Cyclemeter Cycle 7 Jul 2010 09:19:18

Finished Ride: 7 Jul 2010 18:43:55
Route: Dover - Greenwich
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/6ac7/f540/4bad/dd56/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20100707-0919.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/aKw5Ba
Ride Time: 8:20:02
Stopped Time: 1:04:31
Distance: 85.09 miles
Average: 10.21 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 27.31 miles/hr
Climb: 4275 feet
Calories: 4441

http://www.cyclemeter.com

The drugs do work

After a desperate start feeling really good now

Only 35 miles to Greenwich!

Sent from my iPhone

Pretty desperate morning. Felt better after the first feedstop and
then hung onto the Dutch coattails again to get me to lunch
2pm and still 50 miles to go

Sent from my iPhone

Back in Blighty

With bad roads, bad drivers and a bad route

This is going to be a long 100 miles

Sent from my iPhone

Cyclemeter Cycle 7 Jul 2010 06:51:39

Finished Ride: 7 Jul 2010 07:48:56
Route: Cocqelles - Docks
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/6ac7/f540/4bad/dd56/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20100707-0651.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/bRoXBI
Ride Time: 41:47
Stopped Time: 15:23
Distance: 6.25 miles
Average: 8.98 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 16.88 miles/hr
Climb: 121 feet
Calories: 317

http://www.cyclemeter.com

Ridiculously early start

Have to catch an early ferry this morning and cycle through Calais, so
it's a 6:45am start this morning (!)

Sent from my iPhone

And they win!!!

And this is BEFORE the kick-off!

Dutch Day

Took the Dutch "train" out of Brugge today. Linked up with 5 rather
attractive Dutch girls on the way out and made great progress the
whole day (cycling that is!)

Really good day today - excellent weather, easy riding in a peleton,
and good scenery. Only spoilt by not paying attention on Calais and
going over the handlebars. Hopefully just bruised ribs and ego.

And now we're in a pub waiting for the Holland v Uruguay match. The
Dutch really know how to party!

Cyclemeter Cycle 6 Jul 2010 09:20:01

Finished Ride: 6 Jul 2010 16:48:16
Route: Bruges - Calais
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/6ac7/f540/4bad/dd56/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20100706-0920.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/aV6J2r
Ride Time: 5:54:05
Stopped Time: 1:34:05
Distance: 77.70 miles
Average: 13.17 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 22.62 miles/hr
Climb: 912 feet
Calories: 4858

http://www.cyclemeter.com

Sleep, eat, cycle - day 2

Brugge - Calais

And stop

Cyclemeter Cycle 5 Jul 2010 08:50:39

Finished Ride: 5 Jul 2010 18:42:42
Route: Brussels - Bruges
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/6ac7/f540/4bad/dd56/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20100705-0850.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/cnISEV
Ride Time: 8:00:51
Stopped Time: 1:49:30
Distance: 89.31 miles
Average: 11.14 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 27.13 miles/hr
Climb: 2218 feet
Calories: 4894

http://www.cyclemeter.com

Feeding time

Cyclemeter Cycle 5 Jul 2010 08:50:39

Started Ride: 5 Jul 2010 08:50:39
Route: Brussels - Bruges
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/6ac7/f540/4bad/dd56/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20100705-0850.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/cnISEV

http://www.cyclemeter.com

Getting nervous!

OK Some people are taking this very seriously!
There are some very expensive bikes appearing.
We've got a target time of 4pm to finish. I know we normally like
leisurely lunches, but that's a couple of hours shorter than I'd
normally expect
Weather here grey but not too cold

The Muur awaits. Remember you should be able to follow my progress via
the Cyclemeter Google links.

Let's go...

Sent from my iPhone

Atomium, Brussels

Paris has the Eiffel Tower, London has Big Ben and The Eye; Brussels
has, err... A giant iron atom

Cav to team at team bus:
"I never got the chance to race"

Sent from my iPhone

Bienveu a la Belle France

Excuse the poor French - but hopefully I can blog abroad now!

Sent from my iPhone

Impressed!!

With the London Cycle Network - got me to the station in 16 mins this
morning. No special facilities but just excellent signage.

And with EuroStar. First time on board. It doesn't half shift...

Sent from my iPhone

St Pancras looks fantastic in the early morning sunshine

Off to Brussels!

Beautiful morning

Sat down in Le Pain Quotidien enjoying an croissant almond. Is it too
frivolous to consider Bucks Fizz to finish off?

Sent from my iPhone

Relaxing before the big day

Ah! The pampered life of the international sportsman

As befits my status, I've been given the exclusive use of a top London
apartment in preparation for the big ride (thanks out-of-stepdaughter
Sioned ;-) Up at around 6 tomorrow morning, early to bed tonight.

In the TdF, a great ride from HTC rider Tony Martin in the prologue
today. Who knows, we might meet him tomorrow (apart from Cav, I'd also
love to meet Flecha). Big mention for Brits David Millar and Geraint
Thomas for their rides today.

Sent from my iPhone

Forecast for next week

Here's our own personal forecast for next week, courtesy of Stephen Davenport at MeteoGroup UK

The expected band of showers and isolated thunderstorms has come into the UK from the west but is fizzling before it reaches the south-east. However, that other plume of scattered but locally heavy showers/thunderstorms is developing ahead of it, affecting France today (Friday 2 July) then both France and Belgium tonight. A few could just clip Kent and Essex, too.

Sunday should both be dry, though, with some sunshine -- in fact, quite a lot of sunshine, with a high of 27 or 28 deg C but freshening winds for a time towards the Channel coast – temporarily strong through the Straits of Dover but lighter in Belgium. Maximum on Monday more like 24 or 25 C with cloud increasing to bring a scattering of sharp showers – about a 50/50 chance of catching at least one of those. Probably becoming drier and brighter by the end of Monday. Relatively light west to south-westerly winds Monday.

That band of showers on Monday is the one that was originally looking more likely for Tuesday – instead Tuesday now looks drier with occasional sunshine. Still a small chance of a passing shower, though. Similar temperatures Tuesday, with a maximum of 24/25C in London, 22/23C in Calais and 24 to 26C Brussels/Bruges. Light west to south-westerly winds on the whole, moderate through the Channel.

Wednesday – still looks like there’s a band of showers coming eastwards but again tending to fizzle as it moves across SE England. I’d still expect the odd shower, though, and perhaps more pertinently rather a stiff cross-wind – a fresh south-westerly for a time.

Just a reminder why I'm doing this...

You’ve heard from me for months so perhaps the best way to leave you is with a word from a Right To Play volunteer coach called Matthias in Benin, west Africa:

“As teachers and parents we have the mission to give children the appropriate knowledge to encourage their full development. But this cannot be achieved without a happy environment, without role models that lead children back to a path they have strayed from because of the violence and difficulties of their surroundings. And we cannot succeed without the sport and play activities that give children the chance to relax whilst learning. Right To Play games are an invaluable and clever channel that allow children reach that state, and the children on the programme are more empathetic, better in school, healthier, and more confident. But best of all, they are happier and hopeful for a better future.”

You can still sponsor me at: http://www.justgiving.com/mapman

A huge thanks to everyone who has sponsored me - hopefully by reading things like Matthias's comments you realise how important Right To Play's work has become.

July already!!

Tomorrow I catch the train down to London - we have to register at St Pancras at 7:00am (!!!) Sunday morning, and then it's over to Brussels, catch the finish of the Rotterdam - Brussels Tour de France stage, party, a good night's sleep, and then off at 9 the next morning.

Following my progress
I should be posting here on this blog, and also on facebook - though I never seem to have much success there!

In theory, you should also be able to follow my progress (almost!) live. You'll see posts headed "Cyclemeter cycle" - this is coming from a little GPS I'll be carrying with me. Click on either "Google Maps URL:" or "Shortened Google Maps URL:" in these posts and you should see where I am, give or take ten minutes or so. To keep it updated you need to keep pressing your browser's 'Refresh' or 'Reload' button. There should be new data every five minutes or so.

I'll keep you all updated!

Horrible, horrible

Terrible ride - too hot (it was 28C out there), legs felt as though they were peddling through treacle. The only consolation was that I climbed about half the length/height of The Muur in one climb and didn't really have to get out of the saddle. Completely knackered at the top though!

I'll have to be a LOT better next week

Cyclemeter Cycle 26 Jun 2010 10:30:19

Finished Ride: 26 Jun 2010 11:26:57
Route: Damflask - 1 Circuit
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/6ac7/f540/4bad/dd56/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20100626-1030.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/aPGCAX
Ride Time: 56:35
Stopped Time: 0:00
Distance: 10.26 miles
Average: 10.88 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 26.33 miles/hr
Ahead of Worst Ride: 0:17
Climb: 1201 feet
Calories: 588

http://www.cyclemeter.com

Cyclemeter Cycle 26 Jun 2010 09:20:19

Finished Ride: 26 Jun 2010 10:29:12
Route: Don Valley circuit
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/6ac7/f540/4bad/dd56/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20100626-0920.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/doLa53
Ride Time: 1:06:52
Stopped Time: 1:58
Distance: 13.69 miles
Average: 12.28 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 23.69 miles/hr
Behind Worst Ride: 11:18
Climb: 584 feet
Calories: 611

http://www.cyclemeter.com

Fantastic morning!!

Time for my last big training ride

Sent from my iPhone

Road rash!

Another quiet week - just about 30 miles, but with a bit of climbing thrown in.

Mark Cavendish had a rather spectacular crash at the end of yesterday's stage of the Tour of Switzerland. He's not having the best of build-up's to this year's Tour. Fortunately, nothing appears broken but he is "covered in road rash".

'Good' video at: http://tinyurl.com/38dsu3v

Nice though it would be to meet Cav at the end of Stage 2 of this year's Tour de France, I'd rather having to be talking to his team-mates because he is otherwise engaged on the podium.

Cyclemeter Cycle 12 Jun 2010 09:12:06

Finished Ride: 12 Jun 2010 10:03:05
Route: Damflask - 1 Circuit
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/6ac7/f540/4bad/dd56/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20100612-0912.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/b7wYKl
Ride Time: 50:52
Stopped Time: 0:00
Distance: 10.89 miles
Average: 12.84 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 26.08 miles/hr
Ahead of Best Ride: 10:07
Climb: 587 feet
Calories: 666
http://www.cyclemeter.com

Dead England flags: 0

Going up The Wall

School holidays and a social life have meant I haven't exactly been training like a pro over the last few weeks. I've only managed 16 miles a week for the past three weeks, but I've certainly been feeling fitter. The London Eye and the Natural History Museum were the highlights of a few days away with the kids in London last week.

I was sent the Rider Manual for the Right To Play ride when I was down there, which gave me something to read on the train & Tube. You may remember I mentioned that I mentioned the possibility of a section on pavé on the route... ...now we get the detailed route I see it's just 'any old pavé' - this is serious stuff.

We're cycling up the Muur van Geraardsbergen or Kapelmuur - more often just known as The Muur ("The Wall"). It's the huge, next-to-last cobbled climb on the Tour of Flanders; the climb that in April Fabian Cancellara blasted past Tom Boonen to ensure he won the De Ronde. Imagine (seriously) cycling up the Hovis advert hill and you get some idea. I guess I should expect at least one puncture....

Suitably 'inspired', I took off on a ride earlier tonight with plenty of climbs - the road around Damflask Reservoir provides suitable training, both for the hills and a road surface that is a close approximation to cobbles.

300 metres of climb (The Muur is a 92m climb) and 13 miles.

I noticed cars are already making their feeling known about England's chances in the World Cup, and saw 3 dead England flags en-route.

For those of you blissfully unaware of The Muur, you can read about it in Wikipedia or even watch the terrifying YouTube video

Cyclemeter Cycle 6 Jun 2010 19:53:34

Finished Ride: 6 Jun 2010 20:56:58
Route: New Route
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/6ac7/f540/4bad/dd56/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20100606-1953.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/anDveQ
Ride Time: 1:03:16
Stopped Time: 0:00
Distance: 13.08 miles
Average: 12.40 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 32.15 miles/hr
Climb: 1079 feet
Calories: 839
http://www.cyclemeter.com

Dead England flags: 3

Travel Road Show

There was a roadshow on campus today, mainly about non-car means of getting to and from the University.

Just like to say thanks to the bike shops that came along; I needed some new bidons from Brussels- London, and got a new plastic bidon from Langsett Cycles, but spanking TWO aluminium ones from Edinburgh Bike Coop - which was nice!

Thanks guys - and snubbed noses to 'certain' bike shops that chose not to attend and give out freebies.

Have to see now how I get on with a bidon you can't squeeze...

We know where you are!

Getting the hang of this electronic thingiemiggie.

When I'm out riding, you should now see a new post starting:

Cyclemeter Cycle...

Click on the URL there under either "Google Maps URL:" or "Shortened Google Maps URL:" and you should see where I am, give or take five minutes or so. To keep it updated you need to keep pressing your browser's 'Refresh' or 'Reload' button. There should be new data every five minutes or so.

If anyone's actually reading when I'm cycling I would be very interested in any feedback

Hopefully you should be able to follow me in 'real time' through Flander's Fields....

5 days in a row!

Just got home - now managed five days in a row.

Not very impressive, especially when those days have been: 8, 8, 56, 17 & 8 miles

A grand total of 97 miles - just about the same distance as I have to cycle on the last day from Dover to Greenwich.

Stretching the legs

Felt the need to stretch the legs this morning after yesterday - a beautiful day, in complete contrast to yesterday. In short-sleeved top and shades. *

Rather than slog into the Peak District, I went along Sheffield's valley bottom - advantages: it's relatively flat, with good surfaces; disadvantages: traffic and built-up with few of the stunning views - but the traffic isn't too much of a problem on a Sunday morning. 17 miles in just over an hour - so I'm thinking this is where I should be doing my training!

Bike, legs and bottom** felt quite good ;-)

Here's the route


* Yesterday, I was amazed at the amount of money people invest simply to do a 25 mile 'fun' ride. There was plenty of carbon from Specialised, Scott, Bianchi, Tifosi, etc etc on display, all clad in their Rapha tops, wearing their dark, dark shades. What's that all about? Especially when the weather is so bad all the cars had headlights on!! To be fair, there were also plenty of families on cheap bikes - but surely a BHF fun ride isn't the place for Italian-style Sunday morning lycra poseurs!

** I have been known to buy a nancy-boy gel saddle cover on long rides before now. My new bike's the first without an exceptionally comfortable Terry saddle. My delicate bum could never cope with a Brookes!

Hard, hard, hard...

That was a hard ride - cold, wet and windy. It started in rain, and just continued for the next four hours. It was just like January

Good news - I got round, bike was good and most things worked OK - though the Cateye bike computer complained about the wet and the cold, and I've found it's pretty hard to try and blog whilst on the move. Was wearing my winter cycling jersey and a Roubaix jacket over that. Soaking wet but kept me (fairly!) warm.

Bad news - I forgot my overshoes, so started out with wet feet, and it just got worse as there was standing water all over the roads.

Legs feel tight afterwards, which isn't good. Think I need a little spin tomorrow....

Some stats:
Route map: http://j.mp/9ieLcD
Started: 8 May 2010 08:40:31
Ride Time: 3:55:20
Stopped Time: 22:47
Distance: 55.43 miles
Average: 14.13 miles/hr
Fastest Speed: 30.49 miles/hr
Climb: 1506 feet

In the pub

Good news - over halfway in under two hours; in pub having tea
Bad news - it's cold, wet and I forgot my overshoes. Can't feel my toes
Sent from my iPhone

Belvoir BHF Ride

It's cold, it's very grey, it's far too early but I'm still setting
off late.

Suddenly, even watching the plastic scousers doesn't seem that bad.

Sent from my iPhone

Big day tomorrow

Forgoing the siren call of the last match of the season (last match ever?) at Edgeley Park and the dubious pleasures of Stockport County v Tranmere Rovers, I've signed myself up for a British Heart Foundation ride in the Vale of Belvoir. 60 miles and a ridiculous 8am start!

It's a good shakeout both for me and the new bike (still not got my fancy-dan new bike computer to work. Hopefully the good old Cateye will suffice). I'll try blogging on the phone as a tryout for my Somme re-enactment.

Speaking of which, we're told that we ARE still on course to meet that naughty Manxman Cav.
Here's an article on his latest misdemeanours, together with a Friday afternoon picture of the boy for the girls (well, she is a rather attractive blonde !):
Cav gets pulled!

Last week: a staggering 28 miles
This week: even better - 16 miles (plus tomorrow!)

Fat old man on a bike

Right To Play have just sent me training schedules for the next few weeks:


Here's an example:


Week 6, Intermediate standard
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: TURBO - 30 mins easy gear, spinning and working hard to rev. without a high power. Save your legs but work your CV fitness and burn some calories
Wednesday: NO FRILLS 2 hours Zone 2 steady pace
Thursday: NO FRILLS 1 hour Z3/4
Friday: Rest
Saturday: HARD AEROBIC 2 hours Z2/3 pulse, constant paced hard session
Sunday: ENDURANCE 3 hours Z3

Yeah - right guys! Well, at least I get into Zone 5 on my Rest Days. Sounds like I'm going to be doing this against superfit teenage students. Great!

Also sent the route profiles - the distances have gone up too: 142km (88 miles), 125km (78 miles), 155km (96 miles). The only saving grace is the climbs - 80m on the first day, 150m on the last, and we never seem to get above 20m between Bruges and Calais. Let's just hope the wind's kind to me. As I have to climb 100m in less than 1km every time I go to work, and everyone else doing this lives darn sarf, I'm just hoping it will be a tortoise and hare thing when it comes to the hills ;-)


Perhaps this wasn't such a great idea after all....

Lunchtime ride

Just done a few miles round the city centre with the University Cycle
group. Lovely ride - weather warm and sunny. Stopped off at a great
deli/patisserie on The Wicker of all places - La Perle is certainly
worth a visit. Spicy Chicken wrap and an Americano coffee if you're interested!

Still trying to master 21st century technology, so if you are reading this
it really was:
Sent from my iPhone

A good week

Spring's finally here, and I'm finally starting to feel as though I'm getting somewhere.

Three consecutive fastest times into work, managed to get up the hill to work on the middle chainring (it's a cyclist thing), and went out for a couple of circuits round Damflask this morning.

http://j.mp/axf9De

Only a total of 38 miles this week - but I have been working hard (honest!)

Also put some sexy XTR SPD pedals on the road bike. Here's a piccie...

B***dy cold this morning!!

Back from a wonderful week of blue skies (and no vapour trails!) around Church Stretton. Shropshire really is one of this country's best-kept secrets.

Anyway - back to reality this morning. Outside thermometer was broken; it was only when I got on the bike and started cycling I realised it was REALLY cold. 4ºC really is no joke and shouldn't be allowed in April

Off on hols!

Only managed 24 miles (again!) this week...

Still, now off for a week walking in the beautiful hills of Shropshire. Hopefully back refreshed and raring to go the week after next!

The worst of times, the best of times...

Ominously, my legs still ache a week after doing what should have been a fairly routine ride. Effectively 18 months out of the saddle hasn't been kind to me.

On Tuesday I did my worst time into work for 2010; today, with those still-tired legs, I managed my best 2010 time - how does that work then?

If I'm feeling particularly masochistic, a loop of Damflask beckons tonight - we're off to a cottage in Shropshire next week. I'm expecting to struggle - again!

JustGiving page is now live

My JustGiving page is now up and running. Whilst you're having a laugh at me, please help kids enjoy the right to play by making a donation.

Click the Donate button above

7am!! In London!!

Just got a few more details of the trip to Brussels. I've got to get to St Pancras at around 7am on Sunday morning in time to register, get the bikes loaded onto the transport to Belgium, and get the 9am Eurostar.


Looks like I'll be looking for a bed for the night somewhere in London on Saturday...

Digging in the dirt

So I got to do some real cycling yesterday. Out on the TPT yesterday and felt surprisingly good.

I went from home to Dunford Bridge - 16.5 miles and around 400m of climb (though my GPS insists I managed 2766 feet !). As I was on my MTB, and the track surface isn't brilliant (as you can see from the photo!), that was nearly two hours of constant pedalling.

I felt it on the way back (and was waylaid by the siren call of a fish butty in the chip shop cafe in Penistone), but still, I've managed 49 miles this week.

Getting there...  ...very slowly!

Route stats

Finally on the road

The clocks went forward yesterday, and I finally ran out of excuses to get on the road.

I've been cycling into work (8 miles/day), but school runs mean I can't do this as often as I would like.

 I got round to putting some pedals on the new bike and finally took it out for a spin up to Damflask reservoir near home. Only 10 miles, but some big hills and a really fierce wind a lot of the time.

Route map

This week: 26 miles

Video update

Here's a couple of links where you can find out a little more about Mark Cavendish and Columbia-HTC, their involvment with Right to Play and the 2010 Brussels to London Cycle Challenge.

http://www.markcavendish.com/righttoplay.html

http://www.highroadsports.com/partners/2-Right-to-Play

Pavé??!! They said nothing about cobbles!!

I've just spent a shedload of money on a fancy-Dan bike...   ...and now they tell me they've finalised the Brussels - London route to include some of the Tour of Flanders cobbles!

Don't these people realise I've got a bike full of carbon?

Oh, and if you haven't heard of Right To Play (I hadn't) they are a multi-national organization which evolved out of Olympic Aid to become "an athlete-based international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play to aid the development of children and youth in underprivileged areas of the world"

They aim to: To improve the lives of children in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world by using the power of sport and play for development, health and peace.

You don't have to ask why on earth I'm doing getting involved with "an athlete-based organization"


The only downside I can see is that their "exclusive charity partner" is Chelsea FC

I've done it now...

OK

Not only have I signed up to the Right to Play Brussels to London Challenge, but I've gone out and bought a bike on the strength of it! I've got to go now!!

Decathlon had a "Manager's Special" on a road bike - carbon forks and stays, aluminium frame, 3-ring Campag. It weighs less than the amount of weight I need to lose.

New life, New year... ...same old daft Graham

OK, so I'm back on the blog after undoubtedly the most traumatic year of my life.

Having settled into my new life, my thoughts turn to daft things again. Having been out of the saddle for most of 2009, any thoughts of the Etape du Tour are completely out of reach - but this has caught my eye:
The Challenge

Brussels to London in three days (doable - even for me!; get to see the TdF stage finish the afternoon beforehand and the possibly of meeting the potential stage-winner - the speedy Manxman).

Of course it's "for charidy - but we don't talk about it", and having checked out the charity - Right To Play - they sound right up my street with aims encompassing two themes close to my heart - kids and sport.

Might see if I can get some other people interested....