Hanging by a thread

Shortly after the L2B ride I thought it was about time I gave my bike a bit of a once over (before the new bike arrives!!). During the ride I had noticed that I couldn't change into the easiest gear but, as there were no significant climbs on the ride it hadn't bothered me too much.

Imagine my surprise when I looked at the gear cable.


This is a timely reminder to keep an eye on your bike.
Remember safety is no accident.

Box Hill to Brighton

The SBR team really began to feel like a proper team as its members drew up one by one into the car park of the Burford bridge Hotel at the foot of Box Hill.

The setting for the first training ride of 2011 for the team shifted from Hampton Court after it was decided it may be a little traffic heavy so close to London.

Chris suggested the new start and organised a 20 mile loop for the beginning of the ride to add to the 45 miles yet to come. The rest of the route had been studiously plumbed into Matt's Garmin Edge.
After many photographs, many trips to the toilet and a fair bit of fettling (as Luca might say) we were off. Chris' route took the group on an non-road, flat route along a cycle path by the A24 to ease everyone into the feel of the bike before heading off through Leatherhead, Cobham and a little bit of Surrey countryside and then up on to Ranmore.
By this point Paul could no longer contain his nervous energy and, in pursuit of some leisure cyclists, disappeared off into the distance. He missed the next turn forcing yet another stop. Luckily a phone call and a few directions later and we agreed to meet back at the Burford Bridge and the ride continued.
The more restrained members of the group took the superfast descent back to the end of the loop to say a quick hello to Rebecca before heading on the route proper.
Chris chose Box Hill as a start point as it is due to be used in the Olympic road race and he though it might make a nice backdrop for some photos. He utterly refutes the idea that it just happens to be close to where he lives.
As it turned out the group, Paul Maxwell-like, were racing through the countryside barely stopping to look at the view, let alone stop for pics. The ride was on.
Despite our Garmined ride the technology was not behaving itself and this quick breakaway broke the link between Lindsay and his son Martin. This lead to a split in the group that would never heal. The advance party sped on as Lindsay and Martin took a worng turn. After a few phone calls Lindsay and Martin were eventually joined by Luca who lead them back on course, some way behind the leading pack.
The rest of the group ploughed on, again in a rather stop go fashion, through the countryside. The most notable point in the ride was Ditchling Beacon. This had loomed large in the minds' of the riders and the reality didn't disappoint.
After 60-odd miles in the saddle the climb was pretty taxing. Matt had obvioulsy been saving up all of his strength for the climb and clearly thought this, and his swanky new bike, would see him to the top first. He hit the bottom of the climb with gusto but was soon in trouble.
Sadly he had peaked too early and blew up towards the summit.

The climb was worth the views at the top and the cycling effort became easier. The rest of the ride downhill all the way, in the best possible sense, as the team coasted into Brighton and to the quirky welcome of the My Hotel. A quick shower break and few beers in the bar later and the stories started to flow.
Dinner provided more opportunity for the tales to grow and the story of Lindsay, Luca and Martin's day to unfold. Jamie Oliver's Italian also provided a great meal to replace all of those lost calories. Ready for the return leg.


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Full UV protection

I thought it was about time I had at least one photo (come on other team members)of the new kit on the site so here I am in the 2011 version of the Transitions Team jersey.
I've started wearing the kit to commute into work and as I was leaving home this morning I thought I may as well grab a picture.

It wasn't until I saw the result that I realised why I get so many funny looks when I'm on the bike.
What's Chris wearing today:

Lycra 3/4 length bibshorts naturally, Transitions top, Rudy Project Rydons with drivewear lenses ( it may be getting dark on the way home).
But it doesn't stop there.

My wife has started to insist I wear a helmet when I'm cycling. After many years of never wearing one the whole Ironman experience has sort of got me into the habit. What I can't get out of the habit of is wearing a cap when its so sunny. There is nothing to beat a cycling cap to keep the sun out of your eyes. This is even more pronounced early in the year when the sun is so low and I'm travelleing east in the Morning and west in the evening.
The full ensemble looks a bit over the top but it works.

Breaking news

Not a good weekend bike-wise. The first catastrophe happened on the cycle home on Friday night. I hit a pothole, manhole cover combo in Epsom.

It might not look like much ( it was difficult to get close as it's in the middle of a junction) but it was enough to shatter the bottom of the frame and break off the drop out and derailleur hanger from my beloved yellow Pearson bike.




I'm temporarily back on the fixed for commuting but I feel a trip to the bike shop coming on if son No 2 and I are going to make any more Sunday morning jaunts.

The second was slightly more self inflicted. While surveying the damage on the Pearson and readying the fixed to ride I noticed a rather incontinent pigeon sitting in the tree above me. I decided to shift it by lobbing a stone up into the tree. The stone sailed into the air, hit a branch, was deflected sideways and came crashing down straight through the prespex roof on my bike shed. I only put the perspex roof on about three months ago and a very good job I made of it too.
Some may say it's Karma.