Real Tough Guys

When I woke up this morning and looked out of the window there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I decided not to take a cap or indeed a rain jacket. It never even cross my mind to take waterproof overshoes.

Fast forward to this evening and as I rode out from the basement car park where I keep my bike during work I could see the water streaming down the exit road. It well and truly pissed it down all the way home. As I entered my flat my feet squelched inside my soaked Sidi's and I left a trail of water across the floor.

I don't like cycling in the rain. Does anyone? It's usually cold when it rains, especially here in London and it makes for difficult, sometimes treacherous cycling conditions. After I'd taken a hot shower I started surfing the net and came across this fairly new posting on YouTube of footage taken during the legendary 17th stage of the 1988 Giro d'Italia over the Passo Gavia. Watching this footage with riders cycling over the 2600 metre pass through the snow put my little ride home in the rain into perspective. The last 30 seconds or so of the footage shows the riders clearly in pain being warmed up by their soigneurs and the end of the stage.

Next time I'm cycling through the rain I'll remember the tough guys of the Gavia 88 and remind myself to not be such a wimp!

Pavé Footage

Here's some footage a guy has taken of himself riding a small section of pavé along the Paris - Roubaix route. It looks pretty tough doesn't it? Now imagine how tough it must be for the pro's. At over 200km in length with 28 sectors of pavé making up at least 50km of the course it's easy to understand why many consider Paris - Roubaix one of the hardest, if not, the hardest one day classic in the world. I wouldn't ride my bike over them!

Paris-Roubaix Pre-ride from CycleTo on Vimeo.

Seen over at Bianchista.

Night Rider

I was back on my usual commute to work by bike today, made all the more pleasant due to two newly fitted shower rooms opening in the building where I work. It meant the end of many weeks cycling to work at a tempo at which I wouldn't break a sweat. Now I can resume my usual speed to work which invariably means a race or two with like minded riders.

Today was also the first day I rode home in the dark. It's slightly depressing to think I'll be riding home in the dark for the best part of 4 months. It's a tricky time and the best we cyclists can do is try to remain as visible as possible with a couple of good lights and a bit of reflective clothing, although I have to say those neon hi viz jackets many cyclists wear really aren't a good look. A line has to be drawn between safe clothing and looking good on a bike and although I'm not saying I'm the coolest kid on two wheels you sure as hell won't see me in neon hi viz!

I have a gripe to air that has been festering with me for quite some time and I really must get it off my chest. What is it with people who ride singlespeed bikes with no rear brake? Just to be clear, I'm talking about bikes with freewheel hubs that are able to coast but don't have a rear brake. Why do people do that to their bikes, do they think they look hip? If you read my posts regularly you'll know it's not usual for me to go off on one but freewheel bikes with no rear brakes is for want of a better expression, straight up wack!

Please, if your reading this and have a singlespeed freewheel with only a front brake do yourself a big favour and buy yourself a rear brake, you know it makes sense. Gripe over!

Excellent Customer Service

I'd been having trouble with my Polar RS200 ever since I replaced the battery in the wrist computer. On multiple occasions during runs the computer would stop counting the kilometres and the sonic download sound level faded when I tried and failed to upload my runs into the laptop. I wish I'd read the bit in the back of the instructions that said, please have polar service centre replace battery. Typical, I should have read the instructions first and now I'd made it worse and invalidated the warranty to boot!

I admitted defeat, boxed up the wrist computer, footpod and chest strap, posted it all to the Polar service centre and waited for a bill of at least £30. Returning home from America it came as a nice surprise to pick up my Polar bits from the post office and find that not only had they fixed the wrist computer but they'd adjusted the footpod and replaced my old chest strap for a brand new one. Guess how much it all cost me? Nothing, yup, all free of charge. I'd invalidated my warranty and they fixed everything for nothing. How often do you find a company with such a straight forward no nonsense approach to after sales service? Excellent!

Bottomless Fries

It felt so good to get out on a ride today. I arrived back in London yesterday morning on the red eye flight from Newark Liberty to London Heathrow. I didn't get a wink of sleep so spent most of the day feeling really tired with a headache. After an easy day of trying to relaxing and nurse the pain I went to bed early and slept from 7pm to 7am, 12 hours solid with the exception of a glass of water around midnight. Having not slept too well in the hotel, it was the best night sleep I've had for at least a week.

James and I rode to Epping Forest. Although it had been raining and there were alot of leaves on the ground, making for slightly tricking conditions, it was still refreshing to spend a good two hours cycling up and down the Essex hills. It even felt not too difficult climbing the short sharp hills dotted around the Forest. Having not ridden for two weeks I was surprised at the good sensations I experienced.

Either I need to start getting more sleep or maybe I shouldn't ride so often. I know, it must have been all the burgers and bottomless fries I ate.

Worst Cycle Lanes

All the example images below of bad, if not ludicrously bad, cycle lanes are taken in the UK. See what we have to put up with over here!

You can click on the Guardian Online to see more examples of poor cycle lanes. I'm sure most cyclists in the UK will agree with me when I say these examples are really just the tip of the iceberg. Many of us have experiences of cycling on other equally bad lanes.

I've actually cycled on the lane featured in the middle image. It runs in parallel with New Oxford Street in central London. It certainly had me a little confused when I approached it, especially since there was a bike coming from the other direction!

Are cycle lanes in other country's as bad as this?

2010 Giro d'Italia Route And profile

It's one for the climbers will lots of hilly and mountainous stages. Click on either image to see larger version.

Form, Function, Art

A few weeks back I posted a blog about Dario Pegoretti and his handmade frames. I mentioned the striking paint jobs that feature on many of his creations.

The images below are of the Pegoretti Duende frame, demonstrating beautifully the unique paint design that can be found only on a Pegoretti.

Click here for further information relating to these images.

Gun Club Cyclocross

I've had a good time this weekend. Saturday started with me watching Arsenal beating Tottenham 3-0 on TV in the local North London derby. I then visited the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Northern Kentucky. Wow, the Kentucky countryside is so pretty.

Today I headed over to the Gun Club Cyclocross event which is part of the Ohio Valley Series, just outside of north eastern Cincinnati.

Yesterday's grey and rainy sky's gave way to beautiful sunshine here in Ohio to give us perfect late autumn conditions for some good cyclocross racing.

It was the first time I've attended a cyclocross event and I wasn't disappointed. It was well organised with multiple races taking place for all ages and levels from 5-9 year olds through to elite men and women.
The atmosphere was upbeat with race commentary by John G from the Two Johns Podcast as well as funky beats being provided by a live drummer.

Having spent most of my time either at work or in a hotel by an interstate freeway where cars are the only way to get around, it made such a refreshing change to get out in the picturesque Ohio countryside to enjoy watching the bike racing.

It was the first time I'd seen anyone on bicycles the whole time I've been here and spending a few hours in the sunshine with fellow bike enthusiasts and racers really made me feel at home.

If you happen to be in the Cincinnati area during the Ohio Valley Series I can definately recommend a visit, and if you have your bike with you why not enter a race.

Live From Ohio

Up the Gunners!