re-Found my Focus!

Great week on the bike despite the chilly weather, although even that warmed up towards the weekend. But best news of all is that the Posh Bike aka my focus Cayo, came out after a winter of skulking largely neglected in my garage. but more of that in a mo.

The stats - 234 miles covered, making 1694 miles ytd - all moving in an upward direction so all good. back to the focus then...

Saturday morning dawned, and a dry bright morning beckoned, so it had to be - lubrication done, just had to pump tyres and go. Removed dust caps and on both tyres managed to unscrew valve too - result two pancake flat tyres - never mind that's just 25 pumps of the track pump rather than the 10-12 that I would have needed anyway. So pressure resumed and off I went, just over 3 miles up the road felt the air leave my front tyre - puncture - first for 6 months or so, ho hum I thought. Removed wheel, tyre and old tube and grabbed spare tube from saddle bag and fitted. Pumped tyre then removed oump and for the 3rd time in about 20 minutes managed to remove the valve - however this time the item was nowhere to be seen - frustration was now rising. Ok fix the puncture old skool then - patch, glue, chalk and re-fit (again) the tyre and wheel. - Success!!! On I went, brain calculating time lost and therefore revised distance target for ride as I had somewhere to be by 9am. - In all 27.84 miles covered, in just over an hour and a half at an average of 18.2mph - happy? Oh yes. It's good to be back, as someone once said... Workout is here if you are interested?!

Sabbatical looms (21st March - 20th April) so space for a few longer distance rides over the next month or so - would like to be up to pace for 10k miles yearly target by end of April i.e. in the region of 3333 miles covered by then or  240ish per week between now and then - eeek!

In other news Cav remains quiet at Terrano-Adriatico, but Tony Martin wins Paris Nice and Wiggo an admirable 3rd too. As a bit of fun i have also "entered" Road.cc's Fantasy Cycling with my team Phat Cyclists - effectively fantasy football but for Pro cycling. First race Milan San Remo...watch this space!

Sunny day again today and i have clocked up a 30 miler - here's hoping the sun continues, as does the mileage and that the Focus remains...!

Can the weather please make it's mind up?!

Ffffff-freezing cold for most of last week, yet despite the climate's best efforts I still produced a 247 mile week out of the proverbial hat! - That makes it 1460 for the year to date, which feels better (well it does to me)

Today dawns and although a cool start, the sun shone and by the end of my 42 mile jaunt it was beautiful - perfect riding weather cool, bright, and little wind - loving it - only downside should have prepped the posh bike, but atill managed to do a shade under 18mph average for the ride so all bodes well.

In other news, Bertie wins in Murcia (subject to UCI making their minds up on the whole clenbuterol thing).
Cav has stated his intent to ride all 3 grand tours this year, but first up will be Milan San Remo in a coupleo f weeks. Paris-Nice kicked off yesterday, and Tirreno-Adriatico starts Weds. Giro d'Italia has announced 23 teams are to take part this year.

Finally I looked at Olympic Track cycling schedule with prices today - cheapest tickets £20, rising to £325 dependant upon session and chosen seating, sessions are also only 1.5 - 3 hours max. - Think i may stay home and enjoy daily highlights in the comfort of my lounge - come back Manchester Velodrome all is forgiven!!!

2 Months in - on target...?

Silence for a fortnight - but an action packed one to report on.

February is over, cycling-wise, and the year's total stands at just shy of 1243miles, which at 1/6th of the year gone would make an extrapolated total for the year of 7500. (10,000 seems distant?) However the spring/summer are coming and mileage WILL increase so am pretty happy with that at present - particularly as at this point last year I was only on 845 miles and still managed 9000!

Last week (18th Feb) paid a trip to Manchester, for the track cycling world cup - in a word - excellent! Putting side accomodation and food, at £11 for almost 8 hours constant cycling action it was a bargain! Chris Hoy, Brad Wiggins, Geraint Thomas, Vicky Pendleton and many more and the Brits done alright too. The reciprocal event will be at the Olympic velodrome in London next year - I want to go!
Most memorable moment of the whole weekend, and  i saw it on tv, not live was the final corner crash of the Men's Keirin. Hoy wins, as the carnage unfolds behind - Awang hits the deck and gets a 20-25cm splinter right through his leg for the trouble - yet still finishes 3rd to take the jersey for overall world cup winner in that event. the kiwi looks like he might hold it but after weaving both ways crashes, bu still has the presence of mind to pick up his bike and cross the line for valuable points! - Proper men do cycling!!!

In other news, Cav gets his first win in Oman, and Team Sky gets their Classics season off to a great start with 2nd for Flecha in Omloop Het Nieuswsblad and 1st for Sutton in Kuurne-Brusels-Kuurne. Bertie has been deemed to be innocent, but Ricco has been binned. Time may be the judge for all as yet...?

Wind initially, then calm before the storm!

A windy start to the week, but with reward as i clocked up my best 20, 10, 3 and 1 mile rides of the year so far with 1hr 4.21, 27.33, 7.37 and 2.03 respectively!

Couple of days of mild weather, and then some very soggy weather. Still managed 216 miles this week, so approaching the 1st 1000 for the year and up on this point last year so all good.

Mark Renshaw wins in Qatar, Bertie saga alegedly to be resolved this week too, and as for Ricardo Ricco, definately a leopard who would appear not to be able to change his spots - Vacancesoleil have sent him on a long holiday!

Gone with the Wind!

Another 200 this week - well 205 actually, making 671 for the year to date.

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiindy or what! 25/30mph winds, gusting to 50mph+ - still gotta ride though! pushed records for year so far for fastest 1, 3 & 10 miles - the latter breaking 30 mins for the first time for a while.

Bike due to be cleaned today, as well as aiming to get a couple of hours in later on.

Had a cracking birthday yesterday - lots of well wishers and time spent wth family and friends - some money / vouchers to spend too now!

Tour of Qatar kicked off - reminiscent of the classics, with cobbles and high winds, Lars Boom, won the prologue (so maybe Spartacus is human after all?) . Cav hit the deck again, after a collapsed wheel, brought about a swift date with the tarmac.

ToQ continues all week, with Oman up next - feels like F1 all of a sudden?

January - a glance back.

I have just completed my first 200miles in a week this year, also today did a 50 in 2hrs 53, so pretty chuffed with that at this stage of the year. 522 for the month, which bearing in mind i missed around 10 days is not bad - eclipses last years total at this point so still happy!
New bike is going well, cleaned it again today - touch of OCD? Maybe / almost certain / definately (Delete as applicable!)

Pretty much recovered from all injuries from 3 weeks ago - slight back twinge every now and again. - Police have contacted to say no trace of driver - shame but i must concentrate on counting blessings not cursing blithering idiots - I have lived to fight another day - Thank God, so onwards I fight!

Recorded "Death on a Mountain" last night - story of Tom Simpson's demise on Mont Ventoux in '67 - will report back once watched.

Pro Cycle racing season has started but still slow. Thought i saw David Millar playing Tennis sunday Morning, but realised it was Andy Murray! - not that he was actually playing?!

First week back

When i say week, i actually mean 3 days of cycling - an excuse in advance of divulging the mileage total! 120ish miles this week, not including the sneaky whip around the block (20 miles of today) which i will add to next weeks score.

But after being off the bike for 10 days, it felt good - still have a bit of niggly ache in the back / ribs area, but otherwise all is good. Getting used to the Scotty, cleaned it and finally fitted mudguards today - and not too soon based on the weather forecast to come.

Hoping to achieve a more reasonable mileage this week, and all in all should finish the month approaching 500, which is in line with last year's total - not bad for an enforced layoff?

TDU has been and gone. Congrats to Cameron Meyer on the overall, Cav was conspicuous by his absence, but then so were many others. Lance completed his last race pending any further comebacks, Matt White got sacked by Garmin and Robbie proved there is still life in those legs and Ben Swift proves that Brit sprinters do not begin and end with Cav either. Roll on Qatar...

Loving my Scotty a Lotty!

Says it all - I like my new bike!

3 days of cycling - 120miles, only downside is lack of mudguards - to be rectified over weekend!

Singlespeed conversion is next project, once i have saved my pennies....

Insurance matters!

Continuing on from post below, I rang my Insurance Co this morning to work out how much of my losses would be covered, they took brief details and then informed me that they would be passing the claim onto anoher company to deal with. I had a call within 30 minutes to inform me that I would be receiving a new bike - A Scott Speedster S30 Triple 2011 as pictured below.

Most impressed by quick and efficient work by all concerned - so thanks to all invoved for that. I have accepted the offer - new bike should arrive within 7-14 days.

My leg is much better, still a bit sore but am walking a lot better today, back is very painful still, so may need to get that checked out again if it does not improve.

Just need to track down the mutant in the lorry now...?

Open Letter to that Large White Lorry Driver

NB - That's a Large White Lorry, not a Large as in weighty driver of said Lorry (but both could be true i guess?!)

Dear Sir or indeed Madam,

I hope the impact that you managed to cause with myself at approximately 7.20 this morning whilst I was proceeding northwards on the A140 on my cycle dwells upon your mind and that ultimately you do the decent thing and inform the Police.

It may be of interest to you, that despite your best attempts I am still alive and walking albeit painfully,and would appear to have suffered a nice set of cuts and bruises - one particularly nasty one on my right thigh (for your reference the point of impact with the front of your vehicle).

At this point I would just like to express my gratitude to a number of people, firstly the car driver and his passenger who initially stopped and inquired about my well being and offered assistance (something which perhaps innocently in my mind would be usual practice in such circumstances) and also to Graham, a fine gentleman who i have only had the pleasure of meeting this morning but who scraped me up of the side of the road and transported me and my bike home, and then in conversation realised that we share a passion for bikes and all things cycling.

It may be of further interest to you that your actions or perhaps the lack of, have been reported by myself to the Police, which upon doing so i was pleased that the officer at the end of the phone know as much about the incident as i did as it has already been reported by an eye-witness, placing the blame firmly at your door - a fact that i was already sure of but was pleasing to have that confirmed too.

If it helps your recollection, I was the one wearing that yellow hi-viz jacket, with TWO rear lights on my bike, who fortunately bounced off your vehicle just prior to the turn to Hainford (Waterloo Road). Not that you have enquired, (on the basis that you did not stop) but i think my bike is ok, but I will perhaps reserve judgement on that one - perhaps I could get back to you?

I sincerely hope that you drive more observantly and safely in the future as i feel that in this instance i have been very fortunate, the next cyclist may not be?

Yours faithfully,

Darren