A bunch of us headed out for a loop of London on Christmas Day. Top idea from Object and a nice ride with quite a few more people than I expected joining in.

Thanks for the pics Horatio. Merry xmas all!

I went for a short ‘tweaking’ ride on the Condor on Sunday before Mal and I ventured to Tower Bridge for fasteddy’s xmas lunch (2am home, for LUNCH?! :)).

Today was its proper debut as my new commuter. The bike really is nice! It’s larger than the WAC Langster I was using so it fits me better and it’s reasonably light for a steel frame (none of this 531 guff, it’s some reasonably stiff SAT14 bollocks – now I’d love to try their EOM version). So, it handles really well, it’s very comfortable (tyre pressure was on the low side before you aluminium haters jump up). The 47×17 (74″) gearing is higher than I was previously using 48×19 (68″) and with clear roads it’s great. In heavier traffic (London peak) the stop start might start to wear me down. I had planned to run 47×19 but I might leave 47×17 on for a while. I’m yet to fit the Planet-X rear track wheel so it’s still using my old Open Pro. The half-link chain sounds great when you ‘go gumby’ slowing down as it vibrates through the tubing but I think I should swap it out for a smoother running chain given its roadie-esque design spec. The drops are much better than the silly track drops I had on the Langster although the brakes are shite – probably due to the cheap brake pads. Had to adjust the slipping post this morning (torque wrenches on xmas list). I wouldn’t mind swapping the caliper out for something a bit nicer and running replaceable-pad holders. All in all I’m pretty happy with it!

Cheers Hammo (frameset), BMMF (cog), Bobob (bars), BDW (post), craignasty (wheelset), dodanto37 (chainring), RPM (stem), polybikeuser (buying WAC), ebay (saddle):)

So I had a quick look for Tour of Ireland information and found these..

foylecycling.blogspot.com

www.cyclosport.org – chasm

www.cyclosport.org – esroh

than yesterday, but it was.

It was raining so I assumed the temperature would be warmer than yesterday. Weather judgment fail. On the way to the Willesden clubrun I was feeling pretty bad – tired legs, no reason to spin them up, just general blah feeling. Oh, and the ride would be heading towards Wokingham, which has an even higher percentage of cockheads in cars than the Chilterns.

Running a bit late and just before getting to the start point I thought “I only have to do 80k according to my program, if they’ve already left, I’ll just repeat yesterdays A-road ride to Great Missenden”. Ha! Too easy 🙂

As I rode past the start point, there were only two riders waiting there. “Bugger that” and I waved and rode on. It was heavy drizzle and by the time I got to Gt Missenden I was wet through and frozen. Turning around, at least I received the benefit of a tailwind. Back the way I came along the fast (for cars) A413 and then into the house.

Stripping off, I was bright red almost everywhere! Imagine slapping your entire body, hard. That’s what I looked like. Even my arms, which were covered by a jacket, were pink! It took at least 10 minutes under a hot shower before the pins and needles started in my toes. Another 5mins before they felt ‘normal’. Cold! I can’t wait to get back to Oz! 🙂

The Law has a program for me and I’ve actually been sticking to it. Three weeks in a row of killing myself at Willesden’s turbo training so far with some longer stuff on the weekends. It’s actually the longer stuff I’m finding harder to get motivated for. It’s easier to hurt for an hour than to head outside in the chilled air and struggle with places to ride for 3 hours+.

Today’s 80k ride was straight out along the A413 to Great Missenden and back. I’d left it a bit late and not taken a front light with me so I had to haul on the return leg so as not to get caught out in the dark. Legs are feeling it. Good!

Last night 140-ish mostly fixed wheel riders took to the streets of London’s famous London and criss-crossed the bridges from Tower Bridge to Kew Bridge. Starting at 10pm and finishing at 2am (or 5.30am if you count our detour to dj’s place for whisky and coffee).

140 people!! What a change from the Bridges Ride 3, which was just Dave and I!! 🙂

London FGSS Bridges Ride 5 Thread

Donut’s photos

M.J.S’s photos

Roman’s photos

in London before I crashed without the influence of a twat driver. Note to self: sleepy + speedy + slippery + lazy = pain. All good.

The new motivation / inspiration technique is working well, cheers for the idea wayne (and blonde lass)..

Original image found here:

Inspirational and motivational, no?

Thanks Grupettites for a nice ride to Windsor. Thanks Queenie and Prince Philip for not running us over. Thanks Mark for taking the photos. Does this mean the return to some serious training? Stayed tuned.

Well, I finally got some time away from work and managed to head out for the Circuit of Kent 140k sportive. I’ve done next to nothing for the last few months other than commuting so these longs rides now hurt a lot more. Forgetting my bidons and having to return home for them meant I missed my train and risked missing the start altogether. I did make it, but other than one guy repairing a puncture, I was the last rider to start. So, with grump levels high(er than usual) and weather top notch I decided “what the hell, smash it!”.

Down the street I’m instantly confused.. there’s loads of cyclists with numbers on and they’re heading the other way?! But they all have aerobars.. hmm.. okay?

It turns out it was a triathlon and I was heading the right way (for a change). There’s loads of volunteers waving flags on the course and I nod and thank most of them as I ride past.

The scenery is really nice, the sky is blue, I’m passing loads of people.. it doesn’t get much better 🙂

I take the turn off for the extra loop, setting me up for the longer 140k version. The course is basically two loops, which is kind of cool because you have the turnoff as a ‘marker’ for your distance and it makes it less mentally tough than one large loop. I stopped a couple of times at the feed stations for a bottle refill and some cake. I always feel guilty if I ride past since I’ve already paid for it.. it would cost me a Gold time.. muppet! 🙂

At one point I latched onto three De Ver Cycles riders. I’d never heard of the shop before and asked about it. The free ride only lasted 10 minutes since I started cramping going up the next hill. Damn my lack of riding! I did try to get back on – I could see them as we looped around a roundabout on bit of A-road but I just didn’t have the power to catch three reasonably fast guys alone, not without forcing myself off the bike to stretch out my spasming muscles!

The final challenge was that indeed.. One Tree Hill/Carters Hill might have been fine under other circumstances but since I had to climb out of the saddle to reduce my hamstring cramping and since it was at the end of a reasonably quick, untrained, 130k.. it hurt. What made it worse was the fact that I spotted Sam up the hill in front of me (I recognised his Motorola jersey). I tried to get up to him and really did give it all I had left but the bugger knew he was close to the finish and was also hammering.

I caught up to him after the line – “Sam, you bastard!” 🙂

4:17:57 Silver (Gold was 4:15) Doh! 🙂

Tony, Sam and I ate the (included) meal at the end and enjoyed the sun and a bit of banter before Sam had to bail. Tony led me back to the train and all was well in the world.

Thumbs up and all smiles here, but only for the cameras 🙂

Big thanks to all the organisers/volunteers and whoever organised the lovely weather!

www.kentcyclosportive.co.uk

Photos