The loneliness of a long distance cyclist
31/05/06 10:02 Posted by: Richard
Being the black sheep of the Kent contingent of the team and not having been invited to the Brighton jaunt I decided to put some lonely hill training in by myself. Our paths would have crossed at some stage as I got as far south as Battle at one stage!!
6 hours....5 x10min stops only ouch...ouch ouch.
As painful as it was it could have been worse, small stack just outside Goudhurst - an amateur rider pulled out on me from his driveway resulting in bent spokes for him and me telling him how beginners should take more care and perhaps he should practice in a car park before venturing on the road.
I forgot to tell him it was my first time out on my new super duper bike too!!!.........Ricardo
6 hours....5 x10min stops only ouch...ouch ouch.
As painful as it was it could have been worse, small stack just outside Goudhurst - an amateur rider pulled out on me from his driveway resulting in bent spokes for him and me telling him how beginners should take more care and perhaps he should practice in a car park before venturing on the road.
I forgot to tell him it was my first time out on my new super duper bike too!!!.........Ricardo
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Thank heavens for the hosepipe ban!
29/05/06 18:06 Posted by: Jimmy
To keep things strictly in chronological order the first day of a three day weekend was not a great training success. Paul was busy enjoying himself at Twickenham watching the premiership final (and no doubt had the odd half of beer). Jimmy was watching the rain fall at Herongate cricket club and doing no exercise at all. At least Gav kept our end up with a local 40 miler.
Sunday Jimmy and Gav set off on a well trodden circular route of about 30 miles. We were simply going to do 2 laps of the course punctuated by a light breakfast at Jimmy's half way round. Would have been fine if we hadn't managed to get involved in the Chelmsford cycling clubs time trial.....these boys were serious competition cyclists and were flying along. Somehow we strayed into their race and the marshals and racers did not like it one bit!! I reckon they were going at least twice our pace and our presence in their midst was about the most embarrassing sporting debacle i have ever been involved with............and just when i was almost ready to call myself a cyclist as well!!!!!!
Today i was due to go out with Gav again as Paul was working (all together now ..."aaahhh!"). Instead of going out early with Gav I thought it would be a good idea to ignore the early fine weather and really wait for the wind to pick up ,the spitting to turn to heavy rain (and later to sleet and hail) and the bank holiday traffic to build up !!!!. At least i cycled quickly because i didn't want to be out there.
With less than one month to go i for one feel fit and strong but still have the problem of no hills to practise on......well unless you include the Bow flyover on my way to work!!
Could also do with some good weather to encourage me on to the bike ........then again THANK HEAVENS FOR THE HOSE PIPE BAN!!
Sunday Jimmy and Gav set off on a well trodden circular route of about 30 miles. We were simply going to do 2 laps of the course punctuated by a light breakfast at Jimmy's half way round. Would have been fine if we hadn't managed to get involved in the Chelmsford cycling clubs time trial.....these boys were serious competition cyclists and were flying along. Somehow we strayed into their race and the marshals and racers did not like it one bit!! I reckon they were going at least twice our pace and our presence in their midst was about the most embarrassing sporting debacle i have ever been involved with............and just when i was almost ready to call myself a cyclist as well!!!!!!
Today i was due to go out with Gav again as Paul was working (all together now ..."aaahhh!"). Instead of going out early with Gav I thought it would be a good idea to ignore the early fine weather and really wait for the wind to pick up ,the spitting to turn to heavy rain (and later to sleet and hail) and the bank holiday traffic to build up !!!!. At least i cycled quickly because i didn't want to be out there.
With less than one month to go i for one feel fit and strong but still have the problem of no hills to practise on......well unless you include the Bow flyover on my way to work!!
Could also do with some good weather to encourage me on to the bike ........then again THANK HEAVENS FOR THE HOSE PIPE BAN!!
Does anybody think this ride will be a breeze?
28/05/06 21:50 Posted by: Phil
Ok 984 miles does sound a lot - especially when going by bike, but take a look at some of what the route has to offer, mad eh! ok then show your appreciation by donating a few extra quid to the good cause.
On day 8 we will have a nice little collection of hillocks includingThe Col D'Izoard. The Col d'Allos and the Col de Vars and yes they are the climbs that they do in the Tour de France
| First up is the Col de Lautaret we tackle this little puppy on day seven. |  |
Next we have a profile of some of the climbs we will do on days 7 and 8 |
On day 8 we will have a nice little collection of hillocks including
and if you want to get from one side of the Alps to the other then you have to go up!
Kent Centurians Blast to the Beacon
28/05/06 21:44 Posted by: Phil
Dan, Mutt and Phil from Team Kent kept the training wheels turning with a 100 mile spin across Kent with the halfway point being at the climb up to Ditchling Beacon 5 miles from Brighton.
A 6:00am start (a time that Phil didn't believe existed) and a good run through a mix of Sunshine and Cloud the route was pretty lumpy with some good testing climbs including the ascent to the Beacon made famous on many London to Brighton Cycle Rides.
Dan enjoyed a 99 at the top although Mutt did try to nick his flake then turn round for the run home, a quick bite to eat and off we went for the 50 return leg.
All done without incident apart from Dan nearly getting taken out by a Deer in Ashdown Forest - could have been messy as we were travelling at 30mph.
No injuries to worry about just a few aches and pains which hopefully will be gone in a day or two.
p.s.. In regard to Nurofen Painkillers - how many is too many?
Dan enjoyed a 99 at the top although Mutt did try to nick his flake then turn round for the run home, a quick bite to eat and off we went for the 50 return leg.
All done without incident apart from Dan nearly getting taken out by a Deer in Ashdown Forest - could have been messy as we were travelling at 30mph.
No injuries to worry about just a few aches and pains which hopefully will be gone in a day or two.
p.s.. In regard to Nurofen Painkillers - how many is too many?
I have got the right funking hump !
23/05/06 19:08 Posted by: Dan
Captains log ......
I have got the right funking hump !
After my poor effort last weekend on the training front , I decided that over the weekend just gone I did have to put some serious mileage in. so I set the alarm for 5 o clock on Saturday and after 1 snooze got up and was out on the bike at 5.30 , and riding towards the top of Wrotham Hill to meet Mutley. I'll admit I wasn't feeling great (sore throat, coughing, sneezing etc) but did feel well enough to do 70 odd miles or so. To cut a long story very short after about 3 hours I couldn't breath properly with getting pains in my back , coupled with the coughing sneezing and sore throat I told Mutley we should head back my way as I really did feel rough !
3 hours later , a funking lot colder and wetter than when I left , I arrived home via the A2 which Mutley said was impossible to avoid !!
My advice to any budding wannabee cyclist would be as follows :
• Avoid motorways! as those lorries are actually quite scary when they hurtle past you at 60 mph and make you, your Lycra and your bike feel pretty vulnerable !
• If you get caught out in hail stones going past brands hatch , just stop find some shelter ! because if you trying to carry on riding in what is almost zero visibility you will come off , and that hurts
• If you feel slightly under the weather stay in bed !
The only positive for me this weekend after 90 miles on Saturday morning was the barrage on insults I hurled at Mutley as I turned right back up Wrotham Hill and he turned left towards Maidstone , it was pretty blue and x rated so for the sake of our younger site visitors I wont go into to much detail, but the general gist was
''stick this bike and this bike ride to Monte Carlo up your funking 4rse''
PS had to go to the doctors today due to being caught out in the aforementioned weather and picking up every kind of infection known to man !! even the female doctor didn't take pity on me and charged me £37.99 for a course of antibiotics , and told me I cant train even at the gym until this chest infection has cleared up
Really beginning to regret saying yes to this stupid ride.
OK that's it from me.
Dan '' I have got the right funking hump'' Cunningham
I have got the right funking hump !
After my poor effort last weekend on the training front , I decided that over the weekend just gone I did have to put some serious mileage in. so I set the alarm for 5 o clock on Saturday and after 1 snooze got up and was out on the bike at 5.30 , and riding towards the top of Wrotham Hill to meet Mutley. I'll admit I wasn't feeling great (sore throat, coughing, sneezing etc) but did feel well enough to do 70 odd miles or so. To cut a long story very short after about 3 hours I couldn't breath properly with getting pains in my back , coupled with the coughing sneezing and sore throat I told Mutley we should head back my way as I really did feel rough !
3 hours later , a funking lot colder and wetter than when I left , I arrived home via the A2 which Mutley said was impossible to avoid !!
My advice to any budding wannabee cyclist would be as follows :
• Avoid motorways! as those lorries are actually quite scary when they hurtle past you at 60 mph and make you, your Lycra and your bike feel pretty vulnerable !
• If you get caught out in hail stones going past brands hatch , just stop find some shelter ! because if you trying to carry on riding in what is almost zero visibility you will come off , and that hurts
• If you feel slightly under the weather stay in bed !
The only positive for me this weekend after 90 miles on Saturday morning was the barrage on insults I hurled at Mutley as I turned right back up Wrotham Hill and he turned left towards Maidstone , it was pretty blue and x rated so for the sake of our younger site visitors I wont go into to much detail, but the general gist was
''stick this bike and this bike ride to Monte Carlo up your funking 4rse''
PS had to go to the doctors today due to being caught out in the aforementioned weather and picking up every kind of infection known to man !! even the female doctor didn't take pity on me and charged me £37.99 for a course of antibiotics , and told me I cant train even at the gym until this chest infection has cleared up
Really beginning to regret saying yes to this stupid ride.
OK that's it from me.
Dan '' I have got the right funking hump'' Cunningham
This is not funny!
15/05/06 17:11 Posted by: Paul
Dan's training update
15/05/06 14:21 Posted by: Dan
Just wanted to say something about my training this weekend.
Well to be honest it was non existent!!! . I trained hard last week in the gym, but by Friday lunch time came it was all play and no work !
Went out in Windsor clubbing till 4 , got up at 7 and got a lift down to Cardiff where the drinking continued until the early hours of Sunday morning as I tried to black out the fact West Ham came within 4 mins of lifting the F.A Cup. Instead I woke up Sunday morning and the reality was still there ......WE WERE ROBBED AGAIN BY THE SCOUSERS BUT THIS TIME IT WASN'T A CAR STEREO IT WAS THE OLDEST AND MOST FAMOUS CLUB TROPHY IN THE WORLD !!!!
Absolutely gutted.
Anyway I have dried my eyes , and am back on the training starting now as I send this and wander over the road to Bannatynes gym !
39 days to go .................
Well to be honest it was non existent!!! . I trained hard last week in the gym, but by Friday lunch time came it was all play and no work !
Went out in Windsor clubbing till 4 , got up at 7 and got a lift down to Cardiff where the drinking continued until the early hours of Sunday morning as I tried to black out the fact West Ham came within 4 mins of lifting the F.A Cup. Instead I woke up Sunday morning and the reality was still there ......WE WERE ROBBED AGAIN BY THE SCOUSERS BUT THIS TIME IT WASN'T A CAR STEREO IT WAS THE OLDEST AND MOST FAMOUS CLUB TROPHY IN THE WORLD !!!!
Absolutely gutted.
Anyway I have dried my eyes , and am back on the training starting now as I send this and wander over the road to Bannatynes gym !
39 days to go .................
Jimmy's training weekend
15/05/06 10:46 Posted by: Jimmy
Friday 12th May - intensive training at lords, mainly concentrating on the calves and quads (running up and down the stairs to the bar!)
Saturday 13th May - endurance training......trying to get used to long periods in the saddle by lounging about in a stretch limo en route to Cardiff for the FA Cup final. After several hours it really becomes very hard leaning forward for another can of red stripe!!!
Sunday 14th May - recovery!
Back to proper fitness regime after this weekends jolly up ....... cycling to and from the city tomorrow.
Saturday 13th May - endurance training......trying to get used to long periods in the saddle by lounging about in a stretch limo en route to Cardiff for the FA Cup final. After several hours it really becomes very hard leaning forward for another can of red stripe!!!
Sunday 14th May - recovery!
Back to proper fitness regime after this weekends jolly up ....... cycling to and from the city tomorrow.
A few more images from the Kent 100 ride.
12/05/06 09:17 Posted by: Phil
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Many thanks to Moe Kafer for allowing us to use these images. Moe Kafer is a London-based photographer specialising in food, travel, portraiture & photo essays. You can find more of her work by following this link.
Where's Mutley?
10/05/06 17:17 Posted by: Phil
Five go miles in Kent
08/05/06 10:47 Posted by: Paul
Despite the weather forecast predicting heavy rain, 100% of Team Essex and 50% of Team Kent (Mutt & Rich wimped out) met at Tonbridge at 7.30am on Sunday to take part in the Kent 100 miler.
After a delayed start (queue for the loo) we set off and despite a couple of punctures, people forgetting to unclip their feet when stopping and Gav getting run into a hedge, we completed the ride late afternoon in good spirits and without too much in the way of collateral damage.
Main observation of the day: Kent has hills, Essex doesn't!
* for those of us that rode the whole route, that is.
Less than 8 weeks till the off!
04/05/06 15:41 Posted by: Paul
Got out for about 60 miles on Saturday with Gav, and did about 40 last night, which included nearly getting ran into by two deers!
Bought stuff in to work today, so can cycle in tomorrow morning. Not sure of the route yet, but will leave home about 6.15am to allow for getting lost. Should (In theory) only take about 90 mins, but we'll see!!
Bought stuff in to work today, so can cycle in tomorrow morning. Not sure of the route yet, but will leave home about 6.15am to allow for getting lost. Should (In theory) only take about 90 mins, but we'll see!!
The first big test
04/05/06 15:17 Posted by: Phil
G and Moo put the support vehicle through some early season testing
04/05/06 15:08 Posted by: Moo + G
Essex boys take a commanding lead
02/05/06 12:10 Posted by: Gavin
Spoke to Dulieu last night and the Essex Boys are out for a "training ride" on Saturday. Have not sorted out a route yet, but thought we could start about 11ish at the Green Man.
We thought we may start a bit later this week after Dulieu came a cropper due to a lethal combination of dew, speed and a tricky mini roundabout at Ingrave (Sorry mate, but your probably not the first and wont be the last. I expect the abuse back with interest when I have my maiden chin scraper).
Jim, I gather you may have finally got yourself a bike, if it has not been delivered yet the offer of the unicycle still stands.
We thought we may start a bit later this week after Dulieu came a cropper due to a lethal combination of dew, speed and a tricky mini roundabout at Ingrave (Sorry mate, but your probably not the first and wont be the last. I expect the abuse back with interest when I have my maiden chin scraper).
Jim, I gather you may have finally got yourself a bike, if it has not been delivered yet the offer of the unicycle still stands.
Every 'off' deserves to be punished
01/05/06 10:42 Posted by: Paul
By the way, had my first "off" at the weekend!
Took a mini roundabout a bit too quick. The road was greasy and my bike ended up sliding away from underneath me!
Bit shaken up, but like the true pro I intend to become, I wiped the dirt out of my eyes, waved away offers of assistance from concerned motorists, climbed back on my bike and cycled a further 30 miles to punish myself for being careless.
Took a mini roundabout a bit too quick. The road was greasy and my bike ended up sliding away from underneath me!
Bit shaken up, but like the true pro I intend to become, I wiped the dirt out of my eyes, waved away offers of assistance from concerned motorists, climbed back on my bike and cycled a further 30 miles to punish myself for being careless.
The boys go through some of the finer points during the first meeting of the Ride Planning Sub Committee
01/05/06 09:10 Posted by: Phil
