Do shaved legs make you faster?

The Tuesday Evening .. "Preparation aid for the AVP 100" .. Ride numbered at least 10 Pedallers last night, as Buster led us over a 40 mile circuit out towards Honiton, up and over the hills through Upottery, Yarcombe and back through Membury and Axminster.

Meeting up for the ride

Last week we had half this number, so it's great to see the word getting out. Having two AVP rides in a week, I am getting to meet new club members whom would normally go out on the Thursday mountain bike ride or who are just not able to make the earlier Thursday slot. This week, as well as Buster and myself, we were again joined by Kelly and Shaun from last week, Bobble, Nelly and Ed from the Thursday ride, and Jeff .. my new bike mechanic who straightened my wheels the other day and who last night showed me how to get a chain back on without getting my hands dirty! What a treat!

During our rides, I like to share the latest piece of biking trivia, much to other's amusement or disbelief. Last week it was how Froome has cycled under the Channel .. see the evidence in the video below.

This week, the subject was that body hair conundrum .. do shared legs make you faster? I shared how the guys at Specialized have taken to the wind tunnel to answer this question once and for all. They ran a test 10 time on the bike with hairy legs and 10 times with shaved legs over a 40 km distance. The aerodynamic boffins found a maximum time advantage of 82 seconds on one ride, with an average saving of 70 seconds, when riding without hairy legs. As the actual gains will depend on the amount of hair - measured by the 'Chewbacca scale' - this time advantage might not be universally applicable to all, but when 'marginal gains' are at stake, I ask "should I now reach for the razor?" .. I guess the next question would be "where am I on the Chewbacca scale?". I think we'll leave it there!

So back to the ride. As we crossed the A35 at Kilmington, on our return, the sun had already dropped below the horizon and it brought back memories of the spring and autumn rides that we do under an ever darkening sky. Although unlike on those occasions when I've gone out expecting darkness, I was riding last night without my 2000 lumin lights and so needed to keep up with Ed and Bobble on the home run in order to see my way back to Seaton.

We ended the ride at around 10:30 pm, no apres beer and chips and it was all quiet and powered down at home. It was a good ride, but I'm kind of looking forward to getting my 100 milers done and dusted. Just 24 days to go!

First Tuesday AVP Evening Ride

As a preparation aid for this year's AVP 100 at the end of August, a couple of weeks after my RideLondon 100, it has been suggested that the club re-establish the regular Tuesday evening rides.

Five keen Pedallers, Buster, the famed mountain biker, Curtis, our North American member, Kelly, Shaun and myself were to be the first to take up this challenge. Our rendezvous was at the Round Orchard for 19:00. Our route was to be a 42 mile circuit out to Crewkerne and back, through 3 counties and along roads I'd never covered before on the bike, with or without the club. Quite a rarity these days.

Not only did this give me some enjoyable additional miles of training, it also gave me the opportunity to test out my new GoPro in a group ride situation. I've since been told, by my non-cycling friends, that this makes for much more interesting viewing, and I tend to agree. While I'm happy with the general camera position, now that I've cleared the brake and gear cables from view, the vibration noise is still too excessive for me to include sound in the playback. I have another mounting bracket on order but the solution may be to come up with my own soundtrack ... perhaps, Queen's 'Bicycle Race'? Other ideas gratefully received!

While out on the ride, my Roubaix's wobbly wheels - which I first noticed had been pummelled out of alignment by our disgraceful potholed roads, whilst out with Jason on the Taunton Circuit last weekend - became so out of alignment that I had to loosen the brakes off to almost their maximum; something which is usual to do only when removing them from the frame. This was not a good situation. They will have to be fixed before my next ride, I can put this off no longer. The dilemma is, how long will I be off the road and will my Crosstrail, sadly sitting in the garage with a puncture, have to be my steed for Thursday night's ride? I need another road bike!

Epilogue:  As I am a little tardy with this posting, I can add this epilogue to inform all that no new bike was required ..  not just yet anyway. On Wednesday morning, I phoned the local bike shop, Soanes, in Colyton and Jeff the mechanic was able to realign both front and rear wheels in quick time, such that I had them back on the bike later that afternoon! The poor Crosstrail will have to sit out another AVP evening ride, but I did buy it the gift of a new inner tube and I'll give it a bit of TLC over the weekend.

Roubaix Rides Again

For one reason and another, I've missed the last three evening rides with the AVP, so tonight, with the sun shining, it was great to meet up with everyone again for what was to be one of our quickest and longest evening rides of the season.

I've managed to get in a number of solo rides on my Roubaix over the past few weeks, so thought I'd give the Crosstrail a run out; the ability to switch to off road mode has often given me the edge on some more recent evening routes! Meeting at the Kings Arms, however, I soon realised that amongst the other 13 riders, I was seemingly the odd one out. It was like turning up at a party in causal wear and seeing everyone else in black tie. Andy persuaded me to make a hasty retreat to switch bikes, he was right, I needed to be riding the Roubaix tonight.

Our route took us out to Axmouth, up to Boshill and along Trinity Hill Road, where a breakaway group made up of at least Rex, Andy, Nelly and Richard .. I only saw them disappear into the distance .. raced on ahead. I saw later that Andy and Rex got 7th & 8th positions respectively on that Strava segment, running at an average speed of a few points shy of 20mph!

We crossed the A35 together on to Crewkerne Road, to Hawkchurch and Wadbrook. Returning via Smallridge, Weycroft, Axminster, back across the A35 to Kilmington, Whitford and Musbury, we clocked up a good 28 miles in under 2 hours. No punctures, only 1,900 ft of climbing and some quick pedalling! At one point, moving rapidly up Combe Road out of Axmouth, I thought 'goodness I'm feeling unfit', that was however, until I realised it was Rex and Nelly, out front setting the pace! That said, we all did well keeping up a good cadence and were very ready for our beer and chips back at the Kings Arms.

AVP April Sunday Morning Ride

Every month the AVP has a gentle ride out for coffee and cake at a local feeding post, a key event in my diary.

I decided on an early depart to make the most of the beautiful spring morning and rode up Seaton Down Hill and out to Beer.

After checking in at the beach, I headed back to Seaton to meet up with 17 other riders at the TIC for the April ride.

We followed all the back lanes out through Colyton to Dalwood and stopped for coffee and cake at the Millers Farm Shop on Gammons Hill near Axminster.

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.

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 312 - Cheesy Chips Were Never So Good

While Luke Rowe and the Sky team enjoy riding in 40 degrees down under, 8 AVP riders braved a clear starry winter's night on the weekly Thursday evening ride through the blacked out Devon lanes. Tonight, Tigger led us - Handbag, Jolly, Andy, Rex, Richard, Killen and me - out to Axmouth and up Combe Road to Rousdon. We bypassed Stepps Lane, on this occasion and also avoided the school which, following an altercation with a disgruntled resident during last Friday's AVP ride, thought it best to give it a wide berth.

Richard's Boardman punctured

With no more than 5 miles covered, Richard's Boardman punctured. Two inner tubes later and with a hand from from Handbag, who is always in the thick of it with either a tube or pump to loan or bandaid to affix, we were back on the road making swift progress towards Axminster. I was having a tough time keeping up with the chain gang on my Crosstrail, my legs spinning rapidly but seemingly making little gains on the twinkling red lights of the riders ahead. I should have brought my Roubaix.

Sticking to the roads, pleasingly keeping clear of the cycle paths which cruelly punctured me when I was last out this way, and it being an away night, we returned to Colyford via Kilmington and Musbury having covered a good 18 miles.

Apres Ride Beer & Cheesy Chips

The pace was a quick for our standard evening ride, clocking an average of 13 mph, which meant that even with the stop we were back in the warm well before the mountain bikers and in good time to get in a pint and a chat before the very welcomed cheesy chips were served. I'm going to need a thicker winter jersey, it's getting cold out there, Bar Bunny please get the order in.

Day 280 - A Gentle Morning Ride

This has, in contrast to last, been a week of lethargy as far as the cycling is concerned. Dark mornings and too much work has left me less than keen to get out on the bike. Having topped the distance leaderboard these last few weeks I've dared not to look at it this week.

I did, however, venture out on a brisk two hour walk yesterday, only to frustratingly give myself a slight groin injury! This morning, I thus felt compelled to get out and cover a few gentle miles else I feared, the way I was feeling, I'd not get out until spring finally arrived. 

I headed off up Seaton Down Hill turning off down Roman Way before hitting the real climb, afraid of further damaging myself after yesterday's walk. The ride continued into Colyton and back through Axmouth taking in all the little side roads and cul-de-sacs that I'd always wondered about along the way. 

Heading out of Colyton on the back road towards Honiton, I stumbled across a business park and a cycle business I never knew existed, MountainBikeBitz.com. I also took time out to have a look at an old WWII gun emplacement in a field overlooking the Axe River outside of Colyford. On this occasion the cows which normally surround it were elsewhere.

The sunrise over the hills towards Dorset in the distance was beautiful. It was a lovely morning for a ride.

Heading back into Axmouth. I stopped again to take in the view and pose for a few snaps .. these shots look a at though they've come from the new year Sky catalogue! .. perhaps I'll sell then on ;) 

It was then a short ride back home and just under 12 miles covered. Not a long distance based on recent form but it still felt good to be out on the bike again. Need to do better next week.

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 185 - Hill Training

This week, so far, I have been focussing on training for next weekend's 100 miler with the AVP. After a fun weekend ride exploring the the Taunton Stop Line, it was back down to some serious hill training with a three interesting evening circuit climbs.

Monday was the Peco Hill Climb dash. Anyone who has walked up to Pecorama in Beer will know the hill I speak of here, it ends with a 12%+ corker of a climb. I last attempted this back on Day 35 in April and had to dismount to make it to the top. Today, I made it in one go and still in the saddle.

Wednesday evening, I managed to squeeze in the Seaton Down Hill circuit between finishing work and before dinner. This is a 10% one mile steady climb, cruelly increasing in severity the closer you get to the Tower at the summit. The enjoyable part of this climb, however, is the 2 mile 40mph drop down into Colyford, naturally, slowing to 30mph to keep within the speed limit at the junction with Harepath Road!

Thursday was my regular 20 mile AVP Evening Ride, which tonight took us out on the hilly Lyme Regis circuit a route I last did on Day 89, on my second outing with the AVP back at the end of May. This time I was so much more prepared for what was to come and fitter too. On the 4 mile climb out of Lyme, the garden wall, I normally stop for a breather at was passed by and the grass verge I've used in the past to take a much needed lie down on, was left undisturbed. It was still a hard ride, averaging over 12 mph over the distance and reaching speeds of 37 mph on some of the drops. And I almost forgot, Andy and I kicked off the circuit with a ride up Stepps Lane, a 2 mile climb out of Axmouth reaching 15% and one which certainly got the heart racing and the lungs screaming for air!

Once in Lyme, we did take a sneaky cycle along the front, past the beach huts and late opening cafes. By the time we turned for home, the sun was setting fast and visibility became a problem with my underpowered lights. Covering our potholed and gravel strewn roads at speed on my skinny tyre Roubaix is a different prospect to being on my almost indestructible Crosstrail, so I can see this probably being my last APV evening ride for the year, unless I switch back to the hybrid.

Back at the pub, for a carb hit of chips and beer, the talk was of next week's 100 miler. The plan is to head out from Seaton next Sunday at 06:30 towards Exmoor, with food stops every 25 miles. We will also be accompanied by a support vehicle, with room for a few bikes in the event of incidents, and which will also carry a supply of water and food just in case. Cafes along the route have also been lined up to expect us. What I now need, is to get in a few more miles training this weekend be be on top of my game and for the weather to be kind for the Grand Tour!

When comparing the stats with my ride in May, I shaved 20 minutes off the total ride time, increased my average speed by 4.5 mph and reached a top speed of 5 mph more; no wonder my legs are crying out for a rest!

Stats: 20.78 mi, 1hr 41m, Avg 12.3 mph, Max 37.7 mph, 1,194 kcal

Day 164 - Time to Buy Lights

After a good rest, I was very ready for a long ride and Thursday's evening outing with the AVP did not disappoint. I was ready ahead of time so completed a mile and a half 'warm up' lap before arriving at our pub meeting point. Once formed up, 11 riders headed out through Axmouth towards Lyme Regis. Rather than entering this beautiful seaside town as we did back in May, we took a detour through Uplyme but this did not negate the need for the long climb back up the Lim valley away from Lyme which, just as last time, still equals one of my most challenging climbs. Bypassing the town, meant that we were able to take in Axminster and the Kilmington cycle path.

Once through Musbury, on our return journey, it was definitely time to power on the lights. Luckily a large enough number of our group had lights to provide sufficient forward illumination and I'm going to have to think about fixing more than just my current 'be seen' neons in future weeks! 

This was probably one of my toughest rides, giving me the greatest pain from the hill climbs which I was determined not to be beaten by. The quick 5 miles of roads ending the circuit were hard going and on this occasion, my hybrid team mate and myself got very left behind by the road bikes. I just hope I've not done too much muscle damage.

Stats: 24.17 mi, 1h:56m, Avg 12.5 mph, Max 35.3, 1,290 kcal

Day 157 - AVP Evening Ride

Thursday night and come what may, it's the AVP Evening Ride. This has become a bit of a ritual of late and one few things are going to make me miss. Amazingly, and this will probably be the comment to end it, over the past few weeks, Thursdays have been one of if not the best day, weather wise, in the week. Having fuelled up earlier in the day with fish & chips on the beach I was ready to burn some calories!

The holiday season seems to have really kicked in this week as our peloton number was down to 11 tonight. With a junior bunch of riders, and I don't mean just in age, Andy, one of our most experienced members took the lead in marking out our route. Andy likes a hill or two so burn calories we did!

Heading first over to Colyford to place our order for apres cycling chips, yes again, we headed back towards Seaton and then looped anti clockwise up to Axminster across a busy A35 - not the best idea we've ever had - and over some very bumpy cycle tracks. I was regularly switching modes on my front forks to cater for the different terrain, something I think the road bike guys would have appreciated having the ability to do. 

Out of Axminster we took a an extended loop around Shute Barton, with its impressive gatehouse which had to be included in the backdrop of a hastily taken picture before racing off back to Colyford before we totally lost the light. The nights are really drawing in now and I think I've only a couple more weeks of this evening ride left, unless I purchase a set of heavy duty spot lights as I hear the AVP do get out for a bit of night riding ... not sure about that though!

Tean shot at Shute Barton

The route was what I think must be one of my greatest climbing rides with apx 1800 ft of elevation reached .. that sounds impressive anyway. The cross-section image below seems to bear this out too.

The route art for those of an artistic disposition out there is a leaf .. can you name the tree?

Stats: 24.4 mi, 1h:58m, Avg 12.3 mph, Max 34.9, 1,362 kcal

Day 156 - Lost Record

What a difference a week makes. After the full cycling agenda of last week, I've been so busy in the office that it took to Wednesday evening before I could get out on my bike.

By Wednesday, I was so in need of a ride that I decided on a circuit I'd not completed for some time. This includes the challenging 2 mile 'Social Club' climb out to Colyton towards Beer, a Strava category 4 hill, rising in places to a 10% incline, with some beautiful views.

Cycling through Beer, it is hard not to pause to take in more beautiful views across the roof tops towards the sea.

Once back in Seaton, having seen Andy take my Seafront2 sprint record earlier in the week, I had to make an attempt at getting it back but was unable to better my original time of 1:23, 10 seconds short of Andy's new record. This is going to take some beating!

Stats: 11.4 mi, 57m:43s, Avg 11.9 mph, Max 32.6, 640 kcal

Day 136 - Much Needed Ride

You know those days when work seems to be all consuming and you forget there is another life to live, well today was one of those days. So with 5 minutes to spare, I was pleased to have made the decision that I would drop everything and head out with the AVP for a much needed ride, to clear the head and sweat out the frustrations of a day of business madness, and sweat I did!

The nights may be already drawing in but the temperatures are still the highest we've seen for some years. There were a baker's dozen of us riders who headed out towards Axminster with the first objective of dropping off the baker before continuing on to Hawkchurch. We took the cycle path through Kilminton in the opposite direction to that of last week where milking cows now replaced the young horned bullocks, a much more relaxed ride!

Taking the minor roads from Hawkchurch back to Axmouth the sun became a blood red orange orb low on the horizon and I can see that next week the sun glasses will have to stay at home, as there were times, under the trees, that visibility became close to that of riding out at the dead of night with no lights. That said, is was still a very quick ride with another 3 time and a longest circuit PB recorded.

The only downer on the ride was the attitude of one motorist who displayed a little anger to have to slow to make way for the peloton as we made our way through the lanes. The consensus, however, was that it was being taken by surprise and fear rather than any malice that led to the outburst. The attitude of some to cycling in country is - now that I'm in the other camp - disappointing. I heard on the SE local news this morning, that Surrey is up in arms over the number of road closures for cycling events and in a recent edition of a cycling magazine there was a letter which spoke of a news reporter asking what can cyclists do to prevent being hit by cars, from behind though wearing high-viz clothing and have lights on, not what car drivers do to avoid hitting bikes. I hear that on the continent, learner drivers are taught to open their doors with the opposite hand, i.e. open the right door with left hand. This makes the driver look behind to ensure there is no traffic - e.g. bikes - coming alongside before opening. The success of our cyclists at the London Olympics and in the Tour de France is doing great things for cycling in Britain but we've a long way to go to be as bike friendly as our neighbours across the channel.

Stats: 25.56 mi, 2h:01m:27s , Avg 12.6 mph, Max 27.0, 1346 kcal

PBs:

  Circuit:  25.56 mi
  One hour: 13.51 mi 

  10 mi 37m:47s (5m:14s quicker than my previous PB) 

  20 km 52m:23

Day 134 - Bike Kitchen

So after a day off the bike yesterday, as hard as it was and in spite of the office work I had piling up, I needed to get back in the saddle. Today was not a long ride but it was an important one as I could so easily have given it a miss and that's a slippery slope!

I hope you've noticed I've finally posted a picture of the summer jersey, just perfect for the heatwave we have at the moment, but not the best colour for hiding chain oil which has already made a showing since I learned the bike performed better with it! Now, I would not normally get that close to an oily chain, but it has come adrift twice in the last few days, something I need to keep an eye on.

Talking of bike bits and mechanics, the inner workings of the bicycle, as simple as it may seem, is not something I am that familiar with. Having spent many of my early years tinkering with cars, I somehow never had the need to get involved in cycle maintenance. As such, one event I dread is getting a puncture, particularly one that would involve unpicking the rear wheel gear and chain assembly. I noticed, reading a copy of Cycling Weekly the other day, the opening of the first Bike Kitchen outside California, in London. This is a DIY workshop where you can take care of your own bike with support of professional bike mechanics. What a great way to learn about maintaining and building bikes, I hope the idea spreads throughout the rest of the UK.

Back on my bike, I started this morning's circuit with a relatively flat ride out along Harepath, I was keen to leave any hill to the end and also wanted a change of scenery. After all my talk about a heat waves, it was surprisingly chilly out there .. you just never know what to wear! This was otherwise a very uneventful ride, until the homeward run along Axmouth Road, when inspired by the great sprinters of the TDF, I chased down and passed on another rider! Hardly surprising, therefore, that I achieved a new Avg Speed PB of 13.5 mph for the circuit.

Stats: 5.24 mi, 23m:14s , Avg 13.5 mph, Max 25.7 mph, 257 kcal

Day 129 - Fast & Furious

Thankfully, although still under a beautiful blue sky, the excessive temperatures of earlier in the week had abated slightly for my evening ride out with the AVP (Axe Valley Pedallers).  It was a close run thing that I was going to make it, with a last minute office call delaying my departure but although feeling a little rushed at the starting line, I was feeling in good fitness for what was to come, or so I thought.

We were lacking, today, any female riders. Not that our ladies are any less able, it is just that there is more willingness to take things easy when they join the peloton. Also, there were a number of new, younger faces making up the 12 cyclists which, lowering the average age, tends to increase the speed and it did! We rode out to Colyford along one of my well worn routes and up hill in the direction of Lyme Regis, turning almost immediately off the A3052 towards Uplyme. It is amazing how these guys get to know all these narrow single track roads as I could have been in another country, as we rode I had no way of knowing where we were! After 14 miles of hill after hill cycling, we dropped down into Axminster and took a cycle path out to Kilmington. I may get ribbed for having one of the only hybrids in the group, but for the surfaces we traversed, I can not think of a better machine to have than my Crosstrail Sport. Also for training purposes and for its range of gears, it is the perfect cycle for me. That is not to say that if I'm still into cycling this time next year, that I won't have moved up to a full road bike - the performance some of these guys get out of their machines is very impressive!

After working our way through a field of inquisitive bullocks, with their horns, we made the 4 miles back to Colyford in a quick 15 minutes where I split with the team to return home. On reading my stats, the feeling that it was a fast and furious ride was born out. I achieved another 3 PBs!

Stats: 22.01 mi, 1h:57m:23s , Avg 11.3 mph, Max 33.5, 1301 kcal

PBs:

  One hour: 12.43 mi, 

  10 mi 43m:0s, 

  20 km 59m:59s