News, comment & blog

A sort of riding log. For more regular updates become a fan on face book Unfortunately, this page will only hold 10 pictures

29th July 2010 Dust and thorns

I took the Marin Rift Zone 100mm racer out last night. Hard work! There's nothing wrong with the bike but it is so fast. So fast that it just begs you to crank it up. This bike is so good and delivers so much that you'd feel guilty if you backed off on a climb, even when your legs are screaming.

The trails are great but watch your for over grown paths. I caught the bar and went down at the entrance to the single track not far from home. How is it you fall so hard and draw so much blood when going so slow? There were a couple of trails that need a mention. The climb into Patching Wood from the road at Michelgrove usually covered in crack flints appears to have been swept clean of stones - great to climb. The other is the infamous climb from Greyfriars Farm up to Chantry Hill. It is dry and smoothed to perfection virtually all the way. There's no reason for not making it now.

Finally, another comment about the bike. It begs to go up hill and fast. So with all that climbing I enjoyed heaps of fast technical downhill. The bike only has 100mm of travel but you'd never know. It is hard to describe but it descends as well as some long travel bikes that I have used. Well done to the UK design team.

25th July 2010 Drivers, what have we done in the UK to deserve such treatment.

Weight is everything. When we met up we discussed the weather - a slight chill at 8am. It was said that I had more insulation so I wouldn't feel the cold. True enough, I had a lot more insulation than my colleagues. It is not all lagging but I am 10 kilos heavier than my two riding buddies. They were out for a final spin before a week in the Pyrenees. On the flat we were even enough, in fact, as the ride went on I could even have been the stronger, but as soon as the road went up I not some much slipped but tumbled out the back. I must keep taking the Burner gels and get a few kilos off.

We had a nice ride but for two ignorant drivers.

Riding through Rustington, early in the morning and not a car in sight, a driver came up behind and nearly clipped our elbows. Naturally I shouted, I then took up the chase. As we approached the mini roundabout the driver went round and headed back to us to have a rant. We responded. He then came back up, buzzed us again then carved us up weaving from side to side threatening to force us into the curb or oncoming lane when we tried pass. What a nutter. A confrontation was imminent as we approached the red lit Pelican crossing. Stationary, he would not be as dangreous. But as we approached he simply drove through the red light. Was he afraid of us or such a bad driver that he did not notice. What was his problem? There were no other cars around! Silver Mondeo possibly NES 2OU

Next up, we were on our way back through Arundel, passing the cathedral, mass was on so there were cars parked everywhere. A 4x4 kept reving up and trying to pass. Where was he going to go? A gap appeared and he went by only to slam on the anchors straight in front of us at the junction at the top of the hill. To make a point I over took on the steep descent down though the town. The driver went ape blasting on the horn for what seemed like minutes. OK, I was in the wrong but driver confrontations change your mind set. Checking the data my heart beat leaps about 40beats.

At least we had a ride. Bon voyage mes amis!

19th July 2010 Put in my place

I'm always ranting about riding fast, that is what I like doing, but we all need putting in our respective places. Against some of my mates I get a really hard time trying to keep up and today, for the second time I couldn't catch a commuter. Now, if it was Chris McNamara on his way to Hove I'd be fine with that - he is a Pro Elite rider (look out for him on the TV), but for the second time running I've seen this sweet , slim young woman pass the end of my road. She has custom touring bike with massive panniers and uses a very low cadence. The low cadence gives the imporession that she is not really moving. Believe me she is. Admittedly, I've just pulled out of the drive but I don't seem to be able to close the gap. I always close the gap! Both times she has been held up by the Warren Roundabout lights and I have caught her up. She is very nice, and each time I tell her that I was trying to catch her. I then feel a cheat as I pull away on my light bike as she slowly grinds away in her big gear. By the time I get the the shop door she is back up to speed and flys through Broadwater on her way to work.

So, guys (girls excluded) next time you feel fast and macho in you baggies or slick and quick with your recently shaved legs beware of the normal people that cycle everyday around and through Worthing. There are loads of them. There are more cyclists with more interesting stories that you could ever imagine in our town. Meeting these cycling heros and heroines has been a bonus that I did not expect when I opened up the shop. Watch out some of them are quick.

16th July 2010 Secret ride

We tested some new bikes yesterday and were told to keep the ride a secret. Unfortunately, my face gives away the fact that we were riding. Watch out on the Monarch's Way on the easterly part of the trail from Findon to No Man's land - there is a bit of my nose hanging on a bramble. What lesson have I learnt? Never ever ride without glasses.

We'll review the bikes soon enough but I can report on the kit. This is my second outing on 10 speed, this time with a double. Up front I had a 39 and on the back a 36 so I never had to make a front shift for the whole ride even up the steep single track up the Tennants Hill. This track has been cleared by the trail fairies and is beautifull to look at as well as ride. As far as the 39 goes, I never found that I needed a bigger gear on the descents.

13th July 2010 Loads of riding

I don't know about you but I love riding, can't live without it. And like Lance, its not about the bike. The ride and how much you put in is what counts. My only problem is what do I ride. I have two truly awesome bikes, a shop full of demos and then there are the "specials" that suppliers lend us. I have resorted to leaving it for some one else to decide. I await my brothers call with real excitement to see if we'll be on or off road. Any roadies or mountain bikers may find this hard to understand but for me all I really want to do is to ride fast. Tight single track will seem quick even if you barely touch 15mph, speeding through a village at near 30mph will seem quick too. What facinates me is how quick you can go under your own steam. And then, when you are going quick, how much quicker you can still try to go....

Sunday was a great combination of road and off road. It rained and the roads were like ice. Three times I lost the back wheel and on one occaision, left the road and hit the gravel. Mountain bike technique kept me up and free from road rash. And despite the road ride I had to clean my muddy bike after the ride. I bet none of you riding off road had do more than blow off the dust.

5th July 2010 What out for dust!

Hard and fast was the plan yesterday. The trails are slippery with dust but I'm not complaining as they are so fast. Driest year since 1929!!! We did not have much time so we zig zagged our way up to Whiteways and then hammered back via the woods at Slindon, then Arundel and then home. Only 28 miles, 10mph average and only 1000ft per hour climbing. It seemed fster and higher! I'll blame my legs still aching from Friday for the poor figures.

Fox Forx owners beware of the dust. It is normal for Forx Forx to weep oil but with all this dust around the oily sludge will be damaging your forks. Get them down for a seal clean/service.

Spare a thought for Jes Wootton as he enters the Pyrenees. He is riding 7 stages of the Tour de France, ...And you probably thought that your next sportive was going to be tough.

3rd July 2010 Its better than the south of France

I went for a hilly and speed road ride last night, legs still aching from Tuesday. Hot and light till late in the evening. It doesn't get much better than this. I slipped in to a Tour de France dream as I climb a wooded climb on my way to Devil's Dyke. I love my road bike.

30th June 2010 Great to be bake on the bike again

Last night we went to Brighton to ride with Adrian Carter aka Mr Pace. He was staying with Jo Burt and the group was led by the Morvelo guys from Brighton. They took us through the city singletrack trails and up into the twisty, narrow trails in Stanmer Park. I was stunned but Jimbo said that we only touched a a small part of it. Then down to Wild Park and a race to the pub. At times the pace was blistering and from the out set I thought that I was going to blow. Maybe it was the gel or the excitment of riding again, whatever, I hung on and really enjoyed the final hammer session. Nothing beats riding on the limit!

Thanks to the Morvelo team, Rory for the invite, Jo for Mint, Adrian for company, Jimbo for being there, Andrew for pulling in as my legs were failing and finally to Phil for disregarding all group riding etiquette and laying down the gauntlet.

Good night out.

28th June 2010 National Bike week finishes with the Capital to Coast

I have helped at countless Sportives and montain bike endurance events but nothing prepared me for the Capital to Coast. At a sportive a rider might express concern that there is too much dust on his front derailleur and he/she feels that their three grand wonder bike needs a dusting to keep the weight down.... Capital to Coast is differnt. Many riders had locks weighing more than a sportive bike clamped firmly to there beloved steed. Once the riders started coming by all we did was fix bikes. How did they even manage to get this far? Wheels wobbling, brakes jammed on and hardly a gear working, the total value of bikes fixed per hour was probably less than one budget sportive bike. These bikes are so hard to work on and so very difficult to lift and clamp into the stand. Most had locks, often two,and saddle bags making the bikes even heavier. All credit must go to these riders as they approached the final hill: Devils Dyke. They were doing the ride for charity and the fifity odd miles was really tough in the sweltering 30 degrees. Whilst the distance may not seem far to some, bear in mind the type of bike and the fact that this may have been the only ride of the year and you start to realise what a challenge this was. Chapeau a tous. The star for me was a little girl, probably 10years old, covered in road rash, she blasted up Devil's Dyke leaving Mum, sis and many riders in her wake. A future British triathlete star in the making. .

26th June 2010 On the trails with a special bike

We have had a week of bike checks for National bike week and, ironically, I have had to drive in every day! I sacrificed the bike in order to help more people get cycling. Yesterday, Andy from ATB brought the Marin not so secret weapon, the 100mm wonder bike, for us to ride. If you've read these blogs you'll know how amazing this bike is. So Andy, Jimbo and I hit the trails. The Lion Trail is too good to describe in words. The 100mm bike which it is reviewed a month earlier than expected in the current What Mountain BIke is as good as ever. Is it as good as the Titus X? Better geometry and half the price! I have arranged to get both to do a back to back. I'll tell you then. Jimbo's review

The bike had the new SLX 10 speed. Nice to have 30 gear options but the trails are so good and fast this summer that I probably only used a total of 6 gears during the whole ride. Another reason for this was the size of the big ring: a 42 tooth. What you will find good though is that you may end up staying in the middle more rather than dropping into the granny. For me that is why I so liked the 34 that came with 9 speed. The 10 speed comes with a 36! Needless to say, Shimano have worked their magic again with faultless and effortless shifting. More news to follow.

The day finished with Darren doing what he does best in front of a crowd of adoring youngsters and stunned parents at the Thomas a Becket middle school fair. Daz wowed the onlookers as I egged them on the get him to jump ever higher. Thanks for you skill and support Darren.

20th June 2010 There's suffering and there's suffering

I often yearn for the feeling of extreme effort such as the guys at Mayhem experienced this weekend or any one pushing it in a race or even those on the London to Brighton. Suffering with a reward in sight.

Today I experienced another suffering, not one of hammering at the front but the suffering that comes from desperately trying to hang on at the back. I've not really been riding for a couple of months where as my riding buddies have been racing every week. Previously I'd be confident of leading them both on a long ride but not today..

This was not fun but I can't blame my lack of fitness on laziness as I can never be accused of being lazy. It is just that I am putting the work ahead of riding. The worse thing about this is that I feel ill amost of the time. Ride, and I feel better. I've always been like this - I need to ride to stay healthy. So from now on I'll make sure that get get a few more miles in. I may have the ability to suffer but I want the suffering on my terms. Barney, watch out!

Please note that for the average guy riding is not about suffering but, enjoyment, stunning views, acheivement, a laugh. I am the nutter, the exception not the rule. So enjoy your ride!

15th June 2010 On the road/trails again

What is the best thing about being ill when you are a sportsman/woman? No sport. No riding. That means rest and, as you know, rest is the most important part of any training program. Rest enables you to recover. I know that it is hell but in the overall scheme of things what's two weeks? I rode Sunday and despite trying to take it easy I was flying, the more I tried to restrain myself the stronger I felt. Add to that the perfect trail conditions, the fastest wheels off road imaginable (thanks Daz), a light bike and absolutely perfect shifting and braking (is it possible to better XTR?), I was in my element.

Neddless to say, despite aching legs, I had to have a spin out on the road bike last night. Why? Because I could.

Blog archive for older stories