GPS Activities

Tod ‘Cross: Good old Yorkshire Chipps and Gravy

Rode the Todmorden Cyclocross yesterday – it’s the fourth running since the event’s revival, and it has earnt its place on the legendary races calendar (it’s currently an imaginary calendar but you get the picture). I’m trying to blog a bit less about every single race I do – I know it gets a bit repetitive and loses any story value if I write the same old but it’s just one of those events I get such a buzz from each year without fail.

Continue reading “Tod ‘Cross: Good old Yorkshire Chipps and Gravy”

1 Dec ’11

Cross Roads

Alan Dorrington and I had a neat little hilly bike ride today over some ace roads on the rim of Calderdale – some of my fave roads in the area. But with a cheeky little twist… we thought we’d ride our ‘cross bikes with slick tyres to see how they felt as road bikes. Continue reading “Cross Roads”

26 Sep ’1129 Sep ’11

Personal Worst: 3 Peaks Cyclocross 2011

I had a bad sleep last night. My clavicle broken into two pieces is reasonably easy to get comfortable when I’m upright and in a sling, but lying in bed it’s hard to. But that’s what this is about, to an extent… getting comfort and keeping still when you get there. Continue reading “Personal Worst: 3 Peaks Cyclocross 2011”

9 Aug ’119 Aug ’11

2011 Summer Hols part 2: Menorca

A holiday is a holiday is a holiday. This was just a great opportunity to get away from work, home, routine, and all that stuff and have a lovely time together. It’s very straightforward. For that reason alone it was simply superb.

Continue reading “2011 Summer Hols part 2: Menorca”

28 Jul ’1128 Jul ’11

Love/Hate Relationship: The Mary Towneley Loop

It’s one of those rides. One of those ‘have to do it every so often’ rides. One that you look forward to and dread in equal measure. The Mary Towneley Loop is a 44 mile extension to the Pennine Bridleway and is a doorstep challenge for me, living 4.5 miles from the route itself. It’s too long to do in all but the brightest and longest summer evenings but it’s not quite a day long ride. It’s hard, but at times very rewarding, and you always seem to come out of it much fitter than when you start it. With c. 6,000 feet of climbing it’s bound to be. I love doing it, but I really hate it too.

Continue reading “Love/Hate Relationship: The Mary Towneley Loop”

27 Jul ’1128 Jul ’11

2011 Summer Hols part 1: Old Beckstones

After a massive stint of work it’s now full-on holidays for a couple of weeks. The first time that I’ve taken more than two consecutive days’ leave since October 2010 and it’s a game of two halves. Some UK time first then a bit sun and sea in Menorca to follow. Continue reading “2011 Summer Hols part 1: Old Beckstones”

15 Jul ’1128 Jul ’11

New love means increased virility

A new bike is such a treat. It seems to rekindle an existing love. A bike ride that’s too local and familiar to be fun suddenly takes on an utterly new dimension. It’s like that early period of a new love in your life when the mundane can provide a totally unexpected thrill. Continue reading “New love means increased virility”

14 Jul ’1128 Jul ’11

Faster all the time

Keep hearing the likes of David Millar and other authoritative names in the professional cycling world talking about how bike racing is getting faster and faster. It’s sometimes hard to grasp these things, and indeed to say whether such things are hear say or recieved wisdom. I have a bit of data of my own to share… Continue reading “Faster all the time”