I kicked off with my first ride of the year on the 2nd January with a pre work cycle to see the evidence of the local winter flooding in Cowhayne Lane, Colyford. This was to set the scene for the remainder of the year, grabbing a ride when ever the opportunity arose.
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| Winter flooding in Cowhayne Lane |
The RideLondon draw was announced and, having decided back in November that I would be riding for Team Diabetes UK, my mind was now focussed on getting in some serious training ahead of the August event. Things did not, however, start well with a rather disappointing first step into the world of Audax cycling. The 102 km Primrose Path event was to be my first ever sportive, but my then undiagnosed kidney stones were to force me to curtail my ride after only 60 km.
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| Primrose Path Audax |
March
March was my first anniversary of getting back into cycling following some 30 years of lethargy. It also saw the delivery of my official Ride London jersey and me setting up my Team Diabetes UK JustGiving page, for which I braved the cool early spring air to capture some 'summer short sleeved' publicity pictures!
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| RideLondon Publicity Shot |
April
Through the first few months of the year, I kept to the Crosstrail on my evening AVP rides, concerned that with roads covered in runoff debris, mud and rain hidden potholes, I'd damage the Roubaix. Not having a dedicated winter road bike, this was a risk I was not prepared to take ... until that was, towards the end of April, when I found myself very much the odd one out, the other Pedallers all on road bikes. The Crosstrail was stood down for the summer.
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| The Crosstrail and a typical AVP roadside workshop |
May
With just 3 months until the epic London ride, I met up with my RideLondon buddie, Jason, to kick off some more serious road training. Before the RideLondon, however, I had my second sportive, the Dartmoor Classic, which I was going to be riding in June with my AVP buddie, Andy. To familiarise ourselves with the area, we completed a memorable hill climb training ride across Dartmoor, picking perhaps one of the best days of the year so far to do it ... if only we could guarantee similar weather for the event!
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| Training for the Dartmoor Classic |
June
Training for the RideLondon continues and with kidney stones now successfully blasted to oblivion my second sportive, riding the Dartmoor Classic with Andy, is a great success. Both of us achieve a bronze medal; myself just 3 minutes or 3 months off a silver and Andy just shy of the 10 minutes I held him up en route! The medals were just icing on the cake, we had a great day and the weather could not have been better.
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| Dartmoor Classic Buddies |
July
In the lead up to the RideLondon, my target had been to complete at least 100 training miles a week, peaking during July when I covered over 500 miles. It was during this month that I procured my GoPro camera, with the intention of capturing every second of the upcoming big ride. What followed were weekly video releases of our AVP rides as I perfected the art of film production! My favourite pre RideLondon film must be Les Maillots Jaunes, but I'd be the first to admit I won't be giving up my day job!
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| My GoPro Hero3+ Black |
August
Finally, the 2014 Prudential RideLondon arrives. Riding with my good friend Jason through biblical rain on an event which even my video can not do justice! My sponsors raised an amazing £1,570.73, over 200% of my target, for Diabetes UK .. Thank you so much, everyone for your generosity.
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| Just one of my RideLondon press cuttings |
September
After the RideLondon, the rest of the year could have been a bit of an anticlimax, however, not only did I have the annual AVP 100 miler to look forward to, but also, having delayed our summer holidays due to my sportives, and now with the Yeti bike transport, a late holiday in Mull during the most perfect of India Summers inspired me to continue cycling .. oh yes, I also had that small matter of my 'half a century and not out' to celebrate!
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| Cycling Mull |
October
Way back at the beginning of September, before I headed off to Mull, I accepted the role of AVP Kit Master, with immediate responsibility for ordering in the winter kit. This was one of those decisions which brought mixed emotions of joy and despair! But when finally, at the end of October, the big box of shrink-wrapped kit arrived and sales seemed to go well, my relief was palpable!
October also saw me enter an impromptu and my third sportive, the Autumn Storm.
November
The patter of new rubber on tarmac is heard as I collect my new Specialised Tarmac 'summer' road bike and reap the benefits of my first ever professional bike fit. Not totally planned but I just could not resist its smooth lines, integral cabling and silver paintwork .. not to mention the 'buy me now' price tag. Roll on summer!
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| Specialized Tarmac Expert - my new 'summer bike' |
December
This Christmas it was our turn to do the festive family tour and now with the Yeti, I was able to bring one of my bikes with me. Following the arrival last month of the new Tarmac and my Roubaix having been designated the winter road bike, it was an easy decision .. the Roubaix was deep cleaned and loaded for travel. While away, I had two wonderful rides with both my sister and brother-in-law.
Back in September, en route to Mull, we stopped off with some very good friends near Castle Douglas. Coincidentally they just happened to be competing in a triathlon and seeing how much interest I showed in the event, they suggested I may want to give it a go myself and gave a very smart wetsuit to try out. Why do I mention this? Well, one of the gifts I received for Christmas was book entitled "Triathlon for Beginners". I feel a seed has been sown for my next 'Tour de Fitness' challenge!
So, during 2014, I have again taken my Tour de Fitness to another level; 2013 was all about getting back on a bike, 2014 was focussed on doing a couple of sportives, and with the Dartmoor Classic and RideLondon, I had an amazing year. For 2015 .. who knows .. it looks like it could be the year for a Triathlon!
Thank you to all my cycling buddies, Andy and Jason in particular, my fellow Axe Valley Pedallers, Wiggle, Chain Reaction, Evans, Soanes Cycles, The Bike Shed and of course my wife for making 2014 another wonderful cycling year .. Happy New Year to all!
