April 29th 2019: So that was Mallorca then!

It is amazing how fast a week can fly by when you're having fun. It seems no time at all that we were sitting on the plane, having left the UK bathed in warm Easter sunshine, only to land in Mallorca to find rain and wind, not what the doctor had ordered! Arriving on Easter Monday we fully expected sunshine and warmth and suddenly started to regret not packing winter gear. No cycling on that first day, the weather really didn't entice us out, we retired instead to a restaurant on the Port de Pollenca front and ate and drank to hopefuly better things.

Fortunately that really was as bad as it got, and as it turned out that was our one and only rest day. The remainder of our week there was perfectly acceptable, ranging from warm and cloudy to hot and sunny. No rain, wind that was really not much more than a breeze, and road conditions that we rarely enjoy on these annual Team Geriatric trips.

Day 1: Lluc and Formentor. Contrary to a glum forecast the day was bright and the mountains looked clear so our plan was to head into the hills, out through Pollenca and up the beautifully graded Coll de Femenia, a 7km climb to just over 500m. For me it is just over a half hour climb and is always enjoyable, today being no exception. Whilst breaking no records as a leg-stretcher it fitted the bill perfectly. The mountain views can be distracting in places, but then again I am on holiday. Our gang regrouped at the summit, took a couple of de-rigueur photos and carried on along the undulating mountain road to Lluc Monastery where the reputation for the cake served up in the café has spread far and wide. It didn't disappoint and we lingered in the warm sunshine. Next up was the glorious descent to Caimari from Coll de Sa Batalla, another wonderfully graded road but with technical aspects with its many hairpins. Once down in Selva it was left on the road to Campanet where lunch called. Again we sat in the sun, enjoying a cheeky beer and an omelette before the lure of the saddle called. At this point a typical Team Geriatric misunderstanding split the team asunder and I ended up riding the beautiful Campanet Valley road back to Pollenca solo, before deciding that the weather was too good to waste and opting for a ride out to Formentor. Habitually we have ridden the road to Formentor on our arrival day but after yesterday's rain this was a chance to put this right, and complete a good 100km ride to boot. The first day of sun on the island in a week had obviously put the same idea in other people's heads and the traffic was decidedly heavier that usual, even at this time of day. The queue of cars at the road end waiting for a parking opportunity made for some interesting watching but being on a bike gives me a distinct advantage in this sort of situation and I sailed up to the lighthouse to enjoy the customary coastal views. It is a lovely ride and a great way to end the day.

Day 2: The Tramuntana Mountain Circuit. Again the weather was behaving and even better than yesterday. The mountains beckoned and we opted for a big day in the high Serra Tramuntana. The ride starts modestly enough with undulating back roads through Campanet, Selva and Lloseta to Alaro before we turned north and our first major climb, the Coll d'Orient, not bigh at 498m but a good warm-up! This is quickly followed by the bumpy Coll d'Honor which must vie for the title of worst road surface on Mallorca. After the good roads so far this is a real shocker. The descent into Bunyola is fast and technical and merits care with some tight bends and potholed surfaces in places. Bunyola seemed like a great place for lunch and we retired to the main square and picked a cafe and settled down to a beer and food, dallying far too long as always. The next challenge is the sinewy and twisty Coll de Soller, a must for cyclists who are not permitted to use the tunnel to reach Soller but this is not really a hardship as it is an enjoyable 5km climb followed by a descent of some 30 hairpins (who needs Alpe d'Huez?) and a fast roll down to Soller town. Whilst the remaning members of the team were opting for a new road out of Soller I preferred the long direct Soller climb after a torrid time there in the heat 3 years ago. This time, whilst still a bit of a plod, I felt much more comfortable and rode it at a steady tempo from bottom to top where the road plunges into the Monaber Tunnel. Predictably enough the rest of the guys were here before me, waiting patiently for me to arrive after what turned out to be a PB on the full climb. Now it was the spectacular descent of the Puig Major past a couple of wonderful lakes and some inviting walking trails where Helen and I explored some 4 years ago. Finally I made it to the wonderful Café Sa Batalla not far from Lluc and I pulled up, just in time to grab a last coffee and some welcome cake after a long day, before savouring the lovely descent of Femenia back to Pollenca and a very welcome hot shower.

Day 3: 312 sign-on. On a day when the weather was a bit less favourable and after a couple of bigger days in the mountains the team were opting for an easier day, based around the 312 sign-on for those of us involved in the event come Saturday. We were a tad more leisurely this morning when rolling out through town and down to Alcudia where the 312 sign-on village was based. Our timing was pretty good as the big rush was yet to happen and we easily managed to negotiate the sign-on process and get our numbers and goodie-bags. There was a chance to browse the many merchant stands who were keen to sell us all manner of things cycling. Eventually, though, the time came to move on and head out on the road. We were riding south, on the Arta road with the aim of deviating east along the coast to Betlem, a small coastal village at the end of the peninsular cul-de-sac which ends on the way to the Cap de Ferrutx. The road out of Can Picafort is a bit of a roller coaster and the usual happened with a split in the peloton - basically I lost touch on a heavy draggy ramp and with a headwind that was it. No matter, I know my way round the island and felt sure that lunch in Betlem would be worthwhile, with or without the rest of the gang. As it happened after half an hour or so a couple of the team sat up and waited and the three of us continued together, taking the left turn to Betlem, which in turn was completely missed by the other guys (no surprises there!). Our road undulated beneath the craggy mountains north of Arta and after a short while we rolled down into Betlem and the end of the road. Here we found a gem of a restaurant for lunch, the Restaurant Casablanca. The day was dry, it was vaguely warm and the views were enticing so we sat outside on the verandah and enjoyed an excellent leisurely lunch of pizza, cheeky beer included. Eventually it was time to make a move and we headed back toward the main road. At this point I chose to take a bit of a detour to visit the fishing resort of Colonia de Sant Pere which proved to be very pretty and worthy of a future visit, no doubt. Back on the main road it was time to engage the tailwind and put my head down on the rolling road back through Can Picafort and Alcudia and on through the lanes to Pollenca where it seemed appropriate to enjoy a late afternoon coffee in the main square. A pleasant end to a very pleasant day.

Day 4: Mixing it with the Pros. Having spent the previous evening checking through the 312 handbook, we were left with a number of unanswered questions, the most notable of which was the question of the time cut at the split point for the 167. I was anxious to clarify and decided that my day would revolve around heading by the 312 village to get the answers. It was a day when team members were doing their own thing, some heading for Formentor, others up into the mountains. I was joined by John and Dave who also wanted to take in the 312 village, and we headed out on the same road as yesterday bound for Alcudia. Today the village was much, much busier, vindicating our decision to sign on yesterday. I quickly managed to get the split time-cut clarified, much to my relief - basically anyone failing to reach the split by 11:50am would be required to ride the 167, which I intended to do anyway, so panic over. At this point we wandered the village, browsing the trade stands again when I spotted what looked suspiciously like Alberto Contador lurking near the stage. Then I spotted Oscar Freire and thought something must be up. Indeed it was - they were making the presentation of the pro and ex-pro riders who had been invited to this year's edition. I decided to hang around and see who else turned up and wasn't disappointed as Sean Kelly, Ivan Basso and Joseba Beloki all took their place on the stage as the presentation got underway. This is where cycling as a sport scores big-time over so many other sports as us mere mortals can basically mix it with the professionals so easily. Eventually Dave and John managed to tear me away and we went in search of lunch, deciding on a ride through the villages to Campanet and the lovely Coves de Campanet. The sun was out, it was warm, if a little breezy, and it was a perfect place to enjoy lunch alfresco on the patio with views of the mountains to savour. Yet again we lingered, savouring the scran (and another cheeky beer) before the essentially pleasant ride back through the Campanet valley to Pollenca and back to base. A very pleasant day.

Day 5: The Mallorca 312. This is it, the big one. For me it will be comfortably the longest ride for more than 3 years, indeed since the last time I did this event. The forecast was perfect, albeit a chilly start, but primarily warm and sunny with a light breeze. The ride out to the start with the other guys (there were half a dozen of us riding the event this year) is eerie as the pre-dawn glow of the brightens over Alcudia Bay but we made good time arriving in the melee of the start at about 6.30am, joining the queuing riders in an Alcudia backstreet as the clock ticked toward the 7am start. The organisation of this year's eventfeaturing some 8000 entrants was a tad unsatisfactory as we were totally out of the loop with what was happening at the start line and the tedium of the wait was stretching a point. Eventually, at about 7.30 we started moving and finally crossed the start line at 7.35, only 35 minutes adrift of messrs Contador, Indurain and co. Still, it was great to be underway and the buzz of riding the fast roads out of Alcudia and back to Pollenca in amongst the other riders was palpable - it really is hard to beat. We were at the foot of the Femenia climb in under 50 minutes and now the field started, gradually, to settle as we found our place in the peloton. The stats showed that my overall position improved as the race went on, I prefer a steady start with something left in the tank for the finish and today was no different. And this year I was determined to enjoy myself, enjoy the weather and enjoy the scenery to the point of taking photos of the day as I went. It always seems bizarre on these rides that, when you get to the top of a climb like this people stop and rest awhile. I confess that for me now is the time to press on, there are bigger climbs (and descents) to come. From Femenia the road rolls past Lluc, Sa Calobra and Gorg Blau before the next proper climb to Puig Major, the highest point of the day's ride. Still the field was busy, with plenty of riders all around, a possible issue come the long descent to Soller which now followed. The event runs on closed roads these days, which is a relief as it means the only thing to worry about is the other riders who can be, shall we say, less than attentive. Care is decidedly required on the 14km fast sweeping descent but this was a real highlight today - last time it was wet, cloudy and cold, this year was nigh on perfect. Having come down to Soller, the only way now is up again (geographically it nestles in a hollow surrounded by mountains) and we now headed further west along the coastal roads to Deia and Valdemossa, with some wonderful coastal mountain scenery to distract. And still the field was busy, though now I was passing more and more riders, always an encouraging sign. Previously the 167 version (my option) splits left at Valdemossa but not this year, instead continuing over a new climb for me, the Coll den Claret. A testing descent brought us to the junction and, as the cut-off of 11.50am was gone, all riders were now being sent on the shorter 167km route. The road out of the mountains through Escorles was fun and from here the ride gets easier as the mountains are now behind us and we are heading east back to Alcudia, still some 65km away. Now the aim was to find a good group and get in the midst to take advantage and make good time. This was soon achieved and I found the kilometers ticking away before we hit a small draggy climb to ALaro and the group broke up. Now I was on my own for a while but I felt good and still made good time, passing riders more than were passing me. Finally I hooked up with another group for the final 10kmn run-in and at this point it was touch and go whether I could make it under 7 hours. I didn't but that hardly mattered, it had been a totally absorbinbg and enjoyable ride and my finishing time of 7 hours, 3 minutes and 29 seconds placed me 1259th out of 3268 riders in the 167 event. I'm happy with that, not bad for an old gimmer having a nice day out! After collecting my medal and finding Dave who had finished just before me (having opted for a non-stop ride) we enjoyed a celebratory beer in the beer tent. And there was still enough in the legs for me to take a detour on the way back to the hotel to find a bar in Pollenca for another cheeky beer and some decent food (at last). A 210 kilometer day certainly works up a good appetite!

Day 6: In search of the Cami de Muro. After yesterday's exertions I was opting for an easy day today, our last full day of our Mallorca Tour 2019. Others were again going for different options, but I headed south and west onto the plains round Sa Pobla before finding the start of the lovely Cami Vell de Muro, an old road which heads across the island, quiet and generally pretty flat. With a tailwind and on another warm sunny day the views of the mountains made it a lovely hour or so as I headed west. Eventually though it was time to turn north and find a way back to base, seeking out the towns which skirt the base of the Serra Tramuntana mountains. First Benissalem and Lloseta before reaching Selva where my tummy was telling me it was time for lunch. All these towns are places we often ride through or past without taking the time to explore, today I put that right and enjoyed discovering a little of what they had to offer. In Selva I happened across a cobbled street leading to the back of the church and a square with a couple of bars where lunch beckoned. By now the cloud was gathering and the temperature was cooling a little, but not enough to spoil a beer and a baguette in the shadow of the church. Suitably sated, it was back on the bike and a rerun of yesterday's run-in from Selva to Campanet before I turned north-east along the Campanet valley for one last time this holiday. Pollenca called for a coffee stop and then it was back through the lanes to Port de Pollenca and a date with my bike bag - always a bit of a chore at the end of the week.

So, another Mallorca week completed for myself and the team, and it has been fun. My form has been good enough to enjoy the riding, especially the amazing day of the 312 on Saturday. With just over 4 weeks to the Pyrenees I feel this has been ideal preparation and I would hope to enjoy the riding there every bit as much. Bring it on!
Total distance for the week: 713km
Total ascent: 8794m

April 17th 2019: Bring on Mallorca

It is now just a few days before I meet up with the Team Geriatrics crew and we head off to the Balearics for our annual get together, returning to Mallorca for what will be our 7th visit. My entry into the Mallorca 312 sportive event at the end of next week has been looming as I have struggled to get my fitness to a point where I hope I can enjoy the ride through the Tramuntana mountains. I have been increasing both the intensity and length of my rides and today was something of a final test to see where I'm at. This would also be a last test for my Domane 5.9 which I shall be taking with me next week, after some late headset repairs. The weather forecasters' promises of warm weather have proved fairly accurate and today was a glorious day for riding a bike. I opted for a less hilly route out east across Cheshire, going instead for distance and time in the saddle with a route that would end up over 150km. A gentle easterly had little effect on my progress and as the day warmed up and I was able to discard my arm warmers it turned into a thoroughly pleasant day on the bike, enjoying the soporific effects of the Spring sunshine. Lunch was taken at a busy Tatton Park where families were taking an Easter holiday break with families and the sunny stable courtyard was all a-bustling. These are very familiar roads so navigation was easy and progress was hampered only by the countless roadworks which seem to be popping up all over the place. I eventually rolled back through Chester at about 5pm and was cheered to see the ice-cream vendors still doing business down by the river under the shadow of the Handbridge. Well, it had to be done and I sat with my coffee ice-cream cone soaking up the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the international heritage city in the afternoon sunshine. An easy last 12km home and 154km in my legs, I think I am ready. The bike certainly is!

On Sunday last we enjoyed the annual spectacular that is the Two Mills CTC Early Season Challenge ride, a 50 mile meander through the Cheshire and Welsh countryside, passing close to our front door on the way. It is always impeccably organised and along with some friends Helen and I had managed to secure places on the ride. It has a very civilised approach, concentrating very much on the social enjoyment which we were more than happy to embrace. The ride is basically a figure of eight, heading first north from the Sports Centre in Farndon before returning to HQ for a mid-ride bunfight, and then heading out south to Bangor-on-Dee and a final run-in down the Dee valley along roads I had riddent last week on my outing to the Ceiriog Valley. No Garmin glitches this time and the nagging headwind which made life difficult as we rode south worked very much in our favour for the last 10 miles as we returned to HQ for the second bun fight and inquest. A lady from Holyhead Cycling Club was making it her business to photograph all and sundry and she was certainly taking an interest when she learnt that Helen and I were recently married - we ended up making the headline news of their Facebook page. We sported our medals and smiles in equal amounts. Lovely day out.

On the pro scene the last few weeks has seen the spring cobbled classics unfold with some notable races in Flanders and northern France with La Ronde, won in style by Alberto Bettiol - his first ever pro victory, riding away from the remains of the breakaway on the cobbled climb of the Kwarement, and Paris-Roubaix which was won in a two-up sprint in the Roubaix Velodrome by Philippe Gilbert who now has won all of the one-day monuments bar Milan-San Remo. Perhaps most notable of all though was a relatively unheralded ride by Victor Campenaerts in the altitude of a Mexican velodrome where he covered over 55km to beat Bradley Wiggins 4 year old UCI World Hour record and claim the title. It was an impressively paced ride by the Belgian.

April 8th 2019: Up the Ceiriog Valley

Shortly after our recent relocation into North Wales I sat down with some maps of the area and had a good look at some possible ride routes which might fit the bill come the longer warmer days of Spring. Today was such a day and one ride in particular caught my eye, namely a ride up into the Ceiriog Valley deep into the Berwyn mountains west of Chirk. David Lloyd George is reported to have said the the Ceiriog Valley is a little bit of heaven on earth - I'm not sure I would echo his enthusiasm, perhaps he should have travelled a bit more, but as a day on the bike goes this was still pretty good. The weather was hazy and overcast, with a chill breeze, but pleasant enough as I headed south past Wrexham down towards the Dee Valley and Chirk, arriving just around lunchtime. In hazy sunshine I sat munching sandwiches from a local bakers, in front of the church and looking at the map in some detail. The road into the Ceiriog Valley, the B4500, climbs gently alongside the river for several miles at just that nice sort of gradient that makes it pleasant rather than hard. A tail wind probably had something to do with it! Through the villages of Pontfadog, Llwynmawr, Glyn Ceiriog and Pandy the gradient gradually ramped up until I was riding into the upper and wilder reaches of the valley and the scenery opened out into proper mountain country. At Tregeiriog, after some 10 miles from Chirk, I finally turned off onto a minor road which proceeded to head steeply up the flanks of the hillside south and up out of the valley. This was tough, but the views opened out. If it had been less hazy this would have been spectacular. The single track road rose rapidly and then almost as abruptly descended to the village of Rhiwlas, an altogather wilder and, for me, more scenic valley. Up and down the road meandered before yet another climb up and over to Rhydycroesau. It was relentless, but fun. One final climb took me over to Sellatyn and finally out of the mountains and back toward civilisation. The ride home took me into Cheshire and north down the east side of the Dee Valley, some familiar roads. A bizarre moment in Shocklach where my Garmin suddenly had a meltdown and the distance jumped by some 900km. Later analysis showed that I had, momentarily, zoomed out into the Bay of Biscay and back, and by the time I got home my totalk distance for the ride had topped 1000km. An epic indeed, though actually it was a more modest 126km in the saddle. Strava are still looking into this discrepancy. Suffice to say it didn't spoil what was a fine day out on the bike.
Totals for March
Distance ridden: 978km
Total ascent: 9965m

March 24th 2019: The Newlands Triangle

Since moving down to the Cheshire-Welsh border permanently last year I don't get many opportunities to ride in Cumbria these days. This weekend was an exception - I was in the county to see Carlisle United for probably the last time at home this season. Staying with Paul out on the west coast near Workington we looked for a suitable outing on Sunday and, at Paul's suggestion, we opted for a route out to the Vale of Lorton and a loop over Whinlatter and Newlands, a veritable Newlands Triangle to both fear and savour. The weather was less than perfect with a nasty cold westerly wind, overcast conditions and the threat of rain. Undaunted, we headed out over the lumpy terrain and down to Lorton for the start of the Whinlatter climb, always a bit easier with a tasty tailwind like today. Paul is, to say the least, a little out of condition which made it an easier day for me. On his day he can leave me for dust, today was not that day! We eased our way up the climb, much more pleasant since the authorities resurfaced the road ahead of last year's Tour of Britain and then took the plunge down the helter-skelter descent to Braithwaite village, which is just a bit uncomfortable near the bottom where a loose road surface urges caution. Here we turned right and headed along the winding narrow lanes into the gorgeous Newlands Valley. Being a Sunday the roads were busy with visiting traffic (even in this less than glorious weather), most of it coming down the valley as we headed up to Stair and into the wilder upper part of the valley (where they filmed the BBC's A Word). By now the headwind was making life difficult and this got stronger the higher we went. The last third of the Newlands Hause climb reveals the full extent of the horror ahead as the road gradually ramps up and up to climax with a nasty 20% section to the pass itself - here the wind was such that you simply ground to a halt. Not fun. Sadly, nor was the ensuing descent with a gusting and swirling wind making bike control difficult, along with a less than perfect road surface. Ah, the joys of Lake District roads. The silver lining was that, down in Buttermere Village, we were stopping for a much deserved lunch break in Syke Farm tearooms. And what fine scran it was too, with notable mention for the chocolate cake which got Paul's seal of approval (he is himself renowned for his chocolate cake baking). While lingering in the warmth and comfort of the café the heavens opened and the long-awaited rain had at last arrived. Still, at least the bulk of our climbing was now behind us, though we had yet to haul ourselves up over Lanthwaite Green and back to Lorton before the lumpy rolling meander back to Workington. Despite the weather, the wind and the traffic, it was indeed a cracking and epic ride out in amazing scenery. Thanks Paul

March 20th 2019: The Road to Hell

Yes, I know we've been here before, but that's the thing with the Road to Hell. It keeps coming back to bite you! With Mallorca now just over 5 weeks away I have had precious few opportunities to get some decent miles in but after Storm Gareth last week the weather has finally relented and Wednesday saw the weather Gods giving us a fair weather window of opportunity. After a couple of days in the office I grabbed the chance with both wheels and headed west into the Welsh hills, out through Mold and over the narrow lanes of Moel Arthur in the Clwyd hills, a grippy and winding road which served well as a warm-up.

The Road to Hell is a little known B-road, an 11 kilometer climb which rises high onto the Denbigh moors of Llyn Brenig, west of the sleepy county town of Denbigh itself. It starts innocently enough with a sharp descent out of Denbigh to cross the Afon Ystrad but kicks up as it means to go on with a sharp steep hairpin and a steady pull up through farmland and heading for the steeper pitches above Peniel. At this point views east across the Vale of Clwyd offer a glimpse of the Clwydian hills, basking in hazy sun on this fine morning. Here another sharp bend marks the crux of the climb, a 20% pitch of some 600 metres up the flanks of Foel Gasyth, only to then immediately drop back down to a crossroads where the B5435 road from Nantglyn joins. At this point you get a glimpse of the summit of the climb, far away up on the high moors. It seems so close, but at this point you are not even half way. And still the road goes up. And up. The valley views open out to the north and that final push to the summit seems a bit closer now. There is a steep pull to a cattle grid and the access road to Llyn Brenig and suddenly the road widens into a two lane highway with a sweeping curve across the head of the Nantglyn valley and then that final 13% drag to the very top. All the while an increasing moorland headwind slapped me in the face, taunting my efforts and sapping the energy from my legs. This climb is well named indeed. And as I crawled over the apex of the climb there was a sense of both satisfaction and relief that it was finally over. At nearly 450 metres it is a lofty viewpoint but by now food was my priority and I carried on for the next 5 rolling kilometers to the well-appointed Llyn Brenig Visitor Centre where the café provides a welcome respite (and some good cake too!)

I confess that as I savoured my soup and cake I changed my planned route, having been tempted by the prospect of rolling back down that 13% gradient with a helpful tailwind and finding an alternative route home across the moors. And what a good thought that proved to be. The descent to that Nantglyn crossroads was swift and enjoyable. Here a right turn climbing up through the village of Saron was followed by a rolling descent down into the Clywedog valley, the road following a delightful winding river which cuts through the hills on its way down to the Vale of Clwyd through delightful villages of Cyffylliog and Bontuchel before dropping me out in Ruthin. It had been quite a journey and I still had some serious riding left to get home. I opted for the Shelf, a longish climb which cuts through the Clwydian range to the village of Llandelgla. By now my legs were well and truly toast, but the last bit was the glorious Sunspot descent to Pontybodkin and, finally, home. It had been quite a day!

March 18th 2019: Back to winter but spring is coming

After what was unseasonal weather last month which saw cyclists out in shorts and short sleeve jerseys way ahead of schedule, it was normal service resumed as March has thrown winter and more at us these last 2 weeks or so. Snow, wind (storm Gareth), hail, more wind, rain (lots of it) and a little bit of sunshine has proved that our climate is nothing if not unpredictable. Hopes of some longer rides have been dashed, but I did manage a day out last week, heading east out into Cheshire but finding most of the cafés were closed on a Monday, a rum state of affairs indeed. And at the end of last week I found myself down in Devon as Storm Gareth took hold but still managed a breezy ride up the delightful Teign Valley on the fringes of Dartmoor, one of my favourite rides.

Hot news from the organisers of the Mallorca 312, which is now just 6 weeks away, is that we will be joined by no less than Sean Kelly and the great Miguel Indurain. As a long standing Big Mig fan, the prospect of riding with him is exciting. When I say riding with him, I use this phrase in the loosest possible context as in all likelihood I will probably catch a glimpse of his back wheel as I go slowly backwards up the first climb! Nevertheless, it is a chance to catch a glimpse of a hero from my youth and I have no doubt that he will (as he always does) be polite and humble when presented to the fellow riders at the pre-race do. This will be the third time I have been in the same event as him, and I do feel both honoured and privileged. In what other sport would you get the chance to rub shoulders with your heroes?

On the pro front the 2019 season is well underway now with races coming thick and fast. The Team GB track teams had a pretty lean time in the World Championship, coming away with just four medals (and only 1 gold) but I suspect that by next (Olympic) year that will have changed. On the road, it looks very much like Team Sky will shortly become Team Ineos as Britain's richest businessman takes on the mantle from the global broadcaster. Whether this proves to be beneficial for all involved remains to be seen but it does at least ensure some form of continuity for the British team as they attempt to gather more Grand Tour victories in 2019. Given that they have just taken the Paris-Nice title (with Egan Bernal) this is more than possible. On top of that Adam Yates is in pole position going into the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico, so 2019 bodes well for British riders (we should probably ignore Geraint Thomas's withdrawal due to illness). The Classics are almost upon us, something else to look forward to as the season gathers pace. Yep, 2019? Bring it on!

February 28th 2019: What a fortnight

Forecasters are telling us that February has been the warmest ever, and certainly the last 10 days or so has been pretty special for the depths of winter. I have been out in shorts, the Garmin has been reading over 24 degrees and there has been wall to wall sunshine at times with little need for mudguards. Still, I shan't be complacent as February has ended with normal service resumed - today it has rained ALL day long. A good day to sit in front of the TV and enjoy the World Track Championships in Poland where Australia have just smashed their own world pursuit record by posting the amazing time of 3 minutes 48 seconds. Stunning. Britain were nearly 3 seconds adrift and they rode well, posting their second best time ever. Not sure what this might mean for the Olympics next year but definitely something to look forward to. Elinor Barker did win gold for Britain in the scratch race, avoiding a mass pile-up with a lap to go.

Following my long ride to Jodrell Bank, I managed another long ride last week, with a first foray this year over the Horseshoe Pass, via some lesser travelled roads of the Clwydian range before returning via Bangor and the Dee valley. It was a glorious day and the ride was something to be savoured. No records set, but I am concentrating on building some stamina and leg strength ahead of Mallorca in a couple of months. And a couple of days ago I headed out into the Clwyds again, finding some more new climbs to test my legs (which they certainly did) but being rewarded by some amazing views in the Spring sunshine and enjoying a tasty café lunch outdoors in Ruthin. On top of that we have had a few social rides this month too, and are now looking forward to the CTC Early Season Trial at the beginning of April.
Totals for February
Distance ridden: 842km
Total ascent: 8215m

February 15th 2019: Dare we dream of Spring?

After some seasonally and entirely predictable cold weather in January and the first week of February which saw snow hit much of the country and reduced my cycling activities to zero for a week or so, we suddenly find ourselves immersed in unseasonably sunny and, dare I say it, warm weather. Looking out of the window the sun is blazing down in double figure temperatures in the garden and is demanding that we head out on the bikes this afternoon (which we shall). Earlier this week I took advantage of this and headed east into Cheshire on a long (for me) ride of some 145km, ostensibly to grab some lunch at Jodrell Bank (which does offer an excellent and good value café). A gentle breeze hardly held me back and despite a lack of stamina in my legs I found the day out entirely enjoyable. This was on top of a shorter but still satisfying metric ton ride last week, foreshortened by less favourable damper and colder conditions. So, here we are barely half way through February and I have already ridden as much distance-wise as the whole of January. I am also trying (not entirely successfully) to include some hilly terrain in these outings to build up my leg power for what promises to be some demanding rides when I get to Mallorca and the Pyrenees. As I look ahead to the Spring and Summer I am mindful that I have a number of big rides ahead of me, most notably the Mallorca 312 in April, so the chance to get some long rides in now will hopefully reap dividends come the big day.

January 28th 2019: Where has January gone?

Wow. It's hard to believe that January has already pretty much slipped by, with just 3 days remaining. And with poor wintry weather forecast for the next 3 days I think it pretty unlikely that I will be venturing out before Friday and February. All the more reason to enjoy a pleasant afternoon on the bike today whilst the sun shone (albeit a chilly sun) and it was dry and clear. A spin east into the depths of Cheshire (well, just the other side of Chester anyway) for a welcome piece of chocolate cake at the Meadow Lea café at the far end of the Chester Greenway - it was always too close to home when we lived in Chester but now it sits nicely in the middle on a 40 mile loop from our new Welsh home. Still, January has been quiet with less than 500km under my belt so far. The first ride was the longest (sounds like a good title for a song!) with a 130km outing to Tatton Park way back on January 9th, so my Strava Gran Fondo ride has at least been ticked off - I have managed to complete every one since the beginning of 2014 so there's always a little bit of pressure as a new month starts (especially in winter). With the Clwyd hills now on our doorstep I do have the chance to test myself on local favourites such as Rainbow, Clwyd Gate and Nant y Garth, as I did on a 40 mile ride on Friday last week on a grey (and damp) day. At this time of year there is no danger of breaking any records but it was nice to spin over the hills and enjoy some familiar views. Hopefully there will be plenty more such rides as the year progresses.

One last observation concerns the growing habit of cyclists (and I have to say walkers too as I find it equally a thing when out on the fells) to eschew the time-honoured tradition of a nod, a wave or, indeed, a cheery greeting as we pass. There seems to be an increasing number of cyclists who avoid eye-contact, keep their gaze to the floor and their mouths firmly closed, a sad indictment I feel of our society as it grows ever more insular. It has always been one of life's (albeit simple) pleasures to acknowledge a fellow cyclist as we pass, sharing in that moment the knowledge that we are enjoying so much (even in moments of dare I say pain as we grind our way up a steep climb of battle into a tiring headwind). So go on, make someone's day, and next time a rider passes you when you're out in the saddle offer a greeting, a smile and a gentle acknowledgement that we are indeed the lucky ones.
Totals for January
Distance ridden: 490km
Total ascent: 4220m

January 4th 2019: Photo highlights of 2018

As last year, this is a great opportunity to have a quick look back at some of the highlights of last year, and photographs provide an ideal medium to do so. The slide show below gives a snapshot of some of those highlights from 2018. Enjoy!

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