Box Hill rising ( contains smutty nonsense)

I spent all of last week painting. I had taken a week's holiday specifically for that purpose but assumed I'd get out on the bike at some point, but it wasn't to be. As it turned out the weather was shocking and I had seven rooms, two landings and 11 doors and doorframes to paint. By the weekend I was beginning to succumb to the paint fumes and go snow blind (everything was brilliant white). I had noticed the previous week that Box Hill had been resurfaced. Although I had passed by it was still being worked on for the Olympics so I had to wait to actually get the tarmac under my wheels. Now given a chance to get out on the bike this was the place to go. It was a superb sunny Sunday morning so I got out nice and early hoping to miss the crowds of cycists now to be found on the Olympic route. It was so early that the mist hadn't quite risen out of Mole Valley as I crossed Ranmore for the ascent. The recent poor weather has hampered the road resurfacing and the Italian women's cycling team travelled to the UK in vain to ride the hill. They arrived only to be sent away by the road menders. But for the rest of us it was worth the wait, the new surface is fantastic. As smooth as a baby's bum and free of potholes and speed bumps. As I climbed the Scalextric-like zig zags I could almost see the mist rising with me. Sadly as I reached the summit I caught the mist up and everything became shrouded in a white blanket.

I Still managed to capture the picture below though. Just beyond the road art you can see the mist.It's nice to see the locals have such a warm welcome waiting for all of those foreign cycling teams.

Rite of (Horseshoe) passage

The 2012 season has started. Two of the SBR team headed out into the wilderness of North Wales this week to strike a blow against fairweather cyclists, to lay down the gauntlet of rides to come and to stretch those underworked winter legs.

Amazingly the intrepid duo managed to choose possibly the only dry day in the whole April on which to tackle the climb of Horseshoe Pass plus a few rolling miles in the Llangollen area. The route mapping proved the biggest issue of the day. I had suggested Horseshoe Pass simply because I knew it was in the North Wales area and not due to any knowledge of the terrain. Paul had a rudimentary print-out of a route suggested by a work colleague but I think he assumed I had something in mind. We had also hoped to be joined by Garmin-touting team mates so not too much effort had been put into knowing exactly where we were going assuming the bike sat nav would do the job. As it turned out on the day it was just Paul, Chris and a crumpled piece of paper with very few, and extremely small details on it ( my name is Chris and I'm a presbyope). The pre-ride highlight was the look on Paul's face when we compared gears. I had a compact chainring on the front and a 12-28 on the back. Paul had the kind of ratios Chris Hoy pushes around the velodrome -- he was always going to have the moral victory ( not that it was a competition).

The scenery around Llangollen is stunning and the Horseshoe Pass looms above it. Despite that we still had to ask at reception how to get to the start and we were given directions to join the climb. A few hundred yards on the A5 took us down a side road over a fantastic stone bridge and straight onto the climb. Both Paul and I commented that we could have done with a bit more flat before the hard work started. But start it did and it just kept on going.

As it turned out the climb wasn't too bad, a few sharp sections but overall a long, but steady, incline. Green woods became moorland and finally slate scree as the road wound its way up. I went on ahead to find a small track I had read was a real leg-breaker,I wasn't too sure what I was looking for and I think Paul was keen for something a little flatter following the climb so we decided to carry along the main route. The rest of the ride snaked through the area with what seemed like more descending than climbing. Frequent stops to study the map followed,this was just as well as the hills were sharp and regular. The countryside never disappointed and the weather even let the sun through as we arrived back at the lunch stop with some good miles under our belts and a satisfying tiredness in our legs. Thanks to Paul for organising a great day on the bike.

Those pesky high tech gadgets

One of the complications of riding the fixed is what to do about punctures.
My Giant Bowery has Schwalbe Marathon tyres on it which, until recently, hadn't ever suffered a puncture despite having been on the bike for over two years.
Just hours after meeting up with two of the old ( should that be former) SBR team members and boasting about my winter riding....yes you've guessed it.
Out I went to the bike shed at work, it was about -2 degrees C with snow forecast. As I touched the bike I knew......flat tyre!!! A massive shard of rock salt straight through the thick tyre and Kevlar belt.
I sprang into action: 15mm spanner.Check. Inner tube. Check.Tyre levers. Check. Pump...No. Natty Co2 inflation device.Check. Co2 cannister. Check.
I put the cannister in and pulled the lever, nothing, not so much as a whimper.
As luck would have it there was a fellow cyclist nearby who lent me an old fashioned pump, something I will carry in the future.

Luckily I got home before the snow started in ernest. Sadly it fell so thickly that it was back to four wheels the following day by order of Mrs Optician Editor.
Be careful out there folks.

From time to time the Optician team try out various products under its tried and Tested banner. While this n=1 approach isn't always popular it's a great way for the team members to get used to the features and benefits (or otherwise) of optical products. The opportunity to have products tried in a real world setting is increasingly popular with companies who reap the obvious benefits of promotion.

At the moment I happen to be wearing No7's Duette hybrid contact lens but I am also trying out B&S's Anti-Fog lens treatment from Dibble Optical. This is a gel that is applied and then buffed into the lens.

With all the snow on the ground at the moment and a real nip in the air its a great opportunity to try out the anti fog treatment whilst commuting to work.

Normally when I stop at traffic lights pretty much most eyewear fogs up immediately. But riding with CLs only is not a great idea with grit and debris floating around. In the past most treatments to prevent misting haven't been brilliant but this latest one from Dibble is looking quite promising.The trick seems to be putting it on correctly.

Last week I tried the gel on a pair of clear, prescription Oakleys but wasn't too impressed.While one section of the lens remained fog free the rest steamed up. Water droplets also collected on the front surface This morning I tried the B&S Anti-Fog on some Adidas evil eye halfrim pro cycling specs. These are good performing specs from an anti-fog perspective and the light enhab=ncing lens is great for dingy mornings. I tried to apply a little less gel and buff it less. the result: one lens was comletely clear and the other not bad. I will have to experiment. The vision from the Duette lens is very sharp so all round a pretty good combo.

Kiss the yellow Pearson goodbye

There was a sad moment in the Optician Editor's house this weekend when I finally had to strip down the old yellow Pearson bike and throw away the frame.



I was having a general clear out so the futon and the snooker table became kindling, masses of books, toys and remote control cars headed for the charity shop and the shed was cleared. The faithful old bike suffered terminal damage last year after hitting a pothole in Epsom. A big section of the frame snapped off and basically that was that. It's been in the shed ever since. I did look into a repair but was told it would cost more than building a new frame, having hung onto the bike for such a long time I decided enough was enough. The Campag components were stripped off and the frame set to the tip. As you can see in the picture we had a brief moment together before we parted.

Fiona goes over to the dark side

First entrant to the photo competition. Fiona writes: Not the best photo! The sun was shining and hence the mud was minimal..u can see how dry and sandy terrain was and the clear view of the south downs in the background. The best bit was tha I could 'parade' my personalised dark Oakley J bones. Much to the envy of my friends.

And the dark side? Is it the lighting, the kit......or is that a mountain bike I see.

Photograph that kit

As the weather gets colder I find myself discovering more and more old bits of Optician Ironman Team and Transitions Swedish Bike Ride team kit.


Along with the commute my kit also gets an outing most weekends. This Sunday son #2 and I took a spin up to the top of Box Hill, nice and early, so we could return to a fry up and the Rugby. The pictures don't really do it justice but you get the basic idea of a sea of mist in the valley with islands of land poking out. Plus the Transitions kit.



As a diversion during the winter interregnum I thought we could have a little SBR kit photographic competition. Where are some of the most extreme, exotic or beautiful, muddy, wet places your kit has been? Send in a photo and I'll put them on the blog.



Winners can claim a slot in the yet-to-be-announced Optician two minute questionnaire inside back page feature.