Happy new year (2013... it's been fun but thanks!!!)

Well looking back on 2013 I can safely say it has indeed been the most unexpected year of cycling that I could imagine!!!

I started my blog nearly 12 months ago after an new year with flu that turned into pneumonia and I eventually ended up in hospital with pleurisy which was a very painful experience indeed.

This did give me the motivation to go and do something that I saw as a real challenge.

WHY?

I sat in my hospital bed feeling like someone was trying to extract my right lung using a red hot poker in the lower side of my rib cage and i listened to the rants of some chap that was properly delirious from goodness knows what drugs he was on. He was ranting on shouting "I am not finished yet! I wanted to do more but never got around to it!". Made me think really that by the time I am old and losing my marbles (even if my wife thinks I am already barking mad), would I be able to look back and say I did something worth while and not only pushed myself to my very limits then went one step further, but also touched other peoples lives along the way and hopefully made a bit of a difference. With my already long and varied history I cannot say I have wasted my life, but I still feel that I can do more too.

Maybe have a giggle along the way and get screamed at by Sergeant Major Matt a few times too!!!

In January once I was back on my feet I decided to get on the Turbo trainer and get the heart working hard.

The original old girl!

I started by really hammering myself but also having no idea of what I was doing and no way of figuring out my power output and cadence etc. I still am a little clueless on that to be honest but the best thing is I was enjoying it at the time.

I had to drop out of the first sportive I was booked on for the year though so I was really not impressed! however I did think that I would have been stupid to try especially since I felt like I had half a lung missing still and my fitness had really dropped.

February.. I was feeling good about myself and really getting back into the groove. I had started setting new personal records again as my fitness got back to where it was before the new year and I was looking forward to the first sportive that I was going to be taking part in from Poynton.

Then fate had a different idea as WHAM! I managed to get clipped by an idiot that didn't look when he crossed the road and I went down hard breaking a bone in my foot in the process.

So back to hospital for me and I can safely say that having tried both the local hospitals I would not recommend a stay in one!!! never a fan of them in all honesty and really prefer just going to visit or have children at them.

I was then on crutches for just over two months and hated every minute of it. However it did just strengthen my resolve that I would do more and go further than I previously thought  possible. At the time however just the 1.5 mile walk from town was a killer for me and was proving to be hard work.

March brought snow, and lots of it! bad for those on and off bikes. I was still hobbling about on crutches and having to catch the bus everywhere. On the upside though the Cheshire Cat was postponed until July so I was back on it and looking forward to it too!!!

April put me back on my feet and back on my bike. Probably far too soon in the eyes of the doctors but I was determined to get back up and running again working hard on my fitness and cycling endurance (much to my unimpressed wife's cost). I was out spending time on my bike going the long way too and from work and getting some good hills in to match. I did have to reign myself back a bit but then in May and June  just went into hill climbing mode and went out to find some local big ones in the process.

Lashing the snake! Top of Snake Pass

A Monk and Two Passes. The foot of Winnats Pass

Rolling the Moss! Top of Holme Moss and Happy for the first of many times.

 I was wise to do this as I think it stood me in good stead for the miles and mountains ahead as I took part in the sportives I had entered.

Finally at the end of June I made it to my first sportive. The Great Manchester Cycle! No hills, No cars, just nice flat(ish) road and 50 odd miles of cycling as fast or as slow as I wanted. It was great and I really enjoyed it. Some people can do with being reminded that it is not a race though as I actually saw some overly aggressive riders force others off the road. But hey! it just goes to prove that even BMW drivers can ride bikes. But it takes a bit more to be a cyclist!!!

Just a few weeks later and on probably the hottest day I have ever cycled on in my life came the Kilo to Go Cheshire Cat. 104 miles of Cheshire plain with some of the steepest hills I have ever ridden up thrown in for good measure.

Mow Cop! The very steep bit

The picture makes it look flatter than it is!

The map doesn't lie! Its really very steep.

After an emotional killer mile and then a just as emotional 103 other miles I had completed my first big distance and got my first tick in the box (in my mind!). I had pushed my limits and found that I could do this without killing myself totally. Even if the wife did comment saying I was wiped out when I got home afterwards. I was still capable of doing more and felt really good about it.

The heat had hurt, the miles had hurt and the hills had really hurt, at the end of it though once I returned to ride HQ in Crewe I was still smiling and ready for the next one!

Still smiling after over 100 miles! I must have been mad.

Just as I thought I was back in the swing of things and looking forward to throwing myself back down the open road for the Jodrell Bank summer Sportive were my obligations and responsibilities as a Husband and Parent put through there own paces. I was at home helping my much loved and overworked wife deal with two very poorly children. Much barfing in the night as I remember and I just couldn't justify then going out for the day on my bike leaving Her in door to cope with projectile vomiting girl and barfing baby, whilst feeling rubbish herself and trying to run the house at the same time.

After a few more little training rides as well as the usual commute to work I warmed up for the next big challange by riding in the DM Keith Skoda Sportive over from Wakefield. This was a good run out and a stretch for the legs but it would fall very short of testing myself again "THE ONE!!!"

Ride With Brad 2013 was really emotional. I can safely say if all the knights of the realm think the route he had put together is a jolly nice little training ride, then it just goes to show people like Sir Bradley (The Dark Over Lord) Wiggins really are something special and go way beyond what we mortals are capable of. It was certainly an inspiration and something that I want to do again in 2014. I was certainly found wanting this time as I actually had to get off and push a few times. Next time however I will be giving Sir Wiggo a run for his money, then getting my arse handed to me on a silver platter as the Grand Over Lord wipes the floor with it and leaves me in his wake! Should be fun!!!

My next big disaster came not through thoughtless injury or mishap but more of my own stupidity as I broke my bike in an effort to fix the old girl! September was going to be the Manchester 100 for me, however I was suddenly without steed and massively pissed off as it was my mistake that essentially broke my bike. That and using old second hand parts I had purchased from eBay at the lowest possible price.

The Old girl! In the shed but not forgotten!

The Old girl did me proud however. I had ridden a 20+ year old bike for over 2000 miles, over the hills in all weathers and at scary high speed too (45+mph, that's over 100 Kph in metric). Thankfully someone was smiling on me as I was able to replace the broken frame in just a few weeks and now had a bike suitable for doing some real damage with!

The new steed!

I would be putting this one through her paces on the Hidden Peak National Trust Sportive. The bike was a great ride and I was really impressed with the performance it gave me. I however had a bit of a directional fail and managed to actually get lost. Or as we cyclist call it, just making sure another route would be safe to use too. I didn't go too far out of the way and managed to have enough sense to realise that I was not on the right track, however I did manage to finish 30 seconds late for a silver medal and got only a bronze finish. Bummer I was really pushing hard and let myself down a bit. Overall though it was a really nice ride and a great way to end the sportive season.

As the dark of Autumn and winter set in I took to the track, I want to ensure I am not starting back at square 1 with my fitness levels for the coming year. This was only interrupted with a brief meeting with the side of a minibus that was being driven by a blind man. However after much thought and discussion with her that must be obeyed, we have decided that I can either go road or track, we just can't afford for me to do both.

The year ahead!

The coming year will hopefully start with the Evans Ride-it Rochdale Sportive, The same one I missed last January.

February I currently have nothing planned as I think she would kill me if I went cycling on her birthday.

March is the return of the Cheshire Cat (weather permitting, even if I did enjoy and prefer it in July).

April will see me starting to race on the Tameside Closed circuit races on a Tuesday night. This is the start of the annual amateur racing league  season for 2014 and is on pretty much every Tuesday night until October. I don't think I will race in all of them but I do intend to compete in a few!

May will see me Race in and around Holmfirth in the Team Cystic Fibrosis Road Race and then June a race around Doncaster City centre. Those should both be great fun and mega challenging too!

At the end of June will come the event that I have been building up too and training for all this time, The Coast to Coast in a day! The ride I am still trying to get a place on as it sold out on the first day it opened, but also the point of me writing this whole blog and the reason I have been smashing myself for charity!

After that I of course hope to Bump into Sir Wiggo on his ride as well as keeping on competing on as many local races as I can get away with riding in, (Wife and children permitting).

Einstein was happy to cycle too

It's all happy cycling and on the open road even with Sergeant Major Matt screaming his lungs out at me to get up that hill or eat the person in front of me once I have caught them. It's a sport I really enjoy and something that I have been able to apply myself too. It helps me burn off the excess energy and release the aggression that I have from my days as a soldier! I do believe it has made me a better person and if one person reading this blog is by this inspired to get out on two wheels too, then it is worth it.

2013 has certainly been Hell and I have gone through it mainly on two wheels but for some of it on crutches too! Good-bye 2013 and hello to 2014! Now bring on the PAIN!!!

Loving every minute of it!

Happy Christmas!

Its Christmas 2013 and I am not cycling today. In truth I will be off the bike for a few days as I could do with a rest. However lots of new bike related bits for Christmas...Hurrah!

I now have a pair of race wheels and tyres. A new cycling jersey but most importantly a new cat eye cycling computer that I can use to monitor my power, cadence, speed and workload. It's all about the numbers and that is what I am going to be looking at to gauge my performance training over the next few months in the build up to the racing and sportive season. I have many events in the calendar and only a few of them currently paid for. A bit frustrating but I am limited on budget.

Anyway I am looking forward to getting home so I can get out on the bike again, I am getting the itch that only a flying hard ride can scratch. Plus shiny things play with on my bike too. 

The local Strava segments are going to get a hammering when I get home. Well that is the plan anyway :)

Happy cycling ;)

The secret is in the SOAP

A more advanced track session for Friday!

It was still counted as a tester session when it comes to how the national cycling centre advertise these sessions but having said that they did also say that all the tracks in the country had the managers come to a meeting in Manchester on Friday and they made decisions!!! One of these was to call the "advanced taster" Level 2 of 4. Kind of makes sense to me as otherwise you have no idea as to what you are doing or how far you have to go.

So anyway I trudged from work in the centre of Manchester sown the Ashton canal on my bike. I really wasn't feeling it tonight but non the less I was looking forward to a good hard session at the track. Maybe a few good fast laps would help clear my head and I would be feeling a lot better afterwards. Cycling tends to do that for me when I am enjoying it. The ride down the dark wet canal wasn't doing it for me tonight but it was better than the usual life of limb route on the road! I do actually like the canal just simply because it is quieter.

I arrived well in time for the session and made my way to the reception to get booked in and hire some shoes. Then off to the track and get sorted out of my outdoor road cycling kit (mainly the outer layers that I wear at the moment to keep warm and dry), I simply made sure that I would have just enough to keep me covered (stops you losing skin in a fall) and not so much that I would overheat as I was working hard on the bike.

So the bike! Where was my bike??? The track staff are usually really good and put the bikes out on the hire racks with your name on for collection, this time however myself and a few others had to go and find a member of staff to get a bike each out of the store deep under the track. Not to worry though as it gave a little insight into the underground workings of the track and a warm fuzzy feeling that says these bikes are really well maintained and looked after by staff that clearly have an extensive workshop. It was impressive with more bikes, tools and shiny things than you can shake a stick at.

However now it was time for the session and all the gloom had gone from my mind, now it would be time to concentrate (even after a long hard tiring week in the office). This was my first advanced taster session (hopefully not my last as I would still like to progress) and as the two British cycling coaches said to us, "If this is your first time then it will be a bit of an eye opener for you! just stay safe and keep calm.", These guys are the real deal! They are professional coaches and they have between them probably about as much experience as you could ever need.

Quickly I got out onto the track to do a few warm up laps. Get the legs working and the heart rate up was my aim. Also get comfortable on the bike, every bike is different and I wasn't too happy with the saddle height so I pulled up a lap or two early then everyone else came in for the first exercise briefing.

This is where SOAP comes into play. Nothing kinky but it will make your brain hurt after a few laps!

Exercise 1

     Ride in a line on the blue line and change the front rider every 1/2 lap.
     On the change power away up to the top of the track looking that you are clear at the same time.
     Once at the top of the track return to the same pace you had previously so you drop to the back.
     Rejoin the line and continue in the circuit.

How difficult could it be??

Not many people know but a track has 2 hills on it. Into the corner (when you are on the blue line) is uphill and adversely out of the corner is down hill.
To carry out this exercise and riding in a line of 16 riders we must all maintain the same pace going uphill as we do going downhill. That is the simple concept that is going to take time to master and make my head and several others on the track heads hurt. and to add to all of this the coach then throws in some SOAP!

Thankfully only as an acronym as a real bar would have just spelt disaster

S - Smooth actions (keeping it smooth helps the rider behind not having to react fast)
O - Observation (just a look over your shoulder in your intended direction of travel)
A - Anticipation (of what you are about to do, go up/down change etc.)
P - Pace judgement (Squeeze it on slightly going up the hill, let off slightly going down,)

Well all the SOAP makes it sound really easy and certainly I was confident that I wouldn't have a problem mastering this in a session..... Oh how wrong could I be!

We set off in a line of 16 all at the same time. I entered the track and closed on the wheel in front. straight away I was finding it hard to keep the right distance and just couldn't get settled like I did in the previous sessions. Round and round we went the rider at the front peeling off every 1/2 lap. The pace not massively high but good enough to do a great speed around the track.  Finally it came to me at the front. Concentrating on keeping up with the coach pace maker for the group, then came the shout "CHANGE!" my mind went blank for a second as my brain went "Thank you for calling, Matthew is cycling at the moment and will answer your call shortly, here's a little music to listen too while you wait!"

Argh! dam you brain!!!
 
The coach however had other idea's. He knew exactly what was going on in each riders head and shouted the relevant instructions to get you going!I opened up the pace and accelerated up the track, with the slight delay I was on a steeper section than I would have liked and so had to work a little harder I then returned back to normal pace and let the line pass under me as I rode the greater distance around the top of the track. Suddenly I did start to notice that the line was creeping up[ the track towards me. Now being at the top side of the track that wouldn't really give me anywhere to go! The reason that the line was creeping up the track is simple. If you are too close or just simply catching up to the rider in front you just move to the right of the rider and let the natural curve of the track slow you down and you can slot back behind the rider. However at this time everyone seemed to be coming up the track in one long line.

Things started to get a little stressful for a second as I was dropping further back then to my relief the line dropped back down and I slotted in at the back. A few laps later and me stressing about my legs not doing as they are told. Either I was too close to the rider in front or too far behind. I struggled to get the pace balance right and it is something I will have to really work on.

Next came "The Mesh!". The mind boggles!!!

With 16 of us (17 including the coach out on the track with us) we all numbered off.

Exercise 2

An reiteration of the SOAP principles but this one would also be a pace and acceleration exercise. It was to be a simple one. Keep your position in the line and maintain your spacing. Again it was all about pace. The coaches explained that we would ride around on the blue line again. They would then shout the instruction of "ODDS DOWN" at which point the odd numbers in the line all drop down the track onto the red line and the even numbers continue on the blue line and visa-verse when "EVEN DOWN" is called. "Easy Peasy!!!" (in a remarkably bad French accent) you may say!

Reality would be quite so easy but at least not as bad as the first exercise. Again this involves the careful application of SOAP!

Not too bad as we entered the track this time and again we cruised round at a comfortable pace. "EVENS DOWN" the chap in front of me peeled left and I just concentrated on keeping him in the same place as well as the chap now in front at just over a bike length away. EVENS UP and he slid back into position with the minimum of fuss. Then ODDS DOWN Hmm this was different as I slowed to keep my position in the group as I dropped onto the red line. In a corner you travel 5 meters shorter distance on the red line than on the blue. Again pace, distance judgment and then acceleration back up the track and into the space. Not an easy thing and pace judgment is something that even the pro's have to work hard on. this being lesson 1 for me made me feel a bit better.

Finally we all came in as a line (looked rather good too) and stopped on the barrier. The coaches then decided that we could all go do some individual interval training on the whistle for the last 10 minute of the session. This was simple find some space, get up to speed then on the first whistle sprint like hell and on the second relax and recover! Hmm 10 minutes later I was jelly! I got onto the track did 2 laps then whistle 1. So I did exactly as told and went for it hard. Lap 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.... I was starting to think the coach had lost his whistle then thankfully he blew it again!! bit warm now and my legs complained that I had been cycling all week and now this, SHUT UP LEGS!!! 2 laps later the shrill sound of the whistle again! Not being one to waste the opportunity of a good workout I pushed hard again. By Lap 5 or 6 I was breathing though my ears! They repeated this about 2 more times then brought us all in for a post session chat!

It covered most of what I have described above but the coaches also gave us a good insight into how difficult this can be at the higher levels with 40+ riders on the track, now that must be really stressful sometimes, however they did also reiterate that as long as you keep a good lookout and stay safe it is never a problem! I look forward to my next session!

This is all good training too for the race season next year that I will be going into. Now that will be an eye opener too.

Great fun and even though I haven't yet got another session booked I am looking forward to it and just want more!!!

The ride home after was a bit emotional too! I still managed a few good personal bests though and 8th on the leader board on the route through Gorton too,

I will be stepping up my training in the new year and knocking up some more leader boards too. It would be good to dominate the area before starting the next racing season in March/April time!

More happy cycling!

On the Blue line!!!

The past week has been unusually harrowing but today it was rewarding.

Last Friday after having an entire week of commuting too and from work by bike, my luck ran out... so to speak.

The fact is I got a minibus in the face! As it goes, I was hit on a roundabout by a driver that was cutting across traffic and by his own admission was in the wrong lane to be turning left.

The only left I had at this point was the gravel rash to my right knee, elbow, shoulder and hand plus a very sorry looking bike. I wasn't too happy at all as I would have to repair my bike over the weekend and in the run up to Christmas money is tight!!

I had a very badly damaged rear derailleur a good knock to my handlebars and gear/brake levers, a huge gash out of my saddle and now my wheels don't feel right either. Not happy at all and considering I wear a high-vis jacket and have more lights than Blackpool the bloke actually said "Sorry Mate I Didn't See You". Makes me angry!!

 After a good knock and a bit of a bruise I was back on the bike on Monday for the usual commute to work etc. Plus tonight I was back at the velodrome!!!

Hurrah Hurrah! Great fun to be had smashing myself around the track!

This time however after a good thrashing for a warm-up, high pace for about 10-15 minutes to get a bit of a sweat on. I had to pull my eyes back in as there were a few riders all wanting to ride for the fabled Blue slip.

As I previously mentioned in an earlier post this allows a rider to progress to the next level. I have a feeling it may just be a whole different level of suffering to enjoy :)

We rode around in a tight line like formation. It does make it so much easier if you ride in a line as the person in front shelters you from the wind as you travel through the air. You actually end up doing around 30% less work to maintain the same speed. Great fun and is a very good thing to practice.

At the end of it all after many laps, changing over from the front position and dropping to the back. heart stopping moments when we all went to exit the track and didn't quite manage it in formation. Turned into a bit of a cluster really, but we handled it safely and recovered well.

The Coach for the session finally uttered the magic words "You are all passed for your Blue slips, See me at reception afterwards to collect them". Great stuff exactly what I wanted from tonight and time to take it up a knotch.

So the Blue slip!

 

I know what you are thinking!!! Yes it doesn't look much, but this is the the first step towards getting accreditation  as a rider. If you want to know more about what it involves just have a look at the link here. This is the National cycling centre website and gives an outline of what you have to do.

I am now going to be on level 2 and ready to really push myself to improve my cycling speed stamina and overall fitness. I know I am far fitter than I was 12 months ago but that is what doing so much fitness (if only just cycling to work and back) does for you.

Tomorrow however I think my legs will need to be told what to do as they where jelly when I left the velodrome and are starting to ache a bit now. My Sergeant Major Matt was loving it tonight and at the end when we got asked if we just wanted to go around fast he kicked me in the arse and just went "I'll be doing some fast laps please!!!" in my voice then got all shouty in my head demanding I go fast enough to make my eyes bleed and anyone watching feel tired! It's like the good old saying that I remember Sergeants of old saying "You'll be doing press-ups* until I'm tired" (*substitute for required exercise e.g. star-jumps, hill runs, sit-ups etc. all the greats that make you hurt like buggery).

Anyway I did some fast laps and rode right up until the last minute. In all I rode for about 50 out of the 60 minutes. I then got changed back into my outdoor kit and after booking my next session cycled the 8 miles home, wibbly wobbly style. However I must have still been on a adrenaline high as I even managed to get a cup on my Strava ride on the way back, I must be mental!

So in other news! 

I am now registered on the Tameside Closed Circuit Cycling Racing league, I am going to start entering events in the new year however the first event isn't until April.

I have entered the first sportive of the year too. The Evans Ride-it Rochdale road ride that is about 70 miles but takes in a few good lumps including Crag Vale which is part of the Yorkshire leg of the 2014 Tour De France (Stage 1 I think). Anyway it will be a good ride and my second attempt at doing it as I missed it last year due to coming down with plueracy!! (not an experience I want to repeat any day).

After that I am looking at doing a mixture of races and sportives all running up towards doing a really good challenging ride later on in the year.

Looking forward to it all already!

Happy cycling :)

Looks like its that time already!!!

With the days now well and truly getting shorter and the rides too and from work being mainly in the dark, the weather getting increasing wet and windy plus the temperatures dropping, I see many cyclists hanging up their helmets and opting for a warmer form of transport. certainly where I park my bike at work, an area (indoors with great security) is usually packed and you really struggle to find a spot. Now however there is plenty of room and only the brave well dressed dare attend.

Me being one of those brave nut-cases.

But hey! as I pass about 1,000 cars a day all sat in slow moving and stationary traffic and I may look like a Christmas tree with more lights and day-glow yellow bits than you can shake a stick at (I do look like a proper chump too) it's all in aid of not being splattered by drivers that don't look and best of all being quite warm too.

I can safely say I have only had one day so far when I have been properly cold so far and really not enjoying it. The only reason for that was I was still wearing my summer gear, thin socks, fingerless gloves, thin top etc. Now however I am going back to lessons in years gone by and ensuring I have enough layers to keep out the wind but not so many that I overheat and end up just as wet on the inside as I would on the outside from the rain.

The only other issue at the minute is ensuring I am visible and avoid motorists that generally just don't look, or think, or just don't care and think they have right of way!!! Scary really.

So looking like a day-glow idiot with lights on my arms and back plus three lights on the back of my bike (the red sort) and three lights on the front of my bike (the white sort) generally does the trick. I still do however as happened at least twice this week I had a SMIDSY or Sorry Mate I Didn't See You!!! Obviously even the blind are allowed to drive!!!

So if battling through slow moving traffic in the dark wind and rain isn't enough, I am still cycling in the region of 100 miles per week. I am also starting to make up for the lack of road miles by hitting the Turbo trainer a few times a week too. The goal being that after winter is (finally) over I will be fitter, faster and stronger than I was last year. All this should stand me in good stead for the next season as I really want to take part in some real races, either road races as there are a few nearby or closed track racing at somewhere like Tameside Circuit, a purpose built track that I can't believe I haven't discovered previously. Either way it is something that I want to be doing over the next year and will hopefully do as well as I can for me!!!

I shall keep you posted on what happens.

Meanwhile... I have entered the Cheshire Cat again, to me there is only one distance and that is the full Monty 100 miles as last year. All the other dates for either sportive's or races are to be discussed and booked but I will be blogging those as I go through the year.

Happy cycling yet again. And stay safe too....

TIme to get a bit of a Poke on!!!

It's been on the cards for the past month and a bit. That's right! today was the first of two sessions I had booked at the Velodrome in Manchester. I have cycled in the velodrome before (middle of last year) so I was pretty much allowed to just ride as I liked as long as I wasn't dangerous and the coaches were happy.

Anyway as soon as it 4.30 today I was out the door from work as I knew I had to cycle the 2.6 miles to the velodrome from the city centre and really didn't want to be late.

I had a taster session booked from 5-6pm and really didn't want to waste my money by turning up late or trashing myself so hard to get there that I would be knackered and wouldn't enjoy it.

I had already figured out my route. A nice easy ride down the Ashton canal so traffic free, just the odd pedestrian to avoid (but they didn't mind as long as I didn't go past at break neck speed) and the odd few lumps and bumps on the canal path. I don't think they were quite thinking of road bikes when they built them in the 1800's or however long ago it was.

So after I got there I made my way to reception got booked in, picked up a pair of Lake shoes (these are a type of cycling shoes they use with the hire bikes) and headed into the velodrome. You could still feel the heat from the world championships at the weekend and it was indeed as if the place was still ringing from the roar of the crowds too. It is a world class venue and right on the doorstep! I can only imagine what it must have been like at the weekend for the Great British cycling team (and indeed all the cycling teams) to walk out into the riders D to the standing ovation they received, The roar of the crowd must have been deafening but at the same time such a rush too. If that doesn't make you want to ride to a world class record breaking level (and they did break records too) then what will I ask?

So now it was my turn, not so much to wow the crowds (there must have been about 5 or 6 spectators that had come to see one or two of the others taking part) but it made me smile and I was ready to just simply thrash myself for an hour.

Now you may be wondering why I am doing this and what makes track cycling different from the road cycling I have been doing.

The two main differences are its on a track (a bit obvious but hey!)

And these tracks have steeply banked corners

that essentially mean you are always going in a straight line, an oddity but it works! Takes a bit to get your head around but as soon as you have that figured out you are cooking on gas.

By the way that is not a picture of me but some random chap on the internet, it is Manchester Velodrome however. This does give you an idea of how steep the banking is but to see it and even better ride it is breathtaking.

The second part that is different is the bike

  

Essentially this is a bike built simply to do one thing only and that is go chuffing fast!!!

It has no brakes, no free wheel and no gears like a conventional road bike, Once you are on it you are clipped into the pedals and then it is go time. The rear wheel turns when the pedals turn so effectively all the speed control is done solely by using your legs. The tires are slick and only used on the track. I certainly wouldn't want to dirty the track with my dirty road bike.

As I prepared to ease myself into riding the track I noticed a few of the cyclist that had just finished on the previous session before hand. It was only part of the British Para cycling team. I was a bit annoyed to have missed seeing them put in some flying laps as I think to watch the pro's do it would have been really inspiring.

Now clipped in I pushed of the barrier and made my way around the blue apron just getting a feel for the bike before a glance over my right shoulder as I made my way down the straight up onto the blue band then onto the track at speed. I have no idea how fast I was going, it was probably snails pace in comparison to what the pro's had been doing but to me it felt fast.

With the air rushing past me, my ears ringing and my breathing controlled but I was breathing hard. I did a few warm up laps at a good pace then went for a few flying laps.

By this point the main group of the riders had started to join the track and they were pretty much all first timers. I took the upper blue stayers line to keep out of there way and started to really pump my legs.

Momentarily, I wondered what it must have been like at the weekend again,  but then got focused on the line, pushing harder,
breathing harder,
concentrate,

 it was at this point I realised had forgotten my gloves! Spanner!

I slowed again on the straight (if you do it on the corners you can lose the centrifugal force that sticks you to the track banking and slide down the bank, this would be an embarrassing mistake one feels!) and made my way down to the blue apron then over to the inner fence where I could stop and hold on without falling off. I had a quick chat with one of the staff, a young lad that works at the cycling centre, rides the track regularly and is clearly very enthusiastic about it too. It certainly is always a pleasure to find someone that really enjoys there job even if it does involve having to work with total novices. He didn't come across as a Mr know-it-all and neither did the coach, however you did get the feeling that they had years of experience doing this sort of thing and they certainly knew there stuff.

So gloves on and feeling refreshed from just a 2 minute stop, I clipped in again and pushed off to join the traffic. You have to really have you wits about you when on the track, as you join you have to ensure you are not about to ride into someone else, as you climb up the track or descend down again you have to constantly glance over your shoulder to make sure you are not about to hammer into somebody. Sounds simple and for someone like me that commutes by bike daily and so is constantly having to look over my shoulder just in case the idiot in the car behind isn't giving me the room etc. For some of the guys I was sharing the track with however it was not something they were used too and so I just kept a safe distance at all times.

Once you get the idea that speed is your friend on the track then "Sticking" to the line is fairly simple. One or two of the other riders spent the hour long session working this out, but I could tell they were all enjoying themselves.

With a bit of clear air in front of me now I again pushed hard, Breathing deep to make sure I got as much oxygen into my body as possible I built up my speed. I was really pushing and pulling on each pedal stroke as hard as I could. My legs driving up and down like pistons, the air once again whistling past my ears. I have no idea how fast I am going but I do know I seem to be passing quite a few riders. Must keep my distance, must concentrate on the line. Breathing hard, legs pumping harder. I make as many "fast" (they did feel fast and I counted to 20 on one of them, in elephants of course. So over a 250 meter track, I work that out at 750 meters a minute, which is 45 km per hour or just a little over 27 Mph. The big boys do probably around 40-50 Mph so I have a long way to go, however I was loving it!)

Now I was starting to feel it and needed a drink.

I dropped down to the pale blue then onto the apron. I wandered into the riders D and then to my dismay, the water fountain was off!!! Fail. I hadn't brought a water bottle myself and there was non to be had around here!!! Bummer, I wasn't going to let this stop me enjoying a dam good ride though.

I had a chat with the coach about how to go for accreditation. This is what you have to do to get racing on the track.Firstly you have to get your Blue ticket, this demonstrates that you can ride safely on the track and in a group. Then to the improver for a pink ticket that will allow you to advance onto doing all sorts or fancy things and mega up the fitness too. After that it is Skills sessions and finally accreditation. This is something that all the competing riders go through and at about £10 a session it is very cheap too. People don't realise (me being one of those people) that this cycling malarkey is really easy to get into, great fitness and really good fun too.

Now on for some more fast laps. I know I had to cycle the 8 miles back home after this, but I was going to really pull the plugs out and go for it big time.

Again, harder, faster, breathing hard, really pumping my legs, my head starting to buzz as I felt myself getting dehydrated. "Breath deeper and push on it's only pain!!" screamed Sergeant Major Matt in the back of my head again. I could really feel my lungs burning and my legs felt like they were on fire at this point. I couldn't count to see how fast my laps were. I didn't really care. I was just enjoying really stretching myself and getting every ounce of energy I could out of my legs.

Finally and all too soon my time was up!!

With genuinely wobbly legs I made my way back to the riders D and sorted myself out. Putting back the hire bike I used I looked around to see I was surrounded by the smiling faces of the other riders too. Looks like I wasn't the only one to have really enjoyed the hour on the track.

I donned my commuter gear (Hi-vis everything). And headed for the reception again to hand in my shoes and feel the cold blast from the cool winter air outside.

Still a bit wobbly I set off on my ride home, my legs felt alien to me now and even though |I couldn't really feel them they did as they were told and applied power when asked. Something tells me they will punish me tomorrow!! May be a little bout of shut up legs may be required around then.

Still I enjoyed it and look forward to doing it again on Wednesday. This time I think I will bring water and see if I can really find my upper limit for how hard I can go.

I will be trying for my first ticket though.

Loving cycling still! :)

National Trust Hidden Peak Sportive 2013

On Sunday I went and took part in the National Trust "Hidden Peak" Sportive Starting and finishing from the impressive Lady Manners School on the outskirts of the beautiful Peak District market town of Bakewell.

It was certainly a very early start for me getting up at O'dark early 5am! I got dressed had breakfast and then headed out at about 5.30ish to go over the hills to Bakewell.

The drive over wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but I could already see it was going to be one of those wet and windy days that you sort of think "I paid to do this why exactly???" I arrived just after 6.30 so I decided to have a bit of a chill out snooze in the car. Little chance of that of course as I was all ready and raring to go even if it was still dark!!!

Anyway after finally finding the way in to Lady Manner schools car park and getting parked up. I headed off to find the registation desks to collect a route map, a "dibber", and of course my rider number.  I went and sorted all my bits out, stripped off my nice warm jeans and jumper and once I had donned helmet and waterproof jacket went off in search of the start line.

Lady Manners School

The Start/Finish line

 The start as you can see was overlooked by the very impressive sight of Lady Manners School. However not being one to hang around or stand on ceremony I was off as soon as the start line opened. As it goes I was the first to leave and being the first to leave (probably by a good 10 to 15 minutes) I didn't see any other riders for what felt like ages!

As I headed out of Bakewell heading North towards Ashford in the water and on to great Longstone I experienced what I imagined would be the first of many showers of the day. Being glad to be wearing my trusty showerproof jacket this didn't bother me much. However as suddenly as the rain started it stopped and out came a rather strange sight... the sun actually made a breif appearance and I began to sweat under my jacket instantly! I stopped and stripped that off rolling it up to go into my jersey pocket along with the many energy gels and bits that I have collected over the past months of cycling distances.

The route can be found here but as Strava is being a bit broken at the moment I can embed a link that works!!!


The first hills came just north of Great Longstone in the form of Hey Top (1.3 miles and 509 ft climb then over the valley to Sir WIlliam Hill Road Climb (1 mile 367 ft). both of these are cat 4 climbs so are not serious killers and good to get the lungs and legs a bit warmer!

The weather had really cleared up so when I reached the top of the second of the two climbs I took a few pictures. I like to share a little of the nice view even if my lack of photography skill doesn't do it justice!

So after this brief stop for a few snaps I got the feeling that I would be seeing the massed horde of a peleton of riders coming bearing down on me any second!!

I dropped down in through Eyam then again over a valley to and through Grindleford. ever mindful that I keep on the lookout for the route markers as well as rock, gravel, leaves, branches, cars, vans, tractors and a million and one other obstacles that seem to aimlessly float about on country lanes, but enjoying the countryside at the same time. I headed up and up and up toward the first of three feed stations at Longshaw Country park National trust property. The climb up to this was designed I think to make you want food so the feed station came as a welcome break indeed. It turns out the Climb is 2.1 miles from Grindleford bridge to Longshaw entrance with a climb of 635 ft. A cat 3 to get you ready for some pie!!! or in my case a sausage roll and an energy bar. I still hadn't been caught up yet, so I made it quick then off again. Just as I was leaving I saw another rider just about to arrive. The chap certainly looked very red cheeked and in the need of a break too. I know how he felt!

From there it was a gentle climb over the hill to a nice rapid descent into Heathersage which I was very careful not to be going too fast on as it was on a narrow but busy looking main road. After a dip down into the valley and crossing the river Derwent I burned my legs a bit harder to get up the next climb in this Hidden Peak sportive. It was the Castleton Road climb, a cat 4 at 1 mile and 322ft then further on yet towards Abney (which just made me think of Abney and Teel which is a kids TV show that my two watch on CBBC). However when they named it Abney I bet they didn't realise it has a cat 3 climb going up to it. The burn was starting to catch in my legs and Abney Climb at 4.4 miles with 839ft of climbing certainly made you realise that this was a long and hard route for a reason!

Thankfully it was pretty much all down hill and flat(ish) fr the next few miles as I descended down into Tideswell then on to Miller's Dale, so the burn in my legs cooled slightly even though I did manage to keep my pace up at the same time quite nicely!

By this point I had turned South so the wind I found that had been helping me on my way was now in my face! As I climbed up out of the valley towards Taddington and over the exposed tops to Monyash I started to have to push hard against the wind. It wasn't cold and only had a few drops of rain in it. but as the clouds raced by I had the feeling that I would be very lucky not to get very wet at some point very soon. Surrounded by dark clouds I sped on through Monyash and up over a cheeky little cat 4 towards Longnor. From there again it was more climbing up the Big Wood climb which is a nice Cat 3 at 3,4 miles and 613ft.

Exposed on the moores

But with a nice view!

I then had a winding windy country road through woods and valleys towards Alstonefield then dropping south towards Ilam.

On the very steep descent down through a wooded area on the way into Ilam I came a little unstuck!!!

Now riding on little country roads may keep you away from the general population of car drivers and other loonies that can't see cyclists. However sometimes even cyclists are clad for vehicles that sweep the crap off the roads or as I found out they do get a little on the slippy side! I was being very careful on the very narrow road covered in leaves, but with all the will in the world I was struggling to keep my speed under control when suddenly I found myself with the dreaded situation of a rear wheel lock up going into a bend.

I was only doing perhaps 10 Mph at the point when I did lock up and it all happened in a very slow and controlled manner too. I was very aware that I didn't want to lock my front wheel as that would spell disaster but at the same time I also knew I was about to crash! "Pick a soft spot and go for it" is what I thought. I was really lucky and even ended the "crash" still standing all be in a hedge! Comical and as a young chap pulled up that had followed me down the hill I was a little embarrassed too. Thankful that I had survived unscathed and with my bike undamaged I picked myself up and then proceeded to make the second mistake of the day by blindly following the chaps that had just caught up with me thinking they were on the same ride!! Wrong they were on a totally different ride as I found out after a few miles. It was the JCB sportive. I actually stopped and asked directions (yes man points nil!!!) and got sent back the way I had come looking a little red faced. Oh the lead I had built up just vanished!!

I stopped at Ilam for some food and a little drink then quickly off again through to Thorpe, Tissington and Bradbourne, cursing myself all the way for blindly following others when I didn't see any signage. Thank goodness for the Maps though that really saved my bacon! On towards Brassington and then up B5056 to Manystones Lane a gentle 2.9 mile cat 4 with 469ft of climbing and on North to Longcliffe and Elton.

It did seem at this point that the route wasn't going to end. But finally and it did seem suddenly I was seeing the signs for Bakewell and the finish! I did however come across a ford to my surprise to cross the river Lathkill. One of the marshalls pointed me towards the footbridge though to I gave a sigh of relief.

Once back at Lady Manner school it was a case of throw my bike in the back of the car and then back around to registration for tea and biscuits. Very nice plus the staff there were very chatty too. I could feel myself coming down from the high of taking part in such a good event but also knew that if I didn't leave soon I would struggle on the drive home.

Once I got home I unloaded the bike to find that it was filthy! and I mean I have ridden many miles and my bike has never been this bad..

Anyway as a bit of a retrospective on the ride, I would say the following

Take care on slippy steep descents and I possibly need to revisit my bike handling skill!

Don't blindly follow other riders, yes Matthew you are a moron! (Hearty slap!)

Everything else was great and my bike really showed that it is well up for the type of hard riding I enjoy.

Great fun in the end and I will be back next year I hope.

Cheers

Happy cycling!

Over the Hills the windy way!!!

This weekend I got a pass out to go for a ride again and as the weather seemed quite nice I certainly wasn't one to turn down an opportunity to get out and put in some miles on them there hills. This time I invited a friend and fellow cyclist along Matt Gush. Now Matt lives in Hyde (all be up the posh end!) and also works in Manchester at the University. This of course means he does the A57 battle into and out of Manchester on a daily basis. He is also very competitive on Strava and can regularly be seen doing battle on the local segments, he also goes segment hunting to chalk up on his speed demon bike. A very fast and accomplished rider however in his own words "Not a great fan of the hills". Today however I would work on converting him to the dark side and introduce him to some local lumpy bits of interest.

The Route.

This would be a nice gentle warm up on a cat 4 hill that takes us up Matley Lane, from there a nice gentle descent into Stalybridge then right at the lights and out on Manchester Road through Heyrod and Mossley then up, up and up Holmfirth road as we climb out past Dove Stone reservoir. From there we head over the tops and the long descent into Holmfirth turn right along Woodhead Road Then up over the target summit for the day Holme Moss. From the summit a nice descent down to the Woodhead Pass then risk life and limb for 1/2 mile before we cross the Valley to a "safer" side and drop down into Glossop. After that its just a matter of getting back up the A57 again, a speedy section back towards Hyde then home for Tea and Medals!!!




"A cunning plan" you say. Well true! but doing it was far more fun.

After a week of talking to Matt on Strava and Facebook I think I had finally convinced him that he would really like to come out for a ride. He Rides a very nice Planet X bike that I just know he wanted to do more with than the daily trudge to work on and providing he could get a leave pass to go play too then we would be laughing!

Friday came and we had managed all leave passes done the ironing and washing up and earned many Brownie points. We had even sorted out a time (ish) and Matt let me know he was lubing up his hubs and cables in preparation. This is not a code for something a bit disgusting but in fact an essential bit of bike preparation for any sort of long ride. A well oiled machine can make all the difference.

I of course left it to the last minute but did manage to combat squeaky cleats as they were annoying me a little just on the way too and from work. So a quick squirt of the trusty old WD40 later and we were in business!

Matt turned up at my house at about 1 o'clock and without a moment to waste we sett off (leave passes of this sort do have an expiry time that is set in stone and breaking said time could be fatal!)

Immediately as we headed out on the road we could tell the wind was going to be a real factor in today's ride. The warm up planned certainly did its job as we had the wind in our faces all the way up the hill. I could certainly feel that the legs were going to love this ride plus the bike was behaving beautifully. Crisp gear changes and squeak free. I did go for a high cadence to get the legs warm but I just felt like I was gliding up the hill with minimal effort. Oh I do love my new bike!

 After a bit of a con-flab at the top we made the dirty dash out of the junction into what some people don't realise is actually a 30 limit. YES yet again the Local motorist knows better and needs to get there all that bit faster "on a Sunday", really it's Sunday whats the rush???

We did fly down the hill at the speed limit of course I do think in a way much to the surprise of some motorists when they see two cyclists keeping up with the flow of traffic with ease. The fact is both of us had to slow down in order not to  get too close or overtake. We got to the lights in Stalybridge and I found that something was not quite right with the bike for some reason! My left pedal didn't feel right and when I pulled up (as you can do with SPD's, that is what gives you twice the power of a normal bike), my foot just popped out of the clips. Nooooo! potential disaster and only about 3 miles in (if that). Thankfully I carry a full tool kit on my bike (as every real cyclist does) so I was able to sort the problem out in a jiffy! Ironically getting rid of the pedal squeak with the liberal use of WD40 had inadvertently loosed up one of the screws that holds the clips in on my pedal. with a quick bit of tightening and a hail of thanks to the gods of cycling and all thing bike related we were back off again in minutes.

Out we went along Manchester Road and got to the little village of Heyrod. Now for some reason at this point my brain came up with the song "Hey Jude" but replaced the obvious bit with Heyrod! Mental!

Besides Paul McCartney in this picture looks a bit crackers too!

So on we went with a tune in my head that I just couldn't get rid of for ages, round the bends and through Mossley then the climbing started as we pressed on to Greenfield. We got to the roundabout that signified the start of the ascent up Dove Stones. I turned to Matt at this point and with a (probably ridiculous looking as I love hills) smile on my face and just said "Are you ready for this?" at this point Matt loudly reminded me how much he really doesn't like hills and thinks I am a little on the bonkers side. Oh well! but we were going up it anyway.

It's a bit of a ramp as you leave the round about and lot of people fail at this point. I certainly know |both Matt and I must have both thought "What am I doing here?" as we rounded the corner and began to climb. It was at this point that we came across our first pair of fellow hill climbers. The first of which looked like he wasn't enjoying it one bit and in fact sounded more like he was going to fall off his bike by the noises he was making on the way past. His buddy was the obvious hill climber as he was happily dancing his way up on his pedals and hardly seemed out of breath. By this point we had both selected a good low gear and were spinning the legs at a high cadence to keep the climbing at a good constant speed that wouldn't kill us by the time we got to the top. We had a bigger fish to fry today!!!

I as thinking about making a slight detour up one of the "Another" top 100 Hill 173 Chew Road.

Create Maps or search from 80 million at MapMyRide

But somehow thought that Matt my just hit me with something heavy for suggesting such an absurdity especially as we were climbing one ridiculous hill and had plently more to go!

So anyway up we went spinning a good gear and  heading into a wind that seemed like it was getting stronger all the time. Just short of the summit we did stop for a bit of a breather and Matt to adjust his shoes (never cycle in uncomfortable shoes they just drive you nuts and provide unnecessary pain). It was then that Matt suggested he take the lead across the moors and over to Holme Firth. Now I have seen on the TDF and other televised cycling events when you get two (or more) cyclists riding along close together (one behind the other). The second cyclist in the line, in this case me gets to ride in the slip stream of the one in front and life is so much easier. I actually found a marked decrease in the amount of effort I had to put in to keep up with Matt, However he is a far faster cyclist than me (on the flat anyway) and soon pulled ahead leaving me fighting the wind once again. Once we started the descent though it was all out for a flying run into Holme Firth hitting our first top speed of the day at nearly 40 mph. Even with the wind!

As we got into Holme Firth I always think of "The last of the summer wine" theme tune, cue more music I have stuck in my head for the ride. "Hey Jude" was getting a bit old by this point, but non the less it is a very nice town (or at least the bit we saw was) and we turned our gaze towards the hill before us and indeed the prize we had come for...Holme Moss! It was at this point that Matt declared that he needed a drink and fancied a can of some variety or other. We pulled up at a little village shop and Matt went in for a nice can of pop. On his return we sat by the side of the road Matt drinking his pop and me with my High 5 energy drink when the local cycling club roared past in a big group. They did appear to be taking up the entire road (which would annoy me as a motorist) but they all looked very pretty and as we both said "Looks a bit gay really" (no slur meant to those of the homosexual orientation of course) and as they whizzed past on bikes worth more than most peoples family cars I bet they thought they were the bee's knees!

We set off a few minutes later making our way up the reasonably busy road, through Holme Bridge and onto the Village of Holme. It was at this point that we caught back up with the local cycling club and with much chuckling to ourselves, passed them as we headed up towards the foot of the Holme Moss climb.

As you may recall and it can be found in previous a previous blog I have written Holme Moss has in the past been part of the route for famous cycling races and next year will be the jewel in the crown for the Tour De France 2014 Grande Depart as it visits Yorkshire. I am quite sure that most of the Pro riders will hardly notice such a hill but for us mere mortals it is certainly a good leg aching lung burner. Spinning hard and grinding away we managed a good rhythm up the hill. on minute the wind in our faces the next on our backs as we rode the snaking road up and up. As the summit came into view and with only a few hundred meters to go one of the cycling clubs riders eventually caught up, of course they sliced past far too close as if to punish me for daring to pass them and then ride there hill at such a pace. However only one of the 20 odd made it past and even when we had stopped at the top for a picture or two they still had not all appeared. Just goes to show in cycling you do not need a top of the range bike with all the latest shiny gear plus matching team kit to get up (and down) hills well. It does help and would be nice but at the end of the day it's what you do with it not how expensive it is that counts!

The Top!

Just stopping for a erm! drink!

Matt |Looking a little tired

Happy to be at the top again!

Now came the really fun part and I get the feeling that this was the bit that we were both looking forward too. A very fast descent down the hill to Woodhead Pass.  A bit of a false start for me as with my enthusiasm to get going I overcooked it a bit trying to get my chain changed up to my big ring at the front and ended up losing it off the top. But not to worry I hadn't even gone 100 meters yet and we had a long way to run! Weeeee! 

Matt Gush really did show that he is truly without fear as we descended as he accelerated away. I barely managed to keep up and looking at the speeds we were doing later on we managed the best part of 45mph. The road is far from smooth with dips and lumps. off camber corners. blind bends and high speed curves. Breathing heavily all the way, keeping low on the bike and holding on to the drops for dear life we threw ourselves down the hill. Still pedaling hard with adrenaline rushing through the veins we sped on. I felt myself get a little air on one bend as we flew along. I grasped my handlebars to keep my bike rock steady underneath me, making sure I was floating just above my saddle to allow me arms and legs to absorb the bumps. The speed was really picking up all the way down and eventually I found that I had to lightly touch my back brake. There was no way I was going to play with my front brake at this speed as to lose front end traction would have spelt earth shattering disaster for me. At this speed it would probably also mean a total end ex' and at best a long stay in the type of hotel they serve hospital food in!

The hill finally began to flatten out and we made it to the bottom in one piece. Phew! My arms and shoulders were in bits by this point but I just couldn't stop smiling as the run down was epic and really good fun!

Now of course we had to get onto Wood Head pass and to then to the relive safety of the opposite side of the valley to head over to Glossop. Getting onto the Pass is a bit of a waiting game and eventually we found a gap in traffic that allowed us to get out onto the road. The road itself is a very fast route that even though it is very small and winding, HGV's still go over it. That to me seems a bit irresponsible on the part of the drivers as the M62 was built specifically to avoid this route. Today however we didn't see any wagons but just the odd few caravans and lots of cars.

After 1/2 mile of fearing that I was about to be hit up the arse by some idiot that would probably be too busy adjusting there satnav to watch the road, we turned off to head down the south side of Torside reservoir along a very pleasant winding road. We rode past Torside sailing club that with today's wind were in full force hammering up and down the water and looking like they were loving it too!

The just the odd undulating little bump, around the "Devils Elbow", a hairpin that at speed could be deadly! the over and down into Glossop. A really nice bit of country riding and the wind was on our backs too so it felt so easy.

Once we got into Glossop it was the usual busy traffic as you would expect. We did bump into another cyclist that seemed interested in where we had just been and seemed impressed with us coming over Holme Moss too. However he did seem a bit crackers as he had no helmet on plus his bike would have made my old yellow one look new. However he certainly had it where it counted as he left us both for dead as we came out of Glossop and headed back towards the A57.

It was just a final hill that was also a very busy road too as we came up onto Mottram Moor. We both spent most of the climb passing cars as they crawled up the hill towards the lights at the top. Once through those it was a nice bit of flat to the roundabout then a gentle descent back to Hyde. It was at this point I bid farewell to my riding partner as he turned left at the roundabout and I went straight on. It is easier for Matt to get back to his house in the direction he went. I decided to have one final hard push on the descent reaching a mere 35mph but I now also (to my surprise) am the 7th place holder for fastest on that piece of road. Not bad I think! After the final bit of a climb back up to my house I finished, hot, sweating, tired, legs aching, but well and truly happy with my bike and my fitness.

In all I really do think it was a very good ride and I hope to have more like it sooner rather than later too.

Happy cycling!

The Hills are alive with the sound of PAIN!!!

Today being a lovely sunny Sunday in September I decided that I couldn't pass up on the opportunity to ride. I decided that it would also be a great chance to test my new frame setup up the hills and at speed down them!

I started by making my way up through Mottram, into Broadbottom, up to Charlesworth then over the top to Glossop and then to the stop of Snake Pass. 

The whole ride was brilliant!

I warmed up on the hill to Mottram then went for my first aim of the ride, to ride over Monks Road non stop finally putting to rest the monk monster. In all honesty the monk didn't quite have to same bite as it once did on my old frame and setup. It felt great! 

Once I had run over the top I went for the next part of my test, a speedy run down to Glossop. I managed to push it reasonably hard but not too hard! I am not that crackers that I would push a bike that I built myself too hard. I did hit just over 44mph. My bike felt great and so did my legs. I wasn't dying this time due to bad gearing and the only thing I did have to worry about was keeping hydrated as it really wasn't cool today. I headed off up Snake Pass. I noticed an unmarked police car had pulled over some motorcyclists at the foot of the pass. It looked like things were busy as I made my way up the road. I stuck to the white line all the way up. I just maintained a good high cadence in a low gear and sailed my way up the hill. It wasn't the fastest assent ever but it really felt good. Once I did get to the top I stopped and made a quick video (see below) after that it was again rapid descent time this time however with a bit of a headwind.

I really pushed it to get down the 3.2 miles as fast as possible. I really enjoyed the run down too. I didn't touch my brakes once right until the last bend where I bottled it. Well it is a 90 degree left turn so I didn't really want to kebab myself on my first run out. After that it was just a slow trudge through Glossop's legendary traffic (it really is that slow) and then the climb back up to Hyde with a run down the unbelievably pot holed Matley Lane.

The whole run took me just short of 2 hours and earned me a record 32 Strava cups!!! I was quite surprised when I got home and checked that out myself in all honesty. 

The bike handled like a dream and cornered really well too. I was thinking that sometimes I may have been a little close to the edge but I really think now that I could have done more and pushed harder. 

Lessons learnt from this ride:-

1. Attack everything!!!

2. I really need a longer  derailiure hanger as the one I currently have fitted wont allow me to engage my big cassette ring while I am on my lower chain ring. I don't know if I will be able to get hold of one though. 

3. Some small fine tuning of the front derailiure as I can feel/hear it catching the chain still when I drop down to the bottom ring. 

4. Attack everything!!!       

In all though I really did enjoy today's training ride out and look forward to the next one. Until then however I feel it will be the same dull commute to work. However I really don't mind that as I am still riding a really nice bike!

Happy cycling! :)