Going nowhere, on two wheels
Posted by Mark on January 13, 2009 under sportives | 
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Let the worry, panic, and manic training commence. I got in to the 2009 Fred Whitton Challenge.
Having completed the ride last year I know what to expect this year, and I can sum it up in one word. Pain.
Posted by Mark on January 11, 2009 under training | Be the First to Comment
First Sunday ride out of the new year. It was a good start, with seven of us turning up at Richmond Park. Wilf had the first puncture of the day before we’d even reached Kingston!
As we got out into the countryside we lost the two new comers – one considering it a bit fast, the other too slow. Can’t please all the people all the time, eh?
Next bit of drama for the day was Wilf, again, as he caught his front wheel on some ice in the lanes. A somewhat spectacular off ensued, with him going over the handlebars, legs in the air, and diving head first into a puddle [pool!] in the opposite lane. Luckily the knee injury turned out to not be a ride stopper, so after some banter and bike checking, we carried on.
Then I punctured. Bugger. Not had a puncture on the ‘good bike’ in years – so many in fact, I can’t remember when I last did have on! Had a couple commuting last winter, but that doesn’t count (for some reason).
Five minutes later it was James’ turn to puncture. Bloody hell, talk about bad luck. This was the slowest ride we’d ever had with way too much faffing. That caused us to cut the route slightly shorted than normal (skipping out Leith Hill) and heading straight for Box Hill.
Rubbish time up Box Hill this week – thanks mainly to cold muscles I reckon.
Still, all miles in the legs eh?
Posted by Mark on January 10, 2009 under bike | Be the First to Comment
Realised a few days ago that my rear brake wasn’t really letting off. Hardly surprising, since the cables were six years old and I ride in all weather these days.
So, it was time for some new ones. I figured I might as well replace the gear cables at the same time. A while back I’d read that the Gore RideOn cables were supposed to be really good, so I splashed out on a full set of brake and derailleur.
I’ve just spent hours removing the old cables and cleaning up the handlebars, and now I’m ready to go.
Initial tests have showed that these cables are nothing short of fantastic! I’m sure they’ve actually speeded up gear shifts, they’re that smooth. And my brakes now work properly – always a bonus 
Tomorrow will see the first road test, with a planned few KMs out in the Surrey Hills. More on that test tomorrow.