Sunny AVP Evening Ride

10 Pedallers met up for the Thursday evening 28 mile road ride under a gloriously sunny sky. It was a good quick ride with fortunately no mechanical problems, no punctures, no crashes or fly-pasts ..

there was I believe a near miss with a dog and there may have been an altercation with a motorised vehicle down a narrow lane, but I could I really couldn't say!

Oh yes .. there was a Road Closure to negotiate

Check out the route below, extended a few miles to include Musbury after we'd got to Colyton, as we'd made such good time .. the Branoc had to wait!

Anniversary AVP Evening Rainbow Ride

Around 15 pedallers were out last night for the AVP Thursday evening road ride. I would have taken a better count but was a late arriver having had both a puncture to fix and vote to cast before heading out and was lucky to just catch the front of the peloton leaving the Kings Arms.

Tigger lead us out, just as he did a year ago to the day on my first ride with the pedallers.

My first ever ride with the Pedallers, 23 May 2013

... yes last night was my anniversary with the club.

Tigger and Rex discussing an exotic form of fungi

Tigger's route was to take us out to Branscombe, Blackberry Camp, Southleigh and back through Colyton via an ecliptic mix of roads and hills, some quite varied from the ones we've taken before. The ride was not to disappoint, as it provided us a veritable mix of nature's delights: from farm safari, to exotic fungi and meteorological phenomena.

Negotiating the farmyard safari

To add to the rich social tapestry of our ride, we were also joined by Curtis, our American Pedaller, just recently returned to these shores and a new addition to our number, a visitor to the area, so I believe - I did not catch the full story - and then the rare experience, of meeting the off-roaders in a Red Arrows styled crossover, as they came upon us in the opposite direction on the road to Southleigh.

A mesmerising view across to Lyme Regis

End of the Rainbow Ride

Heading back to Colyton, we were greeted with the view of the most spectacular rainbow and luckily avoided the worst of the downpour which
had obviously preceded us as we road back into Seaton.

Last Ride Before The Easter Rain

The day before Easter Sunday and the last before the unseasonably clear sky darkens again with rain filled clouds, I head out at 06:30 am into the cool spring sunshine.

I had it in mind to take in a few hills this morning, with the Dartmoor Classic just two months away, I needed the training. So, my plan was to head out over to Sidmouth and find a similar route to that I took yesterday, returning back through Colyton via Offwell. My only challenge was that I needed to do this in less than 2 hours as we had a day out planned.

To satisfy my need for a good climb, I decided to take on the Beer and Branscombe hills. this was not necessarily my best idea with the time I had available as hills considerably slow me down! I reached Sidmouth beach after an hour, my slowest 10 miles in a long time ... this was not good considering that I was cycling against the clock.

Sidmouth

With time against me, I still thought I could recover sufficient minutes by taking the Sidbury road out of Sidmouth and then crossing over to Farway to complete my intended route back through Offwell. I had not, however, paid sufficient attention to the map nor the contours around Roncombe Hill. The turning off the A375 looked level. I could see where the road should have followed the valley, carved out by the meandering Roncombe River, now just a stream, but those who had marked out the original track had chosen not to follow this logic. After being lulled into a false sense of security, the road started to climb and then climbed some more. Ahead, I could hear the sound of baying hounds, it was not a good feeling. Matters got even worse when rounding a steep hairpin near the top, I was greeted by a Road Closed sign. Was, after the climb of my life, I now having to u-turn and find another way out of Sidmouth? I decided, having come this far, I'd carry my bike over and around the obstacle .. thank goodness, back in August last year, I went for the lighter carbon frame! The cause of the road closure, was that a section had collapsed into the valley during the winter floods .. vindicating my original assumption that this is where it originally should have been built! The noise of the baying hounds was from the kennels that I found at the summit and my arrival did not quieten them any. The benefit of a good climb, however, is the great view you get from the top, and this one was equally spectacular.

The benefit of a good climb is the great view you get from the top!

I was now running dangerously late with only 15 minutes to complete the 15 miles of my intended return journey. This was not going to happen. My only option was to switch to the more direct, main roads and pray for a tailwind. While the wind's help was not forthcoming, the more favourable  gradient and smooth roads assisted in getting me home just 5 minutes later than planned, my new PB on the decent of Seaton Down Hill being testament to the speed I was travelling over these last 7 miles!

While I'd like to have another go at my originally intended circuit, I think I'll look for another route across to Farway; I'd be happy not to do Roncombe Hill again.

This concluded a really good week on the bike; completing my 2nd best distance of the year and registering 3rd place on the AVP weekly leader board, something I've not done for a very long time. With it being Easter Sunday tomorrow, the way is now clear for a guilt free day, grazing on chocolate Eater eggs ;)

Day 171 - Evening Ride with Jason

Monday, legs too sore to ride, Tuesday and Wednesday away with work, Thursday fit again for my AVP evening ride. But no, I did not ride out with the AVP, Jason, a good friend of mine called to suggest he drive over with his bike for a ride out. Perfect, I thought, an opportunity to get a few more miles under my belt on the new bike without the risk of embarrassing myself in front of the AVP, perhaps selecting the wrong gear or falling off!

I loaded one of my previous AVP circuits into the Garmin to follow. the one I selected was a good coastal ride out to Branscombe and back through Colyton. All was going well until 4 miles out, Jason hit a patch of gravel and punctured his rear tyre! Luckily, Jason having all the spare parts and equipment to hand he made quick work of the change and were back on the road, climbing the hills out of Branscombe with only a minor delay.

Following a route on the Garmin 500 is not that easy, as you have a line on a screen as an indication of route but no reference points such as road junctions and therefore, it was no surprise that we veered off the correct path. Although noticing this very quickly, we thought we'd continue on; no one likes to have to turn around! While this did give us a few more hills to climb, it also gave us the opportunity to join the main road and the high speed decent into Colyford from tower hill. I thought I must have surpassed my earlier 40.4 mph speed record, but alas, I was just 0.3 mph short. Next time!

Stats: 18.1 mi, 1h:33m, Avg 11.6 mph, Max 40.1, 1,006 kcal

Day 150 - Tour de Branscombe

After a few days of technology talk, today I'm getting back to the cycling.

My150th day marks the most miles I've cycled in both one day (30) and one month (242) and I am on target for the most to be completed in one week (73). I am now contemplating whether to take on the challenge of the 100 mile ride that the club is planning for the second week in September, watch this space.

This weekend the Prudential London-Surrey 100 sees 20,000 amateur cyclists converge on the capital for Britain's biggest ever cycling event. They will tackle 100 miles of closed road sportive, from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park through the Surrey Hills, retracing large parts of the course used in last year's Games, to finish on the Mall. In addition to this, an elite event  - including double Tour de France green jersey winner Peter Sagen - will also take place following a similar 140 mile route, ending Britain's 16 year wait for a world class single day road race. I unfortunately - or fortunately not one to appreciate vast crowds - will not be there in person but will certainly be tuning in to watch the BBC's coverage.

Early morning ride down at the seafront

Back in Seaton, it was another early rise for me as I was keen to try out my new Garmin GPS unit ahead of the AVP Thursday evening ride. I thought I'd just do a gentle few miles to test it out. As it was, with the milage display clearly visible before me, I could not help but clock up a 'gentle' 10 miles before calling it a morning. The road art could either be the wistful bunny on a skateboard or, as my wife pointed out, a squirrel engaged in a elaborate skateboard stunt ... see his head bottom left with tail and one foot in the air!

Stats: 10.36 mi, 56m 07s, Avg 11.1 mph, max 29.5 mph, 622 kcal

Later in the afternoon, I met up with the AVP for our regular Thursday evening ride. Where to tonight? Branscombe including, as seen in the profile below, two category 4 climbs! 

We headed out up hill towards Beer and dropped down into Branscombe before then taking the long climb out past the village's idilic St Winifred's church, that I'd visited at a couple of weeks ago, in the opposite direction. Once out of Branscombe, we crossed the A3052 and via Blackberry Camp dropped down - reaching speeds of 30mph+ along gravel strewn twisty lanes - into Southleigh. The road then levelled out, with the occasional undulation, back through Colyton and Colyford into Seaton. I forwent a beer and plate of chips, the normal post ride fare, in favour of tea and cake - there having been a baking going on at home!

While out in the peloton, there is usually time for a social chat and since joining the AVP group on Strava I felt compelled to share my recent leaderboard victory for the Seafront Sprint2 .. 1st/3 of our small group and 25th/118 overall. On my Crosstrail not built for speed, I'll not go attempting to beat the current 36 mph record, which in a 30 mph built up area, I'm not sure it is even wise to go advertising! But I have added below a picture of myself leading the club's record, before Andy, who currently has most of the other records, realises he's missed mopping up this segment too!

What is interesting and only dawned on me this week, is the reason for the occasional sprint breaks from the peloton that I've seen some of our riders making these past months. This is the fact that along our routes there will be Strava timed segments, such as my Seafront Sprint2, which they are looking to clock a good time for. It's just like the sprint sections on the TDF when riders battle for the Green Jersey points.

Stats: 20.08 mi, 1h:45m:55s , Avg 11.4 mph, Max 31.5, 1174 kcal

Day 138 - Saturday Morning Ride

Up early and what better thing can there be on a warm sunny morning than taking the bike out for a pleasant and gentle ride. Well that was the plan when I set out at 06:30 am this morning. The truth of the matter was that I really did not know when to stop!

I headed up Seaton Down Hill, that steep one mile climb out of the Axe Valley, and onto the main road towards Sidmouth. I had it in my mind at this stage that I would return through Beer and then call it a morning. However, there is this memorial along the main road, apx 3 miles from the top of Seaton Down Hill, that I've passed over the years but have never had opportunity to stop the car to see what it is all about. I thought, 'I have time this morning', so on I peddled, past the turning for Beer.

The memorial, I now know, is to a Dr Thoms Gilbert-Smith, who "on this spot at half past nine o'clock after watching the glorious sunset of August third, 1904, fell dead from his bicycle thunder and lightening immediately followed. Thus closed a noble life spent in the service of his fellow men. He never turned his back on duty, but faithful to his motto 'dare and do' remained undaunted to the end". What about that then? I hastily remounted my bicycle and dared to venture on towards Branscombe.

Memorial to Dr Gilbert-Smith 1904

I've not cycled out to Branscombe, where in 2007 the Napoli came to grief shedding containers of motorbikes and nappies along the beach, since first doing so with the AVP a few weeks ago. The route in to Branscombe is a beautiful down hill ride past the old church and wonderful watering holes. The route out, however, is a killer. As they say in the cycling world, what goes down must come up - OK so I made that up, but it is certainly true! I now know how Foome must have felt the day before yesterday in the TDF when he broke all rules in order to take an energy gel. It felt as though I had two punctures, I just had no juice left in the tank, I even got off to check both tyres were still inflated!

Branscombe Church & my Specialized Crosstrail Sport

Once out of Branscombe, having finally made it up that 400 ft climb, the road smoothed out to an easy drop down into Beer followed by another more gentle up and over back into Seaton. As if those 10 miles were not enough of a 'gentle' circuit, as time was still on my side I though that I'd continue on to include one of my week day morning extended Colyton circuits.

Specialized Poser

My planned gentle Saturday morning ride turned into an almost 2 hour, 20 mile tour of the local villages ... I must learn to sleep in! That said, my calorie burning Tour de Fitness is starting to pay dividends, as at last I'm seeing a few more pounds fall away, and I don't just mean those spent on new jerseys!

Stats: 20.32 mi, 1h:42m:21s , Avg 11.9 mph, Max 30.1, 1134 kcal

Check out those Branscombe Hills!

Day 124 - Scorcher

The week has been building nicely to a scorcher, both in terms of weather and cycling performance! Unfortunately, I've not had opportunity this week for my daily update and so this again will be the weekly round up, although technically speaking, there is still tomorrow to come.

My 6.5 mile circuit, which I first paced out last week, remained my training routine for my Monday and Wednesday morning rides. My introduction of rest days has so far worked well in keeping the aches at bay while still building my fitness and stamina for the Devon hills. This was definitely proven on my first ride out in 4 weeks with the AVP this Thursday evening. The 19 mile circuit out through Beer and Branscombe under glorious cloudless sky was amazing and I even felt I should be wearing the 'king of the mountains' spotted jersey the way I was climbing the hills! This ride out also saw me achieve 3 new PBs, for distance travelled in 1 hour (increased by 1 mile), and my times for the 10 mile (3 mins less) and 20 km (8 mins less) distances, very good going considering I felt this was my easiest ride out with the club.

This week's stats:
Mon: 6.76 mi, 31m 14s, Avg 13.0 mph, Max 29.8, 346 kcal
Wed: 6.96 mi, 31m:14s, Avg 12.8 mph, Max 29.8, 346 kcal
Thu: 19.08 mi, 1hr:47m:57s , Avg 10.6 mph, Max 27.5, 1197 kcal

Out with the Axe Valley Pedallers

PB:
   One hour 12.28 mi, 10 mi 44m 28s, 20 km 1hr:01m:39s