I got jumped on the way to work this morning.
I was riding the tourer along Quarry Wood Road, minding my own business when a 20" wheeled bike passed me at about 4- 5 MPH faster than I was progressing. The pilot was dressed in all the wrong gear for a folding type bike, but all the RIGHT gear for a commuter race - tights, waterproof jacket, ski cap etc. As he passed my ears heard a cheery "Good Morning" but, my Babel Fish translated this to a cynical "Race is on you sluggish, tourer mounted toad"
This narked me slightly so I started formulating my attack. We were fast (he faster than me) approaching the climb out of Marlow towards Cookham Dean and, knowing I was good on that climb, I relaxed. I let my prey eke out a lead of about 100 meters and, as he negotiated the right hand bend at the bottom of the hill, I looked on with glee. Just as I expected, my prey was exhibiting all the characteristics of a flat road sprinter. He could not put any more distance between us on the start of the climb.
I too negotiated the bend and dropped down a chainring and a sprocket or two. As I did this I stood out of the saddle and started to spin. I gained on my prey quite quickly and, as I passed him I said, breathing easily "There you go sucker, eat my dust", which I think his Babel Fish translated as "I can't think of a better way to start the day". he responded "Yes, it certainly gets the blood pumping" which was Babel Fished to "Ye Gods Sir, your awesome climbing power is too much for me!" I was through the hairpin and gone before he got half way up the first straight.
Commuter Racing- I love it!
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Band of Less Brothers
I was sad to read yesterday of the recent death of Major Richard Winters in the USA on 2nd January 2011.
Dick Winters and his men were subject of a book about their experiences in WW2 during the invasion of Europe, which was subsequently filmed as the HBO mini series 'Band of Brothers'.
As a young Leiutenant, he commanded a platoon of paratroops- 'Easy' Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division when they dropped into Normandy on D Day and beyond.
He and his troops were decorated for a number of actions and one of them- The Brecourt Manor Assault on a fixed position of German artillery pieces shelling Utah Beach is still taught at West Point today as a text book example of such an action.
An inspired and inspirational leader.
Dick Winters and his men were subject of a book about their experiences in WW2 during the invasion of Europe, which was subsequently filmed as the HBO mini series 'Band of Brothers'.
As a young Leiutenant, he commanded a platoon of paratroops- 'Easy' Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division when they dropped into Normandy on D Day and beyond.
He and his troops were decorated for a number of actions and one of them- The Brecourt Manor Assault on a fixed position of German artillery pieces shelling Utah Beach is still taught at West Point today as a text book example of such an action.
An inspired and inspirational leader.
Friday, 17 December 2010
Catriona Patel
I have been catching up on news etc. today and one thing that caught my eye was from November. It revolved around the trial of the driver responsible for killing Catriona Patel as she cycled to work in London-
from The Mail online
I read the article with horror as I believe I know one of the paramedics who attended the scene.
I was absolutely horrified as my reading into this incident progressed. The driver, Dennis Putz, was over the drink drive limit at the time of the incident, was involved in a mobile phone call and had a string of convictions, jail sentences and disqualifications relating to driving offences. What the hell was he doing behind the wheel of a vehicle of any sort, let alone being employed to drive a large tipper truck on urban streets?
At least Putz has been jailed for 7 years and banned from driving for life
To cap it all, his employers Thames Materials recently had another vehicle involved in a fatal incident, where one of their tippers collided with a number of vehicles on the A4 near Heathrow, including a taxi, one of the occupants of which died of his injuries.
Something appears to be wrong somewhere.....
from The Mail online
I read the article with horror as I believe I know one of the paramedics who attended the scene.
I was absolutely horrified as my reading into this incident progressed. The driver, Dennis Putz, was over the drink drive limit at the time of the incident, was involved in a mobile phone call and had a string of convictions, jail sentences and disqualifications relating to driving offences. What the hell was he doing behind the wheel of a vehicle of any sort, let alone being employed to drive a large tipper truck on urban streets?
At least Putz has been jailed for 7 years and banned from driving for life
To cap it all, his employers Thames Materials recently had another vehicle involved in a fatal incident, where one of their tippers collided with a number of vehicles on the A4 near Heathrow, including a taxi, one of the occupants of which died of his injuries.
Something appears to be wrong somewhere.....
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Fuzzys' On The Road Again
I am settled in to the new job now and have got back in the saddle.
This morning was my first cycle commute since 11th November.
It may have been cold. It may have been slushy and wet. Some drivers may have been arses but, Gods, I've missed riding!
This morning was my first cycle commute since 11th November.
It may have been cold. It may have been slushy and wet. Some drivers may have been arses but, Gods, I've missed riding!
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
How many!?
I started logging my mileage on 30th September 2005, logging all rides I do with the mileage from my computer. if I haven't got a computer, I map it and round down to the nearest mile.
I use Cyclogs as my logging site of choice and, since earlier this year, started to log on Bikejournal also as a back up.
As you can see on the left hand sidebar, I keep a running mileage total by month and year on here. I just decided to include a Running Total of miles since I started logging. I'm up to 17,924.85. I have cycled nearly 18 thousand miles in the last 5 years. I am well chuffed with that!
I use Cyclogs as my logging site of choice and, since earlier this year, started to log on Bikejournal also as a back up.
As you can see on the left hand sidebar, I keep a running mileage total by month and year on here. I just decided to include a Running Total of miles since I started logging. I'm up to 17,924.85. I have cycled nearly 18 thousand miles in the last 5 years. I am well chuffed with that!
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
The end of the road?
As I write this I am preparing for a change of job. I will continue as a Copper but will be moving from my current posting to do a similar job but at a different level. This change takes effect on 15th November- a little under a fortnight away.
All good I hear you say and, to a major degree I concur BUT, one of the requirements of my new job is that I become what we call an 'Essential User' on the car front. This means that I have to use my private car for work. Not a problem as I get an annual alowance to offset insurance and other costs plus a mileage allowance. Well, I say not a problem but, the downside is that I need to have immediate access to the car all the time I am at work. This could mean the end of my cycle commuting! Not a happy state of affairs. I am looking at the possibility of being able to leave the car at work during the week, using the bike to get too and fro Monday evening to Friday morning and taking the car home at weekends. I hope it works out.....
All good I hear you say and, to a major degree I concur BUT, one of the requirements of my new job is that I become what we call an 'Essential User' on the car front. This means that I have to use my private car for work. Not a problem as I get an annual alowance to offset insurance and other costs plus a mileage allowance. Well, I say not a problem but, the downside is that I need to have immediate access to the car all the time I am at work. This could mean the end of my cycle commuting! Not a happy state of affairs. I am looking at the possibility of being able to leave the car at work during the week, using the bike to get too and fro Monday evening to Friday morning and taking the car home at weekends. I hope it works out.....
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
The Secret continues
I seem to remember early in September, posting about a ride I did on Arran and promising to post about the second ride. Sorry for the delay but here it is.
A couple of days after the first ride I met up with a neighbour of the friends we were staying with. Ian is his name. He is a forestry worker and a Highland Games competitor so a tad on the healthy side.
We decided to do the Northern loop out of Brodick. The route takes you North (as if you hadn't guesed) along the coast towards Sannox with lovely views back towards Brodick
and occasional sightings of local wildlife
The above image is of a wooden sculpture. Good isn't it? There were a dozen or so other tourists trying to photograph the seal!
As we rode, we met a couple of youg guys who it turned out, were doing a self supported End to End, doing the Lands End to John O'Groats version. They had arrived the previous day and were taking in the island before going back to the mainland the next day and heading for their next stop- Loch Ness
Ian is on the right in red and black. I didn't catch the names of the two lads unfortunatley. We rode together until we reached the Youth Hostel at Lochranza where they were staying. They were on holiday from school and having a bit of an adventure. Well done them. I hope they finished ok and had the experience they anticipated.
The route was all coast road until we left Sannox, where the road cut inland a little and started the long climb up The Boguillie. Though only to 200 meters, it was over quite a long distance, so sustained but no too steep. Once again, the countryside and views were beautiful
Sorry about the crappy photos' but my point and shoot was letting me down a bit.
Once we had topped out, there was a nice smooth descent towards Lochranza and, in true Secret Cyclist style, it was Yahoo Banshee Warrior time as I tucked in over the top tube and gave it loads of wellie. We then rode into Lochranza where our end to enders peeled off, leaving Ian and I to continue our ride. Lochranza is a pretty little place tucked away in a little bay to the west of the Northern tip of the island, known as The Cock of Arran. I think its location must have been quite significant once upon a time-
By now, the geography of the island was demonstrating its effect on the weather. It was dry and bright on the East side of the island but, the West side was the opposite. The mountainous spine of the island was keeping the weather on the west side and wew were riding in a fine drizzle. Not to worry though becuase the riding was very pleasant and the views kept the spirits up
This was the last picture I took on this ride as the camera didn't like the wet.
We rode south along the coast again, through the little vilages of Pimmill, Dougana and Tormore, a nice flat road where, if you were minded, a bit of a chain gang could get going but, Ian and I were just out for a pleasant ride. As we approached Blackwaterfoot, we turned off the main drag and cut inland towards Shiskine and The String, which wold give me the opportunity of doing this road in the opposite direction. The drizzle had kept it up so the roads were wet, though not too bad. The String in this direction presents a longer, shallower ascent up to its 235 meter summit and the effort needed to make the climb had the added benefit of keeping the body temperature up, shrugging off the cooling effects of being wet.
Once at the summit, we were then confronted with the steeper, shorter descent in to Brodick. It was still drizzling and the road on the East side of the mountains was now wet as well. I still tucked in and gave it wellie, though maintained a slight air of decorum, keeping the speed under control. Because of the wet I only managed a 49.1 mph descent. I'd love to do this in the dry!
After getting to the bottom of The String, it was a short run in to Brodick and a nice cup of tea. A loop just shy of 38 miles with gorgeous views, quiet roads, great climbing and cracking descents.
I love Arran. Don't tell too many folk though otherwise the place will get swamped!
A couple of days after the first ride I met up with a neighbour of the friends we were staying with. Ian is his name. He is a forestry worker and a Highland Games competitor so a tad on the healthy side.
We decided to do the Northern loop out of Brodick. The route takes you North (as if you hadn't guesed) along the coast towards Sannox with lovely views back towards Brodick
and occasional sightings of local wildlife
The above image is of a wooden sculpture. Good isn't it? There were a dozen or so other tourists trying to photograph the seal!
As we rode, we met a couple of youg guys who it turned out, were doing a self supported End to End, doing the Lands End to John O'Groats version. They had arrived the previous day and were taking in the island before going back to the mainland the next day and heading for their next stop- Loch Ness
Ian is on the right in red and black. I didn't catch the names of the two lads unfortunatley. We rode together until we reached the Youth Hostel at Lochranza where they were staying. They were on holiday from school and having a bit of an adventure. Well done them. I hope they finished ok and had the experience they anticipated.
The route was all coast road until we left Sannox, where the road cut inland a little and started the long climb up The Boguillie. Though only to 200 meters, it was over quite a long distance, so sustained but no too steep. Once again, the countryside and views were beautiful
Sorry about the crappy photos' but my point and shoot was letting me down a bit.
Once we had topped out, there was a nice smooth descent towards Lochranza and, in true Secret Cyclist style, it was Yahoo Banshee Warrior time as I tucked in over the top tube and gave it loads of wellie. We then rode into Lochranza where our end to enders peeled off, leaving Ian and I to continue our ride. Lochranza is a pretty little place tucked away in a little bay to the west of the Northern tip of the island, known as The Cock of Arran. I think its location must have been quite significant once upon a time-
By now, the geography of the island was demonstrating its effect on the weather. It was dry and bright on the East side of the island but, the West side was the opposite. The mountainous spine of the island was keeping the weather on the west side and wew were riding in a fine drizzle. Not to worry though becuase the riding was very pleasant and the views kept the spirits up
This was the last picture I took on this ride as the camera didn't like the wet.
We rode south along the coast again, through the little vilages of Pimmill, Dougana and Tormore, a nice flat road where, if you were minded, a bit of a chain gang could get going but, Ian and I were just out for a pleasant ride. As we approached Blackwaterfoot, we turned off the main drag and cut inland towards Shiskine and The String, which wold give me the opportunity of doing this road in the opposite direction. The drizzle had kept it up so the roads were wet, though not too bad. The String in this direction presents a longer, shallower ascent up to its 235 meter summit and the effort needed to make the climb had the added benefit of keeping the body temperature up, shrugging off the cooling effects of being wet.
Once at the summit, we were then confronted with the steeper, shorter descent in to Brodick. It was still drizzling and the road on the East side of the mountains was now wet as well. I still tucked in and gave it wellie, though maintained a slight air of decorum, keeping the speed under control. Because of the wet I only managed a 49.1 mph descent. I'd love to do this in the dry!
After getting to the bottom of The String, it was a short run in to Brodick and a nice cup of tea. A loop just shy of 38 miles with gorgeous views, quiet roads, great climbing and cracking descents.
I love Arran. Don't tell too many folk though otherwise the place will get swamped!
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