Is anyone out tomorrow night, and if so is it on road or off road, just want to know whether to bring a bike or a canoe!!
Well having set myself the early season challenge of cycling from London to Paris, I decided that I needed something to aim for at the end of the season (it's all Graham's fault for setting goals last year). So, I have decided that I am going to ride the Dusk till Dawn Solo !! My goal is only to finish, I don't care what position I am in - although not last would be a bonus. My entry is in, and ther are only 811 places left - right now I can't see any other Plumz guys entered. So who else is up for Dusk till Dawn Solo - it would be great to have lot's of Plumz guys to chat too as you pass me.
Guys, A friend of mine is planning on doing the HONC this year, and is wondering what tyres to go for. I know a number of you have ridden it - any advice on tyre choice?
For those of you that have seen the Tacx Imagic/Fortius, you can also buy Real Life Video's where you can ride on the trainer whilst viewing DVD quality footage.. Now a German guy has produced a guide to creating your own Real Life Video's. The translation is a bit dodgy, but it's got to be worth producing some of our own classic's? http://www.carstenjost.de/dijg/howto/anleitung_en.html
Well it seems a long time since that fateful night in March when I hit the fence, but on Monday I had an operation to remove the damaged cartilage in my wrist (which explains why I could only ride for about 30 minutes before being in pain). I am now not allowed to ride at all for 3-4 weeks, but hopefully by xmas I'll be properly back on the bike - looking forward to some Tuesday night rides again.
Well I have done my first road race, so how did it go.
I started in the slowest group (naturally), but I am not sure how Brownie ended up in the same group as me, and even less sure have Graham ended up in the group starting 2.5 minutes later.
Just after two o'clock we were off - quite literally for some, as someone managed to fall off before he even started, it was just like to old Friday night races. Anyway we soon regrouped and set off trying to get as much time as possible on those behind - someone had told me these races started slowly, well not this one. Sure enough I was dropped after about 3 of the 30 miles, and then spent the next lap and a half hanging on to each group that passed for a few minutes.
After the 3rd lap I joined up with a couple of people who were more my pace (i.e. slow), and I think the 3 of us were last on the road, but we got a bit of through and off going and suddenly we were flying, and for a little while I forgot about the pain and really enjoyed it.
On the last hill I even managed to get the jump on the other two in the group and didn't finish last - so my two targets for the year achieved. 1) Finish a road race and 2) Finish a road race not last. Next time I'll try and hang on to my group a little longer.
Will I do it again, you bet I can't wait for next week.
Stumbled across this sale today. Appears to be some bargains going, picked up an I-Beam saddle and post for the new bike, saddles are £20 a pop vs £55 on CRC. These I-Beam saddle / post combo's are very light - Steve has one on his new Lightspeed
Here is the Elevation profile for the 1st round of the NCRA Handicap Race
OK - One of my goals for 2007 was to enter a road race, so far I have bought myself a road bike, joined a club and finally last night got round to joining BC and applying for a license.
Now all I need to do is actually enter the spring series - does anyone know how to actually enter the race. I have an address of the organiser, I know the fee, but I can't find an entry form, or does one appear on the BC website once my license application has been approved?
OK - I have decided to join British Cycling as I need to get a race license. They are currently running a competition where you can win some stuff in you recommend a friend to BC. Both people win a prze - see here
So - First person to reply with their name and membership number will be entered to the draw.
Guys,
I need to be back home by about 7.45pm tomorrow night, so any chance we can ride out in an Orlingbury kind of direction?
For those of you interested in some Spring time skinny tyred racing, here are the dates for the Spring series.
Sat 03/03/2007 14:00 NCRA Hcap Spring RR 1
Sat 10/03/2007 14:00 NCRA Hcap Spring RR 2
Sat 17/03/2007 14:00 NCRA Hcap Spring RR 3
Sat 24/03/2007 14:00 NCRA Hcap Spring RR 4
Sun 01/04/2007 14:00 NCRA Hcap Spring RR 5
Only 7 weeks to go this Saturday
Well, I decided to brave the weather, and took the family out to the Cats Christmas Cracker Trailquest. Weather held of for most of the event, and it was a lot drier than riding on Saturday was. We rode as a team, Fiona myself and the two eldest riding, the youngest in the Burley. Didn't think we did too badly considering the kids are only 7 & 9. We covered just over 20 miles in the 3 hours, and collected 100 points, losing only 7 for being 6 minutes late.
If you are interested here is the route we followed.
Anyone seen this - the Pennine Challenge100 Mile off road Cycle race, or especially for Steve, the 150 Mile duathlon. A 26.2 mile off road marathon, then the 100 mile bike ride, then another 26.2 mile off road marathon. Apparently no-one finished it last year
So what is the plan for this Tuesday, will it be mud or road - Just want to know what tyres to put on.....
A few of you were asking about the Welland Valley Cyclo Cross. The event is taking place next Sunday (10th December) @ Misterton Hall
Races are as follows: -
Under 12s, at 10.30am.
Youth 11.00am £4.50;
Junior/Vets/Women 12.00pm £8;
Seniors 13.30pm £8
Misterton Hall is situated on A4034, Junction 20, M1.
I'll be there for the Under 12's race, but not racing in the Senior's. Is anyone else going?
 Well having thought about it for the last three years, I have finally gone a bought a rode bike. The question is now, what pedal's to go for. It has been about 20 years since I last had a road bike, so I'm a bit out of touch.
Had a quick flick through this months STW, and there is a picture of a Plumz rider, the picture is taken from behind, so come on who was it - I know it wasn't Jack - not enough hair!
View from (the back) – FNSS Round 2 Milton Keynes Bowl - Paul Morris
Well it was time for me to start FNSS racing again, having missed the first week.
It was good to meet up again with people I hadn’t seen since last year, then I set off to do a recce of the course and warm up. In contrast to last year I managed to complete the whole lap without getting lost – although I did meet a few people going the opposite way to me!
Soon it was time to start, so we lined up in the middle of the bowl. Tom and I took up a position in the second row with about 10 other riders, the remaining 70 riders decided to all take up a position in the front row. Given that about 100 yards after the start we were all to go through a 6 meter wide gap, it was obvious there was going to be a problem. Maybe we should have followed last years example and gone for a rolling start – It seemed to work well – less crashes and queuing later on.
After a near false start, we were off. Tom and I decided to not join the mass sprint for the first gap, but the sight of 70 riders converging on a 6 meter gap was quite interesting, and we settled down to watch the inevitable crash. Sure enough a few people went down, and the pace at the back was reduced to walking speed. Someone next to me snapped a chain and exited straight over the handlebars – Snapped chains seemed to be a theme for the evening. Tom managed to keep going, and that was to be the last I saw of him, except in the distance
Once through the cones we were back across the middle of the bowl, and the race was spread out into one long line – I had forgotten how fast the starts were at these races. Shortly we hit the first bit of singletrack and joined the inevitable queue that had formed, and that was pretty much what it was like for the first lap, queuing through the singletrack, and then trying desperately to make up a place or two on the wider sections or the tarmac. I managed to make up a couple of places, and was pleased that after about 30 minutes I had not been lapped (something of a record for me). I did notice that there appeared to be quite a few people standing at the side of the track – most holding a snapped chain, not sure how many in total but I think I saw about 3 or 4 people out through chain problems.
The sky was getter darker by now, and at first the light drizzle was quite refreshing, then there was a torrential downpour. The singletrack which up to that point had been twisty, fast and fun was now like riding on ice. People in front didn’t so much fall off, they just disappeared sideways of the course. I was riding with Ken Bolton at this point, but just after someone fell I managed to pull ahead and kept ahead for the rest of the race.
Soon enough I was lapped, but managed to keep ahead of a few people who had lapped me last year, so overall I was quite pleased. I think I finished around 30th, but won’t know until the results are published. Next week will be Sulby Aerodrome, and I am looking forward to that ploughed field already J
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