AVP Evening Ride with Quiff & The Near Naked Man

Thursday night is cycling night in Seaton ... well there are other things going on in and around, such as the Red Arrows flying over Lyme Regis, but for me even the draw of an air display could not keep me away from from my training.

After Tuesday's epic ride, I was looking forward to a more gentle spin ahead of a longer weekend ride. Arriving in at the Kings Head rallying point, I could see in addition to the usual suspects that Quiff had joined us. Quiff runs a quick paced Sunday ride which I had the privilege of joining on a couple of occasions last year, before I accepted after being dropped on a ride back in November, that I needed more training to do them justice. This was the ride which actually started the more regular social Sunday rides which Andy and I still try to get out on.

We have, more recently, been known on Thursday nights to split into two groups, for a brisk and gentle paced ride. Ordinarily, I would not have entertained following Quiff out on the brisk ride but with Andy away with the Arrows, and an unexplained desire to test myself, following all this training  I've been doing for the RideLondon, I thought, why not:
- double the distance,
- double the pain .. and hopefully
- double the gain!

Out with the speedy group!

The speedy group, in the end, actually only consisted of Quiff, myself and the Near Naked Man (Glenn, the proprietor of the Broom Wagon coffee shop and member of the MCAC), the remaining 8 or 9 riders chose the gentle paced route. If I ever thought someone knew something I didn't, this was one of those times.

We headed out briskly towards Colyton where some how I earned a Strava segment KOM and a flurry of PRs climbing Watchcombe Hill to Offwell .. this ride was really pushing me to my limit. In all we covered 41 miles to Uppotery, across the A303 to Churchinford and back through Membury and Axminster. I think it was out of Membury that we started a chain gang, rapidly rotating positions on the road to maximise our speed. I remember the last time I tried this I could not keep up, on this occasion I stayed on the wheel as we maintained a 20 mph plus average over the undulating couple of miles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUPVj1sIJ-M

As expected this was a quick ride, but I survived. I also achieved a 20 km PB. Feeling good for London! If you've not yet sponsored me, surely I'm earning it now :) www.justgiving.com/Jonathan-Read-Bone/ or Text JJRB64 £x to 70070

The Lone Pedaller

I think the threat of rain may have kept my fellow Pedallers off the road this evening. I bumped into Buster and Robin unloading their mountain bikes but although out on my winterised Crosstrail, I did not have the required chunky tyres to consider suggesting I tag along!

Soggy and steamed up .. just before I was forced to get the rain cape out

Having kitted up, I was not going to turn in for an early bath, so thought I'd do a gentle solo circuit out to Honiton Golf Club and return to Seaton via Offwell and Colyton. After last week's climbing, I thought I'd avoid the hills today and also keep to some of our better roads.

The obligatory photo stop

I did manage, however to pick up a slow puncture from the road to Offwell which the council crew had strewn with hedge cuttings, I do wish they would sweep up after themselves!

The Lone Pedaller

24 miles covered in 1 hr 55 mins inc the obligatory photo stops for a couple of selfies. I did get a bit of a cooling shower on the way out but was rewarded with warm blow dry on my return as the sun came out!

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!

First 'School Day' Morning Rides Of The Year

This was the week in which I found my cycling mojo and got myself back into a routine of pre breakfast morning rides.

The plan was to get out early on Monday, but in spite to the inviting blue sky, my motivation was lacking. Tuesday my excuse for not heading out was an early business call which, by the end of the day, I felt I had to make amends and nipped out for a quick gentle circuit .. just under 8 miles.



Wednesday, I had another early call but was not going to let this put me off. The great weather was holding and after the previous evening's enjoyable circuit I just had to get out. I felt sluggish but it was a start and I felt great to have completed my first 'school day' morning ride of the year!

Not a soul out at 06:30 am for my first morning ride

To complete the day, I even headed out late afternoon, after work for 10 mile spin .. as if I'd cycled to and from work. I was feeling much better on this ride .. getting KOM of my Seaton 3 Hills Climb, finally breaking my September 2013 record and achieving an average speed over the 10 miles of 15 mph .. feeling good!

Thursday, the day of our weekly AVP ride, with family arriving for the long Easter weekend, I had both chores to do in the morning and socialising in plan for the evening, so no cycling today! I made up for it. however, on Good Friday morning, with another 06:30 start and a good 20 plus mile ride out to Honiton golf club and back via Offwell. I even met up with a Sid Valley rider along the Axmouth estuary which gave me a boost .. I do prefer riding with company.

AVP Thursday Night Dampening

The British weather is a source of constant interest to us on this isle and over the last few weeks has been equally so to our Pedallers. We've had beautiful near summer days, thick fog, torrential rain and  now close to zero temperatures. Knowing what to wear when out for a long ride is a challenge at the best of times and tonight was no different!

Thursday night's foray into the Devon hills started out in daylight. I'm loving the way the days are drawing out now and with the clocks going forward an hour over the weekend, I am looking forward to seeing even more of the countryside in daylight on our next ride.

Eight riders cycled out of Seaton up Stovar Long Lane and over to Farway Common. The smooth tarmac of this route a welcome change to the pothole dodging rides of previous weeks. I had wished I'd been on my Roubaix but even knowing the route ahead of time would not have made much difference, as the Roubaix's freewheel is no longer free running - a sore point which I won't go into!

 

It was a quick ride by our standards, benefiting from gentle climbs and smooth roads. That was, however, until we reached Offwell, when one of our number punctured on the long descent into Colyton. We only spotted this when only six riders arrived at the bridge over the River Coly, our agreed point to regroup.

With the puncture repaired we rode into heavy rain for the final 2 miles back to Seaton and arrived at the pub for après cycling beer and chips slightly dampened. The rain was even heavier after refuelling such that I was glad my ride home was a short one!

Day 333 - Bit of a Drag

Thursday and another ride out with the AVP. I can't believe how much I am enjoying this night riding but can't deny that I am really looking forward to the return of summer, this period of dark and dampness is getting to be a bit of a drag.

Meeting up at the usual time, usual place - 6:30 at the Kings Arms - it was great to see the usual suspects gathering for tonights ride. After last week, getting dropped on my Crosstrail during the final run in from Musbury, I was pleased to see the return of Barry, fellow night time hybrid rider, who would be able to join me at the back of the peloton. We have a challenging time out there mixing it with the road bikes but it's all good training! Tonight was also going to be Kilian's last AVP ride as he returns home to Germany at the weekend. Kilian's first ride with us was back in September when he joined us at the last minute as a guest on our 100 miler, riding of all things a mountain bike! He'd have no trouble on a hybrid, but that's what 30+ years does for you .. my excuse anyway!

 

Jolly struck the route which would take the 12 of us out via Farway to Offwell and back through Colyton. It was a a good circuit, relatively free of traffic, bar the meeting of a tanker down one narrow lane requiring all to take to a water filled tractor furrow. The 1,500 feet of climb was challenging but not excessive and the down hill runs were, in reward, fast and thrilling. We are noticing the temperature falling a little more now, as I heard mention of 'ice cream sandwich headaches' on more than one occasion. So extra warm headgear and gloves are now definitely de rigueur for the winter night rider.

The run out tonight was my quickest yet on the hybrid, with a new one hour and 20km record achieved and a PR on the 1 mile 'Bit of a Drag' Strava segment, albeit almost a minute off the pace of the road bikes, so a revisit on the Roubaix will be required.

Again, a dry and incident free ride brought us home to the Kings Arms ahead of the Mountain bikers and in good time for some quality après-cycing chat, beer and chips. Another perfect 20 mile night ride out with the AVP!

Day 220 - APV Night Rider

A night ride with 16 good friends of the AVP is a particularly special occasion. I have surprised myself, having very much dismissed such an activity when it was suggested towards the end of summer, in really enjoying the experience!

We headed out as the sun set, through Colyton towards Offwell. This 3 mile climb out of Colyton is a steep one and it was not long before the group split with Ed racing ahead on his new racer. Having left his pannier clad, flag waving tourer at home, Ed was feeling the benefit of lightened aluminium frame and carbon forks, just as I did a few months back after first riding out on my Roubaix; a euphoric feeling!

10 miles in, just before we hit the junction with the A35, we punctured. I say 'we' as it is a very communal affair when any one of us suffers this unavoidable cycling event. The manufacturer who develops a truly puncture proof tyre will be a hero indeed, but just as with our oil companies who may know the secret of renewable energy, inner tube producers would never equally pursue such a profit destroying innovation!

While the experienced puncture fixers set to work on the tyre, with the efficiency of a Ferrari pit crew, the rest of us huddled like Emperor Penguins in an attempt to protect ourselves from the now plummeting temperatures, quite a change from the warm evening we enjoyed last week. 

What else is there to do, standing in the dark watching a tyre being changed under the power of a several thousand lumens, other than to record the event for posterity on our camera phones!

Inner tube replaced and back on the road, we headed south along the fast straight road that leads through the common, past Farway and towards Seaton. Andy lead out a three rider 'chain gang' with Ed and Chris. I attempted to get on the back wheel but after getting knocked back by the jet wash of a passing lorry, I could not generate sufficient speed out of the natural shelter from the wind that a close riding team provides. As much as I pounded on my Crosstrail's open peddles the three slowly pulled away until the pulsating red glow from their rear lights disappeared into the blackness ahead. In the distance behind me I could see the pin prick white lights of main peloton and I had visions of the many scenes shot over the summer of the grand tour cycling events, where the breakaway rider gets gradually pulled back into the main body of cyclists unable to maintain sufficient speed to stay out ahead alone. After a couple of miles the inevitable happened, the group happily reformed around me, it is surprisingly lonely to cycling alone in the dark.

On joining the main road from Sidmouth to Seaton we caught up with the breakaway three. Reforming as we started, our group of 17 riders continued on the final 3 mile into Seaton and while a couple peeled off on their homeward journeys the majority of us climbed Tower Hill to then experience the thrill of the steep 40 mph drop down into Colyford and the draw of the apres cycling beer and chips at the White Hart .. what a way to end a fabulous night's ride! Looking forward to next week already, oh yes and the 40 miler on Sunday, weather permitting.

Stats: 23.02 mi, 1hr 45m, Avg 13.1 mph, Max 37.5 mph, 1,306 kcal