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#1
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First Recumbent Century (long)
There was a time when I would often go out at the weekend and enjoy a 70
or 80 mile ride, or occasionally a bit further. But that was before my beloved and I became an item. On 10 July 1998 (a week after I first asked Catherine out), I towed my BoB 140 miles to a juggling convention. Then I took 3 days over getting home. That was the last time I rode more than 60 miles in a day, and I can only think of five occasions when I've ridden more than 30 miles. Since then I've wanted to spend my weekends with Catherine (and more recently with the kids), and she hasn't wanted to do that sort of mileage. But I've missed my long rides, and for years I've intended to ride the Avon Cycleway, an 85 mile (according to the leaflet) loop around the outside of Bristol. Last year I agreed with a friend that we'd ride it together this summer. As Catherine's taken the kids to her mum's for a few days, and I've booked Monday to Wednesday off work to make the most of a few days to myself, this weekend seemed an ideal opportunity. To start with I wasn't at all sure about my ability to complete the ride, it being my first long ride in 6 years and the first ever on the recumbent (I arbitrarily define 'long' as anything over about 70 miles). I was even less confident about Jamie, although he seemed sure enough of himself. I had no doubts about his fitness, but I knew he hadn't put in many miles on the Speed Machine. When it came to it, he seemed to finish the ride a lot fresher than I did. I arranged to meet Jamie at Warmley Station (on the Bath-Bristol cyclepath) at 10:00 on Sunday morning. I had thought long and hard about which of my 3 pairs of cycling shoes to wear for a ride of this length, but one look out the window on the morning of the ride confirmed that it had to be the sandals. Throwing fashion caution to the wind, I also slung a pair of socks in a pannier just in case we were late back and it got chilly. Thankfully I didn't need them. With my ever improving slaphead credentials I deemed it prudent to wear a cap, but that didn't last more than an hour before I decided it was just too hot. After a hearty breakfast of porridge, I left home at 09:55 and arrived at Warmley Station dead on time, to find that Jamie had already been there for a few minutes. The first 5 miles (along the cyclepath) were of very little interest to me, as I ride them every morning on my way to work. It all got a bit more interesting after we passed my office. From Saltford, our route (NCN Regional Route 10) coincided with NCN National Route 3. I was impressed by how well signposted Route 3 was, and said as much. 2 miles later we found ourselves retracing our tyre tracks having missed the turning for Burnett. It turned out that there *was* a sign but it was buried in a tree. When we found our turning, we stopped for a snack. I took my first photo of the day and removed my sweaty cycling cap. While we were stopped, Jamie was stung 3 times by a bee. Yes, I know it's surprising to be stung 3 times by the same bee, but it was definitely a bee (I helped him get it out of his jersey), it definitely didn't leave it's sting behind (I saw it clearly) and there were definitely 3 puncture marks (which Jamie hoped to use for sympathy from his wife later on). 2 miles later (after a fantastic descent) we stopped at Compton Dando to take my second photo (of the church), only to find that my camera battery was flat. Catherine had the digital camera in Sevenoaks with her, so I had my old film camera with the 3-year-old film that I hoped to use up. Until shortly before leaving I also had the disposable camera that lives in my pannier, but I had discarded it because I felt I was carrying too much. We stopped again for another snack 3 miles later, in the shade of the magnificent Pensford Viaduct. I wished I had a working camera with me. Somewhere between Stanton Drew and Chew Valley Lake, Route 10 seems to part company with Route 3. We hadn't realised this and, not having seen any Route 10 signs, carried on following Route 3. This fortuitous mistake led us to the Spar in Bishop Sutton, where I was able to buy a camera battery. Then, once we worked out where we were, we were soon able to find our way to the Northern shore of the lake where we stopped for lunch. We were watched by a young boy who was fascinated by our bikes and whose father, had he wanted to get away, would have had little hope of shifting the child until he had seen us ride off. Soon after Chew Valley Lake, Regional Route 10 rejoins National Route 3 for a few more miles, so we again had adequate signage. When the routes again diverged, Route 10 was clearly marked. We rode the next 14 miles to Clevedon with few navigational problems. When I noticed on the map that we were passing close to Nempnett Thrubwell, I resisted the temptation to suggest a detour to see just what The Wurzels were singing about. On the approach to Clevedon we had a continuous 3 mile descent. While I reflected on how nice it was to have a bike that could be ridden at 30+mph with no stability problems even when heavily laden, I also couldn't help thinking about the cyclists' theory of gravity. What goes down, must go back up. At Chelvey we stopped again and had a long chat with a local cyclist who had stopped for a can of lager. He was surprised that we were planning to ride the whole of the Avon Cycleway in one day, but reckoned we should make pretty short work of it on the recumbents. In Clevedon I prodded my scalp and decided it was starting to go pink, so I put my cap back on and kept it on until the sun was low enough to pose no threat. From Clevedon, the route runs alongside the M5 for about 7 miles. Somewhere along there, 39 miles into the ride, Jamie suffered the only puncture of the trip. A snakebite caused by hitting a pothole with underinflated tyres. Stelvios have a minimum pressure rating of 85psi, but when I squeezed the other tyre I estimated the pressure at about 60psi. After helping him remove the wheel, I took the opportunity to have a snack and replenish my sun cream. And to take a photo of Jamie fixing a puncture :-) At Clapton in Gordano, while we were stopped to look at the map, we were passed by a couple of upright cyclists who seemed to be going our way and to know where they were going. After catching them up on a descent, it transpired that they were riding at the same speed as we were. So we followed them for the next 3 miles. Just before Pill they turned down a side road that wasn't signposted as part of the route, so we stopped to check the map. After a brief discussion with a very nice lady who told us we looked great on our bikes, we concluded that they had gone the right way, so we headed off down there ourselves. And got lost. We should have just kept following the other guys. The Wurzels sang about Pill as well ("Pill, Pill, I love thee still"). Dunno why, from what little I've seen of it it's a dump. Eventually we found our way to the mile long bridge where the M5 (and the cyclepath alongside it) crosses the Avon. On the ascent to the bridge I was mildly amused by the signs saying "Maximum Speed 15mph", but not as amused as if I hadn't already seen a sign saying that mopeds and scooters were allowed to use the path. On the bridge itself we leapfrogged each other, each taking photos of the other riding. Standing on a motorway bridge when a lorry goes past is *very* disconcerting. Then towards the end we checked to see where we were going next, and at this point we noticed a difference between our route guides. My 1998 edition directed us up the B4055 towards Henbury, while Jamie's 2001 edition directed us up an off-road cyclepath that presumably didn't exist in 1998. We decided to follow the more recent guide, ending up on Route 41 and seemingly on a route marked on Jamie's map as "proposed future route for the Avon Cycleway". Then we got lost again. We continued to follow Route 41 in the hope that it was going where we wanted to go, but we really didn't know where we were. We'd have been much better off following my older route guide. Still, by following Route 41 we eventually found a sign for Route 10. I also got some great pictures for my farcilities page - the gates on Route 41 are ludicrous. The rest of the route was reasonably well signposted. Somewhere around Olveston (about 60 miles in) I started to tire, and for the next 15 miles the hills seemed cruel. At about 70 miles Jamie phoned his wife to tell her he'd be home a couple of hours later than expected, and got an earful. Then somewhere around Yate, knowing we were on the home run, I caught my second wind. Unfortunately that was also when it got dark, so we really had to keep a sharp eye out to see the little brown route signs. Lighting wasn't a problem, as both our bikes are fitted with SON hub dynoamoes and Lumotec Oval Plus lights. Jamie also had one of his Lumicycles with him, but I only had a couple of LED's for backup. On the outskirts of Yate we joined another off-road cyclepath for a few hundred yards. It was tarmacced, with a bridleway running alongside it and a sign instructing equestrians to keep off the tarmac. So, predictably enough, the tarmac was liberally sprinkled with horse****. The next 9 miles seemed a lot easier than the previous 30. Jamie and I parted company at Mangotsfield Station, by which time it was nearly 2 hours later than he had originally told his wife to expect him home. And he had to get up for work in the morning. I felt very glad that my wife was away and I /didn't/ have to get up for work in the morning. I had another mile of the loop left to ride. Jamie had already ridden it on his way to meet me in the morning. But before tackling it, I stopped for a flapjack and drained the last of my water. I had always intended, if I felt up to it when I reached Warmley Station for the second time, to add another loop to take my mileage up to the magic 100 mile mark. I was actually feeling pretty shattered by the time I returned to Warmley Station, and I'd been getting twinges in my right knee for the last couple of miles. But with my computer reading 94.97 miles, I decided to go for it. Perhaps not a wise decision, given the knee twinges, but who knows when the next opportunity to complete a century will be? I headed first for the drinking fountain a few hundred yards further along the cyclepath. Then I went to explore some of the local sections of the ring road cyclepath that I've never bothered with before, discovering some interesting links. When I finally reached my front door, at one minute to midnight, feeling very ready for the big bowl of pasta that I had thankfully prepared the night before, and with my knee killing me, my computer showed a trip distance of 101.21 miles at an average speed of 11.2mph. I would have liked to have gone a little bit further, knowing that my computer could conceivably be out by as much as 2%, but I really didn't want to ride any further with that knee. (I remember that I used to allow for an average speed of 10mph for long rides, but I couldn't remember whether that included stops or not. After taking 14 hours to complete a century, I can only conclude that it probably didn't). I don't think I've ever felt less like stretching, but stretch I did. After a good night's sleep the only serious aches were in my Achilles tendons, which I hadn't thought to stretch because I've never had a problem with them before. At no point did I suffer any of the back or neck aches that would have resulted from doing this ride on an upright bike. Overall it was a good ride, and my first long ride with company, which was nice. And now we know that we should be OK on the 60 miler that we plan to do next weekend (Clevedon Challenge in Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride, plus the ride to the start and home again at the end): URL:http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/tourism/bbbr_2004_index.html Much of the route is along the same roads that we rode on Sunday, but in the opposite direction. I did the same ride on the Street Machine 3 years ago, so I hoped I should be OK, but of course you can lose a lot of fitness in 3 years. -- Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address) URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/ "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine |
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#2
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First Recumbent Century (long)
Danny Colyer wrote:
snip nice TR I'm sort of waiting for an Obvious opportunity rather than particularly planning one. I thought the moment might have been when I had to pick up the bike from Ben after leaving it to have its new HS33 brakes fitted, and I set off from Bearsden along the Forth Clyde canal path, figuring I'd take a look at the Falkirk Wheel and then popping in a deviation or two to get up to 100 back at Dundee. All went well up until Falkirk (the Wheel is very cool!) but then it started pleuting. Decided to head for Stirling and if it had turned into serious rain I could bail out c/o my return ticket and if it blew over I could carry on with another bail option at Perth. Unfortunately it turned into Serious Rain and wanting to enjoy myself I caught the train home :-( Ah well, another opportunity will arise, I'm sure... Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
#3
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First Recumbent Century (long)
Danny Colyer wrote in news:ca1nm4$36h$1
@news7.svr.pol.co.uk: Throwing fashion caution to the wind We've seen the photos Danny, we know you threw that into a raging gale some time ago :-) Nice trip report by the way. Graeme |
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First Recumbent Century (long)
Peter Clinch wrote in news:ca1pku$drr$1
@dux.dundee.ac.uk: Unfortunately it turned into Serious Rain and wanting to enjoy myself I caught the train home :-( I've always found Serious Rain to be good fun. Mind you, a few hours of it might be a bit much. Does heavy rain affect you more on a 'bent as you're more "face up" compared to a wedgie? Graeme |
#5
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First Recumbent Century (long)
Graeme wrote:
I've always found Serious Rain to be good fun. Mind you, a few hours of it might be a bit much. Well, quite. And there's rain and there's rain. This wasn't a light shower with festive rainbows, this was prolonged, cold and driven pretty nastily by a good supply of wind. The "take off glasses to see where I'm going" kind :-( I did have the waterproofs, and was very glad of them too by the time I got to Stirling. Does heavy rain affect you more on a 'bent as you're more "face up" compared to a wedgie? It'll depend on the exact vehicle. A lowracer with no mudguards would be no fun at all, pop a Streamer fairing on something like the Streetmachine and you'd be significantly drier. I don't find that much difference aside from a tendency for small puddles to form in creases on the front of my jacket, plus my feet stay drier. Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
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First Recumbent Century (long)
Graeme wrote:
Peter Clinch wrote in news:ca1pku$drr$1 @dux.dundee.ac.uk: Unfortunately it turned into Serious Rain and wanting to enjoy myself I caught the train home :-( I've always found Serious Rain to be good fun. Mind you, a few hours of it might be a bit much. Does heavy rain affect you more on a 'bent as you're more "face up" compared to a wedgie? I have a streamer fairing for the trice that keeps most of me dry. I do find rain a bit ununcomfortable on the face - I do not like water in my eyes and usually wear a small peaked cap on the bike. It is certainly less effective on the 'bent. John B |
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Cycling in the rain. Was: First Recumbent Century (long)
Graeme wrote:
I've always found Serious Rain to be good fun. Mind you, a few hours of it might be a bit much. FUN! Was cycling in the Jura (France) last week. Saw the sun for 3 hours the whole week. The first day was the wettest i have ever been out in never mind cycled! My waterproof was not up to the job and my wife's very expensive goretex cycling jacket worked for a while then it too gave up in disgust! Spent 3 hours in a cafe at lunch waiting for the rain to ease - it just got worse! And you say serious rain can be fun! Bah! Humbug! Great holiday though - tremendous food and organisation (Headwater) - despite the weather. Drove back 12 hours yesterday - blazing sunshine all the way! pk |
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Cycling in the rain. Was: First Recumbent Century (long)
PK wrote:
And you say serious rain can be fun! Some major mud-based silliness on the MTB for maybe an hour or so, yes, especially if you're in a position to say "Enough! Off to the Tea Shop" and (a) be there and (b) not be refused admission in a matter of minutes. If, OTOH, you have no choice but to keep hacking away along very long roads or tracks as you get wetter and colder then... Bah! Humbug! is, I'd say, about the size of it. Hence my bailing out of my proposed Century after about 40 miles :-( Still, the first 30 or so were most agreeable. Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/ |
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First Recumbent Century (long)
I wrote:
Throwing fashion caution to the wind and Graeme responded: We've seen the photos Danny, we know you threw that into a raging gale some time ago :-) Ttthhhrrrppp! :-P I almost hoped I'd have to resort to the sandals, so that I could write something like: "I'd already donned my legwarmers and gilet. Now I took the fashion plunge and put my socks on under my sandals, despite still being more than 9 years shy of my 40th birthday." But at 23:00, the digital thermometer on the building opposite Warmley Station was reading 19C. I put my gilet on towards the end of the ride, but I really didn't need any more than that. -- Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address) URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/ "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine |
#10
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First Recumbent Century (long)
Peter Clinch wrote:
snip nice TR Thanks Pete. I wasn't sure if anyone would read it to the end, but I thought it'd be a nice way to remember the ride. I was about to write something about it being the first ride report I'd written, then I remembered a couple of unicycle ride reports that I'd written in the past. So I used Google to track them down, and I've brought them all together on my website. Once I've got my films developed I'll add some pictures to the latest report. All went well up until Falkirk (the Wheel is very cool!) but then it started pleuting. Decided to head for Stirling and if it had turned into serious rain I could bail out c/o my return ticket and if it blew over I could carry on with another bail option at Perth. Unfortunately it turned into Serious Rain and wanting to enjoy myself I caught the train home :-( That sounds like a wise decision (and 'pleuting' has added to my vocabulary). -- Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address) URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/ "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine |
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