Welcome!

Needs must. It's time to get active again.

Having all these bikes in the garage I might as well use them, as they probably aren't worth much any more. Cycling got trendy, the Wiggins effect, and my stuff is in between 'current' and 'old school'.  Nobody would want it. I'm not cool. So, lets use it.
I'm lucky enough to live in a great area for riding, beautiful countryside and many quite lanes. Races have got very expensive so I cant see me doing many of them. Sportives are the same. People paying £40+ to ride on public roads for a few free gels and bars. Not me ta.

One thing I have always struggled with is riding when not having goals. I don't appear to be a person who can just go out and ride a few times a week. No goals, no training plan = no pressure to get out. I'm an 'all or nothing' kinda guy when it comes to cycling. I can live like a Monk, not drink, eat healthily, sacrifice personal time for training, follow a plan religiously, but no plan? I don't go out.
To be totally honest, it's almost been a decade since my racing days. Sure I've had a few seasons in between with some early races, but then colds, moving house, random excuses have got in the way. I'm 45 now (Feck) and am carrying three stone over my 'racing weight'. Time to change!

The olden days.


So how will this work then?
My cunning plan is to create 'challenges' for throughout the year;
Local rides like 'Devizes and back' along the towpath on the cross bike.
A lap of the Isle of Wight.
Go and visit friends and ride their routes,
and visit all the old places I raced and trundle around them, taking in the scenery, rather than starring at the wheel in front. Places like the Brecons and Bovey Tracey etc.
I'd love to do the Alps, I've never been to the climbs I have watched for many years on the Tour de France, but need to earn more money before that can happen sadly.

I have knocked up a list and it's below. If you have any suggestions, or fancy a spin, give me a shout!
Maybe a room for the night too for the ones further away? It might seem a bit stupid, blogging about little cycle rides when most of my friends are still racing at national championships etc, but for me, it could be the motivation I need. I'm hoping so.

Not much more to say for now. I'm kicking off with the 'ride every other day' challenge for December. Mostly on Zwift in the garage, due to working 8 - 4 every day, but it's a good start, especially in the crappy weather months.  Get the knees used to the cleats again, and the arse used to the saddle. I like Zwift, time goes quickly and it is very convenient.  

So, my list.   What's missing?


Mont Ventoux  (like everesting but equivalent to climbing Ventoux). 15 ascents of Faccombe.  50 miles. 5000ft of climbing.




Lap of the Isle of Wight. 70 miles.










Brecon. Llangynidr. The Tumble. (Weekend).



Cheddar / Burrington Combe.



Cycle over the Severn Bridge. Castle Combe to Chepstow. 28 miles x 2.



Cwmcarn bike park (mtb).



Nelsons Tour 100m.



Ride to Gold Hill, Shaftesbury and back. 90 miles.  (Think the Hovis advert)












Ride the cobbles. Arenburg Forest. Carrefour. Roubaix. 














Tour of Flanders hills. Belgium.









Ride on Portland and Jurassic Coastline.





Night ride around Greenham Common. Dusk til Dawn. (Mtb / cross bike).




Wayfarers Walk ride. Off road.




Newbury Audax route. The old classic early season suffer-fest.




Kintbury - Devizes - Kintbury.  Towpath ride. 70 miles. 











Lizard Point - Land's End - Lizard Point. 34 miles x 2







Battle in the bowl. CX Race 2 hours.











50 mile timetrials?  Really? 




Buxton / Peak District - winnats pass. Axe edge
And????




Comments

  1. Unknown3 December 2017 at 10:46

    I'll join you for Faccombe, that sounds like fun, in and odd sort of way.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown3 December 2017 at 14:22

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown3 December 2017 at 14:25

    Hi Chris, good for you. Will try to join you for some of your activities.

    ReplyDelete

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