This Land is our land for cycling

Many cyclists in the South East will remember a month or so ago that a group of residents in the New Forest started accusing riders of all manner of things (mostly being middle aged and wearing Lycra) and started a campaign to get a Wiggle Sportive curtailed. We have also heard various complaints from Surrey residents about closed road events and their view that their neighbourhoods are being treated as a race track. Even having the tour coming through seems to be cause for unhappiness to some.  While as a cyclist it is pretty clear which side of the fence I am on some recent debate about the housing shortage rather hardened my view.

A number of commentators have suggested that the London housing shortage is in part the result of the greenbelt. Land for housing is at a premium because planning rules that protect the greenbelt ensures a shortage of supply. This means that we all pay higher prices for housing because of it.  Now, I am not about to suggest I want the Surrey Hills or the Ashdown Forest turned into a new town but there is an interesting point at stake here. We, the masses of city dwellers are paying a premium for housing in part because there is a consensus that a greenbelt is a good thing. The implication is that the greenbelt does not only 'belong' to those who  have the good fortune to live there, but to mangle the words of Leon Rosselson, 'to be a common treasury for all.' The roads, the paths and the hills exist in their wonderful greenness because we want to retain this playground for walking, riding, cycling, or simply for the sake of the environment. But it is a gift we all pay for in sky high prices for our cramped urban homes. For those fortunate enough to be able to live in this place, accepting a few closed roads and making a few allowances seems a small price in exchange.

Goodbye Lance, well his glasses at least.

A few years ago I went to Vision Express and asked if the did prescription glasses for cycling. I think I was there for an eye test and was sick of going off course in TT's because I couldn't see where the marshal was sending me. The young man got very very excited and told me about the great Oakley flak jacket glasses. He came back with these. He was so thrilled to have a cyclist in the shop to sell them to I felt mean rejecting them simply because they were Livestrong. ( random thought, I think I remember David Attenborough explaining in life on earth that in nature yellow and black = poisonous, ie wasps). Also I was too lazy to go elsewhere and the bird in the hand thing.... Anyway, I purchased and after I managed to ride over my normal glasses by mistake, the Lance glasses became my main pair. Time moves on, and Lance has confessed (ish)  and  now some years down the road I just can't be doing with it anymore.  I love the Oakley's but have ordered a nice plain black frame this time. So goodbye to Lance, his glasses at least.

Tour Wessex - On reflection

Last year a friend posted on facebook 'Tour of Wessex = Rain' and to be honest the weather has been one of the defining features of this three day mega sportive. Covering (officially) 335 miles heading north, south then west from Somerton its up there with the best Britain has to offer, and one of only a handful that actually attracts riders from overseas to ride it.

It has progressed a long way since I first did a couple of stages in 2007 as part of my training for the Marmotte. One senses that Pendragon Sports have got this down to a fine art.  Now as Shimano support vehicle is on hand to deal with practically any mechanical problem. Back in 2007 one of my friends was taken out by a broken chain, the other by a broken spoke and there was not much else for them to do than wait for the broom wagon. Now the feed stations are well stocked with decent grub (chicken tikka rolls work surprisingly well to take away that fruity clag of gels), back in 2007 on a freezing day in a down pour all they could offer was some energy drink at one feed. This time when riders got into trouble, as trivial as a puncture or as serious as the guy who went down with a suspected heart attack, trained motor bike marshals were there quickly to assist. In 2007 I remember us stopping to help a guy who had run out of tubes, was so cold he couldn't change his tyre anyway. One friend still describes that has is worst day on a bike. I also have a memory (possible false) that the only food available at the end of the stage were some cakes made by the WI. At that point more sweet stuff was a long way short of the mark. Now there is a good range of stuff from bacon baps to recovery shakes.

I have been back a few times, I completed all three days in 2008 but if I recall the final stage was cut to 100 miles because of rain and high winds. This year the first day kicked off in that fine tradition, but the second was dry and though rain was threatened for the third day it stayed away long enough for us to finish. All three stages are great in their own right, though in terms of scenery the final day is the treat, if you are able to enjoy it. A gently rising run-out take one the Quantocks (where I am convinced they added an extra climb in that wasn't on the route card) before taking us along the coast through Minehead and Porlock. While the brutal 1:4 climb out of Porlock is the 'classic' challenge of rider versus road, the ToW is sensible enough to use the Toll road up toe Exmoor, offering wonderful views out to see as one goes over the switchbacks to the top. Then out onto  the rolling road on the moor, followed by steep descents and sharp climbs. At the final feed there is a sense of having beaten the beast, ahead is 30 odd miles of more or less down hill to the end.

Clearly cycling is starting to get some serious traction with women. Given that this is long and tough event the huge increase in the number of women for 2008 is obvious, and they weren't doing the short route. I know because they were passing me. There is some kit that must be wonderful when out on the sunny roads of Southern Europe, it looks both more revealing and less attractive on a wet Saturday in Wessex when on dirty gravelly roads. And I am sure the 'Spiderman' cycling kit with matching jersey, shorts and leggings seemed like a great idea at the time but.....

The event brought home how for cyclists our playing field is the world, with all that can bring. The different landscapes, terrains offering endless variety and challenge, hard slogs and exhilarating thrills, and just stuff happening. 15 miles from home on the second stage we were stopped by cattle being moved across the road, this lasted abut 10 minutes, and apparently happens every year at this point. Like getting caught at the level crossing on the Paris-Roubaix, the world goes on around us.

London By Sea- Sussex CA G25/93

Under the CTT codings G courses are 'London South', I have heard Brighton described as London on Sea and in the world of Time Trialling it can be pretty much true. The G25/93 out of Steyning, having take you up through Partridge Green and down the A24 to Washington heads out to the fringes or Shoreham before turning back in land. 

I have never ridden this course before as a 25 but have horrible memories of parts of it. The last 30 miles of the SCCU 100 features these roads heavily. The drag along the A24 has in its time been a personal Calvery.

Today's event boasted a celebrity entrant in the form of DrHutch, sadly he decided to give if a miss. It's not a course for a moral boosting fast time but it was a decent enough morning though some of the skinnier whippets like Brighton's James Stone were shivering a little. 

Events at the start had an extra level of excitement as there was a triathlon in Steyning at the same time. A poor Marshall for that event kept trying to send me into the transition area when I was trying to warm up.

I felt pretty good, and it's amazing how much easier a road can feel when you haven't got 70 miles in your legs. Steady improvement continues with a 1.04.36. Winner was Brighton's Steve Kane with an impressive 53.