Saturday 22 June 2013

Reunited

3 weeks on and bike and rider are back together on the road...


Body courtesy of NHS

Bike courtesy of Owens Cycles, Petersfield

The NHS have given unbelievable support, from the paramedics who spent an hour and half cleaning me up at the scene, to the A&E staff at St Richards, Chichester and the surgery team at QA Portsmouth.

Equally Owens have done an amazing job at a very reasonable price to get the bike back as new, even sourcing original forks from France.

Thanks to them all I'll be on my way to Paris in 2 weeks time!

Friday 7 June 2013

Ouch!

7 months and 1800 miles of training, just undert 70 miles into a 150 on Sunday, the last 'big' ride before L2P, averaging just over 17 mph, feeling good...
1 sec, 1 sunken drain cover hidden in shadows, a newly surfaced road and ... bang!

6 xrays (shoulder/collar bone, ankle, elbow, 3 x fingers) all OK; Op wednesday to fix hole in elbow (worn through to bone) - cleaned up and stitched, no need for a graft fingers crossed!

On the mend and so's the bike.... 4 weeks to go and firmly focused on July 6 and 7, I'll be there...




Thursday 23 May 2013

Variety is the spice of life....

A weekend of hills and descents along the South Downs Way; 14 hours from Friday eve to Sunday noon 100 miles, 11,000 ft climbing (and descending!) with perfect conditions and some great company....

The Start...

Almost there ...

PS Credit to Photographer Andrew who couldn't get into shot!

Tuesday 30 April 2013

240 for the weekend!

At the finish of the Evans Watlington Epic 87 miles for the day, 240+ for the weekend, still standing - definitely smiling!

Saturday 27 April 2013

The long and winding road (that goes up and down a lot!)

Last night's 'epic' started with a sprint in from Woking to Hyde Park ready for the overnight ride to Brighton.  A lovely night ride with some lovely quiet roads, very cold but dry weather, tea and sandwiches with the Scouts at the Edifice and early morning sun over Ditchling Beacon before the descent into Brighton for breakfast. Then the long grind back to Petersfield, not helped by a northerly headwind and a troublesome Garmin sending me 8 miles out of my way.  All in all a touch over 140 miles, all completed before midday and no rain!

Looking startled outside my namesakes shop....

Sunrise on Ditchling .....


Wednesday 17 April 2013

New Forest Epic - Wind, Rain (of course) and Protests ...

Saturday saw the New Forest Epic covering the 87 miles in 5 hours 36 - missing the gold time standard by 0.005 miles per hour over the duration! Still cycling to and from the event saw me clock up over 100 miles in the day despite the rain and force 4 - 5 winds coming straight off the Solent, lovely!

A dry start ....

Followed by rain .....

Pain is just weakness leaving the body....

And of course, there were protests....

"A mass cycle ride through the New Forest was targeted by vandals throwing metal tacks in the road, organisers have claimed.....

Police said about 35 protesters had blocked the road at Blackwater Forest car park on Saturday morning but dispersed when officers arrived"

Saturday 30 March 2013

What a night....

First overnight run with the 'Friday Night Run to the Coast' club.  Hyde Park to Felpham with temperatures touching - 2oC in places.  A lesuirely ride down with the highlight being sunrise at Pulborough.  Great breakfast at the Lobster Pot and then the ride back over the South Downs to home.  For once no snow (or rain or wind...)