Anyway, what been going on? Well, mostly bike riding which I imagine is getting pretty predictable these days. I have been continuing my run of improvement in the Ashton Crit Races, and getting involved in some proper in the bunch racing. And I LOVE IT!!!
When I think back to the start of the season when I was getting shot out the back of the group almost from the start it seems like a million miles away. The last few races I've done have been brilliant, it started with a couple of damp races where there were only a few riders and we all stayed together and I thought it was just because there weren't many people and the races were slow. Then came a sunny week and a field of about 30 and somehow there I was, still with the group, making my way in the bunch, hemmed in on all sides and although not exactly relaxed handling it OK. In fact I was even giving other people a hard time for wobbling and doing random manoeuvres.The not so great thing about there being a bigger field is it's harder to score any points. I was particularly gutted a couple of weeks ago to finish 11th when points go down to 10th! Bugger!! Still I never thought I'd score a single point at the beginning of the season so have to be pretty pleased.
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| Check out the new wheels - defo go faster! |
Thanks for photography Mike Hutton who decided he'd come along for a laugh having been a keen cyclist himself a few years ago....I think he might be psyched for another road bike.
Next on the agenda was my first road race, now I realise that I've once again gotten myself involved in a completely male dominated sport - but really, 59 blokes and me - is that right??? No, would be the short answer. I'm a bit disappointed that there aren't more girls around who are willing to give this racing lark a go. Anyway, the 59 chaps and I set off on what I had assumed would be a flat circuit just outside Hull ( good opportunity to go and visit my sister!). Firstly the 7mile circuit was not flat and secondly it was helluva windy out there! The loop started with a short downhill and then turned onto the main drag, not super steep, but a headwind and uphill enough to make it hard work. After feeling quite chuffed to stay with the group on the uphill section I was somewhat disappointed to loose contact on the not very steep but very fast downhill half of the course. Anyway, so the short of it being I didn't last long with the 59 blokes, but at least I kept riding around in splendid isolation. I eventually got lapped as I was losing heaps of time on the headwindy uphill section as I couldn't hide behind anyone, but still I carried on and only when I got back to the start finish knowing that the peleton would be finishing shortly after did I stop to wait and watch the finish - imagine my surprise when only half the field finished.....where did they all go? Why would you just stop riding as soon as you got dropped - surely that's a waste of good training time?? I was bemused to say the least.
So hardly a lightning start to my road race career - still hopefully it'll get better?
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| Dan on Double Diamond |
Back from our jaunt to the east coast and we had to prepare to pootle off down to the south west and the fabled isle of Lundy. Now this was to be my third visit.....the first one in 2007 was sunny and lovely, but half the large team came down with the Lundy plague as did most of the people on the island so we were chucked off. The second in 2009 was windy,wet and utterly miserable in terms of back pain so we left early. I was hoping for a repeat of the 1st trip but without the plague. We set off from Ilfracombe and after a brief spell attempting the watch Olympic action, then trying to go to sleep the only other available course of action was to spend the rest of the journey vomiting up the chips I'd eaten before getting on the boat. Grim! Now I have a question, why would you have a boat designed for cruising along the rivers of Germany and then use it as a sea-going vessel? The bottom os too flat, the rolling and general up and down-ness it particularly seasick causing - and frankly the Bristol Channel is not the place for the MS Oldenberg - dear Lundy please get a better boat!! It would save your poor staff for a whole heap of cleaning duties and stop them from getting sick themselves.
Andy and Dan were made of sterner stuff than me although a high degree of concentration was required.
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| Me on Albion |
Once we arrived on the island things looked better, the sun was shining, the crags were dry and there was no sign of the plague. The next morning I awoke to find that the old back had decided that camping is really not what it was keen for and a protest should be staged, this protest lasted for 5 days and left me hobbling around and moaning! 2 of the days were wet and foggy so on those at least I had someone to talk too. I read a LOT of books. By the thursday I decided that I was mobile enough to give a bit of gentle climbing a go, so we headed off to the Devil's Slide for Albion which was very pleasant, followed by an alternative to Satan's Slip called Fear of Faust - that was me done for the day. On the positive side the skies had cleared and the sun was beating down so the suntan has been massively increased from the previous pasty white - now slightly off-white! Thanks Dan for the photos on the Slide.
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| Andy on Fear of Faust |
The last climbing day brought even hotter weather and after Dan had managed to tick Indy 500 (after having been to do it several times on other trips and been forced back by dampness) we headed for the Marisco Tavern and an afternoon of paying cards in the beer garden.
Then it was time for the dreaded boat return journey - but by some fluke it was almost calm and sunny and an altogether pleasant experience.
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| Our constant campsite companion - never gave up on the possibility of food! |
