LCL 2013 and a Warm Sunday spin

I am in the process of moving house, so time is precious! I have been out on the bike, but not had much time to write about it so this post covers last weekends Liverpool Chester Liverpool ride, and this weeks Sunday Club ride.

I had decided earlier in the year that I wasn't going to do the LCL again. I have done it many times, and we ride the on the roads the route covers almost weekly. However, this year, Dave decided to get his daughter hooked on cycling, and the LCL was to be her first half century ride. To support Sian and Dave, I decided to do a bit of the ride with them.

I set off when Mrs Palefish left to pick up her friend, I forgot to mention that Mrs P and Michelle were doing the LCL too! I did a loop of the top of the Wirral round to New Brighton, and then along the prom  and on to Birkenhead. It was promising to be a nice warm day!

I got to the arranged meeting point, just as the 100 mile riders started to stream out of the tunnel. 

Dave and Sian, unbeknown to be were doing the club proud at the start line for the 50 mile riders. Dave got interviewed and the pair of them managed to get pole position at the start line and get their photo taken with the Mayor!

Whilst I was waiting for the Father and Daughter team to arrive, it was good to see a number of other Fishes heading off on their rides, most on the 100 miles. 

It wasn't long before Dave and Sian appeared over the hill, and I jumped on to the ride with them.

As we rode up towards the Lever Causeway another group of Palefish Riders caught up with us, Phil Derek Steve and Giles were off on the 100, but stayed with us to pace Sian up the hill. 

Phil on his full suspension MTB doing the 100 mile route!

The lads left us at the top of the hill, and we met up with Mrs P and Michelle there, We rode together for a bit, and then Sian Dave and I rode on. We meandered our way through the lanes towards Chester, and Mrs P and Michelle got ahead of us as Dave and I needed to take a natural break! 

Michelle and Mrs P at the halfway point

Michelle and Mrs P were just leaving as we arrived , we stopped for a while so that Sian could have a rest, and have something to eat before we headed back towards the tunnel.

It was a busy ride this year, there were more riders than I can remembers ever seeing, which is good and bad! Good for cycling, but bad for sportives! Some of the riders had no respect for car drivers or the road conditions, riding on the wrong side of the road into blind bends, and swarming round cars at junctions and Traffic lights. It doesn't help the Car - Bike relationship much! Strangely there were some riders who showed little respect for other riders either. Like the Great Manchester cycle we did a couple of weeks ago there were people obviously trying to set a good time. This, although annoying on the closed road event, was dangerous on open roads, especially overtaking on the inside of people on corners, or even riding through the middle of us when we were riding in pairs! One of these inconsiderate riders managed to knock Sian off her bike, on a corner at the bottom of a big climb, and didn't even stop to offer help or an apology! In fact I even got the brunt of another ignorant rider who rather than see what the problem with Sian was, rode up to me to complain that two of my friends were blocking the road!!! 

Anyway, Sian got up, Dave dusted her down and she then rode up a 10% hill, that a lot of adult riders had to walk, even with blood running down her leg and obviously quite shocked. This girl has the determination of her Dad!!

Dave and Sian emerging from a 10% climb

After a quick stop to make sure Sian was ok, we set off again. I said to Dave that I was going to have to ride on now, as the kids were with Claire s Mum and I needed to get back to relieve her! So after a great 30 miles with Sian, I rode on, hoping to catch up with Mrs P before I headed Home. 

As luck would have it, I caught up with the miserable man who had moaned about Dave and Sian in the middle of the road. I took great pleasure in telling him that the 12 year old he had ridden past, who had been knocked off her bike, had got back on and was going to finish the ride, no thanks to him! He didn't quite know what to say, and looked a little ashamed. 

I put the hammer down and soon caught up with Mrs P and Michelle. The girls were doing well, but were suffering a little.

 They hadn't take much to eat, and were tiring fast. so when we reached Brimstage I rode on to the farm shop and bought them a couple of Mars Bars, which they were very pleased to receive. I felt like a proper domestique! 

When we got into the last few miles of the ride, I decided to head home, but not after I took one last photo of Mrs P and Michele, nearing the end of the Climb up into Oxton

Michelle and Mrs P climbing well on their MTB's

I left the Girls as they turned down towards Birkenhead, and I headed back via Moreton and the lanes.
It was a real pleasure to ride with Dave and Sian, and I felt proud of Sian achievement. She rode the whole way with a smile on her face, and even when the going got tough, and idiots got in the way, she carried on and dud deep to make it to the end. The future is bright for the Palefish CC Academy! Well done Sian.

A proud Dad with his Daughter.

During the week I received a nice surprise from France. Mrs P's sister and her husband had been in Cagnes sur Mer when a certain road race turned up! And as compensation for not being able to go they sent me a package with some Tour goodies in from the caravan!  Thanks Jill and Julian.

The good weather has been great and we have had a couple of good evening ides this week. We did a great loop, into Wales on Tuesday via the Burton Marsh path,

Dave was on form adopting the sprint position at every opportunity!

Thursday night's ride was one of the biggest we have had, and also the first evening club ride to have a spill in it! 

Can you tell that a new kit order has just arrived!

Unfortunately, a new rider with the group took a tumble in the group. He hit the road quite hard, and even though he wanted to carry on, I decided that he should call it a night and call for a lift home! Dave and I waited with him and the others went on to complete a non eventful ride! Dave and I managed to do a good loop back to the Twelfth man, actually doing more miles that the rest of the group!!

Today's ride was an afternoon one for a change. Mrs P went to a Car Boot sale this morning, to clear some of the "stuff" we didn't want to move! 

We left the 12th man at 1pm, and it was hot! Luckily there was a breeze which kept the temp down a little. 5 of us rode out to Wales via the now well used Burton Marsh path, and then headed up to Northop Hall and on to Hawarden before turning to cross the bridge at Saltney Ferry. The breeze we had been glad of to keep the heat down, worked against us along the Dee path as usual, but we were treated to the tidal bore moving along the river. 

I also managed to get some action shots of the lads on the path! They look a shadow of their former selves!! 

We stopped at Eureka for a cool down, instead of the warm up we usually require! It was strange as it was quiet at 3pm. It did get a little busier when The Liverpool Century guys came back from a climbing fest around the horseshoe pass and Worlds End!  

Richie headed straight back and the rest of us headed back to Capenhurst then on to Little Sutton where Darren left us. Owen Iain and I then worked our way back towards home, but the heat was now really getting to me. Instead of doing an extra loop round to West Kirby, I decided to head straight home, and enjoy the ride rather than suffer any more in the heat!! I must be too used to the rain and wind now that the heat gets to me!!

Lost again in Cheshire!!

It is always a challenge to plan the route for the club ride. You need to consider things like right turns across major roads, busy main roads, built up areas, hills etc etc etc. You also have to have some idea of where you are and where you need to be. As a southerner, my local knowledge of the back roads and lanes around Wirral and Cheshire is getting better. but not in any way is it great. I decided to use the Garmin as a route aid today, as I had planned a visit to the Ice Cream Farm in Newton-by-Tattenhal. Our last excursion to these parts ended up with a detour, so I thought it was best to be prepared and plotted a route for mine and Paul's Garmins. As usual, things didn't quite go to plan!!

It was typical that the weekend brought overcast colder weather. All week has been great, and today it was back on with the base layers, long sleeves, Gilet and Knee Warmers. Nothing could suppress my enthusiasm though, as I pulled on my new Giro Factor shoes. I went out for a spin last night to set the Cleats up and get the right insole riser sorted, and whilst I was out, I PB'd three climbs, including my West Kirby nemesis. Now I realise that it was all psychological but I'm sure the carbon soles make a difference (at least 2mph extra!!)

Paul mentioned in the week that he needs a nickname, like Palefish, as I mention him in each ride, and today presented us with the perfect name for him, more later!
So Dave and I headed up to Bilbo's and then met up with Ian and the four of us rode up to the shop. There was already a crowd waiting for us, and Barry to open the shop!
9 o'clock was the set off time, and we didn't do too bad, leaving at about 10 past. There were 20 of us in the beginning, including Zel (the Coach) who joined us for a bit, as he is racing tomorrow. We headed out through the lanes, down the missing link, and on to Capenhurst where we joined the main road in to Chester. We negotiated the City Centre without incident, and then turned off towards Saighton. I'm sure that someone somewhere doesn't like me being in this area. As soon as we missed the first turning towards Saighton, I knew we were in for a mystery tour. Not only do I not know the area my Garmin, and Bilbo's, decided to do their own thing! my screen went blank, then decided to tell me I was on course, then promptly tell me we were off course even though I hadn't turned anywhere!! Eventually with a bit of Zigging, no Zagging allowed, we arrived at the Ice Cream Farm.
There were a group of cyclists leaving, which was lucky, as the 18 of us left filled the bike racks.

It didn't take long to settle in to a nice cup of Coffee, no cake for me today. Ian (Nipper) gave Bilbo a master class in the Garmin 800 so we could maybe do a ride one weekend without getting lost! Dave L did comment that he hadn't been aware that we were not where we should have been and congratulated me on being calm in the knowledge that I had led 17 friends into the middle of who knows where!!

The Ice Cream Farm is definitely worth a visit, either on your bike or with the family, and best of all cyclists are made very welcome.

http://www.cheshirefarmicecream.co.uk/

We thought that we had been helped along by a tail wind all the way out, as the pace had been quite high at times, but we were happy to discover that there was no headwind on the way back, a first I think for our Club rides. Following Nippers route back we were in Chester in no time and then back on familiar ground along the Dee Path. With no headwind the group held a good pace of just over 22mph all the way. It was at one of the sections where you have to negotiate some barriers that Paul's nickname was formed. He is the only rider who can duck down through one set of particularly narrow barriers, that I have trouble getting through. I commented that he looked like a Hobbit, and that was it, Bilbo was named!! I'm not sure how happy he is with it, but I am sure he will let me know!

From the Dee Path it was the usual climb up to the Chester High Road and then back to the shop. Again it was nice not to have to battle with a head wind all the way. 

As I sit here writing this, my feet don't have the usual aches that I got from my old shoes, and I can honestly say that if you can afford it, get some carbon soled shoes, even my legs don't feel as though they have done a pacey 70 miles (ignore the ride average of 15.5mph, I left the Garmin on in the shop and it appears that the shop moves at 5mph, which in turn dragged down my average!)

We were discussing plans for this years Sportives that we could all enter and ride as a group. 

These are the ones we decided we could all do: 

The Broken Spoke 27/05

Let them eat cake, Jubilee Ride 05/06

Liverpool Chester Liverpool 08/07 (A couple of us are doing the 50 mile route on Mountain bikes!)

And also the Vita Sportive if it goes ahead in August. If you fancy doing any of them, why not sign up and ride with us. 

Next weekend is Easter, so I have suggested that we do a short, inclusive, ride out to Eureka and back, as we did on Christmas eve last year. Everyone is welcome, whatever your ability, we will leave the shop at 9.30, hopefully see you there.

Today's Ride details: http://app.strava.com/rides/5977177

First Spin of 2012

I didn't go far tonight, but I hoped a quick spin would help to start the New Year in the right way. As I mentioned in my last Blog, I am going to work hard on fitness and weight loss this year. I made a resolution to not Drink and so far so good! (although the champagne at midnight did last until about 1 o'clock. Does that count?)
I received a great text from the team coach last night too, which has helped to strengthen my resolve to keep motivated and train hard this year.
Last night I agreed to sign up for the Liverpool Chester charity ride (for the 4th year in a row) but this year I have promised my wife and friends that I will complete the 50 mile loop on my mountain bike, and not on my "Easy Bike" I cant wait!! I did promise to do the same thing last year but peer pressure from the team helped me to change my registration to the 100 mile challenge route! This year, I challenge the Team to join me on mountain bikes!!!

http://www.pennineevents.co.uk/EntryPages/LCL2012.aspx

Tonight's ride details:  http://app.strava.com/rides/3022736