2 Lumpy

When the weather is hot, get out early. That's my advice. Last Sunday the temperature peaked at about 28°C, which I have to say was lovely. Just to ensure you don't fry yourself in such weather, getting out and back early is sage advice.

The little lumpy sportive challege route, http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=399819, looks tough on paper and indeed it was. I have respect for anyone even attempting the Epic route as that must of been a ball breaker.

I surprised myself on this ride and pushed myself to the (current) limit. I could not have given any more. I came off the start line like a bullet out of a gun, despite all the advice to take it easy and find a good solid rhythm. Once the adrenalin had subsided, I found that rhythm.

The route itself was fantastic, let down occasionally by poor road surfaces and newly laid loose chippings. Neither of which were good for speedy progress. The scenery, however, made up for all that (just) and once into Hampshire proper, I was back on old familiar turf; The South Downs, the place where I started with cycling proper.

Downs is an odd description of the most hilliest places in the South East. The first test came on Harting Down, via the back door I might add. I found this tough and riders were passing me at an alarming rate. The gradient was between 9 and 18%. On the downward slope however, I caught up and passed by many of those who had pipped me to the peak. My downhill technique must be getting better at least! The pattern of being overtaken on the ascent and retaking fellow riders on the downhill continued throughout the morning. Until that is, the group that I seemed to be hanging around with hit the slopes leading up and over to the village of Buriton. For reasons beyond my comprehension, I broke away from them.With 25 miles gone, finally, I was alone. This solitude was a mixed blessing. I like to see a wheel in the distance for the purposes of  motivation. The camaraderie of a group can be motivating too.

On the inward stretch I passed a few of the people doing the sport route. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the glorious morning for cycling. The miles rolled by and despite a few aches, I was still in good form at the top of what is called Older Hill. occasional glimpses of a rider in white assured me my pace was consistent. He'd been in front of me for a while now. He was wearing Mark Cavendish's white world champion jersey; I was in elite company.

Through the village of  Fernhurst with ease, Dial Green in a breeze.  Black Down was then looming, the final climb of the day was upon me. This would be the third time in a week. "I know this" I told myself in an unusual American fashion. I knew it all too well. Crappy road surfaces, really narrow strips of tarmac, 17% gradients, the highest peak in West Sussex. I felt the previous 93Km come to bare resistance to my upward struggle against gravity. Fading fast. Get to the top and roll down the otherside, I kept telling myself. The top came and the hammer went down. Freed from the shackles of the incline, I gave it everything I had left (not much) to blast down the hill to pleasant town centre of Haslmere and eventually over the finish line. Rubber squeaking on the dry hot road. 3Hr 57 mins. A Personal Victory. My wife was even there to see me come home, which made the whole thing perfect.

Next years target is 3Hr 45 mins

North Yorkshire Highs

North Yorkshire, a county of contrasting landscapes. The relatively flat vale of York, gives way to the rugged, remote and hill laden Dales in the North and East; and the scenic beauty of the almost-as-hill laden North Yorkshire Moors to the East. Perfect cycling territory.

I was staying in the North Yorkshire Dales, in a village just outside of the not so busy Reeth. I know this area very well as I grew up in nearby County Durham. This delightful North East corner of the national park is my favourite part of the Dales. With the scars of lead mining, heavy skies and treeless vistas, it's all moody and rugged-like.

http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=384842

Not a particularly long ride at a shade over 28 miles, but with over 740m of ascent and most of that coming in the first half on the way up to Tan Hill, Britain's 40th highest road (whoo-hoo!), I knew it was going to be tough and it proved to be just so.

The weather was uncharacteristically dry. Fresh, cool and sunny; at least on the way out to Gunnerside and Keld, from Fremington. At Tan Hill itself, the moor was in shadow and the eery bleak landscape was bitten by a chill wind which stayed with me all the way home.

Straight off the bat is a short, sharp climb through Reeth village and away out to Gunnerside. It's a steady climb al the way up to Tan Hill, requiring various levels of effort. Theres plenty of 10% grade out that way as you follow the River Swale; at some points it goes to 15%. Annoyingly, the road loses height many times along the way and so the final ascent is a bit brutal, combining two 25% inclines over a 4 mile stretch of all climb. The first 25% comes a little after Keld as you turn off the B6720. To add to the pleasure, the incline has 2 hairpin bends. Strangely, I made short work of this climb and once on top, where the gradient levels out to between 2 and 3%, the scenery was stunning. Riding to the sound of the curlew, the morning spring sun bouncing off of the tarmac and dodging the odd over-excitable lamb or two, it was by far the most stunnig place in Britain that I have had the pleasure to be on a bicycle. That being on top of the world alone kind of feeling.

Tan Hill itself came into view just as the final 25% incline had been tackled and by this time my legs could feel the effort being asked of them.

I'd like to say that the ride from Tan Hill to reeth was a cruise downhill, but there are still plenty of undulations, cattle grids and tight bends to keep you busy. A free ride home it most certainly was not. Well, maybe the last 3 mile section, where I hit 40 mph.

The Night Time is the Right Time

There are plenty of references to being at your best for cycling during the afternoon or the evening. Apparently, our body's rhythmic influence can heavily impact on our ability to excercise. The following article is my reference.

http://www.bikeradar.com/fitness/article/training-whats-the-best-time-of-day-to-ride-1037/

Although this article probably explains why I had such an enjoyable short ride on Tuesday evening, it does say that you are better off training in the morning. I'd broadly agree with that.

Let us put science aside for a minute however. Tuesday evening was ideal cycling weather. Mild to warm temperatures and low wind speeds. Conditions which have not been seen since before Easter Monday. An opportunity too good to miss and so I went out for a 30Km loop around the Surrey Hills.

What I noticed is how, all of a sudden, the countryside has come into bloom. Cherry blossom was diffusing from the trees in celebration of the coming together of the elements, the birds raucous with the oncoming of milder climbs and everything so green. So very green, in an array of sensorial aspects. Who could not  want to ride through the year and witness the evolution of the British seasons. It was a tough, cold winter and I for ione am overjoyed at the prospect of ditching the colder weather gear. No more long fingered gloves for a start.