Ride 100 miles

I thought it would be good to give myself a challenge

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Dr Hutch's guide to waving (video) - Cycling Weekly

For those who consider themselves worthy of joining the cycling fraternity, the Doc offers a little instruction on waving

An issue I’ve spent many hours pondering on...

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Lights too Bright ?

28 Feb 17

So we wall know its good to have lights on your cycle, front and back that’s just sensible, but can they be too bright ?

I used to think the more the merrier in terms of number of lights and also how bright they are, but having had my eye balls burnt out by fellow cyclists on a number of occasions I’m now not so sure.

The difference somes I think about being seen and being able to be seen. Those of us who live in cities only really need to be seen. So a sensible mid power light is all we need. Maybe 2 in the front, and may be 2 on the back at different levels. The issue comes when people buy massive lights I think and strap them to the front and back and act like light houses.. yes you can be seen but you have also blinded the person driving for 3 seconds.. and they crash into you...

Put those same lights on a quiet country road.. and hay presto its ok again as you need to be able to see the road.. 

Its a thin line.. and I get it, but much like all of men with gadgets... the bigger the better... until they blind the person who you were trying to stop crashing into you...

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27 Feb 17

Getting up the mileage

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New Year - same challenge

26 Jan 17

So its a new year and time for some New Years resolutions. The thing is I started my resolutions about 4 months ago..  yes I signed up for another 100 mile ride. Here is the reason why.. in 2016 I didn’t do the London Ride 100, but it came past my door as it does every year, and I sort of felt.. well I can do that.. and I’d like to show that I can. Whilst the first time I did it was to get off the sofa and stop being lazy, this time it would be more for me as opposed to showing what is possible. So I signed up with another charity to get a guaranteed place. 

Which means I now have 7 months to train for it. The benefit of 2017 is: I actually have a bike and 2 I have a more enhanced level of fitness as compared to 2014. 2014 was very much ground zero.. a couch potato, I couldn’t even cycle to the end of the road without being out of breath. This year hopefully it should be slightly better as at least I already have the bike. I’ve also kept up the cycling over the last 12 months as well, maybe not to the same intense level, but as my Strava video shows I did the same number of mles in 2015 as I did in 2016. 

so onwards and upwards..  and yes more blogs to get out all my thoughts and idea on the world of cycles and cyling !

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Outcome of the 2016 hard work

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2017... . So it begins

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There has been an awakening,have you felt it

29 July 16

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Where all the hard work ended up

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The truth is out

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Sponge Shoes

28 Aug 15

I’ve never really looked at my cycling shoes with any great detail, yes they are white, and occasionally I have to give them a good wipe down as they become so dirty its hard to tell what colour they really are.

However this week I’ve experience something new.. it turns out that though they look like they are made of plastic and leather they are infact made from sponges, how do I know you ask ? Well as soon as any rain comes near them, they fill up with water and I might as well have my feet in buckets of water.

The top of the shoes have 3 big latice triangles over the toes to let out hot air and sweat I’m guessing in the summer.. underneath the shoe running the whole length is a tea strainer of metal to again let in fresh air and keep your toes all dainty and nice in the hot summer. However put rain anywhere near them, and hay presto ... mini swimming pools..

But have no fear the companies have thought of this already.. and through a marvel of modern “making you buy more stuff” ideas, they now sell you over shoes.. for your shoes....

Basically posh pastic bags which fit over your shoes like a sock.. and in theory keep of the drim and dirt from the roads.. and some of the rain out of the shoe.. however upon reading reviews of said product it becomes fairly clear.. that if you cycle in rain you get wet feet as no over shoe is 100% waterproof..?

I would of thought in this age of carbon fibre and clever alloy metals.. shoe makes could make a waterproof cycling shoe?

time will tell as i’ve ordered, my “extreme weather shoe covers”.. and will report back !

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Steve Redgrave Moment...

17 Aug 15

At the end of the Prudentail 100 I was fairly confident I had done my time, acheived the challenge I had set myself and that was me done. jobs a goodun.. the week before I had even said that its all very well doing the ride on the day but the pre training eats so much into your life its a bit of a killer..

However 2 weeks later... and I’ve had the email from the organisers saying that the ballot is now open for next year.. there is about a 1 in 5 chance of getting in as they cap the entries at 100,000 and there is about 25,000 starters, (ignoring the charity places).  So guess what I have gone and done...

Well no harm in sending off a mail .. and seeing what happens.. I mean, I’ve I won’t know either way until Feb.. so I’ve got time to think about it.. and I don’t have to accept the place either... 

I mean.. how hard can it be ?

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Side by side

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How to over take

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Back of the net

11 Aug 15 So that is that. 9 days ago I did the big 100 mile Prudential Ride. Which was very nice in a weird way. Getting up and at the Olympic site for 6 am was obviously less fun, but having a hotel close certainly helped. Organisation at the start was good with clever colour codes and waves of people which meant that our 7.48 start was bang on time for the 200 or so in yellow wave E. Waves went off at 2 min windows so you were quickly catching up the wave in front or the wave behind caught you up. Cycling through the city was a breeze and quickly got to Richmond Park ahead of my mental target time. After that it's a bit of a blur until we got to Newland corner hill which was the first real test. Top of that was hub and food stop number 2 which was rammed with people. So much so they ran out of food for people. Next was the sad wait at Leith Hill where we heard of a major incident which required the air ambulance. The 60 min store and wait quickly turned in a chat with who ever was next to you with everyone swapping war stories. We also started a Mexican wave up and down the 2 mile or so tail back. Post that incident it felt like there was an incident ever 10 miles with 4 more ambulance parting the cyclists to get to their needy person. Coming back through central London was the only really windy part by the Thames but otherwise the weather was almost perfect Price for best town goes jointly to kingston and Raynes Park who both put on a rowdy cheerful crowd and music. Best view has to be Newlands corner followee by the Mall with all the bunting and crowds giving everyone that Wiggins feeling coming down the last mile.

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Check out my 104.7 mi Ride on Strava:

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The Big One