19/7/10 to Cambridgeshire...and Kimbolton

Up early for a Monday morning run.
Decided to push the bubble out & make the most of a SE wind.
Headed out through Titsmarsh to Kimbolton & back via Raunds
[Pic later]
48m 2h58 @16.1mph 1914ft climb

wish list next 1-2 months

few rides I'd like to do late Summer...
...unlikely to have time for all though..
8 aug - suffolk coast 60m bike-events.com- Booked - did in '09 - great ride
29 Aug ??
5 sep - Manchester 100m
12 sep Warwick macride 100k (but golf event that day too) macride.org.uk
19 sep Hampshire 48m bike-events.com - hope to meet up with Gerry Pacemaker
26 sep Cycle4cynthia - 50m from Northampton via Naseby etc cycle4cynthia.co.uk/
3 oct - Oxford-Cambridge 86m bike-events.com
10 oct Brum ride 60/90m evanscycles
17 oct Dunford Southern Sportive
7 nov Nottingham 45/65m evanscycles

11/7/09 Shackleton, Hackleton & backleton!

I've had Hackleton in my sights for a while. I awoke to a sunny but windy morning, and as it was a sou'westerly I thought I'd get there at last.
With The Tour de France on the tv the road was busy with plenty of other riders out there. I battled against the wind over now familier territory. Once there the return 20+ miles was a speedy whizzy experience & I was home in a flash!
Belle's feeling good and I now have >700 miles in 2010. Nothing to compare with Doo, mad Simon, or Andy Arsenal, but looks like I'll easily pass the 1000m target I set for this year!
Andy & Simon got from Gibraltar to Milton Keynes, and he's carrying on to Blackpool for some reason! These cyclists are crazy! And Doo's been doing 190m/12hr+ Audaxes.....

42.07m 2h46 @ 15.2mph 1933ft climb

4th July 2010 Manchester to Blackpool Mark II

After a 2 week hiatus (Golf Tour) I was glad to be back on 2 wheels again with Darren up North!
Last year this was the event that I fell off on the final straight, ended up in a CT scanner, and lost the memory of the second half of the ride!
I travelled up on Saturday arriving at Darrens house soon after 1800. Harry arrived shortly after - for the meal & beer, but not the cycle due to a broken rib (fell off mountain bike!)
After a nice Italian meal & a number of pints of real Ale (Including 'Titanic Special!') we retired for the night.
Up early Darren & I went against the flow of cyclists for 3 miles back to Old Trafford, and the official start. On a cool grey morning we flew past the many cyclists as we headed out of Manchester, skirting Bolton & onto the A49 past Charnley Richard. I remember this stretch from LEJOG 2009, but not from this event last July.
For the last bit past Preston we pushed on hard overtaking 100's of fellow cyclists, mostly on horrible wobbly knobbly tyred mountain bikes.
The last stretch up the seafront was tough as the strong westerly crosswind made progress difficult. Finally the big one & the tower were in sight, and the finish line. Literally as we crossed the line the heavens opened, soaking our tired bodies.
Darren & I carried onto the station via a very tasty Harry Ramsdens fish and chips.
The train took us to Bolton and we sprinted back to Manchester against a strong wind.
What a ride - magnificent views, not many hills and a great atmosphere amongst the scores of cyclists - I hope to do it again in 2011.
Thanks to Darren for putting me up & I hope we can do London to Paris in June 2011 together

59.6m (missed 1st 2 miles) 3h46m @ 16.2mph 1914ft climb
whole day 76.9m 5h01m @15.3mph 2333ft climb

Simon & Wicky have today completed day 9 of their Gibralter to Milton keynes cycle - Awesome stuff through baking Spain & now over the Pyrenees. Thay are totally bonkers!
AND
Brendan's nearly got to Rome - an awesome journey
http://brendan-biking2rome.blogspot.com/
AND
Tour de France has started (and Cavendish fell off....again!!)

17/6/10 Sunny fast ride

Got home a bit early so on a sunny but breezy (NE) evening I jumped on belle & pushed hard around the Harrington loop setting a new time record in the process.
16.5m 57m08s @ 17.3mph

Wed 16th June London-Paris-Geneva starts

Envious of DooGood and 75 others who set out at 0700 this am from Greenwich.
Three years to the day Sam & I started our memeorable trip. Wish I was with them...maybe will do in 12 months...
FYI Doos blog:-
http://challengemenace.blogspot.com/

Sunday 13th June - St Edmunds Wheel No 2

Did this ride 12 months ago and was looking forward to the return.
Set off early & into Abbey Gardens to register by 0830. A friendly chap managed to fix my annoying rattle, which turned out to be a loose rear 'set. Once mended Belle felt taut, quiet & smooth and I knew I was in for a fast one!
We sped out of Bury and i got to the 12 mile corner averaging 17.1mph! Northawrds to the drink stop at Tuddenham we picked up the slight tail SW wind. feeling strong I pressed on without stopping. Then came one of the most exilerating cycling sessions I've ever ridden! At this point I was caught by the peleton and we sped on through the now flattish lanes. At one point I broke free but was reeled in by the pack. Again I didnt stop at the drinks areas & pressed on, drinking & stretching on the move, racing back to Bury with an incredible average speed!
I went round to my Brother Paul's for a shower & superb steak - thanks Bro!
terrific ride with great company and no serious hills - I shall try to return in 2011.
49.5m 2h44m @ 18mph!!! 1605ft climb