Building

Picked the frame up from the signwriters with a little bit of paint on.
Left hand side the colours from the MTB race team I am/was in and right hand side current road club colours. Pleased with it.

About halfway through the build up and thanks to an ear infection things are a bit wobbly so called it a night.The tricky stuff is yet to come.

London to Paris, day 2

Now with extra edited goodness
The second day dawned too early and definitely too shakily for me. After scoffing breakfasts of crepes, cake, croissants, coffee, cereal and cyoghurt we headed to the outskirts of Calais to begin pedalling.

I don't know what was up with me; I suspect that I was just hungry and tired but I felt bloody awful for the morning. Thankfully I just had a tasty cup of MTFU and started pedalling. I'm not going to let my stupid body and mind get in the way of having a good time. After gobbling a date slice and some of Gordon's flapjack I started to feel better. The roads were good mainly, and navigation was easier as we kept to the same roads for most of the day. There were some great vistas opening up and it really felt like we were getting somewhere. That feeling of riding some place new and exciting. It was better even than finding a new trail or road close to home.

There were some really lovely climbs through almost switchback bends, which then turned into cracking descents along similar bends. I'm going to admit it. I love climbing. It's hard, it makes the heart race, it hurts, it strains and you get to the top and it's just bleeding fantastic.

Then you get the rush down the other side. And what rushes they were. The roads were our tarmac roller coaster as we scythed through smooth bends chevroned with warnings that were gently heeded, as our caliper brakes weren't going to heed them any more than that even if we wished.

There's something great about doing 45/50mph with tyres less than an inch wide underneath you, every movement is amplified. The corners were taken by picking the entry point, setting the speed and then, for me anyway, turning in and just sitting my elbow onto my protruding knee on the inner side to keep the bars composed as the bike tipped in.It felt so lovely and fluid. Whether it appeared graceful I know not but it certainly felt it.

The roads started to become tree lined, and passing alongside the trees as they cut through the fields was very timeless.

The feeling in the group was good, and the mood was that of being content with the weather and the route. We met up with support group again for lunch, and all sat around in the car park of a small supermarket to eat our baguettes, cheese, meat and ice creams.

Post-lunch and feeling satiated things were even better, and smiles were never far away.

We even had a few sprints to brighten up the afternoon. Jay and I had swapped bikes at this point and I just pipped him.

Soon the signs began to reveal that we were getting quite close to our chosen stop for the night. The climbs were more frequent also as the road rose and fell across the plains.

The road, although it was straight, really did seem to peak and trough through the countryside and there were a couple of real doozies of climbs that seemed to go on for a very long time.

How we Fenland boys managed without getting vertigo, I don't know.
Whilst the scenery was mainly arable fields, there was the occasional interesting landmark crop up that caught the eye. I wonder who decided to paint the water tower here?

We met up with the support crew just outside of Arras and with a little direction got into our hotel. That evening we headed into town for a slap up meal and for me a culinary first in trying chicken gizzards in a salad. Very tasty.
Distance for the day was around 70 miles
Route here

Training Weekend

This weekend the bunch of us that are doing ride in September met up down in my corner of Wales to see how we got on riding as a group. The first day saw us heading out in a hazy warm light towards Usk and Abergavenny.

We had a support mum for the first day, who was meeting us at various points along the way. The first one of which was Llanthony Priory so we could stop for tea and cake.

The photo was taken post tea and cake, you can tell as people are smiling. The ride so far had been steady and the only real mishap had been Mick and Gordon heading off ahead whilst Jay, Aidan and myself had stopped in a P for Piddle bay to relieve ourselves. Jay and Aidan went one way whilst I went the other to see which way they had gone. They were found and we made the Priory fine.
The Priory was significant for me, or rather what came after; Gospel Pass. I had been fretting about how we would get on going up it and as it came up it was actually a relief to get my teeth into it and climb. Going up from the Abergavenny side the climb rises and dips before finally one longer climb takes you up to the highest point.
This is me starting to see the end of the climb-

and then Jay following me up towards the top-

It was utterly rewarding to get to the top, there is then a lovely run slightly down with the wind whistling at you and the bike humming along below. We paused to regroup by the car park and chatted to a paraglider whom had not long landed and was headed back down.

Disappointingly there was no ice cream van there this time. This meant we would have to find ice cream in Hay on Wye. The run down into Hay was steep and fast, we were braking to keep the speeds at around 45mph. A bit of spottage by Aidan meant we popped into Drover Cycles for a browse and a bit of purchasing. A lovely cycle shop and it was good to find they were a Surly dealer as well. Anyway, on to Hay for ice cream!
Shepherd's coffee bar and Ice Cream provided us with great cones full of delicious sheep's milk ice cream. Recommended. (first photo by Jay)

 Refuelled we pressed on, not far to go now.

We had a good ride for the final leg into Talgarth and I think we were all ready for some food and a pint.

After a wander around Talgarth we wound down mixed grills and a few jars of Athletic Ales.
10pm was time for bed.
The next morning we awoke to the rain, a change from the previous day. Still the forecast spoke of it drying up and sure enough by the time we set off at 10am it was beginning to dry out. The ride was an undulating climb up past Llangorse Lake before coming into Bwlch, the road steaming a little as the day warmed up.  (photo by Jay)

We paused in Crickhowell for Mick to revisit the Bear Hotel, a place he had been raving about over the weekend from previous visits. Then along the back roads back towards home. We were pulling together well as a group now and people had found their groove.

Back home in time for an excellent lunch, I would say better than the night before, but then I am biased as my girlfriend cooked it! Total mileage of 85 over the two days. A month to go and a few issues to address and tweak but a great weekend nonetheless.

Chase the Boar!!

Another milestone ticked off for me yesterday as I took part and completed the Wye Boar ride. Confirmed as not a race but a trial, the numbered and timed ride took in 37 miles of Forest of Dean and Wye Valley countryside, and had a great turnout and probably ideal weather.
I was lucky and had race mum in attendance taking time out from her studies to look after me, she also shot some photos before and after, thanks race mum (-:
So, the start-

 There's me in the Team Stoned Fish jersey, no 143.

It was a mass start, and everyone trundled out of Speech House field and around the corner to the trailhead where we massed back up and awaited the klaxon to go officially at just after 10am. Notice I'm in full bib tights...that was overdressing. I had to stop a couple of miles in and take them off due to overheating. This meant pretty much undressing fully at the side of the trail. Hey ho.
The course was a good mix of fire roads, singletrack and road sections. It was the first time out for me on the freshly built up (from used parts) full suspension Stumpjumper and I noticed the difference on the descents compared to my usual hardtail frame.
About 2 1/2 hours in I stopped to help a guy with a broken chain and also adjust my saddle as I was getting terrible numb wang. After ten minutes of trying to fix his chain with a removed pin I gave him one of my powerlinks. Charlie if you read this I hope you got to the end ok. Shortly after that I began to cramp up in my quads again. Grr.
A walk along a road section eased them a little.
Back in the saddle and after the first checkpoint and food stop I saw race mum and had a quick kiss and dropped off my bib tights. The course forked at this point with the shorter courses bearing off right, and the longer two left.
More pedalling ensued, along with some fun descents and tricky climbs. I next met up with race mum in St. Briavels at which point I was feeling pretty beaten up from the cramp and tiredness. Not even 2/3 of the way through and I was in the doldrums. A stern 'cheer the fuck up' to myself and off I went. As I took the descent to the bottom of Wyegate Hill I heard my name being shouted in a cheering fashion. A quick look and I saw my friends Neil and Debs who live nearby. I have robbed their picture -

The descent was a good one, followed by a climb that ended in walking and pushing up the other side.
I had a good chat with a fellow hubgear fan aboard a Rohloff hub equipped Singular on the ride along the other side, and still the miles continued to roll on. Coming into Newland I stopped to help another bunch of riders who had snapped a chain, yet another powerlink gone but at least they are moving. Pay it forward people.

As the ride went through a relaxing valley I paused by a bridge to have a bite to eat and got a family to snap a picture.

I'm to tired to even suck my gut in! (-:
There were emus wandering about which made it interesting, and the scenery was really pleasant.
Anyway, on with the ride.
It had got to the point of being an endurance challenge and I buddied up with a couple of guys who were also suffering with the cramps. Encouragement and general feelings of comradeship ensued as the three of us carried on. A section of berms and forest singletrack livened up the last few miles and with the cramp kicking in again the finish was in sight.
After a little walking to stretch the muscles I managed to cycle to the finish line and get my cake and coaster, then down a cup of orange squash.

Fantastic.
37 miles done, time somewhere around 5 hours 45 minutes, position somewhere around the back.
Sense of achievement- massive.
Biggest ride time wise to date and what's more I DIDN'T CRASH!!! The trail karma must be looking after me for helping people out.

Race?

Well, despite pulling my back and tethering my sciatic nerve 2 weeks ago, I, and the other 3 members of Team Stoned Fish competed in the 6th Forest of Dean MTB Enduro. Big thanks to my physio for the exercises and pummeling, and to the organisers for putting the event on.
L-R me, JT, JB and Jake
The weather was somewhat inclement, meaning plenty of mud and slarr. The start was a bit frantic as 90odd of us in class set off up the half mile fire road climb, the first part of the 10 mile course designed to spread people out before the forest singletrack.
The large bunch of people meant that the singletrack sections through the forest were slower than I would have liked, and passing chances were limited. Still, passes were made even on some of the climbs where I found grip whilst others were slipping. Also I did some cheeky passes whilst pushing the bike uphill faster than others...
Not far from the end was a nice fast downhill section, the ground was a lot softer than it had been and a root jump nearly had me off into the scenery when the landing slid out form under my tyres. Still it was a good chance to make some ground. Tight left at the bottom and then get the hammer down for the final fire road slog to the finish.
Once through the finish gantry I was met by JT who had finished in fifth. I didn't know my placing, but did know I was hungry. Girlfriends met us and I got some much on and warmed up.
Anyway, after checking times and placings, I had come in 15th, in 1hr 7min 59secs. Properly chuffed. JT came in 5th as mentioned in 1hr 3min 4secs, JB came in 61st in 1hr 26min 32secs after three chain breakages and having to run with the bike the last half mile, Jake came in 76th in 1hr 42min 45secs, impressive considering he had been drafted in to replace someone who had pulled out on us last minute and hadn't been on a bike for 10years!
Good times.