Wednesday, 8 August 2012
Postie
If Postman Pat swapped his little red van for a bicycle then I'm sure it would look like this...
This is the electric bicycle that the Ceret postie uses.
It would be good to see these adopted in the UK, painted red of course apart from the gold ones to match the pillar boxes.
This is the electric bicycle that the Ceret postie uses.
It would be good to see these adopted in the UK, painted red of course apart from the gold ones to match the pillar boxes.
Tuesday, 7 August 2012
Category 2 punishment
The holiday in Ceret gave me the opportunity to go for a pedal almost every day. I found some great routes but the distances were short'ish as the temperature was hot and I carried only two bidons. Hydrate or die! Unlike the Alps, the Pyrenean villages and towns don't have fountains or troughs of potable water, so my ride times were restricted to about two hours.
When in the mountains find a climb - the tougher the better.
Our holiday villa was at the foot of the climb to Col de Brousse and I'd read beforehand that it was a 10km climb, averaging 7% with a maximum of 8.5% to a summit of 860metres; a cheeky Category 2 climb then. I found out the hardway that someone's pants were on fire. Liars!
From the villa, my route started on a gentle ascent through a new housing development, following the AR sportive event road markings into the town where it passes the Gendarmerie and then the climb begins at a comfortable 6% through more residential streets.
At this point I was still on the big chainring, sometimes riding out of the saddle to get around the blind sweeping corners quickly. The road narrows to a tight two car width but there are still houses, becoming grander, and so there was an occasional car. I flicked down to the small chainring when I saw 8% reported on my Garmin and passed the turning for the Coll de Boussells, AR-se marked route.
The road narrows further at this point, no more houses and you begin to get great views to the right. The gradient settles into a 6% to 7% lulling you into a comfortable rythm and I kept my cadence around 80rpm, congratulating myself on my choice of bringing the Van Nicholas Chinook with C50 wheels and 12-25 cassette.
After a couple of lacets (hairpin bends) the climb starts to rear up again. The Garmin was showing 9% (surely not, as the climb is reported as having an 8.5% maximum), then increased to 10% and my heart rate joining it exponentially. The road is exposed at this point, rock face to the left and a sheer drop to the right. I could hear the rumble of my carbon wheels echoing on the cliff to my left.
The 10% section feels as though it lasts for miles and my legs began to tingle with the exertion so it is was a relief when the road eases off to a more level section of 2% where I was able to spin the lactic acid out. Up until this point the road follows the mountain counter-clockwise, so there is little shade and it was bloody hot. My mouth was parched; constant sips from the bidon providing short relief in the heat and my heavy breathing. I sounded like a train.
The climb then enters the trees, giving shade, but the gradient begins to rise up again. In the first section of trees I could hear bells, similar to Alpine cow bells but less of a dong and more of a ding and the road became littered with dung...
...Goats. A small herd with the farmer sharing his semi-detached home with them.
After the farm I regretted not bringing my climbing C24 wheels with a 28-tooth sprocket. The road kicks up to 13% and settles at over 10% for a big segment. It was at this point that a huge bird of prey swooped out of the trees, it's feathers were a dark chestnut colour and the wing tips were splayed (a Golden Eagle?). It banked left disappearing between the trees and down the mountainside and lifted my spirits. Spirits lifted but with heavy legs, I toiled on with the chain firmly on the 25 sprocket and the Garmin indicating a 10% gradient and confirming I had been climbing for nearly 7 miles.
10km with a maximum of 8.5% - yeah right, my derriere!
At this point the road surface changes. The tarmac so far had been rough and uneven and I had made a mental note to be cautious on the descent, but now the road had recently been re-surfaced and it was covered in a fine, sharp, white gravel - deadly at speed, especially on corners. I spent the next mile or so crunching up the 9% to 10% narrow road, whereupon I was ambushed.
The road surface improved but I was greeted by a swarm of flies. Thankfully the summit was just around the corner and I quickly took a photo and jumped back onto the bike to come back down desparate to evade the flies.
I rode the 8 miles to the top on several occasions. The first time at an average of 8.4mph and my best time with an average of 8.9mph. On Strava, the KOM has an average speed of under 8mph so I thought I'd smash up it at the end of the holiday but had two problems; I got food poisoning from some bad mussels and, although I had recovered, on my final attempt I only managed 8.6mph average and then found my smartphone couldn't get GPS.
Another mountain ticked off. I don't think it has ever been a tour climb but it is a ball-buster and I highly recommend it. Just don't believe the description.
When in the mountains find a climb - the tougher the better.
Our holiday villa was at the foot of the climb to Col de Brousse and I'd read beforehand that it was a 10km climb, averaging 7% with a maximum of 8.5% to a summit of 860metres; a cheeky Category 2 climb then. I found out the hardway that someone's pants were on fire. Liars!
From the villa, my route started on a gentle ascent through a new housing development, following the AR sportive event road markings into the town where it passes the Gendarmerie and then the climb begins at a comfortable 6% through more residential streets.
At this point I was still on the big chainring, sometimes riding out of the saddle to get around the blind sweeping corners quickly. The road narrows to a tight two car width but there are still houses, becoming grander, and so there was an occasional car. I flicked down to the small chainring when I saw 8% reported on my Garmin and passed the turning for the Coll de Boussells, AR-se marked route.
The road narrows further at this point, no more houses and you begin to get great views to the right. The gradient settles into a 6% to 7% lulling you into a comfortable rythm and I kept my cadence around 80rpm, congratulating myself on my choice of bringing the Van Nicholas Chinook with C50 wheels and 12-25 cassette.
After a couple of lacets (hairpin bends) the climb starts to rear up again. The Garmin was showing 9% (surely not, as the climb is reported as having an 8.5% maximum), then increased to 10% and my heart rate joining it exponentially. The road is exposed at this point, rock face to the left and a sheer drop to the right. I could hear the rumble of my carbon wheels echoing on the cliff to my left.
The 10% section feels as though it lasts for miles and my legs began to tingle with the exertion so it is was a relief when the road eases off to a more level section of 2% where I was able to spin the lactic acid out. Up until this point the road follows the mountain counter-clockwise, so there is little shade and it was bloody hot. My mouth was parched; constant sips from the bidon providing short relief in the heat and my heavy breathing. I sounded like a train.
The climb then enters the trees, giving shade, but the gradient begins to rise up again. In the first section of trees I could hear bells, similar to Alpine cow bells but less of a dong and more of a ding and the road became littered with dung...
...Goats. A small herd with the farmer sharing his semi-detached home with them.
After the farm I regretted not bringing my climbing C24 wheels with a 28-tooth sprocket. The road kicks up to 13% and settles at over 10% for a big segment. It was at this point that a huge bird of prey swooped out of the trees, it's feathers were a dark chestnut colour and the wing tips were splayed (a Golden Eagle?). It banked left disappearing between the trees and down the mountainside and lifted my spirits. Spirits lifted but with heavy legs, I toiled on with the chain firmly on the 25 sprocket and the Garmin indicating a 10% gradient and confirming I had been climbing for nearly 7 miles.
10km with a maximum of 8.5% - yeah right, my derriere!
At this point the road surface changes. The tarmac so far had been rough and uneven and I had made a mental note to be cautious on the descent, but now the road had recently been re-surfaced and it was covered in a fine, sharp, white gravel - deadly at speed, especially on corners. I spent the next mile or so crunching up the 9% to 10% narrow road, whereupon I was ambushed.
The road surface improved but I was greeted by a swarm of flies. Thankfully the summit was just around the corner and I quickly took a photo and jumped back onto the bike to come back down desparate to evade the flies.
I rode the 8 miles to the top on several occasions. The first time at an average of 8.4mph and my best time with an average of 8.9mph. On Strava, the KOM has an average speed of under 8mph so I thought I'd smash up it at the end of the holiday but had two problems; I got food poisoning from some bad mussels and, although I had recovered, on my final attempt I only managed 8.6mph average and then found my smartphone couldn't get GPS.
Another mountain ticked off. I don't think it has ever been a tour climb but it is a ball-buster and I highly recommend it. Just don't believe the description.
Monday, 6 August 2012
Missing from the TdF
It has just occurred to me that there were two characters missing from this year's Tour de France
1. Didi Senft
Apart from selling his soul and appearing in the Wiggle advertising campaign, Didi was absent from the tour whilst he was recovering from brain surgery. Get well soon!
2. Dirk Hofman
No sign of the sign?
1. Didi Senft
2. Dirk Hofman
No sign of the sign?
Sunday, 5 August 2012
Casquette
I wear a cotton cap under my road cycling helmet all year round...
A casquette keeps the sweat from running down your face. In winter it keeps your head warm and keeps rain off your face. It will extend the lifetime of the helmet liner pads and, in summer, it stops your nose from getting sunburnt and if you are bald (like me) or have a shaved head it saves you looking like...
A casquette keeps the sweat from running down your face. In winter it keeps your head warm and keeps rain off your face. It will extend the lifetime of the helmet liner pads and, in summer, it stops your nose from getting sunburnt and if you are bald (like me) or have a shaved head it saves you looking like...
Holiday and training
The family holiday this year was in Ceret, a small town in the Languedoc Rousillon region of France. The town is surrounded by Cols and close to the border with Spain, so, as you probably gathered by my previous post, my son and I took our bikes.
My (soon to be 11 years old) son has now started his own list of mountains he has ticked off with the Col de Llauro and Coll de Boussells. Both were tough climbs and great achievements, especially given the 30+ degrees centigrade temperatures. The Boussells climb took him a few attempts and it reminded me of the story of the great Gino Bartoli who, in his youth, would ride home from school on his fixed wheel bike and attempt to climb the 18% hill at Moccoli, each time getting a few metres higher before having to stop and walk.
The ride to Boussells follows a marked out route with AR painted on the road for a 20km Sportive Event. We followed the AR-se (chuckle) signs and on the first attempt my son couldn't conquer the 8% section so we turned back and completed the shorter, 6km AR-se route (twice!).
As we descended we passed another cyclist on his way up. The rider was on an old bike, was wearing a big floppy hat and he was maintaining a good pace, looking 'useful', like a Grimpeur; a climber. My son and I wondered whether we had just seen the reclusive Robert Millar out stretching his legs.
My (soon to be 11 years old) son has now started his own list of mountains he has ticked off with the Col de Llauro and Coll de Boussells. Both were tough climbs and great achievements, especially given the 30+ degrees centigrade temperatures. The Boussells climb took him a few attempts and it reminded me of the story of the great Gino Bartoli who, in his youth, would ride home from school on his fixed wheel bike and attempt to climb the 18% hill at Moccoli, each time getting a few metres higher before having to stop and walk.
The ride to Boussells follows a marked out route with AR painted on the road for a 20km Sportive Event. We followed the AR-se (chuckle) signs and on the first attempt my son couldn't conquer the 8% section so we turned back and completed the shorter, 6km AR-se route (twice!).
As we descended we passed another cyclist on his way up. The rider was on an old bike, was wearing a big floppy hat and he was maintaining a good pace, looking 'useful', like a Grimpeur; a climber. My son and I wondered whether we had just seen the reclusive Robert Millar out stretching his legs.
During our two week holiday there was a huge forest fire nearby which created a fabulous sunset...
Thursday, 2 August 2012
The intent was clear...
We turned left onto the start of the local training climb and I spotted another father and son cycling grupetto emerging from their driveway. I gave a pleasant 'Bonjour' but I could see the 'look' as they quickly tried to get the measure of us.
I shifted up two sprockets - tok, tok - then reached over and put my right hand on the small of my son's back and gradually raised our pace. "Why are we going so fast dad?" my son asked and the answer was obvious; my Silly Commuting Racing instincts had flared and I wasn't going to lose our scalps to Monsieur Bianchi et fil.
We didn't receive any competition on the five mile climb to the top of the Col de Llauro but I imagine it has seen some great battles and time trials regaled in the local cafes.
One of the best cycle racing stories I have read recently is Three Bent Links by Jon Wyatt. The third short story in the e-book is written so imaginatively I genuinely felt part of the hard-fought commuter race. The other two short bike related stories are as good and the book is worth spending the few pennies to read on Kindle.
This is the view from near the top of Col de Llauro and you can just make out the Viaduct de Rome in the background.
I shifted up two sprockets - tok, tok - then reached over and put my right hand on the small of my son's back and gradually raised our pace. "Why are we going so fast dad?" my son asked and the answer was obvious; my Silly Commuting Racing instincts had flared and I wasn't going to lose our scalps to Monsieur Bianchi et fil.
We didn't receive any competition on the five mile climb to the top of the Col de Llauro but I imagine it has seen some great battles and time trials regaled in the local cafes.
One of the best cycle racing stories I have read recently is Three Bent Links by Jon Wyatt. The third short story in the e-book is written so imaginatively I genuinely felt part of the hard-fought commuter race. The other two short bike related stories are as good and the book is worth spending the few pennies to read on Kindle.
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