Francis came for a ride with myself and Pete a while back. Heres what happened:
13 hours or freezing rain took its toll on me.
National 24 Hour TT
The National 24 hour TT, I knew it was coming, I kind of knew what to do. There is no doubt that this was a physically tough feat to start with, racing against the best in the business.
Lets start from the beginning:
Having an amazing support crew is key.
We arrived in Liverpool to our host for the weekend. I'm incredibly proud of the support crew I had, Jimmi Nicholls and Ele Suggett. Two friends and two people who know how best to look after me. I knew I was in safe hands and I knew they would do what was best. We prepped for the big day on Friday night, eating up well and attempting to get an early night.
Arriving at the start trying to get my head prepared for what was about to happen.
Arriving at the start I signed up, prepared the bike and ate. The National 24hrs have been going close to 100 years. There is a great heritage and history to the event with people of all ages there ready for the next 24 hours. I was nervous but I knew what I needed to do. I ate, drank and psyched myself up. The sun was shining, it was warm.
We were off. Number 42 starting the long ride
Away I went. The first hour or so a complete blur. The drinking and eating strategy was working well and I was feeling comfortable (minus loosing a water bottle pretty quick) I knew I needed to drink a bottle every hour and eat every 15 minutes with the aim of coming in for some hot food 4 or 5 times over the full 24 hours. The target was to average over 25kph. I was comfortably averaging nearer 35.
Conditions deteriorated along with my health.
Starting to feel the affects from the conditions.
As the race went on, the conditions greatly deteriorated. I was having to come in more often, for more kit changes and to warm up. My health became a serious concern with me struggling to warm up. Aches and pains got worse, I became more and more pale and cold. Eventually in the early hours of the morning, Jimmi decided to pull me from the race.
I struggled to warm up at night and remove the wet layers on me. We knew we needed to get everything off to stand the best chance in warming me up.
It hurt, it was a huge confidence blow, I spent several weeks contemplating if long distance riding was for me. I needed to spend some time to myself, understanding what happened and why it happened.
Simple answer is that sometimes these things do happen. We are not super human. The most important thing was to understand this, use it as a lesson to learn from and move on.
Theres plenty more opportunities to have another crack.
How to try and make things better? Watch stupid Youtube videos
Watch the chat I had with Francis Cade after the race here:
Aero Positioning for TTs
I've been spending some time time trailing again on my Planet X Exorcet 2. I purchased this bike on a bit of a whim. I bought it on Cycle to Work (obviously to cycle to work) to see how I liked time trailing. I can confirm I love it. Racing against the clock, its a pure form of racing where your own strength, positioning and style make all the benefits or errors.
With that in mind and after setting some competitive 10, 25 and 100 mile time trials, it was time to change the bike to try and get myself as aerodynamic as possible.
Initial changes were wheelset. I am currently riding on a set of Zipp 60s with an older Zipp disc wheel. I opted for the older disc wheel as it was firstly a good price, secondly can be converted to use on a track bike and lastly had an aluminium break surface. (ie. it stops in the rain, something that massively helped in the last 100 mile TT I did.)
The saddle was upgraded to a Fizik Tritone. A slightly older TT saddle that I have found, through trial and error to be incredibly comfortable. I also fitted a Verve Infocrank. Knowing your data numbers is key, especially for the longer distance TTs, but equally to go back and access the shorter distance races.
Next was aerodynamics...
Enter Stage Centre Ken Buckley, my coach and friend who holds the British Land Speed Record and is in the all time top 40 best 25 mile TT times. Ken is a master of aerodynamic positioning and wanted to help tweak and change the bike as much as possible. So we started stripping..(The bike I mean.)
The key, in Ken's eyes was to create a bullet shape to the front end of the human body and to flatten my back out. To do this you raise your hands up, lower your pads (so you rest on your elbows as opposed to your forearms. You then need to pull in the elbows as much as possible to create an aerodynamic front end (one object hitting the wind as opposed to multiple objects which creates drag.) The back if flattened by slightly lowering the saddle and pulling it back (brings in more power ironically for me). The key is making sure that all the contact points are correctly touching everything in the best possible way. This bullet shape, becomes much more aerodynamic to allow you to push air around the body. Below are the results:
The left image (visor on) is the new ammended position.
Side by side you can see the before and after. We changed the front end completely with some new 3T Mistral bars and USE 40 degree extensions. The front end was lowered but the pads stayed at the same height. The elbows are another major difference between the two.
The new fit is the bottom image. (visor on)
Side on you can see how the stem has been lowered and the elbow is firmly on the pad. One of the noticeable differences is my back. It is much flatter, thus causing more comfort when taking out some of the longer time trials. Its easy to see how this 'bullet' front end comes into play, by creating less of a point for the wind to have to travel around, becoming more aerodynamic.
I can't wait to see the results of this. If you would like help with getting more slippery on your TT bike, please contact Ken at http://buckleyperformancecoaching.co.uk/
Silverstone 9 man Team TT
It was that time again.. 9 men, a race circuit, 3 laps. This time there was a very different goal. To win. I was asked to join the chaps at Spokes BPC (2016 winners of the 9man TTT) for what was going to be a painful 3 laps of Silverstone Circuit.
9 man team made up of Spokes BPC sponsored riders and development team.
Now we all know this probably is not something that sorts me perfectly. I have been training for endurance over what I would call a balls out hard effort for maybe 20 mins. The team had some real credentials, British Landspeed Record Holder, some very competitive crit, track and cyclocross pros and juniors. And me. Needless to say I was a bit nervous but we knew there was one objective for me, to get the team up to speed and firing all cylinders out of the start gate. Thanks to my Verve Infocrank we know I have a very good 5-30 second power which would be enough to get the team out the gate and up to speed and then attempt to hold on..
So the bike I chose to ride:
Focus Izalco Max Etap with Verve Infocrank and DT Swiss tubs
I opted to ride on my Focus Izalco MAX Etap, the lightest, fastest and most bad-ass bike I own. The bike is fitted with a Verve Infocrank with some big chain rings. Zipp finishing kit and a Fizik Antares carbon railed saddle. The wheels were borrowed by my friend Olly Bridgewood (Cycling Weekly Editor) which are a set of carbon DT Swiss Tubs.
We headed out, I did my job and managed to last about a lap and a half. The pace was obviously relentless. You are allowed to drop 4 men in the team and we did that, leaving the 4 strongest riders in the field for the last lap or so. The result was...
SECOND PLACE!
We managed 2nd place! Not quite 1st as last year but only just into second place. An incredible team performance all round!
Focus Izalco Max Etap
Every now and then something absolutely amazing comes along. After 107 I decided I needed to find something to keep me riding. Step front and centre, my dream bike.
The FOCUS Izalco Max Etap fitted with a Verve Infocrank powermeter and some deep section DT Swiss tubs for the 9 man team time trial
I have always been a huge admirer of FOCUS, their simplistic tubing, strong graphic style and the fact that they do not over-do the colour on the bikes greatly has always appealed to me. More than the style and look of them is that they simply fit me perfectly. I am yet to find another bike brand that I can feel so comfortable on, weather that is riding extra long distance, racing or mucking about with a few friends. It all makes a guge difference in what becomes the ultimate bike.
I have one major change to my Izalco Max, installing the Verve Infocrank powermeter. The Infocrank is known to be one of the most accurate power meters on the market, used and trusted by British Cycling and the UCI as well as athletes such as Elinor Barker.
Some spec details of the bike below:
FRAME: Izalco Max, carbon size medium
FORK: Izalco MAX, 9 mm QR, carbon
STEM ZIPP SC-SL-B1 110mm
HANDLEBARS: Zipp SC-SL70
FRONT BRAKE: SRAM RED-B2
REAR BRAKE: SRAM RED-B2
FRONT DERAILLEUR: SRAM RED eTAP
REAR DERAILLEUR: SRAM RED eTAP
SHIFTERS: SRAM RED eTAP
BOTTOM BRACKET: PRAXIS WORKS Pressfit
CASSETTE: SRAM XG-1190
CRANKSET: VERVE INFOCRANK
FRONT WHEEL: DT SWISS RC38 622/15 Front:QR 100
REAR WHEEL: DT SWISS RC38 622/15 Rear:QR 130
FRONT TYRE: Schwalbe ONE, 25-622
REAR TYRE: Schwalbe ONE, 25-622
SADDLE: fi'zi:k Antares R1 Carbon Rails
SEATPOST: Concept CPX, 27.2x 340 mm
#107for107
107 FOR 107: CYCLIST CHRIS HALL COMPLETES 11,550KM ENDURANCE RIDE
Taken from the press release for 107for107:
Endurance cyclist Chris Hall has completed his mission to ride 107 kilometres every day for 107 days.
Chris has cycled at least 107km each day since December 16th - battling snow, suspected food poisoning and brutal storms - and triumphantly crossed the finish line on his final ride at the Tour of Flanders sportive on April 1.
A retail designer from East London and cycling’s answer to Forest Gump, Chris covered 12,674.6km in just over three months to raise awareness of a vital school called the Pace centre.
Chris, 27, is no stranger to tough cycling challenges. Last summer he became the first person to cycle for 24 hours around London’s Richmond Park. This time he has gone even bigger - slogging it out for at least five hours on the bike every day alongside his full-time job.
THE RULES
The rules of the 107 for 107 challenge are simple. At least 107 kilometres must be ridden each day from December 16th 2016 until April 1st 2017 - rolling over distance to the next day is not allowed. There are no rest days. All distance must be covered on the road or a Wahoo smart turbo trainer due to their accuracy and ability to replicate road gradient. Rollers are not allowed. Official distance will be uploaded to Strava.
THE REASON
Pace is a school in Aylesbury, Bucks, dedicated to transforming the lives of children up to the age of 18 with motor disorders such as cerebral palsy. The charity is founded on the belief that every child has the ability to learn and make progress, whatever physical or sensory challenges they face. A group of specialist teachers and therapists create programmes to support each of the 107 pupils and their families, helping them to unlock their potential.
Chris explained: “I was first introduced to Pace through my cycling club, Ripcor. The club has been fundraising for the school for over ten years and some of the members have children who went there.
“Each of the 107 children at Pace face daily challenges. Whether it’s waking up, getting to and from school or inside the classroom, every element of their day requires complex planning. But seeing what Pace enables them to achieve, it’s just incredible. I want to make more people aware that schools like this exist and that they need funding to keep going.
“I knew I wanted take on an endurance challenge which also relies on careful daily planning. The number 107 has become special to me, I even wear it on my jersey. So riding for 107 days just seemed like a no-brainer!
“Physically I was all over the place, mentally I was all over the place, but there was never really a doubt in my head about whether I’d be able to get up the next day and ride 107km again. I just told myself I haven’t got a choice.”
Caroline Bennett, Head of Fundraising at Pace, said: “When we found out what Chris is doing we were just amazed. The school exists to give children with motor disorders the tools they need to develop communications skills, access their education and gain their independence. People like Chris are vital in helping us continue that work, through raising awareness and donations. We’re so honoured to have him supporting our children.”
HOW DID HE DO IT?
With only so many hours in the day, planning was key. The majority of Chris’ days usually began at 4.30am, when he headed out in and around London to start racking up kilometres before work. He then had to jump back on the bike after work and finish the distance - while somehow managing to fit sleeping, stretching and a whole lot of eating.
Managing fatigue was a constant battle. Chris’ coach, Ken Buckley, was closely monitoring his daily heart rate, speed and power data to help him limit the effects of so much overtraining.
Chris explained: “A big part of being able to do this challenge was having the right tools in place. Having good tech and good kit I could rely on day in, day out was essential.
“But not getting a rest day was pretty brutal. It’s such a physical battle and Ken has been vital in helping to manage that. He could see when I’m getting tired, when I needed to hold back and helped me work out how best to manage the distance each day, so I had the best chance possible of completing it.”
IT’S NOT BEEN AN EASY JOURNEY
Chris has faced plenty of hurdles during the challenge - isolation, a severe sickness bug, not to mention the typically terrible British weather.
He explained: “I’ve definitely had my low points. Those times when I’ve cycled through the rain and the snow, and freezing my fingers to the point I thought they were going to drop off. I was even out through Storm Doris! Having that headwind to battle was painful. I looked down and I was doing 500 watts and 15kph, it was pretty crippling.
“On Day 39 I got so sick I couldn’t even leave the house. I’m pretty sure it was food poisoning. I had to stay off work and I was going between the bike and the toilet for two days. All I wanted to do is curl up in bed, but I knew I still had to get the distance done. It took me 9 hours to complete the distance on the turbo one day, I physically had no energy to turn the pedals.
“It shows what a big mental battle this whole thing is. And getting through that was a stubbornness more than anything. It’s the worst my body’s ever felt. But I knew there couldn’t be many days worse than that, so knowing that I got through that was a sort of personal boost.
“I also had to do a lot of riding on my own, and there were times when it felt isolating. One of the things getting me through this is the support from the cycling community, both friends and strangers. It’s been both amazing and humbling. Having random people show up to give me company out on rides, and sending encouraging messages online, it makes a big difference. It’s what makes the challenge doable for me.”
One of the biggest boosts for Chris came in his final week of the challenge, on day 103, when more than 60 riders turned up at London’s Regent’s Park at 7am to join him for laps.
Chris, who had put a call out on social media for friends and strangers to join his his ride, was overwhelmed by the turn-out. He said: "When I turned up at the park and saw the huge group of people it was pretty surreal.
"Obviously with so many miles to do, I was often riding alone and a lot of the time in the dark so that can be quite isolating. I guess when you're wrapped up in a challenge like this you end up a bit in your own bubble, not realising who is looking in.
"Seeing so many friends and strangers all show up to ride was so humbling. The company really has been priceless. It just goes to show the amazing camaraderie of the cycling community, I’m incredibly proud to be part of that."
Source: 107for107pacecentre
Filming with Francis Cade: A WHOLE PELOTON
Jimmi, Francis and myself did a small film about riding around London and heading to Regents to see the family who ride there. Check him out and his brilliant videos.
Focus Izalco Pro 3.0
We all have a dream bike that we have always wanted. I finally finished building mine up now.
The Izalco Pro 3.0 frame still is quite rare in the matt black. Equipped with Hunt Aero 38 carbon wheels, Osymetric chainrings, Verve Infocrank, Shimano Ultegra 11 speed, Fizik Arione CX and a 3T Stelth finishing kit.
She was bought off a close friend's dad a few years ago and I have not looked back since. Having always had a soft spot for Focus, primarily because of their Cyclocross bikes and their founder Michael Kluge, a former 3x cyclocross world champion was a bit of a hero of mine.
The blue spacer is the lucky spacer. It's always been on the bike
This bike was the first road Focus I had ever seen and I instantly fell in love with her. For me the geometry fits perfectly, they are twitchy and always want to go fast making them great fun but also their heritage in cyclocross means that they handle incredibly well. I've done some amazing things on this bike from riding around Richmond Park for 24 hours to cycling across Romania. We have racked up a few stories. Nothing on this bike is original. I have built her up exactly how I want her.
The Aerotundo 3T bars stand as some of the most comfortable I have ever used.
She's a fantastic piece of kit to ride and it is always a joy, she's compact, light and nippy. A bike that I really don't do justice to and always wants to go faster and faster - it holds the speed incredibly well and handles like a joy. In contrast she's also one of the comfiest bikes I have ever ridden. I remember earlier this year I let my friend take her out for a ride in Mallorca, he had a smile on his face from cheek to cheek the whole time. Exactly how I feel riding her.
Thanks to SBC Cycles for tuning her in and Lawrence Carpenter for the great photos
Richmond 24
24 hours, non stop cycling around Richmond Park. View the challenge fundraising for The PACE Centre here.
Wahoo KICKR
Having a spin on the Wahoo KICKR was a genuine pleasure. Here is a short film shot my the chaps at AttacusCC.
Turbo training is tough. It'll never quite beat cycling out on the roads but when you're trying to put in the serious training miles, sometimes needs must. But the Wahoo KICKR's made turbo training more fun and structured. Direct mount means no concerns about wearing out tyres, while providing the best transfer of power to gain accurate data. I team the KICKR up with Zwift and the Verve Infocrank power meter. It lets me create structured training plans close to real world cycling. Zwift's ability to work with the KICKR and increase the tension on elevations in the virtual reality world is a massive leap in cycling technology. It's not the same as riding outdoors, but the KICKR allows serious cyclists to get the highest quality session they're ever going to get.
The Massifier - Design your own Infographic Artworks
Howard and James, two good friends of mine started Massif Central a few years back to illustrate your achievements in the most beautiful of ways. The brand has grown from strength to strength, creating more and more beautiful pieces.
Shot by Pat Meagher
MaCe_Kickstarter_Full from Massif Central on Vimeo.
The prints originally started being designed individually and James and Howard are now aiming to create a software that allows you to design your challenge online.
There are some fantastic rewards from 3D printed achievements, shirts, challenges such as cycling up Mount Ventoux or spending a day in the studio with the team.
Here is some information from the boys themselves:
WHAT WE DO - We design beautiful memento artworks of sporting and other achievements.
THE AIM - Help us build an online portal - 'The Massifier' - for people to create their own bespoke artworks of their achievements.
WHAT THEY SAY - Chris Froome - Winner of the 2013, 2015 & 2016 Tour de France "The MassifCentral Limited Edition 100th Tour de France print is awesome."
WHAT WE DO
MassifCentral (MaCe) illustrate achievements; turning your life-changing challenges, unforgettable holidays and great journeys into sophisticated infographic artworks that also tell the story behind the effort and the enjoyment.
MassifCentral was set up two years ago. After completing a long distance cycle adventure with a bunch of friends, we wanted to create a different kind of memento to give to each member of the group. Instead of the usual photos, medals or certificate, we wanted something that was beautiful in its own right and that could tell the story of the experience at the same time.
That first design quickly led us to start producing similar artworks for other people. Whether the achievement be cycling, running, triathlon, skiing, hiking, sailing or something else, we've always worked to produce prints that remain true to those early principles of beauty and story-telling. And the reaction we've had to our designs has been brilliant.
Initially this work was all done pretty much by hand. We manually traced route profiles and worked out angles using the most basic of tools. Each artwork took weeks, if not months, to produce. Over the course of time we have refined our techniques, streamlined our processes and expanded the possibilities. But, even with some initial software that we developed last year, building each artwork is still a very labour intensive process that stops us from reaching more people.
Photo by Pat Meagher
AIMS
We want to develop an intuitive, user-controlled online portal that allows people to create their own bespoke Massif Central artworks; easily pulling in their own GPX data, making choices about look and size from our carefully curated designs, and adding their own thoughts and memories to an automatically populated geography. We will still print everything individually, and pack and ship with the same love and care we do now.
The initial software we have developed so far is great. But it's only the seed of what we need. It's not an outward facing item and it needs expanding and testing on all platforms. It needs to interface with Strava and Google Maps. It needs to help customers make decisions about what to include and what to exclude. It needs to be simple and clever at the same time, allowing people to create, preview, save and order their own memento artworks.
We know what we need to do to achieve this. We have the skilled people lined up to do it. What we don’t have is the funding to put the wheels in motion. That is what we are looking for here..
TIMESCALE
Big plans to grow and expand the business.
May 2014 - Massif Central Launched
May 2015 - Initial Software Development Started
November 2015 - Initial Software Delivered
November 2016 - Kickstarter
December 2016 - Developed Software Development To Begin
January 2017 - First Rewards Delivered
March 2017 - Developed Software Completion
April-May 2017 - Developed Software Testing / Soft launch
May 2017 - Developed Software Launch
Thanks for reading. We hope you will join with us on our next great adventure.
James & Howard
London Cyclocross League 2016-17 Round 5
Round 5 at London's iconic Herne Hill, always a magical place with a fantastic turnout and brilliant heckling. It's always great as you get to line up with mates who often are not able to make it to some of the further afield races. This race will stand in the memory as a special one. It was my first seeded race of the season. You never forget when your name gets called out and you have to roll to the start. Obviously quicker guys are behind you but its satisfying to know that you've been able to get a few meters ahead.
Attacus CC, Ripcor and East London Fixed, 3 different teams, but firstly 3 friends.
Herne Hill itself, a course that is notoriously technical, lots of sharp climbs, turns and mixes of surfaces, there is always a person waiting to watch a crash, slip or wobble. You start inside the velodrome and switch in and out of it, traveling out the back into the rough land which most people don't know about.
Hurdles are always a crowd pleaser. Photo by Kamal Balgobin
A mix of sharp steep climbs, where the only option is to run and hurdles keep the hecklers in certain areas, hoping for that slight slip or incident. This race itself was a fast one, grass trails tend to be.
A huge thank you for everyone who came down to watch, heckle, pinch/ slap the derriere. Special mentions have to go to the ladies from 5th Floor, East London Fixed, Team Full Demin Jacket and our friends at Brixton Cycles.
Strava file below:
East Kent Cyclo Cross League 2016-17 Round 2
Find something you love, let it kill you. (Or scare the shit out of you)
Round 2 held at Bay Point Club, Ramsgate Road, Sandwich, Kent involved a bridge, a huge huge bridge with a 28% gradient and a very short run up to it. To be honest I have not got much to say about this race. I'm not a fan of heights, I continually struggles to find the right line, cornering awfully. It definitely was not my best race this season.. In contrast I would say the worst. After two laps I had considered pulling out but stubbornness made me finish.
Races like these put things into perspective. We can't ride well week in and out. There are things that scare us and we are not invincible. Anyway onwards and upwards. I'm glad this one is done.
Strava file below:
One of the tight corners on the circuit
London Cyclocross League 2016-17 Round 4
Heading down to Happy Valley near Brighton, (a place nowhere near as happy as the name suggested..) for the 4th round of the London Cyclocross League. The course was relatively flat and dry and full of long stretches, sharp turns and a few hurdles for good measure.
Still recovering from the previous weeks crash; things were understandably sore but having friends Jimmi Nicholls from Attacus (The creator of the kit I donned for the race) and Josh Ibbett from Hunt Wheels instantly lightened the mood. Jimmi a confessed coffee snob and in his words "ex racer" was attempting his first cyclocross race ever. Josh in contrast a Transcontinental winner with a palmares as long as a piece of string confessed he hasn't raced cyclocross since his uni days. I always knew he would be strong.. (He's just modest.)
Josh showing how it's done on his Titanium Mason
A large field racing from across the South East and London.
The race itself, a headwind, jumps and some sharp corners. That pretty much sums it up. It was a quick course which could have easily been very different had the weather changed. There were a few nasty crashes, commonly at the hurdles. My attitude with these always is dismount, run, remount. Let's not get cocky..
Take it easy on those hurdles. Too often you see some nasty crashes here
Race done. Jimmi as always breaking rules. The Van Dessel performed fantastically again.
Strava file below:
Dolomites - Day 4
Ele and myself decided to get up early on our last day with one aim, to head up to the top of Stelvio for breakfast. So that's what we did, Stelvio for breakfast.
We started on the bikes around 6:30, with the aim on being some of the first on the road. We really wanted the climb to ourselves for the morning, or for as long as we could. The roads were clear, the weather was mild and the sun as it rose warmed up our spirits and legs.
There was no real rush. It was about enjoying the climb and the company. We took time to take photographs of the scenery and once at the top reminisced on what a brilliant few days it had been.
As the great Arnold Schwarzenegger says. 'I'll be back'.
Dolomites - Day 3
Day 3- The big one. Passo Mortirolo and Passo Gavia.
Two of the 'big boys' in Italy in one day. Mortirolo, the juiced up Lance Armstrong famously said this was 'the toughest climb' he had ever done. Everyone was understandably a bit nervous about this; but equally excited to be climbing one of the Giro d'Italia's most legendary climbs. First of all you have a long descent from Bormio early in the morning to the base of Mortirolo. It was an early start with purple skies as we watched the sun rise.
We arrived at the base knowing one thing for certain, this would be a tough one. Knowing what was coming I decided to take this climb a bit easy and enjoy it. It's one I have seen on TV for years so I wanted to lap up the moment so to speak. It still didn't make it an easy one. The climb largely starts in the forests; snaking its way skywards and eventually clearing into a valley before the final few steep turns until the top.
We started the climb from Grosio, The actual climb to the summit starts at Grosio and is 14.8 kilometres long at an average of 8.3% (height gain: 1222 m). Some of the turns kick in at 15% plus so it's definitely a lung burster.
Upon reaching the top there was a short 200m roll down to our first cafe stop. What a stop this was with beautiful views.
The remaining descent was fast towards the base of Passo Gavia. The temperature had really ramped up in the latter half of the morning through to lunch. There was concerns that climbing this big one could be a crippler. It was, for different reasons. The climb really starts at Stadolina, riding along a mix of A roads and through cobbled towns.
As we climbed, it started to become noticeable that the temperature was decreasing, the skies became overcast and the heavens opened. 2600 odd meters in the rain were going to be tough.
The rain came, and came and came, along with the thunder. Gavia itself is a steep long climb, with worsening road surfaces as you get up higher and higher making getting out the saddle slippy at points.
As you reach closer to the summit, the roads open up and the elements start to hit you from all points. Climbs like this often seem like you are cycling to the gates of hell at points when the rain hurts as it hits your arms, the body steaming as you are sweating but soaked through to the skin. You know the moment you stop you will start to feel the cold instantly. You've just got to keep ploughing. Still that sense of achievement is priceless. Reaching the top, cheering your mates in, the hot chocolate, laughs and sense of 'what just happened?' make it worth it. One of the toughest climbs and days in the saddle.
The Descent back to Bormio,
It can be summed up very quickly. Sharp turns, bad road surfaces, glaciers, a cold snap that runs through your body. It was a case of layer up and hold on. (You can't help but admire the rural nature of this climb compared to any others in Italy. It really is its own beauty and the beast.)
One more day (well half a day.) Enough for one more climb in the morning.
Dolomites - Day 2
The 'rest' day.
We were supposed to be taking it easy today, after our previous ride and what was in store for day 3. Competitiveness and excitement always takes over and wins. The Passo Torri di Fraele, or the Mini Stelvio as it is also known was our first climb of the day. We rolled out towards Stelvio for this one, remembering what we had achieved the previous day. It quickly became a race to the top. Ripcor vs Crondall Rouleurs. How quick could we get to the top. Ripcor Won. The climb itself has many similarities to Stelvio. The sharp hairpins with long stretches. A fantastic and quiet climb often missed by many people. Check it out if you go!
Lunch, it had to be one thing. Pizza. We descended into the centre of Bormio and of course decided to have pizza for lunch. A few of us then decided we had the legs for one more local climb, Bormio 2000. This climb. A bugger. It isn't the longest, but there is some steep points in this one as you cycle up to the ski lift. The afternoon became cold with some slight showers.
This one, broke me. A hard effort in the morning, jet lag well and truly setting in from Australia. Tired legs and out of food and water. I arrived at the top drained, but taken back by the view. It was still worth it.
Bring on Day 3
London Cyclocross League 2016-17 Round 3
'This one should be fun' they said. It was.
An undulating track with a real mix of terrain. Trails in the woods, hills, grass fields, jumps, gravel stretches and undulating corners. This was going to be a fast one. Feeling not quite so aero as the last race due to a damaged skinsuit, and struggling to get over the dreaded man-flu I knew this one would be tough. The short sharp up hills zig zagging over one field didn't particularly suit me but I thought lets have fun with this.
This race had some of the big hitters arrive at the start, guys racing in the nationals lined up with the 80 plus riders in the senior race. The best thing about Cyclocross is that there is always some to chase, and always someone chasing you. It's an intimate race where you are battling yourself more than anything.
The forest section of each lap was fast narrow and winding, overtaking here was tough but do-able depending on how brave you really were. There was often some one on your wheels on the slippy trails here and you simply needed to keep the power down. This then opened up into the ups and downs through the fields, eventually leading to a sharp hill, some flat grassland and the jumps. My attitude to jumps are lets not make a fool of myself and crash. Some people think differently here. For me it's easier to dismount, run and remount. I can make the time back elsewhere.
The gravel sections, normally a point I can ride well, became a weakness early on. My back wheel was clipped and down I went, quickly followed by another racer who'd clipped the back wheel but continued to ride over me. Many a firm word was said, an apology, a dust off and the race carried on, even with blood streaming down the largely grazed buttock and leg.
But that's Cyclocross. It fucking hurts sometimes, things brake, we get filthy. But its still one of the best ways to race in cycling.
Photos by Ant Harris, Chris Lanaway and John Mullineaux
Strava file below:
Ripcoro - Traverse Aravis
I recently spent a few days riding around Italy with the tour company Traverse Aravis. Here is a few words from Michael Winterton about the trip:
For the second time this year we made the trip across to Bormio in Italy which is fast becoming a second home to us. It should not be a long trip, a few hours to Milan and then up into the mountains. However, that final 100km is slow going with single lane roads and local traffic along with miles of tunnels. It can be a little frustrating but when you emerge from the last tunnel and are greeted with the expanse of mountains and the old town of Bormio, you know it’s worth it.
This is what we came for!
It is impossible not to get excited with the weekend ahead as there is a buzz of cyclists around the town. You know that you are where it is at, for those who like two wheels. It is pretty special. Checking in and getting the accommodation ready with the welcome packs and goodies (a special thanks to Moma Porridge) was smooth and gave us a few hours to wait for the arrival of our group, the infamous Ripcor Cycling Club.
Arriving in time for dinner, which was up to the usual high standard that we come to expect from our base in Bormio, gave everyone the opportunity to discuss the weekend ahead and what was in store for them. They were uncharacteristically quiet and it became apparent that they were a little nervous about taking on the might of the Passo del Stelvio – understandable.
Our first day loops around this magnificent mountain, famed for cycling but equally important as a summer training base for skiers from across the Alps, showing just how high it is! It is a long climb of 26km and the plan was to drop down into German speaking Italy and across into Switzerland before climbing back up to the Umbrail pass which rejoins the Stelvio just 5km from the summit. For some though, the Stelvio is an amazing achievement in itself and there was no shame in returning back to Bormio having crested its summit. Everyone made it.
It is undoubtedly the middle part of the Stelvio which is the most stunning, it is here where the straight road that clings to the side of the mountain side is forced into the infamous switch backs as it comes head on with the face of the mountain. I parked up the support van to get some shots of the group coming up and they all actually seemed to be enjoying it. The spread of the group was not that big and they were all showing their strength. As the per the Ripcor motto: It’s all good.
Going around the bend
The cluster of cafes and tourist stalls at the top of the Stelvio means that it is a good place to regroup, take in a coffee or two and revitalize. Everyone was in good spirits and thinking that they had made it, however, just because a pass is not famous, does not mean that it is not difficult. The Umbrail Pass was still to come. But first a 30 km descent. Speed Steve turns out not to be speedy and has a dislike for going downhill! His squeaking brakes reverberating around the mountains, surely confusing a marmotte or two. As I passed him, he asked for more water to help him cool the wheels down! It did the trick and they held out.
A rare flat moment
We set out lunch when we got into Switzerland. With just the Umbrail Pass to come, the day was nearing an end but this required a huge effort, lunch was certainly necessary.
The Umbrail Pass completes the triangle around the Stelvio, it is less well known and in turn less busy with fewer cyclists and cars on the road. This combined with the lack of kilometre markers creates a sense of true wilderness. That and “when will this end?!” It is though breathtaking. Once in a rhythm, it is just a case of keep plodding on. It was a little bit too much for Phil so he jumped in the van (the beauty of doing this with a support vehicle) for the last few km’s – not bad going though considering some turned back after the Stelvio. I will never forget John’s face when he arrived at the top – one of total pleasure yet total pain. Ripcor had earned their beer and cakes today.
Chris floating up the Umbrail Pass
Saturday was an all-together easier day, it is necessary to recuperate! It was a switchback ascent up towards Lake Cancano, they call it the mini-Stelvio around these parts and you can see why. Very, very steep to start with and then it eases off. Standing at the top, it was amazing to see everyone on the bends below, a fantastic view that you normally would only get from a helicopter.
Mini-Stelvio
Sunday was the attempt to complete the trilogy of big climbs in the area (and Italy in fact). The Mortirolo follow by the Gavia. A huge day. An early start was required. Dropping down from Bormio to the start of the Mortirolo is a gentle but fun 30km of freewheeling! The beams of sunrays breaking through the mountain tops gave me the impression that I was in a crystal, mountains in the mornings!
There is a tiny turning to the start of the Mortirolo, easily missed and for that reason, it is hard to imagine why it is so famous. Quoted by many as their hardest climb, including the drugged up Armstrong, it seems so innocuous. We do have a confession and say that there are two routes up that join for the last ascent, we went up the “easier” part. You tell that to the guys!
Just as you get to a little church, the road ramps up and really kicks in, I guess for the first time in the weekend, you realise why the Giro maybe regarded as a little tougher than the Tour. It was all a bit too much for Leigh but he took great pleasure in cheering everyone else on from the comfort of the van. Again just to get up to that point was an achievement that most cannot say that they have done.
The hot chocolate just after the summit makes it worth it.
One of Armstong's hardest climbs...
Next stop the Gavia. Dieter was banging on about how he just wanted to do the Mortirolo, that was the famous climb of the two. What is all the fuss about this Gavia? Well, Dieter, its steep and long. It’s bloody hard. You think that you are cycling up to the doors of hell. But when you get to the top, it is magical. High, and unlike the Stelvio with all its hotels and skiers, it’s wild. You have certainly left the normal hustle and bustle of everyday life behind. Rewarding.
Just after a long, dark tunnel with about 2km to go, I found Alastair and Phil pondering their next move. The others were just finishing up. I told them in no uncertain terms that they were not getting in the van. They pushed on and shortly after made it to the top of this monster. Tears of joy (or pain) rolling down Phil’s cheeks, they, like everyone else had achieved something special. Chapeau as you would say in France. I was expecting a raucous evening of celebration but everyone was happy to relax and contemplate their achievements over a glass or two.
Great work lads!
Dolomites - Day 1
A few days in Italy, it would be rude not to be in search of the up. On a ride organised by Traverse Aravis a group of Ripcor riders ventures on this search for all the clims that Italy and The Dolomites have to offer.
The Dolomites are a mountain range located in northeastern Italy. They form a part of the Southern Limestone Alps and extend from the River Adige in the west to the Piave Valley in the east. Also known as the "Pale Mountains", they take their name from the carbonate rock dolomite, itself named for 18th-century French mineralogist Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu, who was the first to describe the mineral.
Day 1- Stelvio and Passo Umbrail
Our first day in Italy was a big one, the legendary Passo Stelvio, climbing out of Bormio and descending into Switzerland for lunch, before climbing back into Italy via Passo Umbrail.
Stelvio; with its elevation of 2757 meters, and roughly 25km in length is a big one to get the legs turning over. From leaving the chalet we were climbing up with the 48 hairpin turns creating the wall effect as you look up the mountain climb. It's one that appears to go on and on, but the scenery does not disappoint as you head higher and higher nearing the cafe at the top.
Upon reaching the top and taking a much needed coffee stop, the descent was quick, flowing and equally as beautiful. We descended into Switzerland with some riders having to stop intermittently to cool down their carbon rims from over heating. A huge bonus of disc brakes is not having any concerns of this.
Arriving at the base we knew one thing. It was a case of heading back up.. The Swiss side of the Dolomites was green, luscious and full of farm land as we waited at the base of Passo Umbrail for lunch served by Michael from Traverse Aravis
Once we were fueled up, the climb began again. Steeper than Stelvio and having already climbed a huge amount in the morning, the legs were quickly burning winding through the forests. Finally we joined back on to Passo Dello Stelvio with the descent of what we climbed ahead of us before rolling back into Bormio.
Day 1 complete.
Strava file below.
