Day 237 - 2014 Sportive Registrations

I am not enjoying my first autumn on two wheels and can see why my online cycle stores are emailing me their lines and offers on Turbo Trainers & Cycle Rollers! I am not, however, going to succumb, this year anyway. With just less than 20 miles covered, this week has probably been my worst, in distance terms, for some time. It has however, given me time to consider my 2014 objective to cycle a few Sportives.

I have already signed up for the RideLondon-Surrey 100 event for 10th August and am awaiting the lottery which will decide whether I am lucky to earn a place in the starting lineup. This week registration also opened for the Dartmoor Classic run over 107 miles on 22nd June and sold out in one day .. a record for the event. Amazingly, I managed to get my registration in early and will be riding with 4 fellow AVP cyclists (Andy, Clive, Richard and Hovis) who also secured an entry.

Having ridden my first 100 miler in September this year, I know I'm going to have to get my 2014 training in very early to be ready for June, and I'm somehow going to have to overcome the shortening days and shocking seasonal weather to keep my fitness up over winter.

Just a taster .. the map below shows the route .. eek!

Day 234 - Ships in the Night

Thoughts of 'ships in the night' crossed my mind as Andy and I passed the Pedallers out on the Thursday evening ride tonight; they climbing up past Beer quarry as we descended. There seemed to be as many as last week, less 2 of course! Their lights illuminating the wooded lane giving us, at first, the impression of a convoy of cars ascending the hill towards us.

Why, you may ask, were we heading in the other direction? Well, a quicker ride, ahead of the forecasted rain, and a desire to get a good ride out on the Roubaix was my excuse. Having missed Clive's Sunday ride last week and the same prospect being on the cards for this weekend, due to the wet season we've sadly entered, has meant that the Roubaix has just not had a look in recently. 

Anyway, we headed over to Colyton and up Old Sidmouth Road towards Beer. Having made such easy work of this long climb, we felt Peco hill in Beer should be included in our route. Big mistake! Taking off at speed in too high a gear and nearing the brow, high out of the saddle, I hit the power wall and forward motion as good as stopped. Being secured to my pedals the only option to avoid falling was a hasty unclip and dismount. Having made this assent in one before, it was a great disappointment to be so unceremoniously dumped so close to my goal. After a short rest and rehydrate, I resumed and completed the climb. I feel a revisit will be on the cards again soon!

Back in Seaton, having a little more gas in the tank, well Andy anyway, we completed a loop out to Colyford and back before then calling it a night. In all, a 15-20 mile ride (I neglected to power up the Garmin until well into the ride) in 90 minutes was good enough but no apres beer and chips tonight. Will be back out with the Pedallers on the Crosstrail next week, weather permitting .. and looking forward to hearing how the ride went this evening, did they all manage to avoid the monsoon?

Stats: 12.9 mi, 1hr 01m, Avg 12.5 mph, Max 28.8 mph, 768 kcal

Day 227 - Tractors and Punctures

Thursdays come around quick these days, I don't know whether it is just the shortening of the days or the frantic working hours I'm putting in. That aside, I was not totally prepared for my evening ride with the AVP tonight. Having shut the lid of my laptop at six, I had thirty minutes in which to kit up, grab some food and ride to our meeting point.

The weather had been surprisingly mild all day, so I decided on shorts and t-shirt (of the lycra variety of course) with a wind proof jacket to cut down on the down hill wind chills. I was obviously feeling controversial as I picked up my summer Sid Valley CC shirt to wear. After six months with the AVP, I'm still awaiting my club jersey - but I'm not bitter. So, after quickly consuming a banana and dressed from head to toe in Ferrari red, I arrived in surprisingly good time only to find, after chatting with Recumbent for a few minutes, that I had neglected to bring any water! Back on the bike, I beat a hasty retreat home, returning a few minutes later, Zero hydration tablet still fizzing in the bottle, as though nothing had happened. Oh well, with Andy heading up this week's distance leaderboard, I thought I needed all the mileage I could get anyway!

Andy & Chris junior

I did not count our numbers tonight, probably because I found myself leading the peloton out of Seaton from the off and so it was not until our first stop that I had opportunity to properly view our line up. I would say that we had around 15 riders, although luckily for all, it was not my job to keep track of such things. My lights, purchased last month at the NEC Cycle Show, continue to outshine my expectations. On full beam they are easily as bright as those on my car and when cycling across unlit paths and lanes in deepest darkest Devon they are outstanding. I think tonight, however, I over used this full beam setting, as by the time we had reached Axminster, the blue full charge neon had changed to red, warning me that I was now on reserve power. I must remember to recharge the battery pack before my next ride.

I would say we had around 15 riders in our line up

Just outside the village of Wadbrook, so Google maps informs me as I had no idea of our location on the ride, we stopped to regroup outside a large farm. While we could see very little outside of the beams of our lights, the farm yard aroma and the mooing of the beasts in their overnight accommodation gave away the purpose of the surrounding buildings. Then,  as if from the scene of an old Scoobydoo cartoon, the archetypal country farmer appeared from out of the shadows.  After an exchange of friendly greetings he opened the door of a brightly lit barn. Once our eyes had adjusted to the assault of light the poured from within, we were presented with the most spectacular collection of vintage tractors and farm machinery seats all brightly painted and hung from floor to ceiling like pictures in a stately home. What an incongruous sight.

Spectacular collection of vintage tractors and farm machinery seats 

Heading on towards Axminster we crossed the river bridge at Weycroft and took the Cycle path across rolling fields and cattle grids.  From Axminster, we crossed the now very familiar Kilmington cycle path to Whitford and Colyford. This path was, however, to be my undoing as riding over the hedge cutting strewn path, my front tyre was pierced by the largest hawthorn ever seen (by me anyway). At first I thought I'd picked up a sticky patch of leaves as they slapped the ground and grated on the bike's mud guards with every wheel rotation but as it finally broke free the hiss of escaping air and a soggy tyre meant only one thing. Once off the unlit cycle path, and under the watchful eye and support of Chris and Andy and the combined spot lights of my fellow riders, I stopped to replace the offending tube. As I commented on last week, a puncture is a very social affair.

 Replacing my inner tube under the watchful eye and support of
Chris & Andy and the combined spot lights my fellow riders

Puncture repaired, Chris then also spotted that he too was suffering from a deflating tyre. Rather than replacing the inner tube, time pressing on and near to home, he selected to force more air into the tube, his puncture being a slower one than that caused by my giant thorn! On our arrival into Colyton, Chris junior similarly reported a slow puncture, bringing the Kilmington tyre kill to 3, shocking! Sustrains .. once again, take note.

Another great AVP evening ride

In spite of the puncture(s), this was another great AVP evening ride with me registering 3 new PRs on Strava. Unfortunately, Andy lost at least 6-8 miles when he stopped Strava to help me with my tyre meaning that I am now just 3 miles behind him on the leaderboard. Dare I sneak these in during the rainy weekend? Only time will tell!

Stats: 26.63 mi, 2hr 05m, Avg 12.8 mph, Max 33.1 mph, 1,438 kcal

Day 223 - New Shoes and a Morning Hill Climb

Sunday 13th October, was the day of the Sid Valley CC. Peak Hill Climb, Sidmouth. I met up with Clive, Hovis and Andy at 8 am in Seaton, the plan being to cycle over to Sidmouth together and then Andy and I would head off on a circular route out to Honiton and back. I certainly had no intention of doing a time trial hill climb with my legs! That was not to say we would not be making any en route climbs, indeed, totally against my comprehension, Clive took us on some of the toughest climbs I've ridden on our way in and out of Branscombe over to Sidmouth - 'just warming up', he said!

Earlier in the week, I'd decided to invest in a pair of Specialized BG Pro Road Shoes and a set of Shimano R540 Light Action SPD SL Road Pedals, both in white to contrast with the colour-way of my Roubaix! This is my first journey into the world of clipless pedals and something not for the feint hearted. Although I rode out on a lunch time test Friday, this Sunday's ride was my first opportunity to really give them a good run out and what a great purchase they are turning out to be! Pedalling has never been so enjoyable. No slipping off when making a quick gear change and surprisingly comfortable. Only one incident of note, when crossing the A3052 at Bowd, I thought my left foot had made good contact but alas no and I ended up striking the crossbar, ouch!

From Sidmouth, Andy and I left Clive to do his competitive climb and headed on a more sedate ride out to Ottery St Mary and Honiton. This was a very pleasant cycle, but having completed this circuit before, I knew what lay ahead; to get out of Honiton, you have to climb. We took the quieter route up Northcote Hill, where at the summit Andy was there waiting to take the now obligatory paparazzi shot of me wobbling my way to the top. I don't mind .. just wish he'd got a close up of my new shoes!

Ascending Nothcote Hill

Once over this hill we frustratingly lose most of the hight gained meaning that although we have an enjoyable down hill roll, we then have another equally steep climb back up Stockland Hill. This however, marks the end of the serious climbing, leaving us with a very welcomed 10 mile gentle ride and a good natter back to Seaton.

 Ascending Stockland Hill 

This was another weather lucky week. I managed to get out on two really good rides and for the second week in a row, I found myself leading the club distance leaderboard .. mainly because of my Friday lunchtime excursion, else Andy would have pipped me!

Stats: 40.61 mi, 3hr 14m, Avg 12.5 mph, Max 33.0 mph, 2,340 kcal

Day 220 - APV Night Rider

A night ride with 16 good friends of the AVP is a particularly special occasion. I have surprised myself, having very much dismissed such an activity when it was suggested towards the end of summer, in really enjoying the experience!

We headed out as the sun set, through Colyton towards Offwell. This 3 mile climb out of Colyton is a steep one and it was not long before the group split with Ed racing ahead on his new racer. Having left his pannier clad, flag waving tourer at home, Ed was feeling the benefit of lightened aluminium frame and carbon forks, just as I did a few months back after first riding out on my Roubaix; a euphoric feeling!

10 miles in, just before we hit the junction with the A35, we punctured. I say 'we' as it is a very communal affair when any one of us suffers this unavoidable cycling event. The manufacturer who develops a truly puncture proof tyre will be a hero indeed, but just as with our oil companies who may know the secret of renewable energy, inner tube producers would never equally pursue such a profit destroying innovation!

While the experienced puncture fixers set to work on the tyre, with the efficiency of a Ferrari pit crew, the rest of us huddled like Emperor Penguins in an attempt to protect ourselves from the now plummeting temperatures, quite a change from the warm evening we enjoyed last week. 

What else is there to do, standing in the dark watching a tyre being changed under the power of a several thousand lumens, other than to record the event for posterity on our camera phones!

Inner tube replaced and back on the road, we headed south along the fast straight road that leads through the common, past Farway and towards Seaton. Andy lead out a three rider 'chain gang' with Ed and Chris. I attempted to get on the back wheel but after getting knocked back by the jet wash of a passing lorry, I could not generate sufficient speed out of the natural shelter from the wind that a close riding team provides. As much as I pounded on my Crosstrail's open peddles the three slowly pulled away until the pulsating red glow from their rear lights disappeared into the blackness ahead. In the distance behind me I could see the pin prick white lights of main peloton and I had visions of the many scenes shot over the summer of the grand tour cycling events, where the breakaway rider gets gradually pulled back into the main body of cyclists unable to maintain sufficient speed to stay out ahead alone. After a couple of miles the inevitable happened, the group happily reformed around me, it is surprisingly lonely to cycling alone in the dark.

On joining the main road from Sidmouth to Seaton we caught up with the breakaway three. Reforming as we started, our group of 17 riders continued on the final 3 mile into Seaton and while a couple peeled off on their homeward journeys the majority of us climbed Tower Hill to then experience the thrill of the steep 40 mph drop down into Colyford and the draw of the apres cycling beer and chips at the White Hart .. what a way to end a fabulous night's ride! Looking forward to next week already, oh yes and the 40 miler on Sunday, weather permitting.

Stats: 23.02 mi, 1hr 45m, Avg 13.1 mph, Max 37.5 mph, 1,306 kcal

Day 216 - No Legs

What a way to end a week, up at dawn for a 45 mile tour of Dorset. This has been a week when, with the awful weather,  I was thinking that I'd be lucky to get in just a few short rides, but as it was, it has been one of my longest weeks in the saddle and my aching legs are witness to that. This fact is further born out by a set of stats Andy mailed me showing myself at the top of the AVP distance leaderboard!

So, why 'up at the crack of dawn for a 45 mile tour of Dorset'? Clive, our 100 mile ride organiser, let it be know the other week that he does a regular 40+ mile ride every Sunday morning and with the nights drawing in, I'd thought it would be a good idea to move my weekly ride from a Thursday evening to the Sunday morning and step up the mileage at the same time. So, when the weather was forecast to be wall to wall sun, despite having already had my Thursday night ride, it was an opportunity not to be missed. The question is, will the two rides now be the new routine and will my legs keep up?

Pausing for a moment at the carpark below Pilsdon Pen.

Five joined up for the morning ride, Clive, Andy, Chequers, Kevin and myself. This is a far quicker team to ride with than our Thursday group and I found that while I could just about keep up on level ground, after the first 20 miles, my legs were 'running on empty' when it came to the hills, such that it was all that I could do to keep them turning on the smallest cog - my Roubaix is great at that. This was one of the most frustrating group rides that I've ridden, as the realisation that there was no way I could keep up sank in. I have so much more training to do! Luckily, my pace was good enough for Chequers, so at least I was not left out on my own. All credit to the other guys, they waited for us at the summits as in true AVP style, no one is left behind!

Hot on the heels of Chequers, you can't really appreciate the gradient from this pic.

We started out towards Axmouth and our first 10% 3 mile climb up Boshill Hill, I'd forgotten how painful this one is! We turned off the main Lyme Regis road north though Rousden, Uplyme and up another 10+% climb to Marshwood. At Broardwindsor we turned south through Pen Coppice where we had wonderful views over the Dorset countryside, the sun by then was warming us through nicely. There followed a blissful 7 mile drop down through Salwayash and Dottery where at the 25 mile mark we turned west towards home. We returned through Marshwood, Rousden and Axmouth. I've never been so happy to see the welcome to Devon signs and the familiar sights of the Axe estuary which a few days before I'd seen atmospherically illuminated by the lights of Seaton.

A brief stop near Dottery

Looking back, it was a great ride and by next weekend, I'll be equally keen to join Clive and the team on another. For now, I'm strangely enjoying the aching legs .. endorphins I think they call it!

Stats: 44.68 mi, 3hr 03m, Avg 14.6 mph, Max 38.8 mph, 2,517 kcal

Day 213 - AVP Night Ride

This was my first night ride, not just with the AVP but since time began! Having purchased my awesome set of Beema AS-2000 front lights last weekend, this was the test of tests for them. Back on my winterised Specialized Crosstrail hybrid, we headed out at 6:30ish pm towards Beer, just as the sun was setting ahead of us.

As one of our number was riding on wheels fixed with security locks for which he had neglected to bring the key, not the best position to be in should he puncture, the objective of our ride was not to stray more than a few miles from our starting point, but still to complete a 20 mile circuit. Luckily, we have  many small villages and interlocking lanes around us which meant that this challenge was easily achieved.

By the time we'd reached our first pause, after climbing Quarry Lane, it was officially dark and the 'magnificent' 7 riders lit up the Devon country roads as we snaked our way down narrow lanes through Colyton, Shute, Kilmington, Whitford and Musbury. Tonight was an 'away night', which meant that rather than returning to our Kings Arms base in Seaton, those wanting an apres cycling beer and chips would rendezvous with our fellow mountain bikers at the the White Heart, Colyford. I, however, with an annual medical checkup scheduled for early in the morning, had unfortunately to forego the welcomed carbs and return to Seaton. The smells emitting from the Chinese restaurant, curry houses and chip shops was tormenting!

Having driven this route many hundreds of occasions before, the final ride into Seaton, along the estuary was somehow different from any other. In the darkness, the lights from the town reflecting in the river was wonderfully atmospheric. I was also surprised as to how the whole evening ride had been equally atmospheric and how glad I was that I made my weekend light purchase! I'm now looking forward to next Thursday's ride and hope the weather stays kind to us pedallers.

Route art this evening: a seated rabbit at the alert!

Stats: 19.42 mi, 1hr 34m, Avg 12.3 mph, Max 30.8 mph, 1,122 kcal