Only now, after a few hours of calm can I bring myself to put fingers to plastic. The last few days have been glorious, too bad I had to work I thought, but never mind at least I am working. Still, human nature being what it is(or is it just me) I wanted to skive off and go for a ride. Cant do that on this job , its a big one and the pressure is on with deadlines. Five thirty PM , my son Connor phones " Can we go for a ride Dad?". " No problem, I'll be home in half an hou,r tell Harry and get ready to go" I replied. Real Do.
So back to work , finished on a straight edge and home for six. Ran upstairs, got changed ,said hello to the boys (Who were ready!!), got our bikes from the garage and I had a flat rear tyre!,. " Right lads , you get yourselves off, because its golng dark, and ill fix this puncture." I said, so off they shot. Took the wheel off, and three people decided to phone me( which was nice) .fixed puncture, got wheel back on the bike and the boys landed home looking happy and sweaty in equal measures."Okay boys , Im just nipping out , for a hard twenty minutes loop, because it is nearly dark now and I dont have a front light thats charged. See you in a bit." Thats when I realised the back tyre had gone down again....I felt like throwing the bike over the garden wall David Millar style, but I managed to reign myself in to a few choice esoteric words and phrases. Ill try again tomorrow afternoon.
CSP Around the World in 80 Days
Thursday, 24 March 2011
Friday, 18 March 2011
Has anyone seen William Power
William, or Will to his friends, seems to have gone missing.
I returned from work this evening with best intentions of doing an hour on the turbo. That was of course until I saw the bottle of red, breathing easily, like a basking whale through it's blowhole, the whale's blowhole not having a cork of course, unlike the wine which once had one but was now feeling as free and liberated as a Frenchman after D-Day. Anyway, as I was saying, I saw the bottle of red, saw the bike sat in eager anticipation of my arrival on the turbo-trainer in the kitchen, and it was just then, at that precise moment, that Will Power left the building.
If you see him let me know because it's his fault my mileage will be light this week.
I returned from work this evening with best intentions of doing an hour on the turbo. That was of course until I saw the bottle of red, breathing easily, like a basking whale through it's blowhole, the whale's blowhole not having a cork of course, unlike the wine which once had one but was now feeling as free and liberated as a Frenchman after D-Day. Anyway, as I was saying, I saw the bottle of red, saw the bike sat in eager anticipation of my arrival on the turbo-trainer in the kitchen, and it was just then, at that precise moment, that Will Power left the building.
If you see him let me know because it's his fault my mileage will be light this week.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
CSP at the Turf, Around the World in 80 days
For those that have not seen this, we are on the BC website.
CSP at the Turf
Supporting Leukemia & Lymphoma Research
CSP at the Turf
Supporting Leukemia & Lymphoma Research
Dick Turpin wore a mask!
A lovely ride in the sunshine was enjoyed by the Family Welsh today as we cycled from home in Padiham to Cafe Cargo in Foulridge along the canal for lunch before returning home the same way. A reasonable 30 miles which when multiplied gives us 120 towards the Round The World total. We considered docking miles off Evan for those moments when he was merely a passenger on the tagalong, however his protests and suggestion that he'd done all the pedalling at times saw no such penalty imposed.
Unfortunately my attempts to make it to the top of the exit ramp at Gannow tunnel resulted in a snapped chain which may just possibly be why Shimano suggest you use a new joining pin when you split the chain - whoops! Anyway, we were then faced with a walk/push to Gannow Top before freewheeling into Burnley to get to On Yer Bike for running repairs. Getting there at 11am left us with the dilemma of how to fill 30 minutes before they opened, so after a short debate we settled on Rhode Island Coffee House for a particularly fine latte. Back to the bike shop and my request for a new chain was quickly met with an equally quick request for £20. My subsequent request for them to fit it, which thanks to the glaring omission of a chain tool was met by their poker-faced request for a further £7.50, representing their minimum labour charge. My look of astonishment, combined with Helen's look of intent as to how to investigate where to store a mini-pump, held no sway and so 90 seconds later, once installed, we left the shop looking more broken than the chain and as deflated as a snake-bitten innertube. I must have spent over £3k in that shop over the last 5 years and that may very well be the last £27.50 they'll ever have off me.
Having seen my wallet completely emptied, and without a card to back us up we detoured via Lomeshaye village and through the park to Helen's mum for an emergency loan from the bottom of the sock-drawer in order to enable a family lunch purchase.
Back on track we motored along to Foulridge, enjoying the off-road trail as the handling characteristics if my new cyclo-cross bike were investigated. I can't wait to have a proper play without dragging Welsh Junior behind me. A lovely lunch was denied by the dawning realisation that Grandma has supplied sufficient cash for food, but not enough for the 2 pints of Black Sheep we had our eyes on. Denied!
The return home was as uneventful as an uneventful thing on its day off, until Helen announced that her knee was giving her considerable grief. Unqualified physiotherapist as I am I immediately diagnosed an ITB issue and prescribed a stretching regime to commence at once. Sceptical looks went ignored, as to be fair to the little grunts and occasional squeals of pain until we got home and Helen attacked the ibuprofen tablets and gel. I write this ad she sits in wonder at the loss of feeling in her hand. Note to Helen, don't forget to wash your hand after applying ibuprofen gel!
Unfortunately my attempts to make it to the top of the exit ramp at Gannow tunnel resulted in a snapped chain which may just possibly be why Shimano suggest you use a new joining pin when you split the chain - whoops! Anyway, we were then faced with a walk/push to Gannow Top before freewheeling into Burnley to get to On Yer Bike for running repairs. Getting there at 11am left us with the dilemma of how to fill 30 minutes before they opened, so after a short debate we settled on Rhode Island Coffee House for a particularly fine latte. Back to the bike shop and my request for a new chain was quickly met with an equally quick request for £20. My subsequent request for them to fit it, which thanks to the glaring omission of a chain tool was met by their poker-faced request for a further £7.50, representing their minimum labour charge. My look of astonishment, combined with Helen's look of intent as to how to investigate where to store a mini-pump, held no sway and so 90 seconds later, once installed, we left the shop looking more broken than the chain and as deflated as a snake-bitten innertube. I must have spent over £3k in that shop over the last 5 years and that may very well be the last £27.50 they'll ever have off me.
Having seen my wallet completely emptied, and without a card to back us up we detoured via Lomeshaye village and through the park to Helen's mum for an emergency loan from the bottom of the sock-drawer in order to enable a family lunch purchase.
Back on track we motored along to Foulridge, enjoying the off-road trail as the handling characteristics if my new cyclo-cross bike were investigated. I can't wait to have a proper play without dragging Welsh Junior behind me. A lovely lunch was denied by the dawning realisation that Grandma has supplied sufficient cash for food, but not enough for the 2 pints of Black Sheep we had our eyes on. Denied!
The return home was as uneventful as an uneventful thing on its day off, until Helen announced that her knee was giving her considerable grief. Unqualified physiotherapist as I am I immediately diagnosed an ITB issue and prescribed a stretching regime to commence at once. Sceptical looks went ignored, as to be fair to the little grunts and occasional squeals of pain until we got home and Helen attacked the ibuprofen tablets and gel. I write this ad she sits in wonder at the loss of feeling in her hand. Note to Helen, don't forget to wash your hand after applying ibuprofen gel!
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
15 miles at the velodrome
Been on a course this morning with BC and was given a fab opportunity to join the staff velodrome session. Had to be there for 7.50am, which was a massive achievement in itself and get on the track for 8am. I grabbed my shoes and quickly filled myself with lucozade, whilst eagerly eyeing up the competition (and talent, ahem). As I entered the D, I noticed my course tutor and other members waiting patiently for instruction, everyone had ridden the track at some point, but I haven't done my accreditation....so in true Grayson style decided I wouldn't miss out on the party and would get stuck in. I suppose I was really nervous, but especially so when I saw a guy in full GB kit and smurf helmet flying round on a tt bike. He appeared to be going faster than light and my eyes couldn't keep up with him. I was so impressed that I stood agog, unable to concentrate on the coaches briefing and entered the Cote D'Azure (I think this it said beautifully in a broad Manc accent) totally clueless.
The next hour seemed to go in a blur and a blind panic. Why did I spend ages looking at man in GB kit? Why did I not tell the coach that I hadn't done much track riding? If I were to fall off, I would quite possibly take half of British Cycling with me and how would I live it down? I would be remembered as the one that didn't make it through, the one that did not pass go. I saw Bikeability as my future, for ever and ever and ever. Standing in the rain, in Colne, wet, debraggled and miserable. With this in mind, I decided to dig deep and focus. Different backsides came and went. My legs went round and round. I rode on the black. On the red. On the blue. On the top. Back down, back up, back up, back down and down and up a few times more, in pairs, square dancing, knitting, lumps and bumps, stacking...the works. I stayed with the group, didn't drop off the back (ATW or lucozade is obviously doing me some good) and at 8.55am, I finally looked up for the first time and totally relaxed. I rode one more lap and then up came the board - 4 laps, 3 laps, 3 laps, 1 lap and back to Cowte Du Azyouwere.
LOVED IT - booked on again next week!
The next hour seemed to go in a blur and a blind panic. Why did I spend ages looking at man in GB kit? Why did I not tell the coach that I hadn't done much track riding? If I were to fall off, I would quite possibly take half of British Cycling with me and how would I live it down? I would be remembered as the one that didn't make it through, the one that did not pass go. I saw Bikeability as my future, for ever and ever and ever. Standing in the rain, in Colne, wet, debraggled and miserable. With this in mind, I decided to dig deep and focus. Different backsides came and went. My legs went round and round. I rode on the black. On the red. On the blue. On the top. Back down, back up, back up, back down and down and up a few times more, in pairs, square dancing, knitting, lumps and bumps, stacking...the works. I stayed with the group, didn't drop off the back (ATW or lucozade is obviously doing me some good) and at 8.55am, I finally looked up for the first time and totally relaxed. I rode one more lap and then up came the board - 4 laps, 3 laps, 3 laps, 1 lap and back to Cowte Du Azyouwere.
LOVED IT - booked on again next week!
Monday, 7 March 2011
A Cast of Thousands
Now forgive me but I have been known to spend some time in composing a decent photograph, foreground/background etc, but I have to admit I've been completely outdone by CSP's Nicola H.
Not only has she managed to Photoshop ex-England international and leukaemia survivor Geoff Thomas into her pictures she's also put a near 15000 crowd behind some of the others.
If it wasn't for the fact that I was there and spend a hour last night counting the £515.60 raised in bucket collections inside and outside the ground I wouldn't quite believe it. Thank you Burnley Football Club for allowing us to do this, and thank you Geoff Thomas for coming along for the party.
Not only has she managed to Photoshop ex-England international and leukaemia survivor Geoff Thomas into her pictures she's also put a near 15000 crowd behind some of the others.
If it wasn't for the fact that I was there and spend a hour last night counting the £515.60 raised in bucket collections inside and outside the ground I wouldn't quite believe it. Thank you Burnley Football Club for allowing us to do this, and thank you Geoff Thomas for coming along for the party.
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
A Roll in the Kitchen
My delicate derierre was re-acquainted with saddle and Lycra this evening with an hour on the turbo-trainer in the kitchen. 10 minutes spinning in 39x15 to warm up followed by 10 minutes 53x18 before an uncomfortable 10 minutes of 53x12. 5 minutes easy spinning into another 5 of big-gear torture, 5 off, 5 on, 5 off and then 3 maximum power efforts of 5 seconds on, 1 minute off with a gentle spin to cooldown and finish the hour.
Now where's that cake?
Now where's that cake?
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
The Ribble Randonee
Randonee (french for excursion) Brevet (cycling excursion) - thanks Wikipedia !
The Family Welsh has been at it again. This time clocking up a grand total of 112 miles between the 4 of us around the lovely Ribble Valley and Forest of Bowland. A departure from Whalley Train Station carpark meant that the worst of the main roads and bad traffic was avoided before we serenely sauntered through Mitton and Bashall Eaves before stopping for lunch at the Cobbled Corner Cafe in Chipping.
Once satisfactorily fed we retraced our route briefly before going straight on through Chaigley and down towards the Hodder Bridge. The ascent from the bridge is only short, but viciously steep (or it feels it when dragging an inconsistently co-operative tagalong passenger) before we rode through to Waddington and then back through Clitheroe and back to Mitton via Edisford Bridge.
Caitlin did fantastically well and only needed a couple of very brief pushes up the severest of inclines, and I think it is fair to say she is at her best when the road tilts upwards. Helen continues to regain her cycling legs and seems to be forgetting her old descending fears, whilst Evan seemed very impressed with his new bar-ends which gave him an alternative hand position and which he decided looked like guns!
The whole happy episode was played out without the intervention of the rain-gods and without the usual mud and filth found on canal towpath rides. I am asked to point out that whilst this was a cleaner ride I am currently losing brownie-points by writing this whilst the hall looks like a cross between a bomb-site and cycle-laundry. I'd better go and help!!
The Family Welsh has been at it again. This time clocking up a grand total of 112 miles between the 4 of us around the lovely Ribble Valley and Forest of Bowland. A departure from Whalley Train Station carpark meant that the worst of the main roads and bad traffic was avoided before we serenely sauntered through Mitton and Bashall Eaves before stopping for lunch at the Cobbled Corner Cafe in Chipping.
Once satisfactorily fed we retraced our route briefly before going straight on through Chaigley and down towards the Hodder Bridge. The ascent from the bridge is only short, but viciously steep (or it feels it when dragging an inconsistently co-operative tagalong passenger) before we rode through to Waddington and then back through Clitheroe and back to Mitton via Edisford Bridge.
Caitlin did fantastically well and only needed a couple of very brief pushes up the severest of inclines, and I think it is fair to say she is at her best when the road tilts upwards. Helen continues to regain her cycling legs and seems to be forgetting her old descending fears, whilst Evan seemed very impressed with his new bar-ends which gave him an alternative hand position and which he decided looked like guns!
The whole happy episode was played out without the intervention of the rain-gods and without the usual mud and filth found on canal towpath rides. I am asked to point out that whilst this was a cleaner ride I am currently losing brownie-points by writing this whilst the hall looks like a cross between a bomb-site and cycle-laundry. I'd better go and help!!
Monday, 21 February 2011
From Padiham it started!
Apologies for stealing a variation of one of the finest Rallying films ever 'From Harrogate it started' with a soundtrack by The Who and the story of the 1974 (I think) RAC Rally.
The RAC was dominated then by Scandinavians, brought up on a diet of wet slippy mud and gravel, with the driving skills to excel in such conditions. Our bike ride on the other hand, saw us face equally wet slippy mud, but negotiated by Helen and I with 23c slick road tyres. On a suitability scale of 1-10 we wouldn't have mustered a 1. Caitlin of course was fine with her cross tyres, whilst Evan was gripped to the max on the tagalong, and actually acting as a stabiliser for me.
We set off from Padiham Baths and ascended the Padiham Greenway, a vertical ascent of 'several' metres. We then jumped onto the Leeds Liverpool Canal and for some as yet unknown reason turned right. Had we turned left we would have been blessed with smooth towpath and an easy ride to just about anywhere. No. Right it was and so once past Hapton we encountered the cycling equivalent of the Paris-Dakar Rally (bear with the analogies). Traction was at a premium, speed the same, whilst balance kind of came and went! After one or two Clash moments (should I stay or should I go now) we persevered and made it as far as Church, where we found a Pub just off the canal. The smaller ones amongst the group had increased the volume of their dissenting voices and hunger was their call.
A local pub for local people we found. "Do you do food?" I asked. "we do pies" came the reply. So our merry band of 10 was furnished with 4 hot cordials, 1 hot cholcolate, 5 teas, 10 assorted Hollands pies and 1 pint of Thwaites Lancaster Bomber. The benefit of being 'off the beaten track' as it were was that this came to a pretty impressive £18 all in. Our eventual departure involved stroking the Whippet on the way out. Really, you honestly couldn't have scripted it.
After fixing Grayson's puncture. Well actually after watching her change her tube and then reinstall a directional tyre incorrectly, without intervention - I'll never get to heaven - we set off. The off-road mileage had been painfully slow and so we decided that we would venture onto the smoother blackstuff, Mr Tarmacadam's finest, and take a more direct return to Padiham. This saw us negotiate the tricky road-junction at the bottom of Dill Hall Lane and ascend to the summit at the end of Queens Road West. King of the Mountain points were dispensed at the summit with 10 awarded to yours truly, 9 to Evan (who could count himself quite fortunate to have been sat on the tagalong to receive such award), 8 to Vanessa and 7 to Caitlin. We then descended to the lights at the top of Clayton-le-Moors before starting our second climb up the Alpe D'Huez-esque hairpin bends of Whinny Hill. King of the Mountain points were once again awarded and then we traversed the plateau that hides Lancashire's largest landfill site and then descended to the Accrington Brickworks, home of the infamous Accrington NORI red brick. At this point I found it necessary to gather our group and explain this fact - all I can say is that I'm glad I'm not a Teacher!
The route then took us through Huncoat and down past the Mill Hill picnic site before crossing the ford and climbing back to the top of Manchester Road, Hapton, just below the Hapton Inn. A quick roll towards 'The Village' saw us stop at Landon News for Kirsti to buy sweets and chocolate for all participants. Stories of how I used to deliver newspapers for the shop were met with similar interest to the brick story!
Back onto the canal and onto the Padiham Greenway saw us lose Len, Christine and Vanessa as they headed back to Burnley. The remaining protagonists negotiated the icky, sticky, mud (you can't go over it, you can't go under it .. oh no, you've got to go through it!) and back onto the Greenway. Shannon then demonstrated how to perform the Superman/woman/girl position on a bike with a number of imitators, before we landed back at Padiham Baths to signal the end of the ride. The Family Welsh accumulated a further 60 miles on their journey round the world, taking the total to 300 for the latest fortnight block. Good effort people!
The RAC was dominated then by Scandinavians, brought up on a diet of wet slippy mud and gravel, with the driving skills to excel in such conditions. Our bike ride on the other hand, saw us face equally wet slippy mud, but negotiated by Helen and I with 23c slick road tyres. On a suitability scale of 1-10 we wouldn't have mustered a 1. Caitlin of course was fine with her cross tyres, whilst Evan was gripped to the max on the tagalong, and actually acting as a stabiliser for me.
We set off from Padiham Baths and ascended the Padiham Greenway, a vertical ascent of 'several' metres. We then jumped onto the Leeds Liverpool Canal and for some as yet unknown reason turned right. Had we turned left we would have been blessed with smooth towpath and an easy ride to just about anywhere. No. Right it was and so once past Hapton we encountered the cycling equivalent of the Paris-Dakar Rally (bear with the analogies). Traction was at a premium, speed the same, whilst balance kind of came and went! After one or two Clash moments (should I stay or should I go now) we persevered and made it as far as Church, where we found a Pub just off the canal. The smaller ones amongst the group had increased the volume of their dissenting voices and hunger was their call.
A local pub for local people we found. "Do you do food?" I asked. "we do pies" came the reply. So our merry band of 10 was furnished with 4 hot cordials, 1 hot cholcolate, 5 teas, 10 assorted Hollands pies and 1 pint of Thwaites Lancaster Bomber. The benefit of being 'off the beaten track' as it were was that this came to a pretty impressive £18 all in. Our eventual departure involved stroking the Whippet on the way out. Really, you honestly couldn't have scripted it.
After fixing Grayson's puncture. Well actually after watching her change her tube and then reinstall a directional tyre incorrectly, without intervention - I'll never get to heaven - we set off. The off-road mileage had been painfully slow and so we decided that we would venture onto the smoother blackstuff, Mr Tarmacadam's finest, and take a more direct return to Padiham. This saw us negotiate the tricky road-junction at the bottom of Dill Hall Lane and ascend to the summit at the end of Queens Road West. King of the Mountain points were dispensed at the summit with 10 awarded to yours truly, 9 to Evan (who could count himself quite fortunate to have been sat on the tagalong to receive such award), 8 to Vanessa and 7 to Caitlin. We then descended to the lights at the top of Clayton-le-Moors before starting our second climb up the Alpe D'Huez-esque hairpin bends of Whinny Hill. King of the Mountain points were once again awarded and then we traversed the plateau that hides Lancashire's largest landfill site and then descended to the Accrington Brickworks, home of the infamous Accrington NORI red brick. At this point I found it necessary to gather our group and explain this fact - all I can say is that I'm glad I'm not a Teacher!
The route then took us through Huncoat and down past the Mill Hill picnic site before crossing the ford and climbing back to the top of Manchester Road, Hapton, just below the Hapton Inn. A quick roll towards 'The Village' saw us stop at Landon News for Kirsti to buy sweets and chocolate for all participants. Stories of how I used to deliver newspapers for the shop were met with similar interest to the brick story!
Back onto the canal and onto the Padiham Greenway saw us lose Len, Christine and Vanessa as they headed back to Burnley. The remaining protagonists negotiated the icky, sticky, mud (you can't go over it, you can't go under it .. oh no, you've got to go through it!) and back onto the Greenway. Shannon then demonstrated how to perform the Superman/woman/girl position on a bike with a number of imitators, before we landed back at Padiham Baths to signal the end of the ride. The Family Welsh accumulated a further 60 miles on their journey round the world, taking the total to 300 for the latest fortnight block. Good effort people!
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Mad in Landon....
Testing, testing......will leave today's Industrial Tour of Accrington and Hyndburn ride write up to Welsh as he is far funnier than me. However 10 people, 10 pies and 10 hills later, we contributed a further 150 miles towards Around the World in 80 Days.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)