From winter to summer

Ok

So i have not posted to my blog for a while. I have been getting a lot of miles in, however. And how the weather has changed for the better. The tights and overshoes have finally been resigned to the back of the chest of drawers. Going out in less layers is a joy! I only hope it lasts and that we dont get a wash-out of a summer like that of 2007.

I am riding into work at least 3 days a week. My daily commute into Manchester is 10 miles each way. I sometimes use my road bike, and sometimes my Pearson fixed wheel bike (aka a "fixie" - no freewheeling or in other words you have to pedal at all times!).

A fixie is a great bike. One big ring at the front, one smaller fixed gear at the back, no derailleur or gear shifters necessary etc. It is as simple as a bike can be and how they were back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Penny Farthings (see pic below) used a fixed wheel! Tour de France riders were even using fixed wheel bikes to scale mountains in the Alps and Pyrenees in the early 1900s which is quite a scary thought if you consider some of the climbs ascend to over 2000m (well over 4 times the height of the Eiffel Tower) for up to 15-20k at a time!! Those guys were awesome and i would reccommend reading any Tour De France historical literature.

Fixies have enjoyed something of a boom in recent months it would seem. They are hailed as a truly "at one with a bike" experience. The response from the pedals is instant and you can get a great kick so i use the fixie for sprints (which usually means me picking out a lamp post or road sign and srinting for it. There is no competition other than to get there without sitting up early.

Matt Seaton, cycling Journo for the Guardian (a cycling friendly rag) has written a nice piece on fixed wheel riding:

http://www.rouleur.cc/1_a-fixed-idea.html

Anyway, i digress..... back to the riding

I have recently done a couple of sessions on the hallowed boards of the Manchester Velodrome where only weeks beforehand, Britain took 9 golds in the Track World Champs. Britain really does have the world's best track cyclists and i wish our national newspapers would concentrate more on these successes more than the sports we seem to fail at. Track cycling is a different beast to riding on the road. The conditions are invariable and cycling on the track for an hour really can be a test of endurance and a great training opportunity.

I have also been getting some long weekend rides in. On Saturday 10th May, i went out for 60 miles from home in Walkden to Cheshire and back. My ride took me through the centre of Manchester, past Old Trafford Football Stadium, through Sale, Altrincham, Hale and into the Cheshire countryside via Ashley.

My favourite part of the ride took me through the Parish of Mobberley which is very pretty - i think i would like to live there! I saw a couple of cosy looking country pubs and found myself salivating for real ale rather than my SIS Carbohydrate drink. That was about to change however. My whole ride had been centred around going to find The Wizard. No, not a real Wizard, but a section of road in Alderley Edge. It is a climb with varying steepness and sections at a 10% gradient. The climb lasts approx 1km. Not a long climb but it is tough and by the time you reach the top the old ticker is ticking over quickly.

My plan was to get to the top, turn around, descend to the bottom and then do it all over again. And that is what i did. Second time round was tough but i am glad i stuck to my plan. I am trying to improve my climbing all the time because i am built for it - 5 ft 8in tall weighing only 9st 8lb. I often ride out with a group near my parents home in Fleetwood and out of a group of 20 or so riders i can usually get to the top of climbs at the front. I love climbing - it is what cycling is all about to me. The cols caught my attention when watching the TdF as a lad. Big Mig grinding out the climbs with an expressionless look on his face; French Housewives' favourite Richard Virenque flying over the top of the climbs and often winning mountain stages in a state of tears and single fingered point to the heavens! Climbing - i could dedicate a whole chapter to it - the glorious element of cycling where the men are seperated from the boys!

Pics of the Cheshire ride will follow shortly.

Next ride: Weekend of 17th May - i plan rides on Saturday and group ride on Sunday! Reports to follow.