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
Saturday, 10 July 2010
Monday, 5 July 2010
FSoTM ride #95 4/7/10
This months ride started in the usual place at the bandstand in Bletchley. Some of the regular riders were missing, choosing to go out on longer rides elsewhere.
These rides were started with an idea about getting people out on their bikes and getting them doing longer rides is also the point of them.
We started a bit later than 10 as I had a text saying Chris was on his way but a bit late.
The route I made up as I went along. Past Tesco and Asda, around Redmoor and through Coffee Hall. Taking the roads and redways through the CMK estates and coming out via the canal by the pub on the Wolverton - Newport road.
It was then onto the very rough track around the back of Linford lakes through a couple of gates and onto the Haversham - Newport road for a good downhill run to Newport Pagnell.
It was a great day for cycling, lovely sunshine and a cooling breeze. I still managed to get sunburned though!!
The redways then took us towards Willen Lake where a slight detour was needed to avoid the crowds at the Dragon boat racing.
At the junction just before the pub I waited for the riders to turn and make sure they new where we were going but some had disappeared.
I went back to look for them, tried a couple of turns and routes but couldn't see them.
Back to the pub to meet the others, on getting there there were no bikes sat out the front and I couldn't see anyone. Gt phone out and rang Chris to find out they were all sat around the back in the garden along with the missing riders who had gone a different way.
After the obligatory cider :-) we were back on our way again with riders turning for home on the way as we passed near to their houses and back at the start for about 13.15
Another good ride with great company, it's still fun doing these rides even though they're short compared to the audax rides I do.
I plan to keep them going as long as people want to turn up, ride and have fun.
The next one starts at Furzton Lake next to the bridge by the MK Bowl and takes the Sustrans path (51) to Winslow and back.
This ride has had a good turnout over the 8 times I've done it so far with the most being 50.
Hope to see you there.
Rich
These rides were started with an idea about getting people out on their bikes and getting them doing longer rides is also the point of them.
We started a bit later than 10 as I had a text saying Chris was on his way but a bit late.
The route I made up as I went along. Past Tesco and Asda, around Redmoor and through Coffee Hall. Taking the roads and redways through the CMK estates and coming out via the canal by the pub on the Wolverton - Newport road.
It was then onto the very rough track around the back of Linford lakes through a couple of gates and onto the Haversham - Newport road for a good downhill run to Newport Pagnell.
It was a great day for cycling, lovely sunshine and a cooling breeze. I still managed to get sunburned though!!
The redways then took us towards Willen Lake where a slight detour was needed to avoid the crowds at the Dragon boat racing.
At the junction just before the pub I waited for the riders to turn and make sure they new where we were going but some had disappeared.
I went back to look for them, tried a couple of turns and routes but couldn't see them.
Back to the pub to meet the others, on getting there there were no bikes sat out the front and I couldn't see anyone. Gt phone out and rang Chris to find out they were all sat around the back in the garden along with the missing riders who had gone a different way.
After the obligatory cider :-) we were back on our way again with riders turning for home on the way as we passed near to their houses and back at the start for about 13.15
Another good ride with great company, it's still fun doing these rides even though they're short compared to the audax rides I do.
I plan to keep them going as long as people want to turn up, ride and have fun.
The next one starts at Furzton Lake next to the bridge by the MK Bowl and takes the Sustrans path (51) to Winslow and back.
This ride has had a good turnout over the 8 times I've done it so far with the most being 50.
Hope to see you there.
Rich
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Get on your bike MK 12/9/10
This year Carol, a friend of mine will again be organising a charity cycle ride in aid of Cancer Research UK.
It will be the 5th time she has done this and this year promises to be better the the last one.
There will be 2 routes on the day (7 + 15 miles) starting from The Hilton hotel at Kents Hill heading along the Ouzel valley towards Willen and the canal.
The 2 routes will go different ways here, the 7 mile route will turn left along the canal and back to the start. The 15 mile route will turn right and head along the Millennium route around MK and rejoin the other route at Woughton on the Green.
Both rides are very child friendly using the paths in the parks and the redways around MK.
If you want a great family fun day out, check out the website and come along.
Entry can be done online from the website or forms can be got from various outlets.
Hope to see you there.
It will be the 5th time she has done this and this year promises to be better the the last one.
There will be 2 routes on the day (7 + 15 miles) starting from The Hilton hotel at Kents Hill heading along the Ouzel valley towards Willen and the canal.
The 2 routes will go different ways here, the 7 mile route will turn left along the canal and back to the start. The 15 mile route will turn right and head along the Millennium route around MK and rejoin the other route at Woughton on the Green.
Both rides are very child friendly using the paths in the parks and the redways around MK.
If you want a great family fun day out, check out the website and come along.
Entry can be done online from the website or forms can be got from various outlets.
Hope to see you there.
Monday, 28 June 2010
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)
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)
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
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.
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.
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