Okay, so Richard Long was very clever all those years ago by making art from walks… but I’ve now made a …. by accident! see Google Map below…. .. or view it in Google Earth here.
Tour de France 2007, a vintage year.
This year was a brilliant Tour de France. [Oh, Dave – stop being so silly and provocative – what about all the drugs in cycling?]. No – sorry – it was a fantastic race this year.
The London and Kent start to the Tour was different but very succesful.
The first week was action packed with a bitter battle for the stage finishes going on and no one team dominating the sprints. We had the usual brave men seeking out a win with infeasibly long breakaways, and some truly superb mountain stages. Add to that two edge-of-the-seat time trials and the closest finish since 1989.
The drugs? The scandals?
As a bonus we had two people caught doping who were booted out, and a habitual fibber kicked out when leading (how did his team let him in in the first place?!). This is all gereat proof that drug testing is working. Furthermore, the team organisations have also come round to stamping it out. Astana and Cofidis both withdrew from the race voluntarily after their rider had sinned.
At last the whole cycling infrastructure seems ready to reject doping. People will always try to cheat where there’s big money and glory involved. Just look at the drug taking in professional football – no-one dares to test for performance enhancing drugs there (for now). What’s important is that cycling’s infrastructure is ready to reject doping.
Colne Grand Prix 2007
Had a great race last night in the support race at the Colne Grand Prix. I just love the fast circuit there with its swooping corners; its only 800m in length but it always makes for positive and aggressive racing. The weather was about as good as it could be for this summer (!) – but not quite like last year’s race.
Both events there last night finished in bunch sprints, and although I tried very hard a couple of times to slip away from the group, it was never going to stick; the race was run at an average of 25.8mph and it would have taken a miracle to stay away solo. Nevertheless, as someone who describes himself as a non-sprinter, I made the best of a race that wasn’t working out my way, and swore to myself that I’d need to be in the top three on the last bend, 300 metres from the line. 
I kicked immediately out of the bend and was overtaken by the awesome sprinting power of former GB international Phil West (left) and the guy who outsprinted me to second in the Rochdale Grand Prix, Graeme Goulding.
After starting the sprint early and throwing my bike towards the line in the dying metres, I held off the late lunge of James Farnaby, and got my second Colne podium spot in three tries. Very satisfying! I doubt I’ll get on the podium next year though; looks pretty much like moving up a category and with the Elites next year, but I’ll continue to give it my best shot and make the most of it all while it lasts…
In the Elite event, Stuart Reid (right) did a great ride for Team Wheelbase / Gore Bike Wear, being in the thick of the action throughout, and finishing a highly creditable 14th in the sprint.
Rochdale Grand Prix 2007
Last night I exorcised my demons with my first ride in the support race for the Rochdale GP – a classic town centre bike criterium race. Last year, I was getting prepared with some really good form, when I damaged a disk in my back and put myself out of action for a while.
This year, it went really well; the atmosphere was good, the racing was aggressive and very positive, and I felt on top of things. The course is a 1.2km circuit based on the town hall and shopping area of the town; it’s main feature was the climb (about 100ft high, but it wears you down when you climb it every two minutes!) and some tight twists and turns. The result of this, plus the wet roads, meant the riders were mainly lined out, so it was important I stayed near the front.
I got a small gap (probably about ten seconds) a couple of times in the race but didn’t have what it took to stay away for long. As we neared the end, I promised myself to do all in my power to be on the front for the final fast but slippy corner, about 300 metres from the line. This gave me the best chance of a win in a bunch (I’m not a good sprinter but people would lose their pace behind me in the corner); and only two people managed to come round me in the final sprint, meaning a podium place.
Katie, needless to say, was very chuffed with the flowers and Bubbly that happen on these occasions. I was just chuffed to be ‘up there’ in a fast bunch finish. The low key Science in Sport weekly races at Preston have definitely helped my race tactics and general experience when it comes to fast finishes. 37 and never too old to learn.
I wore my new Garmin Forerunner 305, which combines all the features of my old Garmin with a heart rate monitor, so had good fun analysing the data when I got home (see graph!).
After the race, I watched the Elite race (and took a few piccies on my phone camera!), won in fine style for the second year running by Chris Newton. My team mate Lewis Craven put in an excellent ride in fine company to finish 15th. After that, I went into Lewis and Wendy’s new Optician shop in Norden, Rochdale – Craven and Murray – and had a good look round – it’s a gorgeous shop and I’m sure the business will work out really well.
Some brilliant pics here from Mountain Bike Cumbria
Photos below courtesy of Larry Hickmott
One breadth to Five Metres: Swimming certificates a generation on.
Lily’s swimming under her own buoyancy and skill now, and she very proudly brought home her five metres certificate yesterday. I thought it was time to compare the certificates that she and I brought home after our respective swimming breakthroughs.
Rossendale Triathlon 2007 – no socks, chlorine sweat, and a temporary tattoo.
I don’t go in for triathlons very much, but there’s one on my doorstep, and it’s great fun to take part. This year’s race, organised in very slick fashion by Rossendale Harriers and Rossendale Leisure Trust, was very successful, attracting 150 entrants. The course, based on 16 lengths of Marl Pits pool, a hilly 14ish mile ride, then a mixed-terrain 5km run, was really enjoyable (if that’s the right word).
Despite being 82nd fastest finisher in the swimming leg (the last time I swam a length of a pool was two years ago in the 2005 Rossendale Triathlon!), I managed to do a good ride in the cycling leg and then cling on in the run to finish third overall. For those of you about to suggest I should train for the swim a bit …. shut it…. it’s just a bit of fun, and even if I’d swum 3 minutes faster than the 8:22 I managed, I’d still have only been second!
Big thanks due to everyone who made this event so enjoyable to take part in.
2007 Fred Whitton Challenge
I rode the Fred Whitton Challenge again today. It’s by far he hardest day out I can imagine on a bike. It’s basically a route around the Lake District’s road passes, Kirkstone – Honister – Newlands – Whinlatter – Hard Knott and Wrynose. The ridiculous about of climbing (about 12,500 feet) takes its toll, but it’s somehow satisfying. Continue reading “2007 Fred Whitton Challenge”
Belmont Winter Hill fell race 2007
Belmont Winter Hill race Results now here (PDF) courtesy of Dave Bateson.
I had a great race with less than 24 hours notice it was actually happening (yep – dozy) at Belmont yesterday. An idyllic summer village fête and about 120 runners all togged up in not much. Great classic 4.5 mile fell race starting and finishing on the village playing field. We’re so lucky round here with so many of there going on all the time. I worked hard during the race and felt justly rewarded with a pretty good position. Lacking in some areas, but I enjoy it, and that’s got to be what counts.
View the route in Google Earth: Belmont – Winter Hill Fell Race 2007 Google Earth KML File
Watch willfoxere2k7’s video of the race departure and arrival on youtube (you can see why fell running’s not a TV sport!)
On the road again
I’ve had to change my fitness strategy since leaving my old job and losing the cycle commute, and I’ve started to do a little bit of road racing on the bike again. I’ve been fairly encouraged by the results but not startled. It’s just nice to do something different than cyclocross or fell running. I love both of them, but road racing’s so different.
I’ve also realised that I’ve become more aggressive in my road racing as I get older. I can’t be bothered to mess about slip-streaming and saving my energy for the finale -I’d much rather give myself a good kicking. If I lose a few places in the finale as a result, then so be it, but it’s a lovely thought to hammer yourself in the breaks whenever possible just in case they pay off, which they sometimes just do!
The Bowland Road Race today (Google Earth KML file here) was surprisingly fast for a 3rd category race, 23.9 mph – albeit only over 42 miles. It was hilly and breezy, and fairly relentless. All worked out well though when my team mate Stuart Reid got in the break that worked, and won the race. I finished fifteenth or so. My legs cramped on the uphill finish and that was that. A great, hilly, fast workout though.
Kinder Downfall fell race 1 April 2007
My first fell race since Whittle Pike some eight months ago after a bit of a break from competitive running trying to get my back injury better. I was really very chuffed to finish 11th out of a field of about 250. I was 25th in 2005 (last attempt) in 1:20:06. I covered it in 1:16:25 this time round.
The Garmin Forerunner clocked this at 9.71 miles and 1770 feet of ascent and descent. Advertised at 10m and 2,500 feet, there’s quite some difference here, but I trust the Garmin. The start’s almost 700 feet up and Kinder’s only a shade over 2000 feet.
Still – it’s a tough, classic fell race. Faster than many Lake District ones, it’s descents are good under foot, and easy to keep your momentum up without being too steep. There’s a killer (for me) 1.5 mile run in at the end – the type I detest(!), and I annoyingly lost two places here, but that’s the price I pay for being a cyclist who just can’t be bothered to train to run on roads.
View the race route magically trasported from my Garmin Forerunner into Google Earth KMZ here.
Click on the image above for the profile of the route (and my pace along the way in blue)
New bike frame
For anyone interested, here’s the 2007 road bike built up – just dying for the weather to ride it now!
Cyclo Cross nationals – Ray Pugh’s video
Great video sent to me by Ray Pugh of Liverpool Mercury. Gets the atmosphere of the race so well. Leave the DVD menu bit running for a few seconds at the beginning…!
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