The Evil Plan

So, having completed both a 300 and a 400 this year, my mind started to drift towards a goal for 2013. Now the obvious next step is a 600 and possibly a Super Randoneur award (complete a 200, 300, 400 and 600 in the same season) and this was the idea floating around inside my head for most of the summer. Do the Brian Chapman Memorial in Wales as my 600 plus all the rides I did in 2012, job done. That was until I read that it's London Edinburgh London this year. Now, this changes everything, a seed was planted and over the next few months a plan was hatched, books procured and read and last week a decision was taken. I am going to attempt London Edinburgh London. This will be the biggest thing I have ever attempted (never mind cycling, this will be The biggest thing in any area of my life) but my saving graces are (a) I'm pretty resilient/bloody minded (b) cycling is the only thing I'm actually any good at so if I can't do this... (c) other, lesser mortals, have managed. After all, how hard can 1400k actually be?

Anyway, I'm going to do it, I have a plan and you can follow my progress by clicking on the LEL tab above which will take you to a page dedicated to this pursuit. I've even got an online training log and tracker you can look and follow my progress.

Wish me luck and watch this space...


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TheTasty Cheddar Audax - the first and the last

When I fist began Audaxing, back in 2005, this was the first event I entered. Back then, it was one of the last local events in the calendar. Now, with the changes to the Audax season, it is one of the first so the Tasty Cheddar, the first and the last if you catch my drift.
I have done this ride every year since 2005, it is local and is a great event. This year,I rode with my friend Alexis as he is getting back into Audaxing after a long layoff. I rode the trusty Thorn and was prepared for everything, he rode his Carbon Fibre Focus. I was expecting rain, he was somewhat more optimistic. As it turned out, the weather was the nicest we've had for a while, a bit cold but very sunny so ideal really.
The ride leaves Bristol by the Pill path but this is narrow and very muddy (see N+1), especially with 250 cyclists heading down it so we elected to take the road via Long Ashton to Clevedon and the first control

A nice view from outside Scarlett's cafe out towards Wales

From here we headed to Cheddar for the second control and a brilliant climb up the gorge to the top of the Mendips.

Getting ready to climb the gorge

From here it was lanes and a brutal 15% climb to Hinton Blewitt for a stop at the Ring O' Bells before more lanes to Dundry.

Leaving the Ring O'Bells at Hinton Blewitt

It was this section where the choice of bike seems to be justified. Lots of water running off the fields and downhill meant torrents of water and flooded roads hiding all sorts of danger. Lots of gravel and debris had been washed down in the torrential rain of the last few weeks.
A nice descent from the Ring O' Bells and we where at the foot of Dundry, the final climb before Bristol. It was here I felt the unmistakable feel of a rapidly deflating tyre, a quick inspection showing a large Thorn in the tread of the tyre. A quick tube change and we where off. The climb up Dundry seemed fairly easy and I was left wondering why it used to fill me with dread.

A quick descent and we where heading back into Bristol on the A38 and soon, we where in the Nova Scotia sampling their wares.

One of Bristol's many historic buildings. Well worth a visit

All in all, a great day out and a fantastic ride.

Ride buddy Alexis looking suitable impressed

I would say it's a poor photo but unfortunately, that's what I look like, sorry

A big thanks to Joe Prosser for organising. My first ride of the season and maybe the start of something big? Stay tuned..

Finally, the Garmin file!


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