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!

AVP Evening Bluebell Ride

I and 7 other Pedallers pedalled out on Thursday night in glorious sunshine, hard to believe an hour earlier that it was still raining. A day of rain had, however, left its mark on the lanes as I, one of the few without mud guards, was to discover to my, and those in my wake, detriment!

We headed out to Offwell via - according to the map - Chapel Nap a 2 mile 500 ft climb with great views over toward Shute. We crossed the A35 and circled round Cotleigh along Old Chard Road, a quiet excellent riding surface with superb scenery. It was payback time at the end of this road, however, when we had to climb steeply, maxing out at16%, up to Stockland Hill. From here, it was a glorious high speed chain gang bast to the A35 and back to Seaton via Musbury.

We had one stop for Airfix to fix a snakebite puncture but otherwise this was another great ride out with 25 miles covered in just under 2 hours .. and 3 new PBs .. 1hr (16.3 mi), 10miles (30m:15s) and 20km (41m:35s).. feeling good!

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.

Day 363 - Holding Vigil with a Branoc

The weather cleared sufficiently again last night for just 4 AVP riders, Jolly, Richard, Rex and myself, to venture out onto the lanes under a very cool star lit sky.

Our route took us out past Blackberry Camp, via Southleigh, over some very broken and bumpy tracks to Shute Barton and home through Kilmington and Musbury. Just as hills are given categories for severity, we agreed on a Cat 4 for the road conditions as on some sections there was little of the original road surface either remaining or visible. This winter has been a tough one for our roads. Luckily our ride was incident free and a 22 mile ride with 1900 ft of climbing was completed in good time

The riders: Rex, Richard and Jolly (and me behind the camera)

Meanwhile 10 mountain bikers had been out to Branscombe Brewery and had an 'interesting' time with 3 punctures and a broken spoke! With none of the regular apres-cycle beer and chips road team out tonight, I held vigil with my Branoc at the King's Arms until Buster and his off roaders arrived to fill the bar. It was then a later one for me, well being on holiday, I only needed to be up for the 10:00 Friday Flyers ride!

Day 336 - Joining the Kask club

In spite of the seemingly non cycling weather we've had recently, the 232 miles covered so far in 2014 have been far better than expected for this 'veteran' pedaller.

Today, I continued in this trend completing another 40 miler with my AVP pals, Andy, Ed, Rex and Richard. The plan was to do a repeat of the proven route Andy, Ed and I cycled two weeks ago. We met at 08:30 at the Seaton TIC and headed out up Castle Hill towards Beer and on to Sidmouth sea front for the obligatory photo shoot. With the seasonal high tide and strong winds, the storm gates were closed, and rightly so, as the waves were spectacularly crashing over the sea wall.

Richard, Andy, Jonathan & Ed

Take 5 on Sidmouth sea front

On this ride I was proud to be wearing a new light weight Kask helmet with, of course, the colours Union flag emblazoned across the top. It was a close run decision between this and an the Specialized S-works model, but the red, white and blue motif won my heart. A pose for a shot with Rex, also a Kask owner, was required .. 'Jonathan joins the Kask klub' !

Jonathan joins the Kask klub

From Sidmouth we climbed via Tipton St John through Ottery St Mary and on to our tea and cake stop in Honiton. From Honiton we took Northcote Hill to the junction with the Stockland straight where, I had visualised the closing 10 miles, a gentle down hill return to Seaton. Rex, however, suggested an alternative route, through Stockland, Kilmington and Musbury. No there were no more hills, he said, just a few lumpy bits. I see a need to define a hill v a lump .. as my legs were not prepared for the climbing which followed, particularly not after my all time best ride up Northcote, on which I had secured PRs for 5 of the 6 Strava segments for this climb!

Ride profile

Although exhausting, it is often good to be challenged. Richard and Rex noticeably drove up the pace, and while I wished I had the engine to keep up with the pace set, I have to constantly remind myself of what I was doing only a year ago, when I would never in my wildest dreams have considered it even possible to cycle 40 miles in a morning! I've just got to keep at it, drive through the pain and hopefully this training will see me right for the Dartmoor Classic sportif I have in June, a 100 mile ride which after today's experience, is seeming ever more daunting! 

In all, I achieved 15 Strava segment PRs and for the second time in as many weeks, broke my previous record for miles ridden in 1 hour (15.94 miles). It is amazing what one can do when pushed!

Day 326 - For Once A Dry & Puncture Free Ride

For once a dry and puncture free ride awaited our 11 cyclists who braved this evening's AVP road ride. The circuit was a brisk 20 miles out to the mast on Stockland Hill and back, via Shute, Wilmington, Dalwood, Kilmington and Musbury.

Regrouping at the A35

Waiting to cross the A35

1200 ft of climb, average speed of 12.5 mph and 30 mph descents, most noticeably down Ham Road from Worham's Lane at the top of Stockland Hill - for those interested in stats - meant for a highly enjoyable workout. The beer and chips back at the Kings Arms were also good!

The Ride profile .. that did seem a long climb too!

As for the route art .. back by popular demand, I am thinking a bunny on a pogo stick!

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 270 - A Night of 4 Punctures

It was great to be back on the road with the AVP for our regular Thursday Evening ride after a 2 week break. 10 of us rode out at 6:45 pm into what are now very dark evenings.

We headed out to Axminster and up the Combe Road climb. Through Rousden, Combyne, Musbury and Wyke we made excellent time with very few stops. It was looking like we'd be back early at the Kings Arms for once. Then, while making a quick dash along the A35 before turning onto Trinity Hill, disaster struck as both Ed and Jolly suffered punctures, Ed one in each tyre! After a frenzied 20 minute activity of replacing inner tubes under combined lighting of streetlamp and high lumin spots, we were back rolling again. Ed taking it very easy as his tyres were quite badly split.

Then, just as we thought we may actually still make the usual time for the meet with mountain pedallers at the Kings Arms, Andy called out that he now also had a flat! Luckily it was a slow puncture which in then end just needed a blast of air to make it back.

Although late, we decided we would stop for a quick apres ride beer and chips, as we needed discuss our plan for a long Saturday ride which we'd though up last Sunday after the successful social ride out to Bridport. More on what we decided later.

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 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 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 81 - Musbury

I was up earlier than usual today, these lighter mornings playing havoc with my body clock, which offered me the opportunity to take that longer ride I spoke of on Saturday. Now that the Axminster road   has reopened following its collapse last week, I had in mind to extend my Colyford circuit to take in Musbury, the next village along.

Starting up hill and across to Harepath, I used the recently discovered lane out to the main road. Dropping down into Colyford, I amazingly broke my latest speed record by a further 3.8 mph, reaching 32.8 mph by the time I hit the bottom of the dip. It was going to be a good ride. Through Colyford and before the tram crossing, I turned into Colyton and headed out under what would have been the old railway bridge, before Beeching's destruction of the local rail network. The hill that followed rivals my Three Hills and even the 'daddy' of them all, Seaton Down Hill but once over the brow, the next 5 or so miles were wonderful. As they say, 'what goes up must come down' and in this case it certainly made for a pleasant ride through small hamlets and into Musbury itself.

Once out of Musbury, the road becomes busy, this being the main route between Axminster and Axmouth. I powered on my flashing taillight just to increase my visibility on these winding narrow lanes. Just before entering Axmouth, I passed over the new tarmac being the only evidence of the land slip which had earlier blocked this road for almost a week. The Axmouth estuary road is now a familiar and bumpy one, past the pill boxes, the thatched cottages, bird hides and entering Seaton at the marina.

Heading back inland along Route 2 / 33, I thought I'd share with you some of the obstacles placed in the way of cyclists along this so called cycle route. It is also interesting that in the three months I've been cycling this route, I've never seen another cyclist use it!

First obstacle is the set of parallel bars which may have some value to warn cyclists they are joining a main carriageway but these precede a minor lane leading to a sewage treatment works! The second is a narrow bridge and lane hardly wide enough to get a bike through. Luckily, I've never met anyone coming the other way, as when I last looked my bike had no reverse gear! Finally, within the last few weeks, Devon County Council have as good as blocked the entry to the cycle route with a metal bared gate with the only purpose of displaying a giant no tipping sign as this is not a lane which goes anywhere! Also, why do this when there's a perfectly good wall a few feet to the right which would have done just as good a job?

OK .. rant over, Sustrans take note!

Overall this was one of my best morning rides of the year. The weather was kind, the legs held out and the scenery was delightful, I also achieved three new PBs: a new top speed of 32.8 mph, a new distance record of 11.74 miles and a 10 mile record of 47m:51s which is a 3m:28s improvement on my Day 77 circuit last week.

Stats: 11.74 mi (PB), 59m 31s, Avg 11.8 mph, Max 32.8 mph (PB), 660 kcal