With the rest of our crew unavailable through injury I (Steve) was the only one fit enough to attempt the 100 mile Chiltern Big Dipper. This event is new to the calender and I can see it becoming a favourite. A good course on quiet roads and the dry spring weather helped. The organisers had a few teething problems at the start with some minor delays registering and the signage on the course could have been clearer, but I am sure they will learn from this for next time.
So how was it?.... The route is 103 miles long and includes category 3 and 4 climbs with a total ascent of 7505ft. I completed the whole route in 7hrs 36mins which works out an avg. 13.6 mph. Looking at the results I was in the bottom half of the field of 130 and guess I am a bit dissapointed with that. However on the positive side I did finish.... and my muscles aren't aching today (Monday).
The highlight for me was the spectacular chiltern scenery with red kites swooping above along the way. Low points were two close shaves with vehicles / pedestrians. In the first I was almost taken out by a car driver pulling out of their drive without looking. Thankfully we both took evasive action otherwise I would have hit the bonnet at >20mph. The second near miss was an old lady who decided to walk out onto the road without looking. She would have been toast if my 85kg had hit her at speed.
But the biggest frustration for me was mechanical problems with my bike. Both front and rear derailleurs need adjustment. My chain was thrown off the crank several times when changing up to the big ring and on the rear the chain was 'jumping' between gears. I have now read the Shimano maintenance instructions so will be sorting that out this week. However the scariest moment was when my rear brake lever came loose when I attempted to brake hard on the first big descent. After a serious wobble I managed to keep control and slow down using the front brake only. I don't like descending at the best of times so this really spooked me. I knew I would be unable to repair the lever quickly so took the rest of the descents very gingerly using the front brake.
The other 'learning' point for me was my physical preparation. A weeks skiing (with all the alcohol that involves), followed by a week entertaining house guests (more alcohol) was not ideal. I tried to manage my nutrition and hydration on the day but fatigue was starting to kick in at about 80 miles. I will have to be better prepared come July.
In summary this was my first ever 100 mile sportive and all the winter training certainly helped me get round. However my preparation ignored nutrition and bike maintenance. I won't be making that mistake again.
Monday, 12 April 2010
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Sunday 11th April - A not so easy, easy ride!
Chris, Simon and Mark and elected to take an "easy" ride in view of the recent injury problems to Chris and Simon. Steve was out at the Chiltern Dipper 100 mile sportive.
The "easy" ride got off to a fast start. Although the Sydmonton sign wasn't contested, after forcing the pace over the next climb, the Kingsclere sign was a full on competition, taken by Simon. No evidence of the knee injury then. The summit had been crested at 19mph and after a fast decent there was a big sprint for the sign.
After Kingsclere, the route went up White Hill and then up to Hannington with a fast descent to Overton. On the road from Overton to Whitchurch there were a couple of flat out sprints with both Chris and Simon ignoring their injuries of the previous week.
The gradual climb up the St Mary Bourne valley then commenced. Simon peeled off home at Binley to leave Chris and Mark to continue up to Vernham Deane and then descend to Shalbourne. After that it was a slog into wind through Inkpen, East End and home with 50 miles covered in just over 3 hours.
50 kms Team time trial for Chris, Simon and Steve next Saturday and probably an "easy" ride again next Sunday. We'll see!
The "easy" ride got off to a fast start. Although the Sydmonton sign wasn't contested, after forcing the pace over the next climb, the Kingsclere sign was a full on competition, taken by Simon. No evidence of the knee injury then. The summit had been crested at 19mph and after a fast decent there was a big sprint for the sign.
After Kingsclere, the route went up White Hill and then up to Hannington with a fast descent to Overton. On the road from Overton to Whitchurch there were a couple of flat out sprints with both Chris and Simon ignoring their injuries of the previous week.
The gradual climb up the St Mary Bourne valley then commenced. Simon peeled off home at Binley to leave Chris and Mark to continue up to Vernham Deane and then descend to Shalbourne. After that it was a slog into wind through Inkpen, East End and home with 50 miles covered in just over 3 hours.
50 kms Team time trial for Chris, Simon and Steve next Saturday and probably an "easy" ride again next Sunday. We'll see!
Friday, 9 April 2010
More injuries for the Wayfarers Wheelers Etape team! By Chris Boulton
You may have read about the exploits of some of the team members at the water jump on the ski slopes of Les Arcs last week and also have seen that I struggled home after the Bank Holiday 25 mile time trial.
Well, now I know why I came to struggle home!
By Wednesday morning my thighs had become very swollen and even more sore than they had been immediately after Monday's time trial. However, I soldiered on and still took part in a 10 mile time trial on Wednesday evening with my eldest son, Albert.
After an uncomfortable ride, by the following morning I decided I needed some medical attention so booked myself an appointment at a sports injuries clinic in Harley Street, just around the corner from my office.
On entering the physiotherapists room, I was asked what the problem was and explained that I was a cyclist and during an event on Monday I had developed a soreness in my inner thighs. I then showed him the swelling. His first question was "What have you been doing to get an injury like that on both sides, it can't be from cycling?"
I explained that I had ridden the two time trials and that the problem first seemed to appear halfway around Monday's course and then I had struggled home. "But what else?" came the question again. I responded that "I was skiing last week and did a water jump"
"Ah ha" he said. "That will be it, you have probably strained your groins leaning back as you went across the water and the cycling has made it worse". His subsequent examination and manipulation of my muscles confirmed this initial diagnosis.
Phew I though, nothing serious then. Twenty five minutes later, after lots of checks and stretching together with a massage on my thighs and £100 paid, I was on my way to Boots for some Ibuprofen gel, to take the swelling down.
"Just take it easy for 3 days and I shouldn't need to see you again" were the physios parting comments!
So the water jump of a week before had led to me having two rather uncomfortable rides and missing training for the whole week. I won't be doing one of those again. Luckily, the ski season is almost over so there is no chance!
Well, now I know why I came to struggle home!
By Wednesday morning my thighs had become very swollen and even more sore than they had been immediately after Monday's time trial. However, I soldiered on and still took part in a 10 mile time trial on Wednesday evening with my eldest son, Albert.
After an uncomfortable ride, by the following morning I decided I needed some medical attention so booked myself an appointment at a sports injuries clinic in Harley Street, just around the corner from my office.
On entering the physiotherapists room, I was asked what the problem was and explained that I was a cyclist and during an event on Monday I had developed a soreness in my inner thighs. I then showed him the swelling. His first question was "What have you been doing to get an injury like that on both sides, it can't be from cycling?"
I explained that I had ridden the two time trials and that the problem first seemed to appear halfway around Monday's course and then I had struggled home. "But what else?" came the question again. I responded that "I was skiing last week and did a water jump"
"Ah ha" he said. "That will be it, you have probably strained your groins leaning back as you went across the water and the cycling has made it worse". His subsequent examination and manipulation of my muscles confirmed this initial diagnosis.
Phew I though, nothing serious then. Twenty five minutes later, after lots of checks and stretching together with a massage on my thighs and £100 paid, I was on my way to Boots for some Ibuprofen gel, to take the swelling down.
"Just take it easy for 3 days and I shouldn't need to see you again" were the physios parting comments!
So the water jump of a week before had led to me having two rather uncomfortable rides and missing training for the whole week. I won't be doing one of those again. Luckily, the ski season is almost over so there is no chance!
Monday, 5 April 2010
Some of the Wayfarers Wheelers hit the ski slopes and get a little wet!
The ski resort of Les Arcs 1950 would be a great base for Etape training with a serious "hair pinned" climb from Bourg St Maurice. Sadly, Chris and Simon didn't have their bikes plus the road was covered in snow most days anyway, so the ski slopes provided daily exercise for the budding Etape cyclist's and the other Wayfarers Wheeler on the trip, Chris's son Albert.
Albert
Chris
Simon
Albert
Chris
Nothing much to tell apart from a (hopefully) minor knee injury to Simon and some fun on the water slide - see 
pictures and guess who got the wettest!
pictures and guess who got the wettest!Simon
Suttie romps home as the Wayfarers Wheelers ride Bank Holiday 25 mile Time Trial
Only three riders from the Wayfarers Wheelers made it out today for the Newbury Road Club 25 mile Bank Holiday time trial - Chris and Steve, fresh from the ski slopes and Marwood. Others had better things to do on a Bank Holiday or are injured. Of the Tourmalet team, Pete has now been joined by Simon with what is hoped should be a minor knee problem after an off-piste wipe out.
The day dawned dry but with a blustery westerly wind. Steve and Chris set out to ride the 14 miles to start of the time trial near Aldermaston and were joined there by Marwood.
Given consecutive start numbers, the intrepid trio started off a minute apart. Steve first, followed by Marwood and then Chris. Of the Wayfarers Wheelers contingent, Steve romped home first with a time just of 1:12:05 followed by Chris with 1:21:39. Sadly Marwood punctured after only 6 miles but still put in a creditable 1:30:19. The event was won in a time of 1:00:22 so the guys still have some work to do to be competitive!
After the event, Chris and Steve left Marwood, who was headed north, to retrace their earlier route back to Highclere with Chris struggling with what seemed like cramp in his inner thighs! The pace was slow and into wind but despite a few threatening clouds the weather remained dry and the two completed a overall mileage for the day of nearly 55miles.
A big sportive next week, the Chiltern Dipper 100 miler!
The day dawned dry but with a blustery westerly wind. Steve and Chris set out to ride the 14 miles to start of the time trial near Aldermaston and were joined there by Marwood.
Given consecutive start numbers, the intrepid trio started off a minute apart. Steve first, followed by Marwood and then Chris. Of the Wayfarers Wheelers contingent, Steve romped home first with a time just of 1:12:05 followed by Chris with 1:21:39. Sadly Marwood punctured after only 6 miles but still put in a creditable 1:30:19. The event was won in a time of 1:00:22 so the guys still have some work to do to be competitive!
After the event, Chris and Steve left Marwood, who was headed north, to retrace their earlier route back to Highclere with Chris struggling with what seemed like cramp in his inner thighs! The pace was slow and into wind but despite a few threatening clouds the weather remained dry and the two completed a overall mileage for the day of nearly 55miles.
A big sportive next week, the Chiltern Dipper 100 miler!
Friday, 26 March 2010
Friday 26th March - Father and son ride out together
Although the weather forecast had been poor, Friday started off dry and Chris with his son, Albert decided to fit in a short ride in advance of leaving on the family ski trip.
The route took in Old Burghclere and then Kingsclere, climbing up to Hannington before descending to Overton. the roads were dry and the sun came out but ther
e was a strong south westerly wind which made the going tough at times.
The route took in Old Burghclere and then Kingsclere, climbing up to Hannington before descending to Overton. the roads were dry and the sun came out but ther
e was a strong south westerly wind which made the going tough at times.At Overton the main road was joined, just after Chris was nearly "taken out" by a City Link van. Chris had seen it sitting at the junction and as he approached it started to pull out, luckily both parties put on their brakes and a collision was avoided. Could have been nasty, Chris was doing over 25mph!
After Overton it was on to Whitchurch and then a pleasant ride back through Crux Easton and a fast descent into Highclere. Albert was told he would win 10 Euros for the ski trip if he won the sprint for the Highclere sign but Chris made sure this wasn't to be. A fast last mile or so at nearly 30 mph through the village ended a good ride.
30 miles in just over two hours.
No cycling for a week as it's off to the slopes for all but one of the Tourmalet team.
Monday, 22 March 2010
Weekend 20th/21st March - Team kit arrives, a party and even some cycling!
Busy weekend for the Wayfarers Wheelers. The team kit arrived from MSTINA and all agreed it looks excellent - a big thank you to our team sponsors Stuart and Lisa Cameron of Cache Media and Neil and Christine Leah of C&N Marketing. Also thanks to Gianluca at MISTINA for "pulling out the stops" and getting the kit delivered in record time! 
Saturday night saw our second major fundraising event for the National Autistic Society. With nearly 80 people attending our Red, White and Blue Party, a 70'S-80's disco in Highclere village hall we raised £2012.00 from ticket sales, the guess the weight of the rider competition, raffle and charity auction. A good time was had by all and the quartet riding the Etape were resplendent in their new team jerseys.
After only a few hours sleep, Simon and Chris were off to a r45 mile road race in the Cotswolds and had a tough time in coping with the speed but nevertheless a good training opportunity. Steve(see blog below)took a long training ride with Stuart(his favourite route), over the Wayfarers Way at Sydmonton and then up the valley to Shalbourne and home. The weather was excellent for all concerned.
Easter holidays and late-season skiing trips now get in the way of training activities but the Wayfarers Wheelers should be back together on the road again for Easter Monday and after that the Chiltern Dipper 100 mile sportive.
Saturday night saw our second major fundraising event for the National Autistic Society. With nearly 80 people attending our Red, White and Blue Party, a 70'S-80's disco in Highclere village hall we raised £2012.00 from ticket sales, the guess the weight of the rider competition, raffle and charity auction. A good time was had by all and the quartet riding the Etape were resplendent in their new team jerseys.After only a few hours sleep, Simon and Chris were off to a r45 mile road race in the Cotswolds and had a tough time in coping with the speed but nevertheless a good training opportunity. Steve(see blog below)took a long training ride with Stuart(his favourite route), over the Wayfarers Way at Sydmonton and then up the valley to Shalbourne and home. The weather was excellent for all concerned.
Easter holidays and late-season skiing trips now get in the way of training activities but the Wayfarers Wheelers should be back together on the road again for Easter Monday and after that the Chiltern Dipper 100 mile sportive.
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