A while has passed since I last noted anything, but let me assure you I’ve not been slacking. Well not too much, anyway. With the wonderful weather that has been bestowed upon us and with an Irish cycling companion I was dutifully coerced into taking a St Patrick’s Day spin through the rural lanes of the Mendips and Somerset Levels. Little did I know (that is a lie) that we would venture to Wilkins Cider Farm.
In order to enjoy the fruits of Somerset’s labour, I was treated to a punishing turn of speed, with which my legs were unfamiliar. Embracing the feeling of being over dressed and inhaling several small flies signalled the arrival of a warmer spell, and being on that road to Taunton was a hefty reminder of how regularly I had travelled that route last year. It was great to be back into a regular training pattern – at last!
With this post, as well as passing general ramblings about cycling, I wanted to share with you the story of a truly remarkable cyclist by the name of Lauren Booth, a 9 year old girl from Chippenham. Lauren was diagnosed with Streptococcal Meningitis as a baby and her parents were warned she may never walk and talk. Well Lauren has blown that warning away as she is now one of the UK’s top road cyclists in her age bracket. Copy this link into your browser to see more of her plans. http://bit.ly/ec2Rfh
I mentioned before how the weather has taken a big turn, nicely timed with the upcoming springing forward of the clocks this coming weekend. So with more light, and more sunshine (let that be the kiss of death) the ‘summer cycling’ plans have taken off. Castle Combe track cycling is getting underway, the evening group rides in every town and city are rumbling as they awaken form the dark winter evenings and battery retailers are flinching as more and more cyclists are putting away their lights. Road racing season is well underway and thoughts are turning toward the 24 hour enduro competitions that are racing to catch us unawares.
I am also trying my first renovation project of a vintage road bike. A 1985 Eddy Merckz that I acquired was in need of some attention, but with only the bare minimum of care it soon became an Eddy Works. It now finds itself temporarily in the collection of training bikes owing to the tragic loss of my original road bike a couple of weeks back. There are plans for Eddy Works to race.
For anyone who is still reading and who is interested in the developments for the Round-the-World-Ride, I am currently working on (a nice way of saying ’pestering’) obtaining a decent bike sponsorship. With a trusty team of advisors we’re weighing up more possibilities than I thought – steel or titanium / belt or chain / whether hub gears are better / geometry / wheels / and of course, the saddle. A minefield, but one worth getting just right.
Anyone who is keen to get some road miles, Saturday morning, Richard Huish College, Taunton, 8.30am – there’ll be a group ride of approximately 60 miles.
