THE JANUARY 600k Challenge

On the 1st Jan I signed up for the STRAVA 600k in January cchallenge never even expecting I'd have a chance, especially as it's the month I reach the grand old age of 55y! But...the waethers been fine, my health has been good, and I've managed seven decent rides getting me to 413k with 11 days to go (but only one weekend). So if I can keep going I can hit this amazing, for me, target!

5/1/14 the year starts....

As weather fine & I had a few days off decided to head out solo on Thu 2/1/14. My mind was filled with memories of my Dad who would have been 92y that day. Sadly he died in 2005...but I chuckled to myself as I remembered how wound up he got about fixing punctures..."Ruddy thing!!!" he'd curse. I love the descent out of Naseby and into Cottesbrooke...feels very remote 36.9m @ 15.2mph CLUB RUN 11 5/1/14 Been a terrific winter for the Club Runs. Week after week it's been fine & dry on Sundays with shit weather on Monday mornings!! This week we were 7 & had a new fella along. He started with a puncture in the 1st mile, then had a wobbly wheel. Then on the descent into Droughton there was some frozen areas and 'whoosh' he slipped off. We jioked that we were letting the new guy be 'pathfinder' as we hung back!! To his credit he got up and carried on without complaint. As we came back towards kettering I had decided I wished to do 50m+ so Mick & I headed off to loop through Corby, and check out how the new road was progressing (slowly and wet!) and home via Geddington.

Legs felt good so headed on alone out to Woodford after splitting from Mick (who headed back to Desborough). Terrific long ride (for me!) 56m @ 14.8mph

Review of 2013 and Plans for 2014 .....2740 miles completed

No entries this year but I was out cycling most weeks.
Saving the details via the STRAVA App.
Plan to start blogging again as we head into 2014....

2013 - enthusiasm as strong as ever. Plenty of solo rides and enjoying the KCC Club Runs

2014
Hoping to pass that elusive 3000 miles for the year
I hope to ride the rideLondon100 again

The Snowdrop Audax 16th february 2013

Thanks do DooGood for the great photo.
A misty start and cold day, but not as cold as previous years - still not cold enough for Simes to wear leggings!
...more when I get time

january 2013

Hello - I haven't gone away!
january pretty cold and snowbound but I managed to achieve my 100 mile target through a few KCC Sunday am Club runs with Roger and the boys.
No major rides but excitely awaiting the result of my application for the rideLondon100 ride in August.

If I get in that'll be my focus for the year.
Next months the annual meet up with the LEJOG boys on the Snowdrop audax.
Jan 111miles

2013 ASPIRATIONS

Cycles booked
16/2/13 - Snowdrop (short-cut) AUDAX - meet the boys (Tractor/Doogood/Simes etc)
3/3/13 - MadMarchHare
16/3/13 - No Excuses (Wiggle series)
21/4/13 - KILOTOGO Cornwall Coast
16/6/13 - Wiggle FRENCH REVOLUTION




Cyles I hope to do
1/6/13 - Norwich 100m
23/6/13 - KILOTOGOFlat out on the Fens  maybe 112m this year!
13//4-7/13 - BHF Night Cycle - London to Brighton
4/8/13 - RIDELONDON100 - I hope I succeed in the ballot
1/9/13 - manchester 100 - hope i can finally make this one
+ many others in my diary, one or two of which I hope to make

December...race to 2500 miles...

2/12/12
Club Run. A cold and frosty one but again under clear blue skies. We headed east out past Woodford Denford and on to Kimbolton. At this point I was lagging behind the other four, including young Hamish.
The hill up out of Kimbolton was a killer but we were soon speeding westards along the somewhat drab Bedfordshire open road through the pretty Yeldon.
At this point Hamish's batteries ran out and at Higham Ferrers he rang home for rescue.
With tired legs in the biting cold we pressed on.
45m ~3h @~15mph (didnt have garmin)
9/12/12 and 19/12/12
Only time for a short ride these days. Did the Harrington loop in 1h06m and  1h 04m respectively

TOTAL FOR 2012 - 2485m  15m to go...can I do it?? Might have to go out on Christmas Day!!!

November Rides

11/11/12
Nice ride with Michiel...headed out west on a Sunny morning - through Lutterworth & down through Shawell getting to Catthorpe just before 11am. We headed for the Church hoping to find a congregation for the rememberance service. In the event the Church was quiet & looked abandoned, so we paid our respects quietly, just the two of us, remebering how lucky we were to be free and alive.
The run back with the wind was quite pacy as we sped through Yelvertoft, Creaton, Brixworth & home...a nice run
58.2m 3h54m @ 14.9 2761ft
18/11/12
Club run with Roger & a few others. A nice northern circuit via Medbourne & along to Benethorpe & home on another lovely sunny sunday
42.5m 2h40m @ 15.9 1983ft
25/11/12
Club run with Roger & 'new boy' Simon, heading south. After all the rain in the preceeding few days this was a wet ride. Under blue skies we passed along lains of flowing water. Near Sywell roger entered a 'puddle' and was soon 18" deep!
27.8m 2h5m @ 13.8mph 1271ft

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!

July 2012 Rides

Weather been pretty shit so not many evening rides for the time of year.
5th - harrington loop - 16.52m 58m14s @ 17mph
11th Harrington Loop - 16.52m 59m05s @ 16.8mph
15th A rare sunny Sunday am - Medbourne/Foxton/Market Harborough

41.6m 2h45 @ 15.1 1995ft

With fine weather forecast I thought I'd honour Wiggo's magnificent TdF win with consecutive evening rides.
23rd Harrington Loop - 16.52m 56m49s @ 17.4mph
24th South loop to Finedon/Addingtons/Woodford 24.5m 1h36m @ 15.3mph 1204ft
25th Up to Brigstock/Deene/Weldon (pausing at the US Army Air Force memorial at Deenethorpe, & fast back along the A43 through Geddington
26m 1h37m @ 16mph 982ft

26th Shorter ride to Rothwell - Cut short to brewing stomach upset! think I'll rest tomorrow!

10.9m 41m @ 15.9mph 598ft

28th Watched the GB Road race team get shafted by the 'non trying' german's & Aussies - they should be ashamed of themselves. Our boys did an amazing job to limit the breakaway to 5 mins, and bring it down to under a minute in the run in, but they needed Greipal & Goss's team-mates to at least try & give their men a chance. They didn't...obviously ensuring Cavendish didn't win was the priority. I'd be interested to hear the opinion fof said Goss & Greipal.
I am proud of the GB boys efforts - they gave all, and could have given no more.

29th - the inaugural Titchmarsh Castle Cycle Ride (www.titchmarsh.info)
Sunny morning before the showers & around 100 riders at this well organised event. It covered many roads I have cycled on at various times & as it was a shorter distance I pushed on, attempting to race some of the younger riders! A nice circuit & one to do again next year. Afterwards a fellow cyclist was recommending the BHF night London to brighton cycle...maybe another one for 2013?
45.2m 2h43m @ 16.7mph 1779ft
197 miles for the month and 1562m for 2012 in 101.3 hours pedalling!

17th June 'Flat out on the Fens' 152 miles

From Peterborough at 0700, anti clockwise I passed my previous furtjest of 118 miles.
SW wind so fast start, cery fast section, then a tough run in into the stiff wind on those long straight soul destrying Fens roads...more later...need sleep.
Don't think I'll do 150m+ again...would do this ride (112m) version) as it was terrific to avoid any serious hills & keep the speed up. Some excisting pelloton riding! There was a clip of wheels & crash behind us (I heard later no serious injury..)
152.9m  8h45m @ 16.3mph (1st 50m 2h40, 2nd 2h57, third 50 3h25)

10th June 2012 - nice clockwise circumnavigation of leicester

Met up at Michiels on a lovely sunday morning (not been many this 'so called' Summer).
Twice before we've done an anticlockwise route so we thought we'd go clockwise.
We breezed around enjoying the descent eastwards down into Rothley (where a WWII re-enactment was taking place  - lots of German Officers marching about in the lovely sunshine)
47m @ 2h55

5th June cycle to HULL

Just about to set off to see my daughter in Hull. (0815)
Polly finishes her three years at Hull University & time is running out for me to take on this cycle. She & Emma will be (weather permitting) doing a skydive on Wed 6/6/12..and with the Jubilee I have Tuesday off. So I decided to go for it. The route mainly on back roads had been in my garmin for over a year.
The planned route takes me through Oakham to Grantham,,,then flatter terrain through Lincoln to Hull.
the first part was spent on the main road to oakham, then keeping to B roads to Grantham which was only 42 miles away. Too early for lunc so I pressed on to Lincoln. There was a nice southerly wind helping me & soon Lincoln cathedral was spotted on the horizon. I decided to fuel up on a big mac meal with milk shake, and somehow managed to get up the hill out of Lincoln after this. The B1398 kept along the top of a ridge with terrific views to the left. Soon I was passing Forest Pines Golf course. I chuckled as I remembered how far north it felt when we drove there on golf tour....I had got there in 5 hours!!!
I carried on along Ermine Street thinking of the Roman Legions who would have marched along this road 2000 years ago.
I kept scanning the horizon..and there it was..Humber Bridge. I knew there was one last stiff hill out of South Ferriby & once over thatI was soon at the bridge. Going over the Severn Bridge in 2009 was very tough with a side-gale. On this bridge I was gently blown over by the southerly wind.
Down into town my route took me through the park with the Football ground in and soon I was at Polly's house. Tired but still with some legs left the large steak & a few pints went down very nicely.
Soon Ali Luke & Finley joined us in the Jazz pub round the corner.
Next day Polly & Emma did the skydive - brave girls! www.justgiving.com/pollyshackleton
116miles 7h5m @ a good 16.5mph 3300ft climb(pretty flat for the distance

Cycles in May

Been cycling but not blogging...will update later

406/5/12 LEJOG taste..

Met up with the group on the summit of Hope Valley on friday afternoon. Michiel cycling with Irish Jim and Phillip who lives 6m of the year in America.
We descended into Shrewsbury taking in a pint at the Cock Inn, much as we did in 2009.
An excellent meal was had. there are 44 in this group and quite a range of abilities & finishing times!
Saturday was the 90 miles to Preston, this time into a little bit of a Headwind. The roads of North Shropshire are rolling & picturesque, and the nightmare through Waarrington/Wigan retail wilderness was as awful as I'd remembered...Still it was a relief to get to the Ibis. Phillip had peeled off 800yds from the finsih believing in his Garmin. This took him tro a Premier Inn and an extra 8 miles! Today he said he should've continued arounfd the block a few times to get his 'century'. An excellent meal was eaten & a few pints of EPA as we watched scumbag Terry lift the FA Cup.
We set out this morning in a gentle but favourable tail wind and the early miles to Kendal were a fantasic & relaved 40 miles at >17mph...no effort! In the SPHERE cafe we managed to meet up with Simon \9from Lejog 2009) who was pout training with heavy panniers - felt like 6 bricks in each!
I then tackled Shap Fell for the second time - I'm not a fan of Hills but this one is special. And the lunch was most welcome.
The next section was fast & furious with iron man Simon powering on until he split off in search of more hills to climb.
After the waterstop Phillip suggested a 'warm down' into Carlisle so we all calmed down a bit & rolled in in good shape.
Well that's it for me - after Gretna I shall reluctantly wave the guys off and head for home.
Looks like it's wet in the morning..never mind

4/5/12 LEJOG days 4-7

As I type this Michiel should be enjoying a beer in Tintern having crossed the Severn Bridge today!
Tomorro I'm driving to Shrewsbury & will cycle south to rendezvous with his party at the top of Hope Valley (so long as I get my timing right!!)
The descent down hope valley for me back in Sept 2009 was the best descent of the whole LEJOG trip, as the car behind backed off & I had all the road to use. Ther surface was perfect & descent exhillarating..I hope it's the same tomorrow.
Then I an joining the group to Preston on Saturday, on to Carlisle on Sunday (over Shap again) and into Gretna on Monday morning. From there I will head back to carlisle station and home.
I am really looking forward to following in my own footsteps for a few days...
...more info when I can log in somewhere....
follow Michiel:-

http://www.wheelygreat.blogspot.co.uk/

and some vets on the ride too! Seem to knackered to write much!
http://www.ccvetscycleride.blogspot.co.uk/