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!!
CSP Around the World in 80 Days
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
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.
Friday, 18 February 2011
A commuters tale
4 weeks in and I am a hardened commuter, come rain or shine I have ridden to work on my bike. I started out on the mountain bike with a rucksack full of high vis vests and enough clothes on to survive the arctic. After struggling to get to work on time, due to the weight on my back, having to stop to disrobe, arriving at schools unable to stand up straight and with a very wet bum, I decided the panniers would have to be dragged out of the garage.
Now on the Trektastic, panniered up and pulling a weight similar to giving Chris Hoy a backie, I have changed to touring mode. This time setting off earlier, with less clothes on, but enough items in my panniers to surprise even Bear Grylls. I recon I could survive anywhere for a week on the contents.
So, my tips for successful commuting are:
Be realistic - 10 miles takes more than 20 minutes, unless you are Chris Hoy and not carrying him in your panniers.
Be armed with excuses for being late - The puncture one always works (but cross your fingers as you say it!)
Dont bother washing and drying hair, applying make up or even considering how you look before you set out - schools pity you and make you cups of tea while you work!
Take clothes for all weathers, but dont wear them all at once - wearing 3 pairs of thermals and a pair of jeans prevents circulation and effective pedalling.
Dont try and commute on an empty stomach, hunger makes legs stop going round
Know your route, crossing farmer's fields is not good unless you look like a sheep.
Make sure you know one end of bike pump from the other, or have number for mobile mechanic close at hand.
Cook tea, grovel, do anything to please mobile mechanic once home.
Now on the Trektastic, panniered up and pulling a weight similar to giving Chris Hoy a backie, I have changed to touring mode. This time setting off earlier, with less clothes on, but enough items in my panniers to surprise even Bear Grylls. I recon I could survive anywhere for a week on the contents.
So, my tips for successful commuting are:
Be realistic - 10 miles takes more than 20 minutes, unless you are Chris Hoy and not carrying him in your panniers.
Be armed with excuses for being late - The puncture one always works (but cross your fingers as you say it!)
Dont bother washing and drying hair, applying make up or even considering how you look before you set out - schools pity you and make you cups of tea while you work!
Take clothes for all weathers, but dont wear them all at once - wearing 3 pairs of thermals and a pair of jeans prevents circulation and effective pedalling.
Dont try and commute on an empty stomach, hunger makes legs stop going round
Know your route, crossing farmer's fields is not good unless you look like a sheep.
Make sure you know one end of bike pump from the other, or have number for mobile mechanic close at hand.
Cook tea, grovel, do anything to please mobile mechanic once home.
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Woffindin family update
Doing our bit here. Martin out with longer road rides clocking up the miles. Christine on the cycle trainer most days, Vanessa revising hard so not as much this week but they both went to Gisburn forest at weekend. Len having a work catch up week so less time on the bike - but legs still aching form the BMX at weekend - and of course having to miss the Gisburn forest day out. Lots of short sharp efforts, probably not even a mile!
Next week is the centrparcs trip for Len, Chris and Martin, so we will all get some miles done there.
Next week is the centrparcs trip for Len, Chris and Martin, so we will all get some miles done there.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
AROUND THE WORLD VIA THE CELLAR!
We have had a brilliant start to the Around the World challenge, starting with the awards night (club growing - need bigger room next year!! ) & then on Sunday cycling to cafe cargo en masse was a sight to behold. More money raised with Kirsti & the collecting tin jangling from her handle bars , (not quite) accosting passers by! Then the bag packing another good day raising £590, the younger kids providing the aah! factor. Though counting it was a challenge in itself, Neil excelled there, but thought about taking it to Asda & putting it in their change machine. We persevered thought!!
Today jumped (crawled) out of bed donning cycling gear, quick cup of tea then down the cellar on my trusty turbo to clock up more miles! i pod tuned into ministry of sound running track, good beat! day dreaming as I go along; count bikes down there - best bikes, winter bikes, track bikes, frames with spare bits on, mountian bike & my bike in amongst the rest. lose count! Count wheels - twice as many & more. Bike bits too numerous to mention.
gaze around again & spy bucket of charcoal its been there years, note to self -must have barbecue this Summer. Can't wait for sunny days & country rides.
Finish session, climb off bike, legs don't belong to me! Don't look like Chris Hoys either!!!Hair like crystal tips & rosy cheeked, emerge from cellar scare the cat then off for shower.
arrive at work feeling smug just done another 8 miles'ish - every little helps.
Today jumped (crawled) out of bed donning cycling gear, quick cup of tea then down the cellar on my trusty turbo to clock up more miles! i pod tuned into ministry of sound running track, good beat! day dreaming as I go along; count bikes down there - best bikes, winter bikes, track bikes, frames with spare bits on, mountian bike & my bike in amongst the rest. lose count! Count wheels - twice as many & more. Bike bits too numerous to mention.
gaze around again & spy bucket of charcoal its been there years, note to self -must have barbecue this Summer. Can't wait for sunny days & country rides.
Finish session, climb off bike, legs don't belong to me! Don't look like Chris Hoys either!!!Hair like crystal tips & rosy cheeked, emerge from cellar scare the cat then off for shower.
arrive at work feeling smug just done another 8 miles'ish - every little helps.
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