We're on the road to nowhere ..

What happens generally is that we jump in the car to drive ten miles then sit on a static bike for an hour, sweating, getting nowhere. Unless you do it, it's hard to understand why we don't just cycle to the gym and back. There are many reasons ..
It's dark when we're not at work now and the local roads are narrow with no cycle paths; we live in the commuter belt and it's chuffing busy all the time; we've had a six inches of snow, our economy has ground to a half and we have black ice everywhere; it's cold and damp and my drivetrain needs constant attention that I am unwilling to lavish after every mid week ride; we have nowhere for a hamster wheel, the list goes on.
Spinning is good because it allows someone else to devise an hour's exercise that your body is not expecting and has to adapt to. We may mix it up, may spend an hour out of the saddle, may climb, may sprint - whatever teacher says really. We have the lights out, perhaps some strobes to make it feel like we're going faster than we are. We are also in the company of other sweaty and (very) shapely people :-) Whatever reason people turn up to class for, we would all be less fit (and larger) if we didn't attend so I guess it doesn't matter how hard the individuals are working - the fact that we are there is enough. Indeed, the two 'individuals' above have just finished the same class ! Mmmmmmm

What spin also does is allow me to concentrate on technique, without which I would be on the sofa already. After 30 years playing rugby at a reasonable level, I damaged the medial meniscus on the right knee, had two operations, recovered and then returned to rugby for nearly ten more years before I decided to stop and concentrate on non-impact sports like golf and mountain bikes. My left knee has deteriorated during this summer and I have been on the list to see the specialist since September. I saw him last week, had x-rays, it's the same problem but no bad damage in there and I should be in for an Operation during the first part of 2010. I should be good for skiing in March with luck.

Throughout the four months of limping when i walk, riding the

bike hasn't hurt and hasn't caused any more damage - go figure that one ! A recent circuit class left me nearly crippled for three weeks, I have to play golf with a trolley at the moment because the walking is tricky, but riding the bike has been fine.

I am wearing my winter coat at the moment, a rather cuddly layer of sub cutaneous insulation, but this will reduce as the weather improves and we can get out a bit more (and safely). The results of the spin class generally is that i resemble a large self-basting turkey when I'm done. If I could just cut out those cakes.

We will keep hitting the spin bikes for the next few months and hopefully get back on track with the weekly night rides when this ice melts.

I've just collected the meat for Christmas and we have a house full. We are then off to the New Forest for a few days before the New Year and plan to get out on those bikes all being well.

The West Country

We left Chris & Dave heading up the M4 towards Sussex and we turned west towards Cornwall for the second bit of the holiday.

We checked into the excellent Boscean House (http://www.bosceancoutryhouse.co.uk/ and + 44 1736 788748) early evening and wandered off to the local pub for a quick bite. The local was the Queens Arms at Botallack and turned out to be such good value that we ate there every night. A different crumble every evening for pudding, I couldn't resist (as usual).


We had a good few days enjoying the delightful breakfasts and then wandering the shoreline, sitting in the sun, watching the birds fight the wind and the seals drift around in the swell. We ambled around Bosigran cove but decided not to climb as it was blowing a gale - good decision because it then pi$$ed down. We ate cream teas and explored the old mine workings and coastal paths. We also cycled from Mousehole to St Michael's Mount at Marazion along the coastal path through Penzance and then rewarded ourselves with fish and chips, in the paper and on the sea wall, when we got back.

We had planned to cycle the Coast to Coast trail from Portreath (north coast) to Devoran (south coast) and back. This isn't very far, isn't very hard, but was a good fun half day, especially through the old mine workings in the Poldice valley where there is scope for play !


Most of the trail is very family friendly with very few bits on the road and most of the route following the old Mineral Tramway, once used to ship tin and copper ore to the ancient quays at Devoran and the harbour at Portreath. It has a good cafe and a decent bike shop located along the way (Bissoe Tramways Cycle Hire) with basic bits. If you need something a little more exotic, the main shop is only five minutes off-route on the outskirts of Redruth.

Just before the weekend we moved east to Dartmoor and into the hidden gem that is Burn Cottage (http://www.burncottage.co.uk/ and + 44 1822 820382) where Sheila looked after us as only she can. This place is located inside the National Park at the foot of Gibbett Hill just outside Mary Tavy and you can just get on your bike and go .. unfortunately uphill firstly and mostly.

We had decided on a circular route starting at Princetown car park and following another disused railway to Burrator resevoir, on minor roads through Sheepstor village to Scout Hut Wood and then back over the moor via the bridleway to Princetown.


This route has loads of variations, can be done either way round and is an all round winner. There are plenty of off-piste options to make it a bit more of a challenge - try the bridleway from the woods at Burrator that runs ENE past Crazywell pool if you want a bit of rough. It's very do-able if you're fit but it's easy to dab if you take your eye off the ball.

There was just enough time to catch up with some old friends over a splendid meal, eat the Peter Tavy Inn (http://www.petertavyinn.com/ and + 44 1822 810348) out of food again and fill up with petrol for the drive home.

Bugger, another one over ...

Yeti Tribemeet 2009

We all ride Yeti's. The Yeti (any Yeti) is a thing of beauty and we lust after them, lavish care on them and in return they allow us to ride in the fresh air in beautiful places with like minded people who become good friends. Some of us are very fit, some not so fit, some are good up the hills and some are better coming down. We are all different but the 'Tribe' brings us together to gently mock each other's misfortune(s) and, at the same time, make us slightly better riders.

The weekend of 22/23 August saw us all meet at Glyncorrwg Ponds in the Afan Coutry Park in South Wales to thrash round a few trails and share some beer and a few stories. The Tribemeet has been going for quite a few years now and is held in countries all over the world. It is perhaps the only meet of it's kind where the brand owners, managers and designers regularly turn up to ride with their customers. Even on those occasions when the guys from Golden cannot make it, weekend warriors like most of us will get to ride with Pro's, racers and people who work in the industry.

Saturday was a rather sedate spin round the Syline trail (about 42km), a route that I had wanted to do for a while. I have to say, some of it was a little disappointing due to some 'logging' going on in the forest. This caused a bit of a comedy diversion, but the good bits of the trail rode well and I certainly would like to go back and do it again.

'We' entertained a couple of guests from
Colorado. Chris Taylor and Dave Strouse came
over for the Tribemeet and, hopefully enjoyed the trails - although we hear they are a little more humid than the ones back home in Denver. I know there are a few of us that are quietly planning to attend their 'meet next year - let's hope so anyway.


Saturday evening was a food and beer fest at the Drop Off cafe where Ian (Luff) and his staff looked after us as only they can. This is a great cafe and one of the most welcoming places that a tired and often filthy mountain biker can visit.

Sunday was more of the same and it was all over far too soon. A few new friends were made and promises made to get fitter for next time.

Choose your new bike from here .. http://www.yeticycles.com/

Getting away from it all ... June 2009

It had been a tough year, with lots going on and it was time to escape.

Molly & I packed the bikes, some supplies, 28 pairs of pants and left. A long drive saw us at Robin and Lorna's (http://www.chaletverger.com/) for an overnight stay complete with a warm welcome, good food and a bottle of Bruichladdich.

By early afternoon on the second day we had arrived on the shores of paradise for two weeks of walking, cycling, eating, relaxing and ignoring the rest of the world.

The Gorges du Verdon is Europe's equivalent to the Grand Canyon. Situated an hour or so from the Cote D'Azur, twenty miles of massive cliffs enclose a river that has to be seen to be believed. The Verdon river empties into the man-made Lac du St Croix which now occupies the valley that used to be home of the original village of Les Salles.

The valley was flooded in the 70's and the new village 'Les Salles sur Verdon' sits on the east bank and overlooks the turquoise waters. Very much a holiday destination, tourism is the main industry here and we were doing our bit to help.


After a few days we hit the trails and had the first excursion along the GR4 from Moustiers St Marie towards the Gorge. Great views (above) with fresh air, wildlife, picnic lunch and a camping stove for a very English cuppa at lunchtime. The best bit ? We didn't see another soul all day until we got back to the car :-)

- with the exception of this little fella ! Scampering across a tiny ridge with precipitous drops either side. Molly later identified this as a Chamoix. We heard a few more in the scrub, but they blend in awfully well. Much as the thought of 'fresh meat for lunch and something to clean the windows' was very appealing, we decided to settle for the picnic.

A couple more days on the beach and we head
off for the town of Castellane where we dump the car and cycle the GR4 (again) back towards the Gorge. It's a tough'ish ride and it's not all like the photo of Molly spinning past the Cadieres de Brandis. I've been on this route before and most cyclists tend to ride it the other way - it certainly would be easier - but for those of us with only one car, the tarmac at the end is MUCH easier anticlockwise.

There's a push before you hit the top of the
pass and begin the decent past Rougon to the
car park at Le Point Sublime (right). This is
where you weave between the broom, gorse and herbs growing naturally over the mountain side - it smells like a giant herb garden. At the left of the picture you can also see the road back to Castellane which follows the Verdon river the whole way. A fabulous and quite relaxed end to a great day out. Only about 30 miles in total, but with the hills and the heat it feels a lot longer.

We had another few days off, visited the coast to get the car wing mirror fixed, but managed to salvage the day by taking the bikes and going for a trawl round Frejus with a nice light lunch and then soaked up the views on the seafront with a diet coke.

The final planned walk was through the Gorge itself, along the Sentier Martel from Le Point Sublime to Le Chalet Maline. We parked at Maline, caught the cheap minibus to the other end and walked back to the car. Once again, lots do this walk the other way but I find it's better to cross and greet other folk rather than walk close to somone else all day when all you really want is peace and quiet !

For those that watch Top Gear, these are the cliffs that Leo Houlding climbed in the race against Clarkson in the Audi during the 2007 (?) series. The area is oustanding, but very busy with grockles in the summer months. They have also recently re introduced the European Vulture into the area and so if you like your birds (as we do) it makes for an almost prehistoric atmosphere as they quietly circle around the Gorge (2000' above your head) presumably looking for dead tourists.

The two weeks passed far too quickly and , as usual, we came home and thoughts turn immediately to planning the next one ...

Clive's 26-28 June 2009

If you haven't spent a weekend being guided around the hills of Powys, you don't know what you are missing.

The mid summer weekend to Clive Powell's in Rhayader (01597 811343 and http://www.clivepowell-mtb.co.uk/) couldn't come soon enough.

Even though we (all) train enough so we are not left too far behind, you always have a bad time at some stage over the weekend and get skinned going up the hills. That's a good thing though - to ride with better, fitter guys and if they are your mates as well it's a real bonus.

Charlie, Mick, me, Andrew, Jason, Mark (MTB guide) and Adrian pose during the lunch stop on day two and having just 'done' the river crossing. Jason, Andrew, Charlie and myself cleaned it and were awarded the Tee shirt(s) that evening. A special mention to Charlie in Baden Powell outfit, riding flatties with leather open toe'd sandals (and socks!) who almost floated across in biblical style .. extraordinary ! and a further mention to Adrian who fell in with my camera in his pocket .. tosser !


The combination of longer wilderness rides, great weather and Francine's picnics made for unforgettable days whilst Clives dry humour, a few beers and Francine's organic fayre made for even better evenings.

Huge thanks to Clive and Francine (again), Mark for guiding us and Neil for keeping the bikes running smoothly. Until next time ...