I have finally got together a group of riders that both rise early and ride at a similar pace to me.

Today, we met at the Red Lion in Shoreham and as I led the group of 5 up to Bramber I had an enormous grin on my face. I love riding in a peleton. We didn’t ride far or fast but at least we rode and I am sure that this group will, as the days get warmer, wind up its speed and our Sunday runs will prove to be good training rides for the fast approaching race season.

I’d recommend to all riders to start using Strava. I have just begun to up load my rides and it is fascinating. There won’t be a hill that I ride up on or off road that I won’t be thinking about my time and my ranking on Strava. Join up now. All that you’ll need is a GPS device, Android phone or iPhone to record your rides.

Here’s the ride.

As a prelude to the Olympic Track competition the UCI Track World Cup is in London this week. On Thursday we went to see the Team Pursuit qualifying heats. The Velodrome is state of the art and mind blowing; it was jammed with 6,000 fanatical cycling fans and the roof nearly came of when our girls rode close to WR pace and just missed beating the Canadians. Later the men hit the boards to a roar from the crowd that never let up but increased in volume as they started smashing the previous times. I have never experience anything so loud, exciting, emotional or up lifting. It was amazing to see the other competitors standing open mouthed and agog at the sensation of the British Teams. On Friday the women went on to win Gold and set a new World Record time.

We can be so proud. Gone are the days when it was the taking part that counted. We are now a nation that is proud to win and capable of creating winners.

So, with 42% of the population owning a bike, sales for the London WC Track meet selling out in 30minutes, 3,000,000 ready to line the streets when the Tour de France passes through, and the Brits heading up the league table in early season wins on the pro road circuit, I have to ask what is our national sport? Can we honestly say football? Football may be enjoyed by many but it seems to represent every thing that is bad and unsuccessful about British Sport.

Here are a few comments about our experience last Thursday should you be able to go. Security is a bit like the Airports with the same restrictions. They say no food or drink allowed in but they didn’t bother about my water. Apart from the security area, you will not see a waste bin from entering your train station to leaving your station when you get home. So take a bag for rubbish if you don’t want to be a litter lout. They need bins in the velodrome and signs to find them. It is around 30°C by the track. Take a camera and binoculars. Be prepared to scream until you can’t speak. To be a part of British Cycling click here

Roll on the Track World Championships in April and the Olympics this Summer.

I wish I’d taken the Garmin as you could have seen our route, we zig-zagged all over to stay on single track with our most northerly point the bottom of the Lion Trail. It may not be Wales or the North Downs but if you know your way around there is a lot of good riding round here.

The best trail today was the Monarch’s Way to No man’s Land. No snow, clear and rock hard. I took the Whyte 829 down faster than any other bike so far. I use this trail as a test of a bike. If I can ride it without touching the brakes then I assume that the bike works. Perhaps due to the conditions, maybe the balance of the Whyte 829, whatever, I was able even to pedal to accelerate. I don’t think that I’ve pedalled so hard when on a non-braking run. It’s a real buzz whipping through those turns trying not to let my forefingers flick off the bars. Cool. Try it!

Whyte 829 on the Sheep Track

For me riding is always about trying to get faster, thinking that these miles will benefit me later, perfecting my cornering, trying always to get better. Now at my age that may be a pointless task but that is the way I am.

Sometimes something else takes over. I nearly aborted this morning’s ride as, first the customer wanted another day on the Scott Spark 29er and second it started to snow when I went to bed. I left for work on the Whyte 829 and as soon as I hit the trails I was on snow. Unlike Sunday’s slippery, fondant mush this was nice dry, cold snow. This stuff is great for riding as it offers excellent grip and being untracked there were no intimidating roots or ruts to worry about.

I was really enjoying myself happy that I was taking the perfect line when all of a sudden I realised just how nice the riding was. I wasn’t busting a gut, risking life and limb as I cranked the bike over, no I was just enjoying riding for the sake if it and being out in such a beautiful place. Bliss! People pay huge amounts of money and travel the world for this sensation and yet there was I in complete contentment on an hour’s single track commute to work.

The Whyte 829 could not be a more perfect fit for me and it handles like a dream. It took me a while to fall for this one but now that I am used to it I think that it has got to be one of the best 29ers out there for my shape and riding style. My Whyte 29CS isn’t due until the 25^th March and as they are in such short supply I might end up losing it to young Will (on the up and up unlike someone on the down and out).

A few tips:

The trails: some parts of the hill (northside) have ice and frozen snow under the fresh stuff: beware!

Cold hands: Here’s a technique that I used when windsurfing in February. Warm up, stop before your hands are cold and shake them and yourself about to get the blood circulating (when really cold you body takes blood away from extremities to keep the core warm), ride some more and do the same again (at the next gate), once your core is warm and the blood is pumping you may find that your fingers are warm. Circulation is the key to this.

Warm feet with Northwave Celsius Boots now 20% off!

Snowy path from Hangelton

Last night I had planned to ride this not expecting the temperature to drop quite so much. However, I wasn’t to be beaten after fun I had on Sunday was so, at just after 7am, I headed off on the Devil’s Dyke loop. It was evil out with a brisk North Easterly cutting into my cheeks. I could see the snow on the Down’s but was surprised to find that the Hangleton railway path was still covered in it. I kept my 23mm road tyres in tracks left by mountain bikes. Over the Dyke and back through Poynings and Egburton I was in total fear of black ice. My bottle froze up and I had ice in the rim.

It may have been grim but at least I rode and I now know that I’ll now be able to enjoy the early Spring weather whilst others will still be whimping out waiting for the sun.

It was -5c when I left but I never felt that cold. I wore a Buff, two base layers, a Gore Tool jacket and an old Gore Windstopper gilet (from the Kona days), wind proof tights, two pairs of gloves (the outer glove was a cheapie pair of Thinsulate gloves that you see at every B&Q checkout). Naturally my feet were warm wrapped in Endura woolly socks inside my Northwave Fahrenheit boots. All topped of with a Kask Vertigo. When you next think that it is time to spend some money on your cycling, think clothing first bike kit second.

I rode my Wilier Cento Uno, and felt safe with Conti Four Season tyres providing the grip.

Watching Cav & Co riding through the desert with crowds numbering nearly 10 didn’t inspire me at all. Roll on the Classics, the Tour of Qatar might be good training but, boy, is it boring.

Here’s the ride, one of my slowest ever.

Yesterday, I tried to rise above the effect of the cold weather but I couldn’t imagine riding today. Then the customer borrowing the Scott Spark 29er called up to cancel. Result! That would be my ride today. I immediately got excited about the route. I was going to ride to Portsmouth via the South Down’s Way and Queen Elizabeth County Park. I could meet my wife there for a lift back. The trail conditions were perfect being both dry and frozen. With the wind blowing from the East, 29 inch wheels and full suspension I was sure to be really quick.

And then the snow came. I went to bed depressed and I slept in. I never do that! I had let the weather beat me. I was demotivated and lacked any inspiration as I surveyed the thaw. There is nothing worse than this for riding so I spent the morning alternating home plumbing with watching the Down Hill in Les Houches and then the Tour of Qatar.

As Boonen celebrated victory and Cav rolled in at the back I noticed that it was gone 1pm, it was Sunday and hadn’t ridden. What was happening to me?

I needed to make an effort. I got changed and rode off on the Spark 29er. It was cold and I felt miserable but I soon found myself on a climb and relishing the challenge of maintaining traction and staying upright. This was fun. The riding was incredibly slow but really challenging as the snow was up to 10cm deep and melting. At first I panicked each time that the front wheel slid but eventually it just seemed normal and I got better and better at riding through the sliding front end.  Eventually the fear of falling left and I began to relax. I couldn’t get up Cardiac Arrest so rode down the back of Chanctonbury which was in great condition partly because it has been so dry this winter and also because the ground was still frozen despite the water and melting snow.

So after a week of freezing, mind numbing weather I managed to find some inspiration and motivation and now I can’t wait to give this bike a hammering. The only thing that I can report is that the climbing traction is incredible. I was amazed to be able to pick my way through the walkers as I ascended the Wiston Bostal cleaning the whole climb with hardly any dabs.

So thanks to the Scott Spark 29er for inspiring me to self motivation.

Comfortable and warm thanks to Gore Tool jacket and Northwave Celsius boots

Eric DeGolier and Matt King

We did a big figure of eight going up to Hammer Ponds. There were riders everywhere and as we started back South we passed several big bunches heading North along the Twineham/Slaugham cycle route. It made me proud to be British and a Southerner. You’d either have to head to Yorkshire or Belgium to see as many riders as we did today.

It baffles me that cycling is so big in this country and yet we bring up our drivers to treat non motorists with total disdain. Today, we even had a driving instructor glaring at us for walking in the road where there was no pavement. Why not try to make a difference yourself? And before you start educating your family and friends try driving with care and respect yourself. Just see if you can spend a week not exceeding the speed limit, stopping for pedestrians to cross and generally treating others a human beings. Once you grab hold of that steering wheel you’ll be surprised how difficult it is and what a selfish prat you can become. It’s a British thing, nothing to be proud of, but is considered acceptable and the norm. Why not toot and wave in encouragement next time that you see a rider.

Here’s the ride, I forgot to switch off my Garmin whilst we enjoyed some tea and cycle banter with the Brighton and Worthing Excelsior riders crammed into Washington Village Hall. If we cut out all the faffing about meeting up with Eric we probably avergaed close to 20mph. The tempo felt like a mid summer ride for me and Joe, not so for Eric.

Bike Wilier Cento Uno, my wonderfull and comfortable Endura Convert Softshell , Kask Vertigo and Northwave Farhenheit boots

If you are or one of your friend is a female rider we are running a girls only road ride this comming Saturday, 28th Jan. Meet at the shop at 10am.

My motivation is to get back to what I consider fit. This is a bit vague and I need a real goal. Each year I decide that I will make it to third cat and ride the South Downs Way flat out. Each year, I get busy and it all falls to pieces. At least the excitement of 29ers will surely spur me on to do it this year.

One thing that I am trying to do now is to put a group of like minded riders together so that we can really grind out some fast rides and with enough of them I can always take a breather in the middle.

Here’s my flat loop and here’s the Devil’s Dyke hilly both long enough to be worth it but short enough to do before work.

Comfort provided by Endura Convert Softshell and Northwave Farhenheit boots.
Speed from Wilier Cento Uno.

The trails were bone dry virtually everywhere and in the woods where it was soft it had dried enough to be able to avoid any mud. In a way this was unfortunate as I had fit a set of Maxxis Beavers to test. They were great: light, good cornering in the soft stuff, relatively narrow to cut through anything heavy and confidence inspiring. However, I should have used the Mountain King/Race King that had come on the bike as it was like riding in the summer.

This is about as good as it gets. Loads of singletrack, not once did I get hot or cold, the sun shone and, I didn’t have to clean the bike. It doesn’t get much better than this. The only downer was that I got really tired and the last few miles were a struggle battling into the face of a strong South Easterly. I used my bike cleaning time to just sit and enjoy the warmth of the sun sipping my recovery drink. I was knackered. All this and yet it is mid January. In Britain. Unbelievable!

Kit: Whyte 29 CS with Maxxis Beaver tyres, Northwave Celsius boots, Gore Tool jacket, Endura Thermolite tights, Endura MT500 Spray shorts, Endura MT500 gloves….. Warm and comfortable all the way round.

Here’s the route, try it.

You may never be as fast a Will but you can make remarkable improvements to your fitness with a training program. Why not contact Steve at Ultimate Fitness?

I was of the opinion that I’d never ride 26 inch again and as for long travel: round here? No chance. Well on Saturday I had to ride a Whyte 146 to try to find a knocking noise for a customer. I felt that he deserved my best effort so I changed into my kit and headed up over Cissbury late in the afternoon. 26 inch wheels and 6 inches of travel and yet it just flew up hill. This bike was amazing. Of course it is lighter than most rider’s hard tails at just over 25lbs. At no time did I feel that it was a long travel trail, even free ride bike. It was as good as anything that I’ve ridden even without any Chamonix like downhill to test it on. Whilst quite normal human beings might buy an X5 or Range Rover just to drive into town (how crazy is that?) buying a 146 is not such a crazy idea. It may be a long travel bike but it’ll perform XC functions as well as or even better than an average hard tail and all the while you’ll be tempted to try stuff you never thought you could. Your skills will just get better and better. The South Downs might not be Les Portes du Soleil but the 146 will set you up to ride there and to totally rip at any UK trail centre. If I could retire to the Alps now the 146 would be the bike that I’d take. As for the bike noise, it was silent and efficient like a stealth bomber.

Today, however, it was back to a hard tail, my turn on the Scott Scale 29er Pro. My riding buddies are both on strict training programs. One is preparing for a marathon and the other for some incredible time trial P.B.s. I was told 3 to 4 hours at not more than 130 bpm. I led them over to the top end of Whiteways to show them the singletrack, that way we could have a long easy ride with the minimum of climbing. I was surprised at how dry the trails were and Whiteways never ceases to amaze me. An easy ride is not some thing that I am used to but given the company, the amazing single track and the mild weather I was a happy man (and tired at the end). Here’s the ride.

No product reviews this time, just riding.

I’ve had a damn good week back on the bike!