & called round at TTT's but he was away!  Never mind a lovely pint was had in Long Marsden (no Hobgoblin but an equally nice pint of IPA) - before a fast wind assisted sprint to the finish!

I'm closing in on 2000 miles in 2012!
58.4 3h34m @16.3mph 2177ft
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1657804

23rd September CYCLE4CYNTHIA
On a slightly cool & grey day with rain in the last few miles I met up with Michiel & we set out on the amended route. This was slightly harder work than the Macride. Sterting in the grounds of Althorpe house we went out past Great Brington Church (rumour has it that this is Diana's final resting place...not the island) & northwards picking up part of my harrington loop route and back via Naseby & Cold Ashby. In West Hadden there was an almighty 'CRACK!!' ...I had a front blow out...the inner tube had split...good thing it didn't happen on a fast descent!  I think it's my first puncture of the year! Good old Continetal FOUR SEASON tyres! The rain steadily increased from then on and we were pretty soggy at the end. Another well organised ride for a great cause. A group were wearing snazzy bespoke CYCLE4CYNTHIA 2013 shirts...Why 2013? I asked...some bugger got the date wrong..me admitted a redfaced cyclist...they'll be good for next year!
49.1 3h9m @15.8mph 3267ft
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1746242

30th September  THE CYCLE SHOW TOUR-RIDE

Michiel was busy so I set out alone to the NEC to do the British Cycling 96k.
Grey & cold...feels like winter is coming...I had missed the group start and got a bit lost trying to get out of the NEC complex. Eventually I set the garmin for Meriden and picked up the route from there. I was interested to see the cross claiming that Meriden is the centre of England...and a magnificent memorial to 'All cyclists killed in WWII'. I paused for a couple of minutes...thinking of how lucky I am.
Then out through Kenilworth (interesting castle) and called in on Toby in Cubbington.

The stretch along the fosse way was into the wind but I soon turned up into Leamington past Whitnah GC and the Leamington FC. Soon I was in warwick looking at the magnificent castle sitting proudly by the river. It's a terrific castle, and not a ruin - a great day out!
The stretch to Henley-in-Arden was into wind and a bit lonely but once I turned north I picked up the wind and some company to stimulate the old legs! Again a bit confused around the NEC but eventually picked up the arrows andfound my car again. For some reason a particularily knackering ride but some great scenery.
57.6m 3h52m @15mph 2466ft
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1719157
TOTAL FOR 2012 (1st 9 months) 1997miles!

August 2012

August started wet & horrible as the rest of the summer but things did get slightly better once the Olympics got going.
I met up with Andy (L2P 2011) in Stratford for the Gr8 Shakespear 100k ride on 12/8/12. Last year there was 800...this year there must have been 1200+ on the mass rolling start out into the wonderful warwickshire countryside. The route was the same as 2011 but this time I did tackle the big final hill..and what a lovely fast decent on the other side! A great ride & I hope to return next year (as long as it doen't clash with RideLondon100)
64.8m 4h13m @ 15.3mph 3926ft

Teneriffe
Whilst staying in Playas Las Americas I hired a crappy old 'Rockrider' cast iron girder gear slipping non-existing brakes banger of a bike!  Nice to get out & explore but hard work at 40degC!
About 70 miles @ about 10mph!