Plain North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire, for those unfamiliar with the territory, is a nice mixture of wide open flat expanses and some of the most brutal hills that I have had the (dis)pleasure to climb. A route that I have found to provide a good 60Km training ride, follows the Tees Valley near Richmond, dipping slightly into some of the more picturesque parts of County Durham. A start point can be easily reached from Darlington Bank Top train station although this will extend the loop, but in a good way by about a further 10Km.

http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=354979

Where I live is undulating at best and there are very few long flat sections to be found. It seems that everywhere I go involves hills. The area is known as the Surrey Hills, so its no surprise really that cycling in this part of Britain involves a lot of up and down. I like this territory however as it keeps me in very good condition, but a break from the routine is sometimes very welcome. 

On the day of the ride I forgot my heart rate monitor. I had chosen the route based upon the fact that I could probably maintain a 65 - 75% of max HR for about two hours. Not to worry, I'd just keep a very even high-ish tempo. I managed an average of 17.6 mph and I have to say, everything felt great afterwards, so I knew that I hadn't pushed too hard.

About the route: Setting off from the outskirts of Darlington, the first notable point is the crossing over the A1(M). The profile shows that the first 30Km are largely on an upwards incline, however this is not really noticeable. There are certainly no hills in the first 20Km of any note. Past the delightful Walworth castle and on towards Ingleton and Staindrop Village via the B6297. Good lord, its quiet on the traffic front but then this is not a densely populated area - another reason to visit with the bike.

The route starts to get really interesting on the quiet back road from Staindrop to Whorlton Village. The Only Hill of note on the route, followed by an incredible sweeping downhill section towards the River Tees. A slight wobble on a hairpin bend and onto a wooden bridge. I take a brief glance left down the river and see the dark waters of the Tees all turbulent, dark and uneasy. Quite stunning, encased in its stony riverbank setting. 

Now into North Yorkshire proper the roads are narrower, the tarmac smooth, but only from overuse and age. I meet a couple of clubs coming through the opposite way, it is afterall turning into a nice day. Following the riverbank for a while progress is swiftly made through village after village. Forcett, Aldborough St John and finally Melsonby, before being turned back home by the boundary of the A66(M) and along the extremely straight road through the Roman settlement of Piercebridge.

On the homeward stretch now and back along what is known as Staindrop Road. Down on the drops, tucking in out of the wind. The speedo is back up to 22mph. I hold that speed for the remains of the ride, until I see the School Playing field, all overgrown now and left to return to nature. Not like I remember it at all.

I turn off the road and up to mum's house. I can smell coffee. It's been a great 2hrs. 

The New Forest Rattler

Taking the racing line on the 125Km New Forest Rattler

Camping in the New Forest is a wonderful experience. Sometimes the native wild horses snuffle around in your tent for food and end up wearing it as a ceremonial headdress, or, as in our case, some years ago a squirrel ate one of our nutty breakfast bars (such a cliche) and very noisy it was too. None the less, it's great to be so close to nature.  Something which was quite unnatural however, occurred at about 4.00am, when my wife and I were abruptly awoken from our deep slumber by the screeching of tyres, an engine under heavy breaking and the inevitable loud dull thud of a moving metal object hitting something sturdy and unmovable. We didn't dream this, as many of those lucky enough to be camping in the grounds of Moyles Court School will testify. As the car was heard reversing, albeit with a slightly less than healthy noise, we assumed that the occupants were unharmed and so returned to the arms of Morpheus for a further 3 Hours.

On awaking at 7.00am proper and feeling very well rested, I opened the tent to reveal a different world to the one that I had last seen on zipping up the door. Cyclists everywhere, people running around with clipboards, ladies serving porridge and tea and most essentially, Claud the Butler (http://www.claudthebutler.co.uk/) was serving his most excellent array of coffee, cakes and smoothies.

I stumbled out of the tent and over to the porridge stand. I have a pre-ride routine to adhere to. Before any cycling in the morning, I make sure of eating about an hour  beforehand, followed by a cup of tea and a glass of diluted cordial. This regime has served me well in 2012.

Lara ensures that I have sun cream applied on all my exposed areas- factor 50 as it was due to be very hot and in fact temperatures reached 30°C. I knew I'd be under the sun's harsh rays for at least four and a half hours and sunburn is not fun.

People start shuffling their bikes towards the start line, so I make my way over the field and join the others wishing to make an early start. 8.30am on the dot and we were off. 

The route was fairly flat, with only one hill of significance and perhaps two to three sections which could be described as a moderately long steady ascent with nothing more than 6-7% to offer. I had decided to try and maintain a high tempo and had trained to do so in North Yorkshire the weeks previous.

http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=371242

Straight out over the start line and off towards the Red Shoot Inn. I found rhythm fairly quickly and was soon enjoying the pleasant surroundings of the new forest. One of my favourite descents is in the New Forest, just before you get to the M27 underpass on Furzley Lane. Its beauty is in its alpine feel and smooth tarmac. I seem to remember that it went on for a long way - not so today, its over in a flash. As are the first 25 miles. It took me about 1hr 25 minutes at an average of about 18.0 mph or 30 Kph for metric enthusiasts. Luckily I had made my drink a bit too strong, so the first feed station was an ideal opportunity to dilute it down to normal strength. I had a flapjack too.  The second 25 miles went past fairly quickly too. I didn't feel like I was pushing it, but I must have been my average was at about 17.8 mph. I felt good. I was mixing it up with a couple of groups, passing through twee villages . I had been pedalling at nice even cadence, not too high, but high enough. 2Hrs 50 mins have gone and were two thirds of the way around. I stop for 5 minutes at feed station 2. I take on an energy gel - my second of the day and refill the bottle. I stretch out my legs and pop a flapjack into the fuel tank.

Away we go for the last leg and its not too long before I feel troubled in a physiological way. It was hot and I started to feel if not unwell then a bit depleted. This is commonly known as hitting the wall. Despite the stunning scenery, I must say that I noticed very little about the next 10 miles. I just fuelled up and hydrated. Even the most innocuous of climbs became demanding. I told myself that I must ride through the discomfort. The photographs of myself along that 10 mile stretch, tell the story of a man in need of a finish line.

Feeling Better - standing up to put the hammer down.

At about 5 miles from the finishing line came Blissford Hill. Not particularly long, but it does weigh in with a 25% gradient. If I could make it up that, then the ride would be a coast from there. 11 miles to go, 10 miles, 9, 8. I kept counting down the miles, knowing that Lara would be waiting for me and hopefully with an ice cold drink. I reflected on our good life together, keeping my mental state positive. Then Blissford Hill arrived. I couldn't get a long run up for it as two cars were coming up the oppposite way. There was also a bit of a bottle neck of cyclists too, choosing, probably sensibly, to walk up the hill. I rode it out in the lowest gear (34,28). Standing up to push me and the bike over the pinnacle. I had made it!  and best of all, I felt better - enough to crack the last 5 miles at a pace more familair.

With the finish line in sight I put the hammer down. I saw Lara waiting and clapping at the side of the road with other onlookers. I felt emotional. I gave her a salute. An amazing ride in a beautiful corner of England. 4hrs 30 minutes, averaging 17.2 mph. I think that deserves a celebratory drink.

Coming Back After Illness

A few Sunday's ago I made a serious error of judgment. In my bid to make 2012 my best year for cycling to date, I eagerly set off for a club ride on saturday morning knowing that I wasn't feeling great. I was infact suffering from a virus.

My lungs felt like they were on fire by the end of the ride, I was shiverring and sweating at the same time - not a good sign. The reality was that I had made myself a lot sicker than I would of been otherwise.

Sometimes you just need to recover and I mean properly recover. I had the following week off the bike and got myself better. In part this was made easier by the fact that the Tour de France had just started, the TV coverage of which was comprehensive and not forgetting that the weather was again awful for most of the week. I'll save a review of the TDF for a future blog entry but needless to say, this was the greatest TDF ever!

The following Sunday, feeling back to normal, I was eager to get out and ride. The weather was good, the route that someone had chosen, up to Lasham gliding club, looked good, all was good. I had a geat ride. I like the gliding club. Not sure if they like cyclists, but none the less its a lovely place to ride too.

http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=442947

So the big lesson here is: if you feel even slightly il, you'll be doing yourself more harm than good by going out and riding. Take it easy, put your feet up and look after yourself.