Étape – one week to go

One week to go – last weekend of training, i'll be doing the usual 60km club ride saturday, then sunday either 100km spin or some swains circuits, then next week i'll be tapering myself silly and carb loading like a champ.
*one small footnote on the image, i never really gooed over specialized, but I guess s-works pro series is well... very pro and i certainly wouldn't kick this one out of shed.
**one further footnote on images, i'd like all images on my blog to be taken by me or have me in them but haven't mastered cycling and taking pictures yet, nor am I the master of time with ample on my side always

It starts here

well not here in Belgium and on itv4, but the excitement for me starts here, with me myself and I. Stage 7&8 look like the most interesting in the first week, I will be in France by that point, Charlie did you book a chalet with euro sport? Brilliant images by Brent Humphreys check out the rest of his Martin Parr esque tour series here

Nearing Religion

It feels like being a cyclist has given me a drive, a real sense of purpose, nearing a religion at times – it's what keeps me connected to the world, I need it otherwise I feel lost. There are other hugely important things in life, family, friends, working life, but I think cycling – it being driven by one's self – it is a great way to lose all external unseen forces, whether it be a difficult week at work, mounting bills or something someone said to you in the pub in passing – and pureify life once more, man, machine, natural elements, a starting point and nothing much else. And like a Catholic's hand over the flame we test our boundaries, our faith and suffer for our causes.

"I wanna work with machines and look handsome" Howard Devoto.

The other religious acts I have picked up along the way, with no priest or supreme being showing me the light, is the uniform, the cloth. laid out in wedding day detail before every ride. Its connected me to people I have known for a few weeks more than some people i have known all my life. And connected me to the passing – saying hello to fellow cyclists, dog walkers, joggers along the way, less so during rush hour and at men in vans – its best to revert to a harden city goer during times of great depression. I feel kinda privileged to able to lose myself in something which somehow resonates on a bigger scale. And yes at the end of the day its just a fucking bike ride. But...

Étape – two weeks to go

North (ups &) Downs

Went for a long awaited spin with my étape buddy Charlie yesterday – headed out for circuits of hills around the beautiful North Downs. Proved to be brilliant training – we took handful of steadier climbs over around 90km, they were longer grinds than i usually get in North of London coupled with some lovely descents which we both took joy weaving down. Final climb is definitely worth a wee mention, chalk pit lane, which almost got the better of me, probably cos i'd been racing up the hills all weekend. A 20% beast that keeps giving for around 1.8 km. At moments like this I'd like to thank my parents for my climbers physique.

Nocturama

The Smithfields Nocturne is here again this saturday – i'll be down cheering on the LP boys and Delia racing for VV. Ch4 16th June @ 7 for those of you who don't like crowds or London.
Good luck finding a spot to lock your fixie.(image from last years')

Coppa di Gelato - London-Southend-London 152km

Look at all that gelato on the otherside of the table, the sun was almost shining in their faces

Flap Jacks

Flap jacks definitely belong in that list along with coffee, bananas, merino wool, post ride cola – that cyclists love. and over the last few weeks i have been experimenting with my own recipes, to cut back on all the butter and sugar you get in shop bought ones, and to add more things like nuts, for recovery versions, more oats and banana for pre ride ones. recent highlights evolve inclusions of gram masala (an attempt to make more savory, after hours of sipping regular gels and electrolytes I crave something less sweet, although curry flavor at 6 in the morning wasn't the greatest idea – so with that in mind, a new batch of what i am calling the breakfast versions which include 2 espresso shots in the mix. The mix is made with ripe bananas (which is naturally sweeter, ie less sugar) mashed up which binds things so you dont have to use butter or oil. let me know if you like a recipe, and i'll attempt to write it down.