My Dutch trip - The ride itself (pt 1)

After looking at all of the bikes and velomobiles arriving at the start (pics at bottom), dinner was eaten and we were all lined up ready to go.
20.00 was the start time and we had a lead out with cars at either end as we rolled along the dual carriageway ring-road.
It was the best audax start I've ever done probably only second to PBP (next year!)
Once we were out of the town we followed cycle-paths N/westwards around the Ijsselmeer and along the Afsluitdijk a 32km dike stopping the sea flooding the area.
I'd been riding mainly on my own along this part as I'd had a puncture and had lost the group but after leaving one group I joined up with Hector (a Greek lad) and we positively flew along here at about 40kph.

After the food stop at Den Oever we (Me, Hector and Adam) headed south passing close to Amsterdam and Den Haag in the dark so no sightseeing. Crossing the Noordzeekanaal as the sun was rising and eventually arriving at Maasdijk at 9.30 for breakfast.
The day was getting hotter and after food and bottle filling (many times!) and application of suncream we were on our way again for ferry number 2 at Maasluis.

The temps were up in the 30s and it was hard to find water stops filling our bottles up at garages when needed. The ride around the paths and park area was lovely and the cycle tunnel under the Maas with glass lifts was brilliant.
The 400km control came rather quickly at Geertruidenberg at just after 15.00 (19hrs) Still in the middle of the field but making good time.

The sky started to darken a bit after we crossed into Belgium and we hid under an underpass at just the right time as the heavens opened. Apparently the storm was one of the worse the area has had for a number of years with trees being uprooted and caravans being turned over.
This made the ride towards Maastricht slow as all the cyclepaths had branches and trees all over them.
Navigation was a bit dodgy also with the routesheet not matching the gps, the track on the latter sending us across fields and along unpaved canal banks. Hector decided to go along a road that didn't allow cycling, me and Adam found another route to the control.
We eventually got to Maastricht a couple of hours later than expected at 01.00 tired and a bit irritable due to the navigation issues.
I was pleased though with a distance of 564km in 29hrs.

Bikely route part1

Various bike at the start (crappy phone pics)

My Dutch trip Days 1-3

Day 1 (Sun)

Started with me leaving home at about 11.00 and rinding over to Cambridge station. I got there in just over 3hrs with a good tailwind all the way but on arrival I had to wait 1.45hrs for the next train, the first seemingly canceled.

Train journey was without hitch and I got to Harwich with hrs to spare.

I rode around Harwich for a bit, ate fish and chips on the sea front and spent a couple of hrs in the pub before embarking on the ferry and finding my cabin for a shower food and sleep.

Leaving Harwich

Day 2 (Mon)

Disembarking was again without hitch, as cycles were off first and the first train was waiting at the port.

Trains in the Netherlands were rather good for bikes, you have to buy a day ticket for them (6euro) but you can use them on all services without booking a place. It was a bit busy when I was on there but we managed to get on ok. Trains were frequent anyway so it wouldn't have been a hardship to wait for the next one.

Arrived in Zwolle about midday so had plenty of time to kill and after getting the courage to cycle away from the station, I was away and trying to find my way around town.

I found the start location for the ride the next day so it was then around the ring road to find the hotel.

The first storm of the ride got me on the way around and I arrived soaked through. Luckily it was ok to get in the room and get dry clothes on.

As it was still early I decided to have a look around town and get some food, I was amazed at the cycle infrastructure here and must have stood for about 20 minutes watching cyclists going around the roundabout, cars have to give way to cyclists on a lot of roads there and it was amazing to watch from an Englishmans viewpoint.

Cycle lanes along major roads have right of way over all the side roads they cross and cars would stop to let you over even when they were turning into the road you're crossing. It was a bit unnerving to start with but as you got used to it it got a lot easier.

If your cyclepath crossed a main road the traffic on it had right of way but there are cycle crossings next to the pedestrian crossing anyway so you didn't wait for long.

Then it was food, tv and try to get as much sleep as possible for the long day ahead.

Arriving Hoek Van Holland and some Dutch cycle infrastructure.

Day 3 (Tues)

I got up as late as I could before the breakfast closed at the hotel, had breakfast and was out into the town again to await the 20.00 start this evening. I wandered around for a bit and got some food for later at the super market (Ed - all exciting stuff eh!) while waiting outside I spotted an LEL jersey the same time he spotted my yacf one.

Another Brit was in town (Andy Wills) we chatted for a bit and as he was going to a bike shop I went also.

More coffee drank sat in the square looking at all the Dutch ladies cycling about :-) and a ride back to the start location to wait for it to open.

Dutch ladies on recumbent advertising bikes

The long one.

Tomorrow morning I'll be riding to Cambridge and getting on a train towards Harwich and onto the overnight ferry to the Netherlands.
I'll then be making my way up to Zwolle for the start of the Lowlands 1200km on Tuesday evening.

I think I've got enough miles in my legs this year as I've already done more rides than this time last year. The only thing is this will be my longest ride ever by almost double!!

The route will take me from Zwolle, NE to the coast and then South down the coast towards Rotterdam and onto Maastricht. The ride starts at 20.00 and the plan is to get to Maastricht (556km) sometime late Wednesday/early Thursday. A bed has been booked at the Y/H there and as long as I'm going well enough I'll get some sleep.
We then head up the Maas towards Venlo (659km) and Hengelo (863m) and back to the start at Zwolle (949km) for another sleep before doing the last loop up to Groningen (1062km) and Wartena (1123km) before heading back south to the finish (1216km) Hopefully before 14.00 on Saturday.
14.00 being the cut-off time after which I wouldn't get the points for the ride.

If anyone is interested in following my progress I'll be tweeting along the way which will also update my Facebook page

All going well I'll be back on the ferry on Sunday and back in MK sometime on Monday.
Wish me luck :-D

A non cycling weekend

Well that was the plan anyway. After cycling over 1100km the last 2 weekends this weekend was going to be a non cycling one. I was looking after the kids Saturday and overnight and the 2 eldest came round on Sunday.
While reading the forums on Saturday I started to think about an overnight ride on Sunday starting about 20.00. It wouldn't be so hot and at this time of year it wouldn't be cold either.
Sunday morning I decided to do a route I'd done before via Peterborough and Royston, it was an easy to navigate route as I'd done the first leg to Peterborough a few times. The second leg was even easier as all I had to do was follow Ermine street in a straight line through Huntington to Royston.

I set off just after 20.00 it was still quite hot but the breeze while cycling does tend to cool you a bit, which is ok until you stop. Keep moving was the plan and I didn't stop until I got to Peterborough at 89km. The route was rolling hills all the way starting as soon as you head towards Cranfield then crossing the Ouse valley towards Sharnbrook. It rises again to Catworth and eventually drops down to Peterborough. Despite the hills I got to Peterborough at 23.30 with an average of 28.1kph. The Tesco garage was shut and so was the McD, luckily there's another 24hr garage at Yaxley on the way out where I could fill my bottles up. It was still warm and I'd got through 2 already.

Section 2 was easy, all I had to do was head south in an almost straight line (roman roads tend to be like that) down Ermine street. Again this was rolling all the way to Royston continuously up and down getting steeper as you get nearer to the town.
Another quick stop was had eating the sandwich I'd taken with me as nowhere was likely to be open, and I was away again. The avg speed had dropped slightly on that section to 27.9kph and I didn't think I'd keep it that high as the last bit was hilly.

Setting off again at about 01.40 I decided to take the A505 all the way to Baldock as it was virtually empty apart from the odd lorry. Most sane people were in bed!
I stopped in the garage and got a couple of cans of redbull just to keep the energy up and it was away again through Stotfold and Shefford on a route I've done many times before, and it was autopilot all the way.
As it was early and the roads were still empty I stayed on the A507 past Clophill instead of using the lanes I usually take. Good job too as while riding along I noticed a car in the ditch with it's lights still on.
Fearing the worst I knocked on the window, the woman inside was ok and not hurt but didn't know what to do. I called the police for her and after making sure she was still ok I carried on (The police said this was fine).
Staying on the A507 all the way to Ridgmont for a change I eventually came to the last hill of the ride after Woburn. It climbs gently up and once at the top it's a fast drop down to Fenny Stratford and back home.

I got back at just after 04.00 and on checking my GPS I'd kept the avg speed up and finished with my fastest every 200 ride.
210km, 7.30 moving with a avg of 28kph, my legs were a bit shaky but I felt fine.
The preparation for the 1200 in July seems to be going well. I think I'm fit enough, I'll just have to manage the sleep time and see how it goes.

Route

Altitude graph (click to enlarge)

East Anglian diy 600.

After posting on yacf to see if anyone fancied a ride across the fenlands of East Anglia I got some replies and a group of 5 meet at Steves house for the 6.00 start.
Planning a ride for the middle of June I'd hoped it would be reasonable weather and we'd have a good ride round. I was wrong!!

The forecast was for 25-30kph N/W winds, not too bad for a normal ride but in the fens there is nothing to stop it and it's like cycling into a wall.
The first section was ok on the rolling hills of Northants and Bedfordshire getting us to St Neots (75km) for 09.00 a quick stop and it was northwards into the headwind.
It was hard work for me even on the recumbent, it must have been a lot harder for the other 4 on upright bikes. With the wind came showers and we got wet just as we were heading for the next stop near Downham Market.
A friend off the internet had kindly given up here morning to make soup, cakes, coffee and loads of other goodies for us. The soup tasted amazing as we sat behind their car hiding from the rain.
Thanks again Helen

Off again into a direct headwind this time heading the 50km to Spalding, nothing much was to be seen here apart from the odd house dotting the flat fields of the fens. We got to Spalding planning a stop for more coffee in the McD's but got there to find it shut for refurbishment and only the drive trough open (not to cyclists). More garage snacks eaten but there was a cafe not far away planned for the food stop.
On the way there I was at the front through Holbeach when I stopped as the others had disappeared from my mirrors, Steve come flying up and said Lyndsay had been left hooked by some one turning into a shop. It was a tense few moments when I arrived to see her lying down with a blanket to keep warm. She was laughing though so it wasn't too serious.

The police and ambulance came and after 45 minutes of taking statements and making sure she was ok we were off again in search of food.

Still with a tailwind and after sustenance we were off heading for Kings Lynn and Hunstanton, we got there a little later than planned at 20.45 but we were still in time.
The rain started again and as we got to Cromer we stopped in a bus shelter for cover and it was touch and go wether the roof would stay on :-D
We didn't have much time to spare so after a slight detour around the town we were off again heading for another friends near Swaffham.
Adam and Lyndsay were ahead and got to Chris' house about an hr ahead of us. We did stop for Jules to fix a puncture and we got a control receipt first so not havng to go backwards in the morning. We got there at 05.00

Cakes were eaten before getting 3hrs much needed sleep, I was starting to hallucinate on the roads just before we stopped, always fun!
A great 3 course breakfast was eaten (thanks Chris and family) and we were away later than planned at 09.30 it was a much needed stop though.

With a tailwind for the first km of the day we made fast time to another friends for lunch at 12.40, All audax rides should be this civilised :-D
Good food and chat at Annies house for another hr, the rice pudding was so nice I had to have seconds :-D
Annie then joined us for part of the ride to Bildeston and then turned for home again.
We headed over the rolling countryside of Suffolk and north Essex for Saffron walden stopping for a short sleep on a green at Stoke by Clare.
A Tesco garage provided the next control of sandwiches and pies, again.
Then it was through Great Chishill and Royston, these hills were hard work coming near the end of the ride but the down section were brilliant.
I suggested we took the A505 all the way into Baldock so as to miss the lanes and maybe gain a bit of time, we did and it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
A few more lanes were used to bypass the busy A507 before getting back to finish around about 22.30.
The ride was a lot harder than I thought it would be, mainly due to the wind and rain. Even as a ride through the flat fen lands my GPS logged 4510m of climbing.



Congrats to Lyndsay and Jules who through completing this ride managed to get their first SR completed. At times I thought Jules may have stopped and found a station, but he persevered and finished within the time limit.
Another weekend off for me next week, then my local short ride the week after. I hope to get at least another longish one in before I leave for the 1200km ride in the Netherlands next month.

Snowdon and Coasts 400km 12/6/10

I wasn't sure about doing this ride as I'd heard about Johns rides having a tendency to be hilly. I've done rides in Wales before (BCM600) but so knew I could climb the long drags but wasn't sure about the hills on this one.

The weekend started with a train to Shrewsbury on the Friday afternoon and I found myself sitting in the sun for a few hrs at the village hall surfing the net on my phone.
I got chatting with 3 riders from Yorkshire who turned up and they kindly offered me a lift to the chip shop they were going to for pre ride fuelling.
It was then back to the hall for some sleep before the alarm awoke me at 5.00.

It was a glorious day and the forecast was good, sun and a bit of a N/Westerly wind to slow us down at the start.
This didn't seem to slow the first bunch down though and I managed to stay with them for the first 45km until the climbs at the edges of Snowdonia. I just had to get in a low gear and winch my 16st uphill slowly and try to smile for John with the camera at the top as I went past.
First stop was at Bala 80km in 3.15hrs a couple of Danish pastries + a coffee and I was away again.



The ride climbed again after up and over the bleak open landscapes towards Betws-Y-Coed the day was starting to warm up now and I was starting to feel the heat.
More stops for drink and photo opportunities before the climb past Snowdon and the fast descent down to the next stop at Llanberis




A slight detour took me around the next small hill :-) and back onto the route a couple of km farther along. It then uses roads that I've ridden a couple of times before, but it was nice to ride along there in daylight and not nearer midnight which was usual on the BCM.
This section went well apart from a broken chain (again!!) which was a quick fix, and the ride along the coast past Harlech castle and Barmouth was great in the sunshine with a slight tailwind helping me along.
I sailed straight through Barmouth and across the railway bridge to Dolgellau, where I was surprised not to see any other bikes. I stopped to check the brevet card only to find I'd passed the control (Barmouth)already! I wasn't going to go back so I decided to head for Aberystwyth and ask there what the control was. The plan was to try and get there before Sunset.
There was still a few hills to climb and the last one just before the town was a killer.
I rolled into the control still in daylight at 21.45 (280km in14.45hrs)
The control was in the boathouse of the local club and an excellent spread of food was put on, I did manage not to stop there and start on the cider at the bar and was away again after about an hour for the last major climb of the ride.

The A44 was to take us out of town and at 23.00 on a Sat evening it was more or less empty. It was a good road to use for a night section as it was almost 75km all the way to Newtown without any turn offs.
Another garage control (pies/sandwiches and redbull) had us fed and away again for the last part as the sun was rising through the lanes back to Shrewsbury.
Starting to get tired now I found myself almost falling asleep on the bike, I stopped to get my phone out for some music and tucked in under my shirt.
Playing Metallica full blast as I cruised through the villages and town centre at 05.00 got me a few funny looks, but riding a recumbent I get that anyway :-D
I finally rolled in the finish at 06.00 ready for breakfast and some sleep.
I managed to get about 3hrs before I had to get up for the train home.
The following week was a lazy one off the bike, I took the kids away to Jaywick for 4 days and drunk far too much cider.

312km ride to Yorkshire 29/5/10

As I had no ride planned this weekend I decided to go and visit family up in Wetherby.
I was shifted to work nights so eventually got home at 07.00 , had a couple of ciders and went to bed. I didn't have the kids this weekend as they were at a party.
I thought about leaving earlier in the afternoon but it would have meant getting up there at some daft time in the morning. So after faffing about all day fettling the bike, eating and watching the weather I finally got off my backside and left at 19.00 and headed northwards.
My planned route was to take me through Wellingborough - Spalding - Lincoln - Thorne and onto Wetherby.

I had a tailwind all the way to Spalding and as it was flat my speed was up which meant I got there in about 5hrs. I just missed the doors shutting at the 24hr McD's but as I was on my bike they wouldn't serve me through the window.
Insurance reasons apparently!!
I was prepared and had food in my bag just in case I couldn't find anywhere to eat, so there wasn't a problem, apart from I'll not be using them again.

The wind had dropped now so it was a calm ride over the flat lands of the Lincolnshire fens, this wasn't to last long though as it turned and started to blow towards me instead.
By the time I was at Sleaford it was full in my face and the rain had started, it only lasted a couple of hrs but was hard enough to soak me through. The wind was to stay with me for the last 90 miles though.

I was starting to get a bit drowsy as I was going through Lincoln so stopped for drink and some more food, this kept me going for a while but by the time I got to Thorne I was starting to feel very tired and was looking for bus shelters and benches to have a break on.
I found one just before the M18 the other side of Thorne and had about 20mins rest there.
This seemed to help a bit and I was away again heading for Selby and Tadcaster. I still had the headwind and it did slow me down (even on the recumbent). It was noticeable though how mountain bikes were going even slower than me as I managed to pass them along the way.

It had been flat all the way from Lincoln to Ulleskelf but then it started to get a bit undulating, not much in terms of Derbyshire or Wales but noticeable after 100km of flat.
The last bit through Tadcaster towards Wetherby was hard work but I got there at 11.00 for a total of 15.40hrs with 3.5hrs off the bike.
25.3kph avg is not bad for a 300km ride but it did seem slow at the time.

This next weekend I haven't got any audax rides planned as it's the 1st sunday of the month and I'm out on my local ride. It's also my birthday so I plan to have a couple of ciders instead. I'll see some of you on Sunday for a beer :-D

Bryan Chapman Memorial 600km audax

After last years failed attempt and helping out at the control at Dolgellau I was offered free entry for this years ride. So with the Friday booked off work this year it was that time again to head west towards Chepstow and the start of the Bryan Chapman memorial 600km audax ride.
The train ride via Birmingham went without a hitch and it was a lovely 15km ride to the Severn view travelodge. A walk to the local pub with some other riders for food and a couple of pints and an early night ready for the early start the next morning.

The alarm went off at 04.30 and it was a short ride over the Severn bridge for the start at 06.00. The community centre was packed with about 100 riders waiting for the off and after the quick pep talk by Mark we were off.
The first 75km section over to Bronllys was fast and I found myself near the front of the queue at the cafe, the average for that bit was 28.2kph and too fast for me on a 600 but it was fun :-)

After a quickish stop I was on my way again and took the slightly longer route the other side of the river to Builth Wells, this was suggested on yacf as a better route. As I cycled along it almost traffic free I could see queues of cars and fast overtakes on the main road behind people that took the other route. This was only about 2km longer and had a couple of short sharp hills along the way but was much better.
On through Rhyader and over the hills towards Aberystwyth and the next control for more food to prepare me for the mountains of Snowdonia.
These were to start not far after the stop, once past Machynlleth the road started to climb past Cadair Idris. I'm not a natural climber and it was hard work in the sun winching myself upwards. The descent down to Dolgellau was more fun though and I arrived at Kings youth hostel feeling a bit rough but not too bad.
A change of clothes from the bag drop ready for the evening/night section more food eaten and away again for the top loop.
I was called back as I had missed the turn for the station and Barmouth bridge and a dropped chain off the granny ring had me walking a short section uphill at Penrhyndeudreath.
The climb out of Beddgelert up Pen Y Pas was hard work as my stomach was still playing up just like on the last audax where food seemed to be sitting high up and not digesting.
It did seem like I'd slowed down a lot on this section but looking at the time from 2yrs ago I was only about 15 behind that 314km done and over half way completed.
On with the coat and into the dark as I'd spent far too long at Menia. After about 30 minutes I stopped for a rest in a bus shelter as I was still feeling bad. I felt ok when I stopped pedalling just sick when on the bike.
A stop a bit further down the road for another 20 minutes then it was into the rain for the worst section of the ride over the mountain past Llyn Trawsfynydd reservoir and powerstation.
The rain was getting harder now and I was soaked through and cold.
Add to this tiredness and I was ready to pack it all in when I got back to Kings YH.
The descent off of the top was really bad as I was shivering and finding it hard to keep the bike on the road and myself awake also. I eventually got back there after nearly 12hrs (for 160km) and the first thing I did was put on dry shorts and shirt. Then it was eat and sleep before deciding whether to pack or not.
Managed to get a bed just after 5 as they were vacated by some faster riders and woken up at 7.15 to bright sunshine, some sleep and a couple of bacon sandwiches and I was ready to go again feeling a lot better than I did 3hrs earlier.
Stopped at the garage for drinks before the 1st climb of the day up past Cross Foxes. I walked the last 500m or so of it as did a few others, the top speed of the ride was 92.3kph down the other side on the brakes, great fun.

Following the GPS track I missed the next control at Aberhafesp and had to ask a local where it was. Then it was out through Newtown and up over the highest point of the ride, a bit of an anticlimax after all of the excellent scenery of North Wales. Nether or less it did earn me a great downhill section again as I swooped past groups of riders with a big grin.
It was now into the lanes of Herefordshire and they were crap compared to the smooth tarmaced roads of Wales and slowed the speed down no end.
I was looking forward to a section of rollers later that was fun the last time I did it and I wanted to see how I did on them this year. I hit them fast this year and managed to crest about 3 of them in almost top gear but as they come at about 570km into the ride and it's not advisable to do what seemed like interval training on them. It was fun but my legs didn't like it one bit and I walked the last one at Llancloudy.
So near the end but so far from the finish, the last bit along the Wye valley from Monmouth through Tintern and up to Chepstow is only 25km but the 1.5hrs it took seemed to go on forever.

I got to the finish at at 20.20, 30 minutes faster than last time which was a surprise considering how I felt throughout the night section. I had a moving average of 22.5kph over the whole 625kms which was better than the 19.5 of 2 yrs ago.
So far so good for the 1200 in july.





Day one profile



Day 2 profile

200km audax ride to Ely.

The weather was still bad and after looking out of the window at 05.00 I decided to do a shorter ride than the 300km I'd planned to do up to Newark and back. The headwind that slowed us down on the local ride on Sunday was still blowing.

After breakfast I eventually got out the door and left the garage at 08.00 heading northwards into the wind to Olney stopping for a bit to chat to a friend about his new bike (Bacchetta Giro 26 ATT) the same bike as mine but lighter and faster :-)
At Olney the headwind seemed to still be in front of me as I turned NE and it was the same all the way to the halfway point at Ely. Just for good measure it rained and hailed on me also.

I was hoping it would be a good ride home with a tailwind but this only seemed to last for the ride down Twenty Pence lane whilst heading for Cambridge. When turning right for Gamlingay it was at my side again and felt more of a hindrance than a help.

The ride back through Biggleswade, Shefford, Flitick, up and over the Greensand Ridge and Woburn park was hard work. Whether this was due to the earlier headwind or just my legs still being tired I wasn't sure.
I still got around in under 10hrs with 2hrs off of the bike so it wasn't too bad.
Although I've since found the new rear brake pads I put in after the Severn Across ride last week were rubbing a bit and stopping the wheel spinning freely!!

Moral of the story is "check the bike before you go out on long rides :-D"

Severn across audax

I was looking forward to this ride this year as it had been moved forward a week on the calendar. The last few years I've been wanting to do it but as it's been on the 1st weekend of May I've not been able to get to it.

The ride was entered well before Christmas and I booked the Friday off of work so I could get some sleep before the start.
I toyed with the idea of cycling the 75km down to the Uxbridge travelodge but decided to get the train to Watford and ride from there instead.
Instead of the roads through the outskirts of London I thought I'd follow the Sustrans route along the old railway and canal.
It started off so well on a smooth tarmac track, after the first couple of corners this changed to the usual stony path, great for wide tyred MTB's but not as good on 700-28 tyres.
I stuck with it for quite a while and the ride along the canal was nice but slow. I had plenty of time and it was a nice day so I didn't worry about it.
The evening was spent watching crap tv and eating junk from Tesco.

Alarm went off at 04.15 and I was out of the door heading to Chalfont by 04.45.
There were plenty of people there when I got there, and after another breakfast we were off heading over the Chilterns and the first Control at Woodstock. This section went really well and the service at the tea rooms was fast. 75km down food eaten and away again before 09.00.

It was then over the Cotswolds towards Tewkesbury, the hills were slowing me down a bit but the sun was coming through now and the views from the hill tops was amazing. Must get myself a small camera that I can take with me, both of mine are too big for carrying on a bike.
The next section over towards the forest of dean seemed to get hard, I wasn't feeling too good as my stomach didn't seem to be working properly. The food I'd eaten at Tewkesbury seemed to be sitting on top and not digesting. Not sure if it was the hot weather, too much drink/food or a mixture of both.
I stopped at a pub "The penny farthing" at Aston Crews to top up my bottle, have a pint (oj and lemonade) to see if this helped. It didn't.
The climbs through the forest were hard work and the 45 minute rest at the Chepstow Tesco control didn't make me feel any better either.

I knew I had to keep going so it was onwards over the Severn bridge and upwards to the Somerset monument, the second walk of the day. The new frame climbs well but at a certain point the gears aren't low enough and I find myself with burning legs and having to stop to put my lungs back in.
A stop at a garage for coffee and crisps still didn't help and an extended stop was had at Membury services, I was there for 1.5hrs and watched a few groups come and go.
I tagged on with a group of 9 others and we chose to go via Newbury along the A4 to Slough.
This was a great route for a night section, wide roads, hardly any potholes and rather flat compared to the lanes and hills going the other way.
A route error took us right through the centre of Reading and past the night clubs, it wasn't bad and I think people were more to surprised to see 9 blokes in lycra light up like christmas trees to give us any trouble.
Every light through Slough seemed to be on red and slowed us down but the chain snapping on my bike slowed me down more. I had all the kit I needed to fix it in my bag so I said the others were welcome to go on without me.
Tiredness, oil and chain tension meant it took another 10-15 minutes to actually get the link to join back together.
It was then up the last couple of hills back to the start for 04.00, more food and some sleep.

I felt a bit better when waking up although I only had 3hrs sleep, more food and coffee consumed while I watched it rain outside and the last riders coming in a bit damp. Then it was time to get back on the bike and ride the 60km home. My knees didn't like the first hill but after warming up a bit I wasn't going too slow and plodded back through Aylesbury and the last hills through the villages home. A good weekends cycling totalling 475km taking this months riding past 1500km.

Apart from the dodgy stomach I really did enjoyed this ride and would definitely ride it again, I'll have to try eating less if I'm using energy drink and see if that was the cause of the problem.
I may even have a go at using just drinks and see how that works.

Below is the altitude chart and gps track of the ride.

More ramblings

After last weekends 311km ride around Northampton, over the Fens to Red Lodge cafe and with the commute to work. I've managed to put over 1000km on the new bike in the 2 weeks I've had it.
The bike is performing as well as I'd hoped with the new wheels and it seems to climb a lot better than the old frame did, there is no front wheel lift any more and all that's slowing me down now is my weight!!
I'll be in a better position to know how it climbs next weekend after the Severn Across 400km, which goes from just outside London over the Cotswolds to the Forest of Dean, into Wales and back again along the M4 corridor.
Total climb for the ride is listed at 3500m which is not a great amount but there are a few short climbs along the way. I hope to get around in a reasonable time, I'll just have to not chat so much to others at the controls.
There is an option on it to route around the hills/lanes at the end by following the A4 which I may take, I'll see how I feel at the control at Membury services.

Just looking at the calendar and it's only 4 weeks now until the Bryan Chapman 600km ride in Wales, I'll know then how I'm doing and if I'm on schedule for the trip over to the Netherlands for the Lowlands 1200km or if I need more training in the next 12 weeks to get ready for it.

A long ride to York

I'd been planning to do an Easter Arrow up to York for a couple of years now but have never managed to get past the planning stage.
This year I booked the Thursday off work and 3 months ago I got cheap train tickets back in preparation. All I had to do was find a team to ride with.
I had a diy audax ride planned if a team couldn't be found but 400km on your own at the start of April is hard work.
Fast forward to last week, I managed to get on a team from Norwich as a couple of riders couldn't make it.

Thursday morning I was out in the shed still adjusting the bike after only 2 rides on it. I eventually got away before noon for the ride over to Cambridge to catch a train the rest of the way to Norwich.
The S/Westerly did help me some of the way but it wasn't a fast ride over. I got there at 15.00 but didn't have to wait long for the train at 15.15
The rush hour traffic wasn't too bad in Norwich as I left the station, but I wasn't in it for long and took the lanes to Rogers house just south of there.
An evening spent of pasta and red wine is a good preparation for a 24hr ride.

The alarm went off at 06.30 and after breakfast and quick team photo (Thanks Ian) we were off back to Norwich for a receipt at the Tesco atm for the start at 08.15.
It was a headwind for the 1st leg down to Bungay and across to Mildenhall for lunch, despite this we were still pushing a good avg speed of 24kph. Baked spud with beans and cheese was consumed and we were off again.
This time into the flat open areas of the fens, this meant no hiding from the wind when we had to go into it but a really good tailwind when going the other way.
By 18.00 we were at the 200km mark and the average had crept up to 25.5kph. We found a pizza/pasta place that opened up their restaurant area at the back of the shop for us and another longish stop for lasagne and chips was had.
Some of the team put on dry and warmer clothes for the night section of the ride. I decided to keep mine for York, if it rained over night I wanted dry stuff to wear on the train back.

The flat lands of the fens slowly started to disappear as we got the other side of Boston and at 23.00 we found a pub to sit down at for nearly an hr to get warm.
Back out into the cold night but it didn't take too long to warm up again for the section through Market Rasen and keeping to the left hand side of the wolds to keep away from the worst hills. You still have to climb over part of them though and the hill before the Humber bridge crossing was quite a shock after 300+km of flatlands. I led the way through Barton towards the cycle path as it is not easy to find and I'd done it a few times before. The next section up to Beverley on the dual carriageway was starting to get hard as I was starting to get tired. A quick stop at another garage helped but the hill out of Beverly up to the highest point of the ride didn't.
I was starting to weave about on the road a few times and was finding it hard to stay awake and balance the bike. A quick stop to jump up and down got me going again just as Ian had come to find out where I was.

Next stop was another garage in Howden. This being the 22hr mark/stop we had to wait for 30 minutes before getting a receipt and had to do at least 26km in the last 2hrs for the ride to be completed.
Away again for the last section up the B road to York. This was actually about 36km but we got there with 15 mins to spare.
It was then down to the pub for coffee, fried food and a couple of pints at 09.00
A good way to finish a ride.

The rest of the day was spent mainly in the station waiting for the 15.57 train. I'd booked a late one as I wasn't sure what time I'd be getting there, as a team member or on a diy ride.
There were 6 other bikes on the train, 5 of which being AUK members. 2 managed to get off at Peterborough amongst the hoards of football supporters leaving me, Judith and Ritchie to fight the rest of them at KingsX.
I pushed the bike from there to Euston station as I couldn't be asked to ride(it's close anyway)
and just missed the first train back. The next was only 15 minutes later so not a problem.
I finally got home just before 21.00 on Saturday evening totally knackered and wanting a drink :-)
A quick walk around the garage soon sorted that though and it was a fairly early night as I had to get up for my local 20 mile ride on the Sunday morning.

Total distance for the ride was 80km on Thursday over to Cambridge.
423km. 24hrs in total with 18.13 cycling time and a 23.2kph avg
I really enjoyed the ride and meeting people in the pub afterwards.
I'm looking forward to the 4th weekend in April next year already and hope to get on another team. If any will have me!!

More ramblings

It's still coldish here and I've not really done much cycling this month apart from the usual commute, I've even used my mums car a couple of times :-D.
I did go out last Sunday planning to do a 200km ride via Peterborough and Royston.
I was up in good time but after 20km or so my feet were like blocks of ice, mainly because the zip had bust on my overshoes and I'd not got around to getting a new pair.
I'd got to the A422 at Astwood and turned left for a ride around MK instead.
On the plus side I popped over to Phil Corley cycles for some new cleats, overshoes and innertubes and got them at an excellent price. I've been going there for ages and can't recommend them enough.

On another note and to compliment my long distance cycling this year, I've gone and joined the local gym. The last time I was a member of one was about 17yrs ago!!
Even though I've only been going a couple of weeks I can feel and see the difference, in cycling and in body shape. The leg work is definitely making it easier to push the pedals up the hills.
Hope to keep it up and will see if it improves my overall times on the longer stuff.

Next long one is this coming weekend where I've entered the Kennet Valley Run, a 200km ride from just south of Reading to Bratton and back.
Depending on the weather the plan is to cycle down there on Friday and stay at the travelodge, do the ride on Saturday and ride home the same evening making it a 300km ride altogether.

The Willy Warmer

Sunday saw me out on a 3rd outing of this wonderful route, the last 2 times I've had 1 completion and 1 DNF.
The DNF was because of knee ache caused from the pedals I had on the trike at the time.

The ride starts at Chalfont St Peter, a town in the Chilterns just outside London. My choice this year having no car was to either cycle down on the Friday night have a few beers and stay over in the hall or as it was only 55km away get up early and cycle down.
Although the first choice was very tempting I decided to cycle there and back and make it an Extended Calendar Event 300. I was going to be doing 260km with the ride home after anyway.

My alarm got me up at 03.30 and I was in no rush so was out of the door and getting a receipt at 5.15, allowing myself just under 3hrs to get to the start.
The ride took me through Aylesbury for another receipt and I got to the start at 07.30. Just as everybody was leaving (Message to self, check start time next time) The start was 07.30 not 08.00 oh well.

I was away 5 minutes later after getting my brevet card and riding up the wrong road. GPS works wonderful as long as you are following the track the right way. Luckily I was only 50m or so up the road when I guessed I was going the wrong way.
I'm not mad enough (yet) to enter the "scenic" route that bypasses the towns and takes in some nice hills so took the main road option out through Marlow and Henley. The recent weather meant there was a lot of water and debris on the roads and I was passing quite a few riders that had stopped to fix there tyres.
The hills on the first half didn't seem as bad this time around and I was managing to get up them slowly, as usual on audax rides I find myself yoyoing (sp?) backwards and forwards past the same rider. I'd pass them on the flat or at speed downhill only for them to pass me on the next uphill section, the joy of being a 100kg+ recumbent rider.
I seemed to be doing really well and got to Hungerford (1/2 way) at just after 12.00. I had been trying out some new (for me) energy drink and it was working well as I hadn't wanted any food so far but decided to stop anyway. I just had a bowl of soup and a coffee and was away again 45 minutes later.
I was still going well over the hills towards Kingsclere and got to Winnersh 220km at 16.15. It was starting to get dark now and the temp was dropping so after spending an hr here chatting and getting warm it was back out into the cold for the last section back to the start control.
After crossing the M4 for the 6th time it was over the last few hills along the edge of the Chilterns again to arrive back at the start at 19.15, were I sat chatting again for far too long as per usual. I had plenty of time to do the last 60km home so as long as I got in before the time limit at 02.00 I'd be ok.
I dragged myself away from the warm hall and coffee and headed homeward I was getting a bit tired now and my legs were starting to feel heavy. The chain on the bike had been squeaking since about 3/4 of the way round as it was dry even though I had oiled it before the start, my rear brake had also worn out completely due to the water and grit on the lanes of the first half.
This was slowing me down on the twisty lanes but I got back to the garage to get a receipt at 23.15.

Total distance was 322km with a ride time of 13.10 (24.5kph avg) a max speed of 74.1 and 4hrs 50 sat down eating and chatting.
I've put the gps log of the route onto bikely and after looking at the altitude from the route it's no wonder my legs ached at the end.



The new drink worked well, it was just maltodextrine powder mixed with lucozade sport which I found did me more good than other more expensive drinks I've tried. It mixed well and could hardly be tasted in it. Mind you Lucozade is very sweet so it does need watering down anyway.

200km to Ely

I had put this ride on yacf to see if there was anyone who wanted a ride out as there's not a lot on the calendar this month.
It was a route I've done twice before so knew the route well.

While reading the forum on Saturday I saw a post on there about gps validated rides and free entry to test if it works. Being a tight cyclist the saved £2 went on cake :-D
I sent of my entry form and route by email and got the ok to ride within 30 minutes.

Alarm got me up at 06.30 and was all sorted and out the door by 08.00.
No need to stop at the garage this time for proof of passage so it was straight through MK across junction 14 of the M1 and towards Olney. Again I rode straight through as there was no need to stop and get a receipt. This saved me 15 minutes as I usually by a drink and chocolate.
It was a bit cold today and the northerly was biting. I stopped briefly the other side of Sharnbrook to have a drink and flapjack. Can't drink on the bike as I still haven't put the cages back on there after changing the seat.
1st major stop was at Grafham water cafe for a coffee and sausage roll, just in time as it started raining just as I sat down.

A quick stop as the damp clothes were starting to get cold and clammy, back on with the coat and away over the A1 through Buckland and on to Huntingdon. Another 15-20 minutes saved here as I again rode right through.
Past St Ives up the hill to Haddenham and towards Ely, the headwind most of the way slowed me down slightly but I still got there in just over 5hrs, 107km with an avg of 25.4kph.

Decided to have some food here so it was garage or Little Chef? Settled on the garage food as it was cheaper :-D
Chicken and bacon sandwich and a Mars bar eaten (we cyclist no gourmet food when we see it :-D ) and I was away again, hopefully with a tailwind.
I got the tailwind, but also got freezing cold rain as well. Fun on a recumbent when you can't put your head down and use the hat to protect your face.
Luckily it was only showers that had stopped by the time I got to Wilburton.
Twenty pence lane was the joy it always is with the traffic, everyone seems to be in a rush.
The rolling hills started as I crossed the A14 and passed to the left of Cambridge.
A stop at another garage for a quick drink and comfort break was had before I took my life in my hand in the low blinding sun, worrying that the cars behind could see my. I kept an eye on my mirror and was ready for a quick bailout into the verge if one got too close!

The still rolling roads got more rolling as I neared Gamlingay, another control passed and I was making good time. Stopped at Shefford to top up bottles and drink some energy drink before the couple of mile fast section along the A507.
It was dark now but a lot earlier than expected, and the drink was starting to work.
Passing Clophill and Malden I managed to find some lanes almost all the way to Flitwick where it was back onto the A507 for another quick section.
More rolling hills up towards Woburn and through the deer park scattering deer as I went!

The faeries were hiding in the cattle grids as I passed over them and the second one got me, I always carry spare tubes so it was off with the wheel and insert new tube.
It was starting to get cold stood by the side of the road and I must have looked odd standing there steaming in the cold air pumping my minipump against my leg 10 to the dozen!!.
One car did stop and ask if I was alright/did I need anything. There are some decent people about :-) the rest must have been to scared.

Another 20 minutes wasted there and just up the road as I had to stop again due to the bead not being sat properly on the rim. Rushed jobs by headtorch don't save time whatsoever. Take time and do it properly the first time.
It was then just a ride through the woods and down the duel carriageway back home.

The ride was a fast one (for me) 10hrs with 2hrs stopped. 25.7kph avg.


GPX file was downloaded to the computer and emailed off to Danial, his reply was as quick as the night before and he said all was ok and the ride was off for validation.
That saved a lot of time without having to use stamps and envelopes to post the card off.
If this trial is a success it will save a lot of time in route checking, collecting receipts, and sending them.
I hope it does.