tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864052595440250048.post1329846204921557965..comments2024-02-25T08:36:14.759+00:00Comments on Keep Pushing Those Pedals: The Cycling superhighway (CGB) versus the country lanes (Sustrans 51) to St ivesJmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18078208384599353066noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864052595440250048.post-74210828168006007372010-07-27T18:17:11.380+01:002010-07-27T18:17:11.380+01:00HI Tom,
Well done. It must have been great to see...HI Tom,<br /><br />Well done. It must have been great to see so many cyclists out and about and be cycling amongst them. <br /><br />I carry a few zip ties for on-the-go repairs along with my multi-tool - fortunately problems are far and few between.<br /><br />At the moment my cycling plans are in limbo I was hoping to do another cycling holiday this year - but it is looking tricky to sort something out. So I might try a two-dayer before the summer hols are out if my son can find a bit of time.<br /><br />Have a great holiday.<br /><br />---JamieJmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18078208384599353066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864052595440250048.post-38090047188325611222010-07-26T22:49:51.484+01:002010-07-26T22:49:51.484+01:00Hi Jamie,
I had a fantastic ride on Sunday. It t...Hi Jamie,<br /><br />I had a fantastic ride on Sunday. It took a while to get going - the bike lorries were late and we didn't leave Midsummer Common until about 7am (so I could have overslept comfortably and not got up at 4.30am after all!) - but once we were underway it was smooth sailing. I teamed up with four others (my brother, an old friend and two very fit guys from the Frank Lee Centre at Addenbrookes) and we spurred each other along all the way. We started at about 8.40am and finished together just before 1pm, having stopped for about half an hour in total for refreshments. I am happy with the time (we averaged about 15mph whilst on the road) though completing it, ideally together, was always the most important thing.<br /><br />As you mentioned, the morning was less sunny than had been predicted (indeed there were a few spots of rain) and so, I think, the weather was about perfect. It was cool and overcast until about 12 noon and then became brighter and hotter (and the suncream came out sharpish).<br /><br />The route was well sign-posted and I never needed the map I was handed at the start line. There were plenty of marshals at junctions who, despite probably having very sore arms from all of the gesturing, were friendly and encouraging. Along the way there were also at least five well-stocked refreshment, first-aid and repair stops, four of them at local pubs and a larger one in a field, at Widford. Fortunately our group didn't suffer any mechanical or physical mishaps (other than a sheared-off pannier bolt on my bike that caused a bit of a rattle but was still secure) but I think we were lucky as I did see a fair number of puncture repairs going on by the side of the road.<br /><br />In our group we had a spread of equipment: a fairly battered mountain bike, three decent road bikes and a hybrid (my own). Overall there was a staggering variety (not surprisingly as there were reportedly 4500 cyclists taking part); I saw space-age track bikes, racers that would have looked at home in the Tour de France, custom-made fixed-gear machines, hire bikes, University messenger bikes and even roller-blades! <br /><br />I would recommend the event to anyone considering it. Aside from benefitting a brilliant cause (Breakthrough Breast Cancer), it was an excellent day out. OK, the start was a bit of a shambles with the lorries being about 45 minutes late and the loading of the bikes when they did arrive seeming a bit haphazard, but the staff remained calm, their communications were good and the route itself was very clear and the support very well done.<br /><br />Now it is done I feel, already, in a bit of limbo as I have been focussing on the ride and using it for motivation for some time. I think you have described this feeling very well in previous blogs: the need, or at least usefulness, of a goal, a target to get you out on the bike in the first instance. Once on and out on the road it is easy to stay there but that initial reason, a spark, can be very useful. I am off on holiday at the end of the week for a fortnight and will decide on whether to do the Oxford to Cambridge when I get back... :-).<br /><br />All the best, Tom.TomChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16279545296034812975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2864052595440250048.post-59766305087919592892010-07-26T13:54:15.659+01:002010-07-26T13:54:15.659+01:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com