MTB Racer Converted to Commuter Bike

With the weather as nice as it has been recently I just want to be out on the bike every day. Bright starts make the early morning commute enjoyable and by 5pm I'm itching to get out the office and start my meander home.

In the morning I'm out the door at 6.30am, head down, burning up the 17 miles of asphalt to Portsmouth. However on the way home what I really want to do is hit the bridleways onto the South Downs and explore. So I've built up a bike that I think offers the best of both worlds. Speed and efficiency to get me to work on time, and still capable of handling some off-road abuse in the evening.

To say it is built up from a selection of cast off's would slightly under sell it. The S-Works Stumpjumper frame was the love of my life, and my mtb race rig until a few weeks ago. Fitted with Specialized lightweight carbon cranks, and a 32t Rotor Q-Ring to keep me pedaling efficiently. Stans Crest wheels were gracing my race bike a year ago and keep the rotating mass low. My favourite Phenom saddle is showing its age, torn leather perched on a Syntace carbon post. Admittedly the non-oversized Easton bar does look a little spindly by todays standards.

Two anolmalies; items not stripped off my race bike in recent years but raided from the spares bin. An old 105 road rear mech moves the chain across a 9 speed 11-25 road cassette.

A few new parts were needed to complete the build. Most obvious is the carbon fork. An Ebay purchase, I don't know much about its origins, but it appears to be one of the many unbranded parts you can pick-up direct from China these days. A length of 480mm leaves the  geometry unchanged. In need of a rear brake the cheapest hydraulic brakes available were Deore. Although stunningly cheap I love everything about this brake; a great shaped stubby little lever, provides a bundle of controllable power.

Possibly the most critical part of a bike like this is the tyre choice. I can't fault the Continental 32mm touring tyres, which I picked up for £20 at my local shop. Rolling well they also provide confidence on the road, hidden under mudguards they should do me good service this winter. Dropping a few psi they take chalky bridleways in their stride, getting me up onto the Downs. Bigs hits from rocks and roots can be unsettling, a little more volume, especially up front, would help.

I'm really enjoying riding this bike just now, and giving it a second lease of life as a commuter. Lightweight, quick and nimble I can't wait to grab it from the shed in the morning and head off to work.

Finally back on the bike after 3 weeks recovery

Fastastic to finally get out on the Downs in the sunshine.

Tortuous Time Off

It has been a tough bike free two weeks since my accident. Today was especially hard, not only was it a crystal clear sunny day perfect for a two wheeled foray into the wilderness. I'd also had today pencilled in as the main competitive target of the year. The Merida Summer Monkey at Caesars Camp. I pre-entered almost as soon as entries opened and had targeted my training towards a result today.

Instead of blasting aorund the trails and fighting it out for a podium, I have instead been tinkering around the garden and cutting the lawn. Wounds are healing, but I am still feeling so tired. The accident and the concussion have really knocked the stuffing out of me. I have yet to make it through a day without a good long nap!

The really bitter pill is that my 2014 race season is over, and it is really hard to adjust my priorities after focusing so long on this year. 

Hopefully a new helmet will arrive next week and I can enjoy exploring the local trails this summer without the pressure of racing. I've also been enjoying some longer weekends with my son and yesterday got him out on a bike!

An uncomfortable looking Daddy is told which way to go next!

Dunsfold 4th Cat - First Road Race- Never Again!

The Surrey racing league hold 4th category road racing every Friday through the Summer. I've never entered a road race before and the weather was a balmy 20 degrees and the skies were blue. Everything seemed so perfect for a bike ride.

I arrived at Dunsfold aerodrome to find 50 cars already in the carpark and others still arriving. Undoubtebly a big turnout due to the weather. For a 4th Cat race there was a lot of nice machinery on show, several £5k bikes and lots of bling kit.

Having pinned on my number and with a simple "4th Cats off ya go" from the starter, we were underway. Being an airfield the Dunsfold course is just a flat simple loop of the perimeter road. I had told myself that I was only here on a fact finding mission to gain experience, I wasn't going to get caught up in the racing. That resolution lasted until the second lap.

At 27mph I was finding the tightly packed center of the group quite intimidating. It is nice tucked away only having to freewheel along much of the time - it hardly feels like a race - but you need eyes in the back of your head and to trust those around you. For piece of mind I worked myself to the outside, but then found myself in a chain moving to the front! A small group had broken away and suddenly I was on the front of the main group taking turns to chase them back down. It was only the 3rd lap - this wasn't what I had planned!

I caught the breakaway group and at the exact moment I did the others came surging through from behind. The entire pack of 50+ riders streamed past as if I wasn't moving. My legs weakened from the chase there was nothing I could do either. The final rider came past and the gap grew. I yoyo'd off the back for a few seconds knowing once I had gone that was it. With the last reserves of energy I sprinted to try and stay on! 1st lesson learnt!

Back in the peleton  the laps went by while I recovered, slowly working myself back towards the front, into the top 20 or so. I was determined not to waste any more effort so moved around within the group to stay sheltered from the wind. The laps ticked by and with two to go the pace was really high as riders began to jostle for prime position. I held my nerve, getting used now to the tight proximity of the riders.

So into the final straight, the finish line in sight. I was up in the top ten holding my place waiting to time my sprint. Already past 30mph the guy infront got out the saddle to open up, hit something in the road and went down. His bike flew up into the air, I couldn't avoid it.

The next memory I have is being loaded onto the ambulance. Final stop a painful night in Tooting A&E. After 5 hours laying flat on my back in a neck brace looking at the ceiling I was finally given the all clear. What a relief, but then they started picking at my other wounds. A broken cheek bone was cleaned up, and I was told not to sneeze as I might lose my eye. My ear had been worn down to the cartilage so an agonising hour was spent with the plastic surgeon as he stretched the skin I did have and sewed it over the wound.

I'm now back home, the worse of my injuries at the moment are the road rash which makes almost every position uncomfortable. So my first road race, and probably my last as well. It may take a while but when I get back on the bike I'm sticking to the MTB.

Southern Champs Course Recce

Isaac Pucci has the task of designing the course for the British Southern XC Championships. I tagged along for a guided tour on Sunday. As expected Isaac has included some serious climbs linked together with lots of fun bits. Despite a demo from our tour guide I will be taking the 'B-line' around the gap jump on race day! 

Kawasaki Enduro

Only a few minutes into the 50 mile race and I was already pushing my physical limits. From the gun a group of ten riders had immediately broken away from the pack and I was trying desperately to go with them. It was madness I had no hope of maintaining this kind of pace for another 4-5 hours, so gradually I made the decision to let them slip away. I had to hope that they had misjudged their pace and would come back to me as the day unfolded.

Such had been the frenetic pace over the opening miles, that there was nobody insight behind. I found myself isolated. Judging the distribution of effort in a marathon race is hard - especially without a reference. It would be all too easy to lose concentration and slip pack towards the chasing pack, who were undoubtedly somewhere in the forest behind me!

Despite the sunny weather there was a surprising amount of standing water to be navigated. I rode several sections with feet unclipped, raised high to prevent soggy socks! Grip was also very poor. Having ridden around Deepcut twice in the past three weeks I was familiar with the trails, but wasn’t able to attack them as we had a fortnight ago. The hours ticked past and the passage of riders moved the water aside, so conditions did improve significantly, leaving a nicely consistent flowing course. On the first lap I waited for the hill which never came, instead the course undulated backwards and forwards. Frequently just the other side of the trees riders would be streaming in the opposite direction on a totally different part of the lap.

Blindly following the tape and arrows I began to wonder if I was the only person in the race! After a couple of laps it was a relief to finally catch some back markers, but it is so hard to get past on tired legs. All too easily you slot in behind them and find yourself moving at their pace instead of yours. You need to repeatedly find the energy to push past when the opportunity arises. A friendly shout works on some who peal to the side, others intent on their own race are not so generous.

I’d paced myself well and was able to push for the line on the final lap in the hope that there was somebody ahead whose legs were more tired than mine. After 4 hours those undulations began to feel like proper inclines!

As it happens one rider ahead had punctured so I was pleased to finish in the top ten, minutes clear of the nearest rider behind. The self motivation to keep pushing and my pacing were positives to take forward for next week.

Unfortunately the mud was probably good practice too for Scotland, however I severely doubt that there will be the same lack of hills on Saturday!

Countdown to Selkirk - 4 Hour MTB training ride from Chichester

At 2pm under grey ominous skies a nervous gaggle of riders were huddled on the starting grid in the New Forest waiting for the 3^rd round of the Southern XC series to get underway. Meanwhile I was in my garden hosing an inch of mud off my legs!

Instead of racing I had been on a 4 hour training ride in preparation for the National Marathon Championships, which take place at Selkirk in the Scottish borders on the 10^th May. A date that suddenly seems alarmingly close! The entry list includes ex-Olympians and multiple national champions, so there is considerable incentive not to embarrass myself!

I have ridden more miles, and spent more time in the saddle over the first 3 months of 2014 than any previous year, but after my holiday I was conscious that I hadn’t completed a long ride for a couple of weeks. So instead of packing the car for the New Forest, I was out the door and spinning my way towards a South Downs swathed in mist and cloud.

Showers were forecast, and it started to rain almost the instant I settled into the saddle. Unfortunately this particular shower lasted for 4 hours, just varying occasionally in intensity. The first off-road section of my ride took me up through the stunning Bluebells of the Rewell Wood. In the sunshine it would have been worthy of a postcard. Unfortunately the rainwater had already started to puddle and turn the surface of the trails into a glossy emulsion. At this point not being too dirty I was still bothering to avoid the puddles.

All it needed was some sunshine!

Having pitched into Houghton Forest at Whiteways I made my way up what Strava has appropriately named the “Full Lung Busting Denture” climb. My plan of action for the day was to take on the longest climbs I could find, based on the certain knowledge that the Mountains around Selkirk will dish out a serious climbing challenge.

Still smiling!

Once back down into Droke the next climb was up through Charlton Forest to the South Downs Way. After a mile or so respite the national trail plunges down the a now concreted track into the valley above Cocking, presenting me with the next climb to get up and out the other side. By now bike and rider were a nice shade of chalky grey, and I was plunging unconcerned through the puddles and mud. The rain was still beating down and trail conditions had deteriorated badly. Every turn of the bars was an adventure into unknown territory! I can’t help but think that it might have been representative training for a trip to the Scottish Mountains in May! So having slid and squeltched my way to Harting Down I turned for home, over the two remaining climbs of Telegraph Hill and a particularly muddy Kingley Vale.

Back home I resorted to the hose to remove the mud from tired legs and clothing, before my wife would even entertain letting me near the house. I also had to chisel the chalky residue from what, before today, had still been my shiny new bike. With perfect timing the rain immediately ceased, the sun broke through and shone for the rest of the afternoon!

My final training ride next week will be in a race environment. I’ll be tackling 5 laps of the 10 mile Gorrick Enduro course, which will give me chance to practice the necessary eating, and hydration techniques before travelling to Scotland. Stay tuned to see how it goes!