The Road to Morocco.

Blog Moving to http://www.peakcyclehire.com/blog/

2008-04-09T19:48:00.002Z

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This blog is moving to http://www.peakcyclehire.com/blog/

Tour of Flanders Sportif

2008-04-07T17:48:00.003Z

Back from a great weekend in Belgium.

140 km of riding on part of the course of one of cyclings' spring classics, the Tour of Flanders.

Cobbles and pointy little hills and freezing rain made for a tough ride. Andy,Mark and myself were all shivering at the end.

5'20" ish for the 140K, a hillier ride than last weekends Cheshire Cat at 150K, and only 20 minutes slower.

I'm happy with that.

A clip of the pros at Kortrijk taken the following day.

8 years on.

2008-02-23T00:23:00.003Z

Back in 2000 I participated in the Grand Raid Cristalp. One of the worlds mountain bike classic races. 131 km and 5000 metres of climbing. I got round just within the cut off time, in 11 hours and 50 minutes.

This year I've entered again, and am hoping to improve on that time by a couple of hours.

Also this year plenty of new events.

Hit the North, a 12 hour enduro just down the road from here. A grass roots event with all proceeds going to charity , and a big party after.

Another highlight is the Dave Lloyd Mega Challenge 140 miles on the road in North Wales with 5000 metres of climbing, apparently one of the toughest sportive rides. Well we'll see.

But of course the Lakeland Lugger 150 comes first.

A mere 150 miles in the Lakes and 9000 metres of up.

I hope the weather is nice.

A Hilly 100

2008-02-11T10:42:00.000Z

James and I had a great ride out yesterday.

The rest of the story is on my on-one blog clicky here.

Snake Pass is Still Shut

2008-02-07T01:31:00.000Z

We couldn't resist yet again.

Forsaking, the mud peat and heather for a second week running, we lucky few did an anti-clockwise loop this time on the road bikes.

Up Highgate Rd., Rushup Edge, Mam Nick then down, and along the valley to Bamford, the easier side of the Snake Pass, Glossop and the kicker Chunal at the end.

An extra 100 metres of climbing this week, so just short of 1400 climbing. A smidge under 24kph average.

Beers in the Royal after with the boys from the Hayfield Hub.

Nice.

Chunal, Snake Pass, Winnats, Chinley Head

2008-01-30T22:57:00.000Z

James aka Crazy-Legs texted me today to suggest we might go out on the road bikes this evening for a short ride. I texted him back to suggest we might head over the Snake Pass, taking advantage of the fact that it is currently closed to traffic. Not the short ride he had in mind, but he couldn't resist.

It was a great ride in spite of the cold,wind and drizzle.

55Km, and just short of 1300 metres of climbing, a good workout.

My new bike is ace.

Runner or Cyclist ?

2008-01-28T20:05:00.000Z

Nearing the end of the month, and I have run as many times as I have been out on the bike.

The initial plan was to get in a little cross training, running up some hills of which there are plenty round here. After the first couple of inevitably painful runs, I've enjoyed the immediacy of chucking on some running shoes and heading straight out without the faff of organising a bike and accompanying accessories.

Into the hills visiting footpaths that are new has been great. Of course when you get back, there's no cleaning and maintenance required, just throw the Walshes in the corner until next time.

Yesterday a clockwise loop round the Kinder Horseshoe ~ 19Km and a couple of hours, fantastic.

Though my legs were proper sore at the end.

However, Dear reader cycling is not forsaken.

How could it be Mr Amtrak brought this round today.

A Planet X Carbon Superlight Ultegra equipped speed machine.

I guess I might be out on the road bike tomorrow......

Strathpuffer 2008 the aftermath

2008-01-24T00:09:00.000Z

I was smiling, it was early in the race, or I was chatting to a pretty girl , of which there were many.

The rest of the race did not go to plan,some details elsewhere

Next year of course.

Getting ready for the Strathpuffer 24 hour Mountain Bike Race

2008-01-17T14:30:00.000Z

This time tomorrow I'll hopefully be most of the 400+ miles up the road towards Strathpeffer, where on Saturday morning at 10 am will be the start of the Strathpuffer 24 hour mountain bike race.

I'll be doing the solo event race number 49, live streamed results can be found at http://www.sportident.co.uk/ .

I've started packing, and already have covered the dining room table.

Ice tyres, mud tyres, 3 full sets of waterproofs, 5 pairs of waterproof gloves, 8 pairs of padded shorts, hats, waterproof socks, gels, tools, tubes etc etc.

For lights I'll be using a Dinotte 600L on the bars, and a 200L on the helmet. 7 Lithium Ion batteries should see me through the 18 hours of darkness. Somewhat different to the 18 hours of sunlight in the summer 24 hour events.

Anyway back to the packing, lots more to do.

Thanks to Stu for loaning his Dirt Worker, and Andy Champion for his Gazebo.

Excercise resumed

2008-01-02T14:29:00.000Z

The shoulder is loads better now. I manged a couple of hours out on the bike on New Years eve. Then a run up Lantern Pike on New Years Day.

Great to be out and about again.

Hope you all have a good New Year.

Seasons Greetings

2007-12-21T01:32:00.000Z

It's been a while......

Time of year S.A.D. and all that maybe.

Though apart from the darkness, some weeks back I came off my bike and dislocated my shoulder details here.

Look forward to being out there again soon.

Happy Xmas

Team On-One.co.uk do Duathlon.

2007-11-05T22:23:00.000Z

Brant Dave Paul and myself spent last Sunday morning competing in the Haworth Mudman Duathlon.

As far as I'm aware none of us had ever done one of these events before. 5K run 20K off road bike ride then 3k run. The route was great as was the weather.

Dave finished just behind me on the run, then cycled like a demon to finish in 3rd place overall and 1st in his age category.

I finished 11th in my age category which I was reasonably pleased with. I must start running regularly again.

Results here.

Heading towards the finish.

The Brian Rourke Cat and Fiddle ride

2007-10-07T23:02:00.000Z

I've not been riding recently due to some chesty coughy type lurgy, that just got worse when I put the hammer down.

However today things seem a little better. Started with my mates (sorry for not waiting)

Just over 3 hours for the 55 miles from Stoke on the Surly fixie.

..........Of all the hiils the last little ones hurt the most.

Lantern Pike Fell Race 2007

2007-09-16T20:15:00.001Z

Skye competed in her first fell race on Saturday at Hayfield Sheepdog trials.

Competing in the Under 8s at the age of 5 she didn't win. 10 minutes of running up and down a hill with straw bales by the side of the fences, so the kids could get over. Skye said she really enjoyed it.

Last year when I did the (adult) race I vowed I'd never do a fell race again.

Anyway at 2pm I was there on the start line, not having run since April, and still retaining the fuzziness from the previous night's red wine.

The pain was incredible. Though amazingly at the end I was 2 minutes faster than last year.

No doubt I'll be back again next year.....

New Camera

2007-09-02T19:09:00.000Z

I've just got my paws on a new camera. A Canon G7.

It took ages to come to a decision on which camera to buy. I wanted something small, yet with some manual controls.

I know the G9 has just come out, but this was substantially cheaper.

Early pics suggest I got a bargain.

Wales in pictures.

2007-08-27T10:20:00.000Z

Just back from a weekend in Wales.

Incredibly it didn't rain.

The 24hr race that didn't go according to plan.

2007-08-13T16:11:00.000Z

Sleepless in the Saddle, well that was the plan.

I felt rubbish from the start, no excuses really, just not firing on all cylinders. Except the power of explosive multiple bowel movements.

I managed to last for about 10 hours and 10 laps, before my body said no more.

A proper rest for a while should hopefully do the trick, before heading up to the dales for some 3 Peaks training.

Delamere

2007-08-07T00:15:00.000Z

Had a great ride out tonight in Delamere with the usual crowd. A steady ride with some gloop undertyre, but no rain. Great to see Andy for the first time in a long time there. Less training more riding with your mates please eh?

I hammered my knees yesterday, so I came with the "easy" bike, the Commencal.

I took the Commencal out for the first time since the Mega Avalanche. I hadn't changed it's setup, ie heavy tyres, bash, big disks.

Ooh I was so slow.

The muddy Selkirk Merida

2007-08-06T10:20:00.000Z

The overnight rain didn't bode well. Sure enough the morning arrived, and there were puddles everywhere in the field.

Off at 10am, along the road for the first few miles, before the route headed upwards off road. I'd set off middlish in the field so plenty of bottlenecks, but at the end of the day the event was not a race, more a mountain bike audax.

Once the field spread out a bit the Scandal made light work of the conditions underfoot. Surefooted even on the proper slippery bits.
There were 4 main climbs, which though not particularly steep, left few opportunities for rest on the way up. Thankfully the descents were not to steep either, so I could spin down with out too much braking.

A good event, with the most amusing bit being me and Terrahawk on his SS trying to, and catching up with some guys on the black descent at Innerleithen whilst managing to drop a guy on his Heckler. He'd been ribbing us about the disadvantage of not having gears and suspension.

6:45, 88 KM, 2900 metres of climbing, a tough ride on the fixie.

http://lakelandlugger150.blogspot.com/

2007-08-02T17:48:00.000Z

The Lakeland Lugger 150 has it's own blog now.

To be found at http://lakelandlugger150.blogspot.com/

Mega Avalanche Race 2007. Ouch.

2007-07-31T21:03:00.000Z

Wow, Whoooo, Whoopee, Whoa and Ouch.

5 words that sum up hurtling down hills near Alpe D'Huez from a non "downhill" guy.

We spent an ace week in Allemont camping at the "Grande Calme". Met loads of nice peeps, French, Dutch, German, and even some Brits.

The riding was mad. I'm used to sore legs and lungs, not sore hands from braking.

I met and rode with some guys who were well out of my league. Good to learn loads of new technique, that is for the brief while I could stay with them boys. I crashed a few times, maybe 8/10 for effort, thankfully pads and the full face helmet saved most of the blood letting. Sadly Neil we met on evening one had broke his collar bone by afternoon two. There were plenty of other casualties too over the week. Glad to have paid for helicopter insurance, even if on this occasion I did not need it.

The qualifing race was good, I took it easy not aiming for a high place, just aiming to get to the end.

Race day, and a start of 8:30 onwards meant a leisurely start compared to the fast boys. The glacier was slushy and rutted at the top. Nothing for it, than to pick a line and to lob oneself down the hill. Avoiding the other (over) enthusiastic riders being the key.

Proper rocky stuff follows then, singletrack, grassy stuff, wet stuff, etc etc zzzzzz.

Hurtling down a grassy slope, tarmac in view, a small "hazard" sign shows. I've ridden this before, but can't remember what might be the hazard, then, crash. I'd scrubbed a bit of speed, though not enough to stop for the 2 foot deep ditch, and yet not enough speed left to jump it. Straight over the bars, landing on my shoulder (armour) and soon after full face helmet.
The crowd goes Oooh.

Up, check, unharmed, and I'm off again.

Raced as hard as I could to the bottom.

8th out of 30 odd in the Mega Infinty for the over 40s

Alpe D'Huez Fixed.

2007-07-23T15:48:00.000Z

I like lots of cyclists have always fancied my chances against this legendary climb.

Unfortunately the only bikes I have on this trip are the Scandal and my beefed up Commencal for the Mega at the end of the week.

The lowest gear I could find in my box was equivalent to a roadie 39:23.

Would it be low enough, or would I be reduced to walking ?

Ann and the kids left me at the bottom of the hill by the roundabout. Within minutes the gradient kicked upwards. No warming up on this ride 14.5 km to the top, with an average gradient of 8ish%, and 21 hairpin bends, and this is the first of them.

I see my first target as I approach the second bend,a roadie who is having a steady ride up the hill. I by contrast am on the edge of my game unable to sit down, just stomping on the pedals, can't go slower, can't go faster.

I pass him, and shortly after, am myself passed by a roadie in somewhat more of a hurry. I try to tag on, and almost immediately go into oxygen debt.

I realise that trying to race people up this hill is going to result in disaster, so I settle into a rhythm, and vow to save any 'racing' for the last couple of bends.

Ann and the kids were going to cheer and take pics, and heading towards bend 10, I could hear the kids ringing the cow bells they have for use at races and the like.

Go daddy go, or something like it they shouted as I headed by. Ace to have the encouragement.

There were a couple of sections that lulled me into thinking that the worst was over, but of course there was always a little extra raise in gradient to show me that it was not so.

With 4 bends to go I looked at my watch, and though realising I was going to be outside Pantani's record, I might just get in under twice his time.

Head down, I dug deep.

1hour 14 minutes 58 seconds.

Tour Mont Blanc Day 3.

2007-07-22T19:10:00.000Z

Eating breakfast on the way up to the Col de Bonhomme. Hard graft pushing for the most part.

From the summit, really technical riding for the first section, thereafter easier, though loads of walkers (today being Saturday).

Good to bump into an old friend on the way down, Al Powell, who was doing the 2 day "Tour de Beaufortain" running race.

Once at the bottom more road. The climb up to Bionassay, and on to the Col de Voza being particualrly steep and tiring.

Anti climax on the final descent, as the VTT diversion was loose gravel and nowhere near as fun as the other descent.

A short day today, only 7 hours in the saddle.

Total of 175Km over the three days, moving time 22'52", giving a staggering average speed of 7.7kph.

Summary, a great route, which I walked anti-clockwise some 20 years ago. There's plenty of road, though don't underestimate the distance or the climbs, it's a tough ride, though with fantadtic scenery.

I'll be back.

Tour Mont Blanc Day 2.

2007-07-21T19:29:00.001Z

A more leisurely start to day 2. Away for 8 after a good nights rest.
Up towards Ferret and a sign for TMB shortly followed by a sign for la Peula.
It was steep from the start, but there were lots of walkers to chat with to numb the pain. Progress was painfully slow, including a sketchy 50 degree traverse across a shale slope. The people who I'd chatted with were now a long way up the hill in front. Any trace of a path had gone. Carrying the bike was now the only option. Up I headed for another 10 mins before stopping. This was like Simon Fell with shrubs. Retreat, the only option.
It seems in retrospect that though signed as TMB this was a variant. Not to worry, only 3 hours wasted.
Some time later I did get to la Peula. A coke and a tart apricot tart, my reward.
From there twas mostly rideable up to the Grand Col Ferret. Followed by another good descent, though mind the drainage ditches. A new country, and new driving habits, welcome to Italy.
Fast road down to Entreves, and then the climb commences into Val Veni, and on towards the Col de la Seigne.
Sore arse still, making it's self painfully apparent by now. Stunning views firstly of the Brenva glacier, and then towards the Col.
Late afternoon storms, are popular round these parts, and as I approached the Elisabetta Refuge, one started to rip.
I sprinted for shelter and avoided the worst of it. Behold though what is this a luxurious bivvy spot, that was left swept clean by another. After 10 1/2 hours on the go, I was tempted.
10 mins later the storm, what storm?

Sunshine, long shadows, and loads of Marmots. Pushing hard now towards the Col, and puffing a bit with the altitude.
Col de la Seigne 2516 metres attained at 19:27. Destination the restaurant at les Chapieux 13ish km away with 1800 of descent.
Having narrowly missed a Marmot at 53 kph on the descent, I was seated for dinner at 20:05.

Tour Mont Blanc Day1.

2007-07-19T17:11:00.001Z

Departed Chamonix at 4:55am. Followed the road mainly to le Tour, and had no problem seeing with my single Dinotte light.
From le Tour to the Col de Balme, is proper up. Weighed down by my so called lightweight camping gear I pushed more than I rode.

The Col de Balme

The descent to le Peuty was ace, singletrack heaven.

More road, over the Forclaz then 70kph descent towards Martigny.
Great? Maybe, but the next climb up to Champex really hurt. Or I should say my arse hurt. It seems a combination of wearing a 5kg rucksack and these shorts result in pain. Shame as nowt else hurts.
After a banana and ice cream pancake, onwards to la Fouly. A mix of more great singletrack and road. After 65k and 3000m of up, i've had enough for one day. Grand Col Ferret 1st thing tomorrow, 750m up.
At least I won't have to sit on my sore bum for a while longer.