You can call me Greta

So, it's been a while since my last blog and a lot has changed.  I am a little older, not so much wiser but as interested to share as I always have been. The Lycra is on hold as the cycling has stopped, for now, I’m getting too old and was starting to scare the public.

So whats different about me,  well,  I am on a mission to be more environmentally friendly and to take the state of the planet that little bit more seriously.  Maybe it's an age thing, maybe not, but I do have a new hero (well heroine), that my wife tells me I am turning into, Greta Thunberg  the 2nd here I come.

What does all this mean? Well, I believe we can’t just wait on governments to see sense and manage the world in a better way, or, wait for giant corporations to put the planet before profits especially if we can’t be bothered to do it ourselves.  If we all do our bit, be more self conscious to what we do,  then I think we can make a difference.

Some people think, doing something ourselves,  is expensive, or, they look at the amount of time it will take until they get their money back.  I myself, am not as concerned of getting back my money, my concern is having a positive impact to my own life and doing my little bit to make the planet better place.  If that means, my family needing to say every now and again "Gary's going Greta again" then fine, I'll take it, knowing I am doing my little bit to make the world a better place. Leaving something that can be enjoyed by my children and grandchildren in the times to come.

So What has Greta 2 (I mean Me) done so far and what am planning to do?  Well here is just a little of what I have done and what I plan to do.

I got a big butt!

Yep, that's right.  My inner Greta stirrings started a couple of years back by me getting a large butt (not the one in Lycra) but the type that holds water. This is one of the cheapest environmental changes one can make, adding a water butt to your garden.  When it rains it captures water that we can then use to water the garden.  I have to say, here in the UK,  we have a lot of rain as well as some dry spells, so no problems in keeping my butt full and ready for action.

I found that,  most of the time I was able to keep my garden green during dry spells by using the water from the butt. It's only ever completely emptied once and even then, it was full within a week or so.  

It's better for the plants too,  not putting tap water on the garden results in better plants,  less water waste and a greener garden even when there is a hose pipe ban in place.  It's also only around £30 and takes 10-15 minutes to fit.  

I went electric

So, for those of you that know me, know I am a real car mad person.  I once may have called myself a petrol head, but I've traded them in for electrons and gone for the full Greta experience.

Yes, around 18 months ago I changed and adopted electric motoring, purchasing an Audi E-Tron.  Although many complain about infrastructure,  range anxiety and the capabilities of electric cars.  I can honestly say it's one of the best moves I have made.

I think getting the car was the start of making wife the Eco Rebel.  Yes I needed a charge point installed which resulted in having a trench dug through her wonderfully manicured lawns.  This is the one headache I needed painkillers for especially as she still hasn’t forgiven me, even though the lawn now shows no evidence of it’s turmoil.

The performance is exhilarating,  no changing gear, just instant torque at any speed.  Yes it's a half a second slower to 60 than my old 4.2 V8 RS4, but it's every much as fun. In fact, having torque constantly on tap, I’d say it might be more fun.  It’s also much more refined,  almost silent.

This did cause me an issue at the traffic lights one.  A young wanna be, in his Golf R was sat at the side of me revving and popping his exhausts.  He couldn’t believe it when I wound down my window, and shouted “Vroom Vroom Vrr Vrr Vrr” and then set off in silence.  I did say it’s just as much fun as before.

It can, in summer, do over 220 miles on full charge and can fast charge at an Ionity fast charger in around 20 minutes.  Anyone who doesnt want to stop for 20 minutes and coffee break after 220 miles of driving is mad.  

I have driven home a couple of times with just 10 miles left in the battery and I'm confident it really has 10 miles.  Not like a petrol, when the warning light goes on, you have no idea how long you have.

My wife is now being dragged, kicking and screaming into a new Eco world (more below) but I’ve even convinced her to 'Go Greta' later this year.  The experience has been so good she's trading in her 3.0 V6 for electric as well.  

I went electric (2)

As well as going for an Electric car, we have also had Solar Panels and battery installed at home.  I ordered them last July, but, due to needing permission from the grid due to the capacity we could generate, it finally got installed on the 7th December.  Yep, that’s right, 2 weeks before the shortest day, our solar was installed.  Even though we’re not generating anywhere near what we would expect,  January has seen a huge reduction in our electricity costs (its around 30% of what it was, yes that right I am saving 70%).

In addition, we also replaced our tumble dyer for a new Heat Pump Tumble Dryer.  But now, this is where my wife has become the total eco rebel.  She can now see that if she puts on the washing machine, tumble dryer, iron, tv etc etc; just to see how much electricity can be consumed and how quickly the battery can be drained.  It’s her mission to see the quickest method to drain the battery, I am sure I can hear it’s pain.

But, we’re both so glad we have moved on the energy efficiency front, especially with the recent rise in energy prices and possible rises to come.  I am certain we will be self sufficient for Electric from March to end of October.  

In addition, having an electric car, we have an electric car tariff with cheap charging between 00:30 and 04:30.  As well as charging the car during this time we also charge the solar battery in the winter months.  It can hold nearly 9Kwh of power which is a lot of what we use during the day.  So even when the sun don’t shine, we’re still saving. 

As well as going Solar,  we have also dropped all alkaline battery use.  Adopting rechargeable batteries (which we can now charge for free during the day) and reducing harmful, alkaline battery waste. 

So what’s next ?

Get the Eco rebels new car first,  we’re test driving a number of vehicles.

Get a Air Heat Source Pump and replace our Gas Boiler.  Using the Solar / Battery power for a super efficient heat source pump making use of the new UK Government grants towards the cost that are due to be launched in April. We’re expecting this to be a great saving,  reducing our gas burning significantly which after all, it’s a fossil fuel.  Heat Source pumps take energy from the air and are highly efficient (in fact usually for every KWh of electricity you put in you get 4KWh equivalent of heat), compared to even the most efficient boilers which return 0.9 KWh equivalent for every KWh put in.  This should mean our water and heating costs should be negligible going forward.

Tune my inner Greta and try to work out how an Eco Warrior and an Eco Rebel can enjoy the same journey together.

I have also rekindled my interest in photography as I try to take pictures of the old and the new world. I’ve included some of the photos above.  My current project is Energy Old and New.

Hello Old Friend - I'm back

So, everyone missed me ? It's been nearly a year since I was last on the bike for a number of personal reasons.  Prompted into a return to the saddle by my wife's comment 'Darling, don't you think you're starting to look a little tubby?'.  First off, no I'm not tubby.  Those of you who were regular readers would have seen my climb to fitness and 49 lbs of weight loss, i've only put on around 10 pounds.  Thats not tubby territory at all, mildly cuddly maybe, but never tubby.

Second, could you imagine a husband saying that to his wife, or, getting the answer wrong to the regular question 'Does my bum look big in this'.  So, with an impending holiday and a wife threatening to upsize my clothes and swimming trunks, I decided to hit the bike again.

So, for those of you who haven't read before, I have three bikes (Debbie Dahon, Sally Specialised and Brandy Boardman - Sold her cousin Brigitte around 18 months ago).  In a addition I have Wanda Wattbike too.

So, last week, this was my first ride whilst staying at a hotel in Leatherhead, I decided to bring Sally with me.  She's got a bigger gear range, but, she's a little heavier too.

Now, let me get things clear,  cyclist magazines and keep fit books say your body has a memory.  If you take a short spell off, when you start again it doesn't take long to get back into it.  Let me tell you now,  the only thing my legs remembered was pain, and lots of it whilst climbing hills. Other than that, its load of old ........

I left the hotel on a moderately warm evening and of course, relying on my bodies memory, set off at a similar pace to what I had done before.  Memory worked, it felt good, I was soon at my old cruising speed and I was spinning the pedals well for 500.......................yards or so.  Then I hit the first incline, and before long was puffing and sneezing worse than Thomas the Tank Engine suffering from Asthma.  So no, other than pain, there is no memory, it's a myth designed to loll unsuspecting fools like me back on the bike.

After a not so good workout with Sally and getting a good level of punishment on Wendy over the weekend, I brought Brandy with me this week.  She's a boardman Super Light (SLR) even with carbon pedals and really light, although this is off-set by a tubby bloke on top. I've just got back from my second ride of the week, both short 10 miles or so, and both with an average speed of around 14-15 mph.  So I'm now starting to feel better. I'm getting back into it and generally enjoying it.  So as I have to said to each bike 'Hello Old Friend', I'm back and looking forward to getting better.

However, the next thing is bike skills.  You see, today, in Surrey UK, theres been a real hot spell (25+ degrees).  Going out on the bike this evening I encountered everyone with a bike within 30 miles of London, and they must be the friendliest group of cyclists in the world.  I'm riding a along, minding my own business, acknowledging others by nodding my head, as everyone else was lifting one hand off the handlebars and shouting 'awwight'. I decided this must be the done thing in these parts. At two points I was riding almost hands free trying to acknowledge everyone, trying not to offend anyone. It would be an ideal script for Mr Bean.

Talking of offending people, to the 6 or 7 year old girl, who wanted to race me up the hill on her shiny new bike with stabilisers, not funny...no not funny at all, especially when you slowed and told me to hurry up.  In my defence, I had just done a 2 mile or so stretch, averaging 20+ mph when I hit the hill, and she only started 3 quarters of the way up the hill, but still, have a heart and be gentle to an old man puffing up the hill. Plus keep the celebrations down when you get to the top before me. Doing a Cavendish race finish salute is a hell of lot easier on stabilisers when you're not going to fall off.

Anyways, I'm back and hoping to share more with you once I start to lengthen my rides, remove my tubbiness and get back into cycling shape again.

Nuns on the run

So its a beautiful sunny evening and I am staying in Hook in Hampshire so decide to get in a few miles.  Hook is an interesting place, a small village with a station and industrial estate to the side which is the home of some major companies.

Hook's council are I think currently suffering from road planning by six year olds with crayons.  There's only really three roads into the village centre and at the moment almost all of them have traffic light controlled roadworks.  Making it hellish at peak times to get anywhere.

But my need to just get on the bike is so high. My brother and I are doing a sixty mile sportive at the weekend and I have maybe only ridden 5 or 6 times since Christmas.  So its on with the lycra, helmet, drink bottle prepared and I am off to the countryside.  Heading west out of Hook on the main road it is possible to turn right after around half a mile and head out on a country lane towards Old Basing.

Getting out of Hook and onto the country lane is easy and then I put the hammer down a bit (stupid really bearing in mind the limited riding I've done, but hey ho its off to ride we go).  I think my Garmin is having a laugh though, it reports I'm doing a rather optimistic 134 mph, Bradley Wiggins eat your heart out.  In reality, it's in shock to be being used. When I woke it up it sleepily started asking me questions like,  "Have you travelled hundreds of miles since last time you rode?" which is pretty intuitive.  I was here last week and rode as well, starting at the same car park, but I did go home to Yorkshire in between.  It was switched off the whole time I travelled home but it seemed to know.

It also asked if the date was really the 14th May.  Oh come on, I know I haven't used you that much, but really, do you have to rub it in.  I hit yes, it is, and tell it "Look I haven't used you too much this year, just shut up and record my ride".  It's response,  134 mph.

Anyway, I crack on to Old Basing, setting into a rhythm and the Garmin now behaving (or at least until I hit the first hill when it tells me I'm doing 2 Mph,  liar, I'm going faster really.....I hope).

Through old basing and up to Bramley where there is a level crossing which always catches me.  Doesn't matter when I travel, I always end up waiting for ages.

There is a small country lane (with car passing places, so yes it's small) just before turning right towards Bramley. Here a Golf GTI gets rather close to my back wheel.  The occupants obviously slightly impatient keep revving the engine and seem to keep getting closer and closer.  As soon as the road is barely wide enough for the car, they floor the accelerator, squeeze past me (I mean squeeze) and fly off down the country lane).  Myself almost ending up in a pot hole trying to avoid being crushed.

But, one feels so much better when one gets to catch up with idiots like this.  Yes you guessed it, the level crossing is closed and as I head into Bramley the road is backed up with traffic.  Just two cars in front of me is the GTI, still revving it's engine.  Time to ride by, prepare my reverse Churchill salute and plant my bike at the front of the traffic triumphantly. So I pull out, pass the 4 x 4 in front of me and close up to the GTI where I slow, lift one hand from the handle bars ready and peer in ready to give the occupants a piece of my mind.

However, the driver must be nearly 90, bespectacled and a Habit wearing nun. She is so small, I swear, she is looking through the steering wheel not over it. Her passenger looks so old, she is maybe waiting for her letter from the queen and also wearing a Habit.  So I quickly retract my hand, nod politely and ride by.  I mean,  what is the world coming to,  you expect a couple of kids to be belting along a country lane in a  GTI in a hurry, but, two Nun's well past their sell by date.  Whats the world coming to? When a man needs to vent his fury and gesticulate, he doesn't need to be watched by or direct abuse at nuns !

I get to the front of the queue to wait for the train, head down, thinking Oh my God (no that wouldn't be right, maybe Oh Jesus, nope not that either, maybe just oops).  I'm so glad I took the time to look in the car before saluting.  Just where could they have been going in such a hurry on a lovely evening like this?

So 10 minutes later (good chance to down a gel) and a wry smile I shake my head, as a train enters the station.  Now, heres the next thing, the train always enters the station but the barriers always stay down.  Everyone gets off the train, out of the station and stands by the barrier. The train then leaves the station and barrier goes up.  At this point the road, paths etc are teaming with people.  Surely it would have been better to lift the barriers once the train had passed.  Do we really all need to watch the hot sweaty occupants get off and exit the station.  I'm impatient, god only knows what the sisters in the hot hatch are thinking right now.  They're obviously Nuns on the Run and in a hurry.

I cross the railway tracks, turn left and start to head to Reading.  Clocking up a much more respectively 17mph.  I really should slow down and maybe try to get further.  I've also noticed how little I have been in the saddle by the impact it is having on my behind - hope I can still walk tomorrow.

And for those interested, heres my ride profile, with my huge boost of speed. 134 MPH !

The Fit, The Fast, The Fat and the Furious

Many of you who keep up to date with my blog will recall last year my desire to get fitter and to come face to face with an obsession known as cycling.  Culminating in a ride for charity last year called the Palace to Palace Cycle ride (45 miles of cycling in aid of the Princes Trust) which I completed in 4 hours 11 minutes.

At the start of this year, I decided to up my game and set myself dizzier heights, including taking part in Cycling Weekly's Ripon Revolution, 65 miles and a categorised climb to kill my legs if the the altitude didn't.  I also took part in another 45 mile ride sportive completing it in 3hrs 10 minutes. So about an hour faster than it took for a similar distance last year.

At a discussion at home, my father-in-law asked me if I were going to try to do the Palace to Palace again in under three hours, promising to sponsor me if I did.  So I duly signed up and began my quest for sponsorship.

A week or so after I signed up, whilst eating dinner, my wife suggested to my son that it would be great exercise and he should do it with me.   I mentioned that it was possible to put in a cycling team in to the event if you get four people. My son replied he wouldn't do it if my brother didn't. My wife claimed she couldn't do it because of Alex. They both agreed I should ask my brother both I think confident in their expectation that he would say no.  Unfortunately for them he said yes and our fledgling team was born.

We started with the name "The Fast, the Fit and the Furious" but Peter quickly pointed out that was only three names, we should make a name for him too, so we had it, "The Fit, The Fast, The Fat and The Furious".  We all signed up and began asking friends to sponsor us.

One of my friends then decided that she would like to join us with her husband.  So the team increased to six, with the Feisty and the Fearless taking their F names too.

We all began our respective training programmes.  I think Fat did the best, as he was particularly fit and ready for the ride (he admits when he did the Nottingham Sportive with me last year that he wasn't quite ready).  He now has a pretty good 19 RITMO to boot.

Feisty and Fearless practiced largely in the South, although there was a team ride on the Monsall Trail consisting for Fast, Fit, Furious, Fearless, Feisty and Flump (Flump being my youngest son who is disabled and in a trailer on the back of my bike).  Fearless was in a fearless mood, challenging first Furious for a race and losing, then challenging Fast with Flump in tow but Fast chickened out at 26mph in case the trailer got unsteady, he finally challenged Fit who decimated him.

Left to right: Fast, Flump, Furious, Fearless and Fit (Feisty is taking the photo)

Fast, Fit and Furious had a final training ride in August at the full challenge distance, resulting in Furious crawling into the kitchen on all fours screaming in pain and saying she was never going to do it again (shame we had an event coming up in just a few weeks time !).

The Event
Fast, Fit, Fat and Furious travelled down the day before and stayed overnight in London.  Feisty and Fearless met us at the start line.  We then lined up and set off.

The fact of being close to Buckingham Palace plus taking part in The Palace to Palace really went to Furious' head, she started waving to everyone, although whenever one of the official photographers took her photo, she was often seen waving to some obscure guy in the opposite direction.  Nearly suggested a change of call sign from Furious to Floozie. Here is brief look at the start from a bike eye view :-

After a couple of miles the group split into two.  Fast and Fat decided to strike off (there was a sub 3 hour ride time to beat), Fit came along for the first half of the ride acting as domestique with Furious, Feisty and Fearless in the second wave.  Fit then joined the second wave over the second half of the course.

At the first drink stop in Richmond Park, the first wave stopped and were quickly caught by the second wave.  Although the Find my Friends App reported Furious being 2 miles away, in reality, she was in a porta-loo only 10 feet away.  We set off again, hitting some high speeds as we sped out the park and were soon back up to an average 16-17 mph.

At the second break, we stopped and were just getting ready to leave when again we briefly met as a team.  This was the last time we would see Fast, Furious, Feisty and Fearless until the end.

The weather held up throughout the event.  Feisty and Fearless were also introduced to a cycling essential (an energy gel).  Hmmmm, you can tell by their face just how tasty it is :-

Fast and Fat completed the even within the target time (2hrs 55 minutes of cycling), Furious, Fit, Feisty and Fearless also completed in an impressive 3hrs 40 minutes.  We're all now looking forward to our next event.  He we all are with our finishing medals :-

Left to Right.  Feisty, Fast, Furious,Fat,Fearless and Fit

The Cast

Fast - Gary Newbould

Fit - James Newbould

Furious - Joanne Newbould

Fat - Peter Newbould

Feisty - Tina Watson

Fearless - Peter Watson

and the Flump - Alex Newbould

Sunday with the whippets

I know what you're thinking. No blogs for weeks and then they come all at once, just like buses. Well this ones for my father in law. Due to the bad weather, have I mentioned how wet and snowy it's been this winter ? I decided I needed some motivation to keep on the bike and ride during the winter.

Back in February I joined a local cycling club (The Calder Clarions) with view of meeting some like minded cyclists and encouragement to go out in the cold and ride.   But due to loads of snow in February and March, a back injury through ice skating and a bad chest it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I finally made a ride.

I researched before I went and the club has 3 Sunday rides.  The A ride is 70+ miles at an average of 18 mph, the B a similar distance at 15mph and the Masters Ride which is 50 miles at an average of 12 mph.  Even the masters ride has a warning not to underestimate the level of fitness required to complete.  I therefore decide, hesitantly, to go for the masters ride.

It meets at 9:00am on the Sunday morning at a local park.  I was running late so threw the bike in the boot of the car and drove down.  When I arrived they all laughed at the guy arriving by car. You're supposed to ride there, then do the 50 miles and then ride home.

I introduce myself to the other riders and prepare for group ride.  Riding in formation is new to me so one of the cub members hangs back and explains what I need to do.  George leads us out (George is 80 and still time trials) and Jimmy who's 77.  Most of the others in the group are a similar age to me.

The ride was a steady pace riding to Thorpe Arch Retail Park which is 25 miles.  At this point I'm learning how to ride in group, anticipating breaking in front, taking reference to the pothole warnings being passed back through the group and making sure I signal in plenty of time.  George up front is leading the ride and although the pace drops off a bit on the hills, overall I can't help but hope I am as fit as him when I hit 80.

It's a very civilised ride, where we ride to Thorpe Arch and stop at the cafe with all the shoppers being invaded by Lycra clad riders. It's obviously the Sunday Cycling place to be as we order our drinks and cakes only to then be flocked with 20 or so further riders from the Otley Cycling Club. A family with two young kids were trying to console their kids at the strange sight of all these Lycra clad individuals within the cafe. We are all middle to old aged men, but the Otley Crew was a mixed crowd covering both sexes and all ages.

Whilst eating, George mentions to me, it's going to be a lot harder going back.  We's gonna be riding into the wind quite a bit and a few of the climbs are a bit steeper, so if we're slowing too much on the hills please feel free to break club etiquette, come through to the front and feel free to take up the lead.

So I feel honoured that George mentions to me that, due to my obvious fitness, I should take the lead of the ride for a while.  Sure enough we start heading back and hit a few climbs with the wind in our faces myself and Ian work our way to the front of the group and take up the lead.  At this point I am really pleased with myself, my apprehension as to whether I would be fit enough completely forgotten and I'm leading a peloton !

It's only on reflection that realise that they probably decided to pick the two largest, lardy arsed riders to move to the front so that we could be effective wind breaks for the rest of the crew.  It really didn't have anything to do with my fitness levels, awesome bike control and excellent sense of direction.  No, it was pick the fattest, largest idiot who's stupid enough to do it and send him to the front for lead so everyone else can have a much easier ride.  Gutted......

As we get closer to Wakefield, some of the riders peel off and head home (unlike the bozo who left his car at the park and therefore had to ride back to the start).  Total ride is 49 and a bit miles, a great social ride and really good group of guys for cycling with.  Can't wait for my next outing..

and.... if you're wondering about the title, my Father-In-Law knew I had joined the cycling club which he has affectionately called "The Whippets".  Every week since becoming a member he has asked me if  I am out with the Whippets this weekend?  You never know, I might need to get a flat cap and a ferret down me trousers to complete the Yorkshireman in me.

Damage Attempts 3 - Damage Sustained 1%

Just been out on a training ride in Hampshire, preparing for the Cyclothon 2013 that I am riding in on Sunday and thinking to myself how my recent rides have been quite boring with not much to blog about.  Well, big mistake,  they always say things come in three's and today just proved it.

I set off at a pretty good pace (for me at least) averaging a good 16 miles an hour. The sun was out as I ride from Hook towards Old Basing on a peaceful back road and generally feeling good with managing to get out on the bike bearing in mind the recent inclement weather. As those of you in the UK know, this winter has been horrible with snow, rain, cold, wind oh and more rain and snow.

Riding into the beautiful village of Old Basing, I hit a slight rise near some cottages so I kick down a gear and decide I am going for a really good average speed and I ain't slowing for no one.  Over the top of the hill I'm at 20mph and thinking if only Wiggo could climb this good he'd be doing better in the Giro at the moment.  Then again, my rise was a couple of hundred feet, his is several thousand, but hey he gets paid for it.

Facing towards me on my side of the road is a white van with two occupants talking, as I get to a few feet from the van the guy in the passenger side throws his door open.  With little time to react I brake, swerve, catch the door with my shoulder and slam the door back trapping the guys leg hanging out of the van.  He then starts to shout at me as though its my fault.  After a brief exchange where I made comments at both his parentage and sexual habits, I continue on my way.  I was unhurt, the door didn't hit my beloved bike and the guy will probably have a limp for a day or two. Strike One.

Putting it behind me, I climb out of Old Basing, turn right and head down another quiet country lane heading towards a place called Bramley.  Here I pick up the pace and tap out 18-20 mph stints, except for a brief drink and energy bar stop, and waiting at a couple of junctions.

There is cycle path on part of it so jump onto that for a while and come up to a main road to cross. Here the traffic lights are at green, the cycle path to the right also has a green man allowing me to cross. But as I approach the lights change.  Now being a dual carriageway there is no way I am going to jump the lights to make a mad dash so hit the brakes hard.

As I come to stop very quickly I don't have time to unclip my feet from the SPD's, so I stop and then elegantly fall over onto a grass bank.  Graze my foot and scuff the pedal on the bike.  At this point I am laughing historically about my total stupidity and still can't get my foot off the cleat.  Wiggo, how the hell did you unclip so quick when falling in the Giro on Stage 8? It's a skill I have yet to master.  However,  whilst laughing and generally trying to get unclipped a guy stops his car to the left with everyone honking their horns, winds down his passenger window and asks me if I am ok.  I am sure all Toyota drivers are so considerate (I'm one myself) and this West Indian driver of the beat up red Toyota Camry probably did not expect some mad laughing Yorkshireman in Lycra gabbling madly at the side of the road.  But thank you sir, you are a gent and when you realised I was ok and laughing your laugh was maybe the deepest rumbling laugh I have ever heard.

When I finally dismount, I do a quick Lycra check, quick bike check and decide to walk across the dual carriageway. Strike 2. Slight scuff to pedal, slight graze on foot (damage 1%).

At this point I realise I am still a few miles from Bramley.  There's a station and level crossing there and I have been caught there before around 6:00pm where the crossing closes for a parade of trains going in each direction.  You can seriously be held up there for fifteen minutes.  So I get back on the road, start tapping out to rhythm again with a huge desire to reach Bramley before it shuts for 15 minutes. It's no fun waiting in your Lycra with just about every resident of Bramley stood waiting.  Not sure why they do it but there's usually 1,000's of cars and people.  If you know it's gonna happen every day, surely you wouldn't go out at that time.

So, I'm hitting 22mph again and even do a brief stint at 30, reach the level crossing and bounce over at 5:48.  As my back wheel reaches the far side, the lights start to flash and barriers come down.  Wahoo job done.  Bet Wiggo doesn't have to put up with that in the Giro.

I then leave the sleepy village of Bramley I notice a tractor spreading something that I could smelly mile away and he's getting close to the edge of the field.  I decide I'm either gonna choke and die, or, get past quick.  This was a good move.  Hitting 32 mph I go flying past the field, as I look over my shoulder I notice his spreader sprays its contents over the hedge behind me.  Good move or I would have returned back to the hotel a rather smelly brown colour.

As I head up the A30 trunk and turn right towards Heckfield it starts to rain.  So I don't ease up, I keep hitting out the Ruth, and get back to the hotel. I am now writing this up in the restaurant thinking of how I've been hit by a door, fallen on the road and almost shit on, all in the process of getting fitter.  Strange day.

The Tissington Trail

The sun is out, spring is finally in the air and my wife is intent on cycling the Tissington Trail in Derbyshire.  We've decided to do part of it from Ashbourne up to Hartington Signal Box (Around 11.5 miles each way).  I also have my disabled son (Alex "Ballast" Newbould) keeping me honest.

The write up for the trail says it's a medium level of effort, and to be fair it's almost a complete uphill ride from Ashbourne to Hartington (and if you didn't have a 19 year old behind you I guess it would be no difficulty at all, but the loose shingle means working hard and pumping away at a relative high cadence to make progress with a trailer).  To be honest,  I have a few events planned for this year and a couple of quite high climbs so having a permanent level of resistance provides great training (or at least that's what I kept reminding myself).

Me with my Resistance Trainer in tow

Well to the trail itself.  Like many of the cycle route trails it is entirely off-road and on an old railway line.  Unlike the Monsal Trail, it's a much looser surface but other than that it's very similar.  There are picnic tables at various locations and a number of benches allowing you to admire the breathtaking views if you want to stop.

And that's really a key point, the views out over the hills as you climb are spectacular, made even better by that fact that it's lambing season and there are fields full of new lambs bounding around in the sunshine. One thing to note though is, if you go in the dry summer there is a lot of dust kicked up, the bikes needed complete clean down's once we got back but I tell you it is well worth it.

Leaving out of Ashbourne it's a gentle climb towards Tissington which is only around 4 miles up the track.  Most of this part of the ride is through tree clad areas with a couple of picnic sites complete with tables etc.

Once out of Tissington you continue the climb and soon are out looking over the excellent scenery.  I think my wife was extremely happy to be finally riding the Tissington Trail.

My wife Joanne on the trail

To be fair, without the trailer I would class this as a truly excellent and relatively easy ride with something to look at all of the time through the ride.

Excellent Scenery in all directions

 Eventually you come out over the tops of the hills and have a relatively flat ride to the signal box at Tissington.

 Here you will find a small ice cream store, toilets and more picnic benches allowing you to snack up ready for the descent back to Ashbourne.

Tissington Signal Box

Or, if your'e feeling more energetic it is possible to add up the trail for a further 3 miles or so where you can then head down an alternative fork for a further 12 miles allowing you to ride a full length of maybe 25 miles plus 25 miles return journey.

So, if you want an excellent ride in great countryside, I can thoroughly recommend the Tissington trail. If you're in training I can also hire out an excellent resistance trainer in the form of my son and his trailer as he too thoroughly enjoyed the ride.