2nd ride with the Finchley Racing Team guys, though today it was a longer ride. I hooked up with Werner beforehand and we met the guys at the start in Finchley. The first 60-70km were ridden at a really slow pace - just cruising along with everyone chatting and fooling about. Quite a few punctures due to the wet roads and a couple of natural breaks brought the average speed to below 28kph.
After a shop stop in Great Munden the pace was suddenly upped and Werner and me got involved with pushing the group on the front. Once we hit Hertford the group headed up to Brickendon - nice 3km drag and Werner decided to drop the hammer big time. I held his wheel for as long as I could, but slowly I saw him getting a gap which eventually grew until he disappeared around a few corners. I was well and truly on my limit!
We regrouped at the top and then pushed it again through to Potter's Bar. We split up and a few stopped for coffee at Whetstone. I found out about their Tue and Thu night sessions which I will definitely check out next week. In all a good ride and it's nice to meet and get involved with an active club.
View this ride data at Motionbased
Sunday 29 July 2007
Saturday 28 July 2007
Training: EF-Colney Heath-Radlett-Whetstone-EF
First ride with the Finchley Racing Team group that meets in Whetstone. Nice bunch of guys and a fairly leisurely pace (except for the hills), though this is the usual pace of their Saturday ride and Sundays are apparently a bit faster and longer. There were a couple of familiar faces of riders that used to meet in Potters Bar... apparently many of these guys are now riding with this group due to the dissolving of the Finsbury Park Sunday group.
At the end of the ride we stopped at a coffee shop in Whetstone - all 15 or so of us taking over the tables outside the cafe. The shop owner, in jest, asked us all for urine samples - classic! We chatted about the Tour de France and the scandals that have hit it over coffee, tea and cakes and then moved off on our separate ways. I told them I would see them tomorrow for the ride that actually starts just down the road from me in East Finchley, though its quite early - 8.30am. Should be good.
View this ride data at Motionbased
At the end of the ride we stopped at a coffee shop in Whetstone - all 15 or so of us taking over the tables outside the cafe. The shop owner, in jest, asked us all for urine samples - classic! We chatted about the Tour de France and the scandals that have hit it over coffee, tea and cakes and then moved off on our separate ways. I told them I would see them tomorrow for the ride that actually starts just down the road from me in East Finchley, though its quite early - 8.30am. Should be good.
View this ride data at Motionbased
Friday 27 July 2007
Training: EF-Essendon-Brickendon-EF
Very hilly and very windy solo ride after spending the last 3-4 days off the bike. Suffered quite a lot on the way back home as it was all into the wind and a lot of time spent riding uphill. Ended up just taking it easy over the last 15km.
View this ride data at Motionbased
View this ride data at Motionbased
Sunday 22 July 2007
Training: EF-Broxbourne-Hertford-Essendon-EF
Hooked up with Werner at Potter's Bar this morning for a nice little pre-Tour de France watching killer ride! Told him from the start that I wanted to get back home quite early to watch the first Pyreneean stage of the tour. We agreed it would be short but fast.
Working together very nicely for the first 40km or so, our average speed was up to almost 33kph before the big climb of Essendon. Werner started pulling away on the lower slopes while I took it at my own pace and came back to him at the top (though I think he waited for me a bit). The last hill was a full on big dig to the top and I managed to stay right on his wheel to the top.
We split again at Potter's Bar, feeling invigorated and ready to watch a nice mountain stage of the tour!
View this ride data at Motionbased
Working together very nicely for the first 40km or so, our average speed was up to almost 33kph before the big climb of Essendon. Werner started pulling away on the lower slopes while I took it at my own pace and came back to him at the top (though I think he waited for me a bit). The last hill was a full on big dig to the top and I managed to stay right on his wheel to the top.
We split again at Potter's Bar, feeling invigorated and ready to watch a nice mountain stage of the tour!
View this ride data at Motionbased
Saturday 21 July 2007
Training: EF-Dancer's Hill-May's Lane-EF
Warming up ride that quickly turned into a time trial and then a 5km pursuit after another cyclist along Mays Lane. Felt strong and rode a pretty fast pace considering the first 15-minutes of the ride were at warm up pace.
Distance: 32.7km
Time: 1:00:32
Speed: 32.4kph
Distance: 32.7km
Time: 1:00:32
Speed: 32.4kph
Sunday 15 July 2007
Saturday 14 July 2007
EF-Essendon-Little Berkhampstead-EF
Quick ride around the Essendon hills - felt good and made a surprisingly good time despite the strong winds.
Distance: 50.2km
Time: 1:38:03
Speed: 30.7kph
Distance: 50.2km
Time: 1:38:03
Speed: 30.7kph
Saturday 7 July 2007
Tour de France Prologue TT in London
I was there this afternoon - what an atmosphere!
Instead of going to Hyde Park Corner like I'd originally planned, I instead chose Westminster Abbey because I ride on this route every day and thought it would be cool to see these guys riding my road. I was located at the first corner of the route - about half a mile from the starting ramp.
Watched the floats and advertising vehicles for an hour (and scored some cool freebees), riders warming up on the course, then the first 60 riders actually doing the time trial. I then nipped off back home to watch the last 50-odd guys come in on TV.
What a ride by Cancellara!
Here are a few pics I snapped...
Instead of going to Hyde Park Corner like I'd originally planned, I instead chose Westminster Abbey because I ride on this route every day and thought it would be cool to see these guys riding my road. I was located at the first corner of the route - about half a mile from the starting ramp.
Watched the floats and advertising vehicles for an hour (and scored some cool freebees), riders warming up on the course, then the first 60 riders actually doing the time trial. I then nipped off back home to watch the last 50-odd guys come in on TV.
What a ride by Cancellara!
Here are a few pics I snapped...
Sunday 1 July 2007
Event: The British Cyclosportive
Run over the same route as the first stage of this year's Tour de France, the event attracted 5000 riders from across Britain and around the world. It was dubbed the Etape d' Anglaise - 120 miles (actually a bit less - my computer registered 188km) and taking in scenic South East country side like Tunbridge Wells and the Kent Downs, this route was both long and demanding due to the many short but horribly steep climbs scattered along the course.
The weather prediction was for rain and strong winds, but when I made my way to the start line the sun was out and it was warm with a fresh wind coming from the south. I started way to quickly - jumping on a train that came past in the first 5km. Average speed for the first 30km was at 32kph (20 mph). I eventually decided that the speed was a bit mad and that I would feel it later on, so latched on with a more casual group. The next 20-30km were spent chatting to a few riders and taking in some scenery as the city was left behind.
The hills started in earnest and at 80km covered was the first major climb - about 3km at 10% on which I suddenly had to stop because of cramp in my hamstring muscle. After a bit of stretching I got back on the bike and felt fine again. A few hills later and I started seeing other riders in trouble - bikes being pushed and people sitting on the ground, recovering. I pressed on.
The next 30 odd kilometers were flattish and I hooked up with a few guys that were more or less on the same level as me - we agreed to start a pace line to conserve energy. It was working very nicely until I dropped a bottle and had to turn around to collect. My water was low and I'd passed the last 2 feedstations by...
The next 30 minutes were spent in no-mans land - strong headwinds and no one to lend a tow and I was absolutely dying of thirst. At 130km covered the 3rd feedstation came into site - I dived straight in for energy drink, water, cake and gels. I was starting to feel the pain by now - this was the point that I was used to finishing my longest training rides, but I still had 60km to go.
After getting going again I started feeling OK and jumped on the first train that was passing. The wind had picked up considerably by now and crosswinds were playing havoc with handling. The last climb of the day was the hardest - the summit of which was about 10 miles from the finish. It turned out to be a wall - it seemed every second I'd climb another meter according to my GPS. My gearing of 39x23 was definitely not the right choice and my speed dropped to around 7-8kph. I was suffering big time - legs screaming to stop. I was so desperate that I started looking for a place to put a foot down but my mind would not let my body do that!. Eventually the hill evened out and the summit was packed with spectators cheering support.
Then I felt the tailwind I'd predicted - nice. The next 10 miles were all downhill with a 15mph wind blowing straight down it! Although tired beyond comprehension, I kicked it into the 50x12 and literally flew down into Canterbury. The finish area felt surreal - all I wanted now was a hot shower and to stuff my face until the end of time.
My time for the 188km was 6h42, though I'll be getting my official time tomorrow. In total I rode 227km today - this included the ride to the start and the ride back home - ouch!
EDIT: My official time was 7h03'59"
Here are some photos I managed to snap, though most of them are pretty non-descript - I was either suffering or enjoying the scenery too much to remember to take photos.
View this ride data at Motionbased
The weather prediction was for rain and strong winds, but when I made my way to the start line the sun was out and it was warm with a fresh wind coming from the south. I started way to quickly - jumping on a train that came past in the first 5km. Average speed for the first 30km was at 32kph (20 mph). I eventually decided that the speed was a bit mad and that I would feel it later on, so latched on with a more casual group. The next 20-30km were spent chatting to a few riders and taking in some scenery as the city was left behind.
The hills started in earnest and at 80km covered was the first major climb - about 3km at 10% on which I suddenly had to stop because of cramp in my hamstring muscle. After a bit of stretching I got back on the bike and felt fine again. A few hills later and I started seeing other riders in trouble - bikes being pushed and people sitting on the ground, recovering. I pressed on.
The next 30 odd kilometers were flattish and I hooked up with a few guys that were more or less on the same level as me - we agreed to start a pace line to conserve energy. It was working very nicely until I dropped a bottle and had to turn around to collect. My water was low and I'd passed the last 2 feedstations by...
The next 30 minutes were spent in no-mans land - strong headwinds and no one to lend a tow and I was absolutely dying of thirst. At 130km covered the 3rd feedstation came into site - I dived straight in for energy drink, water, cake and gels. I was starting to feel the pain by now - this was the point that I was used to finishing my longest training rides, but I still had 60km to go.
After getting going again I started feeling OK and jumped on the first train that was passing. The wind had picked up considerably by now and crosswinds were playing havoc with handling. The last climb of the day was the hardest - the summit of which was about 10 miles from the finish. It turned out to be a wall - it seemed every second I'd climb another meter according to my GPS. My gearing of 39x23 was definitely not the right choice and my speed dropped to around 7-8kph. I was suffering big time - legs screaming to stop. I was so desperate that I started looking for a place to put a foot down but my mind would not let my body do that!. Eventually the hill evened out and the summit was packed with spectators cheering support.
Then I felt the tailwind I'd predicted - nice. The next 10 miles were all downhill with a 15mph wind blowing straight down it! Although tired beyond comprehension, I kicked it into the 50x12 and literally flew down into Canterbury. The finish area felt surreal - all I wanted now was a hot shower and to stuff my face until the end of time.
My time for the 188km was 6h42, though I'll be getting my official time tomorrow. In total I rode 227km today - this included the ride to the start and the ride back home - ouch!
EDIT: My official time was 7h03'59"
Here are some photos I managed to snap, though most of them are pretty non-descript - I was either suffering or enjoying the scenery too much to remember to take photos.
View this ride data at Motionbased
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