AVP Remembrance Ride 1914 - 2014

How quick the year has past. This time last year the weather was equally beautiful as Andy and I headed out on our club's  annual AVP Remembrance ride to Rousden. Today, Andy otherwise indisposed, I met up with fellow cyclist, Kelly for a similar quick 10 mile circuit out to Beer before joining the rest of the Pedallers for the main club ride.

With the weather so clear and sunny and the roads dried out from the previous weekend's quagmire, I could not resit taking the new Specialised Tarmac out for a spin before resting it up for the winter.

The Tarmac on Seaton seafront

In all, there were around 10 pedallers who finally headed out of Seaton and up to Rousden for the Remembrance service where we were again so warmly welcomed by the locals.

Team photo

Following the service, coffee and biscuits, Kelly, Richard and I decided to cycle on to Lyme Regis to check out their new and impressive beach promenade before then climbing (there's no other way out once you've cycled into Lyme) back to Seaton for a final coffee at the Broom Wagon.

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AVP Sunday Ride to Broadwindsor

Richard, Shaun, Kelly, Gwyn, Jason, Handbag and I met at the TIC this morning for the 'impromptu' AVP Sunday Morning ride out to Broadwindsor; a route we had done with Buster on a steamy Tuesday evening back in July.

The ride did not get off to a good start as one of Kelly's SPD pedals self destructed. Fortunately, me having a spare set hanging around at home meant we were able to effect a quick swap, delaying us no more than 30 minutes.

Climbing out of Lyme brought us our second mechanical as Jason punctured and sticking to these things coming in threes, Richard completed the pitstops with a puncture climbing towards Marshwood.

The lanes which we'd made such good time over back in the summer were coated today in thick mud, such that bikes and unprotected backs .. for those with no guards .. would be needing a deep clean on our return.

The coffee and cake stop at Broadwindsor Craft Centre, 25 miles in, couldn't have come soon enough and I think all would recommend it .. having loads of space, a friendly and efficient greeting and a very extensive cake selection!

The weather stayed clear for most of the 45 mile circuit and it was great to see most of us wearing the new AVP winter jerseys

Evening Dorset Tour

Regular readers will have noticed that Tuesday evenings have become serious training rides ahead of the AVP 100 miler planned fro the end of August. Fortuitously this has enabled me to join these new club rides to up my mileage ahead of my earlier 100 miler .. yes the RideLondon just over 2 weeks away now!

Around 9 Pedallers met up at Seaton Health Centre bus stop for our third Tuesday ride lead by our master route planner, Buster. For this ride, Buster had a long and challenging circuit worked out with what seemed to be a tour of a Dorset .. we headed over to Lyme Regis, through Charmouth, Salway Ash, Broardwindsor and back via Marshwood to Axmister and home.

Phew, Tuesday nights are certainly becoming rides with an attitude. Around 45 miles covered, 3-4000 ft of climb, depending on whose Garmin you believe, and a need for lights as it was after 10:30 pm by the time we were cycling back into Seaton. Those last 10 miles were the fastest I ever ridden over that distance, as I achieved a personal best of 28m:09s which is a 1m:22s improvement on my previous record set in June while riding the Dartmoor Classic .. amazing what a difference it makes cycling over level ground, roll on London!

A ride with a difference

Thursday night's ride was a ride with a difference. We didn't necessarily split into two or more rides, but rather formed - I like to think, in honour of the TdF - a number of break away groups. And rather than race on to the end, this front break away group stopped at the Harbour in Lyme for a mid session beer and why we may have balked at the non Seaton prices, the views and coolness of the beer were spectacular!

So back to the ride .. this, unlike more recent expeditions, followed one of our regular routes in and out of Lyme with a crazy piece of off roading that I'm sure resulted in me squaring my wheels off last time .. although I did avoid the horse jumps on this occasion, so think I got away with it. After a mere 20 miles we returned to Seaton at around 9 pm, just as the promised storm clouds started to rumble and spark with lightening. I don't know how many made it to the Kings Arms, but having already had our apres cycling refreshments, I for one headed on and avoided the drowning that those clouds were soon to deliver. Another fun ride out with the AVP

AVP Evening Ride to Lyme Regis

What difference a week makes .. the sun brought the Pedallers out tonight in sufficient numbers that we were able to split into two groups. OK, so that was not the only reason, some were after a quick pedal and the remaining 8 of us a social 21 mile amble out to Lyme Regis and back. We were also joined by, Kate, a new member to our team.

The route took us out through Axmouth and up to Dowlands, Andy and I taking Stepps Lane because it had been a while since we'd ridden it .. now I remember why! I did, however, achieve a new PB, even taking Andy's record on one of the segments, my short climbing speed is improving!

The Pedallers

Lyme Regis was the busiest I'd seen it on a Thursday evening ride, such that we felt the need to walk some of the promenade so as not to cause an incident.

We headed out of Lyme over some less than standard road bike surfaces, but it was dry and we stayed inflated. Our return route took us along Trinity Hill Road and back to the Kings Arms for much needed liquid refreshment, (but no food .. I'm thinking we need to petition for a new venue, standards are slipping!)

Rous it Down

86 Days until the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey

We had a great turnout for the road ride last night with a spectrum of speed category riders making good time on the 25 mile Lyme Regis circuit. Even with Nelly carrying 7kg in his panniers didn't seem to slow him down much! Alas there were no ladies in our number, although with an 'Adam' skin suit on show, I'm sure that was a wise decision - see pics and decide for yourselves.

Down on Lyme Regis beach we bumped into a group of stunt cyclists balancing and jumping between the breakwater rocks .. not for the feint hearted. There was a suggestion we show them how it should be done but with time ticking we needed to move on .. may be next time!

Weather was warm and sunny as forecast, and the golden sun set from the top of Trinity Hill a wonderful sight.

Oh yes .. and why was Nelly carrying 7kg of bricks in his panniers? Well it was not a (justified) rider's handicap, but he's in training for his June ride from Venice to Topsham for the Force Cancer charity. Read more here http://thenelly2014.wordpress.com

While I have to remember to power Garmin back on after a stop, as I missed a good few miles off my total distance here, I did record some very good achievements. 10 Strava segment PRs and at last, an AVP record on the Rous it down segment. The training continues.

AVP Ride Over Hills and a Broken Chain

I would guess at around 8 of us headed out from the Kings Arms this evening with, for the first time this year, a little light still in the sky. It won't be many weeks now before we'll be able to see where we're going without the need for bright lights! In spite of Bobble's appearance, the evenings are still a little too chilly for most to pull on the shorts but it will not be long before this changes too!

The route tonight took us out to Boshill and a quick dogleg onto the narrow Bruckland Lane to Musbury. From here we climbed Pudleylake Road and Mounthill Lane, 600 ft to Trinity Hill before descending into Yawl and Uplyme. At this point, someone had the 'great idea' of dropping down into Lyme Regis for a ride along the front. We entered via Silver Street and regrouped at the clock by the chippy, which was unfortunately closed. This was a circuit into Lyme that I feel many of us had not done before, as the route out was to take us up the near vertical Cobb Road to the 3052. A climb to test all our legs!

The ride along Marine Parade was taken briskly but on this occasion, without Ed's sound track, he being a busy chippy tonight - the wood kind rather than the potato one! It was as we exited the Parade that the call was sounded that one of our Pedaller's chain had come adrift. We halted under the lights of the Cobb Arms to discover that it had not just come adrift but had snapped! We've had many a puncture, double punctures and even broken spokes, but I hear a broken chain is a first for an AVP evening ride.

As is the norm with the AVP, there is always someone who has an idea of a solution and with no one knowingly left behind, Jolly and Andy, illuminated by the rest of our lights, set about the field operation of making a temporary repair. It was a clinical procedure involving Jolly's chain tool and Andy's steady hand in completing the final pin insertion - although how he was the only one involved not to get caked in oil I'll never know! Something else to remember to carry - a chain tool and a spare link - or ride with someone who has ;)

Once we were all finally back on the main road, we split into our usual groups for the short ride through the now thickening fog back to Colyford. The road bikes took the lead with Barry and I following up on our hybrids. We were even delayed a little more after Barry hit a pothole spilling his backup headlight into the path of an oncoming car. On this occasion, however, there was too little of it remaining for us to attempt a repair.

 

Day 356 - A Return to Lyme

It is Thursday and this means clear weather and another ride out with the AVP.  Tonight we decide on a cycle out to the Cobb at Lyme Regis, a route I've certainly not done since last September when we were still in shorts and t-shirts .. oh how I'm looking forward to summer!

8 of us rode out through Axmouth and up Combe Road and along the A3052 down into Lyme Regis. At the Cobb a few of us dipped our tyres in the sea before taking the promenade and making our way out of Lyme via the Lane End Farm to Red Lane Climb. You know that when you go out to Lyme, there will always be a serious bit of climbing.

As I rode with Ed along the promenade, we chatted about what film score we would add to the ride - as you do. I had been unsuccessfully trying to snap some shots of us on the move, with such a slow shutter speed on my phone camera these did not come out; I did, however, capture on video much of our chat and my near collision with a traffic barrier - such are the dangers of being the on-location camera man! Click the link below to check out this short and rather wobbly video.

Click here for video

After a short blast along the A35, we returned south along Trinity Road, down Green Lane to Combe Road and back through Axmouth to Seaton, with only the temporary traffic lights on Harbour Road slowing our progress. Another great ride out with the AVP, 21 miles and 2,054 of climbing completed.

Day 249 - A Night of Hills

Another evening ride with the AVP tonight saw 14 hardy souls head out of Seaton in the direction of Lyme Regis .. oh yes, this was going to be a night of hills!

Taking Chapter Street out of Axmouth we took the relatively gentle climb up to Dowlands, avoiding on this occasion Stepps Hill, a notoriously steep climb which Andy and I had taken when previously out this way and one which I was in no rush to repeat this early in the ride. Maybe we'll return and use it in our training for next year's Dartmoor Classic but that's a little way off yet.

Taking a breather - glad we'd not taken the Stepps

From Dowlands we proceeded to Rousdon and into Lyme along a side route I'd never taken before. This was Roman Road, a steep decent and apparently a favourite rat run for many before the town planners put a stop to this with strategically placed giant concrete blocks, similar to dragon teeth installed generations before to halt invading tanks. While these provided the decent with challenging chicanes, it was a hidden curb which halted my forward momentum, forcing me to make an unceremonious and hasty exit from the saddle! Luckily, while Handbag was on hand with his first aid kit, this was this week not required. All that was hurt was my pride and a minor battle scar for the bike.

Chris stikes a pose!

We climbed out of Lyme Regis up the 3052 and unconventionally crossed the A35 roundabout for a pleasant roll down through Charmouth and on to Wooton Fitzpaine. It was from here that we started to climb again, ending with a thigh busting 12% assent along the Fitzpaine to Crewkerne Road Strava Section .. which don't tell Andy, but along which I somehow beat him by 20 seconds!

Handbag was on hand with his first aid kit

After a quick dogleg crossing of the A35 we were on the home run along Trinity Hill Road back to Rousdon, Axmouth and into Seaton for 9:30 pm. A late finish and no apres beer and chips for me, I think the hills got the better of us today but would love to do this again come summer, as I am sure in daylight the views would be spectacular!

Stats: 24.7 mi, 2hr 19m, Avg 10.6 mph, Max 30.3 mph, 1417 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 89 - Peloton Rides

It was a full on cycling day today. Being unsure that the weather was going to be good enough for an evening ride with the Axe Valley Pedallers, I stuck to my plan to also do a morning circuit. Under cloudy sky we headed out following the same route as yesterday but was very pleased to be also joined by Mike, my neighbour. I'm really starting to enjoy the social side of cycling as well as the drive for fitness.

One new discovery today was that the cafe in Seaton harbour, at the 5 mile marker, not only opens early, but also does a range of cooked breakfasts! Mike and I thought this would be an ideal Friday treat .. watch this space.

Stats: 6.94 mi, 39m 42s, Avg 10.5 mph, Max 31.7 mph, 440 kcal

As 6:30 pm approached, the time that the Axe Valley Pedallers meet, blue sky started to appear from behind heavy grey clouds which had dominated the horizon for most of the afternoon. The evening ride was on!

You may recall, that on last week's ride we lost half of our number on a slippery downhill corner. As the group gathered for this week's journey into the unknown, we were joined by a fellow cyclist in a sling. Yes, this was one of the fallers from last week who had sustained a break to his collar bone! Two of the other fallers were here too, bruised but otherwise up for another circuit. The missing cyclist was the guy now nicknamed recumbent .. hope he's OK.

After twenty minutes of chat, twelve of us headed back in towards the town centre and then out along the estuary into Axmouth. Rather than heading on to Colyford as I would normally have done, we turned off onto the road to Dowlands and made our way up to join the A3052 at Rousden. This is a road I've taken many a time in the car to Lyme Regis and beyond, but I thought, surely we're not heading into Lyme tonight. Anyone familiar with this area and Lyme Regis in particular, will know that this idilic seaside town is surrounded by some of the steepest hills and tonight I found myself descending down one of the most picturesque roads in the country, yes, into Lyme Regis! This is a road that takes your breath away just walking up.

The sky was now clear and the sun was beaming down on us, what a glorious way to spend a Thursday evening. 

Catching the rays in Lyme Regis

There are two main routes in and out of Lyme Regis and both of them are near vertical climbs. Thankfully, the peloton leaders knew another route ... prepare for some off-roading. We climbed out of Lyme across fields, along tracks, following brooks and along narrow lanes, up to meet the A35 at Harcombe Bottom, a village I never knew existed. This was basically four miles of what seemed never ending hills and by far the toughest ride of my life - to date!

Once up on the A35, it was then a more or less 8 mile gentle decent back to Seaton through Rousden and Axmouth, but having some student riders with us tonight, it was far from a gentle ride, maintaing an average of 20 mph for most of this return journey, my legs did not know what had hit them. We regrouped on Seaton's old bridge over the River Axe at the mouth of the estuary before returning to the Kings arms .. and yes, finally that après cycle beer!

Regrouping on Seaton's old bridge

This Lyme Regis circuit earned me three new PBs: a new speed record of 33 mph and that was breaking all the way down into Lyme, and two new Endo PBs: 11.23mi in one hour and 20km in 1hr 09m. What a night!

Stats: 20.61 mi, 2hr 08m, Avg 9.7 mph, Max 33.0 mph, 1,419 kcal

Seaton to Lyme Regis Circuit