What else can you do with weather like this??

Encouraged by the wettest year in history (well certainly feels like it), I replied to the Oxshott PTC email regarding spin classes, booked in and was soon heading in that direction for a 'spin' class.  Dave had setup a session in the Squash courts with a big projection on the nice white squash court wall.  The plan for the session was to warm-up, ride 10 x 1 min, then 2 x 8 min climb sessions and a warm down.  Joining me on this European ride was Dave himself and Sam Teague - both of them Spin Instructors.  Having established the pedigree of my fellow riders, naturally I grabbed my SWRC shirt (modified for Alpine climbing, with full length zip) and figured I would show them how 'A' Group do it...  :-)  Obviously I had ridden the 15 miles there and was going to ride home too....and that was my excuse....



Rarely do I smile during my turbo sessions, but certainly the group (small) atmosphere was great and I was punching the air as I sprinted for the line at the end of the intervals.  The climbs were tough with attacks to vary the intensity, and the video editor had a particular dislike of Contador - but who doesn't??


Full schedule commences Jan 7th....sure beats sitting in my garage.....

A tale of 3 cafes

an enjoyable ride was nearly made far less enjoyable yesterday by a lack of a tea stop.

1 The village shop at Ockley- shut will jan 2nd. Not surprising.There was always….

2 Tanhouse Farm ---Ferme. Disaster. So off to a taste of Portugal...

3 on the one way system in Epsom for espresso and Portugese egg flan.Delicious and as always ours were the only English voices in the  cafe-bar.

Nick

cent cols photos

For anyone who is interested here is a link to some photos-quite a lot actually-taken by the professional photographers paid by Rapha to cover the event.Some of them are very good and give a good idea of the event. There are a few of me demonstrating a degree of discomfort It is easy to spot the riders on the Zoncolan-look for the weaving …. PHOTO LINK 

Nick

C Group Sunday 23 December 12

A serious lack of cycling miles this year, before and since my heart operation towards the end of March (heart valve repair and triple bypass). However what better incentive to swing my leg over a bike and head for Cobham this Sunday than to wish the C group a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The sensible group leaders Paul and Linda had deferred the weekly ride to Sunday on account of Saturday’s persistent rain and indeed the Sunday morning was pleasantly dry, mild with a SW breeze. The lack of miles meant what used to be my normal 9 mile warm up from Kingston to Cobham was surprisingly taxing but I had no intention of joining the C’s for the day’s ride – the journey out to Cobham along the old Portsmouth Road and back via Oxshott and Claygate would suffice for the moment.

Paul and Linda - C Group guides for the Surrey Lanes and teashops.

The C group assemble at Cobham Sunday 23 December before setting off to Tanhouse Farm for a rewarding assault on the Farm’s cake selection.

Steve Tidman unashamedly and rightly proud of his co-ordinated clothing. No doubt Santa visited Steve early this year. Best wishes to all South Westerners and particularly those on the hard road to recovery – Paul, Maggie, Matt and apologies to those still on the mend whose names I have missed out.

Some Elfy "C" Group members.

Can you recognise any of these "C" group rogues ? This is what we do when its too wet to ride !!!!

Where is this?

oooops .......

Some of you may have wondered where I've been. Sure I moved to East London but even that doesn't account for such a lengthy absence.

On Saturday 27th October, I set out on my regular Essex training ride. I seem to recall it was a bit chilly but aside from that nothing remarkable. According to my Garmin I was 32 miles into my ride when disaster struck. I was on a small lane when apparently I took corrective action to avoid a pothole and ended up hitting another and went over the bars and landed pretty badly. Luckilly I was spotted by a nearby householder and they were able to alert the emergency services and keep an eye on me until they arrived.

The next thing I remember it was a few days later and I was in hospital and only able to see from one eye. Apparently I'd had to be airlifted to Romford hospital and I was a bit bashed in, I'd taken impact on my face and damaged my right cheekbone and a nerve serving that eye. I stayed in hospital 10 days and was well looked after (incidentally should you find yourself in hospital the tea is very recommended). Joyce my wife was hugely supportive and I will never be able to thank her enough for all she did (and is still doing!).

Anyway I was eventually let home to recuperate. This quickly gets pretty boring, just sitting around the house all day - after about a fortnight I was desperate to be back at work - mainly to have something to fill the day!

We're now about 7 weeks in, my health is good, I'm back at work, my memory has improved and I'm just waiting on that right eye now. Last week I set the turbo up - it was so good to be on a bike and exercising again - if anyone has any tips to make this more bearable though they will be most welcome (especially as it could be a few more months before the eye starts to co-operate again).

I'm well on the road to recovery now and I'd like to thank all the members who got in touch - it meant a lot thank you. Of consolation to me is the fact that it is winter and riding is a bit limited right now - as long as I'm fit for spring!

Weirdly I'd been thinking about driving to Cobham on the day of the accident and riding with the As - if only.

BBC Sports Personality of the Year

2008 - Chris Hoy
2011 - Mark Cavendish
2012 - Bradley Wiggins
Will Cycle sport ever top this?

Rogate Downhill

Here's another venue not too far away to visit if you want to improve your mountain bike skills.

Connect London

A's clubrun to Hindhead

We had 14 and one of the largest group out on the A group clubrun on Saturday. It was a little cold and never really getting up above 3'c all day. I had over dressed but only overheated climbing up to Beacon hill where we all stopped for lunch at the National Trust tearoom at Hindhead. Since the last time I was here, the tunnel under the hill had opened to traffic on the A3 and the old twisty road over Hindhead had closed. This meant that the road to the cafe is now at the end of of the road from the main junction. Richard French was out but headed straight home from the cafe.

Nick, Colin, Matt, Niall, Andy, Richard H, Trevor, Ralph, Graham, Mark, Barry, John.

SWAT in Swindley

With home commitments on the saturday ,Matt and I  took advantage of a stunning day to go for a mtb ride in Swindley Forest.Matt knows it well and I had never been.There are a lot of mountain bikers there -and understandably so.It is a vast area and there is a wide range of forest roads and lots of single track. Two or three sections gave us a great time-including the imaginatively named Corkscrew which merited a couple of turns.
We rode one section of built up large humps in a valley and Matt said he had seen the ambulance helicopter there in the past -collecting what he described as the Young and Reckless. Ten minutes later we came across said helicopter picking up the a Middle Aged and Should Know Better. He had ridden into a tree -v easy to do there -but seemed not too badly hurt as he could stand .

There is a bit of a climb ,even more imaginatively named K2 ( they really need to get out more these Mtb types ) .Matt and I may not be able to jump high and scream downhill like the youngsters shown in the photo but we can at least ride up hill.

This is a great place to ride and well worth a trip for a larger group from the SWAT.

http://youtu.be/TOyTieSevPg

SWAT MTB ride

The South Western All Terrain (SWAT) mountain bike riders were out again today due to the drop in temperatures the last few days. They met up at Newlands corner near Guildford, Richard having ridden out from home.

The start at Newlands corner

Looking out from Hackhurst Downs

We met a load of riders coming in the opposite direction who were riding an EVANS cycles event. We found a few of the riders at Leith hill tower too.

Leith Hill tower

By the time we were heading back the temperatures had risen from 1 to 3'C. All in all a very good day out with no accidents or mechanicals.

St. Martha's mount

SPORT , London's free magazine

How things have changed over the past few years. SPORT is a free newspaper that is given out at tube stations around London on a Friday. A few years ago it would be unusual to find an article relating to cycling. Now, not a week goes past when there is not something in there. With this weeks edition dedicated to the rugby and looking back at the Olympics there was still space for some cycling.

Ride of the year

 BC are having their 'Ride of the year' competition

 Check out last years winner - Danny Hart (make sure your volume is turned down!)

Colin's review of 2012

And so we get to the end of the year, relax and take things easy, well I've already hit the deck to make up for not having had a spill this year, a slow motion 'sack of spuds' landing that saw me come off the looser to the tarmac as that big o'l floor came up and hit me in the face! Trying to perform a forward roll I banged my head and shoulder in the manoeuvre but my thumb that I think I dislocated hurt the most and has taken the longest to recover

Ouch

Considering I did not start racing until the beginning of June I still managed 32 events compared to 45 the past two seasons but only 660 miles of racing compared to the 1500-2000 of recent years gives a better indication of the reduced nature of my racing programme. Out went most of the long distance stuff with only one 100 finished and so no BBAR for the first time in 6 years, my training had a similarly curtailed look with a mere 4200 miles covered in the first 6 months, mostly rides to work and not a ride over 100 miles until late March.

My provisional plan for the season was to ride all my races on a fixed wheel, I don't think I missed much early on as the weather was fowl and my first event Nottingham Clarion '50' like an early season event in terrible conditions and I though my 'year of fixed'  would go out there and then but the conditions were just too dangerous for single speed. From here though I was (mostly) on my pursuit bike, and I tinkered with the gear from the mid 90's to 102".and managing a respectable 1:53 in the Finsbury '50' by the middle of the month

What with changes to the VTTA 'Standards' (the first time since their inception in 1946) to allow the younger Vets to be more competitive in taking Standard awards on open events and having reached my 50's I now passed over into another age group for age related racing on the road and track. The focus of my season would not come until the end of my season I still had the British Masters Championships at Newport at the end of June and my results on limited condition were impressive 2nd (Pursuit) 3rd (Points Race) and 4th (Scratch race) were evidence that I was already more competitive now although I was beaten in all three events by another 'graduate' from my old pre fifty group the Ex Pro Footballer Trevor Burke but I was slightly vexed to learn that he had not passed the age of consent  but was racing as a quirk of the UCI rule that allows riders to race in 'The season of their birth' with the events that were to come later in the year another reason to wonder at the logic of our governing body.

UCI and a Pork Pie

With a bit of speed in my legs I banged out two short 53 minute '25's in quick succession racing mainly locally but we are blessed with some of the fastest in the country I was trying to keep my travelling away to a minimum to keep Fiona happy! On what I can only describe as the best day I have raced on for quite some time I rode one of the events of the season outside a championship, the Shaftsbury '50' provided me with a new personnel best  and a club record 1:47:40, only 12 seconds off my previous best but on 106" fixed. I was almost certain I would have gone faster on gears but I made it a rule only to take one bike to an event to stop me from vacillating. However after riding to London at 20.12mph average as my tribute to the start of the Olympics and packing in a few miles watching the opening road events I took a further 1:27 off my '50' record on my local A50 based event, my 1:46:13 was done on gears this time and my twelfth breaking of this club record all told, the first time 16 August 1981 (2:01:46) at 19 years of age

I was not expecting to do any personnel bests this year with the way my programme was laid out, I was still planning to have a crack at Roger Hammond's '10' record but I only rode two open events at this distance and came up 17 seconds slower than my best and more than half a minute off the record. This ride was also on gears so maybe I should have stuck to my principals for once, this was the day when Michael Hutchinson broke the competition record so I cannot say I did not have the right day and he has been trying to break Bradley Wiggins record for a few seasons now and took 12 seconds off the record set in 2006. I seem to find myself more than 2:30  behind competition record, I was only 2 minutes behind the last time I rode on the day competition record was broken by Dave Lloyd 5 September 1981

My season came to a close with my major objective to get on the podium at the World Masters Track at Manchester in October,  I'd come a close with 4th the previous day in the 15Km Points race  but I then managed a bronze medal in my last event the 10Km
Scratch race, so as I came to a slow standstill after the event knowing I
 had achieved my target but also that my season ended there, I was best European finisher in both races.

Even though I only just scraped a full compliment of distances for the VTTA National three distance BAR (25,50,100) I was placed 7th in the country (up from 40th)and topped my Notts & East Midlands group, this is against the changes to the 'Standards' that have shaken the standings up a bit but 78 year old Derek Hodkins was one place behind me while a 41 year old made 4th place and it was won by the impressive 60 year old Phil Greenwood (Clayton Velo) so with such a spread of ages in the top flight it seems like after all the arguments they were set about right

29, the new 26.

I have been without a mountain bike for almost a year, after my Scott Genius full suspension frame broke last winter. Instead I have just been getting out on the road bike, mixing my time between club runs and audaxes, and with all the rain over the summer I wasn't in much of a hurry to get out on the trails. It all changed the other week when I popped into a local bike shop and came out with a lovely new carbon hardtail MTB.

To get me back into the swing of off road cycling I thought it was best to enter a local event and so it was that last Sunday I was heading to CAESARS’S CAMP, Aldershot, in Hampshire.

Some of the other club members had also booked to ride the Brass Monkey event, some in the 4hr event and some like me the 2hr event.

I headed off to cheer on the 4 hr riders. First through the finish area after one lap was Paul Facer followed by Niall Clutton and then Niall’s son Will a bit further back.

Paul Facer

Niall Clutton

Will Clutton

I collected my bike number and got ready and then had a try out around the carpark. I wasn’t planning to go off crazy, just ride into it. On the start line I stood next to another rider who informed me that he was once in the SWRC but 30 years ago when he was a junior. It makes you feel very old when that happens and yes I found his name in an old club newsletter dated 1984. Does anyone remember MARTIN LANGSTON? 

SWRC newsletter Spring 1984

He said he lives locally and manages to get out off road with his children and a bit of night riding around Aldershot. 

Soon the hooter blasted and we all headed off in a mad rush. I took things easy as I didn't want a pedal in the front wheel in the first five minutes which can happen in the melee. It was after that we all spread out and I was climbing through the open heath land and then descending the single tracks in the woods. I was really enjoying myself and the bike was handling well, even over the wet tree roots and ruts. I carried on to complete the first lap and thought I must be inside an hour, ( I forgot to fit a bike computer) so 3 lap would be the distance. 

Thumbs up on first lap

karl during 2hr event

Niall during 4hr event

Paul before his puncture

Will doesn't feel the cold!

The second lap and I had drunk most of my bottle as I was trying quite hard and sweat was dripping down my forehead. It has been quite a while since I had tried that hard on a bike. The last lap arrived and I thought I could push on, so raced a few of the other riders that were around me. I was really getting into the swing of it, even though the course was getting more and more cut up by the 450 riders that were riding in the event.

The other SWRC 2hr rider Karl said that he found the last lap hard going after just riding mainly 10’s and 25 mile time trial all summer.

Karl and Parky at the finish

Niall managed 4 laps in the 4hr event and called it a day. Paul, who was going well, got a puncture during his second lap. He fixed it with a canister of sealant and air, but this didn’t seem to inflate his tyre enough and so called it a day after 3 laps.

Conclusion

What has changed since the last time I bought a mountain bike was what was going through my head as I raced around the course.

I now had a bike with 29inch wheels and so the bike handling from my previous 26inch bikes was different. Gone was the triple chainset in favour of a double with 10 sprockets. That should be enough to get up the steepest climb, a bit like the compact chainset. Full length outer cable, so no exposed gear or brake cable like my first mountain bike. Consequently when you ride through the entire sloop your gears keep on working. Only time will tell if these innovations work or are just a gimmick to sell more bikes.

My new 29er hardtail

Dave Ward Enterprises brings you the Southern Sportive

This was actually a Cent Cols Reunion organised by Dave Ward,Goldsmith to the stars.
Dave had done a great job in assembling 15 riders -based on the vast majority all having ridden a CCC event. The riders had come from far and wide,Bath ,Bristol,Worcester,Wandsworth,Hackney,Southsea and Shoreham.
Dave had laid on both a very professional support car and a stunning day.
Our ride followed the route of the Southern Sportive -starting and finishing in Petersfield-handily placed for …….Dave.And in fact following a number of the roads he uses each day on his commute from Southsea to Petersfield before taking the train up to to his Goldsmithing.
He also chose this as he and Dan -another Southsea based CCCer had come home first on the actual sportive a few years ago-which they both ,wisely-but modestly -hid from the group today.

A brisk 55 miles round to Goodwood aerodrome for a spot of lunch and then 30 home over Butser Hill. The full route is about 96 miles and takes in Winchester Hill but after 4/5 punctures and a chat over lunch Dave sensibly cut the ride short by about 10 miles.
We have ridden most of these roads at one time or another on club rides in the summer but it is not possible to follow a route like this from Cobham. Using the Hindhead tunnel I was in Petersfield in 40 minutes which makes a drive down to do the full route or over the East Meon perfectly doable for a change.

It was very good to meet some other riders of CCC events who I had not ridden before -and they betrayed the worrying trait of all intending to enter another on the widened menu of events now offered in 2013.

Well organised Dave-and thanks for sorting out the route Dan and making DW Cycle Tours actually work.

Wonderful views all day.Just before this we had had great views of Chichester with the Solent and Isle of Wight behind.

Dave -who had driven down from Worcester who I had the pleasure of riding the CCC Dolomites with this summer.

Andy -finally -getting to the top of the Goodwood climb.See the smile of relief.

Gerald at the top of the climb to Goodwood racecourse.Note him holding his stomach in.Seen here riding his winter bike -a  new top of the range Madone and training wheels.

Our team car for the day -driven by Richard the organiser of Trois Etapes,a charity based cycling event where amateurs get to ride with a pro for  3 days.Last year this included Carlos Sastre as I gather that Richard used to run the CSC team.Very handy to have this back up with the punctures-and also to have him behind us to keep some of the "keener "sunday drivers at bay.

Rowlands Castle village green -regrouping ,sort of,after our last puncture.

Nick




 

Life is tough

Can you spot SWRC rider, Sabin in this group of riders who rode 110km today around Mallorca. For those of you who know the island, they rode out from Palma and over the tough Soller climb.

Yes, he's riding next to the guy in the Astana kit.

Suggested Rules for Racing / Riding

Saw these suggestions on the LVRC Website, many of which seem useful for Club Rides

Hugely respected, ex international, ex world champion, lifelong racing cyclist Tony Woodcock has suggested these rules as a significant contribution to safer racing. Perhaps we ALL need to remember these simple guidelines. 

1. Hold the same line as other riders in the bunch, especially on bends.

 2. If needing to move to the left or right, advise other riders of your intention.

 3. Do not move up on the inside of corners.

 4. Do not switch direction when sprinting before checking that other riders will not be impeded.

 5. Only overtake other riders were there is sufficient room to do so without forcing them to change direction.

 6. Shout warnings of hazards such as potholes or obstructions to following riders.

 7. Avoid physical contact with other riders.

 8. Keep both hands on the bars at all times when riding in close formation in a fast moving bunch.

 9. In the event of a puncture, put one hand up, keep a straight line and allow other riders to pass safely. Do not brake sharply.

 10. If deciding to pull out of the line, signal your intention and do not brake or swerve into the path of following riders.

Rapha Cent Cols Challenge 2013

Held in the French Alps, the French Pyrenees and in the Dolomites, the three 2013 Cent Cols Challenges all average roughly 200kms daily, with 4,500metres of climbing, over ten stages.

One rest day gives riders a respite half-way through. The fully arrowed routes take in many iconic climbs, but often lead riders up seldom-ridden roads, adding a strong sense of discovery to these unique journeys. In former CCC riders’ own words, these events are “intoxicating”, “life-changing” and “totally addictive”. Many riders who question their sanity on the first days find themselves debating with fellow riders, later in the event, which one they will ride together the following year.  See if you can spot SWRC member Nick Allen in this film.
 
 Phil Deeker, the organiser who also rides the events said about the events: “To find out that pre-conceived limits to one’s physical ability are mere perceptions, banished by unexpected achievement, is indeed a highly liberating experience. This is the real ‘raison d’etre’ of these events. I wanted to create an event that could provide a space for riders to experience the real ‘soul’ of cycling. For this, firstly the rides have to be hard! Rapha’s infamous ‘Glory Through Suffering’ theme is unfortunately so, so true! To endure the merciless demands of the mountains and yet be touched by their sheer beauty, day after day and for most of the daylight hours on offer, is a pretty fail-safe way to find the true secrets of our sport. It tends to be very scary for many riders at first, but slowly, as the body reacts, the magic is unveiled! Sensations are so strong, tests of will-power so frequent, that there is no need for these events to be ‘performance’ driven. To complete it is a worthy achievement, even in the eyes of many pro’ riders who have now heard about these events. To enter one of these events is a brave step, but many have proved that you do not need to be part of some kind of amateur elite to succeed in them.”

Event details

Alpha clubrun to Petworth

It was heavy rain when I woke on Saturday morning and it did cross my mind whether to go, but our ride group leader Trevor's Friday e-mail had said the weather would improve, and so I got dressed up for drizzle. I had spent a few minutes checking my tyres for flints on Friday as I didn't fancy having more punctures than necessary.I just had time to fit a front mudguard to match the rear one my bike has had on for most of the year.
When I arrived at Cobham car perk numbers were down to 20, so there was only enough for 3 groups.
With all the debris on the roads it wasn't too much of a surprise when our group did get our first puncture. It's at times like this that you get to stand around and chat and get the camera out. I find riding over the Downs with lanes covered with wet leaves isn't the time to start fumbling with a camera.

Puncture 1

Puncture 2

Puncture 3

We did all eventually get to Petworth, but probably 45 minutes later than if we hadn't had any problems to find our usual cafe full. We headed off to a local deli / cooking shop that had a few table and chairs to sit down at. They did a great job at supplying food and drink to group and I'd go there again as long as the group wasn't too big.

Petworth Deli

The ride home was much better. the roads were drying out and the sun was trying to push it's way through the clouds.

The Alpha group head home

Strava Details

Wiggins Memoir

Put it on your Xmas List



http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/nov/06/bradely-wiggins-tour-de-france-2012

The last straw

Neither Matt nor I had  been able to ride on (the lovely ,clear and dry )Saturday and we were both keen to get out ,so arranged on saturday night to meet this morning at Richmond Gate at 8am.
I did say to Matt that this was tentative -on my part at least ,as Matt is made of stern stuff as all who have ridden with him know-having seen the forecast .
For 9am on Sunday morning Metcheck showed a black cloud,rain and a description of "TORR".Did this mean Torrential or Torrid . Either way it did not sound good.

The alarm went off at 6.50am and I dutifully got up for a weather check.I was not sure whether it merited TORR .But it certainly was at least a TERR and so I rang Matt and said we should speak in a couple of hours when the forecast was for it to have improved and I was going back to bed.
The next thing I knew it was 10.15am . I slowly opened one eye -it is possible to overdo the enthusiasm on these occasions -and it did look appreciably brighter and Metcheck could now have described it as a BEAR.

By 11am we had spoken -Matt buoyed by having seen on Twitter that David Millar was in Richmond Park doing laps -and agreed to meet at 11.30am.
As soon as I saw our hardy friend from the Republic I could see that his interpretation of Metcheck differs from mine.For him TERR means Terrific . It can see from the above that he was dressed for a mild balmy morning. Dry  ( from above if not from the road) -yes ,Mild -definitely not.
This meant that by the time we arrived at Peaslake -having tried to ride over White Down where we were thwarted by a flooded road ,just after the crossroads ,complete with  abandoned car with water over its wheel arches ( and sorry we forgot to photograph this )  -Mat was complaining of numb feet .His toughness extending to not riding in overshoes .
Excited by the thought -and then the smell -of "the best  ever cheese straws  " -he threw caution and Joanne's wrath to the wind and  ordered,coffee,5 cheese straws and two pieces of mince and leak pie. It may not have warmed his toes but it took his mind off the pain.

Suitably fortified we continued over to Coldharbour and  I arrived home just as it was getting dark.
Two lie-ins on one weekend.Excellent.

And Matt's Garmin showed an average temperature for our 63 miles ride of 3c.
Nick

David Millar Sep. 2011

Tyler Hamilton interview

Superfrog Triathlon 2012

Tuesday Mtb

Me and Roger have resumed our Tuesday Mtb rides. We usually potter around the north downs for 3 hours including a tea stop.
Today was a misty ride of rocks and roots and a little mud. A good day to hone the off road skills.