Brighter side of web - Cycling

In an attempt to make this blog less of a mish mash. I will be putting all entries about cycling on a separate blog. The new cycling blog is called "Its all downhill from here"

After a slow start to the year I have started to cycle more miles. Hopefully I may make 200 miles this week. I'm a great believer in riding alot of miles at 70-80% of Heart Rate. Unfortunately I seem to have less time for training this year but as you get fitter you get more inspired to go out. Spring is also very early this year which encourages you to go out and train.

• Winter Cycling Training

First training ride of December. Photo by John - Paul Gillespie

after 3 weeks off the bike in Turkey. I had my first bike ride yesterday. I feel slow. THe only training I did while on holiday was running up the hotel steps several times.At least the weather is not too bad here in UK. I shall try to get back into riding 5 times a week, even if it is only for 2 hours a day.

Dalmation dog riding a bike in Japan

True the bike has stabilisers but its still pretty impressive and quite funny as well.

At the top of Stennying hill climb to pick up Andy T who punctured

I have only done one open hill climb so far this year. I have been busy and my form not quite as good as last year. The first hill was at Stennying about 1 mile, steepest gradient 17%. Danny Axford did a very good time of 4.04, for some reason I was a slower than last year. I didn't cycle fast enough on the flat bit in middle. There were great views from the top. Andy Sherwood who came down from Oxfordshire with me, punctured but sill managed to finish 9th.

The afternoon hill was at Shoreham it is 2 miles long with a considerable bit of downhill in the middle the average gradient is only 1:33. I regretted not bringing my tri bars. David McGaw used a time trial bike and seems to have been a good choice. The overall was settled on points so I finished just ahead of Danny Axford. It is a shame now that I am not riding the Cat and Bec HC like last year as I would have had a good chance of winning the overall weekend prize.

The event was well organised as usual by Robin Johnson who also was able to contribute a very generous prize list. I won 2 USE aluminium seat posts (engraved, 1 tyre and inner tube from Matt Goodes cycle shop, and also 2 bottles of Champagne and 1 bottle of port. As I never drink alcohol, my father shall be getting a nice Christmas present.

Fatalities per Million Exposure Hours:

   Skydiving 128.71
   General Flying 15.58
   Ocean rowing 10.02
   Motorcycling 8.80
   Scuba Diving 1.98
   Living 1.53
   Swimming 1.07
   Snowmobiling .88
   Motoring .47
   Water skiing .28
   Bicycling .26
   Airline Flying .15
   Hunting .08

Data compiled by Failure Analysis Associates, Inc.

Taken into consideration is the benefits of fitness on health. I.E somebody who leads a sedentary life is much more likely to die early from heart disease and obesity related dieseases.

This of course assumes you are not a professional cyclists who has an extensive "medical" budget. Unfortunately there have been many untimely deaths of top pro cyclists.

First hill climb of the year. I came 1st out of 13. It was at Watlington hill climb, a local club event. My time was 4.15 which is the same as I did 2 years ago I think.

It is the World Cycling Championship, well done to Nicole Cooke GB for finishing 3rd in Womens Road Race.

For the first time there was a team from Bukino Faso in the Championships. I read an interview with the team and they were really enthusiastic and happy to be representing their country.

Its been a bad year for doping stories in cycling. But in a way it good news that people are getting caught for taking illegal substances. Cycling has had so many "fresh starts" that its easy to loose count but I hope the general attitude to doping will start to change.

This is from Pro Cycling

Two ex-US Postal riders admit EPO use
12/09/2006
Frankie Andreu and another anonymous former US Postal rider have told the New York Times they used the blood-boosting product before the 1999 Tour , when team leader Lance Armstrong took the first of seven consecutive victories.

http://www.procycling.com/news.aspx?ID=2440

Yesterday I rode the British Time Trial Championships near Reading. I didn't do very well, I don't seem to be very fit this year. I didn't help myself by taking a wrong turn. I was lucky a car came past to tell me to turn round and go back to finish.

My time was 1.22.?? The winner was Jason MacIntyre from Team Velo Ecosse. he won in a time of 1.11.15. 2nd was Michael Hutchinson On my second lap I came in between Hutchinson and Stuart Dangerfield. Stuart came flying past a lap later. By the third lap my legs were dead, so I was a bit annoyed I went the wrong way to the finish to make it further. Anyway the event was well organised and its good to ride with the best riders. Although unfortunately Bradley Wiggins didn't ride I think his team said he had to go ride the Tour of Poland or something. Next year I shall try be fitter for a 30 mile TT.

3rd was Jonathan Dayus with same time as Michael Hutchinson. Last year in hill climbs I was a few seconds behind him in the hill climbs so we shall see what happens in October....

• Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team

 

• On Saturday came 2nd in 10 mile TT at Bentley:       Time = 21.00 av Speed 28.5 mph (New P.B)
  
• On Sunday came 2nd (I think) in 25 mile TT at Marlow 55.55       AvS = 26.5 mph
• Results for 2006
• 2005 results