The Ditchling Devil 200 Perm

Cycling in Richmond Park before the cars get in is like being the only swimmer in a swimming pool.

Richmond Park at dawn

It took a while to get out of the park again though, because I seem to have been ahead of the 'opening of gates' schedule.  It was great to see the deer wondering about.

I found this ride much harder than the Poor Student the other week.  I had to watch the time and keep going.  This was probably due to the headwind going south and from Turners Hill, it got quite cold.  Think of the benefits I told myself!  I had bruised my left foot in a fall earlier in the week, so it needed icing.  My feet definitely got the cold treatment.

It was little weird to cycle past the Burstow Scout hut.  That is something from the FNRttC world.  So it was strange to see it in daylight.

I was very happy with my bike.  I was over the moon!  Because I hadn't ridden it since the Kiwi Hunt 1200 February 2012.   The bike had been in a dismantled state since the flight back from New Zealand.  Just looking at the bike hanging in the shed kept bringing back memories of pain, darkness and hallucinations.  But I finally took the bike to the Bikehub.  Mike and David helped bring it back into a rideable state and more!  It now has a pannier rack, so it's on the way to become a tourer bike which I'll use on the pilgrimage. The pilgrimage is less than 3 months away!  Thank you so much to Mike and David for helping me out.

The ride back from Brighton is wonderful.  I might keep that route on my GPS for when I feel inclined to ride back after a FNRttC.  It's a really nice route through rolling countryside.

A highlight was Devil's Dyke.  Amazing how I've never been on that side of the downs before.  The views, despite it being a grey day, were excellent.  And of course, it was the halfway point, with the prospect of a tailwind.  No comedy moments to report this time. 

I indulged in my craving for chips after finishing.  No salt 'n vinegar thanks.

Many thanks to Paul Stewart for organising this perm.  The calendar event is on in June.

A few photos are here: MyPhotos

The Poor Student 200 Perm

The Poor Student 200 is a favourite ride of mine.  An audax I've done the most often.  It starts in Oxford, goes south west to Malmesbury, then north through Cirencester where the huge yew hedge is, to Chipping Camden in the Cotswolds, and back to Oxford (Map).  Beautiful and varied country side.  Look at the photo below, I almost want to take up horse riding.

You see the mist hanging around?  It was foggy pretty much the whole day.  There were just a couple of hours in the morning when the sun broke through.  Unless I cycled out of it?  I don't mind, you get different perspectives of the scenery and buildings.

Fog at 6PM

Had a comedy moment in one of the petrol stations I stopped at.  There was a grumpy women at the till, the only till, so I had no choice.  I had already spotted her, and she had given me the look as I entered the shop.  It wasn't a look you might get in art galleries.  Still, I got to pay for the few items I had gathered.  Then the dreaded happened.  In slow motion, she reached for a carrier bag.  I didn't want a bag, I didn't need a bag, I didn't ask for a bag, she didn't ask if I wanted a bag, the bag was going to end up in the bin.  My instinct told me to go with it, rather than deal with the grump-stare.  But my audax instinct kicked in also.  My cartoon clock appeared, where willy wonkas (or Oompa Loompas) have to make huge efforts to move the little hand by one second.  The more the second is wasted, the harder it is for them to move the hand.  Mrs Grump had got hold of a carrier bag, but rather than hand it to me, as I expected her to do in a grumpy way, she had a moment of customer service overkill, and wanted to open the bag for me.  Only she didn't manage it!  Poor willy wonkas, they were exhausted.  10 seconds probably, it took.  At least it was warm inside, you might say, but I still chose to eat outside.

Outside, I happily observed the petrol station dynamics.  Then a car broke down, 'can't get it into gear' the man said.  Phone calls, discussions with other drivers, 'sorry mate's, hazards lights ...

Just then I realised I hadn't asked for a receipt.  Darn!  I'll have to go back into grump vibe city.  True enough, she was in top form by then: 'That man has broken down on my forecourt and he hasn't even had the decency to come and tell me.'   I managed to suppress my giggles.

Saw quite a few cyclists on the road, racers, mountain bikers, road cyclists.  All very friendly and cheery.  It was a wonderful day.  I was very pleased with how this first 200 of the year went.  I feel I'm 'back on the road'.

Photos are here: MyPhotos

Other thoughts:

• thanks to Pat for administering this perm event
• thanks for the tweets I received
• missed opportunity to bump into Nuncio2 on a Malmesbury Mash (which I think was the David Lewis ride?)
• next week is Paul Stewart's Ditchling Devil 200 perm
• I had made Paul Hollywood's Chelsea buns for this ride.  I like making these, and they are perfect for a winter's ride, with dates, raisins, apricots and cranberries
  
  
  

The Watership Down 100

You forget.  You forget the rituals around audaxing.

• You forget that you shouldn't rely on just one alarm clock.
• You forget that putting the bike flat in the car with the full water bottle in the cage is bad news.
• You forget that you need a pencil or pen with you.
• You forget that the right hand side pocket is where you should always put your camera.
• You forget that the light brackets are where the winter mudguards should go.
• You forget that taking a change of clothes for after the ride is a good idea.

But you don't forget that audax riding is just brilliant.

• You don't forget the warm welcome you'll get when entering the HQ hall.
• You don't forget the wonderful landscapes in Britain.
• You don't forget that the organisers work out the best route possible.
• You don't forget that there will be talk about LEL.
• You don't forget that the brevet card must be signed at the end.
• You don't forget that great feeling when you get home.
• You don't forget to enter the next ride

Photos of the ride: MyPhotos

The Fridays Windows and Death Ride

You always learn something new about London when you're out with the Fridays.  This was certainly going to be true about today's daytime Windows and Death Ride.

Just look around you, look up, and left and right.  It's all there for you to see.  But what is not there, is Simon and Ian's personal take on London historical events.  A big thank you to them both for sharing facts on history and architecture in such an entertaining way.

It all started in Queen Anne's Gate.  I like the picture below as you can't see any windows.  Simon explained the reason for that.  You should have been there to hear!

Anna Regina

The Great Stink!  Simon described it so well, that I felt like I was cycling in Dickens' time for a while. When we went through the Savoy Place Pedestrian way, I could even smell it!

Passage from Savoy Place to Adelphi Terrace

Why were flush toilets not a good idea at the time and what did Sir Joseph Bazalgette do to start the clean up the Victorian capital?  It's not the same as hearing it from Simon, but you can read about it here: The Great Stink

Below is Ian talking about Lenin and linoleum.  Myths were demystified.  Handouts were handed out.

From Clerkenwell Green we moved towards Worship Street and Worship Mews.

Philip Webb is the architect of these mews.  I wasn't getting it at the time, I admit.  Why was Simon so animated about these building?  So I had to do some googling.    I read wikis and history pages.  I found the connection between Webb and Morris.  I finally really got it, when I read the introduction to Kitty Valentine by thegentleauthor on this blog: About a Worship Mews resident.

I love learning something new about London.  And the day was concluded by talking about baking and  cycling plans for 2013.   Oh and LEL.  Anybody thinking about it, just register.  Entries open 5th January (tomorrow at time of posting).

Thank you Simon, Ian and the Fridays' company.

Photos are here: MyPhotos

2013 Plan

When the Olympic Games finished I started doing things like baking and putting on weight.  I reached new 'heights' in both.

I wondered whether my audaxing era was over.  I've had a fantastic year, how can I ever top 2012?  Maybe some leisurely touring is the thing to do.  I've got my cycling pilgrimage planned, that will be a gentle touring kind of riding.  That's good enough, in fact that is just perfect.

Then I received an email from 'the russian guys'.  The Chui Tract 1200.  Interesting ... it's in Siberia, connects Russia with Mongolia, amongst the Altai Mountains.  No, of course I'm not doing it.  It would be just one week after finishing the pilgrimage.  The pilgrimage is the main event, I don't want anything overshadowing it.  What about my knees ... I've been off the bike for 4 months ... Altitude goes from 181m to 1836m, whereas the Kiwi Hunt went from sea level to just below 1000m and look how much I struggled on that one.  And anyway, if I did do this ride, I'd have to do a hilly series again, maybe even the 'never again Bryan Chapman 600'.  If I did all that, then I'd almost have to make the pilgrimage into an audax, because I'd be in the running for the 25000 brevet.  And 'all that' could put the pilgrimage itself in jeopardy.  No, no, no!

So here is the plan:

13 Jan -  The King's Worthy 100 - DONE
16 Feb - The Poor Student perm 200 - DONE
23 Feb - One of Manotea's perms 200 - DOING ON 3rd March
02 Mar - The Kennet Valley Run 200 - NOT DONE
03 Mar - The Ditchling Devil 200 perm - DONE
16 Mar - The Dean perm 300 - DNF
28 Mar - FNRttC Felpham - DONE
06 Apr - The 3Down 300 or - DONE
07 Apr - The Dorset Coast 200
26 Apr - FNRttC to Brighton - DONE
03 May - 'Flemish night ride to the coast', not an official FNRttC - DONE
11 May - The Severn Across 400 - ENTERED WITHDRAWN
18 May - The Bryan Chapman 600 - ENTERED WITHDRAWN

26 May- The Pilgrimage 3000, dates confirmed with John Spooner - DONE
18 Jul - FNRttC Newhaven - Dieppe - DONE
... more FNRttCs

Fingers crossed that the knees hold up and fitness returns.  It will be one ride at the time, except you need to book ahead for the longer rides.   We'll see, it's a dream plan, a little top heavy.  But, there it is, I feel better now.

The Chui Tract 1200

2012 Review

One year like this will see me right for life!

That is a play on words of a London Olympics song (Elbow - One Day Like This).  What a year!

Here are my cycling highlights:

• The Kiwi Hunt 1200 in February: the toughest ride I've ever done.  I was completely out of my mind at the end of it.
• 1200 The Kiwi Hunt Ride Report

• The Wessex Series: I capitalised on my early season fitness to complete the hilly Wessex Series.  
• 200 The Dorset Coast
• 300 The 3D 
• 400 The Porkers
• 600 The Hellfire

• The Easter Arrow: an unusual event because it is a team ride and everybody arrives around the same time. 
• 400 The Easter Arrow

• The Russian 1200: magnificent, a whole new experience.   
• 1200 Vologda-Onega-Ladoga

Here are my off-the-bike highlights:

• Did the Park Tools Mechanics course led by the lovely David Eales of London Bikehub
• Being Gamesmaker at the Olympics
• Seeing Bradley on his Olympic gold winning time trial
• Seeing dressage at the Paralympics, won by Natasha Baker
• Bradley winning le Tour de France
• The Jubilee and our street party
• My knees seem to have recovered from all the early season strain
• And finally, I have won the Willesden CC ladies audax champion trophy!

Let's get planning for 2013!

A night ride to the coast

Southsea was the destination, Southsea on the south coast, a ride organised by Hummers.   I had been looking forward to getting to Hyde Park Corner.  It's always a moment of anticipation.  I don't know why really, because the location is well known by now.  And many of the cyclists are familiar also.  Still, a night ride always brings something new, like the company I had whilst waiting for midnight.

 

Waiting for midnight

Cycling to Southsea was a first also.  I loved the route, starting off along the north bank of the Thames.  Going through Richmond Park is a bonus because there are no cars, and you can hear the owls.  We don't wish for punctures, but for me the punctures were welcome.  It was wonderful being in Richmond Park, looking at the sky, hearing the sounds, just being, whilst waiting for the 'all fixed, we're off again'.

TimO's route capture

I was almost disappointed when Plodder's trike went through the gate without needing to either take the gate off the hinges, or the wheels off the bike.  Any moment now, the park police would pay a visit, I thought, but it all came to nothing.  Plodder did a great job of being tail end charlie.   He kept me company a lot of the time.  Indeed, I was happy to just plod along, but was concious that we were having a slow ride.  6:14 and we were still in Haslemere!  More punctures!

If ... you can mend a puncture when all about you 
are standing

The run into Southsea reminds me of the Whitstable finish.  It's longer than you think, but absolutely wonderful.  Great scenery, the dawn light gives a unique atmosphere.  People start to smell breakfast and the pace picks up.  

I don't think I knew that Kipling had lived in Southsea ...  Uncanny, how I captioned the above picture with a reference to Kipling's 'If' poem.  Not only did I subsequently discover that Kipling lived in Southsea, but that he also wrote 'The Mother Hive'.  It seems he was an enthusiastic beekeeper.  I must read more of his work!

I could visit his house, Batemans, in Burwash.   I could use it as a practice pilgrimage.  Because the real pilgrimage is on!  During breakfast at the Yellow Kite Cafe, I gave John Spooner a get out opportunity.  But John said yes.  He nodded when I asked for confirmation.  Yes, it's on, we're doing it!  Next year, John is joining me on a cycling pilgrimage to the Solovetsky Islands in Russia, where the patron saint of beekeepers founded a monastery.   I'm so happy.  A great adventure awaits ... all else being equal and my knees get better ...

Thanks to Hummers for organising the ride and to all riders for the good company.

Photos are on the slideshow till the next ride or here: Southsea

Southsea