The Steam Ride 200

I was steaming at the end of this ride!  It was very hot, and all day I was wearing the layers I would need after sunset.   But no one complained , we're all on the same train.

What a great theme for a ride: the Steam Ride.   The route touches  on all the steam train venues in the south east: Ruislip, Quainton, Didcot,  Cholsey and Southall.

The Steam Ride 200

Toy and steam trains at Quainton

I dread it and love it at the same time, when I haven't done a 200 for a while.  All was going well till the first control at Quainton.  I was slow, but having fun taking pictures, enjoying the pre-spring country side.  Daffodils are out, and the trees are just about to pop their buds.  Happy days, it's all coming back to me, I do still love cycling.

I must visit Waddeson Manor and grounds

Then the dreaded happened.  My GPS shut down and rebooted with nothing to show.   Back to the olden days with paper route sheet, which, thankfully, I always bring with me as backup.  I rigged up the folded papers with elastic bands, which, thankfully, I always bring with me in a you-never-know-way.

I tried not to worry ahead of the dark section when reading route sheets and navigation becomes more challenging.   I find it challenging enough without darkness, but there is always silver lining.   For example, although I was on the right way to Wallingford on the Hithercroft Road, I started to doubt and retraced.  I went the Church Road way instead.  This takes you over part of the North Wessex Downs.  I was treated to a great 360 view!  I'd recommend Tim to detour that way for the next edition.  There was a local cyclist taking a breather ... or smoking a cigarette.  I stopped for directions.  'Nice view, he?', he said.  'Oh yes, beautiful, it's worth the climb', I replied.  He then gave me directions consistent with going the wrong way.

The guys wouldn't have realised it, but the group of riders in the photo below, gave me great support.  They were upbeat, having fun, very friendly.  Seeing them at controls and on the road on and off boosted my spirits every time.

A big thank you to Michael for riding with me from Chinnor onwards.  I would have got lost ending up back in Oxford if it hadn't been for him.  We arrived back at headquarters just in time for the BRM cut off, which added to the steam effect once inside 'The Water's Edge' pub.

Many thanks to Tim and team of volunteers for setting up this day of steam rides.

Photos are here: MyPhotos

Other thoughts:

• Cleaning my bike on the Saturday, the chain looked like a scarecrow
• Brilliant to have another local audax
• Spotted Chequers this time
• Controller hats and whistles were a nice touch
• Big field of riders on multiple events
• Red kites flying high and low

Thank you to all controllers!

The Steam Ride 200 - 9th March

"If you weren't a Steam enthusiast at the beginning of the ride, you're sure to return one."

What a promise!  I hope I'll have enough time to stop and look at the Mallards and Bitterns of this world.  I know those trains because they can sometimes be seen at Southall Train station.  

The route going through Southall makes this my most local audax on the calendar.  It's a brand new event also.  I feel one has to ride ones local randonnee.

The most western control is Oxford and we 'visit' steam venues like Ruislip Lido, Didcot, Buckinghamshire, Southall, Chinnor & Princes Risborough, Cholsey and Wallingford Railway Centres.  

Click on image to see detail of route.

Saturday will be dedicated to pre-audax rituals such as cleaning the bike, breaking something on the bike, getting tape and cable ties out, shopping for audax food, going to bed early which usually results in a disturbed sleep ... but ... it's the ritual.  

Thank you to Tim Sollesse and team for putting on the Steam Ride day.  I'm looking forward to it!

FNRttC XMas Tourette

Tourette?  Only the grandest tour of the best buildings in London you could ever have missed.   If I was pointed out just one of those buildings a month, I'd be happy for all of 2014.  Maybe there is a calendar idea in there for mmmartin.

It's not only what you see, it's what it makes you see that gets me shaking my head.  For example the building on the corner of Bethnal Green Road was not part of the tour but caught my eye.

The old Swan Tavern incorporated into a new building.
I like the first floor windows.

Other moments, nothing to do with architecture, made this a bit of a magical tour in itself.  There were the mounted House Guards coming through Wellington Arch.  There was archery going on in Kensington Gardens.  There were star stalkers, a wheel walker, a gutter guy and a white wedding.  Also the 'why a goat?' sculpture in Spitalfields and the street art in the east end generally.

Why use a pavement when there is an empty gutter.

I did quite a bit of post-ride internet searching.  It's easy to get carried away with tenuous links.  Try googling Arne Jacobsen.  You will not find a building, but images of chairs and cutlery.  Arne shares the same birthday with me.  But back to the Danish Embassy building - would I have stopped to look if it hadn't been pointed out to me?

No such question comes to mind when seeing the Blue House.

It reminded me of a photo I had taken earlier in the day.

And round the corner was a little surprise.

Corner of Garner Street

What a treat this modest Tourette was.  Thank you Simon!

Photos are here: MyPhotos

The Winter Boat Trip 200

It's OK to count down the miles at the end of a ride.  But at the beginning of a ride?  We were only 5km in and I was already implementing my 'always get to the first control' rule.   I was counting down the miles to Quainton.  I had forgotten my lock, my gps was not behaving like it normally does, I couldn't find the info control, it just wasn't going to be my day for cycling.  There were plenty of things I could be doing at home, like writing up my Russian ride.  Do bear with me on that, it's not that I haven't started.  In fact I've started a couple of times …

I got to the first control and everything fell into place.

First control at Quainton

It was a great day out.  I feel I haven't lost too much form after several months off audaxing, I'm still slow.  That doesn't matter.  You get to enjoy the ride for longer.   You can see all of the long sunset we had.  In fact sunrise was long also.

Sunrise in the country

A lot seemed to be happening in the sky.  A biplane overflew me.  I was gazing too much to get my camera ready.  But I got a few photos of the kites which were over and across, up and down all around us at some stage.

Kites in the sky

I was riding on my own most of the time, apart from a section with Mel.  After Stoke Bruerne, I waited and waited for the lunchers to catch up with me.  But nobody did.  At the last control,  two riders finally turned up.   I ended up doing the dark hours with one of them, I appreciated his company.

Company at the Co-op shop

I enjoyed cycling through Waddesdon and the Waddesdon Manor grounds.  I must visit, it's in cycling distance!  Plenty to see and do with a house, gardens, aviary, art collection and restaurant.  The place sounds fascinating.  Although I knew about the Rothschilds through banking and wine, I didn't know there is so much Rothschild history right here.

Spotted in the grounds of Waddesdon Manor

The cut through Towcester Racecourse was also good.  They give you glimpses of other worlds.

Towcester Racecourse

Thanks to Manotea and helpers for organising.

Photos are here: MyPhotos

Other thoughts:

• Route is Hillingdon, Quainton, Stoke Bruerne, Tring and Ickenham, see Auk event
• A little bit of rain
• Temperatures dropped after dark, but it was a mild day overall
• Seeing Father Christmas
• Arabella hinting at an Easter Arrow 2014
• I need a new headlight
• Victoria Sponge at Quainton was excellent.
• Should I make my 'I love my velo' tattoo permanent?

FNRttC - Whitstable

I found myself at the back of the net.  You might think this is a footballing term, but not when you know that the net of 'tail end charlies' and 'allupper' doesn't let anybody through.  I was loving our exit out of London, taking a few photos on the way.  When we passed the Shard I realised that I had never taken a photo of that building.  So I made a deliberate stop.   It made me nervous, because the thought of being caught faffing and holding up the ride is one thing, but to do this whilst barely across the Thames is another!  I was already putting away my camera, but still, the net was closing in on me.  Susie's call of 'we'll wait for you', didn't make me feel any better.  It's as good as a telling off.

The Shard - tallest building in the European Union

I had ambitions of doing a bit of way marking, however not once did I find myself in a position to offer my services.   I've lost a bit of condition but this ride was fast!  It was great.  The peloton was often spread out which allows for long stretches of chasing, which I quite like.

We were in Gravesend in no time.  The forecourt of The Call Boy pub is where we normally stop and gather.  I've always liked that stop even though it feels so dead in the night.   When I first spotted the blue star on the pub swing board, back in 2011, I liked the place even more.

Taken in 2011

This time! This time, it didn't feel dead in the night.  There was a lively gathering of people interested in what we were doing.  I saw that the pub was open for business, and then immediately looked up to the swing board.  It wasn't The Call Boy anymore, but ...

Photo by Trickedem - http://cyclingmagic.blogspot.com

... Angels.  Angels, the gayest place in town.

Now back to The Call Boy.  His uniform gives away that this is to do with theatre.  A call boy calls the stars to the stage, saying something like 'You're on in 5 minutes.'  This pub is where there used to be the Grand Theatre of Gravesend.  Have a look at an old photo on this site.

All settled back to usual paces after the magnificent halfway stop in Strood.  I was pleased to be able to take off some layers, it was a very warm evening.   It was my first experience at the English Martyrs Church Hall.  There was a 'volunteer' to rider ratio of about 1:10, which allowed for welcoming and efficient proceedings!  Thank you!

Abundance at the church hall

We took a slightly different route through Faversham, and went along the Market.

Faversham Market

The purpose of the fast pace was to do with beating the rain to the coast.  And it worked.  We were soon able to enjoy breakfast by the seaside.

Whitstable

I had a little wonder after spotting this guy below.  He'd collected some lugworms which are used as fishing bait.  The handful he'd gathered were worth £15.

It was an excellent ride with great company.  I had lovely chats with known and new riders.  Some conversations are unique, and it's great when it happens.

I had arranged to have lunch with my girlfriend at the Sportsman, and that didn't disappoint either.  Stuart had asked: 'You having oysters today?'  We had the tasting menu, which included oysters, oysters like I've never had before, so good.  The cream cheese ice cream dessert was so delicious it almost made me cry.  

Oysters at the Sportsman

Thanks to Simon for organising, and everybody on the ride who made it memorable.  Special thanks to the Strood Eight!

Photos are here: MyPhotos

FNRttC Brighton - August 2013

It's been a while since this ride was on, but I haven't forgotten it.  It was most memorable for seeing Rimas.   He had posted that it's not so much the ride he was looking forward to, but seeing the people on the ride.  I can identify with that.  That he's doing a night ride only one week after finishing 'an extreme' event makes you raise your eyebrows.

Rimas had taken part in the Transcontinental Race from London to Istanbul.  That race has an audax feel about it.  Not many people know about it.  There were only two controls on the way.  Riders choose their own route.  Self-suffiency is so revered that drafting is frowned upon and made into one of only 10 rules.  Cyclechatters were glued to the live tracking screen for at least 11 days 7 hours and 21 seconds.  A few other participants were known to us also.  And Juliana Buhring caught the eye as the only female rider.

Rimas deciding what cake to eat

The ride was great.  The new way out of London was perfect.  Loved it.   There were a few early punctures, so that gave a chance for riding slowly, absorbing the night atmosphere, listening, chatting, taking photos... I was in a very relaxed mood.  The only pressure I put on myself was to ask Rimas to tell me more about the Transcontinental Race.

New way out of London

It was a mild night.  But rain, or even downpours had been promised.  I had checked my tyres.  I replaced them both with less worn ones and still took two spares with me.   I wasn't visited, but many others were.  Great! More opportunity for chats and snaps.

It got wet.

At the middle of the night scout hut stop, our leader caught me napping rather than snapping- oh the humiliation!

Caption competition ...

There are reports of people missing a turning.  I had a few moments of hesitation myself.  So let me share a top tip with budding way markers: stay with your bike and point your bike in the direction of travel.  There is more you can do, but that is a good starter.

Anyhow, I 'd like to thank all way markers, TECs, riders I chatted with, Rimas, and Simon for making it  another memorable ride.

Now, I'm going to read 'Not Without My Sister', a book co-written by Juliana Buhring, about her upbringing and escape from a cult.  Thanks to meim for highlighting that.  And do read Juliana's blog post on the Transcontinental Ride.  It's well written.  Phrases such as 'the second winner' are used.  Beautiful!

Next ride is ... Whitstable!

Rest of the photos are here: MyPhotos

Lindfield

FNRttC Newhaven - Dieppe

I had a first on this ride, which was to use the lift at Gatwick airport.  It makes the experience even more surreal.  One minute you're riding in the countryside, the next minute you're elevated into a, you wouldn't know it was the middle of the night, airport concourse.

Susie reads the graffiti on the lift walls

That first moment of mingling with travellers always brings a smile to my face.  It is such a bizarre feeling to be at an airport and not to have to catch a plane nor wait for arrivals.  Another bizarre moment was captured in the photo below:

I had a glowing feeling of homecoming when the Costa Coffee man reminded me of Mr Exit.  Maybe it was him?  Maybe he's been able to keep his job after much training?  His performance has improved so much.  He might even have gone the other way, a little ocd perhaps.  He kept wiping the table top in front of him, although there was nothing to wipe.  But what gave it away was his eyes wondering all around the hall instead of looking at me.  He's still searching for the Exit sign, his guiding light, since the Olympic 2012 refurbishments.

'Double espresso macchiato please', I said.   'Macchiato?', he asked.  'Double espresso macchiato', I repeated.  'Espresso?', he asked.  It's him!  It's got to be him!  I repeated again, 'Double espresso macchiato'.  You can't say yes to his questions, otherwise you'd get three drinks coming your way.  I overpaid, not waiting for the receipt nor the change, as I wanted to get back, as quickly as I could, to listen to Jim and Stuart's hilarious Friday Touring stories.

Entertainment over, and off we went, to the coast.  It was a wonderful night ride, quick moving, warm (another first was to wear short sleeves all night!), early sunrise ... The breakfast in Newhaven was top class, with whitebait and chips on the menu.

I had a good kip on the ferry and on waking up was surprised that there wasn't a beer fest going on.  Adrian finally gave in and got himself a pint.  That one glass stood out so much, that Mice took a picture of it (Mice's write up with photos).

The large number of riders disembarking meant we got a little split up, so my goodbyes were a little random.  I needed to go left at the roundabout, whereas everybody else was going Centre Ville.  My plan was to cycle 60km north (turned out to be a good move!), stay at Camping Chateau De Tilleuls near Abbeville, and then continue my journey to Belgium on the Saturday.

How wonderful!

The headwind!!  Not helped by being in touring mode with double panniers, the headwind was playing havoc with my progress.   What could I do but stop at every boulangerie on my way, to restock on energy.   I had tarte aux framboise, croissants, chaussons aux pommes, frangipane aux poires and more.  If Mice didn't get to a boulangerie because Titus thought that was just wasted Mice faffing time, then at least I made up for it.

This ride was such a battle against the forces.  My legs were fine, but my upper body was suffering from me trying to hold the 'Cavendish position'.  Then there were several routes barrées with deviations, I was too law abiding when I saw 'Uitgezonder plaatselijk verkeer' which were only signs ready for Sunday's kermesse, and I could have saved miles and time by going west instead of east when the grounds of Haverkerque were a no-go area.  Still, I still arrived home at 5PM.

I enjoyed breakfast at Hesdin, a place I'm getting fond of in association with the FNRttC Newhaven - Dieppe ride.

Hesdin

It was an absolutely fabulous weekend.  Loved every  moment.  I've come full circle since my Russian trip which started at my parents' place.  I picked up the car which was left there.  I drove back to the UK in lots of Sunday traffic, and with a seized clutch.  During the week, a car mechanic had a look at the sticky clutch pedal, barely touched it, then the cable snapped.

Big thank you to the Friday Leggends!
Photos are here: MyPhotos.

Another thought:

• Well done to LD Ferry Lines for a most efficient bicycle check in service.   The bikes almost outnumbered the cars, and there was a dedicated bike check in kiosk.  It was a pleasure to be treated as VIPs, compared with other years when bikes and riders are seen as a nuisance.  They should make a big deal of this, they could turn this into a good marketing/PR story.  

More bikes than cars

• The fact that a new Belgian king was crowned was hardly visible in Belgium, no bunting, no street parties.  But the fact that Belgium was without a king for a few hours was much bigger news.  Most talked about, though, was Jan Bekelants' stage winning efforts on Le Tour de France 2013. 
• Russian ride report to follow!