It has certainly been interesting of late with conversations with various bike shop owners and their 'advice' which just translates into 'buy this bike!' - ha!
A few days ago I test rode a Liv Avail SL road bike, it was 'nice' and had potential.
Afterward, I drove over to Birmingham's Specialized Concept Store to test ride a couple of different sized Allez road bikes as I am inbetween sizes. The Allez was number one on my list of potential bikes as a few weeks ago I was blown away with the paint job on the Red Hook edition on display at Evan's Cycles in the city centre - embrace the vividness!
The advice at the Concept Store was second to none, the assistant was top notch and I ended up test riding both sizes around a very spacious car park for 15 mins each. I tried the 52 in the Red Hook edition and the 54 in acid red which is an awesome shocking red/orange colour - I loved the colour(s) of both bikes!
The 54 was the better match for me as it was closer to my Klanker the 3rd setup.
I didn't order from the Concept Store in the end as they were out of stock in the 54 Red Hook, so I ordered from Evans instead, on top of that they are doing their trade an old bike for money off a new bike deal so I bought a kids balance bike for £25 from Argos and traded it in for £100 off my new bike!
It's win win really, I get money off my new klanker and some underprivileged kid(s) get a new bike to play with.
Today I drove into town to collect 'Klanker the Fourth' aka 'Splash o' Colour'
The guy at Evans commented it was a nice bike... 2 minutes after leaving the store a passer by commented 'That's a colourful bike isn't it? Really nice bike!'.. a few minutes later I was walking past a dude in office dress with a phone to his ear... noticed he was looking at the bike as I walked past so I half turned my head and saw that he didn't take his eyes off it!
Was quite surprised it got attention within the first 5 minutes of owning it!
After a bit of alteration - narrower bars, slightly shorter stem and my usual ladies saddle it shall be fine and dandy. 😀
Out for a shortish one with Bob today - the summer is turning out to be a right sizzler with temperatures rising to over 30 degrees for the next few weeks, so a shorter route is required to get back before it gets overly hot!
Today we embarked on a 35 mile round trip to The Cowshed cafe at Wooten Warwen via what I call Ye Olde Yew Tree route - a route we regularly took when we I used to lead Bike Club West Midlands rides.
I haven't been road bike shopping as of yet so I have put slicks on my mountain bike to use on road rides for the time being.
At The Cowshed I chose an eccles cake which turned out to be delish! Bob had a slice of victoria sponge.
On the way back we stopped for ice cream at Earlswood Craft Centre, it had been a while since I last had an ice cream there.
By the end of the ride I had gelled rather well with the mountain bike on the road.
Myself and Bob's first crack at Velothon Wales today! Much excitement abound!
The forcast is set to rise to over 30 degrees after midday and don't fancy my chances of getting around the whole course - I tend not to do well with heat!
If I managed at least 50 miles I would be happy.
Referencing my previous post with my trusty Klanker the 3rd being half inched two weeks ago I hired a Trek Lexa from On Your Bike in Birmingham... the bike turned out to be a unridable heap of sh*t together with goddam awful plastic test pedals! (seriously!!) ðŸ˜
On the 6 mile ride down from Premier Inn to the Velo start the seat post steadily decided to lower itself down to balance bike height, no matter how hard we tightened the seatpost clamp the seat would slowly lower itself as I was riding...
We arrived at the Velo Expo and headed to the mechanics tent - the mechanic couldn't do anything for it and didn't have a spare clamp, he did however direct us to a bike shop across the road.
We arrived at the bike shop to find the mechanic not in - booo! At this point I gave up but Bob didn't, another rider mentioned to us that there is a bike hire tent at the expo.
We find the bike hire tent and the mechanic there hired a bike out to us with only minutes to spare! He even fitted SPD pedals at my request and on top of that he gave me a deluxe road bike for the price of a standard road bike - both he and Bob saved my day yippee! 😃
The bike was a man's carbon Radial bike with 105 on it. The handlbars were slightly too wide and was slightly too long in the reach department however it was still very ridable, I would have requested to flip the steam but we were literally out of time. The saddle however, was a razor sharp hard contraption.
We rolled into the back of our pen as the last of the riders were rolling out... phew! 😌
The first 15 minutes of riding we were right at the back with all the support vans following us... felt quite cool!
After that we gradually started moving up the field, I was a gingerly cautious with the bike for the first hour due it being unfamiliar, I made sure to keep my distance to any riders infront.
At the first water station I caught up with Bob, quick top up and away we go again.
The ride and route was absolutely marvellous, loved riding through the occasional water sprinklers with the crowd cheering us on!
As midday was approaching I ascended up a long hill, half way up there was a flat bit but then it soon went back to the long haul again, the temperature was rising rapidly so got off and walked half way up the second section - I wasn't planning on knackering myself up on this one.
Hmmm... yes.... when I remounted the bike I did myself some damage and fell onto the saddle due to foot not being clipped in properly - IT HURT!!! 😢
Every time I remounted the saddle there on after I let out a groan! 😟
I arrived at the first feed station at Tallybont-on-Usk where Bob had been waiting approx 10 minutes, at this point my thoughts turned to how much further would I be going until retiring as it was over 30 degrees from there on.
Fuel and water taken on and away we go again.
With urban landscape left behind we rode into beautiful Welsh countryside, I made a quick stop to decant water from my water bottle into my hydration backpack and Bob carried on ahead.
It soon got to the point where the sun was blazing right onto me with no shadows to ride under - I was 100% exposed and soon felt like riding through an oven, at this point I knew I wasn't going too much further...
Just around a bend there was a few marshals and a support van so decided best to stop there and then rather than go further and wait up under a tree... good job I did! Turns out that I nabbed the last spot on that particular van and all other support vans on the route were full - a lot of people were retiring due to the heat and anyone waiting at roadside had at least a few hours wait for a support van to pick them up!
I had done 47 miles, happy with that! 😃
A hour and a half later I was dropped off at Velo Expo.
I exchanged the good hire bike back for the crap hire bike and found a shady spot under a tree to sit and wait for Bob. I daren't drink too much while waiting as I didn't want to go to the toilet and leave another bike at risk of being stolen!!
A hour and half later I received a text from Bob to say he was about, we soon found each other - Bob completed yippee!!! 😄
We both agreed it had been a fab day out and must return next year, we then had a celebratory Magnum!
We will definately be back next year, next time on my own bike... Velothon Wales we have unfinished business!
And what better way to end a fab day out than a 3 course pub meal - hurrah!
Lovely sunny day with a rather hot afternoon is forcast so embarked on a 80 mile tour to the Cotswold Lavender Cafe which is only open 6 weeks every year and sells lovely lavender cake and ice cream. Little did I know my ride would have an unexpected ending.
First ride down to the Cotswolds this year together with the ascent up the long and steep Snowshill which goes on FOREVER!
The ride down was lovely and swift, the climb up Snowshill to the cafe is long and laborious but a great test of fitness, I was greeted by smashing views and a couple of horses in a field along the top of the hill.
Arrived at the Cotswold Lavender Cafe just before 12 and picked an empty bench at the back in the shade, quite a big queue inside but the wait wasn't too long considering. Tea, lavender cake and lavender ice cream was ordered which didn't disappoint - a full 10/10.
Had the usual lovely long descent from Broadway Tower into Mickleton. From Mickleton onwards it was getting warmer and warmer so made sure I drank plenty. As I got to Welford on Avon I realised I was running out of water and with 20 miles to go in 25+ degrees I decided I would make a swift shop stop to buy some more water.
There was nowhere to lock the bike up directly outside of the shop so locked it to the bench under a tree just behind the maypole, not a place anyone would walk past unless they were sitting down - quiet and low risk area.. or so I thought! Glanced around and only an elderly couple with walking sticks were walking on by so quickly scurried into the shop, was gone a minute and a half at most - came out and bike had disappeared! Can only conclude someone was watching from a van and as soon as my back was turned... game over!
Defeated and depressed I sat on the bench for a few minutes gathering my thoughts, thank gawd I took everything off it including the camera and bike computer!
Called in the cavalry... both sisters turn up a hour later and whisked me away home.
Registered it stolen on various websites and reported to police, police confirmed there is no CCTV in area and will contact if they recover it... I won't hold my breath!
6.5 years old with 22k miles on the clock, old faithful shall sorely be missed! 😢
Loved this Sportive last year so revisiting was always going to be a no-brainer!
As this is my second Bostin' Peaks I knew to expect a lot of undulations.
Got up at 5.15 (ouch!) however I was really pleased as I had shockingly managed about 6 hours sleep! More than enough to get around the course.
Car packed and started driving at 6.15... arrived at Uttoxeter Racecourse at 7.35, a bit too early and was second car there however, the drive was quick and hassle free.
At 8.45 I got fed up of waiting around (my start time was 9.30) and didn't see the point waiting for the staggered start plus it wasn't a timed event anyway so.. switched my Bryton to record at 8.53 and casually rode off - 7 minutes before the 100 milers were starting. Glad I did as I recalled the immediate hill last year, was nice to ride up it on my own 😊
About 10 miles later I smiled at the photographer as I rode past, he must have thought I was going at rocket speed with no-one else around me.
It was at least 15 miles until I started to be passed by other riders (I did wonder if something had happened and the ride had been cancelled at one point!)
At feed stop no.1 (21 miles) I swear there were at least double the mount of riders than had passed me, maybe I wasn't the only one to sneak out early afterall?
A nice array of tea, cakes, biccies, maltloaf etc at the stop.
Within a mile of leaving feed stop no.1 the climbs into the beautiful Peak District start coming in, a slog of a climb to get right to the top the though! Overheard another rider moan 'You get up one and then they throw another one at you!'
I found myself in better condition for it than last year or maybe that was due to more sleep.
Brill riding along the top, to not stop and take photo's would be criminal!
Rewarded by a long downhill to the bottom again, had a silly grin on my face all ther way down - fabulous!
Whilst crossing the bridge over the ford I observed a small pack of cyclists going for it through the water (ok the leader blindly lead them all in gung ho!) Soon regretted it, resulted in the leader slipping and falling, one pedalling through deep water and one dismounting and wading through moaning about not taking the bridge. The guy at the back of their pack did the sensible thing and decided to chose the bridge with a comment of 'silly people' to me 😃.
I had more cakie goodness at feed stop no.2 with 19 miles to go. As remembered last year these final miles were not to be taken lightly. More undualtions afoot however I felt much stronger at this point compared to last year so got on with it.
Passed the JCB plant, memories of Alton Towers school trips came flooding back! There was also an ice cream van there... was very tempted but carried on past! Criminal!
Last 4-5 miles were rolling/downhill, bliss!
Arrived at the finish at around 3.30... rewarded with a medal and large hotdog yay!
Once again a most excellent day out around Staffordshire and the Peak District with 68.56 miles ridden and 4519 ft climbed.
Today's Fuel:
Belvita Baked Choc Chip and cuppa (Pre ride fuel)
Fig rolls x 2
Tea & cakes etc at the feed stops.
Crunchy Peanut Butter Clif Bar
Lemon card sarnie
1 Litre Sport drink mix
Nice day today so embarked on a 66 mile solo ride down to Croome Park in order to get some miles and hills in for next Sunday's undulating Bostin' Peaks Sportive.
Got up and left early as the cafe on Sundays at Croome is usually packed to the rafters from about midday onwards, especially on a nice sunny day like today.
Nice steady ride down, got there at 11.30ish, ducked inside the cafe... saw the huge queue almost to the door, decided I couldn't be bothered and ducked out again - found a free table and scoffed my packed lunch (lemon curd sarnie) with my water. By the time I left more people were pouring in... ah well... least I got my yearly visit done.
Half way back I had to ration my water a bit, last hr and half was a tad too warm, ran out of water 3 miles from home. Glad to get back.
Not a bad day out and looking forward to the Bostin' Peaks next weekend 😃
