Very tough but rewarding ride. It had been raining the night before so the roads were filled with puddles. Came across a time trial race on Kentish Road about 25km into my ride. Soon after it started raining lightly. This continued until I reached Codicote. Dry with bits of sunshine for the next 20km. I got a bit lost in Hitchin (must have gone round the round a bout 3 x trying to work out where my Garmin wanted me to go... About 3km outside of Hitchin (on the highway that goes to Luton), just as the rain started up again, I punctured my front wheel. Took about 20 minutes to fix. Encountered a monster hill on this highway - about a 2-3km drag with the headwind whipping me badly - speed was around 14-16kph up this bastid. After missing a turn and having to backtrack 1km I was finally on the road to Whitwell - about 15km of mostly slight downhill with a nice tailwind...quiet country roads...but still the rain kept pouring. Missed my turn at Whitwell (was planning to go via Wheathampstead) so ended up connecting back to Codicote where I stopped for a Powerade and a Snickers bar. The wind was a nice helper over the last 40km back along Great North Road. Got back in one piece and had a nice cod and coleslaw with a liter of V8 juice as an after ride treat. View this ride data at Motionbased Performance
   
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Sunday, 25 February 2007
Training: EF-Bull's Green-Hitchin-Whitwell-EF
Wednesday, 21 February 2007
My training routes
Below is a collection of links to maps of my training routes. If you want to download them to your GPS device, just export as a GPX file.
124.1km (4 - 4.5 hours)
129.1km (4.5 - 5hours)
106km (3.5 - 4 hours)
106km (3.5 - 4 hours)
81.5km (2.5 - 3 hours)
69km (2 - 2.5 hours)
_____________________________________________
124.1km (4 - 4.5 hours)
129.1km (4.5 - 5hours)
106km (3.5 - 4 hours)
106km (3.5 - 4 hours)
81.5km (2.5 - 3 hours)
69km (2 - 2.5 hours)
_____________________________________________
Sunday, 18 February 2007
Training: EF-Wheathampstead-Codicote-EF
Another new route with the Garmin. Took a semi-off road route on the way out - between Hatfield and Wheathampstead - through some forested area. Really cool, but very muddy slippy. Some tough hills. Lovely helper from the wind on last 30km. Bike looks like I'd done a cyclocross race afterwards.
View this ride data at Motionbased
View this ride data at Motionbased
Performance
   
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Saturday, 17 February 2007
My bike build
Waking up at 8am this Saturday morning I was suddenly overcome with a sick feeling in my stomach. I had a horrible feeling that some sick Look addict had found my posts on BF of recent days and had somehow discovered this gem of a deal and was waiting outside the bike shop for the owner to open up and buy the frame before me. It could happen, I kept think as I showered and dressed - knowing my luck it probably will happen...
I surfed BF for 15 minutes over coffee and breakfast waiting for 9am to come along. My plan was to phone the shop before going over there just to make sure the frame was still available and for the same price I'd seen on their site: £350 + VAT which made it £410. I was also going to beg the owner not to sell it to anyone else (including the sick Look bastid who had been camping outside the shop since 4am). 9am came and I called. The owner answered and I immediately launched into my interrigation...he said he was looking at the frame right then and the price was still the same. I said I'd be there in an hour to pick it up and gave him my name. Slammed down the phone and ran out the door.
Now the shop is pretty far from where I live and I planned to take the underground - It was over 20 stops away and 2 train changes - shouldn't take more than an hour. The trip there was agony - paranoia flipping me out...the Look addict was there right now offering the shop owner an extra £100 and he was naturally charming an manipulative - the dirty swine!
Eventually I arrived at the right station and I charged off to the shop - a 5 minute walk from the station. The shop owner was at the door as I walked in - I introduced myself and asked if he had the frame. The words I heard were like sweet music: "Yes, its right over here - a bit dusty but still, brand new." The rest was just a dream and I was floating - money exchanged hands and the frame was in mine. I checked it over and it was flawless. I was also given all the paperwork and serial numbers were confirmed. Gleaming carbon was all I could think of - beauty...
The journey home was bliss as I stared at the frameset listening to my iPod. I am home, yes, I am home...
Now I've spoken to my LBS and these are the parts I've ordered to make up the bike:
Campagnolo 2007 Centaur Groupset
Easton Vista SL Wheelset for Campagnolo
ITM Bar Tape
ITM Wing Bar
Ritchey Comp Road V2 Stem
Cane Creek S8 Headset
Thomson Elite Seatpost
Selle San Marco Aspide Saddle (white)
Bontrager Race Lite Cages
Vittoria Rubino Pro tyres
Here's the photo shoot of the frameset I did as soon as I arrived back:
I surfed BF for 15 minutes over coffee and breakfast waiting for 9am to come along. My plan was to phone the shop before going over there just to make sure the frame was still available and for the same price I'd seen on their site: £350 + VAT which made it £410. I was also going to beg the owner not to sell it to anyone else (including the sick Look bastid who had been camping outside the shop since 4am). 9am came and I called. The owner answered and I immediately launched into my interrigation...he said he was looking at the frame right then and the price was still the same. I said I'd be there in an hour to pick it up and gave him my name. Slammed down the phone and ran out the door.
Now the shop is pretty far from where I live and I planned to take the underground - It was over 20 stops away and 2 train changes - shouldn't take more than an hour. The trip there was agony - paranoia flipping me out...the Look addict was there right now offering the shop owner an extra £100 and he was naturally charming an manipulative - the dirty swine!
Eventually I arrived at the right station and I charged off to the shop - a 5 minute walk from the station. The shop owner was at the door as I walked in - I introduced myself and asked if he had the frame. The words I heard were like sweet music: "Yes, its right over here - a bit dusty but still, brand new." The rest was just a dream and I was floating - money exchanged hands and the frame was in mine. I checked it over and it was flawless. I was also given all the paperwork and serial numbers were confirmed. Gleaming carbon was all I could think of - beauty...
The journey home was bliss as I stared at the frameset listening to my iPod. I am home, yes, I am home...
Now I've spoken to my LBS and these are the parts I've ordered to make up the bike:
Campagnolo 2007 Centaur Groupset
Easton Vista SL Wheelset for Campagnolo
ITM Bar Tape
ITM Wing Bar
Ritchey Comp Road V2 Stem
Cane Creek S8 Headset
Thomson Elite Seatpost
Selle San Marco Aspide Saddle (white)
Bontrager Race Lite Cages
Vittoria Rubino Pro tyres
Here's the photo shoot of the frameset I did as soon as I arrived back:
Friday, 9 February 2007
Upcoming events calendar
Road Race Calendar 2008
March
The Crest Spring Road Race 2008 (ERRL)
Date: 02.03.2008
Location: Stag Hall, North Hall Road, Quendon, Essex
Details: Regional A 2nd, 3rd, 4th Band 3
Distance: 114km/71mi
Time: 09h00
Cost:£15.00
Ed Taylor Memorial Road Race
Date: 16.03.2008
Location: Thurlow Village Hall
Details: Regional A 2nd, 3rd, 4th Band 3
Distance: 81km/50mi
Time: 09:45
Cost: £13.50 (£15.50)
Dengie Marshes Tour - "Hell of the East"
Date: 30.03.2008
Location: St. Peters High School, Burnham-On-Crouch
Details: National B Elite, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Band 2
Distance: 122km/76mi
Time: 09:30
Cost: £15.00 (£18.00)
April
Glade CC Spring Road Race (ERRL)
Date: 13.04.2008
Location: Ickleton Village Hall
Details: Regional A 2nd, 3rd, 4th Band 3
Distance: 126km/78mi
Time: 09:00
Cost: £15.00 (£18.00)
May
Whitewebbs Road Race (ERRL)
Date: 18.05.2008
Location: Fellowship Hall, Bendish, Whitwell, Herts
Details: Regional B 3rd, 4th Band 4
Distance: 110km/68mi
Time: 09:30
Cost: £13.00 (£15.00)
June
Team Economic Energy RR
Date: 22.06.2008
Location: Roxwell Memorial Hall, The Street, Roxwell, Chelmsford
Details: Regional A 2nd, 3rd, 4th Band 3
Distance: 114km/71mi
Time: 09:00
Cost: £15.00 (£19.00)
July
Paul Simon Homes RR - Finchley RT
Date: 06.07.2008
Location: South Mimms, Hertfordshire
Details: Regional B 3rd, 4th Band 4
Distance: 85km/53mi
Time: 08:30
Cost: £14.00 (£17.50)
Redbridge Road Race (ERRL)
Date: 27.07.2008
Location: Matching Tye Village Hall
Details: Regional A 2nd, 3rd, 4th Band 3
Distance: 106km/66mi
Time: 08:30
Cost: £14.50 (£16.00)
August
ERRL Championship
Date: 10.08.2008
Location: Saffron Walden, Counts High School Sports Centre
Details: National B Elite, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Band 2
Distance: 121km/75mi
Time: 09:00
Cost: £16.00
Essex Roads CC Road Race (ERRL)
Date: 31.08.2008
Location: East Hanningfield Village Hall
Details: Regional B 3rd, 4th Band 4
Distance: 81km/50mi
Time: 09:00
Cost: £13.50 (£18.50)
September
Last Chance Points Grabber
Date: 28.09.2008
Location: Fellowship Hall, Bendish Lane, Whitwell, Hertfordshire
Details: Regional A 2nd, 3rd, 4th Band 3
Distance: 108km/67mi
Time: 08:45
Cost: £15.50 (£15.50)
TOTAL RACES FOR 2008 SEASON: 11
March
The Crest Spring Road Race 2008 (ERRL)
Date: 02.03.2008
Location: Stag Hall, North Hall Road, Quendon, Essex
Details: Regional A 2nd, 3rd, 4th Band 3
Distance: 114km/71mi
Time: 09h00
Cost:£15.00
Ed Taylor Memorial Road Race
Date: 16.03.2008
Location: Thurlow Village Hall
Details: Regional A 2nd, 3rd, 4th Band 3
Distance: 81km/50mi
Time: 09:45
Cost: £13.50 (£15.50)
Dengie Marshes Tour - "Hell of the East"
Date: 30.03.2008
Location: St. Peters High School, Burnham-On-Crouch
Details: National B Elite, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Band 2
Distance: 122km/76mi
Time: 09:30
Cost: £15.00 (£18.00)
April
Glade CC Spring Road Race (ERRL)
Date: 13.04.2008
Location: Ickleton Village Hall
Details: Regional A 2nd, 3rd, 4th Band 3
Distance: 126km/78mi
Time: 09:00
Cost: £15.00 (£18.00)
May
Whitewebbs Road Race (ERRL)
Date: 18.05.2008
Location: Fellowship Hall, Bendish, Whitwell, Herts
Details: Regional B 3rd, 4th Band 4
Distance: 110km/68mi
Time: 09:30
Cost: £13.00 (£15.00)
June
Team Economic Energy RR
Date: 22.06.2008
Location: Roxwell Memorial Hall, The Street, Roxwell, Chelmsford
Details: Regional A 2nd, 3rd, 4th Band 3
Distance: 114km/71mi
Time: 09:00
Cost: £15.00 (£19.00)
July
Paul Simon Homes RR - Finchley RT
Date: 06.07.2008
Location: South Mimms, Hertfordshire
Details: Regional B 3rd, 4th Band 4
Distance: 85km/53mi
Time: 08:30
Cost: £14.00 (£17.50)
Redbridge Road Race (ERRL)
Date: 27.07.2008
Location: Matching Tye Village Hall
Details: Regional A 2nd, 3rd, 4th Band 3
Distance: 106km/66mi
Time: 08:30
Cost: £14.50 (£16.00)
August
ERRL Championship
Date: 10.08.2008
Location: Saffron Walden, Counts High School Sports Centre
Details: National B Elite, 1st, 2nd, 3rd Band 2
Distance: 121km/75mi
Time: 09:00
Cost: £16.00
Essex Roads CC Road Race (ERRL)
Date: 31.08.2008
Location: East Hanningfield Village Hall
Details: Regional B 3rd, 4th Band 4
Distance: 81km/50mi
Time: 09:00
Cost: £13.50 (£18.50)
September
Last Chance Points Grabber
Date: 28.09.2008
Location: Fellowship Hall, Bendish Lane, Whitwell, Hertfordshire
Details: Regional A 2nd, 3rd, 4th Band 3
Distance: 108km/67mi
Time: 08:45
Cost: £15.50 (£15.50)
TOTAL RACES FOR 2008 SEASON: 11
Wednesday, 7 February 2007
Another crash!
Riding home from work tonight I took the second to last 90-degree turn before getting home a bit too leaned over and my back wheel slid out. Couldn't keep upright and just went down - hard. I must have been doing about 40kph (25-mph) and the road was just slightly wet from the first bit of drizzle of the night - perfect recipe for disaster...
Damages: one scraped knee, one bruised hand, one rear derailleur bent, derailleur hanger snapped, right shifter bent inwards and ruined bar tape.
Conclusion: I'm an idiot for taking my eye off the ball - should have known better as the same thing happened about 2 months ago.
EDIT: Good thing is that a car full of women stopped to see if I was OK - yeah sure - just a bit of blood. Swallowed the pain, brushed self off and said I'd be fine and walked the last half-kilometer home.
Damages: one scraped knee, one bruised hand, one rear derailleur bent, derailleur hanger snapped, right shifter bent inwards and ruined bar tape.
Conclusion: I'm an idiot for taking my eye off the ball - should have known better as the same thing happened about 2 months ago.
EDIT: Good thing is that a car full of women stopped to see if I was OK - yeah sure - just a bit of blood. Swallowed the pain, brushed self off and said I'd be fine and walked the last half-kilometer home.
Sunday, 4 February 2007
Training: EF-Bull's Green-Hatfield-EF
Here's my data for this ride:
Distance: 73km
Time: 2:43:05
Speed: 26.8kph
Total Elevation: 1499m
See this data on Motionbased
Distance: 73km
Time: 2:43:05
Speed: 26.8kph
Total Elevation: 1499m
See this data on Motionbased
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