Lands End 100

It's not often that I see 4:45 am on a Sunday morning, but that wat it was for me as had lift down to St. Ives with a fellow cyclist to take part in the first Lands End 100 Sportive. I think we had over estimated how long it would take us to drive to St.ves as we arrived their just after 6am - Maybe that was a tad too early, however there was no queue for registration so some kind of bonus.

With a start at just after 7:30am it proved to be a great day out. Riding along some traffic free coastal roads down to Lands End with the early morning sun highlighting the stunning sceanery of this part of Cornwall. My words cannot capture the rugged beauty of this stretch of coastline is. Though the hill at Kehelland on the homeward leg was a bit of a particular tough surprise... especially after you have done about 50 miles at that point.

I had elected to do the 100 km  (62 miles) route which I completed in 4 hours 51 minuites, though I did stop to help a cyclist who had a broken chain. I had wondered whether to take my multi tool or just take tire levers, lucky for him I chose the former.

All in all it was a well organised great day out with my family turning up to cheer me over the finish line. They even organised the weather which could not have been better.

Here is some video footage I took using a helmet camera that I have edited together to give a feel for the event.

Shaved legs

Well it appears that following my exhaustive scientific study and many hours analysing the results. I can finally announce that with 40% of the vote going to Yes and 40% going to Dreckly there is only one possible conclusion.

Yes a Cornishman would shave his legs but he would do it dreckly...

This only goes to prove like everything Cornish men always do it dreckly.

It seems very likely following our Sunday adventure that Adam now with a broken hand will miss the Lands End 100 sportive this weekend. Which I know he is gutted about missing. Though I am not really looking forward to the 5:15 am start as we need to be in St. Ives for a 7 am start. But equally looking forward to taking part as it will be my first sportive.

Wish me luck...

The best laid plans....

It all started out as a plan on Facebook and yes ok, it was my suggestion for a route. I thought we could all meet in B & Q car park and then cycle just across the road to Costa coffee head out to Mevigissey then turn off to Tregony and then on to the King Harry Ferry. Crossing the river Fal before heading on to Truro, Probus and Ladock before heading homewards via Sticker and London Apprentice.

Well that was the plan, so at ten past nine four of us set out but only two made the full round trip. It was all going so well until we hit (literally) the 10% downhill run to the King Harry ferry. The raw footage from the action camera says it all.

One broken hand and one broken shifter later (anyone got a spare SRAM force shifter?) we make the final decent to the ferry. It was at this point that Adam and James decide that it might just be better to catch the train home from Truro. Martin and myself decided to carry on and complete the route as planned. That was not without incident as to top it all I got puncture only in the windiest place possible - Typical. Not a problem spare inner tube in the saddle bag, oh but where is the pump....... In the garage five miles away.... But Martin to the rescue with his CO2 inflater so minor disaster averted.

After this we though sod Sticker we cut our losses and headed home. All in all just a typical Sunday cycle.

Note to self let others plan the Sunday route as there appears to be only a 50% survival rate if left to me....

If you would like to see our route just check the link here

New shoooooes.......

Looking out of the window at about 5 pm and seeing the wind and rain you have to wonder why exactly do we do these things. That and the gathering gloom I really thought I could just as easily drive home and save myself the bother of changing into lycra and then braving the elements. But idiocy prevailed in the end and I decided that I would cycle home, that and with the overwhelming urge to use my new cycling shoes.

So kitted out with the new shoes I gave them an inaugural outing, I should really say soaking over the 24 miles home.

Guess I can't take them back now.

These shoes are so silver they make me feel like an extra in a bad sci-fi move

The journey home was remarkably uneventful as there seemed to be a total absence of drivers who's sole intention is to collide with or harass any cyclist.

The only real excitement was the decent down Morlaix Avenue, Truro being very wet I was not quite brave enough to attempt it a full tilt. Normally in the dry I can reach about 45mph before having to dodge the 2 manhole covers on the left hand sweeping bend. Not today as it was very slippy under foot wheel so the brakes got fair bit of use.

If you are interested in the stats of my ride follow the link here Endomondo Cycling Workout:

Just a Sunday ride out

Woke up to an absolutely glorious day it was a good thing that I arranged to go out for a cycle this morning. Arriving at the meeting place only to find just Martin waiting there, then two became three as we were joined by Adam. After a few more minutes it seemed that we were the only one riding out today. It turned out to be a good 39 mile ride in the October sun and yes my legs do feel tired.

Our route can be viewed here Endomondo Cycling Workout: though it was not quite what we planned, lets just say navigational difficulties.

And not a shaved leg amongst us.... Which gets me thinking, would a Cornish man shave his legs? In the interests of scientific research I have decide to conduct a poll on this important world issue.

This was followed a pub lunch with the wife and daughter and a stroll on the beach afterwards. All in all not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

Ok so its not the best beach in the world but it's local and there's a couple of great pubs nearby.

That was my Sunday how was yours?

Must pedal faster

A personal best it certainly wasn't... Should I blame the head wind or was it the packet of Dorritos and Snickers bar I had at lunch time.


Follow this link to see my route and times Endomondo Cycling Workout

I learnt that today is national procrastination day so it is your chance to put of today what you can do tomorrow.


Though procrastination is something best put off until tomorrow.

How was your weekend?

When did your weekend begin?

Mine began at about 6:30 Friday evening I arrive home to find no one at home, odd I thought but maybe they have just nipped out. Just as I put the key in the door my wife's car draws up with daughter sitting on back seat with her left arm in what looks to be a sling. It turns out they have just returned from the local minor injuries unit with a suspected broken wrist.

Well a 30 minute drive later and we are all in the Royal Cornwall Hospital, then follows a four hour stint in A & E and we have a confirmed broken wrist on an 8 year old.

They went to the local skate park so she could try out her new scooter that she got for her birthday on Wednesday, I'll leave you to guess what happened next. The irony is that I am the one that would normally take her to somewhere like that.

But wait, the timing could not have been better as she is having a birthday party at home on Sunday for 11 of her friends. So Saturday is spent trying to play catch up from Friday night.

Somehow, eventually everything comes together and we have a house full of 7 year old girls for what seems like an eternity but is only actually 2 hours, my brain still hurts from the noise.

The aftermath.......

But the guests went home happy with cake and party bags

So much for a Saturday ride out.... I guess there is always next weekend......

D'Oh

Ever had one of those D'Oh moments? The ones where you realise that you have missed something fundamental. Well it happened to me today as I was cycling the 24 miles home I was about halfway into the journey when I happened to me.

Let me set the scene, I take part in car share with a Karl and we also pick Vanessa up on the way to work as well. Except on a Wednesday's when I take my daughter to school. On these days I take my bike in to work and cycle home then getting a lift in the next day.

Today was no exception with the small fact that I forgot that Karl is on holiday tomorrow for two weeks. So I finish work and proceed to cycle home then at about the halfway mark it dawns on me that I have left my car at work and with Karl on holiday there is no chance of a lift in tomorrow as Vanessa does not own a car either.

One apologetic call to Vanessa later and it looks like we are both catching the train into work tomorrow,  she saw the funny side.

On the plus side I did set a personal best for the cycle home completing the journey in 1 hour 20 mins, knocking 2 minuites off my previous best time.

You can see my stats for this ride and a map of the journey by clicking on the link below.

Endomondo Cycling Workout: was out cycling 38.11 km in 1h:20m:08s using Endomondo.

I would be interested in knowing what you think of this and how it compares.

Please feel free to comment about my cycling or anything within this blog.

A nice surprise

It's not every day that I arrive home to find an upturned orange plastic mixing bowl placed on the hall floor and greeted with "there's something in the hall you need to sort out" not how are you? or how's your day been?

It turned out to be that something that I always wanted a dead vole! and it's not even my birthday.

It looks like what we thought was gentle placid cat has turned into a killer cat just like Tuffy in the killer cat stories my daughter is reading.

All I can say is thank you for such a delightful and pleasant gift.

Why are pirates called pirates?

As today is International speak like a pirate day I thought I would give some tips on how to be a pirate.

Of course these have all been plundered and plagerised from elsewhere; well I would be no good as pirate if I didn't....

Ye want ta be a true pirate do ye matey? Well, it be more then just talkin funny and wearin' a parot on yer shoulder, yar! Lets be coverin' the most important bits o piracy, so ye may pillage and plunder like a true scoundrel..

A pirate must always wear boots, except for those with peg legs, in which case one boot is acceptable. Flip-flops are totaly inappropriate.

Three-cornered hats, headbands and bandanas are the only acceptable form of headwear allowed. Fedoras, bowler derbies, beanies, baseball caps, cowboy hats, du-rags, Santa hats, mickey ears, ski masks, bike helmets, sombreros, ear muffs, or anything with lace or flowers is not permitted.

Dental hygiene is not a priority. However, should there be occasion, strong rum or saltwater may be used as mouthwash. Anything “minty fresh” is strictly forbidden.

A pirate shall never wear lipstick, nail polish, or three quarter length shorts

Of course, ye need t' sound like a pirate too. After all, if ye talk like toff, ye ain`t a shipmate! Before ye call yersef a seafarin' hearty, memorize these basic pirate phrases:

Ahoy! - This be 'hello'. However, why waste yer time greetin' swabbies when ye ortin' ta be fightin' them?

Aye o' Arrr - "Yes"

Aye aye - A more respectful form o' `aye`, used when addressin' a captain, fer instance. Directly translates t' `yes sir!`

Avast - "Look here, mate!" Used t' get attention.

Landlubber - An insult used to describe a land lover, arrrr.

Shiver me timbers - Originally meant `scary`, as in `that shivers me timbers`, but now can mean almost anythin', me lad.

Because they AAAAAARR !!!! 

Beginnings

It is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one's feet though I guess in my case a saddle might be a better description.  Having never ridden competitively or even taken part in a sportive before, why have I entered the Etape Caledonia  in 2012? (I'm asking myself that question as well)

This all begins in November/December 2010 when the company I'm working for advertised for volunteers to take part in charity bike ride from London to Paris at the end of June 2011. Like a lot of things it seemed like a good idea at the time, it could not possibly been the two extra days holiday given by the CEO in addition normal holiday allowance to those taking part.

So there I am in January signed up for a 200 mile cycle over three days with two slight problems, firstly no suitable bike to do this on and the slight small matter of raising £1200 in sponsorship. The bike proved to be easy, courtesy of the cycle to work scheme, I  became the proud owner of a new Specialized Allez Sport 18 thanks to all the helpful advice received from Clive Mitchell Cycles in Truro

Raising the sponsorship was a different matter altogether and  at one stage I was beginning to feel I had bitten off more than I could chew... But after several street collections, bingo evenings, bag packing at Marks & Spencer's, cake sales and several ingenious raffles including one where people would guess where I would fall off my bike between London and Paris I finally made the target the day prior to departure.

Doing all the training for the charity ride and taking part in the ride itself I discovered that I have awoken a road cycling bug and I have been well and truly bitten. Not that I was not a cyclist before as I had a old Marin mountain bike bike that had been laying dormant in the garage for a few years. Which had previously been used for jaunts to the Lake district and city centre commuting.

Here I am now with an entry for the Etape Caledonia  and about to take part in my first ever sportive the Lands End 100 on Sunday October 16th........