Each to their own....

In the past I have joined a couple of Cycle Clubs - primarily so I could compete. But to be honest, they're not me and I would consider myself, a "solitary cyclist."
I hate the way the Clubs seem to be male dominated with large doses of testosterone running through them. It certainly can be very intimidating walking into the Club House for the first time. I can remember the sarky comments from the Chair of the Club, when I showed my face for the first time.
Needless to say, I didn't venture back and only remained a member for time trialling purposes for 5 or so years.
Of course and it goes without saying - I am a CTC member, but again I very rarely go out with my local group. How anti social of me......?
Yesterday, however, I received an email from a friend who has just joined a new club - VC10 (Velo City 10?)
Looking at the website - it appears to be what the cycling community needs. Supportive of beginners, women and they have a youth programme etc, etc. I am tempted to join and hook up with the women's MTB group - though I have promised my other half I won't get drawn into the world competition again......!
But on the other hand, I love my solo rides and I may just not get around to it.....!

Didn't make it passed first base.......!

I was all set to go into Reading today to catch up with Mark, the new officer. Alas, the bike was sidelined for the warmth of the car - heavy sleet/rain was falling. Though I quickly realised that I was going no-where fast...! I had a flat on the front tyre. So rolled up my sleeves in readiness to change to the spare - but my efforts were thwarted as I couldn't undo the darn wheelnuts.
I called the RAC and was told to expect a 3 hour wait...! Well, I was at home in the warm and not on some awful hard shoulder.
The whole episode got me thinking of how easy it is to run a bike - no big bolts to grapple with. A quick 10 minutes at the side of the road and then you are off.
For those who aren't proficient at changing an inner tube - the CTC has a fantastic product and you may just be interested. See here for the details of the cyclists' version of the RAC.
Be prepared to be impressed......!

I have survived on a diet of.....

.... turbo sessions. With the 8 or so inches of snow, that went to 4 inches of icy slush - my bike(s) have stayed snuggled up in the garage and I have had to resort to a diet of turbo sessions.
Boy does it take me back to my time trialling days and the strict training regime I once followed.
Still, it's a means to an end and keeps the old legs turning in readiness for the spring. Also burning vital calories in the hope of keeping the odd mince pie and chocolate firmly off my hips....!

Although no brand new bike for Christmas - I did however, have some lovely lightweight camping gear under the tree and a very generous voucher from CTC to put towards my tent.
I have also decided on one of my tours for 2010 - Home to Lymington, hopping on the ferry to the Isle of Wight and then circumnavigating the island. I'm hoping to do this as an extended weekend - anyone care to join me.....?

Christmas festivities...

.....have already commenced at CTC.
Over the last couple of days I have been in Guildford - staying at the Purple Hotel (Premier Inn!) It was a good opportunity for the Cycle Champions to get together to share best practise and bash out a few project ideas for 2010.
However, Thursday was 'party time' and the day started with a quiz - cycle and non cycling questions. This got very competitive, though raised a fair bit of money for charity. With the booze flowing from 11am it was a wonder how some of us got to the restaurant
With tables booked for around 60 people in Guildford town centre a straggly peloton hit the local roads - I joined the walking bus and ambled down and despite getting caught in the expected blizzard snow blizzard we enjoyed the fresh air!
The food and company were just perfect and it was great to hear from our Chief Excutive - Kevin Mayne, that cycling is going from strength to strength.
With some funding challenges ahead - 2010 is going to be another good year!

Have fun in the snow on your MTB nobblies this weekend.......!

Can you forget how to ride a bike....

......I certainly can, especially when it comes to riding off-road....!
I have just got back from a lunchtime ride where I decided to go for a blast around the Hampden Estate. This route is very familiar, but due to one tricky(ish) descent and lots of mud, I was reduced to riding like a beginner.....! Dabbing my foot down way too many times - which resulted in mud up to my ankles, I was beginning to realise how rusty I was and probably needed to get some further instruction?
I haven't been out on my Spesh hardtail since the C2C and Reivers route in August and I was paying for it - BIG time!

Still, I had a great fun despite the conditions and my lack of ability. I'm back home tucking into a bowl of piping hot porridge and a mug of tea - sheer bliss....!

Thief gets away with new officer's bike.....!

A word of warning to all the cyclists in Reading - another bike has been stolen from Palmer Park.
That's 3 of my colleagues that have lost their bikes this year.
All of 2 weeks old, Mark's new bike was parked about 5 feet from our office window and was taken in broad daylight - the lock was cut with bolt croppers. Thanks to the thief for leaving us the remains of the lock and for Mark's rather long face when he discovered it had gone!

So, if you are in the pub and offered a rather nice Giant hardtail mountain bike - it could well be Mark's and we'd love to hear from you......

Another SMIDSY.....

.....and that makes a total of 4 so far. To be honest, I'm getting a little paranoid and I'm beginning to think that it's me.....? All my SMIDSY's have been on roundabouts - where the car has not given way and has driven into my path. OK, so I don't wear hi-viz - I know I said in an earlier posting on this blog, I would purchase a yellow jacket. But I have 2 front lights giving out over 400 lumens between them and still they don't see me. What has a girl got to do - wear a lion suit?
Ho- hum, nothing will stop me from cycling into work - so I just have to be extra vigilant.
Keep safe out on those roads and carry on reporting all SMIDSY's here....

Road side memorials

Its around this time of year, and again in February, when the old badgers move on to find more food and a new mate. Unfortunately for them, this means crossing roads and for some, the journey is curtailed and they never make it to pastures green. I hate seeing them at the side of the road as I cycle pass and always bless them as pedal on - yes, I'm a big softy.
This got me thinking about the rather strange phenomenon that has emerged over the past few years - road side memorials! WHAT is that all about?
I can think of 8 or so of these shrines in my local area and I just don't get it.....?
If any of my loved ones were so unfortunate as to lose their lives on our roads - the last thing I would want is, a road side memorial. Marking the very place where they took their last breath. A place that clearly wouldn't be restful or peaceful as the cars and trucks rattle by and that would be covered in road-side grime.

Maybe it's just a sign of the times - but I've been perplexed about it for a while. So do let me have your thoughts on the subject, but I don't think I could be persuaded to think otherwise.

THIS is why I cycle.....

It would've been very easy to have stayed in my warm car and drive into Reading this morning - my favourite DJ was on the radio playing some cracking tunes. But instead, I parked in my usual spot in Maidenhead and began the cycle commute.
The air was cold and therefore more dense, so my mph was down a bit, but hey, who cares? I was turning the pedals and loving every minute of it.
I haven't cycled down the A4 for a couple of weeks and the view from the saddle had definitely changed. Fairy lights were twinkling from various trees, some guy was selling "holly reeves" (I kid you not!) in one of the laybys and even the traffic seemed to be more courteous....!
As light broke there was a lovely red and blue hue to the sky and the red kites were up early flying in the thermals.
Of course, if I had driven in, I would've missed all of that - a true piece of urban beauty.

Bike snobbery.....?

I took a call from a family member asking for advice on bikes for their 2 children for Christmas - they had apparently had seen a really good deal at Halfords.....!
It is at this point, my partner calls me.....

"A bike snob!"
I told my brother to save his money and buy a couple decent bikes rather than a toy that will break in 6 months (if you're lucky!) and will weigh around 30lbs. He'll then wonder why they hate riding the darn things up any incline....!
Lots of children will get bike shaped objects on Christmas morning - my plea to those parents is, to spend a little extra and get a bike that is fit for purpose.

That way they will, I'm sure, fall in love with the bike and it will be the beginning of a wonderful relationship.

My choice every time would be something from Islabikes Go on parents, check out the website- you know it makes sense....?

A long, but fruitful day.....!

I am totally spent and I'm even considering hitting the sack after I've had some supper - yes, at 7pm!!
I've been in Swindon today running an assessment centre - a long, but great day.
All I will say is, that we've have manged to recruit a very dynamic young person, who will, I think, set Swindon alight!
Have a great weekend whatever you are doing - I'm planning on dodging the showers that are forecast and hope to get a few miles in riding the lanes and hills of the Chilterns.....!

But for now it's .........Zzzzzzzz!

Very early morning workouts....

.... are definitely the way to go. I decided to get up at my usual time of 6am and do my turbo workout before heading into Reading for a database training session with Mark.
Unfortunately a ride in wasn't an option - I've been hitting the Wiggle website recently and have made numerous purchases, the parcels were just way too big for me to carry!
Hmm? I must say, I didn't feel like working out to start with - but felt great afterwards and tucked into, what was, a large, but leisurely breakfast. Both of which I can recommend...!
I will certainly do that again that's for sure.
Busy day ahead tomorrow - recruitment process for Swindon. With some top candidates lined up, we're in for a good day.....

My second home......

.....Another trip to Birmingham to see Beccy - how that month has flown by....!
Good to see that she has been very busy in that period and has made progress with 2 of her projects, updated her web pages and is now regularly on Twitter and Facebook. In fact the social network sites play a big part in keeping CTC's remote staff in touch with each other - Facebook I salute you.

A wonderful invention.....

And on this occasion, I'm not talking about the bike...!
Over the last few months I have accrued some time off in lieu and today I decided to swing by the Christmas market in Bath.
Now, usually a trip to Bath means popping into a couple of the bike shops - especially AV Cycles to check out the enormous range of folding bikes. But, alas today I was with my Mum and bikes were definitely not on the itinerary.
As ever, Bath was full of visitors and it was a complete nightmare entering and exiting the city by car - going by rail was prohibitively expensive and we were on the wrong side of the city for the park and ride.
Nonetheless a great day was had by all and despite the chaos on the roads - we'll be back, where hopefully I'll have more time for the bike shops and a coffee with Westfield Wanderer