Showing posts with label cycling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cycling. Show all posts
23 January 2013
God's own Country
8 January 2013
cycle of muscle
17 December 2012
20 November 2012
5 September 2012
Lon-cam-Lon: 166km: 29km/hr avr
16 August 2012
pardon the way i stare
Just discovered Sheffield's field cycles (via footdown blog) who by the looks of it craft so lovely track & cx frames and components. when i saw this integrated bar & stem paint job, a small rush of blood went straight to my head
11 July 2012
Etapé act 1 Report
In brief:
Position:3386 out of 10,000 (only 4422 riders finished)
Climbing time: 6hr57m
Finish time:10hr30
In Detail: Back home watching the highlights of stages I've missed while I was in the Tour myself. So that was indeed the hardest thing I have ever done, I knew it would be really tough but nothing like it actually was. After a stressed non stop day before arriving in race village, registering ourselves and bikes leaving hire car at finish line, shuttle bus back to village, taxi to our chalet, we got to bed with empty stomachs around 10.30pm, to be starting the next day at 4.30am. I hurried pasta and pesto into a bidon to eat on the way to the village, arriving in the pouring rain. Finally after around an hour wait in the start pen and much needed bitter coffee the peloton I was in set off at 7:00am. The start was naturally nervous by all riders around me, still wet we took around 12km over some – in places flanders-esq roads – to get to the first climb Col de la Madeleine, by now thankfully stopped raining and began drying out. I felt good taking it steady got to the top in under 2 hours I think. 20 minutes of descending didn't quite do the effort it took me to get up there justice. Then on the the Col du Glandon shortly followed by a wee descend and peaking at Croix de Fer. Now by this point I was starting to feel it, the sun beating down on us (someone told me it was 32ºC), with the sunscreen washed off my arms i was burning up. After an ass fight queue to get my bidons filled (a running theme), a decided not to hang round too much and crack on, I was around 6hr20mins in and at the start i was looking to get a time of 8ish hours. But believed the hard part was over – oh how I was wrong.
The "easier" climbs on paper were indeed the hardest on the day with Madeleine and CdF already in my legs. Spent Col du Mollard staring at the ground 50cm ahead of me, trying not to catch all the riders ahead snaking up the mountain. I was beginning to break up, my legs were fine even with the confident 12-25 (not particularly hill friendly) cassette I was sporting, it was the heat, I was on fire.
The final climb La Toussuir to finish I was in tears, my body was screaming at me to stop and get off, but I knew if i did i wouldn't start again. By this point I had made two rules for myself, not to stop and not to get off and push like the dozens around me. An english crowd spotted phoenix jersey and cheered me on, that was the moment I started crying. 10km to go was the longest of my life, once got into single figures I knew I had it, and even clicked down to a higher gear and raced it out, I wanted it to be over. The descents were brilliant though, closed roads great surface, really trusted throwing yourself into the corners. I actually enjoying going down for the first time ever. And it was all worth it for the pro tan lines I'm now sporting.
all packed
swiss air
pasta party in start village day before
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
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
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')
Look at all that gelato on the otherside of the table, the sun was almost shining in their faces
5th and first place machines respectively – and quoting Ben on the cross bike "who brought the gun to the knife fight" shows the class of the group that the guy who came 5th was on his cross/commuter mudguards, lights, rack et al.
And after i wiped all that snot, spit and tears from my face – had a nice cuppa tea.
Brilliant photos by Paul Wixon
Climbing time: 6hr57m
Finish time:10hr30
In Detail: Back home watching the highlights of stages I've missed while I was in the Tour myself. So that was indeed the hardest thing I have ever done, I knew it would be really tough but nothing like it actually was. After a stressed non stop day before arriving in race village, registering ourselves and bikes leaving hire car at finish line, shuttle bus back to village, taxi to our chalet, we got to bed with empty stomachs around 10.30pm, to be starting the next day at 4.30am. I hurried pasta and pesto into a bidon to eat on the way to the village, arriving in the pouring rain. Finally after around an hour wait in the start pen and much needed bitter coffee the peloton I was in set off at 7:00am. The start was naturally nervous by all riders around me, still wet we took around 12km over some – in places flanders-esq roads – to get to the first climb Col de la Madeleine, by now thankfully stopped raining and began drying out. I felt good taking it steady got to the top in under 2 hours I think. 20 minutes of descending didn't quite do the effort it took me to get up there justice. Then on the the Col du Glandon shortly followed by a wee descend and peaking at Croix de Fer. Now by this point I was starting to feel it, the sun beating down on us (someone told me it was 32ºC), with the sunscreen washed off my arms i was burning up. After an ass fight queue to get my bidons filled (a running theme), a decided not to hang round too much and crack on, I was around 6hr20mins in and at the start i was looking to get a time of 8ish hours. But believed the hard part was over – oh how I was wrong.
The "easier" climbs on paper were indeed the hardest on the day with Madeleine and CdF already in my legs. Spent Col du Mollard staring at the ground 50cm ahead of me, trying not to catch all the riders ahead snaking up the mountain. I was beginning to break up, my legs were fine even with the confident 12-25 (not particularly hill friendly) cassette I was sporting, it was the heat, I was on fire.
The final climb La Toussuir to finish I was in tears, my body was screaming at me to stop and get off, but I knew if i did i wouldn't start again. By this point I had made two rules for myself, not to stop and not to get off and push like the dozens around me. An english crowd spotted phoenix jersey and cheered me on, that was the moment I started crying. 10km to go was the longest of my life, once got into single figures I knew I had it, and even clicked down to a higher gear and raced it out, I wanted it to be over. The descents were brilliant though, closed roads great surface, really trusted throwing yourself into the corners. I actually enjoying going down for the first time ever. And it was all worth it for the pro tan lines I'm now sporting.
all packed
swiss air
pasta party in start village day before
1 July 2012
coffee for legs
Last 100km ride before the big match was hindered slightly with mech problems, so hastie drop off at LBS, on way home. On a positive note i have just used Elite tone cream for first time and my legs feel like they had a double espresso.
29 June 2012
Étape – one week to go
*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
23 June 2012
18 June 2012
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.
7 June 2012
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')
5 June 2012
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
26 May 2012
21 May 2012
25 April 2012
22 April 2012
my first TT
Brilliant photos by Paul Wixon
28 September 2011
using my head
So i've been planning to create this blog covering mainly my cycling and bike stuff as well as my love of coffee and design, the three things i surround myself most with at the moment, for a while.
But unfortunately had to put it on hold along with my entire life after a pretty gruesome crash a few weeks back.
I collided with a truck on a country lane on a blind corner probably at quite a speed – I have no memory of the accident at all, and have been in hospital for 2 weeks and at home resting for almost the same period. My head is fractured in 3 places and a have a few cracked ribs, as well as a bunch of small cuts. Which has left me with dizziness, memory loss, and general weakness. As well as a 24hr headache.
It is only really sinking in now what happened. which would be scarier if i could remember it i guess. at the earlier stages my head was full of what if's and maybe's but i realised everything in life could be viewed like that so i just had to be thankful with my lot. being this broken has just left me feeling frustrated. not working, unable to even stand up at times and not just getting on with things, feeling truly useless and anxious.
despite all this have to say I'm super keen to get back on a bike, well tiny bit nervous getting back up to the over 30mph mark. sure as hell not gonna jack it all in just yet, I'm not even middle aged yet (the glory days). And I wanted to do so much next year, join some races of some kind, cycle holiday, break my swains lane record...
Healing now seems to be going ok but i am incredibly impatient, and had a few really low days which have been tuff. at its worst it felt like a punch in the face every morning feeling sick and like i had a bag of sugar taped to my head. which now feels like a diner sachet instead. my teeth are still giving me grief, as is doing everyday things, dropping stuff, feels like walking and thinking in treacle. memory loss, mainly trival stuff except all my 29 years spent absorbing facts about films and music has taken a hit – the plus of this particular side effect i rewatched fargo the other day, felt like it was the first time, which has got me thinking about whether to re watch the wire. oh man i wonder if i remember goodfellas.
Its also a pretty good time to take stock, been writing lists in my head but forgetting them instantly. i'd like to think i'll be better person through all this but who knows might just end up with more tattoos and records i've wanted for ages.
The biggest thing that stuck me, other than the truck, was how great everyone has been, it has truly overwhelmed me – the hospital staff, friends, family, people in my life have been amazing, (you know who you are thank you) a special thanks needs to go to David and Delia – who have gone beyond their call of duty and I now feel a hell of a lot closer to them. And of course rebecca whose been my rock through all this. if anyone is reading this who is recovering from something, let me just say stay strong and surround yourself with people to combat those horrid dark days that creep up.
God speed – I'll let you know how the riding goes soon.
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