The Mark Cavendish Commission

At the end of February, my local coffee shop proprietor and fellow AVP member, Glenn, had local artist, Rich Webster in residence creating a painting of one of my favourite cycling's personalities.

I met up with Rich shortly after he started putting paint to canvas, on one of my many trips to the Broom Wagon for a good coffee and a chat. It took just a few seconds, after discussing how the painting of Mark Cavendish was to be created, for me to realise that I had to have it.

Glen saw quite a bit more of me over the following week, as I dropped in to see how the masterpiece was progressing.

It was finished on the Thursday, in the week of the Grizfest and was hung alongside Lizzie Armitstead and Lucy Garner in Broom Wagon until I called to take it home on the Sunday. It now adorns one of my walls and looks spectacular. I've told Glen that during the TdF, Cav may make another guest appearance alongside the girls again!

Red Nose Day Ride Leader

As I mentioned last week, this Sunday was my turn to lead out the Pedallers on the monthly Sunday ride. I had been agonising over a route, as the objective of these rides is to be inclusive of all abilities and Mother Nature has not taken this into account when laying out Devon's landscape! Having published the route, I did hear of a few murmurings that the three climbs I had planned, the last one out of Stockland in particular, may be a little ambitious. It was with no surprise therefore, that when I arrived at our meeting point, 10 minutes before the off, I was the only rider.

Following a solitary five minute wait, a few Pedallers from further afield rolled up to join me and over the next 10 minutes a steady stream or arrivals brought our number to a far from expected total of 19! After the depart, I had heard that we'd reached the princely total of 22 riders, so must have picked up some late arrivals along the way.

The first climb up to Kilmington was a pleasing warm up, both in temperature, because the weather was looking decidedly bleak and in getting the legs spinning, being that the next two climbs would be  increasingly challenging.

Once out of Kilmington, we had the first of our A35 crossings to negotiate. This, on a Thursday night with 5-10 riders is no big deal, but on a Sunday with 22 riders was a different prospect all together. It reminded me of those natural history films where you see turtles or frogs perilously crossing a road on their return to the sea or a pond! Fortunately we all survived the crossing to enjoy a gentle and picturesque cycle along the River Yarty, stopping for a breather and a photo at the old Beckford Bridge. This is a regular spot for the Pedallers to take a group picture and is thus known more to us as The AVP Bridge.

The next destination was Stockland, a small village at the base of our 2nd big climb, the one which would test even the fittest. We paused here for a quick energy snack and to bit farewell to two riders who decided against making the ascent, but would meet us back at the finish.

Once at the top it was a smooth run to the Colour Wheel cafe above Honiton where we enjoyed coffee and cake out of the rain which had started to fall during our ascent. Once back on the road, the rain had lifted and it was a clear run down into Colyton for the Comic Relief: Red Nose event at the local garden centre where the ride was concluded over a glass of cider and hog roast accompanied by a Dolly Parton tribute act!

February Gone in a Flash

I can not believe February is over already .. gone in a flash!

A business trip and wet weather has curtailed my Thursday night rides to just two of the four that I would normally have completed, but I have tried to make up for lost cycling time by getting out at the weekend and even procuring a turbo trainer for some off road spinning.

The first of the weekend rides was the February AVP Sunday outing from Axminster to Broadwindsor  on which Buster lead out 20 riders under glorious blue sky.

The AVP Sunday Riders

The next was a quick paced ride following this route http://ridewithgps.com/routes/7003472. We had a good turnout for the 8:00 am start, Shaun, Richard, Kelly, Bobble, Curtis, Kevin and Quiff. Apart from the initial huff and puff out of Seaton, Quiff reported that it really only had two climbs (both out of Upottery), the first being up to Aller Moor and the second up Sandy lane to the A30, the rest he said was very flat for this part of the country, enough said! Initially the weather was a bit cold and gloomy but the sun came out around 11ish and we finished the ride off with a more gentle saunter along the River Yarty.

The Traditional Roadside Puncture Repair

These two rides bagged me 90 miles which, together with 60 miles clocked up during a couple of week day rides, brought me nicely above my winter cycling 100 mile a month target.

To close the month, there was one more ride I just had to get in. Next week, I am down to lead out the March Sunday ride and have been struggling to find a suitable route. On paper I had a few ideas but to satisfy my mind, I needed to do a reconnoitre .. just to make sure it would be doable for the majority. The route I've settled on will be a 28 mile anticlockwise circuit to Kilmington, across the A5 and along the River Yarty .. I really enjoyed that stretch of road after the ride with Quiff a couple of Sunday's ago. After the idilic ride along the river, over relatively level ground, we have a bit of a climb out of Stockland before dropping down Northcote Hill. From here, the next 10 miles back to Seaton will be all down hill, so my fellow riders should be able to sit back and let gravity do most of the work!

I still need to share with you my first turbo trainer experiences, a little cycling art purchase and what should be an interesting ride that I have planned for April, but these will have to wait until next time.

A Closed Coffee Shop, Ice, Hills & 2 Punctures

Kelly and I went for a spin this morning. Meeting up at the Rousdon Village Bakery, with the plan to have a pre cycle coffee only to find that although there was a published opening time of 08:30, by 09:00 the proprietor was still arrive .. so, no coffee to be had! 

The plan was to cycle out to Otter Mill via Ottery St Mary and return to Seaton via Sidmouth, however, having to tread gingerly down through Rousdon to Musbury through crunchy frozen puddles and then with Kelly suffering her first 'en ride' puncture as we climbed out of Colyton, time was slipping away -- and I was not going to last without a coffee before we reached the Mill. We therefore, dropped in on the other AVP favoured coffee shop, the Colourwheel (fortunately, unlike Axminster Arts Café last week and Rousdon's offering earlier, it was open). 

Thawing out, we agreed a new plan; to cycle straight to Sidmouth and take on some hills .. starting with Observatory Hill and then take the hilly road through Branscombe and Beer. On the descent into Branscombe, Kelly's front tyre blew with loud pop! Puncture no.2. This was, however, no ordinary puncture, a flint had sliced the side wall! I must admit, despite the lack of in the field experience, I was most impressed with the way she handled the tyre changes - Kwik-Fit take note!

Finally retuning home, and giving the bike a once over before putting it away, I'd never seen it more filthy before and then when giving it clean down, I also noticed a massive thorn protruding from my front tyre .. I must have been just seconds away from our third puncture - what an eventful ride. 

AVP Saturday Morning Ride with Little Miss Bossy!

Being a very much last minute planned ride, only Kelly and I were free to meet up at the new Coffee Shop at Rousdon. I'd originally thought we'd have a pre cycle beverage but with the weather looking so good we just wanted to get out and on the road. May be next time I'll be better organised and suggest we meet at 09:00 for 09:30 to allow time for a pre ride coffee and natter.

My plan was to ride out to Shave Cross to check out the extent of the recently closed road on Marshwood .. well one has to have a goal. Also, being very last minute, the route was a bit fluid and while I had printed out a map and loaded up my Garmin, neither made made much sense once we were rolling - navigation has never been my strong point - watch out all for March's Sunday ride which I'm supposed to be leading, goodness knows where we'll end up!

Little Miss Bossy at the Library

As it was, we failed to get too lost. From Rousdon, we dropped down to Lyme, climbed out past the golf club to Charmouth .. then took the bridge over the A35, a much better decision than crossing further up, not just because of not having to dodge cars on the A35 but the views back to Charmouth and Lyme were spectacular. We rode on through Wooton Fitzpaine - stopping at the most unusual telephone box library - Whitchurch Canoncorum and returned to Seaton via Marshwood, Hawkchurch and Axminster.

There was a short stop in Axminster to pick up a bag of Jelly Babies and while we had also planned a stop at the Arts Cafe for coffee, were shocked to find that it closes at 12:00 noon on a Saturday! Thankfully, The Broom Wagon - a favoured establishment of mine - back in Seaton, was more than able to satisfy our need for good coffee & cake

Kenilworth Icy Circuit

I've spoken before how that now that I have the Yeti for transport, being away from home is now no longer a reason not to have my bike with me.

This weekend, it was trip to Coventry which gave me the perfect opportunity to meet up with a very good work colleague of mine for  a run out on our Specialized Crosstrails .. yes some coincidence we have the same bikes. My Crosstrail, the hybrid I returned to cycling on some two years ago, has been very much put in the shade following the acquisition of my new road bikes, so it was great to have this excuse to revive our association.

With my friend based in Warwick, we agreed on Kenilworth Castle as our meeting point. I was impressed with Coventry's cycle paths which took me right into Kenilworth. I guess they do have more of a motorised traffic problem than us in and around Seaton, but Devon Council, take note, that Stop Line Way Cycle Path you've had in plan for the last 3+ years is getting a bit overdue!

As it was, the Crosstrail was the perfect ride for the icy conditions we faced .. although even studded snow tires my have struggled with one patch of ice which took me unawares, my front wheel slipping from under leaving me prostrate on on the ground! Apart from this, my friend puncturing and me losing a rear light, we had a great ride and finishing with a strong coffee and chocolate brownie was just icing on cake!

AVP 10th Anniversary Ride

It's been a slow start to the new year, what with the arrival of proper winter weather, the wind and rain has grounded all but those with turbo trainers.

Fortunately, today, one of the few clear sunny days so far this year, coincided with the AVP's 10th Anniversary ride. Back in 2005 the club was formed with 3 members, today we have more than 150 and over 30 joined the peloton as we rode out from our TIC muster point.

You'll note from the map below a rather convoluted route was taken. The loop to the right was a pre club ride that I rode with Kelly, taking in Stepps Lane, a killer of a hill at the best of times but after the festive excesses this was almost the death of me!

Time to get more training in ... I'm feeling far from cycling fit!