What you riding?

I was having a bit of a sort out and found a load of mountain bike and sportive numbers that went back quite a few years. It made me think what great days I had out on the bike during those events, even the ones where  I didn't finish.  Let's get organised and enter a few events for later in the summer. Something to look forward to in the cold and dark days. You might find that they are sold out when you do eventually think about entering.

Some great event numbers here

Grand Raid Crist Alp in Switzerland. Mountain Mayhem in the Malverns. Merida 100km enduro in Wales.  Twenty Four 12 in Plymouth.  TransWales 7 day mtb.
Etape du Dales.  Mille Miglia (thankfully only every 4 years).  Devil ride in Wales.  Mallorca 312.  Dave Lloyd Mega in Wales.  Marmottee in France.  British Cyclosportive (UK TdF stage).  Autumn Epic in Wales again.  Fred Whitton in the Lakes.  Tour of Wessex (3 day).  Pearson 150 and of course our very own May Flyer.  All great events to enter and ride.

Barns Green / Sumner ponds

The snow had melted during the last few days but there was still some debate about what the lanes would be like and so clubrun numbers were reduced. In fact the C group postponed their ride until Sunday where the forecast was better. This week's destination was to be Barns Green for all the groups for a communal mingling at the tea stop. To get there, the most direct route takes you over Whitedown, but as we approached the start there were barriers across the road and there was a lot more snow and ice on the lane. There was a clear bit of road if you stuck to were the melt water was running down the gully and so we decided to give it a go. Towards the top there was no water running down and we had to dismount and walk. Out on his first club run in a while was Sven and he thought we were a bit mad but decided to stick with us.

Icy roads on Whitedown

Around the corner and we found why the road was still frozen. 2 vehicles had stopped and so no one else could get past, apart from us that is. Luckily it didn't look as if anyone had been hurt so we headed off on our ride south to Barns green.

That's a funny place to park

No one could get past apart from cyclists

When we arrived, Gary Smith, Dennis Passco, Cliff and Clare were already there having ridden from their respective homes. With only 5 x A, and 9 x B+ group making it the numbers were decidedly down on last autumns joint clubrun, but you have to exspect that at this time of year. If it had been last week, then there would have been no one at all here at Barns Green.

Trevor, Sven, Lawrie & Mark at Sumner ponds

I eat too much and paid for it on the way home were I got dropped by the others and ended up riding over the Downs on my own. I stopped to help Paul from the Kingston Wheelers who's pump didn't work too well after he had punctured, and so I used mine to get him going. It seems the rest of his "training group" had left him out in the snow to sort it himself!

A life on a bike // Une vie sur un vélo

New Bike for Summer?

UK Sport have released details of frame and components as used by the track and road team at the Olympics (as specified by the UCI all technology has to be available for commercial purchase) so if yo fancy laying out £105K for Frame and forks + Bars (but with still a bit to make up a complete bike!) then apply HERE

http://www.uksport.gov.uk/pages/cycling/

Item Price (excl VAT)
Track Frame £25,298.83
Sprint Fork £25,983.53
Track Seat Post £1,572.80
Crank set £18,809.40
Sprint Bar £23,247.88

Maybe Andy needs to trade in his Lightweights first

Happy riding

Snow Down South

As is inevitably the case when snow is around ,after a flurry ( ahem) of  confirmatory texts on friday night and saturday morning I cycled the couple of miles to Clapham Junction to catch the train to Three Bridges where Colin who lives in Kingston on the South Downs just outside Lewes-and who had organised a day of mountain biking on the Downs ,had very generously agreed to collect me as engineering works meant trains to Brighton and Lewes were stopping there.

By 11am the 13 of us who had gathered at Colin's house for the ride were ready for the off. In truth I had heard of Jo's bike ,pictured here ,but had not had the pleasure of seeing it in the metal. And what an impressive machine it is. There is a bit of history.In about 2007 Jo,found the frame at the tip. He took it home sorted out the broken seat tube , fitted three sets of handlebars, the top for comfort to save the back, middle for normal use, and bottom for strong and long lasting head winds. He then,not having really done any cycling before,set off from home in Lewes to cycle to India. Which he achieved. And here is the machine still in fine working order .Front suspension is considered surplus to requirements for Jo ( who is about 6 ft 4 I guess ) and his bike performed just as well as all the other more traditional ones on our ride.

The ride reminded me just how different the South Downs are to ours in the North. Not really a tree to be seen -so in the stiff breeze and spending a good chunk of the ride on the tops it was a fairly epic day. They reminded me of walking in the Cairngorms at Easter in my youth with the same rounded tops  It took us about 2.5 hours to circle round to Alfriston ,where after the  very briefest debate as to whether we would go to a tea shop or a pub , we were soon esconced in the George and 8 pints of 5% plus Abott ale , 3 IPAs and a couple of lagers were soon washing down the Welsh rarebit and sausages and mash. 

As the only interloper in the group I was made extremely welcome and it was with some reluctance that we set off again to climb back to the top of the Downs. I had suspected that we could have been nestled in for the rest of the day once the Abbot started flowing -but not at all and off we went. 

Colin  seen here leading the charge up one of a number of long pulls that the route featured,somehow most of these were into a stiffening head wind . The snow was in good condition and other than the first climb up to the top of the Downs from Colin's house we could ride the whole route. Note Tom coming up behind  ,wearing shorts … He also did not see the need to wear a hat under his helmet. And pointed out to the rest of us what a soft lot we were. Andy Hicks ,well known for going long on the warmth factor  , would have been suitably amazed.  Tough chaps these men of Sussex.

We came across a handful of walkers making the most of what was actually a very good day to be out on the hills , a few sledgers but no other cyclists. We descended from the top for the last time down the line of a road which had been turned into packed  ice by all the earlier sledgers and a good number of us all came off here .This section then  prompted the slightly unusual cry when cycling -"watch out for that skier " as we slipped and  skidded down the road round two people standing in their skis in the middle of our path, as surprised to see us as we were to see them. It was by  then dark and we rode the last few miles into Lewes and back to Kingston to arrive some 6.5 hours after setting off. A very entertaining outing  and some 29.6miles covered set us all  up perfectly for a very fine dinner at Pelham House  in Lewes ,  http://www.pelhamhouse.com   , that evening to celebrate Colin's birthday and round off a great day.

Nick 

SWAT MTB in snow

Road club runs were abandoned this Saturday due to the amount of snow that fell on the South East yesterday. After 8 club members racing last weekend it was another 8 South Western All Terrain moutain bikers out today from Norney for a play in the white powder.
We were immediately onto the tracks but found it very slow going. I had ridden a similar circuit last winter with Niall and Mark but then the ground was frozen and super fast. At one point, on Puttenham common, we lost John after a particularly difficult decent  but he was eventually found and we made sure we didn't loose anyone else for the rest of the ride. It was great to see Trevor out with the us for the first time that I can remember, and he used his mountaineering skills to fuel up with coffee and cake when we stopped half way round. The plan had been to get up to Hindhead and stop there but after a couple of hours riding we had only reached Tilford and decided to start heading back to the cars.
So it was a good ride, not too far and with no mechanicals. It just what you need to keep your fitness up at this time of the year. The alternative is sitting on the turbo which I personally would rather not do.

SWAT start in Norney. Niall, John, Andy, Mark, Trevor, Will & Matt.

Snow time, hard going and lots of stopping.

Tricky riding but good fun

Trevor stops for coffee & cake, but not for long

Lance Interview explained

Sent from Parky's iPhone

LA Confidential

With all the fallout from the Lance Armstrong drugs confessions there has been much said and written but I was particularly affected by was this piece on the eve of the Oprah revaluations by (recently retired) Nichole Cooke on her website. Nichole has always been individual in her outlook and come in for plenty of criticism over her career but here she makes a case for what she has had to put up with and many come in for her observations (incl LA) It covers many aspects of her career from when she started racing at the age of twelve.

Here

Sport

I've taken the tube to work for a change and as it was Friday, there were copies of Sport, one of London's free newspaper there. It's months since I last had a look at the paper and its still plugging cycling, this time cyclocross. A bit like these CX riders in the vets national championship in Bradford.

Snap

Snow and sunshine at Leith Hill Tower for Niall and me today.

Snow

Out of the bosom of the Air,


Out of the cloud-folds of her garments shaken,

Over the woodlands brown and bare,

Today we finally found some snow! The very tips of Leith and Holmbury Hills were frozen and snowy. It was cold, but we had some warming glimpses of sun.

Gorrick Brass Monkey's Round 3

Brass Monkeys.
For that is what it was. Although with enough modern clothing layers on I was more than fine. Except for the runny nose. So I would need to hydrate but also my drinks in their bottles were a bit icy. So there probably is something to be said for a Camelbak under your top layer of clothing, keeping it warm.
I wonder if the trademark Dromedarybak is taken?
But the race. It is a great course at Tunnel Hills with less climbing than the other Brass Monkey courses. Although I'm sure they managed to sneak more and more climbing in as the race went on and my legs got tireder.
I didn't notice so many hills in the first few laps anyway, despite not being on top form.
I saw more people fall off than ever, was this a course thing or a rider thing? I was further back in the pack but it was a twisty turny course in places with several frozen shiny roots in wheel size ruts.
I got stuck a couple of times behind strong riders who just took bad lines down the rooty rutty descents. On later laps when the fast guys lapped me they would shoot past me down these sections.
I saw one guy pick his bike up and hurl it whilst shouting loud abuse at it. Well I'm sure the bike learnt its lesson and won't do that again, whatever it was it did.
So a real mountain bike race. Great tracks through the forests including the helter skelter section where the riding goes through a meandering ravine or something. Switchbacks galore through one section of trees where, on one lap, Niall was just in front of me and Mark Packman just behind so I kept seeing SWRC jerseys at each switch like some fairground hall of mirrors.
And eventually we finished and for my drive home I was presented with the most fabulous piece of chocolate cake. It was better than winning a prize.

My next race is Thetford on 27 January. Bit further away and flatter course that's less technical but it means 4 hours of riding.
http://www.thetfordmtbracing.com/

Paul F

Third and final round of this challenging MTB event took place on Sunday with the highest turnout yet from SWRC. With the mercury hovering around zero, Alan P, Nick A, Mark P, Matt S, Paul F, Karl H, Niall and Will C joined 500 riders at the tunnel hill course on MOD land near Mytchett. The sound of distant gunfire and the odd thump of mortar rounds gives these events an heroic flavour, and lining up for the start the opening speech from Gladiator comes to mind:

..."Hold the line, stay with me, if you find yourself alone riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled, for you are in Elysium and you're already dead"...

With seven miles of twisty singletrack, bomb holes, tree trunks and some technical climbs and descents, the challenge is to complete as many laps as possible over four hours. The very best riders can knock out seven laps in that time, and having dropped out of the previous race with mechanical problems, I wanted to complete five laps without going base over apex on one of the many course hazards. Pacing is everything, and I settled into a rhythm after the initial mad dash, that allowed me to complete each lap at around the fifty minute mark. After the first couple of laps you begin to know what is coming, and can jump into the right gears in good time. A sense of euphoria builds on the final lap, as you tick off each hazard with the comforting thought that it's the last time you'll be seeing that particular boulder / crater / piece of unexploded ordnance until next year.

With plenty of club shirts on show, we were the most visible team at the event, and with a top twenty finish from our president, SWMTBC may soon become a force to be reckoned with. Many thanks to Jo Scholes for handing out bottles in such god awfully cold conditions.

Results can be viewed here: 

http://www.timelaps.co.uk/assets/uploads/EVENTREPORT.aspx?eventid=228TunnelHillMytchett13/01/2013

Niall

Great fun but  hard work. There is never any let up in the effort needed.  A good atmosphere.Even though the leaders are racing for cash prizes, when they came up behind me( which they did often)  and had to wait while I held them up, it was always friendly and they were appreciative as I let them through.Fell off about 5 times and only once going over the front of the handle bars. None of the leaders managed that.
Highlight was Jo Scholes’ superb chocolate cake at the end and she generously hanging around so we could enjoy it.

Nick A

Started fast and caught Paul after half a lap. Those “go faster glasses” didn’t seem to work! I forgot my Garmin so didn’t know my lap times but a spectator said I had done 2 laps in 90 minutes which meant 6 laps was a possibility if I kept going. That plan failed when my legs started to cramp and then I slowed which meant I was getting colder. Five laps was enough on a cold January day, thank you.
The course was quite technical with lots of single track and roots which played havoc with my wrists even though I had my forks on full suspension.

Alan P 

Started off well. The experience from the previous race and a recce (or two) of this course definitely helped prepare me. As the previous race was one long mud slog, I'd fitted some more suitable tires. Concerns were unfounded as most of the course was well drained and I was able to ride up all of the climbs. After the initial scrum I found myself paired up with a rider of similar abilities from High Wycombe CC. We road together for a couple of laps keeping a good steady pace. Despite the easier course I was not feeling particularly strong. Too little fitness & too much fat were starting to stack up against me. I'd set my computer up to display elapsed time and several times I was convinced it had stopped because time seemed to be moving very slowly.
On the 3rd lap one of my handlebars hooked a branch and slamed my knee into a tree. Adrenaline and the fact that there was a young family enthusiastically cheering me on meant that I couldn't stop for long to assess the damage. By the end of the 4th lap I felt completely shattered. Physically sore & tired and mentally not keen for any more. I called it quits with 35 minutes to spare.
I'll definitely be back for more.
 
Matt S

This weeks top tip

Sterilise your drinking bottles at regular intervals.

Happy New Year. Thames valley flooding.

I had spent a few days down in the Cotswold with Judith and a few friends, walking across muddy fields and trying to avoid flooded footpaths, so was keen to get back on the bike for one last ride before the holidays were over. My computer said it was about 100 miles home, so manageable as long as I started early enough in the day, I didn't much fancy too much riding in the dark. I took lights just in case as I always over estimate how long it takes. I started in Fairford which is famous for having a RAF base there with a 3km long runway and which you can land the space shuttle on.

Heading out from our cottage

I was on the right road for London

A flooded garden

The rivers around Fairford had flooded the fields

The water gives the impression that the houses are floating. Lovely....

Once I had left Fairford basin I climbed up to the Vale of the White Horse. I did see a sign for the horse but it was still early and I wanted to get a few miles under my wheels. I had already taken half a dozen photos so didn't stop but now wish I had as it looks very impressive. In Wantage I had to turn south, and I nearly headed off in another direction, but for my trusty GARMIN showing me the way to this little road out of town. It's a times like that, where I could have been miles away before I realise I was wrong, that shows that little gadget it's real worth. Before I had a GPS I probabley would only have attempted this type of ride by sticking to the A roads which these days is just not advisable.

The Thames at Pangbourne, flooded again.

I had some Christmas cake in my back pocket so stopped here

Stopped at a petrol station for more food and a coffee

Just after stopping in Reading for a coffee I had planned to head through the lanes around Sonning but the whole town was under water and the roads blocked to all traffic. I headed north up to Henley on Thames and then had to stick to the main roads just to make sure I could get home.

The Thames at Henly and more flooding

A lovely rounabound decorated for Christmas

Bicycle repairs

and shoe repairs?

Make sure the wind is behind you and you will feel extra fit

The same story near Windsor

It was a lovely day out on the bike, and as I said earlier, only made possible by my Garmin (800). Go get one today.