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January is Hell
Wow January has been hell. Both work and personal life have got in the way of riding my bike and when I finally get out on it we get wind. Last week it took me nearly 2 hours to get home from work and it is only 22.5 miles. I was coming downhill, out of the saddle, pushing as hard as I could and still only doing 9mph. Manage to get on the first club run of the year on Sunday and things are starting to feel a little better as I only lost contact as the pace picked up over the little climbs around Beeston just before the cafe stop. Once this weekend (more work) is out of the way I'm ereally looking forward to a sustained effort and good mileage. The Cheshire Cat is only 8 weeks away and I want to get over the 1 in 4 1 mile climb of mow cop without walking. After that it is straight in to the TTs and build up for the Anfield 100 and head towards the 12 hour in August
Posted Dec 23rd 2007, 3:54pm by Jeremy Newby
End of Sportive season
For now the cyclo-sportive season has finished in my part of Spain (Murcia) although it won’t be long before the new season gets underway. Following my introduction to this type of event in Cartagena in September, I managed to fit in a couple more, one based on the attractive coastal town of Aguilas, and the other just north of Murcia city. Both were around 95km in length, run off in good weather and each had its fair share of serious climbing. The Aguilas event incorporated 46km of climbing, one of the climbs being around 22km in length and the rest of the uphill kms were split between two other major climbs, gradients of around 12 – 13% max. The average speed of this event was quite slow at around 24kmh but I guess considering the terrain, that wasn’t too bad.
The final event in October, based on the town of Molina de Segura, some 15km north of Murcia, passed through some beautiful countryside where much fruit is grown for use in jams, hence the name of the event, “Ruta de Conserva” or “Route of the Jam”. Soon after the start we had a 4km climb through a golf complex and here the gradient rose to around 15%, quite steep with so few kilometres in our legs. Following a fairly undulating route after that we headed towards the famous town of Ricote which lies in a beautiful valley and is locally renowned for its cheese. However to reach Ricote we first had to climb over the “Alto de Ricote”, a demanding “little” hump of 5km but incorporating a “wall”, about 1000 mts in length and rising to a grade of almost 20%. Fairly bonecrushing and having reached the top of that section, the remaining 2,5km of normal mountain road to the final summit seemed tame to say the least. This was followed by a long fast swoop into Ricote where the streets were lined with spectators shouting encouragement. All this, was of course on roads closed by the rolling closure technique so we had kerb to kerb space. A great feeling. The event finished at high speed through the streets of Molina de Segura crossing the line outside the main sports centre. I was in a leading group of around a dozen riders and we had averaged just short of 28kmh. The event was well organised, fantastic police cooperation and good fun all round. Roll on the 2008 season of sportives which all being well will include a 4 day event around the plains and mountains of coastal Murcia.
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Posted Nov 20th 2007, 3:44pm by philip topp
ride eat massage fettle sleep - french alps
Well I have sold my house and am off to the French Alps to set up a mountainbike holiday company at the base of Alp Dhuez - home of the Megavalanche For a chance of a free weeks holiday please visit out site at http://www.rideoisans.com . I promise i won't bombard you with emails !!
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Posted Nov 20th 2007, 12:25pm by Chris Ward
Cape Epic (128 days to go))
Another year, another 9 day, 900k off road race to get through. Im not a beginner anymore though! This will be my 5th mountain bike race - sounds like a tough one though!
I've entered the Cape Epic which is part of the trio of ultimate mountain bike races. Trans Alps and Trans Rockies make up the mountain bikers axis of evil single track.
I have done the other two so now to compete the trilogy with Cape Epic. 900ks off road through the amazing garden route of South Africa. From Georgetown to Cape Town at Easter 2008. Up the mountains and down to the beach every day - every single baking hot, dry day - therefore its perfect that all my training will take place in the baking, dry heat of a mid winter Bracknell forest in sunny Berkshire!
I am 44 and started riding on a road bike 4 years a go. I managed to finish a few races and have enjoyed the miles on the road. Last year someone in my club asked if anyone wanted to partner him on the hardest mountain bike race in the world (the Trans Alps). I agreed and since then have spent most of my miles either off road - or laying on it, after trying to self-teach an old dog new tricks and see if I can push my body further than my four kids already push it...
my partner in all this is the slightly more novice Bill Gilbert, who i did the Rockies with and for which the Cape will be his 4th mountain bike race.
So we're not really mountain bikers (could you tell). This blog is more about two 40 something blokes, taking on a challenge too far (perhaps) and seeing if we can train through a winter, stay friends and get to the end of the 900k with our bodies and bikes intact...
So I've done the entry - I'd better start training. Just remembered though, that Im running a marathon next weekend so single track training will have to wait for a week or two - back to the coffee then...
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Posted Nov 5th 2007, 4:05pm by Chris Ward
Calling All Riders...
New Road, BMX and MTN Biking sites on isporty and fantastic competiton.
On isporty you can now get all the latest cycling news, photos, chat, videos and blogs for your favoured discipline, road racing, mtn biking or BMX.
These are collated for you from thousands of cycling sites around the world to bring you everything right up to the minute.
Also, if you want to join in, simply click straight through to the external site or upload your photos, videos and blogs right here on isporty.
To celebrate this, we have five copies of the fantastic Pro Cycling Manager PC game to win. Simply mail me with your choice as to which is the best cycling discipline out of road racing, mtn biking or BMX and your reason why. The 5 best win the games!
We also are hosting the BBC Sport cycling community on isporty so check them out and if you have a strong view about anything to do with cycling please join in there.
Keep riding through the dark and cold nights and be ahead of the peloton when spring arrives...
chris
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Posted Oct 2nd 2007, 10:16pm by Jeremy Newby
Cartagena, Spain. Sep 07
The "Policia Local" police car swoops along the residential street, flanked by "Guardia Civil" on their big BMW motorbikes, sirens whaling, next the lead car, "Director de Carrera" emblazoned in its windows, a loud hailer on the roof playing loud music interspersed by announcements to the spectators on the road side, then the 160 strong peletón, gears and tyres whirring and the loud banter amongst the riders, swooping along at close to the legal 50km/h speed limit, then the service cars, the ambulance, siren whaling, and last but not least the broom wagon; whilst the officials and photographers motorbikes whiz past the peleton at breakneck speed, horns blaring as they go. Suddenly the whole "convoy" swoops around the final roundabout of town and the peleton spreads out across the full width of the road forming echelons to combat the cross wind before settling down for the final ascent of the day, the (352m vertical) 9,1 km Alto de la Cuesta where the peleton strings out more and more before reaching the last 12% graded kilometre. Spectators shout through megaphones and run alongside their "favoritos". Gears start to clatter as the big rings are found and the rear changers clang from the 25 down to the 12 sprockets as the summit PM line (premio montaña) is crossed and they start to swoop down the following descent at 80km/h and more.
But hang on, this maybe Sunday 23 September, the final day of the Vuelta a España, BUT this wasn’t that final stage. This was a "marcha" or Ciclo-sportive SPANISH STYLE, and I was right there in that peleton. Scary, fantastic and exhilerating are the only ways I can describe it. It was the first time in almost 20 years I’ve had a number on my bum and it was one of the best cycling experiences I’ve ever had. The only thing that spoilt it was the approach to the finish: it started to pelt down with rain making the previously dry road like a skating rink so instead of a spectacular swoop around the Plaza de España of Cartagena and then a final charge down the 1500m to the finish, those of us on slick tyres (including me) had to worry more about staying upright avoiding the risk of a pile of splintered carbon fibre in the middle of the road. However the META or finish was reached safely where we all received our plaques and our "I've done it" T-shirts etc.
The event itself was all part of the annual ROMANS AND CARTHEGENIANS FIESTA (Cartagena was where many battles between the two took place and at some time Hannibal and his elephants turned up to join in).
It was run over 108 km which we covered in 4h: 7mins (26,3 kmh) on mainly closed roads using the rolling closure technique of which the Spanish police are absolute experts. (Not that fast but bearing in mind the terrain, it wasn’t bad). Just on some sections, mainly the climbs, was traffic allowed to pass in the opposite direction but no traffic was allowed to pass in the same direction as us. Otherwise, the roads were totally closed, all traffic lights were "green" and it was awesome to ride along roads just totally full from gutter to gutter, with bobbing helmets.
There were two major ascents both of which start gradually and steepen towards the summits, the first around 15km long and the second being just over 9 km. Both are 3rd cat. status. The event even went through our village of Perin where folk turned out to watch. But it was the same through all the villages where people, hearing the police sirens would come out shouting "vamos, venga" , a sort of "dig-in" or "allez-allez" equivalent. The atmosphere was great and I really look forward to doing another soon.
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Posted Sep 11th 2007, 8:08am by Terry Fearn
My cycle ride to I.O.W Shanklin
After a good nights rest woke up at 7ish, had breakfast with the girls which was the same chaos screaming and rice crispys flying everywhere.
I needed to allow myself at least a good four hours ride to get to Portsmouth for 4pm, finally got out the house for around 10:30am
I knew the route and headed out on the A33 to Basingstoke, the traffic was quite clear and made good progress into Basingstoke within 50 minutes and the next town was Alton.
Followed the signs into Alton but I wanted to take the b roads and got a bit lost for about half an hour, the roads in this country are made for cars as soon as you come of a A road forget signs there isn't any its pure guess work and getting your bearing right, I final ask some one in a village called Farrington who directs me to the A32.
Time is getting on and I cant afford to take it easy and make good speed through the number of small villages along the A32, this road was very quite and seems to be a good road for motorbikes to take, its fairly flat and at about the 57 mile mark I decide to stop and grab a egg and bacon sandwich from a local garage and im on my way again.
After about twenty minutes I see a sign for Portsmouth 21 miles blimmy that was quick I thought, so eased of a little and called the girls to check there progress seems like they are stuck on the M3 traffic that's also heading into Southampton and the south coast, and are about the same distance as me.
I finally arrive into Ferham and I need to join the A27 which will take me into Portsmouth, this road isn't the best road to cycle on more like a motor way.
After a few hairy moments and some prick who pulls out in front of me I pull up and call the girls, hey they are already at the ferry and are waiting in the car park form me at this point im only 6 miles away.
Portsmouth has changed a lot and is still of roundabouts and dozens of traffic lights its a hole really.
I finally arrive at the ferry and have completely passed the girls a quick call soon fixes that as they are right behind me in the car park!
So nice to see Ellas little bemming face she look confused at first as why I was on my bike!!!
I board the ferry as a foot passenger and soon realise I have taken the 3.30pm ferry and arrive before the girls not a problem as I have a small head start.
Arrive at Fishbourne for 4 ish and im first off, into Ryde within ten minutes there is a huge scooter rally on the island bikes everywhere it stinks off two stroke oil!
Im heading into Shanklin and follow at group of about 8 scooters for about 6 miles and catch them at every set of lights, also I see one scooter towing another scooter they where finding it hard on the hills and I stay with them almost into shanklin,
Sign posts here again are crap and I over shoot Shanklin but it was worth it as the old town is worth a look and I end up climbing a huge hill coming out of Shanklin soon realise once I reach the top I have missed my turning and around and head back into Shanklin,
I called the girls who are now on the island and are driving through Brading and I arrive in Wroxhall five minutes before them.
Total mileage 85 miles, time 5:15 minutes and very hungry.
I change and unload the car, the girls loved the trolleys and I wheel them up to the caravan while Sarah sorts out keys and milk etc, its nice to see them again and soon get settled in to our caravan.
A quick shower and we are out for dinner.
we arrive in Shanklin ols town and its very busy no where to park but we find a spot about ten minutes walk away, Sarah asks some old chap where the old town is but hes as confused as we are looked a bit drunk to me!
We decide to turn right and Sarah soon realises she has already been down this road already! by what she tells me she has been down every side street in Shanklin think it was Ella being co pilot ! no wonder I beat her to the site.
We pick the busiest pub in town and food waiting time is 1.5 hours! sod that time to move on so I run down the street and find a cute pub that isn't as busy and food time is only twenty minutes.
So we up root and head over, Sarah's getting stressed as Evie must be so hungry! luckily we meet a young boy called Max who's the same age as Ella and the girls play until we get our food, no kronys here just Heineken but its beer and im soon feeling glowey.
Not a bad meal, the owner has a quick chat and seems very friendly.
We all return back to the caravan and Evie soon hits the sack first.
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