Lessons From the Bike

It's been fantastic, with the exception of Wednesday, to get some dry miles on the wheels. Amazingly 150 from Monday to Friday. On Friday I had a great idea, as I had done a few miles already I thought I would take out the Time Trial bike for a 25 mile ride. I normally only do 10's on it but there is a first time for everything. Having rolled down the road I hit the first of several hills and found the gears were stuck below the 13 sprocket which meant I either span really quickly up the hills or ground my way up them in the 54 at the front. Still it was a good ride if a little uncomfortable and of course being a TT bike it is harder going on the body and very twitchy on the bike.

Lesson One - check the bike before you go out.

13 hours later and it was off on the Orbea through Heswall, Neston, Puddington and down into Chester, to treat myself to a new Fizik cherry red full carbon saddle from 69 cycles. Well order it anyway, it will look great once its fitted. I've been testing saddles from there for about eight weeks now and I am finally happy enough to invest in a top bit of kit. The only bad thing about the solo ride was the headwind against me all the way into Chester, 27 miles the morning after a session on the TT bike

Lesson 2 - don't hammer it the evening before a long solo ride.

I stopped at Eureka for a well deserved coffee and cake before finishing with 54 on the clock not the longest ride but a good one after the week I've had taking it to over 200 for the week and of course the second 27 with the wind behind is always a joy.

THe other thing I have been trying is experimenting with my drinks. I have tried just using water for anything less than 25 this week. Well hitting Irby I got severe cramp in my left leg for the first time since 1986.

Lesson 3 - keep hydrated and top the minerals up, cramp hurts!!!!

Tomorrow is back to the track to finish my accreditation with some work behind the derny so should be great fun. Only problem - side kick Ade got himself sent to China, not the cleverest thing to do, still more on that tomorrow.

The Dream - The Reality

This is the WILIER VELODROMO - ALU Track bike.  Every fixed boys dream. Having searched the interent and various uk stores, it appears that Wilier have no intentions of bringing this work of art into the UK market.. Madness.. 

Never mind, Shaun has now got his Dolan track beast, and I am hoping that a stealth black Wilier Pista (Cyclesurgery Limited Edition) will be winging its way to me in the next month. We'll then be set to rip the track up like boardman in his heyday!

As to the track sessions, we are now lining up for our pink slips tomorrow, no, not what you imaging, these slips are our entry into the track skills session which will then lead us onto full accreditation and Shaun's goal of showing Hoy how it 'should be done'.... Can't wait to see that during next year Revolution!

Anyway, this is my first blog post, so with luck i'll get the hang of it shortly. 

He's back!!!!

It's been a while thanks to a number of things going on in  my personal life and of course the number of opportunities to ride the bike. One thing is sure though, the naked,sexy Italian lady I wrote about in one of my first blogs hasn't changed a bit. Stunning as ever and still willing to let Ade throw his leg over her whenever he wants.
Much has gone on since my last blog; Le Tour, the greatest show on earth was the cleanest in living memory with Contadour's participation turning cycling into a verbal contact sport.. Nothing is hitting people's emotions more than using Armstrong and doping in the same sentence. The sad death of Walter and the rise and rise of sky. Then of course there is the topical issue of Cavendish, surely one of the greatest UK athletes of all time and so much more to come. How he achieves it while distracted by PetaTodd I will never know.
On a personal front the rides, sportive's and all things cycling go on. I have bought a new track bike and I am loving riding the loop with the other Wirral mamils and their kids. We had the pleasure of seeing Sir Chris Hoy and other members of the UK track team in training last Friday and boy are they focused not to mention fast. More on this from Ade who will be joining me with some contributions to the site shortly,
Plenty has happened and I will be adding to the site shortly for your pleasure, remember we are still riding so if you fancy some company get in touch and enjoy the ride.

A very hilly Sportive - the bay dash

Wirral Mamils entered the bay dash sportive on Sunday. 62 miles of Cumbrian hell on a warm day ensured the cycling tan began to take hold, so no swimming until it fades again. The sportive takes riders around some stunning countryside and quaint Cumbrian Villages. Merge that with some of the steepest hills nature can create without defying the laws of gravity; including a 23% descent around hairpin bends on a road suitable for cyclocross. Mix into this good company including people we met on the road, a puncture, no wind, warm weather and, for me, the new orbea, and a level stretch paced at 25 mph and it was a great experience.
That said, we did find a few faults with the organisation, stops in the wrong places-just before a climb frustrates, no drinks at the end, though they did have a stall nearby. Overall a typical mamil day, amused by the fact our bikes cost more than any of our cars, the thought that we could now keep up with any professional rider and trying to convince each other our legs don't hurt and we could have done another 25, kidding no-one but we won't challenge each other.
Next is the Wirral bikeathon, then the hope 100, a real challenge. After that who knows...up for suggestions



Cycling weekly recently ran a survey to find the average cyclist of 2011. It's always interesting to see how you fit into the statistics of your favourite hobby but ultimately - it doesn't matter as long as you enjoy it. I intend to keep going until I'm way beyond average (I have to I just bought a new bike, more on it later).
Anyway some fun facts

84% MALE - Me
41yrs 4 months used to be me
height 5ft 10 nearly me
waist 33.3" - part of my waist is
Average spend on bikes £1,070 a year Ha- every two months maybe
number of bikes 2-3 I have 6 of my own, don't know why but need another one
Weight 12-5lbs no comment
Time riding 15 years - not even close
hours riding per week 8 - about right
50% have raced - me too
miles per week 105 - I do a fair few more
Only half have ridden a sportive, I've done two and a few more booked
81% use energy drinks quite right
70% have a turbo trainer but 10% don't use it - I love them and have two
57% have a heart rate monitor, I wouldn't move without one

other than that hardly any one is happy with their weight and time trial times for the 10 vary between 19-19 and 50-12 so give it a go.

There we go, the average cyclist, wonder if we can find one or do we all sit outside average? I hope so.... Ignore the stats and happy cycling

My bike is a toilet

I have mentioned in a couple of postings the Orbea Orca I have ordered which should have arrived last week. Then airbus stepped in and bought up all the carbon fibre available from the company that supply Orbea. So my bike is a toilet somewhere overhead. Two good things though - first of all it will only be about another three weeks..so six weeks in total, excellent timings for a bike built to my specification and much better than the times offered by many of the Italian manufacturers. Even better than settling for what is available in the shop. Secondly - Orbea have refused to compromise on the quality of carbon fibre and buy from elsewhere..even if it costs customers, very reassuring.

So while I am waiting I found this on the Internet http://www.twitvid.com/4JOWR It's Samuel Sanchez and worth a look. My personal view...if he had worked hard up the hill the motorbike wouldn't have been close on the downhill. Perhaps if he joins us for a Vita ride he can pick up a few tips....

Neil Pryde - Go Ride

Years ago I was addicted windsurfing. Neil Pryde were the ultimate in wind surfing equipment particularly in the design and quality of their sails. They recently surveyed their customers to find out more about their lifestyle. Surprisingly it would appear that a high percentage of windsurfers love race bikes too. Neil Pryde have subsequently taken years of knowledge about wind dynamics and turned it to race bike technology. Ratings in the press have been exceptional but, what do they know?
The bikes come in a range of colours and, I'm told, you will shortly be able to opt for custom colours. There are also a range of group sets but, for more on that, speak to your dealer.

I took out the diablo and boy was it a devil of a ride!

The first thing you notice is the quality of the finish and quality of the build, exceptional and something some of the Italian frame designers could learn from. The headset is a huge affair and the bike tends to push you forward over the bars in a sprinters position so the headset strength will be reassuring for you future Cavendish's out there.

These are the specifications of the bike I rode;

Frame: C6.7 high-modulus unidirectional carbon fibre full-monocoque

Groupset: Shimano Ultegra 6700

Wheels: Mavic Ksyrium SL

Seatpost: FSA Team Issue 27.2mm

Stem: OS-150 Carbon, 6° 31.8mm

Bars: Wing Pro Compact, 31.8mm

Seat: Selle Italia SL Kit Carbonio, w/ Vanox tube

Tyres: ATOM COMP, 700x23c

Weight: 7.25kg

The gears were positive and quick with no slippage, the wheels light and well balanced, no skimming the brakes when sprinting. The frame is very stiff and notice the weight, you don't get much lighter for this money. I only went on a short ride and found myself forward on the bike ready to sprint, urged on almost by the bike wanting to leap forward. When I did sprint it flew. This is a bike for the hard core racer, ideally suited to criteriums or short evening races on closed circuits when the action is non-stop and the sprinter is king. If you want a bit more comfort during longer rides consider the other Pryde the Alize, still  a racer but looks a touch more forgiving,(I've yet to ride it)

These are the first two offerings from Neil Pryde, their aero knowledge has transferred well and I look forward to future offerings. For now though a Matt black diablo with matching wheels is on the shopping list or it's my birthday in May if anyone is wondering what to buy me.................. 



http://www.neilprydebikes.com/usd/?country_id=US