Wouldn’t it be great if the British got behind sporting events like this?
Sunday 19th June: A bit of a write off.
Today was supposed to be a tough day, and it was started with good intentions. The club run was set to be one I always seem to struggle with, which in itself should have been motivation enough to get me out of the door. But as I hoovered up my porridge the heavens opened an that was it. I hint of hesitation hit me and I ended up putting the coffee on again while watching the rain with one eye on the clock as my departure time came and went.
The forecast was due to clear up, and it has. Early in the afternoon I started out on one of my training loops but just wasn’t feeling it – so I bailed. This is the first time I’ve done this ever. Disappointing.
In an effort to make myself feel a little better I’ve given the bike a much needed clean and then found the video below from Rapha. I want to go for a ride now.
Posted in Random, Road Leave a comment
Time Trialling: My first attempt
Time trialling is not really something I’d ever been that interesting in, that is to say individual time trials – team time trials have the appeal of everyone working in tandem. Being a moderately competitive person, I’ve always enjoyed competing closely with others and essentially racing against yourself never really appealled. However, quite a number of my fellow clubmates at North Cheshire Clarion compete in the midweek Kilton 8.75 mile TT, which is quite local so I thought I would have a go. Read More
Posted in Biking, Road Leave a comment
Retro Milk Race
I’ve just found this great footage of the 1982 Milk Race. Some nice shots of the peloton racing through the city centre streets of Chester had me thinking about the Tour Series crits coming up in a couple of weeks. Read More
Posted in Biking, Random, Road 2 Comments
Condor Do Cobbles
With this being the season to embrace the cobbles, I have been looking around for some tips on bike prep to ensure the only thing I have to worry about falling apart is myself when taking on this most gruelling of cycling surfaces.
One of my favourites is this list of tips from the guys at Condor.
With my own little foray on to the cobbles and rough lanes of North Cheshire this weekend, I’ll be implementing a couple of these myself. Although, the problematic phantom creaking may mean that I’ll end up cheating with the mountain bike getting it’s first outing of the year. We’ll see…
Posted in Biking, Road Leave a comment
Rapha Roubaix Recce Run
With Paris – Roubaix coming up on Sunday here’s a video from Rapha riding the route of the Paris Roubaix Challenge. Enjoy.
Hors Course from RAPHA on Vimeo.
Posted in Biking, Random, Road Leave a comment
Why Take A Dog To A Bike Race?
In the 1981 edition of the Paris – Roubaix, the reigning World Champion, Bernard Hinault, was knocked from his bike by a small black dog with only 15km of the race to go.
Hinault got back on the bike and went on to win. This has become one of the most legendary Roubaix stories of all time.
Afterwards he claimed that he’d never liked racing on the cobbles.
The video below shows the crash and one of the best displays of determination cycling has seen.
Posted in Biking, Random, Road Leave a comment
Le Enfer du Nord: Paris – Roubaix
My sporting calendar has, by happy coincidence worked itself into a case study in tessalation. In the void left by the recently completed Six Nations Championship, falls one of my highlights. The Spring Classics.
These are brutal, one day races where the true hardmen of cycling are forged. This isn’t the sun soaked glory won in the high mountains of the Grand Tours, but cold and rainswept battles ground out on the cobbles and in the forests of Belgium and Northern France.
This Sunday sees possibly the greatest of the Spring Classics: Paris – Roubaix. The race earned the moniker “The Hell of the North” due to the route running through an area ravaged by shelling thoughout WW1 and has a fearsome reputation amongst cyclists complete with stories of career ending injuries, awful weather, pure grit and determination and gladiatoresque victors. Read More
Posted in Biking, Road Tagged Hell of North Cheshire, Hell of the North, Paris - Roubaix Leave a comment
The Cheshire Cat
Back in November I signed up for my first proper timed road cycling event; The Cheshire Cat Sportive. Given that I’m reasonably new to road riding I decided to go for the 67 mile or 100km option, rather than the herculean 100 miler, with the idea that it would only be a little more than my regular Sunday club runs.
I rose painfully early on the Sunday morning to load the car and travel to Crewe, the early start made no easier by the arrival of British Summer Time and the loss of an hour while I slept fitfully.
I rode to the start with a few guys from the North Cheshire Clarion. The plan was to meet up with a couple of other guys and ride together until the 67 and 100 mile routes split off. On getting to the start at Crewe Alexandra FC we realised that wasn’t going to happen. It was chaos. I joined the queue for my run through the timing gate while the other guys from NCC decided to crack on and just ride the route and see what happened as they had 100 miles to cover. Read More
Posted in Biking, Cheshire Cat Leave a comment
VCA 2010 – Street Downhill
For a number of reasons I haven’t been out on the mountain bike for a couple of months. I think basically I need some inspiration to get my RAD! back (not that my skills have ever been in anyway Rad).
This video has been knocking about for ages so what the hell…enjoy.
VCA 2010 RACE RUN from changoman on Vimeo.
