Tour de Fitness Joins The World Of Twitter

Twitter (/ˈtwɪtər/) is an online social networking service that enables users to send and read short 140-character messages called "tweets" .. or so Wikipedia says. In the last week or so, I can't now be sure when as I'm losing track of time on this sabbatical, I created a Twitter account for my 'Tour de Fitness' persona. Why you may ask? Well, I've had a Twitter account for some years in my own name, but have never had a reason or mission to use it. I say mission as from what I've learned in my limited time of observing Twitter users is that one basically uses it to sell something .. either a product or service, raise awareness of a charity, or ones own eminence.

I initially decided to create my account to shamelessly promote this blog, increase the number of readers and share my 'Tour de Fitness' journey. Since receiving Twitter guidance from my cycling buddy, the Near Naked Man at the Broom Wagon, I've found it actually to be far more than just a platform from which to promote oneself. The companies, publications and people I am now following, have interesting facts and events to share themselves. I have also found it to be more than just a one way communication, I've been able to enquire on companies products, raise issues, exchange ideas and re-share interesting information with my own followers.  The responses I have received from companies has also been far quicker and immediate than email or letter!

Having had such a positive initial experience with my Tour de Fitness venture, I've now also set up an account for the Pedallers to complement our Facebook page, we will see how long I keep this up and whether it has the results I'm hoping .. generating interest in the AVP and encouraging local cyclists to join us. It has been great, for example, to see the Seaton Tourist Information Centre re-tweeting our ride details, and it will be interesting to see how this develops.

One downside to the immediate availability of information from my Twitter feed, however, has been in finding out the results of the Vuelta, the Tour of Spain pro cycling event, prior to seeing the evening's catchup programme on TV! I have another 2 weeks of having to turn a blind eye to the day's updates or just access it early morning and late evenings!

Finally, returning to this blog, you will see that on the right hand side of this page, there is a section where you can view a summary of my random 'Twitterings', so that you too can share in the immediacy of these communications without having to open an account yourself .. naturally, if you have taken this step into the world of twitter, please feel free to follow, that is after all, what it is all about :)

Ending The Week With The Near Naked Man

It was not a promising start to the week when the Met Office, still providing the BBC with their weather, reported that "the weather out there today is wet and shitty with continued wet and shitty in the afternoon. Tomorrow a chance of continued crappy with a pissy weather front coming down from the north. Basically, it's [going to be] wetter than a snake's ass in a wagon rut." .. don't you just love Robin Williams!

I, therefore, thought I'd be locked up inside for the duration working on an ark, for the day of judgement seemed soon to be upon us. A break in the weather surprisingly appeared on Tuesday morning in time for me, filled with guilt and jitters for having only ridden once since the 100 miler 2 weeks ago, to venture out on an early morning spin. The window was, however, a short one as having only pedalled 5 of my intended 20 miles, god's sprinklers got turned up to max and I had to make a slight detour to the Colour Wheel coffee shop to steam off a little dampness and take on warm coffee and a very welcomed toasted tea cake. The staff were very surprised to see me tap my way, dripping, into their shop and questioned my ability to read the weather forecast! I completed my 20 mile soaking back at the Broom Wagon where I was offered a towel to sit on, such was by then the state of my attire!

Soggy view from the Broom Wagon

Wednesday saw a dove arrive with an olive branch .. or at least a promise of clear sky for the afternoon. I had been hoping to catch up with an old colleague from Yorkshire holidaying in the area and agreeing that this forecast looked the most promising for a while, we agreed a late afternoon rendezvous in Lyme Regis. I took the Tarmac on a circular route, as you know, I do not like having to retrace my steps if at all possible. The roads were dry and clear in all but the shaded sections where I received a slightly pleasurable dampening, the afternoon August heat now building. 

Thursday was another mixed day with a promise of clear and rain free evening for the regular AVP ride. I had earlier fitted a set of new hefty Schwalbe Marathon tyres to an old set of Mavic wheels which I had thought to set aside for the winter / wet weather. This is akin to the F1 teams having sets of slick 'super soft tyres' which I normally run on and a set of wet weather tyres. The Marathon's will be the wet weather tyres I can shoe my steeds with when venturing out during the winter. I had, however, not assumed to have to consider them so soon, although for this Thursday evening ride, they were a godsend and perfect for the not so well maintained Devon roads frequented only by farm vehicles and those lost following their satnavs. Well this night's road ride(s) were a bit different. Around 11 riders met up at the Kings Arms. Grinch led the 6 club riders out to Lyme while Quiff took the sprint ride towards Crewkerne. Somehow, I managed to get swept along with the sprint group until Raymonds Hill when Curtis and I peeled off to take in Tatworth, Chardstock and Membury. http://ridewithgps.com/trips/6261940. This was when my Schwalbe Marathons came into their own as we traversed some very slimy and gritty sections over which my normal slicks would have been severely punished. After a good 35 miles covered, I was feeling decidedly pooped (Clive's term) and it was even too late for any recovery beer & chips! Still .. it was great to have got out for another spin.

I had planned to leave my cycling for the week there. That was until I received a text from The Near Naken Man on Sunday morning. The message was that he was going out for a ride in 30 minutes and did I want to join him. Before my legs had a chance to counter the decision, I was lycra'd up and spinning the Tarmac down to the Broom Wagon. The Near Naked Man does not do wet weather cycling, so assumed I'd not need a rain cape, nor the Roubaix still shod with Thursday night's wet weather tyres. Big mistake! By the time we reached Sidford, I was again wet to the skin! I couldn't grumble though, it was a great ride and the biblical weather reminded me so much of last year's Ride London and that feeling that you can only get so wet after which it some how becomes comical. I do wish however that drivers would heed the weather conditions and show more consideration to their fellow road users, who do not have the luxury of a windscreen, roof and cozy air-conditioning .. I have too few digits to count the number who sprayed us with dirty puddle juice as they passed dangerously close in both directions .. may be the parliamentary petition to add cycle awareness and safety to the current Driving theory test will do some good for new drivers, for the old .. well, answers on a post card ;)

Cycling with the Near Naked Man

South Coast Nemesis 2015

This halfway point in my 3 month sabbatical from full time project management has been odd one, mainly because of the unusual weather we've experienced this week. Being British, we naturally have a constant interest in the changing weather so why should this week be so different? For me, the reason this week is simple, in that it has frustrated and pleased in equal measure.

At the start of the week I was itching to get out on the bike, but my destiny lay with a paint brush and my front door, which meant that leaving the house was not an option until the door was dry. These first two days of painting went well as the sun shined brightly. With the bike prepared for its first outing since the 100 miler, for at least a Wednesday wibble, what did our British weather deliver .. yes, continuous rain. It was not content to just upset Wednesday's plan, but both Thursday evening's APV ride and the Friday Flyer's morning spin were both certified washouts! The next planned outing was a Friday evening ride over to Sidmouth to see the celebrated return of the Red Arrows after a 10 year absence. All through the day, I had been following Red10 on Twitter to see whether, as with the Lyme Regis and other displays, they would again be grounded. Red10 spoke of the South Coast Nemesis 2015 as being the rain and low cloud which this year had prevented so many coastal displays from taking place.

Arrows over Sidmouth 

Having had no negative confirmation from Red10 and not to be put off by the worsening conditions, I saddled up the Roubaix and joined up with 3 other Pedallers overlooking a misty Sidmouth, our heads touching the clouds. Unbelievably almost dead on 6:30 pm we heard the distinctive roar of the 9 Rolls Royce Adour engines coming in from sea.  They had to, however, be right on top of us before we got sight of them as conditions required them to fly low over the sea which was obscured from our vantage point by trees! On a clear day, they would have risen high above the tree line and fly down the valley which was now also unfortunately hidden under a layer of mist and cloud! While the ride home was a damp one, it was great to be out on the bike again with my fellow Axe Valley Pedallers (AVP).

Test riding the Fat Bike!

The next key event of the week was Sunday's Great Outdoors Festival to be held on Seaton seafront. The AVP were to have the gazebo and flags out and the attractions of 2 spinning bikes donated by the local Axminster gym and an American Fat Bike loaned by Soanes Cycles. The weather during Saturday night through to Sunday morning was that of torrential rain, but the Met Office reported a break in the clouds from around 2pm through till late evening. It took great courage of the organisers to press ahead as we set up our displays under grey clouds and falling rain. Amazingly, just as forecast, the rain ceased and clouds cleared bathing us in a summer sun we had almost given up hope on seeing for another year! The festival was a absolute success, with much interest shown from from all ages in both the spinning and fat bikes and the cycle club in general.

AVP at the Great Outdoors Festival 2015

Although I did not get another ride out, meaning that this week was my worst for miles covered since the winter, the South Coast Nemesis 2015 did not get the better of us in the end, the Red Arrows visit was strangely entertaining and the weekend saw one of the club's most successful events. I'm now looking forward to seeing what next week brings, and if it means that I have to stay in out of the rain all week, at least I have the Vuelta to watch!

My 2nd Carbon Anniversary

While March 2013 marks the month and year in which I returned to the saddle, August was the month in which I moved to the next level and purchased my first carbon road bike, the Specialized Roubaix Sport Compact. The drive behind this was that on September 15th, I was going to complete my first ever 100 mile bike ride and needed something a little more suitable for this challenge than my trusted but heavy hybrid.

I was reminded of this anniversary by Facebook which has this new feature of presenting members with posts that they made on that day one or two years ago. Most I dismiss as banal chit chat but I saw this purchase as a real milestone that made me sit back and think " ... has it really been 2 years since I made that leap into that world and lifestyle of the MAMIL!"

Facebook memory from 18 August 2013

In the past 2 years, my carbon bike cycling stats look something like this:

• Rides: 228
• Duration: 17d:22h:12m
• Distance: 5,746.05 mi
• Calories burned: 306,342 kcal
• Burgers burned: 567

Within this time I have ridden 3x major (may be over closed roads or I got a medal) and numerous minor sportives, I've completed 6x 100 milers and have cycled up Mont Ventoux twice, and I have a dedicated lycra wardrobe to cover every occasion the British weather dictates!

I just had to share this with you as a warning, in that this cycling lark can take pounds off you .. and not just around the middle :)

AVP 100 Miler - Portland 2015

The last 2 and only AVP 100 milers that I've ridden have been very gentle. The first, my first ever 100 mile ride in September 2013, took 8hr 30mi, the second, a year later, was 8hr 10mi, excluding stops. Both, however, saw us returning in the dark, the stops being frequent and an extended break taken for lunch! This year, the club has controversially introduced a shorter 100km ride to run simultaneously. Controversial as I have always viewed the club's 100 miler as that unique opportunity for all members to be able to achieve this key cycling milestone with the safety net of riding with experienced club riders. Splitting the ride could create a two tiered annual ride, preventing many the opportunity to do their first 100 miler as I did, because they see it as something for the experience riders only. There is a risk that the gap between experienced and junior riders may even widen. On the flip side, not everyone wants to do 100 miles, indeed I personally prefer the 100 km distance, and not all 100 mile riders want to take all day, indeed I am one of these too!

So, on Sunday at 07:30 30 riders met to do their chosen distances, against by better judgement, I had signed up for the 100 miler. The 100 mile route changed last week, Quiff having completed a rece and found the climbing a little ambitious .. oddly I found that route challenging, yes, but surprisingly quick. It was actually my quickest 100 miles to date at 6hr 59mi. The route, therefore, chosen for the AVP 2015 100 miler was to be the Portland Century. A similar route to the one I completed with a few friends back on a wet and windy March weekend earlier this year. That one was a bit of an epic, one friend bonked and it took us a painful 7hr 55mi to complete.

The weather for our ride was perfect. Warm but not hot, bright but not too sunny and just light winds. I decided against bringing lights, I was feeling confident that the 11 riders who lined up for the 100 miler were not going to hang around. One thing I have also learned over these past few years is that you can not carry too much food, as running out or not taking on enough fuel is not a place you want to be with only your legs to get you home. With hindsight, my food stocks would probably have got me to Portland and back twice!

My food stocks would probably have got me to Portland & back twice!

We started well, but as we climbed out of Lyme Regis we lost our first rider who had to retire with a broken rear derailleur. There are some things which just can not be repaired in the field and this was one. 10 cyclists rode on until we hit the 15 mile marker just after Shave Cross when we were hit with our 2nd mechanical. One of new members had suffered a rear puncture, the fixing of which was met with much hilarity as the chain had been so well oiled that it had coated the entire wheel and rear of the bike, and subsequently Quiff who had drawn the short straw to roll his sleeves up, in a film of crude akin to that which followed the Exxon Valdez disaster of the late 1980s!

We made it to Portland in time for lunch at the small cycling cafe, Cyclocceno, which, as was my last experience, was rather overwhelmed by our arrival - I think on reflection, it pays to forewarn such establishments, particularly when 11 hungry cyclists are planning on descending and wanting a quick turnaround. The benefit of using Cyclocceno, however, is that it is also a cycle shop and this enabled our 3rd mechanical, a faulty rear tyre, to be replaced. Scanning the shelves of cycling goodies, as one has to do, it is surprising just how well stocked Cyclocceno are with the vital essentials of tubes, tyres, tools and energy bars and of course whole bikes. I could see this being my local if it were not 50 miles from home.

Time for lunch at the small cycling cafe, Cyclocceno

After an extended lunch break, the Cyclocceno had run out of bread for our sandwiches and so had to send out for more supplies, we headed on to achieve the objective of our ride, to reach the Portland Bill Lighthouse. What a difference calmer weather makes to this exposed headland. When I was last here, it was an achievement just to keep the bike on the ground. Today, the cycling was a pure delight, as too were the views and the silent light house .. no need for the fog horn today!

9 of the 10 .. Curtis is behind the camera

As in every 100 miler I've done, the adulation of reaching your outward destination is soon crushed by the thought that there's now another 50 miles to do to return home. I think this is why the original route rece was so much easier as we had no specific outward destination to reach, it was just a circuit. This just shows how in cycling, or any sport I suppose, psychology has as much as an affect on performance as the need for good fitness. It's all down to that inner chip again.

The return journey is one you just have to grit your teeth and grind out the miles. There's little of the chat that punctuated the outward ride, the peloton becomes stretched as tired legs scream "She Cannae Take Much More, Captain!" [Trekkie fan comment] .. and the stops and regroups become less common as the leaders of the pack want to - understandably - press on. I seem to have my nurturing head on and stick with our lantern rouge member, or at least this is what I'm telling myself. It seems a harder ride than the last century I did, just a few weeks before. Our final stop is to be in the town of Bridport, just 20 miles from home. The contingent from the Sid Valley CC who it's been great to have in our numbers, make the call that they will push on. The way I'm feeling I'm thinking the same. If I stop, I'm not sure I'll get going again. In the end, the draw of the cafe stop wins the day we make a final stop at Costa Coffee .. well, as they say, "any port in a storm".

We make a final stop at Costa Coffee

I had thought, leaving Bridport, that all our climbing was done for the day. Alas, no, the sting in this ride's tail was the infamous Mutton Street Climb. An 8% average, killer of a hill after 90 miles and one which requires the inner chimp to be restrained and beaten into submission to complete (no animals were really harmed in competing this climb), which I did quicker than before but slower than most. My excuse is that Tarmac is not designed to climb and it let me know by groaning all the way back to Seaton. Quiff talked on this homeward stretch about may be doing a few laps of a local airfield later the following week, I agreed that this was much more to the liking of the race tuned Tarmac, so watch this space.

We finished the ride in 7hr 40mi, slower than I'd hoped, but 15 minutes quicker than my last attempt at Portland and an hour faster than the original 100 milers ... I think I'm, controversially, liking the new format!

Sabbatical Day 28/65 - Last Thursday's AVP 6:30 Ride

I know, I'm a little behind the curve in telling all about last week's evening AVP ride, but I seem to have less time to myself on this sabbatical than when I'm working, or may be I'm just less organised!

It was great to be joined by 2 new members, Pete & Steve, both of whom peddled well with what was tonight a quick group. This brings me to a thought which has been building these six days since the ride. When I joined the club some 2 years ago, I could only just ride a bike, returning to the saddle as I had after a 30 year hiatus. With the support of my fellow pedallers, I then did my first 100 miles, cycled the Dartmoor Classic and Ride London events and this year climbed Mont Ventoux! We need to ensure as a club that we continue to nurture new riders as our ethos has always been. Some clubs I have ridden with and heard about seem to have the objective of dropping riders on a run, not the AVP. I have seen, like myself, many of my fellow riders of 2 years ago increase in speed and stamina such that we are reaching a point where we could support two 6:30 rides, club and sprint rides or may be in the words of one club commentator, a Zone 2 and Zone 4 ride. So perhaps, should our numbers be great enough on a Thursday we could look to do this. Where we do not have such a critical mass of riders, we should always remember the peloton moves as fast as the slowest rider .. this makes me think of Froome's support to his team in this year's TdF group time trial. And consider this, the fastest riders to the top of a hill or the end of a sprint should may be return to the start and do it again.

Off the soap box and back to the ride. It was a glorious sunny evening, hard to recall after the last few days of soggy greyness. Around 10 pedallers met at the Kings Arms and agreed a route to take in Sidmouth so as to experience a bit of the Folk Festival which had been in full swing since the weekend. The rest of circuit was left fluid which made for an interesting lumpy adventure as Quiff selected a melange of favoured hill climbs, some of which seemed to be placed in the landscape for no other reason than to test climbing ability, as they moved one no further forward replacing level ground with an incline akin to an Escher drawing. That said, the views from the ridge on East Hill, after the White Cross climb, looking towards Dartmoor were sublime and we rested there for a few minutes watching the sunset. We returned in a chaingang along Farway and the main A3052 back to Seaton, 30+miles and over 2500 ft of climb completed. Note: lights are now needed, one member who will remain nameless, may have cut things a bit fine this evening. Another highly enjoyable ride and a route I will revisit, particularly the ridge on East Hill, thanks for sharing this Quiff.

2015 AVP Treasure Hunt

Today 9 (AVP) Pedallers and 2 (AVR) Runners met for AVP August Monthly Ride, 'The 2015 Treasure Hunt'. Having been on Sabbatical these past 20 days, I've had a little bit of time available to work on route and questions, and this post outlines how the day went.

We formed into 4 teams:

• Team 1 - BarBunny, Quiff, Bean and Jean 
• Team 2 - Dave, Barry and Buster
• Team 3 - Becca and Roger 
• Team 4 - Jon and Ethan

Maps, clues and instructions were given and Teams 1 - 3 headed off on their different paths in search of treasure. Team 4 missed the grand depart by up to 30 minutes but cunningly made contact with Team 1 and secured from them the required instructions.

BarBunny was suffering with a back injury but braved 4 of the towns before Bean, being carried by Quiff, needed food and Jean took one for the team, going it alone to secure the treasure from the last town, Beer, with just seconds to spare. Jon and Ethan while starting last, raced their way around the map finishing ahead of all, youth on their side! Dave, Barry and Buster stormed around following their master plan efficiently splitting their resources, while Becca and Roger picked off each clue with profound wisdom and surgical precision.

Of the 34 pieces of treasure (points for answers) available to each team, the haul of the hunters amounted to:

• Team 1 - 29 pieces, all locations visited, all treasure found in 2 locations 
• Team 2 - 21 pieces, all locations visited, all treasure found in 1 location
• Team 3 - 33 pieces, all locations visited, all treasure found in 4 locations 
• Team 4 - 22 pieces, all locations visited, all treasure found in 0 locations

There were 4 'awards':

• Team 3 - Yellow Jersey - for the team collecting the highest value of treasure, Becca and Roger were the overall winners .. indeed the one missing piece of treasure Roger actually had but did not submit .. so really they achieved an amazing 100%.
• Team 2 - Green Jersey - for the team visiting the most locations and collecting treasure to a value of at least 3 from each 
• Team 1 - KoM Jersey - for the team collecting all the treasure available from the most locations
• Team 4 - Lanterne rouge!

If anyone is down this way and would like to do this treasure hunt, here are the questions. Just drop your answer sheet back to me and I'll be happy to score it.

The weather was kind and I think all enjoyed the challenge and a bit of gentle pedalling. I am hoping we can now make this an annual event.