Wednesday 30 June 2010

Wednesday 30th June *Road*

Woke up this morning feeling the effects of a bad throat coming on, great! 12 days to go until c2c, lets hope it passes by pretty quickly.  Whilst writing bad throat on my twitter feed it made me think whats the difference between a bad throat or a cold to a 'virus', athletes and other sports people have 'virus's' us mere mortals have a good old common cold or sore throat.  Perhaps I'm think it wrong maybe I do have a 'virus' would that make me an athlete?

Any hoo with the thought of an impending 'virus' and the c2c I scaled back my plans for today a little and partook in a 43 mile bimble round the old favourite, Castle Donington, Melbourne, Ticknall, Newton Solney, Repton, Foremark, Ingleby, Swarkestone, Weston, Aston, Elvaston, Risley route.  Didn't push anything hard today although I did try to maintain a good tempo on the hills with good effect, I could however feel the effects of the 'virus' ..... sorry, bad throat/cold.

That's it for this week 140 miles in the bank.  New BB fitted yesterday and a new wheel set to be purchased tomorrow and fitted Friday.  After numerous good reports from Beeston CC   I have decided to go for the Mavic Aksiums.  Once fitted I'll have a few shorter easy tempo runs next week to bed them in, fingers crossed there will be no problems.

Todays Route

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com


Distance = 43.4 miles
Time = 2 hrs 36 mins
Ave Speed = 16.6 mph
Top Speed = 37.6 mph
Hillometer = 39.7 ft/mile

Weather = Sunny, 25c

2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 1784.1
Total Mileage = 1873.3

Tuesday 29 June 2010

Coming on nice

The chicks are 4 and a half weeks old now and coming on very well, surprising how quick they grow, mum must be looking after them well.

Looks like we have a cock and two hens judging by the prominent comb on one of them.  Really pleased with our first effort, it was always the intention to let nature take it's course as much as possible, and hasn't mother nature done a great job!

Monday 28 June 2010

Monday 28th June *Road*

Another great ride with Aiden today, 50 miles into North Leicestershire in hot conditions.  The legs still felt a little stiff from yesterdays hills and the headwind on the way home did us no favours.  At the 40 mile mark Aiden's legs started to feel it, 40 is his maximum mark since his big accident last year and in today's conditions it was no disgrace at all.  The last 10 miles included a naughty gradual climb to Risley followed by the rewarding drop down Risley Lane into Breaston.

Glad to be of assistance to Aiden's recovery and taking him over 50 miles today for the first time since the infamous accident, this is fun!

Route as below except we added Draycott - Risley & Breaston to the end before heading home through L/E.

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Now the bad news, well not so bad as I was having it replaced anyway before the c2c just to be safe..... the bottom bracket is making tell tale grinding and clunking noises, so it's into TS Bikes tomorrow for a new BB and a quick once over.

 
Distance = 50.0 miles
Time = 3 hrs 03 mins
Ave Speed = 16.4 mph
Top Speed = 33.6 mph
Hillometer = 24.5 ft/mile

Weather = Sunny, 25c

2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 1740.7
Total Mileage = 1829.9

Sunday 27 June 2010

Sunday 27th June *Road*

Hills were the order of the day today, Cloves, Spanker, Holly & Drum all on the agenda in a ride that amassed 4281 ft of climbing.  At no point did I feel in trouble which is encouraging, the bottom of Holly Lane for those who know it was of course tough but once past that steepest section its just a case of getting comfy and turning the pedals for the rest of the climb.

It was an early start , at 06:15 when I left the house it was already 18c by the time I got home it was 24c

Added a loop to the end not shown on the map that took in Stanton on the way home as the legs still felt pretty good after Drum Hill.




View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com


Distance = 48.2 miles
Time = 3 hrs 17 mins
Ave Speed = 14.7mph
Top Speed = 35.4 mph
Hillometer = 88.8 ft/mile

Weather = Sunny, 23c

2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 1690.7
Total Mileage = 1779.9

Saturday 26 June 2010

First Harvest Box


Pulled a few onions and early potatoes up today with young Roberts assistance, hopefully the first of many boxes I'll be taking home this year

c2c, two weeks to go

Well this was what this is all about, me and the bike, west to east, across England.  Dad's coming with me which will provide any motivation required at any low points, although I must say I am feeling confident that it will be achieved.   I feel ready to go, we leave Sunday afternoon (11th July) ready to start the ride on Monday morning, Dad has booked a Youth Hostel 1/2 way with a private room and shower (didn't know such luxuries were available in youth hostels).

All that's left is some gentle training, got a hilly ride planned for tomorrow morning , taking it easy for the next two weeks as the last thing I need is to be carrying an injury over the Pennines.

All you need to do now is visit my Just Giving page and pledge a few quid ;)

Friday 25 June 2010

Friday 25th June *Road*

I am not a keen time trialist nor do I think I ever will be, which would explain why I am so happy with breaking the 1/2 hr barrier for a 10 mile TT. I occasionally use the TT circuit just as a measure on how I'm improving. I don't enjoy going 'balls out' for half an hour, it just doesn't give me much pleasure. So the time........... 29:48 a long way off a good time but it'll do for me, 1st of 2010 targets crossed off the list.

Distance = 30.5 miles (included 10 mile TT)
Time = n/a
Ave Speed = n/a
Top Speed = 33.0 mph
Hillometer = n/a

Weather = Sunny Spells, 23c

2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 1642.5
Total Mileage = 1731.7

Thursday 24 June 2010

Thursday 24th June 2010

It's been a while since I headed Repton way so I was pleasantly surprised with the amount my fitness seems to have improved since I did this route, the hill out of Kegworth normally tackled in the 30-24 rings was taken on with relative ease in the 39-26, wow! I didn't have to drop it into the 'granny' ring, the next hill at Breedon was a similar story, I could sense a 50 mile PB here and it wasn't a flat course!

The remainder of the ride was pleasant and at a good pace (around 19mph ave) and at no point was it uncomfortable, at the 50 mile point I took just over a minute off my PB and added half a mile to the 3hr distance PB. All in all an excellent ride, must do the 50 mile flatter route soon and see if I can bring it in under 2, 3/4 hrs, for now though I have my sights set on a 10 mile TT PB tomorrow.

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Distance = 53.5 miles
Time = 3 hrs 02 mins
Ave Speed = 17.7 mph
Top Speed = 36.5 mph
Hillometer = 29.5 ft/mile

Weather = Overcast, 21c

2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 1612
Total Mileage = 1701.2

Tuesday 22 June 2010

Monday 21st June *Road*

Caught up with an old friend yesterday, it's about a year since I last rode with Aiden, since then he's broken his back in an MTB accident and is now on the road to recovery and the Road is now his preferred method of cyclecise. I headed to his place for a gentle spin round Burton, or so I thought, Aiden introduced me to Greysich Hill, thanks mate! What a testing little climb that is, one to add to my future routes.

It was a steady 40 miles in which Aiden proved his recovery is well on track, he certainly wasn;t the the slouch he thought he was. The ride itself was very pleasant with a few climbs, but the steady pace didn't push me too much so it was comfortable all the way really, apart from Greysich which was only 3 or 4 miles into the ride so the legs hadn't warmed up by that point.

Same time next week but at my place, I'll show Aiden 50 miles of Leicestershire this time.



Distance = 39.8 miles
Time = 2 hrs 36 mins
Ave Speed = 15.3 mph
Top Speed = 37.3 mph
Hillometer = 52.5 ft/mile

Weather = Sunny, 23c

2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 1558.5
Total Mileage = 1647.7

Friday 18 June 2010

Friday 18th June *Road*

Didn't set out to attack the hilly route today but on the climb out of Sandiacre the legs felt good, I fancied a PB :) I paced myself up No Mans Lane (Stanton) so as not to burn out early and the ride was steady to Cloves, this I pushed a little harder than usual and felt good at the top, things were going really well now.

The sky was looking gloomy ahead but not to threatening or so I thought, just as I pass the sign for Morley wallop, the sky's opened.... OK I can cope with this, it's not enough yet to spoil the descent from Cloves and I can cope with this up to the top of Drum, I'm figuring the rain will keep things cooler. So long as the roads are dry through Stanton it'll be OK.

Felt good up drum as well and the time was looking good, the PB was on, just need dry roads for the drops through Dale Abbey and Stanton. Cat & Fiddle Lane was a breeze, well it's not the hardest of hills is it but the rain was not easing, in fact the roads and I were well and truly soaked.

Had to take it easy into Dale Abbey and down No Mans Lane as well as round the golf course at Stanton, this could ruin the PB, gave it full TT mode through Stapleford, too much, Toton Lane had to paced I'd TT'd a little too much, drop into Toton, full gas again, pulled up at the lights (my finish line) and anxiously looked at the computer............1hr 50mins 27 secs, YES! another 2 minutes off my PB and it could have been quicker with dry roads, well pleased with todays effort :)

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Distance = 30.1 miles
Time = 1 hrs 51 mins
Ave Speed = 16.1 mph
Top Speed = 37.2 mph
Hillometer = 39.0 ft/mile

Weather = Rain, 16c

2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 1518.7
Total Mileage = 1607.9

Thursday 17 June 2010

Caught up with the weeds....for now

Well it's took nearly two weeks to catch up on a weeks worth of weed growth, but we are there at last. Got more stuff out of the greenhouse into the ground as well as tomatoes, cucumber & melons all in position inside the greenhouse. Everything seems to be filling out and shooting up now so visually the plot is changing by the day...........exciting times now waiting to see what we get from the ground



Wednesday 16 June 2010

Wednesday 16th June *Road*

Took the 57 mile route to Hoby again, cracking little ride with some nasty bits depending on the wind direction, and yes the wind provided some naughty bits. Pretty much all the way between Hoby and Wartnaby (Six Hills Lane) is a pig with any easterly wind, slight incline all the way into a headwind, really knocks the ave speed down.

You are then rewarded though with a wind assist blast along Six Hills Lane and then down into Old Dalby, that certainly lets you get some life back into those tired legs. The way home was pretty much wind assisted right to Kegworth where the turn for home puts it in your face again.

Ride was tough at times, grinding away into a headwind is never pleasant.

View Interactive Map on MapMyRide.com

Distance = 57.0 miles
Time = 3 hrs 26 mins
Ave Speed = 16.5 mph
Top Speed = 37.9 mph
Hillometer = 34.8 ft/mile

Weather = Sunny, 18c

2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 1488.6
Total Mileage = 1577.8

Sunday 13 June 2010

Sunday 13th June *Road*

I didn't realise but it's 3 weeks since my last ride, one holiday lots of wines and food in France and I'm feeling a little on the 'port' side, surprisingly though I actually managed to loose weight on holiday???

Any how what better way to get back in the swing than over 5000 ft of ascending over 68 miles. The pace was steady as both myself and Ian were both easing ourselves back after our respective holidays to France.

After a short delay waiting under the canopy at our meeting point whilst a heavy shower passed we were away, it was nice to ride with fresh legs as we headed out on the 'hilly route' to Cloves. Cloves was done with quite easily and then onto Holbrook with its steady climb into and through the village, the hills kept coming as we passed Keddleston Hall and continued to Ashbourne.

Felt good all the way apart from a little dip at around 50 miles, a sugar intake solved that though. Drum was tough after 54 miles of hills but accomplished in good time.

Now sat here with the familiar feeling of a few miles in the legs, I forgot how good it feels :)





Distance = 68.1 miles
Time = 5 hrs 0 mins
Ave Speed = 13.5 mph
Top Speed = 40.3 mph
Hillometer = 79.8 ft/mile

Weather = Overcast, 12c

2010
MTB = 89.2
Road Bike = 1431.6
Total Mileage = 1520.8

Club Politics

After a couple of days to think this over I am ready to offer my views of recent goings on at BeestonCC, perhaps this would be best done privately but seeing as it seems to be the done thing to air your views and slate the committee and its members in public I shall make my comments here.

Recently our club website had to take a change of direction due to the fact that the chap looking after it had heavy work commitments, fair play! He had done a great job with the site despite offering great improvements without actually delivering them. I for one am very appreciative of the work he did do though, not my cup of tea but it served the club well.

As mentioned we needed to create a new web home for the club for the above reasons, as far as I and the rest of the committee were concerned we needed to move quickly, so I offered a temporary solution , a new website with a forum attached to it. As far as the forum/blog debate goes I think the club is split 50/50 on that matter. Now I have professed to be a web designer and the remainder of the committee were well aware of this.

Our new sites life started very suddenly and abruptly due the url being switched over without notice, I had asked for an agreed time scale and switch over time so the change over could be better planned, but as it was I receive a phone call at work saying what's happened to the website? I'm stuck at work not being able to do a thing about it.

After a week or two we receive constructive criticism from a member which we took on board and considered what had been said with future improvements in mind. Before these improvements are made I need to know what the club members want from the blog so on numerous occasions I have asked for comments, especially from one sector of the club who seem reluctant to use the forums, from this select group of members I have heard nothing, how can I help if there is no feedback?

Then I hear that the chap who pulled out of running the website (and also resigned from the clubs committee last year) has made a public blog post openly criticising the clubs web site and forum and seemingly drumming up support for his case to take over the management of the site again. Now this is fine by me if he wants it back, saves me the hassle to be quite honest. What is not fine is the way he has done it.

This should be a matter for the club's committee to deal with, he should have approached another committee member rather than throwing it in the open, as it stands I don't even think he has officially approached the clubs committee.

This is a man who founded the club along with two other chaps, and I am so glad they did and must thank him for his part in that, he also served on the committee for a year. He then resigned from the committee, surely at this point he relinquished any right he had to say how the club is ran, this is why clubs have committee's, otherwise we would constantly find ourselves in the situation we have now. I have genuine fears that this could split the club, if it does then at least I can hold my head high in the knowledge that I did my best for the club and I was not the one to create what could ultimately prove to be a divisive situation.

I was hoping in the cold light of day I may have received an apology for the fact that the blame for what he thinks is damaging the club was laid firmly on my doorstep, it was stated that he "stood back whilst I threw all his hard work away". One... You stood back, hence giving up any right you have to manage the club. Two.... I personally have thrown nothing away.

This whole episode has caused me come to the decision to resign from the committee when my term is over, I would like to continue to help the club by staying on as a non exec Membership Secretary and helping look after the web side of things if the committee wants me to.

I don't need this hassle, and it's only my love for the club that is stopping me pulling the plug on the website without notice (well it wouldn't be the first time that's happened hey) and resigning from the committee with immediate effect. I stood for 12 months though, I am a man of my word and would like to serve those 12 months.

These are just my personal thoughts and should be taken as anything more than that.