Monday 2 May Early blast to Belvoir

Belvoir Castle

Had a 6am start for a 70 mile ride out to Belvoir Castle via Terrace Hill which is included in Simon Warren's 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs  Martin, a Beeston CC member joined me on the ride.  A stiff easterly breeze made hard work of the ride out to Terrace Hill, which in its self wasn't a tough challenge, certainly easier than the likes of Holly Lane.  But given the fact that there are no real climbs in the Vale of Belvior region its worthy of a mention in Simon's book, it is also the home of Beeston CC's hill climbing champs.

On to Belvoir (with a slight detour due to mapping a private road on the gps) things were begining to warm up after a bright but chilly start.  Stopped near the castle for a brief photo shoot and snack before heading for home with that stiff wind now behind us.   The route home is a little snakey through built up areas, but there is no 'scenic' route back to Beeston from east of Nottingham but this didn't detract from a fantastic ride.

The legs felt good today, definately my best ride of the year so far, got home after 71.6 miles and the legs still wanted to go, really impressed with how it went.  Martin made good company too.  Today by 0.2 miles was my longest of the year to date, this ride also took my weekly mileage to 170, a big week by my standards.  Today courtesy of the tailwind and my TT mode ride home through Beeston I was Fabian Cancellara!

View over the Vale of Belvoir

Distance = 71.6 miles
Time = 4 hrs 36 mins
Ave Speed = 15.5 mph
Top Speed = 34.6 mph
Hillometer =29.9 ft/mile
Max H/R =185
Ave H/R =138

Weather = Sunny, 14c

2011
Road Bike =773.3
Single Speed =31.9
Indoor = 44.4
Total Mileage = 849.6

*edited to include s/s trip to pub!

Friday 29th April - Carsington

Took a very hilly ride into the Peak with some @beestoncc club mates this morning, the route took in my usual hilly ride hills of Cloves, Spanker, Holly Lane and Drum Hill, it also included a good few more climbs around Wirksworth as well.  Some tough climbs indeed, Holly still my least favourite hill felt a little easier today, still bloody hard though.  The descent into Wirksworth was a little hairy, especially when the back wheel locked up when faced with an oncoming car on my side of the road!  I've never been to Wirksworth before and will be making a return trip with Mrs H, a very nice looking place.  The hill out of it wasn't so nice, well it was but it just went on and on ;)  By the time we reached Carsington Water we were in need of some snacks.

The ride home from Carsington was a quick one in most parts, much easier than the one we had on the way out and a suspect a little wind assisted, we were pushing 25mph+ on the flat for large sections of the way home.  Only Eaton Bank and Drum Hill slowed our progress home.  Got in feeling like a good workout was had, now off to prepare the bbq and drink a few well earned beers!





Distance = 58.8 miles
Time = 4 hrs 16 mins
Ave Speed = 13.8 mph
Top Speed = 36.5 mph
Hillometer =84.5 foot/mile
Max H/R =195
Ave H/R =157

Weather = Overcast/Sunny, 15c


2011
Road Bike =701.7
Single Speed = 25.3
Indoor = 44.4
Total Mileage = 771.4

Tuesday 26th April *Time Trial

@beestoncc 's first TT of the year and I had the dubious honour of kicking proceedings off for 2011, the proud wearer of  #101 didn't do it real justice with a sluggish 31:26 for the lumpy 10 mile course.  On refelction the time isn't too bad considering it was my first attempt this year and the fact that I'm not exactly in a fit state or shape for time trialing.

Beeston CC TT webpage

Stats include ride to and from TT

Distance = 32 miles
Time = 1 hrs 51 mins
Ave Speed = 17.2 mph
Top Speed = 31.5 mph
Hillometer = N/A
Max H/R = N/A
Ave H/R = N/A

Weather = Overcast, 11c


2011
Road Bike = 642.9
Single Speed = 25.3
Indoor = 44.4
Total Mileage = 712.6

Tuesday 26th April *Singlespeed

Took a ride out to and around Attenborough Nature Reserve on the singlespeed with the children, a very pleasant ride was had by all.  Was very nice to get out on a steady roll with the children and remind myself of the family aspect of cycling, I really should partake much more often.

Distance = 6.2 miles

2011
Road Bike = 610.9
Single Speed = 25.3
Indoor = 44.4
Total Mileage = 680.6

New Birds

We recently lost all our bantams to the dirty paws of the local foxes (I will be dealing with them), so have had a bit of a rethink and a shuffle round of our poultry assetts.  Due to the allotment going and space needed at home the old bantam runs have been taken down and returned to garden space.  The ageing flock of chickens was ready for some younger blood but I was going to wait for another couple to 'pop' off before getting some new ones as we had the bantams laying as well.

I got chatting to a colleague at work who happens to live a few doors down from us who said he had a couple of  9 week old sussex chicks I could have as he hasn't the room for them, problem is he didn't know what sex they were, well I went for a look and couldn't tell either.  The fact that he was offering them for nowt and that I'd just lost my back up supply of eggs from the bantams I took them both on the basis that they could both be hens, if not I know a place that will take them of my hands, but it's worth taking the chance given that I needed some new blood in the flock anyway.

9 week old Sussex's

Home Growing

Not a new thing to me but something that now needs more thought than previously as space is now at a premium now the allotment has gone.  Last year the garden was neglected as the allotment took over my time, so it's been hard graft to get the garden back into shape. 

Took a final trip to the allotment on Saturday to empty my shed and bring a few plants and trees home from plot 71.  I've created a couple of new growing areas in the garden and given the existing veg plot a good digging over,  Gooseberry's and raspberry's have been planted along with some rhubarb (all from the allotment), one of my favourites the courgette is planted out and seeds aplenty have been sown, salad stuff and veg!

Veg plot, beyond No 11's Gate

Kelly's strawberries have been tidied up and are looking very healthy with plenty of flowers on them so here's hoping for plenty of fruit from them.  Staying with fruit an apple and a pear tree have been relocated to my garden as well.

*Beyond No. 11's Gate ~ I needed a gate to keep the chickens off the veg plot as they are very destructive on nicely dug soil, on my quest for a gate I was given an old gate by Kelly's grandma which used to stand at the the front of her garden, its only a gate but it's old and full of character, they certainly don't make them like that any more!