One of my favourite loops to ride recently. The Chateau de Montbrun is said to be owned by a Dutch Porn Baron….whether this is true or not I don’t know, but it’s what it’s known as. Right after the Chateau there is the climb to Le Grand Puyconnieux. A really nice Cat 4 climb. From the top it’s big ring hammer time all the way to Cussac.
It was a brilliant ride, I really enjoyed it, and gave it some all the way round.

I’ve been enjoying the snow and freezing temperatures. Riding in the snow can be great fun if you are properly prepared. You know, plenty of thin wicking layers, double socks, over shoes, skull cap, buff, double gloves – a thin pair under a thicker pair, and spare gloves in a rucksack. Talking of the rucksack I’m carrying spare gloves, a spare undershirt, foil blanket, all that on top of the usual tools and spares. I’m also carrying some spare food, and a moby. Plus i’ve detailed my route to Carla and I’m sticking to it. See, I’m riding on my own. It’s highly unlikely that I’ll see anyone. If I have a problem it could so easily turn into something serious in the sub zero temperatures. So i’m using my head and adopting some mountaineering thinking. But – EPIC FAIL!!! I forgot to put my helmet on!!!

I carefully donned all my kit, and sped off for a couple of hour around the forest. It was fanatsic. Most of the trails were virgin snow just deer tracks, and tracks left by other small animals and birds. I’m hammering along thinking that even if I do go down it will be OK because I’ll slide and be unhurt.

I arrive back at home feeling great. On a natural high. Calm, serene, all stress and aggression removed. I reach up to unbuckle my lid!!! Doh!!!

I hope all is going well for you. Fully Christmassed up, stuffed and looking forward to the Queen’s message….as is tradition….and, as is tradition I went for my usual Christmas Day ride. Just a couple of hours to build up an appetite. Carla came with me for the first hour. I did the second hour on my own. Cold, but sunny, with a biting North wind. I stayed on the trails close to home chosing the hardest going to keep warm. The ground was frozen, but not solid, more crusty, which was interesting/sketchy/fun. I rode Big Bird. She was great. So comfy.

It was a really nice ride. Just what I wanted. Hardly saw a soul about…..and all those geese at the farm by Troupen… all gone!!! Bon apetite! Bon Noël! Merry Christmas! 😉

No gig this weekend so we got up early and went to the VTT Rando at Nieul. I opted for the 40 kms loop. Carla did the 30 kms. We were away at 08:45, a beautiful morning though a bit windy. Anyways, now the cyclo-cross season has started a lot of the young racers were missing. I found myself right up near the front with a gang on veterans including the current departmental champions for road and VTT!

After about 5 kms a group of three began to pull away. I went after them. Don’t forget, I’m riding my Spesh Epic, what an awesome bike. I’m gaining on the three, probably about 30 metres behind them. There’s a sharp right over a small footbridge, into a chemin. The three have disappeared! Just as I’m thinking they can’t have suddenly gone much quicker I hear them off to the left. They’ve missed the turn. I give it all I’ve got in an attempt to get out of sight. 😉

I’m absolutely flying along, feeling the good pain. I’m making the most of my bike, railing over the rough ground, carving the turns like a man possesed. At the end of a long straight I take a quick look back. No one there! I push on, hard.

The trails are bone dry, and very fast. I’m sliding in some of the corners and using the edge of the trail as a berm to get me around. At the last moment I spot a mud hole. I’m going too fast to miss it. I look straight over it, and pedal as hard as I can. It’s deeper than I thought it might be, and slippy to. It shoots me to one side. I bang my knee hard on the handlebars. I come through in one piece, still upright, still on the bike. I have to ease up while I wait for the pain in my knee to subside. I change down and spin an easy grear.

A few minutes pass, and I’m picking up speed again. A rider arrives, he comes past, he’s riding hard, I chase after him. It feels like he’s trying to drop me. Some few kms later he pulls over and stops. I dunno why. He seemed to be going OK.

Back on my own again, and pushing hard. A marshall tells me there’s 10k left. Those last 10 kms were real roller-coaster stuff. Awesome trails, a real blast. 40 kms banged out in 1hr 49mins. Thanks to all at Cyclo Club Nieul for a great morning’s riding.

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When I go on training rides with my friend Cyril he insists that we sprint for village signs (panneau). He always beats me, he always rubs it in, calls me his “Papi” (grandad!). But yesterday was different! Oh yes. Yesterday was very different. Ha ha ha!!!!

Hey, did I tell ya ’bout when I go on training rides with Cyril??!!! 😉

Remember a little while back I was telling you about my buddy James, and his Land’s End to John O Groats ride? Well. he mentioned that the euphoria and sense of achievement was somewhat marred by the fact that when you arrive at John O Groats there’s only you and your team there. All your supporters and friends are back home, and to get back home you have to climb in a vehicle for the 8 hour drive.

Now, Dave Price (James’ cousin – also a compulsive cyclist), and Dave Lewis (yet another Pearce Cycles Dave aka Sparky Dave), fancied having a go at the LeJog, unsupported…….. and were discussing James’ comment when they had this lateral thinking brainwave. They both live close to the LeJog route, so why not ride to Lands End, then ride to John O Groats, then ride home! Effectively doing the length of the country twice, unsupported, and ending their ride as homecoming heroes on their own doorstep. What a genius idea! Plus try as they might, they couldn’t think of a single reason why they shouldn’t do it!!! So they are….

Starting Sept 11th 2010, Team Dave will cycle the length of the UK twice unsupported in 20 days, covering approximately 2000 miles, raising money for Air Ambulance.

You can follow their progress on the Team Dave website. I urge you to support them by sponsoring them here, or here. It’ll raise their spirits, and drive them on. I mean like, c’mon, 2000 in 20 days, that’s 100 miles a day for 20 days!!! That’s awesome! What a schedule.

Bon Courage Team Dave. Good Luck for tomorrow, and the next 19 days. We’ll all be willing you on.

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