Freewheeling

On the day the Froomie has to settle for 6th on the Volta a Catalunya, the BikeShed return my freewheel duly repaired and I have one of my best rides of the season.

Freewheel looking good

The BikeShed should have really fixed my wheel last month when they had it in for a service .. a stitch in time and all that, but they recovered well with a rapid fix enabling me to get in a weekend ride on my Roubaix.

What views!

With the majority of the Pedallers, including my buddy, Andy, having had a ride out yesterday, I was left to do a solo cycle this afternoon. I had a plan to do a re-run of Thursday's quick loop out to Farway Common and this I did with a slight detour into Farway having turned off a little early. This resulted in one of the steepest climbs of my 'cycling career' up Ball Lane .. one to miss in future. I even passed an old guy getting out of his car and was showered with admiration from him, little then did I know what was in store.

Old petrol pumps in Farway on the turn to Seaton

In spite of the detour, the climbs and solo ride (I normally do better with company), it was a quick ride. I got a new PB of 16.13 miles for 1 hr and a 43.54s for 20 km last set back in September 2013! I also achieved 5 Strava segment PBs, even beating Andy on the Golf Club to A35 segment :)

Feeling a lot better this week!

AVP Thursday Night Dampening

The British weather is a source of constant interest to us on this isle and over the last few weeks has been equally so to our Pedallers. We've had beautiful near summer days, thick fog, torrential rain and  now close to zero temperatures. Knowing what to wear when out for a long ride is a challenge at the best of times and tonight was no different!

Thursday night's foray into the Devon hills started out in daylight. I'm loving the way the days are drawing out now and with the clocks going forward an hour over the weekend, I am looking forward to seeing even more of the countryside in daylight on our next ride.

Eight riders cycled out of Seaton up Stovar Long Lane and over to Farway Common. The smooth tarmac of this route a welcome change to the pothole dodging rides of previous weeks. I had wished I'd been on my Roubaix but even knowing the route ahead of time would not have made much difference, as the Roubaix's freewheel is no longer free running - a sore point which I won't go into!

 

It was a quick ride by our standards, benefiting from gentle climbs and smooth roads. That was, however, until we reached Offwell, when one of our number punctured on the long descent into Colyton. We only spotted this when only six riders arrived at the bridge over the River Coly, our agreed point to regroup.

With the puncture repaired we rode into heavy rain for the final 2 miles back to Seaton and arrived at the pub for après cycling beer and chips slightly dampened. The rain was even heavier after refuelling such that I was glad my ride home was a short one!

Bike Shed Deja Vu

Do you remember April 2013, when after a BikeShed service my Crosstrail had to be returned for a warranty fix on the front shocks? Can lightening strike twice? I didn't think so, when I took my Specialised Roubaix in for its first service.

Along with a request for them to replace the white handle bar tape which was by now very grubby, I asked them to check out a noise in the hub or gear environment - I'm no expert - which had developed and had got increasingly worse over the last few months.  When I collected it on 26-Feb, they confirmed it was a "Noisy Freehub" which should be OK. 

A couple of rides later .. check back on my blog entries you'll see just 3 on the Roubaix ... the fee hub expired today and I had to walk home! Deja vu and poor show BikeShed! and Specialized really, as these are not cheap rides.

Determined to get a cycle in while the weather remained clear, I switched to the Crosstrail and who should I bump into while heading out of Colyton but Andy returning from his King of the Brother's ride! It's been a couple of weeks since Andy and I have been out on a ride, so it was fortuitous and a real coincidence that we should meet up in such a way. If I'd been able to get out on the Roubaix, chances are our paths would not have crossed.

I, thus, joined Andy on his return ride and completed what was a reasonable 10 mile circuit, shorter than planned but just what I needed - although I could have done without the Roubaix problem. So, it's back to the BikeShed next Saturday and another weekend without a long ride.

AVP Sunday Morning Ride

This morning 14 Pedallers rode out under clear blue sky in glorious warm weather on our monthly AVP Sunday ride.

Ketchup, our ride leader, did a great job chasing us up the hills on this pleasingly uneventful ride to the Colour Wheel where plentiful quantities of coffee, tea and cake were consumed!

It was not the fastest ride, but amazingly all our Strava users seem to have taken top 10 overall positions on the East Bound and Down segment!
http://www.strava.com/activities/121135725/segments/2701721308
and PRs on the Golf Club to A35 segment, so may be we were moving faster than we thought!
http://www.strava.com/activities/121135725/segments/2701721284

I took a bumper set of pictures, although the planned shot of the peloton winding its way up Northleigh Hill did not quite turn out as proposed as no one seemed to get the memo to stick together!

AVP Ride Over Hills and a Broken Chain

I would guess at around 8 of us headed out from the Kings Arms this evening with, for the first time this year, a little light still in the sky. It won't be many weeks now before we'll be able to see where we're going without the need for bright lights! In spite of Bobble's appearance, the evenings are still a little too chilly for most to pull on the shorts but it will not be long before this changes too!

The route tonight took us out to Boshill and a quick dogleg onto the narrow Bruckland Lane to Musbury. From here we climbed Pudleylake Road and Mounthill Lane, 600 ft to Trinity Hill before descending into Yawl and Uplyme. At this point, someone had the 'great idea' of dropping down into Lyme Regis for a ride along the front. We entered via Silver Street and regrouped at the clock by the chippy, which was unfortunately closed. This was a circuit into Lyme that I feel many of us had not done before, as the route out was to take us up the near vertical Cobb Road to the 3052. A climb to test all our legs!

The ride along Marine Parade was taken briskly but on this occasion, without Ed's sound track, he being a busy chippy tonight - the wood kind rather than the potato one! It was as we exited the Parade that the call was sounded that one of our Pedaller's chain had come adrift. We halted under the lights of the Cobb Arms to discover that it had not just come adrift but had snapped! We've had many a puncture, double punctures and even broken spokes, but I hear a broken chain is a first for an AVP evening ride.

As is the norm with the AVP, there is always someone who has an idea of a solution and with no one knowingly left behind, Jolly and Andy, illuminated by the rest of our lights, set about the field operation of making a temporary repair. It was a clinical procedure involving Jolly's chain tool and Andy's steady hand in completing the final pin insertion - although how he was the only one involved not to get caked in oil I'll never know! Something else to remember to carry - a chain tool and a spare link - or ride with someone who has ;)

Once we were all finally back on the main road, we split into our usual groups for the short ride through the now thickening fog back to Colyford. The road bikes took the lead with Barry and I following up on our hybrids. We were even delayed a little more after Barry hit a pothole spilling his backup headlight into the path of an oncoming car. On this occasion, however, there was too little of it remaining for us to attempt a repair.

 

Sunday Morning Pootle

Today is the day of the annual Grizzly cross country run. This is the one that brings competitors from around the country to traverse beaches, bogs, woods and some very serious hills from Seaton to Branscombe and back.

Unlike my previous 4 years of living in Seaton, today was not, however, a day in which I headed out first thing to see the runners start.  Instead, I needed to take the cycle out and decided on a random pootle of a ride with Andy, my second day in shorts and the weather did not disappoint!

We headed out past the gathering runners to Axmouth and then climbed out to Uplyme and under the impressive Cannington Viaduct. We did talk about may be visiting a coffee shop in Lyme but the thought of the climb back out made us think it was too early for a stop; we thus headed north to Axminster. The return route took us over some of the well travelled roads we've taken many an evening with the AVP, via Kilmington, Shute and Colyton.

Not a long ride, these kidney stones which I've just been diagnosed with are causing me quite some discomfort, but it was just what I needed after missing the Thursday evening AVP ride. Can't wait to get back to full strength.

First Outing in Charity Colours

Took advantage of the first Spring sun of 2014 for a quick afternoon ride to spin the legs and get a snap of me in the Team Diabetes UK colours for my Ride London fund raising page .. http://www.justgiving.com/Jonathan-Read-Bone

Long shadows climbing Castle Hill

RideLondon Update T-23 Weeks

Thank you so very much for all who have supported me in my first week of fund raising for Diabetes UK, ahead of my 100 mile RideLondon cycle event in August. I am so pleased that we've made such an impressive start in reaching 8% of target, that's £60, in week one.

We still have a long way to go, but just as in cycling, those first 8 miles are great to have behind you. These are the important miles which get the legs warmed up ready for the serious climbing!

Did you see Top Gear on the TV last night? I am just so glad that we'll be riding on closed roads :)

Day 365 - A Year of Cycling

Today marks my anniversary of returning to cycling after an absence of some 30 years. Looking back on this past year, it has literally been quite a journey. I still enjoy reading my first diary entry 'To the Start' when, after arriving home with my shiny new machine, I rode no more than 2 miles down to the beach and back, only to return feeling a totally wreck! I seriously questioned then whether I had made a good decision to get back on a bike after such a gap.

After these few early days, it was not long before I realised that I needed some padding if I was going to do any serious hours in the saddle. One of my very good friends warned me that once I started on this journey, the postman would be kept very busy delivering my purchases of lycra and cycling accessories for some time to come. The first of these, my padded shorts, arrived on day 5!

March 2013 was a cold one. I was riding in the morning, before work, in sub zero temperatures but my motivation was surprisingly good as I doggedly achieved each new target I set. Once I'd crossed the 5 mile distance on day 25, I realised that I could finally break out of Seaton into the surrounding villages. Ten days later, day 36, I completed my first 10 mile ride and was really starting to enjoy my new found freedom to explore the countryside on two wheels.

My Crosstrail out in sub zero temperatures

Hills continue to be my achilles heel but I've enjoyed the personal challenge of each one in just getting to the top. On day 28, I made my first foray up Seaton Down Hill. The climb took me 14 minutes and I don't think that was including the frequent stops to take in the views! It was not until July, on day 125 - and inspired obviously by the Tour de France - that I was to make it without a rest. During a week in April - day 35 - I dedicated each morning ride in a attempt to take my three local hills in one go. This, to much delight, I achieved on the Friday, cycling through snow flurries, like ticker tape dropped from roof tops to celebrate the return of a conquering hero. Hills have continued to give me both pleasure and despair in equal measure; I can get up most in one go now, but may be not all that quick.

The month of May brought the arrival of the warmer weather and a previously unimaginable step change in my cycling; this was when, on day 83, I joined the Axe Valley Pedallers. The first few rides were a shock to my senses, taking me right out of my comfort zone by both riding in a group and over distances I'd only previously dreamt of. My first ride with the AVP took me out to Honiton golf club, this was the one where we lost Handbag, Barry and Richard on a slippery corner, Barry even suffering a broken collar bone! The second was a ride out to Lyme Regis, where I learned what climbing a hill really meant! Joining the AVP has undeniably had the most dramatic influence on my cycling since actually deciding to buy a bike all those months ago.

My first ride out with the AVP

During July, the AVP proposed running a 100 mile event, perhaps some time in September. Although at that time, I had only been doing the Thursday 20 mile club runs, and even then, with not much breath to spare at the end, I did like the idea of working up to this new, seemingly unattainable distance. To me, it was akin to those aviators of the 1950s daring to believe they could break the sound barrier. While I could imagine in my wildest dreams doing the distance, I felt it was never going to be on my trusty hybrid. I had already seen how the road bikes out performed me by some margin on the flat and for 100 miles, I believed I would be needing to change machine. Naturally, having since seen Kilian, the German schoolboy who spent the Autumn with the club, complete the 100 miler on mountain bike, I'm not sure the upgrade was really required, but then again, I'm not a German schoolboy!

It was in August, on day 167, that I purchased my first ever new road bike. A carbon fibre Specialized Roubaix, perfect for the bumpy hilly Devon roads and for my attempt to ride the 100 miler. With just over a month to build up my distance stamina, day 174 saw me join the neighbouring Sid Valley Cycle Club on one of their 40 mile Sunday rides. This was good for getting the miles in, but they are not the social club that the AVP are, if you can't keep up, you're pretty much on your own. So I was pleased to be able to hook up with Andy on day 187, a warm September morning, to get in a final 40 miles before the big day.

The 100 miler was every bit the epic I could have hoped for. 15 riders started out at 06:30 am to see the sun rise over the coast as we climbed out of Beer. It was during the first half of this ride that I suffered my first ever puncture and witnessed Clive's miniature CO2 tyre pump in action. We managed to avoid the forecasted rain on the outward journey but paid for it on the return. Being already so soaked to the skin at the 75 mile point, no one was even wanting to make the scheduled final coffee stop, too keen to get home for a hot bath. I was so elated to roll back into Seaton having completed the 100 miler .. in just 6 months of my return to cycling and I still treasure my certificate of achievement.

My first 100 miles with the AVP

The week following the 100 miler, the Tour of Britain came to Sidmouth and I got the opportunity to cycle over to see the pros in action. This also marked the shortening of the days as autumn set in. I had thought that I would be having to lay the bikes up for the winter, but I was surprised to learn that the AVP continued to cycle throughout these dark months and that this is achieved with lights which would not be out of place for brightness on any car! When I attended the Birmingham NEC Cycle Show at the end of September, I purchased a set of these lights which have so far been more than sufficient to keep me rolling through the winter night club runs.

Enjoying the winter night AVP club rides

With the onset of winter, now known to be the wettest since records began, I've seen my hybrid Crosstrail come into its own on these night rides. The Crosstrail being much more forgiving over the darkened rough, potholed and gravel strewn lanes, while my Roubaix, now fitted with quick release racing mud guards, is brought into action on the long weekend runs. I now feel I have most surfaces and styles covered with my two bikes, but would still be interested in one day joining the mountain bikers to see what they get up to on their evening runs. I'm sure that if I fitted some chunky tires the Crosstrail could cope. May be one to test later in the year.

So, what's in store for my second year? Well, I have a plan to try out a couple of sportifs. I've already started with an Audax taster, although this was a bit of a rude awakening as it did not go totally to plan. Then in June, I am scheduled to ride the Dartmoor Classic and in August, I have a place on the Prudential RideLondon 2014 for which I am looking to raise money for Diabetes UK .. my first attempt to raise any sponsorship money since my school days! If you feel like giving me a little support and additional motivation for this event, then please click the image below and sponsor me :)

This cycling lark has been full of firsts and long may it continue. Oh yes, and as for increasing my fitness, I think this year end report says it all!

Seaton Big Clean

This morning, a few of us took to the Axe Valley Pedaller roundabout on the seafront to join in the Seaton Big Clean ahead of next week's Grizzly.

Painting the bikes and clearing the littered pathways was our focus, while others weeded the flowerbeds and cleared the beach.

 

Earlier in the week, it was looking as though today would be a washout but sitting out having an alfresco coffee, it could have been the middle of summer! Let's hope the weather is as good for next week's event.