Club Run 4/12/11 & Night Cycle with the Wheelers 14/12/11

4/12/11 - Club run
11/12/11 - solo fast Harrington Loop
14/12/11 - fast 1900 night ride with the Wheelers - 20m in 1h 15m @ 16mph - Dark cold magnificent

November 2011 ...three sunday club runs....

6/11/11
Clear cool sunny morning. Met with 'old' Tom and a few of the lads. Roger seems to be a regular...other riders have come & gone. Today there was a girl from Australia with us. We headed eastwards into the wind and through Thrapston looping around skirting Oundle and home through Brigstock. A lovely ride and my legs keeping their fitness - I'm determined to keep riding through this winter...once it arrives!
40.35 2h41m @15mph 1688ft climb

20/11/11
More grey & overcast but generally mild - Tom led us southwards skirting Wollaston before heading home. One of the chaps had a puncture within 400yds of the start! And my rear gear cable snapped! Tom adjusted the chain up a couple of cogs and I made it home using the 3 front gears...bit like my old Raleigh 3-speed I rode for so many years
33m 2h12m @15mph 1147ft climb

27/11/11
Took Belle in for a full service & new cable in the week. As I was getting ready the heavens opened. I met up with young Hamish from over the road. His dad Richard was at Medical School with me 30 years ago. We rowed in the St Marys 1st VIII (Drug industry sponsored it was called FLAGYL-VIII!!! Flagyl being an antibiotic mostly used in gynaecological infections!), and it's a strange co-incidence that we should live in the same street. With clear blue skies and a brisk westerly wind Tom took us north to Geddington, then we battled in the wing across to Sibbertoft. The ride home from there was a wind assisted fast rollercoaster ride as we reaped the 'up wind investement!' I hit 42mph on a hill that I plan to return to...especially with a westerly wind! Roger's chain snapped coming out of Kelmarsh. Fortunately I had the de-linker and Tom had the Knowledge so we were soon on our way home. Hamish kept up well and despite the fatigue of a rugby game the day before finished strongly. At the end my legs felt like they had more miles in them and my new DHB super-rubeaux bib tights were very comfy & warm....thanks for the advice Michiel.
34.9 2h30m @13.9mph 1559ft climb

TOTAL FOR 2011 - 2696m 184.5 hours (moving!) can I get to 3000?? I think I'll go for it!

29th October THE WILD EDRIC (kilotogo.com)

(click to enlarge)
Up at 0500 to get to Bishopd castle for the start under grey skies with a chilling southerly wind.
Met up with Michiel and we were off. (No sign of Andy L.)
The first section was part of the LEJOG route until we headed off to climb the Long Mynd...from 550ft to 1600ft+ in only a hew miles. Initially steep the climb eased and it felt like Dartmoor up there with the heather & galloping ponies! Once over the top the descent was a truly white knuckle extreme experience with a severe drop to the left as we came down into Church Stratton. I had to stop to rest my forearms as the muscles locked up with the continued braking.

,,,,more to follow...

59m 4h24 @ ~14mph PASSED THE 2500m barrier for 2011!!

15th October...journey to the centre of...England!!

Set off early & headed west past Lutterworth & through Hinkley picking up the beautiful canal as I then turned South to visit Lindley hall Farm! Why may you well ask....well according to the Ordanance Survey this spot is the centre of England. There should be a tall 'hub' monument at the spot. Instead a rather rusty grubby sign and a poorly maintained concrete lane.
Retracing my route I then went up past the Bosworth Batthefield, Market Bosworth itself, and then up and over the Markham hill. The descent into Loughborough in uncharacteristic warm sunshine was fast & exciting. Soon I was on the train & home for a well earned lunch!
66m

9th October Kettering to Luton 59m

This route had been on my radar for a while so I was up at 0700 ready to set off...But winter is drawing in and it was pitch black & pissing down big time.
So I contemplated going back to bed but by 0730 the light was improving and clouds were clearing. Despite a fairly stiff, but warm, SW winnd I set off down past Northampton. Once through Horton I was into new cycle territory for me. Passed through Selsey forest & on over the M1 and down to the halfway point at Castlethorpe.
Here I joined Watling Street as it passed to the west of Milton Keynes. Here there were some other cyclists on a sportive & their company spurred me on. Finally turning eastward the wind became 'angels breath' on my R shoulder and I was able to pick up speed.
North of L.Buzzard I checked out Three Locks Golf course and it's added to my target list!
Once through that town I was along past Tisworth Golf centre. Played ther with my brother about 20years ago...the trees & bushes have inevitably grown up alot.
On into Luton arriving about 1140. 1207 train home & in shower by 1pm!
Really enjoyed the ride & checked out some new bits of good old England!
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/752428
58.9m 3h49m @ 15.4mph
Total for 2011 2356m should make 2500m this year hopefully

25th Sep CYCLE4CYNTHIA

Terrific ride starting at Althorpe House and encouraged by the Earl & his wife.
Heading north at good speed we found the second half quite tricky into the freshening southerly wind.
Michiel & I hoped to break the 3 hour barrier but the headwind defeated us...maybe next year we'll be 5 mins fatser!
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/595933
49.8m 3h05m @ 16.4mph

11th September 2011

Will be up early to ride in the MACRIDE this Sunday.
Rode it last year..a lovely circuit around Warwickshire.
Meeting Michiel Tim Thorpy Toby & Andy Love(L2P 2011)
http://www.macride.org.uk/

Next planned ride is the CYCLE4CYNTHIA on 25/9/11
http://www.cycle4cynthia.co.uk/