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Whether it's five miles or five hundred miles, riding a bicycle is more fun than anyone ever told me! My New Year's Resolution to cycle 10 miles a day or 40 minutes on a spin bike has meant that by the end of May I have cycled 2,600 miles! Because of my cycling wardrobe the weather has not stopped me from cycling (unless it really is -5 degrees or with wind gusts of 25 mph). Cycling in style and in comfort is really important to me as I don't really want to be covered in logos looking like a Ninja as I buy groceries or attend meetings. I have found some things that work for me but am always looking for new pieces. For me, Evans Cycles and Cycle Surgery for the basics. My two favourite brands for my wardrobe are www.velorution.com and www.velovixen.com but I am always looking for new pieces. I would love to know what works for you and why. Happy cycling!

Sunday 30 June 2013

Mice at the Races. On your Marks, Get Set Gooooooooooooo!








This racing thing has to stop.  For the second time in a month I found myself in a race. A real one. I was part of Team Conway (which has nothing to do with a friend of mine in Wales!) in the  FT Sportive. http://humanrace.co.uk/event-information/cycling/financial-times-london-cycle-sportive/50km-route

Conway transport http://www.fmconway.co.uk/ are very proactive in ensuring their drivers have cycling training to understand what it's like to ride a bike so close to one of their trucks.  Similarly they are very proactive in demonstrating to cyclists what it's like to drive one of their trucks and regularly do Exchanging Places - giving members of the public including cyclists the opportunity to sit in the drivers' seat and see what they see. 
An invitation to be part of their Team in a 50k open road race around South London/North Kent seemed such a good idea at the time! As the days went by it became clear that two of our team of five were particularly competitive and were in it to win it!  I met up with one of them on Friday to try and manage their expectations. "What sort of rolling average are you thinking of" I asked "Oh, about 16mph" came the reply.  I knocked that one on the head! - the fastest I had ever done was 15mph on a 20 mile section en route to John O'Groats last year.  The best I could offer was 14 mph but I would, I  reassured him, give it my very best shot. He seemed happy with this!

The night before the race my nerves were winning me over. I hardly slept. The realisation of it all - what was I doing? Who did I think I was? kept leaping in and out of my head.
The weather was on my side.  Summer was going to be here for one day only! 24 degrees! I headed to Dulwich Park for 08.30 to meet up with the rest of my team.  Some of the longer races were already at the start line.  It looked so serious!
Team Conway had a plan! Two of our number would disappear to the front to do their stuff (I suggested they should aim for a 22mph rolling average!) and the remaining three of us would work together going us fast as we could.  Having watched the first day of the Tour de France yesterday - this was going to be a doddle. Except slower!
The route took us up Crystal Palace, down to Elmers End (30 mph woohoooo!) up a hill through West Wickham, down the other side and up to Biggin Hill.  Thanks to my team mates, Michael and Wendy we were actually overtaking people!!  
As we neared the halfway mark just past the Biggin Hill mast we saw a gazebo full of lots of cyclists.  Excellent - a stop.  Except we didnt.  Michael actually sped up at that point to avoid any confusion! That was as close as we got to a rest!

The weather was absolutely fantastic.  Blue, blue sky - it was the hottest day of the year!  The route was equally stunning, rolling hills, beautiful countryside - if only there was time to take it in! Or indeed take a photo - but that was definitely not an option! We were haring along too fast to enjoy it - and some of the road surfaces were shocking.  It was lovely cycling in and out of bright, bright sunshine then into shaded lanes with green, leafy rooftops.

Retracing the route back to West Wickham whereupon there was a puncture in Michael's tyre. He asked us both to carry on and he would catch us up.  Not wanting to let him down we pushed ourselves as fast as we could even though it would bring us closer to Anerley Hill.

Hills are so many things to a cyclist. A challenge. A threat. A mind game. Achievable. Unachievable. Terrifying.  Luckily for me a friend of mine taught me how to spin so I just drop into the lowest gear and spin away.  If I'm overtaken (which I am) I dont worry about it, I just look at the view, let my mind enjoy the scenery and keep spinning.   And there I was at the top! I put my lungs back in and Wendy and I shot down the other side. Just as we wondered which way to Herne Hill Michael caught us up and took the helm. Into the velodrome where we did a lap to the finish line. 
29.5 miles in 2hours 9 minutes with hills! Not bad! The cat eye said average 14.7 mph! I shall wait for the official timings later.

The race was over. A great day run by Access Sport http://www.accesssport.org.uk/ whose modus operandi is to bring sport to everyone. Two of their patrons, Olympians Rebecca Romero (track cycling) and Greg Searle (rowing) had been on the ride - it turned out we had over taken them!! Over taken them?! I was in shock. Then I realised that they had been chatting in a pootle kind of way rather than busting a gut like me! I was so over awed by the while thing that I actually went up to them both to ask if I could have my picture taken with them! They were both so kind and gracious - Rebecca even said that she had been puffing not chatting along some of the climbs which made me feel really good!

Two of my team took advantage of the massages available - I thought about it but then realised that with the night rides I do - expecting massages at the end of them would be a bad habit to get into!!

I met a great group of peeps, climbed some hills and had a ball! I also had a fascinating chat with one of the transport officers for Southwark who was an inspiration with his  insight, initiatives and great understanding of cycling in London.
Cycling has so many different opportunities - never did I imagine I would be in a race with such accomplished peeps.  To think that three years ago my life was powered by petrol and now it's powered by porridge!

Now I can concentrate on the Tour de France - absolutely incredible thing to watch - Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and Team GB 2012 we owe you a great deal.  Not forgetting Chris Boardman who has done and continues to do sooooo much for cycling (and I love my bike!)  
 It was a fantastic day, huge thanks to Conway and Humanrace - and of course my fellow team mates!

The rest of the pics are here




Friday 21 June 2013

Mice en Tour avec Les Fridays



Each and every day I thank my lucky star - as in the Fridays Red Star - that I have been introduced to and am part of such an incredible group of kind and gentle yet absolutely hilarious group of peeps who also happen to be cyclists.
 


Their DZships have created something totally magical. DZ has set a level of leadership that is so detailed and yet so hidden, that we - all 35 of us - think we are just going for a bike ride!  







From Portsmouth a ferry to Cherbourg where a hotel was found followed by dinner and a good nights sleep. 

A pootle around the town the next day, popping into Carrefour for provisions then lardying it up in The Yacht Club at Onzes before heading back to the Port so our luggage could be taken by car from the Bateau to the Chateau.



Out of Cherbourg into the countryside, our numbers increased to the tune of, err, one with Eddie - whoop whoop!  

 
News of headwinds trying to blow fellow cyclists to Paris from Caen meant that trains were deployed and a different car was dispatched to carry luggage.

 
 


A Chateau was booked for 17 or so of us, two cottages in the grounds, two more Gites and a level of laughter that sustained itself for the duration!

As time was on our hands some of us headed to a nearby bike shop.  Good Grief!  What a bike shop!  Repairs were made, clothes were bought and three of us rode into Brix and found an Epicerie, bar and Terrace all looked after by a Super-Dame!   


For three hours or more we just sat in the sunshine laughing and drinking coffee till supper time.  Then it was time to return to what became the Chateau with the Gateau as an enormous Fridays Cake had been baked. Delicious!  Sadly no pic but it looked very similar to Le Cake de LonJog and was equally delicious.

 

Our numbers increased again and by the time Claudine had made pasta for 35 (I think) there were 35 (I think) all up and ready to eat.  Calvados ruled the waves!  17 miles for the day in fine company!

Sunday morning arrived and we were all outside the Chateau at 8.30am ready for the off! A lovely ride to Barfleur on the north east coast of the Peninsular which has a really pretty but tidal harbour.  


 

The routes were just spectacular.  Little twists, gentle turns, rolls upwards, we hardly saw any traffic and were riding two abreast just chatting with each other.  To think this is only day 1!!


Unfortunately the chocolate I ate with my coffee in Barfleur gave me a splurge of energy that I didn't know what to do with and I found myself at the front of the line, haring along as though I was in the TdF!  



Three of us (George, Andrew and I) were asked to head on to the restaurant to let them know we were coming. 

 This was no pootle and although I simply couldn't go any faster I was still pushing myself like there was no tomorrow! 22mph on the flat into a headwind.   What a shock!  We found the fish and chip restaurant in St Vaast where the staff looked a bit startled, to say the least, to hear we were 35 but it all came together.  Some of the 35 found other eateries as in Boulangeries and Creperies. All was well. 



After lunch, a relaxing stroll found two of our number creating a sketch that the Late, Great, Morecombe & Wise would have been proud of.  They wandered across a path with railings to look at a building.  Unbeknownst to them, whilst they were peering in the window of said building their railed-pathway started moving. This is because it was the top of the lock gates which had now just opened for high tide and were not going to close until 5.30pm!! 


So there they were on the other side of the lock gates with a long walk back all the way around the harbour. Worse still (ie their greatest concern) was that their bikes were locked to Their DZships bikes so no one would be going anywhere for a while!! Hahahaha!  They called the code across to Sahar and me so we could at least free up Their DZships wheels. 
  
As we waited for them to be reunited with us DZ explained what had happened and on their arrival we all gave them a round of applause!  Absolutely hilarious!!  
 
Back at the Chateau laughter and supper was followed by bed (although in my case I use that word loosely)!
 
I'm not used to sleeping on the floor - but at least I did sleep. My alarm went off, it was at the other end of the room so as I shot towards it I had a very inelegant sprawl with my bedding wrapped around my feet.  Oooops. 

By the time I untangled myself I am sure I had woken Stuart who was sleeping next door.  Luckily he was getting up early to do the bread run. Michael and he rode to Brix everyday at middle-of-the-night-o'clock to bring fresh bread, croissant, pain au chocolat, pain au raisin to the breakfast table.  Fab fab fab! DZ did the bread run for the cottage and Gordon did the same for the Gites. Great system!

We grouped outside the gates at 8 and headed off to the coast for coffee! Cartaret, by the seaside.  Beautiful roads swooping down to the west coast.  It was so pretty - a combination of Brittany and Cornwall but neither! 

 
 There were a couple of roads dropping down to the sea that we were invited to pop down should we want to - none of us did! We had climbed quite a few hills already!
 

Back inland to Briquebec where the food market was just open long enough to provide flat bread sandwiches with camembert and apple or just plain with Nuttella.  (A recipe I shall be taking home with me!!) Apparently the unsold chips at one stall were on the scale of the European Food Mountain and were duly divided and consumed by three of our number alongside a very large hot dog (the kind of hot dog available at German football matches like Schalke!) 




 
Meanwhile the Chateau de Briquebec was offering a 12.50e menue which was fantastic - not only with a Michelin star but with a suit of armour!  The hosts didn't mind our Lycra and let us leave all our bicycles in one of the barns.
 





Back to Brix for beersies (let's not forget this is a Fridays ride) and brilliant banter (definitely a Fridays ride!).  The bar was at the top of a hill - a long drag up but we had spun our way up in the heat.  The power of texting meant that we could tell the rest of the group where we were and soon practically everyone was with us.  Perfect. 


Calvados comparisons were discussed, it seems the Calvados in Briquebec and in Valognes is better. (The coffee was good in both!) The sun shone, we laughed and laughed.  It was all too good.


Eventually we headed back to the Chateau and each maison self-catered.  The lovely Rachel and Stephen had done wonders with the shopping and we ate like Kings and Queens.  40.44 miles in 3.15hrs with 29.8mph max speed! What a Journee!
 
Tuesday was a 74 mile ride in 5hr 72, ave speed 13.3mph in 5hr72 with a top speed of 30mph. With two tandems! Woohooooo!!  Heading South East along the Coast to Utah beach.  The tandems shot off in relays - one overtaking the other until it was overtaken again.  Brilliant.  Sahar on her new road bike was quite frankly too fast for me - we whizzed along the road together - my lungs busting themselves whilst Sahar was just freewheeling!  




During the Second World War this part of France was under occupation as indeed was our chateau. We stopped at a memorial, a Chieftan Tank and a row of flags flying from many countries.  

Further on we found a Germany cemetery.  It was a very sombre moment as we all wandered about looking at  more lives lost. Lest we forget, indeed.




Back en route we made our way to Cataret where we found space in a restaurant discovered on the Recce Ride. Delicious!  Somehow the poor waitress managed to feed all 20 of us in time to leave at 2.15 apart from one pudding.....!  



Olaf and I were TECing and All Upping (in that order) at the back and this is where we stayed.  Unfortunately just at the railway station as we waved goodbye to those taking the train back Olaf had a visitation. On a Moulton.  A revised plan following a call to the front meant  that Mistral and Olaf would return separately and Adrian (who was waymarking further along the route) would take up the TECing.  Another sprint to bring us all together!

As we headed down a Route Barree / Deviation we eventually had to walk along the verge avoiding the workmen and their melting pot of tar. Back on our bikes, another lovely road weaving and twisting through farms and fields at the bottom of which we slowed down to join the main road - just as Olaf and Mistral flew along it!! They had caught us up - brill! (Although given what strong cyclists they are it wasnt a surprise - but the timing was perfect!)



 On into Ruffoses where George, Sahar and I ate brioche on the side of the road, had a drink and enjoyed the sunshine before heading home to change and turn around for dinner Chez CriCri.

 
Ready and changed for supper we made our way to the restaurant where we all piled in for the set menu.  So French that we didnt know what the hors d'oeuvres was until it arrived!  Rural cuisine, not ideal for vegetarians as it is very meat-based but the boeuf bourguignon was delicious. This was followed by the most chocolatey tarte au chocolat I have ever eaten.  In fact some would say I was slightly tipsy on the sugar!  Cycling home was hilarious as I just shot up the hill as though I was chasing another day.

Mark of LonJog Brompton fame came whooshing by as though he was not pedalling. At a junction with a farm entrance he carried on to see the sunset - the sky was so pink it was beautiful.  The blur in the photo is caused by an incorrect camera setting but ironically it sums up the Calvodos/wine/beersies great night out with the Fridays, perfectly!


Wednesday was my return to London day.  Amazingly the route was a loop eastwards to Barfleur from where Mick and I would be able to stay for lunch before heading to Cherbourg.





 

It was a beautiful route of course.  My strategy learnt on the recce ride to only start cycling in the direction that Gordon was going worked a treat!  The numbered conversations continued every so often with things like "yes the D62 is fine until the D155 but look out for the D262" kind of thing (although not necessarily in that order!)

 


After a lunch in Barfleur Mistral and I bid our farewells and headed to Cherbourg.  Cycling by the sea would be fantastic I thought.  Apparently if we were 100 yards closer it would have been flat but our road was hilly.  

Stunning but hilly.  Thank goodness I didnt have the luggage on the bike! We met the owners at the Port and boarded the ferry. A train or two later and I was actually in bed. A real bed. My bed!


I had a ball - well it was a Fridays ride.  A Fridays ride around the Cherbourg Peninsular.  

Absolutely brilliant. Thank you Your DZships.  That was awesome!  The rest of the pics are here