Did Sheep House Lane today. Reputation totally undeserved - not even remotely difficult. An enjoyable little climb in fact. Moor Lane, coming up from Anglezarke, however, is a different kettle of fish entirely. Now THAT is a tough climb. Harder than any hill I've done in Surrey or Kent. It's going to require some serious planning to get a time up that. The first stretch at the bottom is easily 18% and it goes on for quite a way, no respite before the first bend then 'levels out' to about 15% before a couple more spiteful rams, with a nasty longish section of crap road and some spiteful lumps before a false top. Makes Toys look like Box Hill in comparison
I will be cycling 'up your way' in the new year Leroy - my mate lives in Manchester and we have promised that we'll get out up on some of his normal routes...of course, it might be nowhere bloomin near you, but it's all north innit... Another Sunday of sitting in on my backside today...I will get out sometime before Xmas, but just too much socialising at the moment... Ride safe sir.
When you get up here we should sort out a ride round this way. Rivington has some amazing riding. Although yeah 'Manchester', as I'm finding out, is a pretty big area!
I moved out to Italy last year and despite living half way up a mountain in a small village where nobody speaks a word of English apart from my wife and kids it soon became apparent that the bloke next door supported Charlton! You couldnt make it up. I can't really work out why he does and why the shirt he walks round in is the Viglen one from the 90's (or was it?). I think he may of found it, not sure, but it's good to see the word has spread out here and he hasn'tt been put of by league 1 of Champ footi
Since being out here it's easy to stay in touch with goings on via Charltonlife and texts from Pete at home games and I was back a couple of weeks ok to see Georges miss. The cycle business is massive over here and plenty of races for amateurs. I wondered if there were enough of you we could get a Charlton team together for one of the Gran Fondos out here. They are hard but a lot of fun and are on the bucket list for a lot of cyclists. So if anybody fancies a challenge check us out www.italybiketours.co.uk. I could sort out a red kit and who knows we might in end up in the programme! Bob would be DS and we could all ridesuperbly up until the last few kilometers and then fail to finish the job in hand. All very Charlton.
@nelsonsleftfoot I rode the dolomites/Italian alps a few years back (from Venice to Como in an arc - Gavia, Stelvio, Mortirolo, Campolongo - sp? - etc) and it was awesome...I may be back next summer (currently planning 2015 trip - might be back to the pyrenees) but will definitely check you out...friend is doing the Maratona in July, but I believe that that is all sold out now..?
Charlie, Maratona in July is not fully booked. Will be a rush in New Year no doubt as weather warms up! Official Giro Gran Fondo this year looks a particular beast. I'm contenmplating being injured then and being in support waggonsideDid you ride Stelvio from Bormio or the 'proper' way up?
Had a Near Death Experience today on the commute home. Since moving Oop Norf, I've tried to do the ride into work and back at least a couple of times a week. It's 40km each way, so a decent ride, and by and large the weather has been OK. Absolutely pissed it down on the way home the first night, and thought of I could do that and still be OK at the end, then nothing would deter me.
How wrong I was. It's been a tad windy today, and I rode the entire way home into a 30mph headwind with brutal occasional gusts from the side - but I'd kind of gotten used to it... Until I hit the Blackrod bypass. Holy shit. It was like something out of a disaster movie. Sheet rain/sleet fired horizontally into my face so hard that it felt like the entire journey over the bypass was like cycling through a curtain of tiny gravel. I got off literally halfway down the descent in fear for my life after a gust blew me three feet into the middle of the road. If anything had been passing me at that point, I would have been dead.
The most scared I've ever been on a bike. No more commuting this week. The weather up here is on a whole other level when it's bad.
@Leroy Ambrose nah, no mischief (although it was knackering)...more a case of bit of illness, bit of old age, bit of drinking and a bit of 'can't be arsed'...back on the turbo from next week as am 7kg up on where I was 4 months ago...
I'm going to need to visit the pain cave for the next couple of months - riding in the wind up here is no fun, and I need to do at least some mileage over the winter to prep for Mallorca 312 in April
Clocked up 2,000 miles on my allez 2013 but am inexperienced in the bike market as that was my first and only road bike.
Am willing to throw max. £1,000 ( 0 % finance over 12 months FTW) on my new bike which I intend to use from Greenwich to central and back every day - Monday to Friday.
Any of you lot able to give me some suggestions as to what bike I should get?!
Cannondale CAAD8. Got mine (2011 model) last year for about 850 quid. Cracking little bike - did about 6000 miles on it before going full carbon. Took a real beating as well, but still going strong now as my winter bike
@Jarman I use a Specialised RockHopper Pro as my commuting bike (purchased from @JohnBoyUK a few years back) as the roads are so badly pitted etc, that I really didn't want to ride a road bike in to town. I also like using the mountain bike as a) it is heavier, so you get a better workout and b) you are more upright and so it is easier to see what is going on around you (I commute from Greenwich in to Cvt Gdn)... That said, thousands do use a road bike... Or how about a Boardman cross bike? Upright, disc brakes, slightly fatter tyres, but not as heavy as a full on mtb...
I just bought myself another bike. Specialized Venge (the low-range model, not the 8 grand one). This is so that I can indulge my pathetic Cav fantasies as I smash past the local herberts on club runs. If anyone's interested, The Tri Store have an absolutely fantastic deal on 2014 Venge Elites - I got mine for £1750 - marked down from £2300. Stick a couple of proper wheels on it, slam the stem and pull the saddle up and it becomes a lovely TT bike. Drop down low, chuck your arse in the air, gurn like a monkey and stamp on the pedals and it's a sprinter's dream.
Just got to keep it quiet from my LBS - trialling it through them then buying online at 500 quid less is the absolute worst kind of underhanded trick
I commute 10 miles each way on my Sirrus hybrid and I'm thinking of getting a Spesh AWOL, anyone ridden this? I'm upgrading as I'm going to do the Ring of Kerry ride in July and don't fancy such a long ride on a hybrid.
I commute 10 miles each way on my Sirrus hybrid and I'm thinking of getting a Spesh AWOL, anyone ridden this? I'm upgrading as I'm going to do the Ring of Kerry ride in July and don't fancy such a long ride on a hybrid.
Have a beer in the stone outside Dan Murphy's door in Sneem.
I just bought myself another bike. Specialized Venge (the low-range model, not the 8 grand one). This is so that I can indulge my pathetic Cav fantasies as I smash past the local herberts on club runs. If anyone's interested, The Tri Store have an absolutely fantastic deal on 2014 Venge Elites - I got mine for £1750 - marked down from £2300. Stick a couple of proper wheels on it, slam the stem and pull the saddle up and it becomes a lovely TT bike. Drop down low, chuck your arse in the air, gurn like a monkey and stamp on the pedals and it's a sprinter's dream.
Just got to keep it quiet from my LBS - trialling it through them then buying online at 500 quid less is the absolute worst kind of underhanded trick
Fair play to you for wanting to support your LBS but £500 is £500. I've done the same on every bike I've bought. Test ridden it locally then found the cheapest online offer for it. Harsh but when money's tight, you need to think of yourself!
I commute 10 miles each way on my Sirrus hybrid and I'm thinking of getting a Spesh AWOL, anyone ridden this? I'm upgrading as I'm going to do the Ring of Kerry ride in July and don't fancy such a long ride on a hybrid.
Have a beer in the stone outside Dan Murphy's door in Sneem.
In the spirit of Rule 9 I went out on Saturday after only managing three other rides this year because of the ridiculous crosswinds we've had. There is nothing crueller in the world than riding down a 10% gradient at less than 30K/h into a 30mph blizzard.
My training is really, really suffering at the moment - I have the Mallorca 312 in April and unless I get some long rides in soon I'm going to be well behind the curve
Not exactly a fair representation of the interview.
What he said was, if he went back to the time he started doping and the same conditions existed (ie - everybody else was doping) then he'd do the same thing. I kind of understand that. Cycling then is very, very different to now. There is still doping - but you have to understand that it was absolutely endemic prior to about five years ago. Every single rider was doping.
What makes Armstrong such a turd is his complete disregard for others. He trod all over hundreds of people - the masseuse, the Andreus, Floyd Landis, Greg Lemond and countless others, then showed no contrition when it all came crashing down.
Comments
Since being out here it's easy to stay in touch with goings on via Charltonlife and texts from Pete at home games and I was back a couple of weeks ok to see Georges miss. The cycle business is massive over here and plenty of races for amateurs. I wondered if there were enough of you we could get a Charlton team together for one of the Gran Fondos out here. They are hard but a lot of fun and are on the bucket list for a lot of cyclists. So if anybody fancies a challenge check us out www.italybiketours.co.uk. I could sort out a red kit and who knows we might in end up in the programme! Bob would be DS and we could all ridesuperbly up until the last few kilometers and then fail to finish the job in hand. All very Charlton.
How wrong I was. It's been a tad windy today, and I rode the entire way home into a 30mph headwind with brutal occasional gusts from the side - but I'd kind of gotten used to it... Until I hit the Blackrod bypass. Holy shit. It was like something out of a disaster movie. Sheet rain/sleet fired horizontally into my face so hard that it felt like the entire journey over the bypass was like cycling through a curtain of tiny gravel. I got off literally halfway down the descent in fear for my life after a gust blew me three feet into the middle of the road. If anything had been passing me at that point, I would have been dead.
The most scared I've ever been on a bike. No more commuting this week. The weather up here is on a whole other level when it's bad.
I'm going to need to visit the pain cave for the next couple of months - riding in the wind up here is no fun, and I need to do at least some mileage over the winter to prep for Mallorca 312 in April
Am willing to throw max. £1,000 ( 0 % finance over 12 months FTW) on my new bike which I intend to use from Greenwich to central and back every day - Monday to Friday.
Any of you lot able to give me some suggestions as to what bike I should get?!
Will squat up on the above mentioned bikes!
I just bought myself another bike. Specialized Venge (the low-range model, not the 8 grand one). This is so that I can indulge my pathetic Cav fantasies as I smash past the local herberts on club runs. If anyone's interested, The Tri Store have an absolutely fantastic deal on 2014 Venge Elites - I got mine for £1750 - marked down from £2300. Stick a couple of proper wheels on it, slam the stem and pull the saddle up and it becomes a lovely TT bike. Drop down low, chuck your arse in the air, gurn like a monkey and stamp on the pedals and it's a sprinter's dream.
Just got to keep it quiet from my LBS - trialling it through them then buying online at 500 quid less is the absolute worst kind of underhanded trick
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/30523006
In the spirit of Rule 9 I went out on Saturday after only managing three other rides this year because of the ridiculous crosswinds we've had. There is nothing crueller in the world than riding down a 10% gradient at less than 30K/h into a 30mph blizzard.
My training is really, really suffering at the moment - I have the Mallorca 312 in April and unless I get some long rides in soon I'm going to be well behind the curve
`He'd do it again if the clock was put back'
` He should be allowed back into cycling'
is he a complete knob or is he going to make a lucrative career out of being a cheat?
What he said was, if he went back to the time he started doping and the same conditions existed (ie - everybody else was doping) then he'd do the same thing. I kind of understand that. Cycling then is very, very different to now. There is still doping - but you have to understand that it was absolutely endemic prior to about five years ago. Every single rider was doping.
What makes Armstrong such a turd is his complete disregard for others. He trod all over hundreds of people - the masseuse, the Andreus, Floyd Landis, Greg Lemond and countless others, then showed no contrition when it all came crashing down.
The bloke's a textbook sociopath.