Mountain Biking in the Forest

Went mountain biking yesterday for the first time in my life .. was kind of fun, though will probably work on my off roading skills a little more before trying the red run again; was a bit of white knuckle ride at times! Oh yes, and I need to sort out my MTB wardrobe too, as the local kids did not seem quite ready for what's currently hot on the Paris and Milan trails!

Anyway, I dusted off the video cameras to record the momentous event; also for my club, which has not spoken of MTBing since the 'night of the long forks'. The results of filming can be viewed below. I'm only disappointed that the images do not look as scary as I remember, mainly because those shots were of either closeups of rocks, bushes or just of the blue sky above and so not perhaps as interesting as the calmer pictures of cyclists processing through the forest!

I've used another of Rob Longstaff's great tunes, 'Like Candy', for this video's soundtrack. I am working my way through the tracks on his latest album 'Groovefish' (https://soundcloud.com/robert_longstaff/sets/groovefish), in my view, his best .. so will be looking for more filming options to add further tracks to as the year unfolds.

Atlantic Mountain Biking

November is the month of my wedding anniversary and traditionally this has been a time when we head off for a relaxing break in a small cottage somewhere on the British Isles. For 2014, it was decided to be the turn of Cornwall and a converted barn, just outside of Padstow. This year I also had the wherewithal to bring along the Crosstrail, chosen in favour of the Roubaix due to the mile long dirt track leading from the barn to the closest piece of metalled road.

 

Much of the week was dedicated to some fine walking along the coastal paths and was not until five days into the holiday that I got the opportunity to lycra up and hit the lanes around Padstow. My afternoon's cycle was a one which took no set path, it was more a case of following roads until I hit the sea or a no cycling sign!

At one point I came across a herd of bullocks being driven down the road towards me. "I'd pull off the road and out the way", I was advised, "they don't like yellow" one of the farm hands commented ... with me there all decked out in AVP colours! 

At Trevone, I even made an attempt at cycling on sand but I soon saw why those bikes I've seen with the big tractor styled tyres are so designed; even the thick Crosstrail's tyres were brought to an abrupt halt in the looser stuff! 

It was great to be out on the Crosstrail after spending most of the spring and summer months on the Roubaix. It was a wonderful holiday feeling free to splash through the potholed puddles and slide through the muddy lanes, proving there is still a place for my hybrid in my ever growing collection of road bikes!

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.

Day 327 - Saddle Sore

When cycling it should be no surprise that you spend a good deal of time sat in the saddle and as such this is a key piece of bike furniture which should, I feel receive more attention than I've given it to date.

In the 11 months that I have owned my Specialized Crosstrail Sport Disc, I have spent 4 saddle sore days rolling over 1100 miles of potholed Devon lanes. In that time, I've just assumed that bikes are naturally uncomfortable and one just has to get on with it. The Crosstrail comes with a Specialized BodyGeometry Targa Sport 155mm saddle .. this is the larger of the two versions available and retails for around £35. More recently, now averaging 20 miles a ride, I've been finding it to be far from comfortable and when I saw one of my favoured eBay sellers with a new Prologo Nago Evo X10 Pro T 2.0 for sale, I wondered whether this would be a suitable replacement. This saddle was said to have come Christmas Day on a Felt F5x cyclo cross bike and was removed and replaced with his own saddle before the bike left the house.

Prologo Nago Evo X10 Pro T 2.0 Saddle

After a bit of on-line research, I learned that this saddle is very versatile, being recommended for both MTB and road bikes. It thus seemed the perfect match for my hybrid. Also, at a retail price of £135, I felt, I would certainly notice an improvement in quality and comfort over Specialized's standard offering. Yes, it was a bit of a punt but with a low maximum bid placed, it seemed a safe bet and if I won the auction, it would be a low cost option to test out how a quality seat performs. I am now the proud owner of a new X10 Pro for less than the price of a Targa Sport! Don't you just love eBay ;)

My Crosstrail was in need of a service, its gears were missing badly, so I thought I'd get it serviced before fitting the new saddle. Monday this week the service was completed and Tuesday was the day I set about fitting the saddle. Our first real outing was on this Thursday's AVP evening ride. The X10 is a little narrower than the Targa and so I initially thought it would take a bit of getting used to, but no, I found it surprisingly comfortable. It provided cushioning support where needed and a reduced friction surface resulting in a smother ride and less effort required when moving out of the saddle to make steep climbs. So far, I am very impressed and pleased with my punt of a purchase.

I'm now keen to have a look at my Roubaix, as I've never found that very comfortable either. I don't think, in this instance, that it is the quality of saddle which is at fault, but rather its positioning. The Roubaix has a BG Toupe RBX Sport saddle retailing for around £90 and looks very similar to the X10 in design. What I feel is needed, however, is for me to move it forward a few cms so that I connect better with the padded area.

So, as I get more familiar with my bikes, I'm starting to understand what works and what does not and what needs to be changed. I am even considering a professional bike fix for me on the Roubaix, before that is, I embark on my year of sportifs, as I feel I'm still not getting the best performance I can from it. I will keep you posted on whether I go ahead with this and on any results of me making those fine saddle adjustments.

Day 314 - A Quick One Before Sunset

Following a relaxing day strolling through Bridport, I felt the need on my return to make best use of the final hour of the rare sunlight we had been enjoying since first light. I decided on a ride out to my new hill climb training ground, Stepps Lane.

With the weather being so perfect, I took the Roubaix, giving the Crosstrail a rest for the day. I've been surprised at how well the Crosstrail has been performing against the Roubaix, which having clocked up 2nd and 3rd fasted climbs on my last outings, the Roubaix had something to prove!

There are 2 main Strava segments on Stepps Lane .. the 3 mile stretch to the A3052 and the steep 10% initial climb. The first I was pleased to achieve my 2nd best time, I had to pull over to let a car pass, but for the second, the main climb, I knocked 40 seconds of my September time to give me a new PR. 40 seconds may not sound much but over a 2/3 mile 10% climb it seems like hours! I also, and surprisingly, achieved another PR on the 2.2 mile Bosshill descent. Surprisingly, because on the fast -9% section, I was on the brakes trying to avoid the shingle which had been deposited in the recent flooding and which was threatening to slide me off the road and into the hedgerow!

From Boshill, I rode through Colyford and returned to Seaton via Harepath Lane. With still some daylight remaining, I decided on a ride down to the beach where the light over the sea and the sight of the sun beginning to set, was truly wonderful. It is hard to believe that tomorrow will bring rain.

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 213 - AVP Night Ride

This was my first night ride, not just with the AVP but since time began! Having purchased my awesome set of Beema AS-2000 front lights last weekend, this was the test of tests for them. Back on my winterised Specialized Crosstrail hybrid, we headed out at 6:30ish pm towards Beer, just as the sun was setting ahead of us.

As one of our number was riding on wheels fixed with security locks for which he had neglected to bring the key, not the best position to be in should he puncture, the objective of our ride was not to stray more than a few miles from our starting point, but still to complete a 20 mile circuit. Luckily, we have  many small villages and interlocking lanes around us which meant that this challenge was easily achieved.

By the time we'd reached our first pause, after climbing Quarry Lane, it was officially dark and the 'magnificent' 7 riders lit up the Devon country roads as we snaked our way down narrow lanes through Colyton, Shute, Kilmington, Whitford and Musbury. Tonight was an 'away night', which meant that rather than returning to our Kings Arms base in Seaton, those wanting an apres cycling beer and chips would rendezvous with our fellow mountain bikers at the the White Heart, Colyford. I, however, with an annual medical checkup scheduled for early in the morning, had unfortunately to forego the welcomed carbs and return to Seaton. The smells emitting from the Chinese restaurant, curry houses and chip shops was tormenting!

Having driven this route many hundreds of occasions before, the final ride into Seaton, along the estuary was somehow different from any other. In the darkness, the lights from the town reflecting in the river was wonderfully atmospheric. I was also surprised as to how the whole evening ride had been equally atmospheric and how glad I was that I made my weekend light purchase! I'm now looking forward to next Thursday's ride and hope the weather stays kind to us pedallers.

Route art this evening: a seated rabbit at the alert!

Stats: 19.42 mi, 1hr 34m, Avg 12.3 mph, Max 30.8 mph, 1,122 kcal

Day 210 - Back to the Routine

It's been a bit of an anticlimax since the 100 miler. Autumn has descended with a bump, shortening the days and bringing with it unpredictable non-cycling weather. I did manage a 20 mile evening ride, between the showers, to Axminster and back with Andy mid week, but it was lucky that we maintained a level of speed which was not only to earn me a new 20 km PB but also get us back before darkness descended. Had it been a Thursday AVP night ride, I'd never have made it back on my low powered commuting lights. As I said back in August, it's time to buy some lights!

The past few weeks have been a real downer, as far as getting out on the bike, after such a great summer building to the high of the 100 mile ride. I have, however, during this spell of bad weather, had both a birthday and a visit to the Cycle Show to raise my spirits. My birthday brought me a quality set of winter cycling gloves and a cap to wear under my helmet. No more frozen fingers or ice cream sandwich headaches for me! 

At the Cycle Show at the NEC Birmingham, it was great to see all the new 2014 models, particularly Specialized's new colour ways for my Crosstrail and Roubaix. Had there been more stalls and less exhibition, I could have broken the bank!

Beema AS-2000

As it was, I found it hard to buy the road shoes I'm desperate to get hold of for my Roubaix but I did lay my hands on a Beema AS-2000 front light set from Bike Lights UK. It cost more than I was planning to spend but I think I've got a really good looking light with amazing performance and being able to talk through my requirements with a human being, rather than buy something wrong on-line made a pleasant change!

While at the exhibition, I came across the Tour of Britain podium as used on the final stage in London. This was set out with a life size cardboard cutout of Wiggo in his winners gold jersey and the Tour's hostess .. in the flesh .. to have your photo taken with. I didn't.

Back home and now with no excuse not to get out on the bike, having winterized my Crosstrail, fitting mudguards and installing my new 2000 lumen light set, and headed out for an evening circuit to Colyford via my three hills. I have to say that the lights are awesome; with three power settings they illuminates the roadsigns even on the lowest from quite some distance away. An inconsiderate motorist who passed unnecessarily close and at speed got a pulsating maximum lumen blast which lit up the evening sky, I think he got the message! I repeated the circuit again this morning .. I'm gradually easing myself back into the routine and hope to join up with the AVP on Thursday for a night ride although the weather forecast needs to greatly improve if this is to be a reality as I've already proven lycra to be far from waterproof!

Day 180 - Taunton Stop Line

I had a different riding experience planned for Saturday, a mountain bike ride out on my Crosstrail with Mike, my good neighbour and friend, exploring the Taunton Stop Line. This is the WW2 defensive line separating the south west from the rest of England, designed to stop an enemy's advance from the west. The length of the Taunton Stop Line is impressive, it runs north-south for nearly 50 miles through Somerset, Dorset and Devon, from Axminster to Chard along the River Axe, then along the Great Western Railway to Ilminster (the section we covered today), the railway and Chard Canal to Taunton, the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal to Bridgwater, and the River Parrett to the coast near Highbridge. For those of you who know my fascination with this kind of thing, you'll not be surprised of me thinking that I'm going to have to cover it all eventually!

Today, however, we set out in Mike's estate car (I've still not yet sorted out how to transport my bike, let alone two) to Chard. From here we headed along the Route 33 cycle path to Ilminster, following the disused railway line - the sad legacy of Dr Beeching's 1960s demise of our railway network. Luckily, for me, the quality of the concrete defences installed in the early 1940s have stood the test of time and it was like being a child again, out on bikes exploring the countryside seeking out items of military interest!

Donyat Station

Just 3.5 miles along the old railway line we came across Donyat Station, still with its shelter and a model of a young girl sat waiting for the next train which will never come :(. Above the station, along the top of the embankment, are a long line of dragon's teeth fortifications, just visible as pointed concrete blocks in the above photo. Under the bridges, we saw concrete rail blocks which were placed either side of the track, allowing just enough space for the train to pass but which would block the advance of tanks, and slotted concrete blocks either side of the tracks for steel girders to be inserted to block the path of anyone using railway line. 

Concrete rail blocks & dragon's teeth

Then, at strategic sites along the railway, pillboxes and gun emplacements can be seen either hidden alongside bridges or in the hedgerows in the fields beyond. It is amazing what you see when you look. I never knew there was so many of these defensive works installed at the time, let alone having survived the past 70 years.

During our ride, we passed a number of walkers with their dogs and Mike alluded to the fact that he's always been wary of how dogs can sometimes see a moving bike and rider as fair game for a chase. It was amusing, to me, therefore, when exploring a lane containing three hidden gun emplacements, to be chased back down the lane by a very 'playful' collie dog, with Mike bearing the brunt of the dog's gnashing and barking! 

Hidden gun emplacement

Leaving the railway line cycle path, we headed through Ilminster, north towards our next destination, the old WW2 RAF airfield, now RNAS Merryfield, near the village of Ilton. This took quite a bit of time to locate as having spotted the air sock from quite a long way out, high hedges and a network of narrow crisscrossing lanes soon obscured the view and the route we needed to take. We would have made useless wartime spies!

Finally we locate HMS Heron 

Finally homing in on the airfield, access was bared by a friendly security guard as, while there was little evidence of this today, it is still an active naval airfield used primarily for military helicopter pilot training.  

We lunched in Ilton before making the short ride back to Ilminster and via the old railway to Chard. This was perhaps one of the flattest circuits I've done for some time, although we did have quite a climb  back into Ilminster just to keep the heart rate up. A fun ride, great to be back on the Crosstrail and much to see, very different from anything I've done for a very long time. Looking forward to the next one!

Stats: 22.53 mi, 2h:00m, Avg 11.2 mph, Max 29.4 mph, 1004 kcal

Day 178 - Presta Valves

Thursday, AVP night. The day started with another series of early morning business calls and the arrival of the carpet fitters whose cacophony of noises and smells, hammering and gluing, challenged my senses through to lunchtime. My afternoon, while quieter and less fragrant, was no less busy and I feared greatly that I would not make the evening ride. 6:15 pm, a quarter of an hour before bike check in time, I powered down the laptop, slipped into my Lycra and made my way to the bike shed. I've now worked out that I can do the short ride to our club meeting point in around 2 minutes, so was happy I would not miss the off.

Before heading off, I also wanted to ensure I had sufficient air in my tyres. Yesterday, I received delivery of a new set of tyre pumps. Something I had not realised when making my Roubaix purchase, was that it has a totally different tyre valves to those of my Crosstrial. The Roubaix uses the Presta valve, which being much thinner than the Crosstrail's Schrader valves, which are more like those found on a car tyre, did not fit my current set of bike pumps. The differences don't stop there. Inflating the tyre with the Presta valve is far from straight forward for the novice. Luckily a visit to YouTube and terrybyclicles.com got me sorted, you have to fully unscrew the valve stop first! So in the 15 minutes from powering off, not only did I have to slip into my kit, fill my water bottle and power on the Garmin, I also had the challenge of inflating the tyres .. which I'm pleased to report, worked a treat.

Arriving at the meeting point, the Roubaix attracted a great deal of attention. The pressure was now on to perform and this the Roubaix did. I had a much better ride out than the previous Sunday, may be because I was able to ride with the peloton and take part in a few of the sprints, while if you recall, while out with the SVCC, I lost the peloton very early on. I also think I'm getting more familiar with the gearing. We cycled out to Wilmington and Honiton and 21 mile circuit, although in my hast to leave the house, I did forget to power on the Garmin, so had covered a mile or so before I realised. Most unusually on an AVP ride, we lost 3 of our number and although two went back to seek them out, fearing a puncture or a crash, they were nowhere to be found. With the delay we cut short the intended circuit and using the power of the peloton, 3-4 of us made rapid progress down the last 9 miles of lanes and main roads, at times we were powering along at just short of 30 mph on the straights, something I would never have been able to do on the Crosstrail. I also achieved a new fastest speed of 41.2 mph and brought my 10 mile time down from 37 to 35 minutes.  I'm loving my Roubaix!

Stats: 21.38 mi, 1h:31m, Avg 14.0 mph, Max 41.2 mph, 1195 kcal

Day 176 - New Average Speed PB

Back on the Roubaix feeling especially good this morning, that was until I hit the first of my 3 hills on my climbing circuit out to Colyford. The Roubaix definitely takes less energy to move forward but I think I've underestimated the gearing quality of the Crosstrail which makes climbing so easy and down hill rides so quick.

The Crosstrail has 3 chain rings to the Roubaix's 2, which means that while there is potentially less gear changing to do on the Roubaix, the Crosstrail is more forgiving if you select the wrong gear .. yes I'm still getting used to the Roubaix's gear ratios as I'm tending to go too far through one chain ring before moving up to the next, leaving me either spinning on the pedals or juddering to a halt!

Setting off in such good spirits, I had expected to beat my Seafront Sprint2 Strava record of 21.8 mph .. this is the one that Andy took from me a month or so ago, putting in an impressive 24.4 mph .. but I could only reach an average of 21.5 mph over the half mile run, a difference of just 1 second over the distance. What is more frustrating, is that my quickest time was on the Crosstrail, I think this may be because as there is a down hill start to this segment, its increased weight adding greater forward momentum to launch me into the level straight .. that's my excuse anyway! 

Seafront Sprint2

What was pleasing on this ride was beating my previous average speed for any circuit (over 5 miles) of 13.5 mph set on Day134 - 16th July, by 0.6 mph. This stat's relevance over such different circuits is probably questionable but when compared to the last time I ran on this exact route, Day 141 - 23rd July, I can see that my average speed is up 2 mph, taking over 4 minutes of the 7 mile circuit. So while a small improvement, it is certainly a move in the right direction!

Stats: 6.95 mi, 29m 29s, Avg 14.1 mph, Max 32.8, 391 kcal

Day 167 - Moving to the Next Level

It had to happen. I've been thinking long and hard recently about moving to the next level in my cycling and perhaps next year buying a road bike to both achieve the speeds of my fellow pedallers on the Thursday evening rides and to increase my distances. I have also been mulling over the AVP 100 Mile Ride scheduled for Sunday 15 September and whether I wouldn't be better acquiring a new set of wheels now rather than waiting for next year ..  as a) I'm already at the stage of needing to make the move and b) I'm not getting any younger so why delay! So, yes, it had to happen, a trip to the Bike Shed saw me striking a great deal on a 2013 Specialized Roubiux Sport Compact model 90E3-6152 in carbon, charcoal and white. I'm still pinching myself!

A new stable mate for my steed, the new Roubiux

The weekend started, however, with a quick 9.5 mile ride over my three hils and a circuit of Colyton. I've remarked before on how this is a perfect mix of flat and hills and all this can be done in less than an hour.  I need to record it on my Garmin as a lap so that I can track my performance from one day to the next while actually on my ride, I am sure I can do this, I'll have to dig out the manual again. Having completed this Saturday circuit on my hybrid in a reasonable 45 minutes, I had wondered what the same would be on my new road bike, so a re-run was on the cards for Sunday afternoon.

My steed, my trusted hybrid Crosstrail

Two things were however against me on the Sunday, not even counting the unfamiliarity of my new racer - yes you can see I'm managing your expectations here - an afternoon in a seaside town in holiday season meant the roads were crowded with lost tourists and my legs were still killing me after my over ambitious attack on the Thursday hills. So, first impressions. I was very impressed with its initial pickup, carrying considerably less weight that the hybrid and it made the first rise up Seaton Down Hill with ease. I found that in the high speed down hill sections, I had less confidence than on my steed, the racer being lighter and more skittish, than my seemingly invincible hybrid, is going to take time getting used to. I was, however, amazed with how it soaked up the bumps in the road. I guess this is a combination of the flexing built into the frame, its lightness and the extra padding in the handle bars; it is really designed for our Devon roads!

Overall, the racer covered the same distance in 42 minutes, a 3 minute improvement. Many of my split times were not as good and the top speed was slightly down, but the average speed was an extra mph quicker overall. So I can see great potential, I just need clear roads and a return to fitness.

Stats:
Sat:  9.5 mi, 45m :24s, Avg 12.6 mph, Max 36.9, 503 kcalSun: 9.5 mi, 42m :01s, Avg 13.6 mph, Max 32.7, 504 kcal

Day 146 - Maintenance Day

I had to forgo a ride out this morning to spent a few hours stripping my Specialized Crosstrail Sport back to its frame for a deep clean .. chain and cog de-greasing, hydraulic brake fluid top up and wax application. The build up of grime and oil which over 600 miles of dusty lanes and rough cycleways had caked itself to the wheels, chain, hubs and chainrings needed to be cleaned away.

A can of engine de-greaser spray and 3 in one oil was procured for this delicate operation. The morning also saw my first attempt to remove the rear wheel .. daft as it may seem, this was something I had not been looking forward to. I spoke 12 days ago about the Bike Kitchen which had opened in London to help people get to know their bikes, assisting them with maintenance and build projects and this would have been perfect for me. Being a little too far from Devon, however, I turned to the next best thing, YouTube! Here I found a knowledgeable guy who showed me the steps to take - easy when you know how.

Wheels off, I took the opportunity to remove my long mudguards, which with the absence of the rear wheel finally afforded me access to one of the previously hidden bolts. It now looks considerably more sporty, but rest assured the guards will probably be reaffixed later in the year when it undergoes its winterisation. 

The degreasing agent worked a treat and the previously thick black oil coated chain has been returned to its former silvered finish with just a light internal coating of oil where it is needed. I also noticed the rear brake unit weeping a little hydraulic fluid and the leaver noticeably spongy. Back on the web, I learned of a very complex way to bleed and refill the reservoir, reminding me of my car maintenance days. I had, however, no 'bleeding kit' so popped the top of the reservoir and applied 3 applications of my 3 in one which, whether right or wrong, returned firmness to the leaver. This is something I am going to have to keep an eye on and get checked out when next in for a professional service. This also got me thinking. When I used to spend hours under the bonnet of cars, before they became 'smart', I'd refer to the very handy Haynes Workshop Manual. While I can find no such manual for the Specialized model itself and probably there's no need for such a specific publication, I have come across Haynes's The Bike Book: Complete Bicycle Maintenance which may be quite a useful general reference. I'll have to add it to my birthday wish list!

Finally, and mainly for my future reference, I've copied my full bike features & specification below to save me scratching around for this at some later point.

SPECIALIZED CROSSTRAIL - CROSSTRAIL SPORT DISC 2013

Features

• A1 Premium aluminium frame plus custom 60mm-travel alloy Suntour NEXi lockout fork for lightweight confidence on any surface, with mudguard/rack braze-ons for versatility
• Specialized Trigger Sport 700x38c tyres roll fast, yet have enough bite for the trail
• Triple-ring crankset has all the gears necessary for varied terrain, with protective chain guard to keep clothes clean
• BodyGeometry XCT grips are anatomically designed to keep hands pain-free and comfortable on long rides
• Tektro Draco hydraulic disc brakes with dual pistons and forged callipers assure precision braking and durability
• Sporty yet comfortable BodyGeometry Targa Sport fitness saddle
• Durable, double-walled 700c alloy rims roll fast and can handle varied terrain

Specification

COLOUR	Graphite / Black
SIZE	Small
FRAME	Specialized A1 Premium Aluminium, w/ mudguard and rack braze-ons, forged dropouts, kickstand mount
REAR SHOCK	---
FORK	SR Suntour NEXi Coil, Aluminium lower, custom integrated fork crown, mechanical lock-out, 60mm travel
HEADSET	1-1/8" FSA Ahead, semi-integrated, 8mm cone spacer
STEM	Melt-forged alloy, 4-bolt, 10-degree rise, 25.4mm clamp
HANDLEBARS	Specialized 25mm XC alloy riser bar, 25.4mm, 8-degree back bend
GRIPS	Specialized BodyGeometry XCT Men's, dual compound
FRONT BRAKE	Tektro Draco, hydraulic disc brake, dual piston, 160mm rotor
REAR BRAKE	Tektro Draco hydraulic disc brake, dual piston, 160mm rotor
BRAKE LEVERS	Tektro Draco hydraulic brake lever
FRONT DERAILLEUR	Shimano M390, top-swing, dual-pull
REAR DERAILLEUR	Shimano Acera, 9-speed
SHIFT LEVERS	Shimano SL-M390, Rapidfire
CASSETTE	Shimano 9-speed, 11-32
CHAIN	KMC X-9, 9-speed, reusable Missing Link
CRANKSET	SR Suntour, XCR, 9-speed, square spindle, w/ chainguard
CHAINRINGS	48/36/26, w/ chainguard
BOTTOM BRACKET	Cartridge bearing, square spindle w/ crank stop right side, capless bolts
PEDALS	Composite plastic body, loose ball w/ reflectors
RIMS	Alloy, double-wall, DISC, 32h
FRONT HUB	Disc hub, double sealed, ground race, dual lock nuts w/ 17mm contact side, 5mm QR, round disc mount
REAR HUB	Disc hub, loose ball, double-sealed, ground race, dual lock nuts w/ 19mm contact side, QR
SPOKES	Stainless, 2.0mm (14g)
FRONT TYRE	Specialized Trigger Sport, 700x38c, 60TPI, wire bead
REAR TYRE	Specialized Trigger Sport, 700x38c, 60TPI, wire bead
INNER TUBES	Specialized Schrader valve
SADDLE	BodyGeometry Targa Sport, 155mm
SEATPOST	Alloy, 2-bolt head, 12.5mm offset, 27.2mm
SEAT BINDER	Alloy clamp

Day 143 - Stockland Hill

Back in the saddle again for some serious mileage with the APV. 17 cyclists mounted up for a ride to Stockland Hill. As if finding hills along our journey was not enough, we were heading out to climb one. Stockland Hill is the site of the TV Transmitting Station serving East Devon and West Dorset, so not just a little bump in the road!

I'm a little light in cycling news and thoughts to share this week, office work has, for the second week in succession, dominated my waking hours. One muse which I've touched on over these past few months is the suitability of my Specialised Crosstrail Sport hybrid for my AVP circuits. Last night, there were the first mutterings from the group that, compared to their refined road bikes, my hybrid was the most versatile for ground we were covering. Low geared for the hills, rugged frame and suspension for the bumps and thicker tyres for stability over rough and loose shingle. I saw on the TDF that there was one hill that the organisers had to even sweep clean prior to the riders entering. I rest my case. That said, if I'm still this keen next year, I've not quite given up on the idea of acquiring a road bike for my stable, something to keep my my steed company, as a donkey is to a horse!

Back to the Stockland Hill circuit. It was, as expected a tough one but surprisingly, may be because of all the downhill sprints, a quick one with 2 new PBs. Not surprisingly, the peloton split very early into several breakaway groups and there were times when I found my self either out on my own or with another one or two riders. This was a very different ride from those which have gone before.

Stats: 24.01 mi, 1h:48m:24s , Avg 12.2 mph, Max 31.4, 1312 kcal

PBs:
One hour: 14.14 mi
20 km 51m:55s

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 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

Day 92 - Has Summer Arrived?

I looked out of the window at 6:30 this morning an thought, at last, could summer now have arrived. Beautiful blue sky as far as the eye could see was what greeted me and I pondered where to ride out to this morning. With such weather, there could be only one destination, Beer and this meant that I would be having to make the long climb up Seaton Down Hill, but I knew it would be worth it!

Suited and booted I started my climb, wearing for the first time a new pair of Oakley sunglasses that were performing an absolute treat, such an improvement on my narrower everyday glasses. At the top of the hill the view down the valley and across the sea was, as always, spectacular.

Suited and booted over looking Seaton

From here, it is a gentle ride along the main road to Stafford Cross and then cross country past a stranded boat in a field and Beer Quarry from where the stone I referenced yesterday was sourced.

Stranded boat in a field!

Beer Quarry & my Specialized Crosstrail Sport

From the Quarry, it was a steep drop then down into Beer, where a visit to the beach was a must. Beer beach is very different to any other in the area. It is covered with boats, fishing gear, walkways, deck chairs and cafes - although, disappointingly, none were open at this hour. I passed around ten fishermen preparing for a day out in the bay, but otherwise, the beach was deserted and the sea was as calm as a millpond, almost like glass.

The sea as calm as a millpond 

Beer beach, with boats, fishing gear, deck chairs and a bike?

I returned to Seaton along the coast path, calling in at Janice's Cliffside Cabin for refreshments only to find that also closed, no one catering today for the early cyclist, although the view from the terrace was in itself worth the detour.

Janice's Cliffside Cabin

View from Janice's terrace 

I had then planned to make my way over to the Harbour cafe but time was now against me and I'd still not done the distance I'd wanted. It was a tough decision, another circuit out to Colyford or a bacon butty under the warm morning sun. Unbelievably, I headed out to Colyford, the butty would have to wait another day!

Stats: 11.9 mi, 1h 14m, Avg 9.6 mph, Max 29.8 mph, 823 kcal

To the Start

Saturday 2nd March is the day that my Tour de Fitness commences with the purchase of my first bike in about 30 years! After much deliberation over supplier, bike and financing (self or work plan) I came away today, from Exeter's Bike Shed with a new shiny, Specialised Crosstrail Sport Disc -2013.

This afternoon, I took it for a gingerly two mile familiarisation ride down to the beach and back. I can't believe how unfit I am. The rest of the afternoon is spent lying on the sofa watching Top Gear on iPlayer .. I love cars!