I've Always Wanted To Cycle To Work...

...but I didn't quite expect it to be this far. Cycling from Yatton (where I live) to Avonmouth (where I work) is just over 15 miles going on the National Cycle Route Network. It's a pretty good ride and you only have to cycle on the motorway bridge for a short distance! I used to cycle the route the opposite way when I lived in Bristol and I know the section out to Portishead pretty well.

Some of the route is cycle path (you cycle around all the cars they store by the docks) and the rest is on very quiet roads. Today is the third time I've done it and the 30 mile round trip is certainly getting easier but I wouldn't want to do it every day. I thought it would be good training for the coast to coast and get the miles in my legs. Hey, if I've got to work on a Saturday I might as well turn it in to some leisure time.

I have to say there are a few people who cycle the route, probably more later in the day (I have to set off at 7.30am) and they all look a bit more geared up for the trip. Last week when it was freezing when I set off (literally I think) I didn't have any glasses and I had to pull my fingers back in as my fingerless gloves offered very little protection. Still you know what they say, all the gear, no idea...

Anyone up for going to the Brighton game?

Only thing is you've got to cycle there, from Huddersfield, 260 miles away. I have to say I don't fancy it but one of my friends does, Michael is cycling from Huddersfield to Brighton to watch the mighty Terriers take on Brighton who sit 3rd and 1st in League One respectively. Such a big game is bound to mean nothing by the time it gets to April 30th but it won't to 170 pairs of weary legs who are making the trip in the name of charity.

Michael's aim is to raise £1000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, I'll let him explain:

The event has been organised through Huddersfield Town Football Club in association with the clubs ‘Keep It Up’ Campaign which is a three year fund raising initiative for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance – All funds raised will go towards the YAA. 

Yorkshire Air Ambulance 
The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity providing a lifesaving rapid response emergency service to 5 million people across Yorkshire. We fly seven days a week, 365 days a year, covering a vast landscape that not only includes major cities and motor ways, but also rural and isolated locations. 

To keep providing this life saving service the charity needs to raise £7,200 per day to keep both of Yorkshire’s Air Ambulances maintained and in the air. The generosity that we receive is the life blood of the charity and without this generosity; we would not be able to provide the service that we are so proud of. 

I am sure you will all agree that this really is a fantastic cause. Therefore I have an ambitious fundraising target of £1,000 – I would be extremely grateful if you would be kind enough to support me in achieving this target and ultimately support the life-saving work the YAA carries out, please visithttp://www.justgiving.com/Michael-Carson1 

Thank you in advance for your support, 

Michael






Good luck Mike.

Devon Coast To Coast - More Planning

So we're getting closer to actually getting something organised for our next trip and we've learnt some interesting things. First of all Sustrans don't have a map available for it but it appears the OS Tours Map for Somerset and Devon covers it well (used to be called Tours #5). Second of all there is a bunk house near Prince Town called Nuns Cross Farm that is cut off from civilisation (and reality?) where we could stay. There is no running water, heating or electricity but it sounds like fun. The question is do we want to carry our sleeping bags all the way with us just for that one nights stay.

Transport is looking a bit of a pain and catching the train down from Bristol looks the best option. We can get it to Barnstaple and then cycle to the start and catch it from Plymouth home. Let's hope First Great Western stick to their word and allow us on the train with our bikes...

Sex, Lies and Handlebar Tape - Jacques Anquetil's Biography

I recently read the biography of Jacques Anquetil, five times winner of the Tour de France amongst other great titles and I thought I’d pop a quick review up here.

I found it weird reading this book how such a successful man could come across so unpopular even when written so many years on from his glory days. He seemed to win his races with such machine like performances that the French never warmed to him and in fact they warmed more to the guy who constantly finished second to Anquetil, Poulidor.

The book covers Anquetil’s life from start to finish (he died in 1987) and, as the title suggests, he had just as interesting life off the bike as he did on it. In fact you are given a sneak preview of his personal life in the introduction and it makes for interesting reading.  He married his Doctors wife and then had a daughter with his wife’s daughter from her previous marriage. He then carried on relations with both for many years. Eventually the mother of his child moved out and he then married his wife’s daughter in law. If you’re still with me, well done.

It may all sound incestuous but in the eyes of the law I don’t think anything was illegal as it wasn’t in his direct blood line. The author, Paul Howard, does well to put this all across without sounding judgemental at any time. He also manages to keep his personal life separate from his cycling story and he should be applauded for this as such a story could distract from what was a very successful and unique cycling career.

Having read the book I am glad to know the story of Jacques but it never seems to come to life and you never feel like you’re in Anquetil’s head. At times the book can drag on and the author explains why there are certain gaps in his information. It must be hard writing a biography after the subject has died but you never feel caught up in his successes, perhaps this is how the French felt when following him and in that sense Howard has done well transporting me from Bristol to the crowds of France but I felt like I was the one stood at the back who couldn't see everything.

I think if you’re a fan of the Tour de France or cycling in general then I think this may interest you. However if you’re new to the sport or haven’t read many other cycling books then there are better on the shelf. I would give this book three out of five.

You can buy the book from Amazon.

and we're off again

After many discussions in pubs and at various weddings and stag dos we've finally decided that we're off again. Well kind of. We're aiming for April next year and the route will be the Devon Coast to Coast. I think. If anybody knows more than that let me know.