So Christmas is over again, the mince pies have been dispatched and the weather has returned to normal - wind and rain! The motivation to get out on the bike plummets around this time of year anyway, but the sight and sound of rain splattering against panes of glass makes the process of setting up a turbo session particularly difficult. And it's turbo I'm stuck with until I pick up my rebuilt OpenPro wheels in the next couple of days (unless I want to look like a complete chump cycling round in winter on deep-section Mavic Cosmics). The OpenPro rims had finally got to that stage where they were getting a little worn. I've seen what happens if you let the rims get too worn - a huge explosive 'crack' and a large part of the rim shearing off. Luckily for me I've only seen this happen to other cyclists, and luckily for them it has always been when at a standstill rather than during a 45mph descent.
I managed to get out to Hillingdon on Boxing Day for the 3rds race. The course was pretty wet and a bit muddy (not a great combination) and the racing was quite restrained. A small group got away right at the start and the bunch showed no intention of giving chase, expecting the riders to come back pretty easily. Kudos to the two who stayed away the whole race and to a strong Kingston rider who tried to bridge about halfway through the race. I don't think he quite made it but he did stay away from the bunch to take 3rd place, showing some good determination. I like that kind of riding, it shows the benefits of trying something a bit different. I did my usual thing of sitting in the middle/rear of the bunch for the majority of the race, only trying something with about 6 laps to go (a half-hearted attempt to break with one other Willesden rider). We merely towed the bunch faster until the final lap, but at least it qualified as some sort of workout. I sat up coming up to the line as I was pretty much spent, but not as quickly as one rider, who simply stopped pedalling and sat up in the middle of the final straight, thus going from 30mph to about 10mph in about a second. When will people learn that it is really dangerous to do that? A few extra seconds of half-hearted effort to slow down gradually wouldn't have killed him! I spent most of the race thinking about my position on the bike, which feels a little too 'bunched' - I'll have to experiment with saddle positions over the next few days, perhaps trying to raise and/or move the position back a few mm at a time.
Considering the fact that it was the day after Christmas I'm not surprised the race pace was a little off. I suspect most were feeling like me - too little sleep, too much food and drink. I've certainly done my fair share of TV lounging - biggest hit in our family was The Gruffalo, biggest disappointment was the Royal Family. I used to really enjoy the enforced claustrophobia of watching the family in a single front room (and occasionally the kitchen or the bathroom). The closeness of the family and the lack of distraction (other than the TV, of course) meant the clever script was left to shine. How different it all seemed when they were taken out of their 'home' environment for this episode. The scriptwriting was dreadful too - loads of padding, lots of 'thanks Dave, thanks Jim' cobblers. Dreadful.
We went to see Avatar too over the Christmas hols (in 3D at the HMV Curzon in Wimbledon). The tickets are a little more expensive and the screen smaller than in a multiplex, but there's a bar, you're allowed to take drinks (real drinks) into the cinema and there's a distinct lack of popcorn-chomping, mobile phone checking, loudly commenting viewers. The film was very good - Cameron has created a magical dreamworld in Pandora and it's the first film I've seen where the benefits of the 3D outweigh the drawbacks of wearing uncomfortable glasses. The effects and animation are stunning, the story a little predictable (but that's not the point of the film really). The planet is being mined for Unobtanium - I though that was an Oakley trademark for the grippy material on the nosepieces of their sunglasses! They missed a trick - they could have provided some properly comfortable eyewear for the film!
Got me thinking though ... I wish I had a suitable avatar for racing...
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Nearly Christmas
Christmas cheer is nearly here! Winter has arrived as well, perfectly timed to coincide with my slack cycling period – motivation seems to go out of the window in December. My commute becomes a bit of a trial and I tend to be just about warmed up by the time I arrive at work, which I’m sure does my fitness no good whatsoever. In fact there have only been a few instances when I have pushed myself – mainly on the turbo in the garden doing 2x20 minutes or long steady intervals, and once at the Hillingdon Imperial Winter Series (Race 2). I may go back for more as it’s useful training, but it depends on the weather over the next few weeks.
The race was a typical 3rd Cat affair – not especially fast, the usual Hillingdon wind that made it tough on the front, the usual moaners mid-pack who complained about the slowdown into the wind but made no effort to pull through and do any work, and unfortunately the usual crash. I was glad not to be involved and just managed to avoid the fallout of bikes cartwheeling over the circuit on the final straight, coming in over the line around mid-bunch. Still, first race since breaking my wrist and finger at the beginning of the summer and I felt pretty good at the end. It was the first time I’ve really ridden with any kind of group since June (all my riding has been solo training or with one or two other riders) so, although it took a few laps to get used to the closeness of the bunch, the drafting benefits made it feel pretty easy compared to my usual solo slog out to Chertsey and back (recently there has been a headwind for at least ¾ of the journey).
I’m looking forward to turkey, whisky and chocolates over the next few weeks. I’ll see if the extra mass makes any difference in the New Year!
The race was a typical 3rd Cat affair – not especially fast, the usual Hillingdon wind that made it tough on the front, the usual moaners mid-pack who complained about the slowdown into the wind but made no effort to pull through and do any work, and unfortunately the usual crash. I was glad not to be involved and just managed to avoid the fallout of bikes cartwheeling over the circuit on the final straight, coming in over the line around mid-bunch. Still, first race since breaking my wrist and finger at the beginning of the summer and I felt pretty good at the end. It was the first time I’ve really ridden with any kind of group since June (all my riding has been solo training or with one or two other riders) so, although it took a few laps to get used to the closeness of the bunch, the drafting benefits made it feel pretty easy compared to my usual solo slog out to Chertsey and back (recently there has been a headwind for at least ¾ of the journey).
I’m looking forward to turkey, whisky and chocolates over the next few weeks. I’ll see if the extra mass makes any difference in the New Year!
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Churning away
Finding time to update here is getting harder and harder, what with the combined pressures of work and family. We’re well into the winter illness season now, and the house seems to be forever full of the sounds of coughing, sniffing and sneezing! I’ve amazingly managed to stay illness-free up until now…
Today was supposed to mark the day I am officially discharged off the books from St George’s Hospital, 6 months after breaking my wrist and finger, and just over 4 months after the operation to insert the screw in the scaphoid bone. In fact I need to go back in Feb next year for a CT scan to check that the bone is growing around the fracture - at the moment the screw is holding things together well, so I'm really hoping this is simply a precautionary measure - the consultant seemed pretty pleased with progress. The wrist is still a bit sore, especially in the cold weather, and the mobility is a little reduced. Hitting potholes on the bike also hurts a lot more than it used to.
As far as riding goes, I’ve been churning out to Chertsey on the Dynamo route at least once a week, usually alone. It’s easier not to have to hang around for anyone else at the start, it’s a good workout as a solo ride, I can judge my speed into the roundabouts as I see fit (I like to make sure that the entry is safe, which I feel I cannot do in a group at +25mph in the dark) and, most importantly this time of year, I can make a last-minute decision to go based upon the weather. It is a bit lonely though, and someone remarked that it showed all the signs of someone in triathlon training!!!
Other than that I’ve been following a regular routine of commuting every day and fitting in a couple of turbo sessions each week, aiming mainly at long-ish intervals around the 260W mark. I’m still undecided as to whether to take part in the Hillingdon Winter Series this year. I did a couple of rides last year which I treated as fast training rides – I’m never going to stand much of a chance against Elite and 1st Cats. This year there seems to be the choice of either riding the E123 or doing the 3rds only, which looks like it combines with the 4ths race - usually a recipe for disaster at Hillingdon!
Next project at home – I really need to buy bikes for the kids after Christmas, mainly for short rides on Wimbledon Common. So I’ll be needing to buy a ‘cross bike or a MTB then! And of course there’s the ever-present need to find a house. And no-one’s selling. Frustrating.
Today was supposed to mark the day I am officially discharged off the books from St George’s Hospital, 6 months after breaking my wrist and finger, and just over 4 months after the operation to insert the screw in the scaphoid bone. In fact I need to go back in Feb next year for a CT scan to check that the bone is growing around the fracture - at the moment the screw is holding things together well, so I'm really hoping this is simply a precautionary measure - the consultant seemed pretty pleased with progress. The wrist is still a bit sore, especially in the cold weather, and the mobility is a little reduced. Hitting potholes on the bike also hurts a lot more than it used to.
As far as riding goes, I’ve been churning out to Chertsey on the Dynamo route at least once a week, usually alone. It’s easier not to have to hang around for anyone else at the start, it’s a good workout as a solo ride, I can judge my speed into the roundabouts as I see fit (I like to make sure that the entry is safe, which I feel I cannot do in a group at +25mph in the dark) and, most importantly this time of year, I can make a last-minute decision to go based upon the weather. It is a bit lonely though, and someone remarked that it showed all the signs of someone in triathlon training!!!
Other than that I’ve been following a regular routine of commuting every day and fitting in a couple of turbo sessions each week, aiming mainly at long-ish intervals around the 260W mark. I’m still undecided as to whether to take part in the Hillingdon Winter Series this year. I did a couple of rides last year which I treated as fast training rides – I’m never going to stand much of a chance against Elite and 1st Cats. This year there seems to be the choice of either riding the E123 or doing the 3rds only, which looks like it combines with the 4ths race - usually a recipe for disaster at Hillingdon!
Next project at home – I really need to buy bikes for the kids after Christmas, mainly for short rides on Wimbledon Common. So I’ll be needing to buy a ‘cross bike or a MTB then! And of course there’s the ever-present need to find a house. And no-one’s selling. Frustrating.
Sunday, 25 October 2009
Tifosi completed
Well, I finally finished my winter/commuter bike. It looks (hmmmm) ... sensible. Reliable. Not the most exciting bike ever to be honest. It is fully ready for commuting and dark evening riding - plenty of lights attached, full length mudguards and my old OpenPro wheels - a real trooper of a bike! I'm going to ride it for the first time tomorrow on my commute, so I'm hoping that all the gear indexing, headset adjustment and brake setting I did in the comfort of the home doesn't go wrong on the road. I've put a pair of latex gloves in my rucksack in case I get oily hands from adjusting the chain because - WHAT WAS I THINKING - I've put white bar tape on a winter bike. Actually I messed up the first tape (Fizik black tape) and found out that you can't readjust it without tearing the edges, so the spare Fizik white I had lying around came onto the scene!
Just as I was finishing the bike (and the rest of the family were finishing breakfast) I looked up to see a pigeon fly at speed at our house. It must have been confused by the reflections of the trees in the window. So we were all treated to the sight of a bird dying (luckily quite quickly) from sudden impact in the garden whilst finishing breakfast. The kids were surprisingly sanguine about the whole thing and insisted on accompanying me outside for the burial in a shallow grave in the back garden. My wife and I asked if they wanted to say anything and my daughter suggested that we sing either Happy Birthday or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Hmmm, strange! I got a really horrified look from my wife when I suggested that we could have eaten the pigeon. I don't know why - it looked pretty healthy, and pan-fried with some black pudding and a red wine jus - delicious. But a little insensitive maybe, bearing in mind I would have had to dig it up again! RIP, Mr Pigeon
Just as I was finishing the bike (and the rest of the family were finishing breakfast) I looked up to see a pigeon fly at speed at our house. It must have been confused by the reflections of the trees in the window. So we were all treated to the sight of a bird dying (luckily quite quickly) from sudden impact in the garden whilst finishing breakfast. The kids were surprisingly sanguine about the whole thing and insisted on accompanying me outside for the burial in a shallow grave in the back garden. My wife and I asked if they wanted to say anything and my daughter suggested that we sing either Happy Birthday or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Hmmm, strange! I got a really horrified look from my wife when I suggested that we could have eaten the pigeon. I don't know why - it looked pretty healthy, and pan-fried with some black pudding and a red wine jus - delicious. But a little insensitive maybe, bearing in mind I would have had to dig it up again! RIP, Mr Pigeon
Sunday, 11 October 2009
Under construction
I’ve started to assemble my replacement winter bike. The basis is the Tifosi audax frame in battleship grey – it looks really drab! Oh well, at least it was cheap. I’ve got the 105 groupset along with 3T bars and stem. I’ll be reusing my OpenPro wheels, Shimano Ultegra SPD-SL pedals and Selle Italia SLR XP saddle. It’ll be fitted with full mudguards and I’ll be growing a beard and putting a wicker basket on the front. Rack, panniers, full length frame pump and a map holder. Are you allowed to race with a whicker handlebar basket?
So far it’s been reasonably easy to assemble. The only tricky bit (yet to do) is to cut down the carbon steerer on the front fork. I know, I know – measure three times, cut once. I’ve also had to order long-reach brakes (should have thought that one out before I ordered the 105 group) so will be eBaying the original brakes.
I did my first session in ages on the turbo as well last Sunday, which I really enjoyed. The break from something that seemed to be my nemesis for most of the summer has served me well and I hit the intervals with a new-found enthusiasm. I’m thinking of doing fewer long, steady rides over the winter and trying to fit in a quality turbo session each weekend. It allows for more time with the family and can be done at any time of the day (I hate early starts on winter weekends). Doing the intervals is really good for judging my RPE too, because the kids come out and talk to me. So I can gauge how hard I am going (without looking at the Powertap) by seeing if I can explain why it is fair for them to have different toys and no, the TV remote should not be controlled solely by my daughter in a) paragraphs, b) sentences, c) phrases or d) frantic finger-wagging and gasps!
I’ll post some pictures of the new bike next time – hopefully I will be using it for the commuting in a week or so, and my old Scott will be consigned to turbo-only duty.
So far it’s been reasonably easy to assemble. The only tricky bit (yet to do) is to cut down the carbon steerer on the front fork. I know, I know – measure three times, cut once. I’ve also had to order long-reach brakes (should have thought that one out before I ordered the 105 group) so will be eBaying the original brakes.
I did my first session in ages on the turbo as well last Sunday, which I really enjoyed. The break from something that seemed to be my nemesis for most of the summer has served me well and I hit the intervals with a new-found enthusiasm. I’m thinking of doing fewer long, steady rides over the winter and trying to fit in a quality turbo session each weekend. It allows for more time with the family and can be done at any time of the day (I hate early starts on winter weekends). Doing the intervals is really good for judging my RPE too, because the kids come out and talk to me. So I can gauge how hard I am going (without looking at the Powertap) by seeing if I can explain why it is fair for them to have different toys and no, the TV remote should not be controlled solely by my daughter in a) paragraphs, b) sentences, c) phrases or d) frantic finger-wagging and gasps!
I’ll post some pictures of the new bike next time – hopefully I will be using it for the commuting in a week or so, and my old Scott will be consigned to turbo-only duty.
Monday, 21 September 2009
Tour of Britain
I managed to persuade one of my sons to come with me to watch the final stage of the Tour of Britain on Saturday. The weather was great and I only had to use mild bribery to get him to come with me – “You’ll be watching some of the fastest men on bikes in the world. And I’ll bring snacks”.
So we set off on Saturday lunchtime for Waterloo, my son carrying his Mr Men book for the journey, and me carrying my backpack containing one sunhat, one waterproof rain coat, two packets of crisps (cheese and onion), two large sausage rolls, one chicken, bacon and sweetcorn sandwich, four digestive biscuits, four bourbon biscuits, one litre of water, two carrots, 200g of Japanese rice crackers, two Pepperamis, one Lucozade Sport and one can of Diet Coke. Enough for at least a couple of hours (my son is like the Hungry Caterpillar)!
We watched about half the race from the Embankment, alternating between the birdseye view from Hungerford Bridge and the street level view. It was great to see the Embankment closed to traffic for a change – the city actually felt reasonably peaceful for a change (apart from the 20 or so support cars bombing past every lap).
After about 5 laps my son started to get a little bored, so I suggested that we go to the park instead for a bit. As we walked up towards the finish line (at the 200m to go sign) my son spotted the giant TV screen. Now this was different – watching live was OK, but getting to watch the race on a giant telly – amazing! Unfortunately he couldn’t see unless I held him up, so I spent the second half of the race straining to hold him high enough that he could see whilst still leaning forwards far enough that I could see the bunch approaching. The pumping dance music and loud commentary kept my son’s attention enough that we stayed to the end to see the Barloworld rider Merlo win the sprint finish (I saw it live, my son saw it second hand on the giant telly, which he didn’t take his eyes off despite the peloton speeding by every lap)!
I got some pictures just before the start and during one of the breakaways (the Geoffroy Lequatre one) which I’ve posted on the right hand side of this page.
We had a great day out. My son described it thus to my wife:
Wife: “Hi Arun, how was your day then?”
Arun: “Great”
Wife: “What did you get up to?”
Arun: “Great things”
That’s it! Only topped by the discussion the two of us had on the bus on the way home:
Me: “So Arun, did you enjoy the race?”
Arun: “Yes, it was great. I liked the snacks. Dad, who won?”
Me: “Well, a man called Boassen Hagen won overall, and the sprint today was won by an Italian rider but I can’t remember his name”
Arun: “Probably David Beckham, or something?”
Me: “Yeah, something like that!”
Tomorrow marks a momentous day - I can officially race as a Vet! I think it is fair to say that I will be feeling my age the day after...
So we set off on Saturday lunchtime for Waterloo, my son carrying his Mr Men book for the journey, and me carrying my backpack containing one sunhat, one waterproof rain coat, two packets of crisps (cheese and onion), two large sausage rolls, one chicken, bacon and sweetcorn sandwich, four digestive biscuits, four bourbon biscuits, one litre of water, two carrots, 200g of Japanese rice crackers, two Pepperamis, one Lucozade Sport and one can of Diet Coke. Enough for at least a couple of hours (my son is like the Hungry Caterpillar)!
We watched about half the race from the Embankment, alternating between the birdseye view from Hungerford Bridge and the street level view. It was great to see the Embankment closed to traffic for a change – the city actually felt reasonably peaceful for a change (apart from the 20 or so support cars bombing past every lap).
After about 5 laps my son started to get a little bored, so I suggested that we go to the park instead for a bit. As we walked up towards the finish line (at the 200m to go sign) my son spotted the giant TV screen. Now this was different – watching live was OK, but getting to watch the race on a giant telly – amazing! Unfortunately he couldn’t see unless I held him up, so I spent the second half of the race straining to hold him high enough that he could see whilst still leaning forwards far enough that I could see the bunch approaching. The pumping dance music and loud commentary kept my son’s attention enough that we stayed to the end to see the Barloworld rider Merlo win the sprint finish (I saw it live, my son saw it second hand on the giant telly, which he didn’t take his eyes off despite the peloton speeding by every lap)!
I got some pictures just before the start and during one of the breakaways (the Geoffroy Lequatre one) which I’ve posted on the right hand side of this page.
We had a great day out. My son described it thus to my wife:
Wife: “Hi Arun, how was your day then?”
Arun: “Great”
Wife: “What did you get up to?”
Arun: “Great things”
That’s it! Only topped by the discussion the two of us had on the bus on the way home:
Me: “So Arun, did you enjoy the race?”
Arun: “Yes, it was great. I liked the snacks. Dad, who won?”
Me: “Well, a man called Boassen Hagen won overall, and the sprint today was won by an Italian rider but I can’t remember his name”
Arun: “Probably David Beckham, or something?”
Me: “Yeah, something like that!”
Tomorrow marks a momentous day - I can officially race as a Vet! I think it is fair to say that I will be feeling my age the day after...
Cast off
Well, it’s been a while – that’s what happens when you start working and cycling again!
Things have been going pretty well – I got the all-clear from the consultant that my scaphoid bone was healing well (now that it had the titanium screw holding things together) a few weeks ago and celebrated with a couple of laps of Richmond Park. Two things struck me immediately – wind resistance and hills! Turbo life can’t match the experience and, much as I always struggle to haul my bulk uphill, I found myself enjoying the climbing experience so much that I doubled back just to take another shot at Broomfield Hill. Good job too that I made the most of it - recently they've resurfaced the park roads, making them (temporarily) dangerous beyond belief.
Since then I’ve also started commuting again – I’d forgotten all about the competitiveness of London commuter cyclists! There are busy sections of the Kennington Park Road where it’s like a dragstrip – riders head down, arse up, punishing themselves to the next red light. Fun, but dangerous…
I have no riding plans for the rest of the year other than a few club runs and commuting. I honestly cannot face the turbo again yet, so will keep myself content with regular steady base miles. Next year I want to catch up on all the riding I missed this year – some more racing (Palace, Eelmore, Surrey League road races) and the sportives (La Marmotte, Southern, Highclere) and maybe a longer continental trip or the club sportive.
Oh, and I’m thinking about building a new winter/training bike. The Scott is on it’s last legs so I’ll salvage the wheels, pedals and saddle, buy a new group, headset, seatpost, handlebars and stem and attach them all to this (maybe):
I’ll need a fork as well. Good excuse for some online shopping!
Cheap and cheerful, robust and not too ugly. Can take full mudguards or I’ll probably give the new Crud Guards a go. Should be perfect. Now, where’s that toolbox…
Things have been going pretty well – I got the all-clear from the consultant that my scaphoid bone was healing well (now that it had the titanium screw holding things together) a few weeks ago and celebrated with a couple of laps of Richmond Park. Two things struck me immediately – wind resistance and hills! Turbo life can’t match the experience and, much as I always struggle to haul my bulk uphill, I found myself enjoying the climbing experience so much that I doubled back just to take another shot at Broomfield Hill. Good job too that I made the most of it - recently they've resurfaced the park roads, making them (temporarily) dangerous beyond belief.
Since then I’ve also started commuting again – I’d forgotten all about the competitiveness of London commuter cyclists! There are busy sections of the Kennington Park Road where it’s like a dragstrip – riders head down, arse up, punishing themselves to the next red light. Fun, but dangerous…
I have no riding plans for the rest of the year other than a few club runs and commuting. I honestly cannot face the turbo again yet, so will keep myself content with regular steady base miles. Next year I want to catch up on all the riding I missed this year – some more racing (Palace, Eelmore, Surrey League road races) and the sportives (La Marmotte, Southern, Highclere) and maybe a longer continental trip or the club sportive.
Oh, and I’m thinking about building a new winter/training bike. The Scott is on it’s last legs so I’ll salvage the wheels, pedals and saddle, buy a new group, headset, seatpost, handlebars and stem and attach them all to this (maybe):
I’ll need a fork as well. Good excuse for some online shopping!
Cheap and cheerful, robust and not too ugly. Can take full mudguards or I’ll probably give the new Crud Guards a go. Should be perfect. Now, where’s that toolbox…
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