Winter Mileage begins ...

Mike and I headed off at dusk this week on the Friday night ride and still no sign of Stuart or Tim ? It was dry and warmish and we had a good circuit of Eridge woods complete with comedy diversion - I must remember to take the Garmin when we do this and so I can see (afterwards) where the hell we went. Anyway, keeping the distant traffic noise and the moon over to my left side, we eventually bumped into Eridge rocks after 45 minutes of interesting (but rideable) trails and we were back en-route. A quick snack, then off to Hornhurst, down 'Bugs Bunny', through Limekiln Wood to Crowborough and then past Eridge Station, Harrison Rocks and R21 to Mike's house in Hartfield. Three good hours out for about 20 miles.

Saturday dawned, dank and blustery. Molly had a haircut booked and I had a morning to kill. Better still, the woman-barber is in Brighton, so I got dropped off en route with instructions to be back at Middle Farm (http://www.middlefarm.com/ and 01323 811411) at 12:45 for lunch.

It was spitting, but the waterproof lasted ten minutes and was in the pack. It was almost a nice day, but with ominous looking clouds and very windy. Selmerston and Alfriston came and went and the bridleway down to Jeavington was drier than I expected. I started to bump into a few of the Seven Sisters Marathon runners as I climbed up towards Eastbourne. They were sharing some of my route - but in the opposite direction. On top of the Downs I started to feel the full force of the wind and the section from the coast at Eastbourne along to the Birling Gap was fierce - even having to pedal down the hills to get any speed up at all. It was about this time that the sun came out though .. what a change in complexion.

Above the Birling Gap on the cliff top bridleway, 13 miles in. Some of the Seven Sisters ahead but I was only planning on ravaging the next three today. Picture taken just two seconds before the wind blew the bike over ...

After the pleasure of the girls and gurning up the savage climbs into the teeth of the gale, I turned north, through Friston and into the trees for some respite from the wind. I went a bit 'off-piste' and found a new (to me) and shorter route up to the top above Jeavington in order to pick up the start of 'Stumpy'. This was almost as good as it gets at this time of year, even though the latest leaf-fall had disguised the path (and hidden the wet roots).

I was eventually spat out on the road and turned left to visit Exceat Farmhouse (01323 870218) tea room at the Seven Sisters Country Park and share the excellent latte and carrot cake with some of the local birds.

Suitably refreshed I faced the last climb back up to the SDW from the outskirts of Seaford and off towards Firle Beacon. The legs were a screaming by this stage and I was glad to get to the top and enjoy the views in the autumn sunshine. I had glanced at the map before I left but not bothered to carry it and got caught out by a bridleway that turned out to be 'private' (must remember to check that one) and so had to carry on to Firle before making my way back along the A27 for the last mile or so to lunch.

Four hours, including coffee stop, 30 miles. Very sore legs on Monday still. Excellent.

Monday and it's a night off the gym but I thought I would spin round the litle road loop to stretch the legs off. No pressure, no agenda, no worries - and I break 30 minutes for the for the first time. In addition, I have just made 15st (210lbs) too - six weeks later than target, but the weight still comes off slowly but surely. I will not make the target of 199 lb by Christmas at this rate, but I am reluctant to speed the process up if it still keeps happening. Might not be there until Easter, but I will get there !

Transition to Autumn

The last few weeks since Clives has been really busy at work and play and I've done loads, but little of interest !

Mike and I have been out most Friday nights and rode in the worst rain this year three weeks ago. Two weeks ago was much better and we had a pretty dry spin through the woods, although one of our little shortcuts has been almost washed away by the previous week's deluge and was almost unrideable.

Miles to the gym are still being clocked up but last night, for the first time, I realised I should not be in shorts and should not be trying to break any records. It's hovering around zero here and, although the days are beautiful, it gets chilly quickly. The forecast this week is excellent, right up to Saturday morning - when I have planned a 30 miler across the Downs. This is the start of the steady mileage I need to re-appear in the spring with some base fitness to build on ... there are a few plans being considered for next year.

As part of the winter programme, I need to give the Giant some TLC. The cables were stretched, front and rear mechs bashed, cassette on it's last legs - what to do ? I need a simple and robust winter bike so I have taken the tools out. The Giant is now stripped and the old transmission is in the bin. After a quick surf I found the details for Charlie The Bikemonger (http://www.charliethebikemonger.co.uk/ and 01929 475 833) - purveyour of everything 'singlespeed'. I now have a single 34t fitted up front, a 16t out back (and a spare 17t up my sleeeve just in case) and all the bits in a pile waiting for a re-build.

The frame ? Well, I'm thinking and have some ideas. Not sure where I got them from though ! Watch this space to see what appears in a week or two.

The 575 needs a general pivots / fork / shock service this winter, so am riding this full time until the Giant is assembled and will then deliver it to Howard at Bromley Bike (http://www.bromleybike.co.uk/ and 0208 460 4852) for some expert attention while I either get really fit on my singlespeed or have to push it up everything. It will be interesting to see how we get on ...