I have been enjoying the lack of an alarm clock over the last week along with the late August sunshine. We had decided to catch up with all the gardening that had been neglected because of cricket and cycling. I have missed the gym at work but rest plays a big part in any training schedule so I don’t feel guilty.
Training for the BIBB Challenge is coming on nicely. Simon Smith and I rode on Friday lunchtime around the Garsington loop; we refer to this affectionately as the Vom Ride. Each lap is 3.75 miles long and includes a three tier climb followed by a nice descent, until this point we hadn’t broken 12 minutes but today was to be different. Two moderate warm up laps saw us ready to put in a max effort for the last lap, our plan was to swap the lead at given points and draft on the flat bits. Simon is a great climber in the saddle, his running fitness is outstanding and he pushes me harder than I could go on my own.
The last lap was hateful, Simon led out and I felt comfortable drafting him, my turn to lead came too soon, it was a different kettle of fish in front. The outward leg is always windy and there is a certain relief about getting out of it behind the leading rider. I pressed 23 mph which dwindled a bit until Simon took over the front again. Air was obviously out of fashion judging by the way I was trying to suck it in. By the time I had recovered it was my turn in front, the speed had dropped to 21mph and I was happy to see the turning to Garsington.
There was a brief respite and then the hill began. The climb comes in 3 sections and really gets the lungs working. Rising bile threatened to ruin my jersey but I somehow held onto lunch. I guess the trick is to save a bit of energy to kick off the top and start building momentum for the downhill section. I’m not the best downhill rider out there as I have no wish to end up in a heap in a ditch, for a split second the thought of falling off at 40mph entered my head and there was a slight wobble. The flat came up to meet the front wheel all too quickly and it was back on the power.
I was lagging and struggled to keep up with Simon’s back wheel down the hill, once on the flat I pulled ahead to allow Simon to draft. Simon then showed his class by passing me for the slightly uphill finish by pushing ahead and opening up a gap of 20m. He’d timed it perfectly and clocked 11:04 with me making some ground to finish 11:06. Job done, record smashed, lesson learnt about pacing. Simon is a great training partner; he drags me along towards a better standard and is humble in his approach to training and fitness.
Prior to the Vom Ride, I managed to ride on the previous Wednesday with Spence, Jabba and Elliott for a couple of hours. We scratched our way around the trails of the Ridgeway and were surprised when it began to get dark at 8pm. Spence has a written a blog piece which I have posted below describing the ride, it’s well worth a read. It was great to get out into the countryside, away from everything and just ride socially. Truly time well spent in a hectic world. Living so close to the Ridgeway is a privilege; I need to get out more and do it justice.
Other than that, cycling action has been limited to commutes and reading expensive cycling mags. I have been thinking about what food I will be taking on the 24 hour ride and so far have come up with: Jacket potatoes at the ferry terminals, Jamaica Ginger cake and Malt Loaf for riding plus Waitrose Mini pork pies. I have been trying out an organic energy drink that is supposed to be kinder to the more delicate stomachs that some of us have, but that’s a whole blog post in itself!
So it’s a Wednesday night in late summer; not too warm, not too cold and its dry. I never go out on a school night but this is an exception, I am out on a ride off-road in the Oxfordshire countryside with 3 of the team who rode London Nightrider back in June.
Coxy, Jab and Elliott and I had planned to ride a few trails on a warm Wednesday evening. Elliott is a really promising rider both on and off-road, as well as being a good cricketer and just a nice lad. He told me on the way round that he is going to go to University eventually and become a chartered surveyor!
Anyway, back to the ride or at least to the prep for the ride. I agreed to meet Coxy at 18.00 hours at Steventon Village hall. Coxy said he just needed to get a new tube in his front tyre, get kitted up and we would ride to Lockinge and meet the others. What could possibly go wrong ?
I arrived early as usual; Coxy arrived at 5:55 – all good. Wheel off, tube out, new tube in and inflate. “Coxy how much do you want in this tyre mate?”
“Oh about 60 I reckon”… BANG !!! A noise like a gun-shot echoed around the previously tranquil village hall car park. ”F**k me! I had only got it up to 55 honestly”, I said. Probably not a great experience for someone who suffers from tinnitus! Sorry mate!
“That’s OK I’ve got a spare tube,” said Coxy. We removed the shredded new tube for Coxy to take back to the bike shop and haggle over a replacement for the defective one he had purchased. Tyre fixed, pumped up and ready to go. I let him pump it up just in case!
Without further ado we mounted up and headed up Steventon Hill en-route to Jabs country pile. Got to the top of the hill, right at the lights and who should pass us in the car but Phil Tynan, team leader of a ride that Coxy is undertaking in September for The charity Delete Blood Cancer.
In short it’s a 250 miler in 24 hours: Wantage to The Isle of Wight via the ferry at Lymington, a quick peddle clockwise on the Isle, back across the briney and then ride back to Wantage. Now you know if you didn’t before just why he is known as Mad Dog. The above really just illustrates one reason to be fair. It’s a great charity and if you want to find out more and have a few quid spare visit their fundraising page shown below
Got to the RV with Jab and Elliott to find Jab in a slightly grumpy state of mind after a particularly bad day at work. There was enough steam coming out of his ears to power the Mallard. We set off shortly after Jab’s wife, Rachel, had been stung on the arm by a bee; Jab was looking a tad tetchy at his point – time to go.
Betterton to the Ridgeway via the loose, dry surface, with quite a sharp climb out of Lockinge. Jab on the lead out, Elliot close behind me and Coxy bringing up the rear. We’d both had a little warm up, so soon got in to the rhythm and started feeling good for the hill that lay ahead.
Elliott soon dropped us and powered off ahead. Being the wise old sage that I am, I got on the pedals, head down, arse up and started “embracing the hill”. Soon encountered the loose stuff and managed to keep the traction on right until the top. EH as he will be now known was sat at the top having a look round and a drink of water hardly breathing. I sucked in a couple of big ones and tried not to let on!
Soon after Jab and Coxy arrived up the top. Looked as though Jab’s boiler had gone out a little on the ascent but a quick stoke and some water did the trick.
We all flew down to Worlds End which was hard, fast and bumpy; great fun but you hear the bikes rattling and the pigeons and crows taking flight as we barrelled down to the dip at the bottom of the Long Valley. Jab rides a 29 er and once that gets rolling he just flies along!
We made it unscathed to the Illsley road, crossed over and began the next ascent. Coxy on lead out with EH then Jab and me in the rear gunner seat. Ground up to the top where much to my disgust I found I had got yet (another) puncture in my front wheel! Someone always gets a puncture on this climb, there are a lot of hawthorn and brambles but why always on this section? Puncture located, new slime tube in; seals punctures up to 3 mm but weighs a tonne! Let’s see how we go with these tubes, fingers crossed!
Drinks taken and ready to roll again we soon got through the Bluebell Wood and started to build some speed again on various surfaces including road, loose gravel bridleways and pitted off road footpaths. The going was slightly slippery from the week’s rain showers, not fully drying out under the shade of the overhanging trees and hedges. Add in the odd pile of horse poo plus the stingers hanging across the path and the fun was just beginning.
Jab is in his element going downhill on the rough stuff. When the big old 29ers get rolling momentum just takes over! Riding behind in the fading light my eyes streaming and going flat out, you can see the lines he is taking and can imagine the big smile on his face. ’Embracing the (down) hill!’ Jab used to ride a lot on these lanes in his youth on a 450cc KTM motorbike! Looked to me like he was still riding it!
We got to the bottom of the path and pulled up for a drink. All grinning like idiots and thinking that we were happy to be in one piece with no one taking a tumble. ‘If in doubt go flat out’ always sound like a good mantra but I still think it’s probably just sheer bravado when you really think it through.
Rode through the car park at Bury Down and along the Ridgeway heading West into a bright firey-red sunset. Got off the trail down the steep, rutted, chalky descent back into Hendred that just has to be ridden at the top of the curve; no braking and off the saddle working hard to try and smooth the bumps as much as possible. I love this hill! It’s great for grinding up when you really want to open the lungs out; it’s long and you have to really work at it to keep up an even pace. I know one day that I am going to overcook it and give myself a big scare. Hasn’t happened yet but it will when I get complacent and stop showing it respect.
Getting dark now and it’s not yet 8 o clock. Summer is nearly done for another year, my 48th. It’s fair to say that I have ridden more miles this year than in the previous 47 years both on and off-road and with a great group of people from all walks of life. The common link is that we are all good friends and choose to ride together, not just a physical test of endurance and strength but as an easy form of “mateship” and relaxation. All trying to improve as riders and keep the ageing process at bay for as long as possible.
Up Pinneys Lane and into Ginge slowly winding up the pace; Jab in front and the rest of us riding just on his wheel. It’s funny how the last few miles home get faster and faster, always with a sprint finish but never with any one rider arriving at the finish point without the others. The unwritten rule is upheld as always and we pull off the road back at Jab’s place. A welcome jug of cool iced water is waiting along with some fruit flapjack – lovely! Thanks Rachel.
Coxy and I then hit the road again; lights ablaze, all three of them! Coxy in the ‘lantern rouge’ position and me in front with my rather poor, little flashing white light to guide us home.
It’s properly dark now and we have been out a lot longer than our lovely wives can ever comprehend, so its heads down and pedal as fast as possible. Down the Hendred dip and up the other side on that lovely smooth stretch of new tarmac. Why can’t all the roads be like that ? Flying along down Featherbed Lane and off-road again, much safer and shorter. Passed the reservoir and down the hill into Steventon village.
Typically we get stuck at the level crossing with the 21.12 from Didcot to Bristol Temple Meads passing by at what seemed like 250 miles an hour. Although at this point Coxy was hiding behind the hedge having muttered something about not liking that “scary train s**t noisy stuff!”
Down the Causeway and over the road back to our start point. Relived to see it despite the Steventon massive were in attendance; they were not in the least interested in two middle aged blokes in lycra shaking hands and bidding each other farewell until the next time.
A good ride out with mates and a few more calories expended. Bring on the next ride!
Been a busy weekend working on the September ride logistics and also driving some of the route on Sunday morning.
It wasn’t a great start when I didn’t hear the alarm and jumped out of bed at 7.55am for a 7.50am meet! Phil T picked me up and we met Simon C and Mark P in Grove. With Garmins beeping away, we set off for Lymington via Newbury, Andover, Romford and the New Forrest. This route is fairly well trodden by me (my wife’s aunt lives in New Milton) so I was aware of the climb out of Wantage and Newbury, the rest is flattish with a few bumps. When we arrived at Lymington, we’d clocked 73 miles.
A brief look round the ferry ticket office ended with a visit to Costa coffee next door. With cups in hand we sat outside and watched the latest ferry depart for the island. The Isle of Wight is notoriously hilly and this can be seen from the mainland, 67 miles around doesn’t sound a lot but with 80+ miles already in peoples legs plus the ride back to Wantage the island was going to be tough.
In a bid to add a few more miles to at least one of the routes, we went home via Winchester, Basingstoke and Pangbourne. We clocked 88 miles on the way back but to a man, decided against this route as it was very hilly for a good 25 mile section. This would have been a tough 88 miles in isolation let alone the night-time (and last) leg of the challenge. Mark committed to plotting some other, slightly flatter routes!
Left to Right: Phil Cox, Phil Tynan, Mark Popkiss
All in all, time well spent. We had ruled out one route and also clocked various places where the van could safely stop. The quick look around the ferry terminal was also useful; especially noting the car park seemed very full for a Sunday morning. The scale of this challenge was firmly driven home, no room for complacency or bad planning on this one, time margins are too tight!
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If you liked this blog please take a moment to check out my book describing the solo Land’s End to John O’Groats ride in 2012, all profit from sales to www.criduchat.org.uk
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I recently found out that a local fire-fighter was planning a holiday of a life time with his wife for a 50th birthday celebration; Niagara Falls was one of the places they especially wanted to visit. The only issue being that Jim has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, time suddenly became of the essence.
One of his colleagues, Tony, decided that they had to go on their trip and it had to be soon. He has put together a donation’s page and urged our local community and wider friends to come up with £3,000 in 30 days. You can find out more at:
I was pleased to contribute in a small way and so were many others. The result was that, along with two chunky donations, £3,000 plus was in the pot on day 4!
This is another amazing example of what can be achieved when there is a need; it proves that we are good at doing things which are urgent but not necessarily so good at doing things which are important. Cancer doesn’t go away so I guess we need to keep doing all we can to support those suffering and those trying to find a cure.
To Jim and his wife….fill your (fire-fighters) boots and enjoy a special holiday!
