Day 364 - AVP Friday Flyers

By joining the Friday Flyers this morning, I have completed my first AVP treble this week .. what a shame that it is back to work for me again on Monday!

AVP Friday Flyers, gathering at the TIC

On the strike of 10:00 am, I rolled up at the Seaton TIC to join 12 of the regular Fliers for the weekly ride out to Axminster Arts Cafe. We remained dry for the climb up to Rousden but once on the exposed Trinity Hill Road, still five miles from Axminster, the wind rose and the icy rain fell. Hearts were lifted by the arrival of Bar Bunny with a sleepy Imogen and an offer of tasty cakes. After a quick refuelling we concluded our ride into Axminster to a warm greeting from the Arts Cafe team.

A pause at the top of the Combe Road climb

It is Chequers birthday today .. 21 again .. so what a surprise when the lights dimmed in the Cafe and a chocolate cake appeared adorned with a blaze of candles! Our second offering of cake was gratefully received. Happy Birthday Chequers!

Unlike Wednesday, rain had still not abated by the time we had to leave, so the decision was made to take the quick main road back to Seaton. Similar to Wednesday, however, while we were eating cake, 3 of our bike's - including mine - rear tyres had deflated .. the flint strewn roads had struck again! My inner tube was quickly replaced, I'm getting too much practice at this of late, Handbag's was a slow puncture so chose just to add more air, but another punctured again and had to seek out the local bike shop for permanent fix!

The AVP Puncture Workshop 

When I finally arrived home, 18 miles and 1,500 feet of climb completed, and very damp around the edges, I found I'd ingeniously locked my house keys in the garage! So an additional 5 mile ride round trip to recover a spare set was then required. Perhaps after all it is lucky that I am back at work next week!

Day 363 - Holding Vigil with a Branoc

The weather cleared sufficiently again last night for just 4 AVP riders, Jolly, Richard, Rex and myself, to venture out onto the lanes under a very cool star lit sky.

Our route took us out past Blackberry Camp, via Southleigh, over some very broken and bumpy tracks to Shute Barton and home through Kilmington and Musbury. Just as hills are given categories for severity, we agreed on a Cat 4 for the road conditions as on some sections there was little of the original road surface either remaining or visible. This winter has been a tough one for our roads. Luckily our ride was incident free and a 22 mile ride with 1900 ft of climbing was completed in good time

The riders: Rex, Richard and Jolly (and me behind the camera)

Meanwhile 10 mountain bikers had been out to Branscombe Brewery and had an 'interesting' time with 3 punctures and a broken spoke! With none of the regular apres-cycle beer and chips road team out tonight, I held vigil with my Branoc at the King's Arms until Buster and his off roaders arrived to fill the bar. It was then a later one for me, well being on holiday, I only needed to be up for the 10:00 Friday Flyers ride!

Day 362 - AVP Wednesday Ride

I was privileged for the first time today to be able to join the Wednesday Wibblers on a morning ride out to the Colour Wheel Nursery, Honiton.

12 riders headed out via Beer bathed in a very welcomed and warming sun, however, as we closed in on Honiton the sky clouded over and contrary to the weather forecast the sky started to threaten us with a shower or two. Fortunately the rain held off until we were safety inside, enjoying refreshments in the nursery's coffee shop and luckily cleared before we were going to have to buy another round of tea and coffee to prevent our extended stay from getting a little awkward. Those who had left kit on their bikes found it well rinsed, while the the clever use of shower caps for seat rain covers ensured the tandem riders would not get damp bottoms on their return journey - ingenious!

As we entered Northleigh Road on the descent into Colyton, we were hit with two flint inflicted punctures at the same point. This year's rains have covered the lanes will all sorts of dangers for our tyres! Being well prepared for such an eventuality, we were soon back rolling again but had by then lost contact with the front runners, so we hope all got back OK.

Our route back to Seaton took us via Colyton and a quick look though Soanes' stock of Ridgeback Cycles .. well you can never have too many bikes  After leaving Soanes' the heavens again opened and I was showered in hailstones for the final few miles back to Seaton, giving a very strange sensation as they bounced through the air holes in my helmet and onto my head - another first!

Cycling Prudential RideLondon for Diabetes UK

Back in November last year, I shared the news that on Sunday 10th August 2014, I am to take part in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 mile event to raise money for Diabetes UK and I would now really appreciate your support.

My mum was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, uncharacteristically, very late in life and since then, I have become aware of many other friends and family suffering both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The number of people out there with this disease has really shocked me. I am, therefore, wanting to support and raise money for Diabetes UK not only for the work they do in researching treatments and cures for both types but also to raise awareness. With type 2 becoming day by day even more common with the increase in obesity across the UK, anything we can do to promote healthy living through cycling has got to be a good cause.

So please support me in this endeavour by donating to my JustGiving page - it is easy - just follow this link and click Donate:

http://www.justgiving.com/owner-email/pleasesponsor/Jonathan-Read-Bone

I will keep you posted on my training, how much we've raised and with my progress on the day.

Some quick facts about diabetes ...

Diabetes [mellitus] is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. There are two main types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes develops if the body cannot produce any insulin. Insulin is a hormone which helps the glucose to enter the cells where it is used as fuel by the body. Type 1 diabetes usually appears before the age of 40. It is the least common of the two main types and accounts for around 10 per cent of all people with diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). In most cases this is linked with being overweight. This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, though in South Asian and African-Caribbean people, it often appears after the age of 25. However, recently, more children are being diagnosed with the condition, some as young as seven. Type 2 diabetes is the more common of the two main types and accounts for around 90 per cent of people with diabetes.

In a Diabetes UK report of 2010 it was suggested that most health experts agree that the UK is facing a huge increase in the number of people with diabetes. Since 1996 the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has increased from 1.4 million to 2.6 million. By 2025 it is estimated that over four million people will have diabetes. Most of these cases will be Type 2 diabetes, because of our ageing population and rapidly rising numbers of overweight and obese people.

The figures are alarming and confirm that diabetes is one of the biggest health challenges facing the UK today. If we are to curb this growing health crisis and see a reduction in the number of people dying from diabetes and its complications, we need to increase awareness of the risks, bring about wholesale changes in lifestyle, improve self-management among people with diabetes and improve access to integrated diabetes care services.

So, back to how you can support me. I will be wearing the Team Diabetes UK jersey on the RideLondon and am aiming to raise at least £700 for the charity. I'd really appreciate your support in reaching this target.

Donating to my JustGiving page is easy - just follow this link and click Donate:

http://www.justgiving.com/owner-email/pleasesponsor/Jonathan-Read-Bone

JustGiving sends your donation straight to Diabetes UK so it’s a quick and safe way to donate.

And remember, I will keep you posted on my training, how much we've raised and with my progress on the day.

Thank you!

Day 359 - Snowdrop Path Ride

Some weeks ago, Andy suggested that I and a group of my fellow cyclists enter the Audax Primrose Path ride, a 102km cycling event starting from Corscombe, near Beaminster and advertised as being a scenic tour of quiet West Dorset lanes; only 7km on A & B roads; a good test of climbing fitness.

I've been focusing on my climbing over the winter but it still remains the one area of my cycling which gives me the greatest frustration when out riding with others; I'm seeing just 'marginal gains' for increased effort I'm putting in. This Audax ride has an impressive 5,600 feet of climb but topping the club's Strava climbing leaderboard last week and having completed a single ride of the same distance, I was feeling unusually confident for this Primrose Path event.

Topping the club's Strava climbing leaderboard

Andy and I agreed we'd take my car which required a practice loading to ensure we could get the bikes and our kit in the back ahead of the big day. We also spent some time walking through the route using Google maps street view to familiarise ourselves with the relevant junctions, as Audax rides are not marshalled nor their routes signed; riders have to follow directions to control points using route cards. Having proven we could squeeze the two Specialized road bikes into my small coupe hatch and having marked out the route onto an OS map, we were good to go.

Andy & Ed at the depart

By mid week, the weather was looking decidedly unfavourable for the weekend. A new storm front was arriving Saturday night forecast to bring torrential rain and strong gusts to the SW during Sunday. As the days passed, while the winds were still very much in evidence in all forecasts, the risk of rain diminished and so the consensus was that we should give it a go. 

Andy and I arrived at the start in good time to select the first competitors' parking spot, which for those who know me is not as easy as it sounds. The rest of the riders, some 19 in total, 7 of which were from the AVP, arrived shortly after and we made our way into the hall to sign in. The mood amongst my fellow AVP riders was jovial. Ed, being the master of all things wood, had crafted an ingenious board on which to secure the route cards and map. Ed was thus selected to be our navigator.

Finally, at 09:00 we were were on our way, the AVP boys keeping together for the first 10 minutes. Hitting our first climb our small peloton broke into two; Clive, Nelly, Rex, and Richard up front and myself, Andy and Ed bringing up the rear. This gap was further widened some 10 miles into our ride when we made the obligatory stop for a photo on Primrose Hill! 

Andy & Ed on Primrose Hill

Your's truly on Primrose Hill

5 miles later, we made a navigational error which was to unfortunately sour the rest of the ride. Having made a 2 mile 10% climb up the wrong hill, we lost further 30 minutes on the leaders and to top it all, I was starting to feel decidedly unwell with a reoccurring bout of stomach cramps! The effect of this, strong pain killing medication, high winds and the climbing weighted towards the first half of the ride, conspired to sap anything that I may have had left in reserve. The next 20 miles were painfully soul destroying ... I felt I had neither energy or passion to go on, for the first time in a long while, I was not enjoying my cycling. 

Having climbed up Eggardon Hill, the site of an Iron Age hill fort with amazing views across the surrounding Dorset countryside, Andy and I made the decision to do a Team GB and pull out of the ride, while Ed, with up to 30 years on us and noticeably still fresh, decided to go on and attempt a finish. We parted company on the road to Maiden Newton, Andy and I returning north back towards Hooke. The cross winds were unbelievably strong, with at least one of the earlier riders being physically blown off the road. 

Andy and I en route to Hooke

Surprisingly, there were very few primroses to be found along this route although the banks and grass verges on either side of the road were, for many of the early miles, lined with a carpet of white snowdrops; giving the name Andy and I eventually chose for our section of this ride.

With the wind behind us, there came a deftly silence and the legs were able to take a much needed breather. 15 or so miles later, I was pleased to finally see the hall we'd left in such good spirits 5 hours earlier. Bikes reloaded into the car, we made a quick change into civvies before heading off to find a friendly pub for some much needed food, drink and a debriefing. 

Overall, I'm feeling somewhat disillusioned with my first Audax experience and am even tempted to cancel my entry on the Dartmoor Classic. It has made me think about what I most enjoy about cycling and I've decided that this is the camaraderie of our club and Sunday rides, exploring new places and our stops for coffee, cake and a friendly chat. I'd always said that this would be a year for me to try out some sportifs, and this I am doing. I'm still looking forward to the RideLondon in August, as this will be a once in a lifetime ride on closed roads along the main route taken by our 2012 Olympians, through London and Surrey, something which only the pros normally get to experience. I'll be doing this with another good friend of mine, so this ticks the camaraderie box and very importantly, I am also looking to raise money for charity and thus this is an additional key motivator.  

So, if I've learned anything from this weekend's event, it is that social club rides are probably more my thing. I am too competitive to be constantly disappointed in my performance vs others. I need to focus on that part of cycling I most enjoy or, all too soon, I'll be giving it up - at least until I can keep up, anyway!

Having a leisurely few days off work this week, the AVP Wednesday and Friday morning and my regular Thursday evening club runs are looking very inviting and I'm hoping, weather permitting, these will remind me of that which I enjoy about cycling!

Day 356 - A Return to Lyme

It is Thursday and this means clear weather and another ride out with the AVP.  Tonight we decide on a cycle out to the Cobb at Lyme Regis, a route I've certainly not done since last September when we were still in shorts and t-shirts .. oh how I'm looking forward to summer!

8 of us rode out through Axmouth and up Combe Road and along the A3052 down into Lyme Regis. At the Cobb a few of us dipped our tyres in the sea before taking the promenade and making our way out of Lyme via the Lane End Farm to Red Lane Climb. You know that when you go out to Lyme, there will always be a serious bit of climbing.

As I rode with Ed along the promenade, we chatted about what film score we would add to the ride - as you do. I had been unsuccessfully trying to snap some shots of us on the move, with such a slow shutter speed on my phone camera these did not come out; I did, however, capture on video much of our chat and my near collision with a traffic barrier - such are the dangers of being the on-location camera man! Click the link below to check out this short and rather wobbly video.

Click here for video

After a short blast along the A35, we returned south along Trinity Road, down Green Lane to Combe Road and back through Axmouth to Seaton, with only the temporary traffic lights on Harbour Road slowing our progress. Another great ride out with the AVP, 21 miles and 2,054 of climbing completed.

Day 350 - SVCC Morning Ride

Next Sunday a group of us from the AVP are doing the Primrose Path Audax, a 100 km non competitive ride across Dorset with 6,400 ft (1,955m) of climbing, but do I feel prepared? .. No, that's a lot of climbing!

I've been working on my hill craft for a good few months and it's not got any easier. This weekend, Andy, Ed and I were hoping to get together for a practice run, but fixing a time was proving difficult for all. Finally, Ed and I thought we'd hook up with the Sid Valley CC for a morning ride out to Exeter .. I last rode with the club back in August in training for the AVP 100 miler, so I found this quite fitting, considering what we've got lined up.

Waiting in the warmth of the unseasonal sunshine

The SVCC had a 40 mile route planned out to Exeter Quays, leaving from the Sidmouth football club at 09:00, returning 13:00. Wanting to add a few extra miles, I thought I'd cycle over from Seaton, just under 10 miles each way and starting with serious climbs at each end. It was a frosty start and I made good time, arriving at the depart 20 minutes ahead of time. The sun, however, was so warm that it was no hardship to wait for Ed and the rest of the riders to arrive.

Ed at our first stop at Tipton Bridge

We made two stops at Tipton Bridge and Tipton Cross to pick up additional riders and then headed north through Rockbeare to Silverton at which point we turned south through Rewe, Stoke Canon, to follow the River Exe into Exeter.

Regrouping at Silverton before turning south to Exeter

The level of the Exe was running so high that the extensive cycle way through Exeter was under water resulting in us having to use the busy city road network, the hairiest bit of this being the multi lane roundabouts!

Ironbridge Runners were hosting their Exeter half marathon

On finally reaching the Quay, we could not believe that we'd picked the day when the Ironbridge Runners were hosting their Exeter half marathon and the whole area was buzzing. There was no way we were going to get a table let alone a piece of cake, so we saddled up and headed on to Topsham and Darts Farm where cake is always in good supply.

Caked up, the return route to Sidmouth was through Woodbury and Otterton and across the common and some really wonderful countryside, and two more tough climbs, Peak and Trow Hill.

This was quite an epic ride of 62 miles and 4,300 feet of climbing .. so, I am now going to have to say  that after this week's rides, I'm now feeling a little more prepared for next week's Primrose Path event .. 85 training miles completed and a whopping 6,600 feet of climbed! Today also saw me achieve  new records for the time to complete 50 miles and distance travelled in1 hour:  3hrs 55mins and 16.07 miles respectively.

Day 347 - Getting Colder

Well, I guess in my last post, I spoke too soon ... since then I've had over 10 days of idleness and could easily have stayed home in the warm, finished off some work and vegged in front of the TV. Thursdays have started to miraculously be the one day of the week when the weather seems break - last week being the exception - thus leaving little excuse not to venture out on the AVP evening ride. So there is was, the tough decision of, to go or not to go ...

It could have been a solo ride

I was the first to arrive at the Kings Arms. 10 minutes later, I was thankful to be joined by Airfix and then Handbag, as it was starting to look as though it would be a solo circuit of Seaton and home! The three of us headed out towards the Stockland mast, via Shut, under a bright moon and plummeting temperatures. By the time we'd made to the Old Chard Road junction on Stockland hill, my feet were feeling somewhat chilly. We u-turned here with two options, returning along the same road back to Colyford, it being an 'away night' or branching off through Wilmington for a bit more climbing. Airfix and I for some reason voted for the latter .. and on we climbed .. 2,300 ft in total, according to my Garmin!

We made it back to the White Hart, in good time. Its welcoming roaring open fire a blessing to my frozen toes and as usual, good beer and the best après-cycling food around. Another great APV Thursday evening ride and 20+ miles competed. Looking forward to the next!

 

Day 336 - Joining the Kask club

In spite of the seemingly non cycling weather we've had recently, the 232 miles covered so far in 2014 have been far better than expected for this 'veteran' pedaller.

Today, I continued in this trend completing another 40 miler with my AVP pals, Andy, Ed, Rex and Richard. The plan was to do a repeat of the proven route Andy, Ed and I cycled two weeks ago. We met at 08:30 at the Seaton TIC and headed out up Castle Hill towards Beer and on to Sidmouth sea front for the obligatory photo shoot. With the seasonal high tide and strong winds, the storm gates were closed, and rightly so, as the waves were spectacularly crashing over the sea wall.

Richard, Andy, Jonathan & Ed

Take 5 on Sidmouth sea front

On this ride I was proud to be wearing a new light weight Kask helmet with, of course, the colours Union flag emblazoned across the top. It was a close run decision between this and an the Specialized S-works model, but the red, white and blue motif won my heart. A pose for a shot with Rex, also a Kask owner, was required .. 'Jonathan joins the Kask klub' !

Jonathan joins the Kask klub

From Sidmouth we climbed via Tipton St John through Ottery St Mary and on to our tea and cake stop in Honiton. From Honiton we took Northcote Hill to the junction with the Stockland straight where, I had visualised the closing 10 miles, a gentle down hill return to Seaton. Rex, however, suggested an alternative route, through Stockland, Kilmington and Musbury. No there were no more hills, he said, just a few lumpy bits. I see a need to define a hill v a lump .. as my legs were not prepared for the climbing which followed, particularly not after my all time best ride up Northcote, on which I had secured PRs for 5 of the 6 Strava segments for this climb!

Ride profile

Although exhausting, it is often good to be challenged. Richard and Rex noticeably drove up the pace, and while I wished I had the engine to keep up with the pace set, I have to constantly remind myself of what I was doing only a year ago, when I would never in my wildest dreams have considered it even possible to cycle 40 miles in a morning! I've just got to keep at it, drive through the pain and hopefully this training will see me right for the Dartmoor Classic sportif I have in June, a 100 mile ride which after today's experience, is seeming ever more daunting! 

In all, I achieved 15 Strava segment PRs and for the second time in as many weeks, broke my previous record for miles ridden in 1 hour (15.94 miles). It is amazing what one can do when pushed!

Day 335 - Should amateur riders wear pro kit?

An article in the Cycling Weekly caught my eye this week with the headline, "should amateur riders wear pro kit?", a question which seems to trigger quite some debate. For me, one who has as his current profile picture with yours truly daubed in British Cycling Team GB kit, the answer is a simple 'yes'.

My current British Cycling profile picture 

The reason for me is easy to explain; I am both a team player - I like to support my team and wear the team colours - and I see a need to support pro cycling's sponsors. Just as many enjoy following their football team, I'm enjoying following the pro cycling tours. This year we've seen a number of sponsors drop out and teams disband. Pro cycling needs sponsors who are going to stick around and this means they need a reason to stay involved, they need exposure and a fan based income stream. What better exposure and income than a slow moving advertising hoarding in the form of a supporter proudly wearing their pro cycling replica kit!

My pro Team Sky race cape curtsey of Luke Rowe

Those in opposing camp see such supporters as wannabes looking stupid wearing pro kit and believe that the only thing a self respecting cyclist should be seen wearing is a clean, matching set of club clothing. To some extent, I also agree with this view, well the bit about the clean, matching set of club clothing anyway. However, not all cyclists belong to a club and not all clubs have a full set of clothing. When I am on a club ride, I would choose 100% to wear the club / team colours and where possible do. When out on a training ride, on my own or with a fellow cyclist, club member or not, I like to show my support to my pro teams .. our British Cycling Team and Team Sky and I see no issue with this, I am after all a paid up member of the British Cycling as well ;) OK, so British Cycling / Team GB is like wearing the country's national colours - but it's same difference in my opinion.

With the successes of Wiggo, Froome, Pendleton and Trott on the international and Olympic cycling stage and the injection of multi millions from corporate sponsors such as Sky (whether you like them or not), pro cycling is on the cusp of a new era; one which motor racing saw in the 1970s when Bernie Ecclestone rearranged the management of Formula One's commercial rights and football saw with the formation of the FA Premier League in 1992. How major a transformation pro cycling will now go through is yet to be seen, but from where I'm sitting, it's getting up a strong head of steam and I'm all for it. My British Cycling and Team Sky kit will remain part of my cycling wardrobe!

What's your view?