Cycling World September 2015

Cycling WORLD

COMBINING PASSIONS CYCLING-INSPIRED ARTWORK

Prudential Ride London Feature

MONT BLANC THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST ONE DAY BIKE EVENT

RUSSIAN 9195 KM CYCLE RACE The South Downs Way SEPTEMBER 2015 £4.75

September 2015 Cycling World

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Cycling World September 2015

September 2015 Cycling World

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CONTENTS

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PRUDENTIAL RIDE LONDON FEATURE

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COMBINING PASSIONS Cycling-inspired artwork

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Cycling World September 2015

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GLASGOW TO PAISLEY: the delights of Pollok Park

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RUSSIAN 9195 KM CYCLE RACE

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CYCLING AT PURPOSES

MONT BLAN The World’s T Day Bike Eve

CONTENTS

@CyclingWorlduk www.cyclingworldmag.co.uk

5 Editor’s Letter

NEWS SECTION

@cyclingworld_uk

6 News 8 Network Rail push bike level crossing safety message 10 Prudential Ride London Feature 19 Britsh Cycling Breeze Sets New World Record

UK FEATURES 20 Glasgow to Paisley: the delights of Pollok Park 30 Cycling at cross purposes Sarah Juggins enters her first cyclo-cross event 36 The South Downs Way New Boy on Fat Boy does charity 100 miler 44 Breast Cancer Survivor takes on epic 500km Macmillan Cycletta Challenge-Women only Sportives

PRODUCTS

CROSS

NC Toughest One ent

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THE SOUTH DOWNS WAY Charity 100 miler

47 Solid Tyre Revolution 47 Thorn Cycles Top quality steel-framed touring bikes 49 Cube e-Bikes E-bikes are shedding their chunky image 50 Combining Passions Cycling-inspired artwork

WINTER TRAINING CAMP SPANISH FEATURE 54 Ride like a pro in The Tour of Spain Velofutur urges us to experience the challenge of the east coast Vuelta stages 56 VivaVelotur Director defines “bespoke” 58 Sun Velo Chasing the sun in Mallorca

OVERSEAS FEATURES

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PASSIONATE ABOUT PEDALING: LIMOUSIN

60 Russian 9195 km cycle race The world’s longest Ultra-Stage bicycle race 64 Mont Blanc The World’s Toughest One Day Bike Event 71 Passionate About Pedaling: Limousin with Bonkers Frog

September 2015 Cycling World

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E G N E L L A H C UNIVERSIT Y

O T D OXFOR E G D I R CAMB

E D I R BIKE ILES M 0 9 R E V O S R E RID JOIN THE HE ART ber 2015 m e t p e S 9 1 bhf.org.uk/oxcam

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Cycling World September 2015

ŠBritish Heart Foundation, registered charity in England and Wales (225971) and in Scotland (SC039426)

Editor’s letter September 2015

Going out on a Sunday ride this summer you’d think the UK is a leading Cycling Nation. I get dizzy constantly giving the customary nod to an oncoming rider. Large groups of ride-buddies come speeding past, often wearing a club kit. A hi-viz donned marshal ushers me around yet another sportive route that I am not actually participating in. All my former football-rugby friends have listened to their knees and evolved to two wheels, now doing battle on Strava.

Come Monday morning it’s a different story. You are the only freak employee who rides to work. Every team meeting you pipe up during the AOB; “any chance of showers and some bike storage,” knowing all too well you are destined for another year of baby wipes and grimaces from Facilities for blocking fire exits.

The 2011 census revealed that those who cycle to work was only 2.8%, a proportion that remained unchanged since 2001.

Although large towns and cities have seen an increase; for example in London the figure more than doubled from 77,000 to 155,000; the national picture is disappointing.

Real change can only take place when cycling is a used as a means of transport. There are spatial and financial limits to designated cycle routes, though we urge governments to provide more. So much can also be achieved through cycle training for adults as well as children, workplaces facilitating cycling and basic improvements to road surfaces that would benefit all road users.

Perceptions also need to be changed. Those who don’t ride often think it is more dangerous that it really is. So how about this month accompanying a friend or colleague to try a daily commute, replacing perceived danger with pleasure.

Happy riding,

David Robert (Editor)

PUBLISHED BY:

Cycling World Limited Myrtle Oast Kemsdale Road, Fostall Faversham, Kent ME13 9JL Tel: 01227 750153 Publisher: Colin Woolley colin@cyclingworldmag.co.uk

EDITORIAL:

Editor: David Robert editor@cyclingworldmag.co.uk Production Manager: Alice Allwright production@cplmedia.co.uk Senior Designer: Ivan Boyanov

ADVERTISING:

Sales Manager: Simon White simon@cyclingworldmagazine.com Sales Executive: Joe Nardone joe@cyclingworldmag.co.uk Sales Executive: Ben Emery ben@cyclingworldmagazine.com

CONTRIBUTORS:

Helen Hill, Gordon Cairns, Sarah Juggins, Woody, Deepa Mann-Kler, Steve Middleton, Steve Harvey, Marcus Leach, Keith Gilks

DISTRIBUTED BY:

COMAG Tavistock Road, West Drayton Middlesex UB7 7QE Front cover painting Bradley Wiggins by Deepa Mann-Kler Although every effort is made to ensure the content of features in Cycling World is accurate and correct, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. No guarantees can be made upon the safe return of any unsolicited copy of photographic images. Thepublisher reserves the right to alter or amend any submitted material that is printed in Cycling World. All material in Cycling World is the copyright of the publisher and any reproduction of said material would require written permission from the publisher. ©Cycling World Limited 2015 ISSN: 0143-0238

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NEWS Brompton Bike at Oxford Circus

Brompton Electric Bike Big Companies support British Cycling not far away

William Butler Adams, the CEO of Brompton Bikes, is talking about Ebikes “being the next big thing.”

Nation The Brompton CEO extolled the benefits on a recent 5

Coca-Cola and Thames Water have become the latest businesses to support #ChooseCycling, British Cycling’s plan to transform Britain into a true cycling nation.

live Drive and there can only be one reason, especially in the light of a recent announced move to a larger production premises. The electric Brompton is in the pipeline, confirmed to Cycling World Editor in a recent telephone conversation to their marketing team. The company said it will be moving to a new facility in

They join a peloton including the likes of Greenford, West London, which will be twice the size Orange, Santander, GlaxoSmithKline and National of its current factory in Brentford. Brompton hopes Grid in supporting the campaign to encourage their employees and customers to be more active, including that the factory, which will be ready early next year, will allow it to double production to around 100,000 cycling to work and for leisure, making Britain a more folding bikes per year, obviously including some with pleasant place to live and work. motors.

Launched by British Cycling in March of this year, the #ChooseCycling network of businesses aims to promote cycling as an everyday transport option, ensuring that cycling receives adequate investment from the government. In March David Cameron pointed to £200m the Conservative party had pledged to invest to make cycling safer.

The latest additions to the campaign mean that the #ChooseCycling network now boasts over 30 member companies, who between them represent around 200,000 employees and have a total of around 46 million customers.

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Cycling World September 2015

Will Butler-Adams, was appointed Managing Director in 2008 and was made an OBE for services to manufacturing in the New Year Honours. He refers to the move as representing “the ambition, passion and the long term commitment we have to change how people live in cities around the globe. It comes with risks but these are worth taking if we wish to continue to innovate, both in our product and how we make it, such that we offer something of real value to our customers!”

Cycling Word plans to visit the new factory in 2016 and will report back the news.

Sept CYCLING AND WALKING ROUTES SAVE UK ECONOMY £1 MILLION A DAY

Great Glen Way Cycling National Route 7

Vuelta a España 2015 Contenders

Chris Froome, the recent Team Sky Tour de France winner, is up against Nairo Quintana, Alejandro Valverde and Fabio Aru at this year’s Vuelta a España, which started on August 22. Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali (Team Astana) was ruled out of the Tour for clinging to his team car in order to return inside the peloton after being involved in a collective crash in stage 2. The 2010 Vuelta champion, was 1:30 behind the peloton 20 km from the finish line but managed to make it back into the bunch nine kilometers later. Bruno Valcic, the president of the race commissaires said “It was a tough decision for the commissaires panel but after looking at the images, it was clear that we had no opportunity to give any other penalty to the rider.”

Froome has a solid squad with him, including Geraint Thomas who rode so impressively at the Tour and Irishman Nicholas Roche. If he wins he will become only the third rider in history to win the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana in the same season emulating Jacques Anquetil in 1963 and Bernard Hinault in 1978. The Australian rider Adam Hansen deserves a special mention as has now competed in the last thirteen consecutive Grand Tours, the run starting in the 2011 Vuelta. If he completes he will surpass the record of Bernardo Ruiz, the Spanish rider who also contested twelve consecutive Grands between 1954 and 58.

The National Cycle Network has allegedly saved the UK economy more than £7 billion (equivalent to £1m a day) since it was established 20 years ago, by improving people’s health and reducing congestion, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

The claim is made by Sustrans, the UK’s largest Sustainable Transport charity in an economic impact report. The charity is now calling on the government to press on with developing its promised Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy to ensure that even more people can choose to walk and cycle their everyday journeys.

Over £6 billion of those savings have come from reducing health costs, a result of people being healthier due to walking and cycling more of their journeys. In the past year the Network has saved the UK economy £162 million and has saved the NHS £22 million from reducing obesity and overweight alone.

Additional research from Sustrans has shown that if we doubled the number of local journeys already being made by foot, bike and public transport the economy would benefit from over £110 billion over the next 30 years from the impact on health alone. This year marks 20 years since Sustrans gained funding from the Lottery to develop the National Cycle Network. The Network now stretches to all four corners of the UK and covers over 14,000 miles running along traffic-free and quiet on-road routes.

New data shows that in 2014 the Network saw over 4.9 million people make 764 million trips by bike and on foot.

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Network Rail push bike level crossing safety message

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etwork Rail has launched a new level crossing safety campaign targeting cyclists. The campaign is being supported by Sustrans, the charity behind the creation and management of the 14,000-mile National Cycle Network.

Britain’s level crossings are among the safest in the world, but injuries and near misses still happen regularly.

In the last five years, there have been around 140 incidents involving cyclists with four of these tragically being fatal.

The new campaign aims to encourage safer cycling behaviour to keep cyclists and their bikes from harm at level crossings.

The campaign reminds cyclists:

 To dismount at footpath crossings.

Footpath crossings weren’t designed with cyclists in mind and some have found that their bike wheels can get stuck when crossing the railway. By walking across, you can more easily stop, look and listen for trains, and the risk to cyclists and their bikes is reduced.

 That amber warning lights at road level crossings means ‘stop – a train is coming’.

The campaign will be delivered locally by Network Rail’s 100 level crossing managers, who will aim to speak to cycling groups and clubs across the country as well as leisure cyclists. It will enable them to get across additional safety messages such as:

 Never assume that there is only one train coming or think that you know the timetable to guess when a train might come.

David John is a level crossing manager at Network Rail and a keen cyclist. He explains: “As a keen cyclist myself, I know the hazards that riders encounter every day. Level crossings can sometimes seem to be a hindrance, but to keep safe we’re reminding cyclists to stop when the flashing amber lights come on as a train will soon coming through, and to dismount at footpath crossings. I know getting off the bike isn’t always ideal but I do this to make sure I can safely stop, look and listen to check no train is coming, and to protect my bike as I wheel it across. We’ve seen quite a few cyclists get their wheels stuck while crossing the tracks, so this will help keep your bike as well as you safe.”

Huw Davies, Sustrans National Cycle Network Director, said: “Getting on your bike is a quick way of going from A to B for everyday journeys, but is also a good way to stay healthy and explore the countryside through the National Cycle Network. With there being thousands of level crossings on roads and cycle routes, it’s important that when the public are out and about enjoying the Sustrans Network they are aware of how to use these crossings in a safe and sensible manner. Level crossings can be confusing to people who aren’t used to using them, but by following a few simple rules people can learn how to cross them with safety and confidence.”

 Headphones can be a distraction and may mean that the wearer doesn’t hear the alarms sounded at level crossings or by an oncoming train.

Section 293 of the Highway Code States you should only keep going on an amber light if you have already crossed the stop line when they come on: “AMBER means ‘Stop’ at the stop line. You may go on only if the AMBER appears after you have crossed the stop line or are so close to it that to pull up might cause an accident.”

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Cycling World September 2015

STOP In the last five years cyclists were involved in 143 incidents on level crossings. So please take care and stop at amber lights, this means a train is approaching.

Network Rail cares about your safety. That’s why we’re investing £100 million to make level crossings safer.

To find out how, go to networkrail.co.uk/levelcrossings

LOOK LISTEN LIVE

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rudential RideLondon is the largest festival of cycling in the world and on the weekend of August 1-2 more than 95,000 participants cycled more than three million miles in five events.

On the Sunday Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 saw more than 25,000 amateur cyclists take on a cycling challenge through London

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and Surrey on a similar route to that of the London 2012 Olympic Road Cycling Races. Starting in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, riders went through London to Surrey’s stunning country roads and hills before returning to the capital to finish in spectacular style on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

As well as the opportunity to take on a personal challenge, participants’ involvement benefits good causes with thousands riding for charity. Riders have raised £17 million for good causes since the event began in 2013.

Our Editor was at the start line meeting those that make it happen

Yasin a Sergeant in The Royal Air Force Cadets 282 East Ham Squadron

Kim a Marshal, from East London

“We volunteer at different events like the London Marathon and this is the first year we’ve done the London Bike Ride. This is the morning team, fourteen of us have been helping load up the rider’s bags onto trucks so they receive their bags at the finish. It took us about 4 hours, and it was good fun.”

“I registered for the ride, didn’t get in, thought OK I’d come and marshal and support everyone who’s doing it. Twice I’ve applied and twice I’ve been unsuccessful; it’s my first time volunteering and it’s great.”

Elizabeth riding for the Iolanthe Trust, from North London

Jeremy riding for Diabetes UK, from Cambridge

“The Iolanthe Trust is a small trust that helps midwives do research and look after women and babies better. It looks like a lovely day today. I’ve been riding for over fifty years around London so it will be really nice to get out to the countryside.”

“I ride for Diabetes UK as I work as a nurse practitioner with diabetics. My father-in-law was a diabetic, my mother-in-law is a diabetic and so I’m doing as much as I can”

Sian riding for Water Aid, from London

Bruno a Mavic Mechanic, from Annecy, France

“I chose Water Aid as it does fantastic work. I chose Ride London as it’s going to be a massive challenge for me, whether I’ll do it in the time limit who knows. But I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been doing about 75 miles in training, so I think I should be OK. It’s just the time I’m worried about as I’ve got about 8.5 hours, otherwise there’s a broom wagon to pick people up.”

“We support the Ride London.

We help many riders if they have problem today. It’s a great moment to come in England to help the riders. Normally I work on professional races but it’s as important to go with amateur riders as professional.”

Cycling World September 2015

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September 2015 Cycling World

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Ride 100 a Rider’s Perspective

by Helen Hill

This was my second Ride 100 as I completed the inaugural one with friends as a team of 8 – Team Hill riding in memory of my husband and raising funds for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. It was a high speed peloton, well that’s what it felt like hanging on the back, head down watching the wheel in front, legs spinning like crazy, no time to see the sights.

This time I was riding alone

as I had won a place in the ballot and wanted to experience it as an individual rider. Just getting to Olympic Park had proved something of a logistical nightmare; we returned from holiday in Cornwall late on Friday night, I left my boys with their cousins in Southampton and jumped on a packed train to London on Saturday so I could sign on at Edexcel. I then headed to Earlsfield to stay with my cousin who had readily agreed to give me a lift to the drop off point not realising quite how early she was going to have to get up! The anticipation was intense – I woke up at 12pm, 2 am and finally the alarm went at 5. Yippee time to get ready and go! The traffic was horrendous – what were all these people doing up at 5.30 in the morning – oh yes participating in a bike ride with 24,999 others. So I was finally dropped off and headed off amongst the masses – I imagined it would take about 15mins to do the 5 miles to the Olympic stadium but what I hadn’t factored in was that everybody else had the same idea – it was like the M25 in rush hour and we were on bikes!!

Finally I make it to my allocated start zone – oops closed I had to join the Es instead of Ds. I don’t think I have ever seen so many bikes in one place. The countdown began and we were off, heading on to the right side of the road – I felt like a rebel! This time I could see the sights – The Shard, The Gherkin, The Tower

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of London and marshals shouting their encouragement – all for me or so it felt.

The miles whizzed by – I was making good progress and caught up with some friends who I would stick with, after all that’s what we do when we ride our bikes. However, they dropped behind as we approached Newlands Corner and my need for water necessitated a stop. I lost them then in the hoards of people. The route was familiar as I had ridden it before and Leith Hill soon approached but suddenly we were told to slow down and the crowds intensified - what was happening? All too soon it became apparent – emergency vehicles, the air ambulance – the rumour – a heart attack, the long wait standing with our bikes. The day lost some of its magic.

We were sent off again, walking to begin with and then back on our bikes slowly ascending the hill. Suddenly it felt like there were too many people, too many accidents. Box Hill came and went – the lovely smooth tarmac a reminder of the Olympic year. Eighty miles passed me by and then a shout from the side of the road, a quick U-Turn much to the dismay of the Marshal and there were my friends sat in the Giro cycling coffee shop at the side of the road in Esher! A quick burst of caffeine and sugar and we were on our way again.

Through Wimbledon and Putney, then riding alongside the river and the final miles came into sight. Once again I was overcome with emotion as we rode down Parliament Street, Whitehall and into The Mall, the people banging on the boards, the cheers as we went past, the sense of achievement and that feeling of how lucky I am to be alive!

The Other Events

Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle on Saturday 1 August 2015, offered the chance for all the family to enjoy a traffic-free route on closed roads through central London passing some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks. Thousands of riders of varying ages and abilities, cycling at their own pace and as many times round the route as they liked, stopped along the way to enjoy a range of free bikebased entertainment and activities at Festival Zones.

Drucker crosses the line Copyright Roger Allen for Prudential RideLondon

Prudential RideLondon Grand Prix, also on the Saturday, showcased the Olympic cyclists of the future in youth races for boys and girls and offered a superb opportunity to watch top professional women’s cycle racing in the UK’s biggest women’s criterium race on closed roads in St James’s Park. Velocio Sports delivered team leader Barbara Guarischi to the line in the Women’s Grand Prix. This year, the Grand Prix event also hosted the 10th Brompton World Championship with 500+ riders participating in this highly enjoyable event on the unique folding bikes. Mark Emsley successfully defended his World Championship title.

Prudential RideLondon Handcycle Classic, on Sunday 2 August 2015, featured a field of thirty top handcyclists racing over a 15 mile route, starting from Kingston-uponThames and finishing in The Mall, St James’s Park. Brian Alldis made it third time lucky when he won the event after twice finishing on the lower slopes of the podium behind

Austria’s Paralympic champion Walter Ablinger at the first two editions of the event.

“I was determined to win this year,” said the delighted West Suffolk Wheeler after crossing the line in 40 minutes 28 seconds. “I knew Walter was not here this time, so it was great to be able to ride my own race and finally win it.

Prudential RideLondonSurrey Classic, Sunday 2 August 2015, saw 150 of the world’s top male cyclists starting from Horse Guards Parade and racing over much of the same route as the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100, with extended circuits of testing terrain to meet international race requirements.

Jean-Pierre Drucker produced the sprint of his life to win the race beating Britain’s Ben Swift and Dutchman Mike Teunissen on The Mall in central London to claim the first victory of his professional career.

The 28-year-old was part of an eight-strong group of cyclists that burst clear of the peloton with a quarter of the 200-kilometre race to go before four riders hared up Whitehall and under Admiralty Arch in pursuit of glory.

“To get my first professional win in front of Buckingham Palace is so special,” said Drucker. “The crowd here is so crazy about cycling, it’s fantastic to get my first win here. I love racing in England. I did the Tour of Yorkshire this year and that was fantastic too. After getting my first pro win here, I love it even more.”

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… and our Editor was at the finish line of RideLondon-Surrey 100 to join the celebrations Laura Trott the most successful rider in the history of the European Track Championships

“It was good, I really enjoyed it. I got to ride with my dad the whole way round. I would recommend people to get involved in any cycling event. For me that’s what it’s about- getting as many people out riding their bikes as possible. This whole weekend is about that. The 100miles isn’t for everyone.

The Free Cycle is for families and that’s where I began.”

Minna from East Malaysia now living in London

“It’s perfect weather, it’s a perfect day, it’s amazing! Closed roads is so nice. There were a few crashes on the way, like mine, it’s quite sad. It’s quite nice to see cyclists just stop and block the road to make other cyclists ride around.

They may have been training for a year but they stop just to help each other out.”

Gerry a St John Ambulance volunteer

Gareth riding for MS Society from Wales

“For this event we’ve got people all over the route and we’ve got cycle responders out as well. We’ve had a few casualties at this post. The most common injury is related to people coming off their bikes.

I like helping people; I joined St John in 1981. My background is office work and I find this rewarding.”

“4.35 I did moving. My mum had MS, but unfortunately died so I thought I’d ride for her. Absolutely brilliant day. I had a good group going out but obviously they dropped me on Leith Hill being a bunch of racing snakes. My average speed was 35.1km/h. I just didn’t want anyone heavier than me to beat me. I’m 120 kilos. But I’m not sure if I did or not.”

Vicky and Jason from Somerset.

Riding for pleasure.

Jill Douglas TV commentator for Cycling

Vicky “We’ve done it the last 2 years as well. A chance to ride London, Surrey Hills with closed roads- it’s a brilliant event.”

Jason “It’s the nearest thing to riding in the peloton. We’ve both done exceptional times that we wouldn’t have done without the drafting effect.”

“This is my third event, just to see the way it has grown is amazing.

Do you know they had 84,000 people registered to try and ride?

I get really emotional seeing the mass participation riders come in. You see them all celebrating together, the emotion, even those coming in much later –I get completely overwhelmed.”

The 2016 RideLondon-Surrey 100 Ballot • The public ballot entry system for the 2016 RideLondon-Surrey 100 opened on Monday 10 August 2015 and will close on Friday 8 January 2016 or when 100,000 applications have been received.

• Enter the ballot at https://www.ridelondon.co.uk/ballot/uk-tg1ss/1/

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Win tickets to The Cycle Show with Cycling World Cycling World Magazine is giving away 5 pairs of free tickets to the show.

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Just subscribe to Cycling World Magazine at the show and you go into a prize draw to win one of many prizes including this wonderful piece of art.

You can also meet Deepa at the show, an opportunity to see her collection of cycling art. You can view more of her work in this month’s edition on page 50.

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Cycling World September 2015

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Cycling World September 2015

BRITISH CYCLING BREEZE Sets New Guinness World Record

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ith one year to go before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, 120 women have set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the most mechanical energy produced by pedalling on static bicycles in one hour as part of British Cycling’s Breeze at The National Cycling Centre - Manchester Velodrome on 2 August 2015. The new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title was successfully achieved for the by pedalling on static bicycles for one hour, recording 4821.40 total accumulative Watt hours equal to 646 miles/1039.63 kilometres - cycling more than equivalent straight line distance from Land’s End to John o’ Groats.

Breeze, the largest programme in Britain designed specifically to get more women cycling, welcomed 120 women to the National Cycling Centre in Manchester, who each pedalled constantly for 20 minutes on one of 40 static Matrix Fitness bikes, all under the gaze of an official, independent adjudicator.

A minimum pedalling time of one minute was required per participant.

Based on strict and rigorous guidelines, the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS

title attempt required each Matrix Fitness bike to calculate the total amount of power generated in one hour, as given in watt hours, the average watts per hour (as a total from all static bicycles) was also submitted. The method of measuring was also needed to be able to measure the power being produced at any given moment, as well as over time. At the end of the hour all bicycles were stopped and the total mechanical energy produced was confirmed by a qualified technician who served as a witness for the attempt.

#OURHOUR were involved in organising this attempt, it was a real team effort, and I’d like to take this time to thank everyone involved for all of their commitment and support.

Perhaps we should now turn our heads towards breaking the 24 hour record title!”

There are around 200 volunteer-led Breeze Rides for women every week and the events form part of British Cycling’s overall women’s strategy, which is well on the way to achieving its ambitious goal to get one million more women cycling by 2020.

The attempt was part of British Cycling’s Breeze national campaign which is led by women for women, and has helped thousands of women feel confident and comfortable on their bikes.

Jill Puttnam, Head of Operations at British Cycling, who also took part in the official attempt, comments: “This is an incredible achievement and the team should all be very proud of the efforts that they have put in to set this new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title. Everyone pedalling as fast as they could for twenty minutes was really tough, but incredibly rewarding, and setting the new record has made all of the time and hard work worthwhile. Many stakeholders

Two years into the programme it has been announced that 254,000 more women are already cycling regularly on Britain’s roads.

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GLASGOW TO PAISLEY

The Delights Of Pollock Park

Gordon Cairns enjoys a ride with his 10-year-old son and shares some fascinating history

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lasgow is like most large cities in that it can be difficult to find cycling paths which are not only interesting but also carfree, especially important today as my cycling companion is my 10-yearold son Noah. Despite skirting the motorway out to the airport, National Cycle Network Routes seven and 75 peacefully pass through Pollok Country Park out to the large town of Paisley and the only obstacles are a few dogs and their owners, who are all invariably polite as we cycle by. The other advantage of joining the cycling network path at Pollok Park is that it can be reached by train, although the route does have a designated path leading out 20

Cycling World September 2015

from Glasgow city centre and in fact stretching through to Leith on the east coast. Pollokshaws West train station sits beside the park and also houses the South West Community Cycle hub, which will hire out a bike or repair the bike you are on, if necessary. Before we head for Paisley though, we decide to take a detour through the mountain bike tracks which are in the park this extensive country park.

‘Forest air bathing’ may be a rather poetic way of describing the feeling of deep joy I am experiencing as I cycle through the park’s North Wood on a designated mountain bike track.

Tall pine trees enclose us on the narrow tracks and our wheels bump over exposed roots as we get brushed by wet ferns and wind through the centuries old

wood. Above the whirr of wheels and the click of gear changes we can hear the songbirds, and just faintly in the distance, the low frequency humming of the motorway. The phrase ‘forest air bathing’ is actually a translation from the Japanese term: ‘’Shinrin Yoku’ and is a prescription given by doctors in the far east for patients who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, anger and stress. Groups have been going out walking in the forest in Japan for 30 years and they especially appreciate dense woodland such as the one we are in, as this intensifies the healing effect of trees, apparently. My 10-year-old son is up ahead and far more adept at handling the tight turns on the tricky circuits, which are designated red, green and blue to describe their level of difficulty but

run together to create one satisfactory circuit.

Many scientists believe the reason why the countryside has such a calming effect on our psyches is not just the sensory impact of essential oils but goes back to our evolutionary development, when mankind first came down from the trees to set foot on the rolling grasslands. As we cycle through a beautiful landscape, subconsciously we may be appreciating that the forest can provide us with shelter and berries, whilst the river can bring us fish and something to drink.

Although this may sound like new age thinking, our Victorian forebears hit on something similar when they built asylums for people with mental health problems in green spaces, September 2015 Cycling World

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long before the phrase Ecotherapy had been coined. Our cycle route to Paisley actually takes us past the site of two of these institutions, Leverndale and Hawkhead hospitals which were built surrounded by green fields on the south side of Glasgow.

To get back onto the cycle network we follow the main road into the park towards the 18th century Pollok House overlooking White Cart Water, which the cycle path tracks almost all of the way to Paisley. After the rough mountain bike tracks, the rest of the route is on very smooth, often tarmaced paths and would be easily completed on the more delicate wheels of a road bike.

On reaching the mansion house we stop at a First World War memorial, built unobtrusively into a solid stone garden wall. This simple monument is probably the only one of its kind anywhere in the UK as the families of grand country houses did not commemorate the sacrifices of their staff. Now it stands not only as a testament to the names of the 58 estate workers and tenants who lived on the land and went to fight in the Great War and the 12 who didn’t return, it also acts as a tribute to Sir John Stirling Maxwell, the only owner of a private house to commemorate the sacrifice of his people in such a way, making it unique for a number of reasons.

The memorial is unusual in grouping the names of the soldiers together, rather than dividing them by social class, which illustrates the forward thinking nature of the master of the house. It records the tenants and staff as equals, with no division between the officers and men who served. Another

noteworthy element is that this plaque commemorates the killed, the living and the dead, with those listed as ‘died’ probably the ones who died after the war was over while they were still on military service

It is hard to imagine the opulent surroundings of Pollok House as a military hospital, but this Edwardian mansion house helped thousands of soldiers recuperate during the same war. The National Trust for Scotland has restored this William Adam designed building into how it would have appeared in the 1930s and showcases the Maxwell’s taste in Spanish paintings with El Greco and Murillo on the wall. There is also a welcoming restaurant in the old kitchen with fabulous scones and gingerbread but, much to my son’s disappointment, we head off to Paisley through the car park to the right of the house.

We follow the path beside the river out through the rest of the park, going under the M77 until a slight rise leads us to the exit at Corkerhill Road, keeping a look out for any birds on the river. I have seen a kingfisher here in the past and a heron has a nest near the weir but unfortunately we only see the regular birdlife.

The path from this point is very clearly signposted as it takes us across the dual carriageway and then skirts the edge of the large housing estate of Pollok.

The river runs beside us on the other side of the play park.

As a site of great importance to the history of the United Kingdom, Crookston Castle is very unusual because it’s very difficult to find. We can see it almost immediately on turning left off the National Cycle Network and onto Lyoncross Road; above the housing estate, the turret of the castle pokes out in the distance, but actually reaching this monument is another matter. It was here that the most famous Scotswoman, Queen Mary married her second husband September 2015 Cycling World

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Lord Darnley, and this couple were the parents of the King who united the crowns of Scotland and England, James VI and I. Crookston Castle was the family seat of Darnley, who was also Mary’s cousin.

As I search for a road leading up to the castle I loop backwards and forwards wondering if Glasgow is ashamed of this infamous ancestor.

Darnley was variously described as vain, stupid and selfish. Shortly before he was murdered, supposedly by Mary and her lover the Earl of Bothwell, Darnley spent some time here recovering from a bought of syphilis. Did the planners for Glasgow City Council built a housing estate around this medieval monument to hide it from posterity and then banned signs pointing to it? Even the GPS on my phone is conspiring to keep us from this castle, until I ask a local, standing on her door-step, where the castle is: “It’s there!” she replies pointing across the road. Unmistakeably, about 25m away sits the medieval castle, on a mound towering above the houses.

This wouldn’t happen in Edinburgh or Stirling where despite the castles dominating the surrounding landscape, the signs start from miles away directing you to them, I silently complain to

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myself.

We cycle up the hill, cross the former moat of the castle and push our bikes around the impregnable thick stone walls which succeed in what they are designed for, we can’t get in.

Meanwhile, as if cast by a film director, crows caw on the medieval ramparts.

The west side of this medieval castle were destroyed by one of Edinburgh’s most famous tourist attractions- Mons Meg but were then repaired for a visit from Queen Victoria in the 1830s.

A few miles further south from here is the Darnley sycamore tree, or as it is known in Scots a plane, where according to the plaque on the fence surrounding the tree: “Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley and Mary Queen of Scots, sat under this great sycamore tree when she nursed him back to health after an illness”. Before cycling to this tree, it should be pointed out that it is unlikely that Mary was at Crookston with Darnley when he was ill, and furthermore this tree would not be old enough. However part of the yew tree under which the couple were married at Crookston Castle was carved into a model of the castle and is now at Pollok House.

As we freewheel down the

mound away from the castle, I spot a large sign pointing to the castle. We quickly find our original path, which takes a few turns in quick succession through the quiet streets, with each change marked by blue stickers on the street lights. The sharp eyes of my son make sure I don’t miss anything this time until we are led under Crookston Road and eventually come out into open countryside. In the distance I can see the imposing tower of the former Leverndale hospital while on the other side of the river we see Rosshall Mains farm and a few cows grazing peacefully, now that the drizzle has stopped.

The path then takes us through the

former grounds of Hawkhead hospital which are in the process of being turned into another housing estate. The original hospital building was a beautiful white modernist design from Scottish architect Thomas Smith Tait in 1936 and looked something like a fashionable lido from a resort, rather than an institution for people with mental health problems, however the building was allowed to fall into decay. As part of the building work, the hospital is now being converted into houses also.

We are now on the outskirts of Paisley, and the path takes us through Jenny’s Well

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nature reserve and then the Hunter’s Hill area where we look across and have a great view of the town. Paisley is closely associated with the industrial revolution and is closely associated with textiles, giving the western world the Paisley pattern. It is hard to equate this rather dour Scots town with the flamboyant design beloved of sixties peacocks. In the distance we see the towers which highlight Paisley’s older history, the abbey and the gothic crown steeple which surmounts the Thomas Coats Memorial Baptist Church, the largest Baptist church in Europe. The abbey was founded in 1245 and it is believed to be the place where William Wallace was educated. To heighten its independence credentials, Robert the Bruce was buried here although his tomb does not remain.

Most train stations are named after where they are near or what the area is but Paisley Canal must surely be unique in being named after the form of transport that it replaced. The canal was a victim of industrial progression of the 19th Century when it was drained to be replaced by a railway line taking passengers and goods from Ardrossan through to Glasgow. And after the Beeching cuts of the sixties, Paisley Canal has become the end of the line while the now defunct line has become part of the national cycle network running down through Renfrewshire to Johnstone and Kilbirnie. The thick stone walls which surround this low level station are a reminder that this platform would have been underwater over a century ago.

Through the tunnel just past the station is the Canal Station bar and restaurant.

The beer garden looks tempting but this time it is my son who won’t let me stop as he hurries me on the train back to Glasgow.

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s s o r c t a Cycling s e s o p r pu Sarah Juggins entered her first cyclo-cross event; the first problem was how to get on and off the bike.

Lungs busting, legs pumping furiously, slowing to negotiate a sharp bend, the smallest of respites while you turn and then off you go again, riding like crazy to catch the person in front.

Cyclo-cross. When I entered my first event I had no idea what to expect. To me as a novice rider, just the word sounds technical and a little daunting. There are bicycles that are dedicated cyclo-cross bikes, so this has to be one of those events that only serious cyclists with oodles of experience can do, right? In fact, nothing is further from the truth. Cyclo-cross is like mountain-biking but without so many technical challenges; it is a fitness challenge but takes less time than an endurance ride; it is a competition, but choose your event with care and you can compete against like-minded and similarly able riders.

The image that typically comes with cyclo-cross is that of a rider carrying their bike over an obstacle or up a muddy hillside. In fact, time spent carrying your bike is relatively small. For the event I entered, it was just one double set of hurdles, my biggest issue was how to get off and back on a moving bike without coming to grief. The idea of cyclo-cross is to ride as hard as you can over the course, aiming to complete as many circuits as you can in a set time – usually between 30 minutes and an hour. The courses are usually 2.5-3.5 kilometres in distance and feature pavement, wooded trails, grass, hills and some obstacles, like the aforementioned hurdles, that the rider must carry the

Photos John Styles bike over. Cyclo-cross normally takes place in the autumn and winter months, but several cyclist groups are now organising summer events to introduce newcomers to the sport in less testing circumstances.

Which is why I found myself on the startline of the final race of the season in the Norfolk Summer Cyclo-Cross Series. The five-race series has run throughout the summer months, across a number of locations in Norfolk. The final race was at Easton College on the outskirts of Norwich, and I have to confess I was surprised to see that it was being held on a school playing field.

Where were the woods, the upturned logs that would serve as obstacles, the low-lying tree branches that would be lying in wait?

The organiser, Len Fletcher, explained that the summer series, while attracting a large number of experienced cyclo-cross riders, had primarily been set-up to attract new riders. It was gentler, any bicycle type could handle the terrain and, importantly, the weather would be better. Len added wryly that this final event was the first of the five

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Cycling World September 2015

that hadn’t been held in high winds and driving rain, such has been the summer so far.

As I was talking to Len, I kept my eye out for other novice riders. Or at least someone like me who wasn’t wearing a cycling club jersey, didn’t have cleats and clearly had no idea what they were doing. Unfortunately it seemed everyone was an old-hand at this cyclo-cross lark. A small flutter of doubt began to kick. “Just enjoy it,” Len was saying.

“We have had a lot of novice riders over the series and there seems to have been unanimous approval, a lot of them are riding here today. Really,” he could clearly sense my growing anxiety, “you will love it.”

Leading up to the day, my preparation for the event had been quite thorough.

For the past few weeks I dedicated at least one of my weekly rides to speed training. I either did the session on a turbo trainer or on a quiet route where I was fairly confident that I would have an empty road ahead of me. I would

ride flat out for 5-6 minutes, then pedal gently for two minutes before repeating. I kept this pattern up for between 45 minutes to an hour. I also took my bike – a Specialised hybrid – to the nearest woods and practised riding on uneven and softer surfaces. There is a lot of information about the correct psi for your tyres when riding a cyclo-cross event, but I decided that this was going to just be a ‘turn up and try it’ event. In the event, my tyres were slightly softer than they would be for the road, and that was just perfect for the grassy conditions.

With that training under my belt, I was confident I would be fit enough to compete with these riders, but it suddenly occurred to me that there was one skill I hadn’t tried, let alone mastered – getting off a moving bike as you approach an obstacle. Clearly I couldn’t just stop and elegantly

Three essential rules for a novice cyclo-cross rider: Practise getting on and off the bike on the move Get confident with riding on a variety of surfaces Arrive at the event in time to cycle the course first

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dismount, this manoeuvre had to be carried out on the move, if not at breakneck speed. I took my bike to a remote corner of the field and practised cycling and then dismounting. To my horror, I couldn’t do it. It was as if my brain and body had suddenly ceased to talk.

Time and again I tried to slow and throw my right leg over the saddle. It was a disaster waiting to happen. A fellow cyclist rode up. “Try it from the other side,” she said. “Most people favour one side.” She was so right.

I practised for a few minutes more and decided I was good to go.

As we waited for the call to the start line I chatted to my fellow competitors. As a bunch they were keen to waylay any worries I had and the advice was free-flowing. “Lower gears than you would normally use; don’t go off too fast, 40 minutes is a long time; take the corners slowly; make way for over-taking cyclists.” I grunted at the last point, my competitive instincts were kicking in.

And so to the race itself. You compete in categories, so us women were in the same time slot as the Veteran men. About 40 riders set off on a long, flattish stretch.

This gave the fastest riders time to escape the bunching that would occur at the sharp bends. The next 40 minutes were lung-busting, but they were also great fun.

Because you were cycling laps, you learnt quickly the best way to approach a particular hill, bend or obstacle.

By the third lap I was flying and sitting in fourth place.

With two laps to go, I had moved to third and was challenging the leaders, but my obstacle manoeuvring was my downfall - where the two leaders hopped off and ran with ease before remounting and setting off

smoothly, I was slamming on the brakes, nearly falling over as I gained my footing, and remounting and getting my feet back on the pedals seemed to take forever.

“This has been a really enjoyable summer series,” said the eventual winner Louise Foley. “The winter league is obviously tougher because of the weather conditions, but it is a lot of fun. It can be as competitive as you want it to be, we are a friendly bunch… once we are off our bikes.”

This year was the first edition of the Norfolk Summer Series, but Len Fletcher is pleased with the response and is certain he will be doing it again next year. “I would like to get some sponsors on board,” he said.

“We could do so much more in the way of marketing and running the event with more backing. My aim is to attract enough women cyclists so we can hold a women-only race.”

The event was enough to pique my interest in taking the sport further. There is an East Anglian Winter League that comprises 11 events throughout the winter months across the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire. The beauty of cyclo-cross is the time it takes. Just 40 minutes and it is all over, but the trembling legs, thumping heart and strenuous breathing tells you that you have had a serious cycling workout.

Specialist cyclo-cross bikes are the tougher cousin of the road racing bike, with wider tyre clearances, knobbly tyres, cantilever or disc brakes, and lower gearing. Cables are generally routed on the upper side of the top tube, so the rider can carry the bike comfortably on the right shoulder over obstacles, and prevents cable contamination by dirt.

The design of cyclo-cross bikes has evolved over the years. The first cyclo-cross bikes were touring-type road bikes, used for their cantilever bosses, slacker angles and wider tyre clearance. Over time as the sport became more formalised, frame angles changed for quicker handling and bottom brackets heights were raised to clear broken ground. Most cyclo-cross frames have a non-compact (flat or near-flat top tube) frame design for easier shouldering.

Cyclo-cross bikes may have a lower bottom bracket than road racing bikes to make dismounting and remounting easier. A lower centre of gravity also increases stability for negotiating sharp bends and steep slopes. Many professional-level cyclo-cross bikes are set up with deep-section carbon tubular wheels, not for aerodynamics, but to keep the wheel from being entrapped in deep sand or mud sections. Tubular tires are used to avoid pinch flats, decrease rolling resistance and increase grip with lower tyre pressures.

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Pitsford Cycles – The Cyclists’ favourite place in the Midlands

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itsford Cycles opened its doors in 1999.

Owner, Jeff Webb, has been in the industry for over 30 years in total and makes a point of being up on all the mechanisms, bike styles and options available in the world of cycling.

He shares his vast knowledge and will lose a sale rather than disappoint a customer – he believes strongly in customer relations, which is why people come back to Pitsford Cycles over and over again throughout their cycling years.

Pitsford Cycles sell adult road, hybrid and mountain bikes as well as children’s bikes. You can also find clothing and accessories, for recreational, professional and racing cyclists alike, plus they have fully trained and qualified cycle repair professionals onsite 7 days a week. For the serious enthusiast, a number of staff are fully qualified in Body Measuring to ensure the perfect fit for your recommended bike.

Based in the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside at Brixworth Country Park, Pitsford Cycles is a fantastic place to visit as there is a fabulous 7.5 mile (10km) path to cycle around the reservoir at the centre of the park. There is also a great café and a Running Shop for people who prefer their feet to wheels.

If your bike is in for a service or repair, you don’t need to be without a bike as Pitsford Cycles hires Giant, Trek and Specialized bikes out too. Again, only the best is good enough for their customers!

To contact Pitsford Cycles, phone 01604 881 777 or visit their website www.pitsfordcycles.co.uk or their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Pitsford.Cycles

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The South New Boy on Fat Boy does charity 100 miler

So after a few beers with old mates over New Year’s, I was persuaded to sign up to do the British Heart Foundation charity 100 miler along the South Downs Way.

My friends are seasoned endurance pros who have previously competed in Iron Man events: The North Pole Marathon, Marathon des Sables; you get the picture.

The longest cycle I’d ever done was the London to Brighton with my cousin back when I could jump on a bike, do 50 miles and not notice it the next day. That was quite a few years ago, well over thirty years in fact.

The question was - could I do this?

Was I fit enough, did I have it in me to complete an event like this?

The answer was - I needed a new bike!

Now, prior to the event, I was an occasional off roader; the most excitement was negotiating the nursery run with Stanley (my four-year-old) on the back of my 25-year-old Specialized Rockhopper. I definitely ‘needed’ a new bike. I read an article about the new genre of Mountain bike - the ‘Fat Bike’ - and knew I wanted something that would be fun to get me back out on the trails again and ideally on the beach. However, Fat Bikes and 100 mile endurance events do not typically mix, but once I’d seen some shots of the Specialized ‘Fatboy’, that was it, deposit went down with the guys at Cycles UK in Canterbury (who did me a great deal) and then the long wait for the shipment to arrive ...

Back in 2007, I walked 65 miles of the South Downs Way for Oxfam, so I already knew how hilly the route is, good preparation would be essential. I was start36

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Downs Way

by Woody

ing with a good base fitness, but really I hadn’t cycled any distance for years, so those early weeks of training were about trying to enjoy being out on the bike again and not beating myself to the point that I really wasn’t looking forward to training.

Training rides started along the scenic Viking Way coastal route in North Kent. Although not ideally matching the South Downs terrain, these certainly got me out in the saddle, initially on the Rockhopper, but I knew that I’d need to get some more climbs into the training fairly soon. To make it more demanding I decided that the best approach would need to be on trails and basically ended up cycling back and forth along the Crab and Winkle Way between Whitstable and Canterbury, just clocking up the miles each weekend and jumping out for pit stops at the local cafe, Windy Corner, to enjoy a sandwich and a coffee. By the end I managed a 77 mile, 9 hour-ride including breaks and at that point I felt I had it in me.

Two months before the event our team got together and cycled to Check Point 1 and back, a total of 40 miles and that was really an eye opener. Training on the local paths and hills is one thing but to actually sample part of the actual event route certainly helped focus my mind on how tough this would be and I immediately stopped drinking - fear is a great motivator!

I struggled to keep up with my chums and really didn’t take the right food with me. My water bottle with a flip lid was almost impossible to use on the move, due to the rough terrain. It also became very obvious that if I was to finish then I’d need to go at my own pace. 4 hours 45 minutes was a respectable time for 40 miles, but there was no way that I could keep that pace up on the day and so it was very useful to take onboard those lessons a few months before. Thinking the hare and the fat tortoise September 2015 Cycling World

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with these guys.

I needed to get the fluids right and so decided on the dual bottle (800ml with pull top to allow drinking on the move) approach rather than a Camelpak or the like as water is surprising heavy and wouldn’t help riding comfort. I opted for one bottle with water and the other with electrolyte additive which worked very well as I’ve been caught out before on a triathlon with just taking onboard sugary drinks on a hot day - the body just seized.

I also tried gels and protein bars which helped at times, but certainly didn’t work for me as the only fuel source on one of my training rides I hit the wall at 45 miles and had nothing left in the tank.

Getting the food right was key to completing the event and I spend quite a few rides working through various snacks and food ideas along the way and at the pit stops and eventually found bananas, beef jerky and even sausage rolls worked well at various intervals.

The big day arrived and by then I was ready, well ready to get started. I really had had enough of the training and the planning, thinking, the prep. I was ready to give it a go! With a very early morning get up, a generous application of chamois cream and a porridge pot breakfast, we got to the starting point for 5am to ensure an early start to maximise ride time. I knew I’d need as much time as possible and was aiming for 15 hours to complete the journey on the Fatboy.

After registration and a quick safety briefing whilst in the saddle, we were raring to go and then let off the leash!

Nervous chatter was followed by laughter as almost immediately we hit a bottleneck in the path. Fortunately we were sent on our way in small groups of 50 or so riders and weren’t travelling at speed so no drama.

I have to say that the scenery was amazing with the sun starting to rise over the hills and it really felt great to be part of this fantastic event. The weather was kind also with a light breeze and not too hot to start with, although it did warm up as the day went on. Thankfully though not the 25+ degrees I’d experienced on a training ride a few weeks before.

It has to be said that the signage wasn’t the best and having to follow the small blue acorn symbols for most of the first 15 or so miles with just few BHF arrows caused a few frustrating moments, especially when a group of us took the wrong route down a very steep winding path only to be told at the bottom that the South Downs Way 38

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was back up the way we came!

So, would I do it again?

At that point I dropped back from the last of my chums and was cycling on my own for most of the ride, but of course the route was busy enough to meet other riders and walkers, especially as we passed through gates along the way.

Well no probably not, but I did meet a few people who come back every year and I can sort of see why.

The South Downs has some very demanding hills, even for the most athletic of riders, so steep to the point where an old rambler would casually amble past you as riders zig-zagged up the slope due to the ridiculous peddle rate when in your lowest gear. My approach was to ride as much as I could, but if being overtaken by walkers or progress is just painfully slow, then I’d jump off and push.

It made a nice change actually, using different muscle groups and you actually could take in the scenery rather than having your head down trying not to look how much of this hill was left to complete! I have to say though that if anyone cycled every inch of the 100 mile route then they must be super human as some of those hills were brutal even to walk up.

Absolutely, it was an incredible adventure and one I’ll never forget.

Ensuring I had support at the 7 check points was critical to my success and if it wasn’t for my partner Lorna, jumping in the car and meeting me at each pit stop along the way with a smile, reassuring words and of course the food/water supplies, then there would have been no chance of me finishing. It was important to take a break as much for psychological as well as a physical recharge.

Riding in with just a few miles to go in the twilight was magical. It was after 9pm and so I concerned that I’d be too late to collect my medal, so I was pushing on as hard as I could with the rabbits darting across the trail. There was no one around and it was great to enjoy the environment like that, especially knowing that I was so close to the finish. However, there are two monster hills at the end which make sure they sap most of what you have left, just when you think you’ve cracked it.

I arrived at the finish at 9:40pm and the organisers were still there to cheer me in, so I did get my medal! Only took me 16 hours and 20 minutes so possibly the slowest time ever, but I had finished and on a fat bike and that was all the mattered.

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Cycling World September 2015

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August 2015 Cycling World

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Cycling World Letter Page

We are starting a Letter Page so please send your thoughts, feelings, ideas and insights about all things cycling. Letter of the month wins:

A Velo Hinge Home Bicycle Storage. It is a foldaway hook that fits most standard road, mountain and kids’ bikes Send letters to: Email: editor@cyclingworldmag.co.uk Post: Editor, Cycling World Magazine, Myrtle Oast, Kemsdale Road, Fostal, Faversham, Kent ME13 9JL We may edit your letter for brevity and/or clarity.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Editor

www.cyclingworldmag.com

September 2015 Cycling World

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Breast Cancer Survivor takes on epic 500km

Macmillan Cycletta Challenge-Women only Sportives

W

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hen you are undergoing radiotherapy to treat breast cancer, the last thing on your mind might be getting on a bike for the first time in years. But, for Melanie Hurley, what started as an activity to take her mind off things, give her something to focus on and get her out of the house is now, three years later, a core part of her life. The cancer has gone, but the bike has stayed the distance.

Bedfordshire, Scotland and Guilford.

Melanie will complete Mel’s Macmillan Cycletta Challenge 2015 by cycling New Forest on September 20th and finishing off in Cheshire on September 27th.

This year Melanie is participating in every single Macmillan Cycletta event across the UK, using her mighty pedal power to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, who supported her during her gruelling treatment. Melanie, who lives in Horsham, West Sussex with her two children and miniature schnauzer, Bertie, will cover over 500km,taking part in all six Macmillan Cycletta events, the UK’s leading series of women only sportives. Currently well past the half way point after using a bike that was leant to her by Wheels Cycling Centre to help her in her bid to complete all six events, Melanie has already taken part in the events at the Wiggle Dragon Ride in Wales, and Macmillan Cycletta

“After buying my road bike, I found myself going out cycling more and more. I had never ridden a road bike before so it was a challenge in itself! Cycling helped build my confidence back up and I really enjoyed taking my mind off the treatment.

Then, I decided to sign up for a 25 mile charity bike ride that was exactly 25 days after I finished treatment. I think I was hooked after that!”

Cycling World September 2015

Melanie bought her first road bike on eBay while going through treatment as an escape and something positive to do while undergoing radio therapy. Mel explained:

After participating in single Macmillan Cycletta events in 2012 and 2014, Melanie decided to take on all six UK-wide events this year.

She explained:

“I wanted to do something that made people think, oh my God,

she’s crazy! More importantly, I wanted to encourage people to donate to Macmillan because what would I have done if they hadn’t been there for me?

When I was told I had breast cancer, my Macmillan nurse was there from the start. She took me aside and explained all about how they could help and told me I could ring her or her colleague about absolutely anything.

It was instant motherly care. It was lonely going through it on my own, but they were there for me, looking after my whole care.”

As a long haul cabin crew member, Melanie has to fit her training in around her busy flying roster.

“I try to get 2-3 cycles in a week, but it really depends on my work and where I fly to. If I can, I hire a bike while I’m away – it’s a really lovely way of getting to know places too. I’ve been flying for nearly 20 years and, as I’m a busy mum of two

teenagers too, I’m used to juggling lots of things at once.”

As well as taking on her epic cycling challenge to raise funds for Macmillan, Melanie is looking forward to the riding and soaking up the unique and friendly atmosphere.

“I do a lot of training on my own, so I really enjoy riding in a group and having the route planned out for you. I like the camaraderie of all women cycling together all there just to enjoy the day out. I even like the medal at the end as I can bring it home and show it off to the kids!”

To make a donation to Melanie’s fundraising page go to https://www.justgiving.com/Melanie-Hurley3/

To book your place at one of the events visit: www.cycletta.co.uk

New Forest (Beaulieu Palace) Sunday 20th September 2015 Distances: 50km, 100km and 150km Cheshire (Tatton Park) Sunday 27th September 2015 Distances: 50km, 100km and 150km September 2015 Cycling World

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Solid tyre revolution

T

annus offers a tyre for every cyclist. An allround tyre for all types of terrain or road, a road tyre for long distance training, and a small tyre for small bikes that rides perfectly.

Tannus Tyres is a Korean company which makes tyres that never go flat so that all cyclists enjoy safer rides. It strives for technological development to relieve the inconvenience caused by punctures.

Applied with cutting edge Aither technology, Tannus Tyres never go flat and are made in diverse and clear colours. They are distinctly different from any of the anti-puncture tyres of the past and are secured with great driving function, comfort, lightness, safety and durability. The various colours are another result of the use of the advanced materials, and cyclists are able to enjoy the choice of colours that contrast with the mundane shades of most rubber tyres.

What about grip? Tannus Tyres are the only Tyres in WORLD safety certified by TÜV Rheinland (Germany). That not only means they are completely safe regarding to punctures but also to grip capabilities in wet and dry.

Rolling resistance? Tannus Tyres stay solid at 100psi equivalent all of their guaranteed lifetime. 100% of the time you are riding at peak performance. No compromise. They roll exactly like your air-filled tyres.

The goal of Tannus Tyres is to make changes to the world from a small aspect. In order to do this we are continuously challenging for technological innovation with great passion, and are moving ahead step by step.

What you need Conventional tyres and tubes, 2 Tyres, 4 Tubes, 2 Rim Tapes, Pump, Tools, Bag = 1275g VS Tannus Tyres 700 x23 come only in one variant, and many colours. Weigh 380g each.

• no Rim Tape, nope don't need it • Tubes? Nope. We go solid.

• Pump? Nah. No air guys.

• Spares? What?

• Tools? Ehm. Sell them.

• Bag? Well put the snacks there, 100g Let’s round that up, 2 Tyres and a bag = 860g

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Cycling World September 2015

Top Quality Steel-Framed Touring Bikes

S

t John St Cycles (SJSC) have been trading for over 30 years. Located in Bridgwater, between the Somerset Levels and the magnificent Quantock Hills, the shop and warehousing are massive. Unlike some online vendors, literally millions of £££s of items are actually held in stock.

SJSC have over 23,000 different product lines, many of which are unique, or difficult to find items.

Practically every permutation of Brompton, including 4 test bikes are on display.

The mail order service is fast and efficient and you can still phone and talk to a real person for advice. Customer feedback and loyalty is impressive – it’s not a perfect world and complaints and

returns are dealt with courteously, efficiently and promptly. Checkout the SJSC website, details below.

Thorn Cycles have been producing top quality steelframed touring bikes for over 20 years. Thorn are fanatical about steel and have never been tempted to use any other material for their machines.

Whenever they have been reviewed, whatever the model, Thorn bikes have always had glowing reviews and come out on top. Thorn make 3 completely different derailleur equipped touring bikes and 3 different Rohloff equipped touring solos plus a superb Rohloff tandem.

Each model is available in many sizes and in a variety of different specifications. Within the Thorn range is the perfect bike for any particular style of touring - whether it’s “credit card and toothbrush” or a full on, selfsupported expedition through remote and challenging terrain - or anything between these extremes.

Thorn’s excellent brochures can be found on their website they are packed with information.

(Printed copies are available).

It’s recommended that you look at their Overview brochure first.

So confident are Thorn about the quality of their bikes, that they offer a unique “money back if not delighted” guarantee of satisfaction, with no small print!

September 2015 Cycling World

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E-Bikes: more power, longer lasting and safer than ever

E

-bikes are on the rise. With the latest developments they have become more powerful, longerlasting and safer than ever.

More importantly, e-bikes are shedding their chunky image and now come in sleek designs and fashionable colours.

CUBE e-bikes are innovative, safe and fit for all types of riders. The especially developed frame construction features a down tube specifically formed for the Bosch mid-range engine—

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known for its safety and reliability. The frame allows for a very low position of the engine, creating an extremely low center of gravity whilst achieving a super rigid bottom bracket area. Ideal for commuters, who need confident and agile riding within unpredictable city traffic.

mains socket.

For the touring and travelling models CUBE has developed an integrated carrier, which is one with the frame, as opposed to traditional carriers that are mounted on. This makes the carrier stronger and more reliable.

In addition to the

The Bosch engine wide range of commuter and boasts a long battery life touring e-bikes, CUBE offers making it fit for touring fun and adventurous hybrid cyclists. The support from mountain bikes. The fullthe engine will help you carry suspension bikes will take heavy loads and face tiring any thrill seeker uphill before conditions, such as uphill testing their technical skills climbs or strong headwinds. downhill, whereas the hard When the battery tail e-mountain bikes enable does finally run fun loving trail riders to ride low, charging it is as far as the trails take them. simple, all it takes For each rider, man or is plugging the woman, CUBE has developed battery into a different frame geometries for optimal riding positions and a number of programs, to adjust the mode of the Bosch Drive unit. In combination with above mentioned details every rider will find a CUBE e-bike to match their preference.

Cycling World September 2015

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September 2015 Cycling World

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Liege Baston Liege

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Cycling World September 2015

Combining Passions Cycling-inspired artwork

D

eepa Mann-Kler is a self-taught artist, originally from Leicester who is now based in a small, sleepy village in Killyleagh, County Down on the shores of Strangford Lough. As a child she borrowed a Raleigh bike from a friend and taught herself to ride by pushing off from the entry way between terraced housing.

However it was nine years later in 1987 that she bought her first bike, frame colour orange, 3 gears, made from the heaviest iron imaginable, from Camden Market for £60.

Over the next four years in London she was inseparable from her bike. Then in 2002 she bought a Specialised Crossroads and her old faithful was dispatched to Africa. You will now see Deepa cycling around County Down at least three times a week. After a successful career, Deepa took a break in 2007 from working as Deputy Director for the Equality Commission Northern Ireland and she taught herself to paint. She has combined her passion for cycling and painting to produce a range of cycling-inspired artwork. She normally works in oils on canvas but has extended her medium to include neon, photography and drawing. Coming from a background in equality she has consciously priced her prints to make them accessible to as many people as possible at just £25. Her first road cycling themed exhibition “Kings of the Road” took place in 2009 and was uniquely exhibited at the finish stage of each day’s racing in the Tour of Ireland. Since then she has continued to expand the range and subject of her work which now includes Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche, Mark Cavendish, Marco Pantani, Fausto Coppi and Miguel Indurain. Her most popular print is of the one day monument Liege-Bastogne-Liege and features the Cote du St Roche, Houffalize, Belgium. It is one of the oldest classic races, beginning in 1892 to publicise the newspaper L'Expresse, and forms one of the five monuments of road cycle racing. In 2011, she was commissioned by the President of the Union Cycliste Internationale in Switzerland, Pat McQuaid, to paint a gift for their main sponsor, Tissot watches. In 2014, the Giro D’Italia came to Northern Ireland and her exhibition “The Art of Cycling” at the Titanic in Belfast was a sellout success. In May 2015 she featured on the BBC1 television programme “Something To Ride Home About” hosted by actor and comedian Michael Smiley, where she was interviewed and filmed talking about her cycling art and her life in Northern Ireland. Following on from the huge success of the Giro d'Italia another major cycling legacy event, the Gran Fondo Sportive, took place on the 21 June 2015 in Northern Ireland. It was a closed road sportive which gave cyclists the opportunity to ride with previous champions of the Giro and over 3000 riders took part. Deepa was artist in residence for the event. Cycling World is proud to feature her work and offer you the chance of winning an original print of Sir Bradley Wiggins – see page 16 .You can see and buy her cycle prints at www.cycleprints.co.uk

Sean Kelly September 2015 Cycling World

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Cycling World September 2015 Rainy Day (aka Jurgen Vanden Broeck)

Pantani September 2015 Cycling World

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Ride like a pro in The Tour of Spain Velofutur urges us to experience the challenge of the east coast Vuelta stages Velofutur Cycling Pro Travel offers high quality cycling holidays and training camps in the Costa Blanca and Costa del Azahar in the Valencian coast, in close proximity to the finish of stages 9 and 10 of the 2015 Vuelta a España. We offer different packages that will suit your preferences and budgets, from flexible low cost trips to full cycle training camps run by ex-professional cyclists and experts to help you perform better.

Our low cost trips include booking at our arranged hotels, transfers to and from the airport, bike hire delivered to your hotel if you prefer not to take your bike with you, and support in any contingency you may have.

Our training camps comprise of flexible trips where we provide transfers, full board accommodation and van-supported rides with feed stations as well as full training camps run by coaches who will undertake a specific study (such as a fitness test, nutrition study or bike fit using the latest technology) included in the price. Our hotels are located in the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Azahar on the Valencian coast. These areas offer excellent weather all year long and where most of the professional teams travel for their winter training camps.

The area’s profile allows you to ride from 0m to over 1,000m in the same day, training hard in the mountains while staying by our seaside provided accommodation. Many of our mountain training rides also cross National Parks with amazing scenery and views. Well-known climbs are regularly on the menu, such as Aitana, Cumbre del Sol, Eslida or Xorret de Cati, which have all featured prominently in the Vuelta a España.

We recently rode the trip to Cumbres del Sol, a 1st category climb where the finish of Stage 9 of the Vuelta a España 2015 is located. We enjoyed the challenging gradients of this climb, but also

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Cycling World September 2015

the magnificent views of this mountain surrounded by valleys on one side and the Mediterranean sea on the other, with the typical “white house” towns that populate this area and the food, with seafood and paellas all too appetizing. Cumbres del Sol is located within a training cycle ride from our Benidorm hotel, and this climb will feature in our cycle training camps organised in the Alicante area. Our second hotel is located in the town of Alcossebre, in close proximity to the finish of stage 10 of the Vuelta a España 2015, which includes excellent quality roads with little traffic, flat and hilly areas to ride in a very friendly area that will make you feel welcomed by the locals. The Castellon area is more rural and less busy with tourism and provides a great option for a more relaxed cycling trip.

In Velofutur Cycling Pro Travel you will be staying in places that have been carefully selected so you can enjoy cycling but also have time for non-cycling activities, such as sunbathing on sandy beaches and tasting local tapas.

Join us at www.velofuturcyclingpro.com to check all we can provide for you in our amazing deals.

We take E-bikes seriously, and so should you Provision of cycling holidays and training camps in the Costa Blanca and Costa del Azahar in Spain.

Choose your preferred option from our packages and ride surrounded by an amazing cycling culture, food and weather.

Visit us at www.velofuturcyclingpro.com Email: enquiries@velofuturcyclingpro.com

fb.com/blackmanpowerbikes

CYCLE 54 MILES from London to Brighton

on Sunday 6th September in support of the Brain and Spine Foundation!

Be it on a tandem, a race bike or even a chopper, from novices to experienced riders – everyone is welcome.

The There are 350 different conditions of the brain and spine and together they affect more than 10 million people in the UK. The Brain and Spine Foundation exists to give support and provide information.

Minimum sponsorship: £100

Registration fee: £40

Includes a fantastic (highly praised) buffet lunch at the halfway point

Call Katherine on: 020 7793 5913 Email: katherine.hannah@brainandspine.org.uk Web: www.brainandspine.org.uk

September 2015 Cycling World

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Viva Velo: Director Dyll Davies talks “bespoke” The increasing popularity of cycling as a sport in recent years has seen a number of companies springing up offering tours, training camps and trips to cater for the growing demands of enthusiasts to ride the toughest, remotest and most exotic roads in the world. We talked to Dyll Davies, Director of new kid on the block Viva Velo, about why he has thrown himself into this increasingly busy marketplace.

So the obvious question: Why another cycle tour company?

DD: Well, it all started when I was looking for something for myself and a few friends to do as a pre-season warm-up in Mallorca. There are quite a lot of companies out there – but none of them really offered quite what we were after.

You basically had two types of tour – the full-on, bootcampstyle training camp for events like the Etape for the serious rider; or the hugely expensive, all-mod-cons version for those who like a fluffy towel in their bathroom. The former can seem very intimidating to a recent convert to cycling; the latter is simply beyond most people’s pockets. We felt we could do something better and cheaper.

Better and cheaper – that’s quite a claim?

DD: Obviously we like to think we are highly competitive – but that’s not our major differentiator at Viva Velo. We believe we can provide the comfort and quality you’d expect at the higher end of the market, but at a reasonable price; and in a relaxed environment, that encourages all levels of cyclists to maybe push their boundaries a little.

We’re looking to provide something different for the ‘weekend warrior’ – to take them out of their comfort zone if you like, but without sacrificing their home comforts. To make them feel they ‘can do’, and to feel like a pro – at least while they are with us at Viva Velo.

Taking the weekend warrior where they’ve never been before. Where is that?

DD: To a place both literally and metaphorically! Seriously though, because I am one of those late converts to cycling, I can personally remember how intimidating it can feel to ride in a group of people you don’t know for the first time, or ride up your first Grand Col. Which is why we’ve come up with the idea of a ‘Cycling Passport’, where essentially you track your progress from first group ride, through maybe a first charity event like a London to Paris, and on to your first big event like the Marmotte – and much, much more.’

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Cycling World September 2015

How does the passport idea work?

DD: You get stamps for each milestone you pass, so you’re tracking your progress – but more to the point, you get loyalty points that you can redeem against future trips. It may sound a bit nerdy but it’s great to be able to see where you’ve been and how far you have come on your cycling journey – AND save money too.

So what comes next?

DD: ‘As a first step, I’d urge anyone out there who is reading this article and thinking about maybe doing a first training camp, to look at our Mallorca trips next April. It’s a great place to start.

Sunshine and cycling. They won’t be disappointed!’

Viva Velo is currently offering an allexpenses trip to join one of their Mallorca pre-season camps in April 2016.

For more details see their website at www.vivavelo.uk, or simply scan the QR code below.

Bespoke Cycle Tours www.vivavelo.uk 020 7598 9273

September 2015 Cycling World

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Mallorca Feature

Chasing the sunshine cycling in Mallorca with SunVelo S

unVelo are leaders in cycling holidays and training camps based in the north of Mallorca in Playa de Muro, a thriving cycling community in the spring and autumn seasons giving the area the name of “Mallorca’s bike mile”. SunVelo, one of the few ABTA member cycling businesses that offer full financial security for holiday bookings, use two adjacent premium 4 star resort style hotels situated within 200 meters of the popular Playa de Muro beach and back onto the stunning S’Albufera nature reserve. All rooms have a spacious apartment style layout and the vast buffet breakfast and dinner at the hotel restaurants will never leave you going hungry, catering for all diets and tastes.

SunVelo prides itself on focusing on an individual’s cycling objectives, offering a variety of different daily expert-led guided rides for all levels of cyclist from novice to serious competitive racer. Alastair Irvine; multiple Commonwealth Games medallist and former professional racer heads the riding programme with an expert team - all of which are either qualified cycling coaches or CTC/Skyride nationally certified group ride leaders that have vast knowledge of group cycling and the little-known roads and routes on the island. You have the opportunity and flexibility to pick any level of group you want to ride with on any day depending on how you feel or the route you prefer to tackle. Most that come out to ride with SunVelo enjoy the convenience of hiring a full carbon bike for the duration of their stay, that are available onsite with full bike set up and professional mechanic support. So there’s no need to go through the hassle and cost of flying out your own.

Most cyclists stay for the week, running weekend to weekend, however flexible arrival and departure packages are available with a minimum four-night stay, arriving and departing on any day. While there are numerous options available for cycling in Mallorca, SunVelo is one company that seems to be getting it right with a good mix of perfect location, quality hotels and expert ride leaders. All levels of groups have equal priority and importance and SunVelo is

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Cycling World September 2015

not just focusing on those wanting to train for events or a racing season; a “touring cyclist” gets as much attention and support as someone preparing to ride the Etape. This seems to be echoed by the loyal SunVelo customer base, many of whom return year after year and in the company’s 2015 feedback survey results; 100% of those that completed the survey stated they are happy to recommend SunVelo to friends and fellow cyclists.

SunVelo is supported by sister company Sunsport Coaching that provides a sports lab set up for full metabolic fitness assessment and VO2 max testing. As well as offering full spring and autumn seasons, SunVelo also acts as the leading UK tour operator for the popular Mallorca 312 and 167 sportives taking place on the last weekend of April each year.

For more information about SunVelo holidays and training camps in Mallorca email: enquiries@sunvelo.com or view information on their website: www.sunvelo.com

September 2015 Cycling World

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Russian 9195 km cycle race Report of the world's longest Ultra-Stage bicycle race

By Steve Middleton, photos Denis Klero, Pavel Sukhorukov and Janus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool

The Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme 2015, has taken 10 international athletes 23 days, 9195km to finally reach its climax and the finish line, at an average speed 30 Km/h.

The Russian team of Mikhail Ignatyev and Ivan Kovalev won the race in the duo category, while Belgium Kristof Allegaert was the winner among solo riders.

Extremes of heat, cold, strong head and tail winds, heavy showers, thunder and lightning, huge insects, night rides, 1300+km individual stages, varying climates and time zones that’s just half the list of challenges the cyclists had to battle during those 23 days on the roads from Moscow to Vladivostok.

“If you compare my world tour with the Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme I’d say that the race was much tougher,” said the only female athlete and a Guinness World Record holder for circling the globe by bike, Paola Gianotti. “You have to keep up the pace, overcome the difficulties and manage without sleep. That’s a truly extreme challenge and I feel it in every inch of my body.”

format for me. Different stages, different physical conditions for the competitors and a lot of awful roads made this race a real challenge. I love my bike and it’s a part of me, but there were moments when the thought of getting back on the bike made me want to scream,” commented the Russian duo team winner.

In the solo category 41-year old Kistof Allegaert stormed to triumph. “Frankly I’m surprised,” said the Belgian, “I thoroughly prepared for the race but didn’t expect to win. It was an exciting and challenging race. I’m sure there will be plenty of riders wanting to compete in the Red Bull TransSiberian Extreme next year.”

Russia is the largest country in the world, covering more than one-eighth of the Earth’s inhabited

“It was hard even for the local landmass. During the race, Russian riders,” said the 2004 men’s the athletes passed 7 time zones, 4 track cycling points race gold medalist, climate zones and crossed the border Mikhail Ignatyev. “This was an unusual from Europe into Asia.

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Cycling World September 2015

OVERALL RESULTS

Extract from race diary: Plymouth Plumber wins stage 2

Solo Teams Kristof Allegaert (BEL) 318:57:30 Eduard Fuchs (AUT) 331:52:13 Steve Harvey (UK) 337:35:49 Denis Madjara (RUS) 399:11:43 Duo Teams Mikhail Ignatyev/Ivan Kovalev (RUS) 282:16:23 Thomas John/Johannes Rosenberger (DEU) 283:41:51 Paola Gianotti/Paolo Aste (ITA) 286:6:46

Second Stage Results: 1. Steve Harvey (Great Britain) 38:41:25 2. Kristof Allegaert (Belgium) 39:38:06 3. Denis Madjara (Russia) 43:40:00

This cycle race across Siberia, has now completed the second stage of the race, a mind-blowing 1094km one of the longest stages of the race, from Kostroma – Perm that’s nearly X5 longer than the longest stage in the Tour de France. Cycling for two days and a night solid and that’s only part of the 9195Km race from Moscow to Vladivostok.

British rider Steve Harvey has now taken the lead, after the second stage of the race after arriving at the `day-night-day stage finish line after 38h and 41min.

Austrian Fuchs was unlucky and rode into one of the ditches – as a result a knee injury and a ripped tyre.

The three duo teams dominated the first two stages as expected.

The Russian duo team of Ivan Kovalev and Mikhail Ignateyev won in a touch under nine hours 14 minutes Germans Johannes Rosenberger and Thomas John with Italians Paolo Aste and female team-mate Paola Gianotti rounding out the top three.

The night ride was a tough challenge for all the riders. The Russian team switched riders every two hours, the Germans and the Italians - every three. The potholestrewn roads around the city of Kirov gave the riders a few problems, however the average speed for the second stage was impressive 32 kph.

Steve Harvey, a plumber from Plymouth, wins stage 2 September 2015 Cycling World

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Cycling World Editor talks to Steve Harvey, the Plymouth plumber third place overall 1.What made you enter such a gruelling race?

I find there is something very unique about racing for weeks at a time and still being able to push my body 20 days plus after the race has begun. I felt this race would enable me to test myself against the very best cyclists in the world and Ultra Endurance races are something that I am very passionate about.

2.How did you train for the event?

I like quality over quantity with my training. I was fortunate enough to go to Tenerife to spend some time training in the mountains which was amazing. I put in 500 miles a week physically for 12 months during my training. The mental aspect of Ultra Endurance races is huge which is an asset to me as I am a very focused and positive athlete.

3.Tell us a bit about the bike you used.

I raced on a Specialized Venge Expert which was provided to me for the race by a local bike shop Certini, it was incredible, very fast on the flat, very aerodynamic and also good in the mountains. Using their Body Geometry Fitting service it enabled the connection to the bike to be in perfect harmony with me.

4. What was the biggest high of the event?

Paul Bruck and his team with Red Bull have started something incredible with The Red Bull Trans Siberian Event. One specific moment for me was when all the athletes got to attend the Moscow Olympic Training facility upon arrival to undergo many tests and analysis where I learned much more about the genetic make-up of my body which was fascinating. Where possible we were treated to 5 star hotels and paraded like celebrities before the start of every stage which was overwhelming.

A more personal moment for me was that I celebrated my birthday during the event, when the clock struck midnight we were in the middle of a mega distance stage; you can’t put into words the camaraderie between everyone during the race, but Eduard Fuchs (Austrian rider, 2nd place overall) and the crews made it a memorable birthday. Also having seen a beautiful sun rise and sun set together that day I commented on it to Eduard to which he responded “Romantic!” He could only speak a little English but we always managed to have comical exchange. For me though there is no one moment more than another with ultra racing, it's a lot of very special moments combined into one big unforgettable life experience.

5. What was the greatest low of the event and how did you get through?

As a solo competitor I had to race hard enough and get sufficient rest for the next day, but not so hard that I completely

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deplete myself which is more difficult during the longer distance stages. After 4 days of racing my body is used to the level of demands I am putting on it and as I find my rhythm it becomes a little easier. However the levels of fatigue increase, so balancing my fatigue levels and rate of perceived excursion is quite an art form. I remember during the longest stage of the race after cycling approximately 1100 km we still had 300 km until the finish, we were now up against extreme head wind and I physically felt like Mother Nature was adding to the challenges during this stage. The attacks were the toughest; they usually came hundreds of km into a race so you had to always be ready.

This was incredibly tough as the Duo Teams would change every hour which meant fresh legs would now be heading an attack. Having my dad there as part of my support crew was extremely important and special for me. There are some great moments captured by the media crew of me and my dad. Pictures of memories I will always be grateful for.

6.What’s your next cycling challenge?

Thanks to Mark Mears Associates I was able to have a sports therapist, Nikki Greening, on my crew for the event, which I feel played a vital part in me returning from the race free from injury. Although I am still very fatigued and have been sleeping a lot, a week after the race I was back on the bike. Recovery is going well and I will be thinking about my next event over the next few weeks. I want to break the 100 mile speed world record in the Velodrome so that is something I am hoping to do next. Also I want to compete in the Decaman USA in California. This is ten times the distance of an ironman contest; continuously competing a 24 mile swim, 1120 mile Cycle and 262 mile run. I also would like to return to Russia and win The Red Bull Trans Siberian Extreme 2016.

Cycling World wishes Steve success in all his future events and looks forward to hearing about them.

We were paraded like celebrities before the start of every stage

Having my dad there as part of my support crew was extremely important Athletes undergo many tests and analysis

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road bike experience you are looking for, Irish Centre for Cycling has a wide range of bikes to cater for the various styles of cyclist. They also have an interesting range of tours starting from €22 per person, from cycling a section of the Giro D’Italia to cycling the length of Dublin Bay on a bike and returning by boat. For more details, check out the website www.IrishCentreforCycling.ie.

吀栀攀 䤀爀椀猀栀 䌀攀渀琀爀攀 昀漀爀 䌀礀挀氀椀渀最 挀愀渀 漀昀昀攀爀 礀漀甀 挀礀挀氀椀渀最 栀漀氀椀搀愀礀 眀椀琀栀 愀 搀椀昀昀攀爀攀渀挀攀⸀ 䈀愀猀攀搀 椀渀 䴀愀氀愀栀椀搀攀Ⰰ 䐀甀戀氀椀渀Ⰰ 䤀爀攀氀愀渀搀⸀ 吀栀攀礀 愀爀攀 戀愀猀攀搀 樀甀猀琀 ㄀ 洀椀渀甀琀攀猀 昀爀漀洀 䐀甀戀氀椀渀 愀椀爀瀀漀爀琀Ⰰ 洀攀愀渀椀渀最 礀漀甀 挀愀渀 爀攀愀挀栀 琀栀攀洀 椀渀 愀 挀漀甀瀀氀攀 漀昀 栀漀甀爀猀 昀爀漀洀 琀栀攀 唀䬀℀ꀀ

In a large group? Not a problem, Irish

Centre for Cycling can also cater for large groups of cyclists with bikes and transport.

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Mont Blanc The World’s Toughest One Day Bike Event

by Marcus Leach, photos James Mitchell

It’s quarter to five in the morning and a veil of darkness hangs over Les Saisies. A feeling of nervous excitement fills the night sky as the 422 entrants for the 2015 Tour du Mont Blanc count down the final minutes until the start of ‘the world’s toughest one day bike event’.

I wait patiently, a calm exterior hiding my true feelings of fear and anxiety. The excitement I had experienced in the final few days leading up to the event had been dispelled the night before at the Velocamp Performance Cycling pre-ride briefing.

I always knew it was going to be tough: 330km with 8000m of ascent on a route that makes its way through three countries speaks for itself, but hearing detailed descriptions of each of the eight climbs brought about a sense of worry. And now, with moments to go until the start, I struggled to contain those feelings.

‘Cinq, quatre, trois, deux, un, balade’. As the MC counted down those final five seconds my feelings shifted from nervousness and fear into excitement and adrenalin. Suddenly the tension I

had felt for the past twelve hours melted away as I clipped my shoes into the pedals of my bike and rolled across the start line. There was no more waiting, no more time to wonder ‘what if ’, just an open road ahead and one question to answer, a question that has been going through my head for days on end: ‘can I do it?’

Given I had only been cycling seriously for six months this was a very valid question.

It’s a question that has been a part of my life for many years, it’s the question that drives me to find challenges that will push me to, and past, my limits. The next eighteen hours of cycling, if I kept to my planned timings, would certainly push me to my limits, and they would give me the definitive answer.

For a ride that boasts eight thousands metres of ascent, the opening stages are deceptively easy, lulling you into a false sense of security with forty kilometres of predominately downhill riding.

I soon realised that the reason for this is so that the ride can then end with one final climb. However, September 2015 Cycling World

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any thoughts of that were a long way off, with three hors category and three first category climbs to negotiate first, more than enough to keep my mind occupied for the foreseeable future.

As a long snake of riders stretched out across the Chamonix valley, Mont Blanc came into view for the first time, dominating an impressive skyline of jagged peaks with its sheer size. It would remain the backdrop to much of the day’s riding, a constant reminder of the scale of the landscape we were in. Climbs of the Vaudagne, Col des Montets and Col des Forclaz would, in normal circumstances, be deemed fairly challenging. Yet these were not normal circumstances and they were simply the prelude to far greater climbs.

over me as I crested the top of the climb, soon to be replaced by the sobering thought that I was not even half way, in terms of distance or ascent. I consoled myself with the thought of the forty kilometres of descent that lay ahead, but not before a much needed refuel of sandwiches and brioche buns.

Following an exhilarating descent came a long, hot slog through the Aosta valley, all the while knowing that another hors category climb lay in wait. This time it was the Petit St Bernard, which was anything but petit. At the final feed station before taking on the climb I made a few quick calculations and realised I would have to up my speed in order to make it down to Bourg St Maurice before the final cut-off time.

It was on the slopes of the Champex, against a backdrop of incessant rain,that the serious climbing began. A touch over 12km long, and gaining over 1000 metres in height, it’s a brute of a climb that winds its way up through thick forest towards a beautiful alpine lake. What the climb lacks in length it more than makes up for in steepness, with several sections rearing up to 11% gradient. My sole focus was on keeping a steady rhythm going, knowing that this was only the first of several big climbs.

Taking on a 23km hors category climb at a steady pace is tough enough, especially off the back off Grand St Bernard, but to do so pushing to make up time makes it brutal to say the least. I hit the bottom of the climb as fast as I could, knowing that a support car was waiting 10km up the road. It was all or nothing from now on in. The road snaked up the mountain in a seemingly never-ending series of short switchbacks. A lone rider in the distance became my target as I fought to maintain a speed of 15km/h.

The Champex was tough, but it was nothing compared to the Grand St Bernard, a climb that most certainly lives up to its name.

From the moment the road begins to increase in gradient at the foot of the valley the climb doesn’t relent for a full thirty kilometres. And what’s more, just as you think you have broken the back of it, emerging from the avalanche tunnel with seven kilometres to go, it ramps up to 9% as the final seven kilometres push you to the limit. I stole a glance towards the summit, high up in the distance, trying to work out where the road went. It soon became clear as I noticed a series of vicious switchbacks that picked their way through the rocky mountain.

I began to play a game in my head to take my mind off the pain in my legs, counting down the metres until I would reach La Thuile and a moment’s respite before pushing on to the summit. This was it, it was all down to making it over this climb. I was in the zone and knew I had to keep my assault on the mountain going. The difference being that the gradient was now beginning to increase even more as the road cut high up into the mountain.

Ever since I first saw the Tour de France as a young boy I had wanted to know what it was like to take on such epic climbs, and now here I was finally getting my chance. Riding out of the saddle I simply focused on making each corner, breaking the goal down into smaller sections, focusing on every turn of the pedals as I edged my way closer to the summit. A massive sense of relief washed 66 6 6Cycling World September 2015

The next thirteen kilometres were sheer hell.

My legs burnt as the lactic acid started to sting my muscles, my body screaming at me to slow down.

But my mind took over, urging me to keep going and not relent, my heart pounding in my chest. I kept thinking every corner would be the last, but the road kept on going, pushing me closer and closer to my limit. I cursed the mountain, and in return it kept getting steeper. I was at my limit, close to quitting when I finally saw the summit and the support cars waiting for me. As exhausted as I felt I knew there were two more big climbs to go before the finish line, the first of which was a third consecutive hors category effort. For the first time since setting off

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䌀礀挀氀攀 琀栀攀 戀攀猀琀 爀漀甀琀攀 椀渀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀 䤀爀攀氀愀渀搀ᤠ猀 圀椀氀搀 䄀琀氀愀渀琀椀挀 圀愀礀

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甀猀攀 椀最栀琀栀漀

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䴀愀

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圀椀琀栀 ㈀㜀 栀漀琀攀氀猀 渀愀琀椀漀渀眀椀搀攀 愀渀搀 ㄀㌀ 愀氀漀渀最 琀栀椀猀 昀愀洀漀甀猀 爀漀甀琀攀 眀攀 愀爀攀 栀攀爀攀 琀漀 栀攀氀瀀 礀漀甀 椀渀 瀀氀愀渀渀椀渀最 礀漀甀爀 爀漀甀琀攀Ⰰ 挀栀攀挀欀 愀瘀愀椀氀愀戀椀氀椀琀礀 愀渀搀 戀漀漀欀椀渀最 礀漀甀爀 愀挀挀漀洀洀漀搀愀琀椀漀渀

眀眀眀⸀猀攀氀攀挀琀栀漀琀攀氀猀⸀椀攀 簀 椀渀昀漀䀀猀攀氀攀挀琀栀漀琀攀氀猀⸀椀攀 䌀愀氀氀㨀 ⬀ ㌀㔀㌀ ⠀ ⤀ ㈀㄀ 㐀㌀㤀㄀㤀㤀㠀 倀氀攀愀猀攀 瘀椀猀椀琀 琀栀攀 愀挀琀椀瘀椀琀椀攀猀 瀀愀最攀 漀渀 漀甀爀 眀攀戀猀椀琀攀 昀漀爀 昀甀爀琀栀攀爀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀

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from Les Saisies my mind began to question if my body could follow where it would lead.

Arriving in Bourg St Maurice my body was at its limit, my eyes welled with tears at the thought that I might not have the energy to keep going. I had poured my heart and soul into this and, for the first time since setting out on this journey, it dawned on me that it might not finish how I had always pictured. I slumped into a chair, scoffing biscuits and chocolate, desperately trying to boost my energy levels as an almighty thunderstorm broke out, lightening flashing across the skyline. Truth be told I felt utterly spent, but I had come too far to not keep going. I climbed back on to my bike, my mind defying what my body felt, and set off once more.

The road leading out of bourg St Maurice and onto the Cormet de Roselend wasn’t that steep, but within a hundred metres I knew that it was over, my legs simply couldn’t turn the pedals anymore. I turned around and rolled back to where the support cars were, tears rolling down my face as it began to hit me that wasn’t going to achieve my goal. Not this time anyway. Whilst I never took it for granted that I would finish I also didn’t for one minute imagine it would end as it did, on the side of a nondescript road in Bourg St Maurice with a thunder storm raging overhead.

‘Marcus rode the Tour du Mont Blanc with Velocamp Performance Touring. Visit www. velocamps.com for more information.’

You can follow Marcus on Twitter @marcusleachfood

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Passionate About Limousin Keith Gilks discovers Limousin Photo credits Katherine Gilks, Simon Thompson

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Pedalling: The smell of freshly baked croissants seeped into my room, awakening my senses to the wonderful wall of sound coming from the dawn chorus and shards of bright sunlight flooding in from the traditional french farmhouse windows.

I

didn’t need any further encouragement to don my cycling attire and start the week exploring the majestic countryside of Limousin, south west France.

France is one of my favourite countries to cycle in; the quiet smooth roads, the uncut verges full of wild flowers and wildlife, the respectful motorists, varied topography and of course the cafe culture, make it an idyllic place to explore by bike. Each region has its own character and I had been looking forward to discover the area known as ‘Hidden France’ for some time. I was due a break from training and the cycle events I’ve experienced this year, but at the same time I did not want to lose my hard earned fitness. However due to my busy schedule I hadn’t had the time to do all the ground work to ensure a safe and productive visit. I needed help!

Bonkersfrog was recommended to me, and certainly the details on their website fitted the bill. Andy and Cris who had founded the company ten years ago, provide cycling breaks as well as training weeks for both leisure and club cyclists as well as athletes.

The husband and wife team supply all that is needed for a safe, social and enjoyable stay based in the hamlet of Marsat, within the department of Creuse, approximately one hour from the small provincial airport at Limoges.

Packages include; transfers, full board, hire of bikes, (you can also bring your own), and supported guided rides.

I contacted Andy and choose a week where I and my daughter would fit in with other guests wanting a laid back week discovering the delights of the area, cycling both on and off road.

Katherine and I had met our fellow guests; Colin, Jules, Simon and Tessa, over the welcome BBQ. Andy and Cris had worked their magic when arranging the bookings and had ensured the group were all on the ‘same page’ both in cycling terms but also in matching personalities. Over the glorious home cooked food and the odd glass of wine, we were soon chatting and laughing together as if we had known each other for years. All the signs indicated the week was going to produce laughs and bigger waist lines!

Fuelled by a substantial breakfast, involving the consumption of the source of the aroma mentioned earlier, we set out on mountain bikes along trails (chemins) and quiet back roads towards the Etang de Landes nature reserve; the only natural lake in the area. (The area is known as the ‘region of a thousand lakes’). The gravel tracks and dirt roads were a great introduction for Katherine to the delights of off road cycling. I love road biking but off road you really feel part of the environment.

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We cycled past the most beautiful fauna typical of the region; in the undisturbed hedgerows Red Campion, Greater Stitchwort, Purple Toothwort, Wood Anemone, Lady’s Smock and Lesser Periwinkle were in abundance.

Stopping at the small market town of Gouzon for a quick caffeine boost, gave us an opportunity to get to know each other further.

Colin and Jules were on their fifth visit, Simon and Tessa on their second. I was curious to find out what attracted the couples to return. Colin gave a nice compliment to the Bonkersfrog team ‘ We feel it is like visiting friends that happen to take us on bikes rides’. Tessa and Simon stated how unusual it was for them to revisit an area or reuse the same company, but found Andy and Cris so helpful,

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friendly and accommodating, that together with the wonderful supported rides, they found the whole experience so relaxing they had no hesitation to return and intend on doing so again.

Etang de Landes is a twitcher’s paradise. Around the wooded lake are quirky hides, providing both a viewing platform and relief from the midday sun. Looking across the still lake, reflecting perfectly the sky above, a grebe was spotted fishing for its lunch. Luckily ours was provided and sitting beside the lake we tucked into the fresh baguettes with gusto. However we were not on our own, as only inches in front of us emerged a couple of lizards, common to the area.

This delighted Katherine, who appeared to take more photos of the lizards than of the scenery or cycling.

Andy chatted to us throughout the ride, and impressed me by giving excellent off - road riding advice to Katherine, improving her skills and confidence. He also explained how he and Cris provide a broad range of holidays or training camps, to cater for all cyclists. “In fact we even provide cycling holidays for non cyclists!’ This I could believe, with Andy’s and Cris’ enthusiasm, positive attitude and ‘bed side manner’, customers with little confidence riding a bike would blossom under their wings. Indeed I witnessed this later in the week when Andy encouraged Katherine to try a road bike. With his soft friendly Kent accent, Katherine trusted his instructions and within minutes was loving the ease and speed a road bike can offer.

Refuelled we headed back on tracks across small divided ancient fields and through sleepy little villages on virtually traffic free roads.

Back at base we soaked up the sun over tea and cake, whilst Cris prepared the evening meal. Cris ensures all needs are catered for, from vegetarian, to gluten and nut free diets.

And so Day One set the scene for the remainder of the week; hearty breakfast, great rides, coffee stops, lunch, back in time to relax, then a great homemade meal in the evening sitting around the kitchen table.

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On Day Two we exchanged our mountain steeds for road bikes. Andy and Cris have a large fleet of bikes including mountain, hybrids and road. They also supply helmets and back packs and even have gloves should anyone forget to bring their own. I was given a Trek 1.1.

Alpha. The bike was well maintained and rode like new.

The day’s ride was going to be a 69 km loop to Les Trois Lacs with a couple of challenges; climbing up into Anzeme and for the more adventurous, swimming in the River Creuse.

At the first coffee stop of the day, I made a little faux pas and ordered a cafe negro instead of cafe noir. Immediately the Madame thought I was Italian and sweetly apologised for not speaking the language. Whereas my ‘so called new found friends’ immediately thought I was an idiot and latched on to teasing me about the mistake. This was to last all week!

It was obvious, that although it was only day two, the gloves were off and polite conversation was a thing of the past.

With caffeine flowing through our veins we swept past meadow after meadow, and through quaint quintessential french hamlets, villages and a charming chateaux all in the beautiful sunshine.

It didn’t take us long before we descended a lovely

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twisty section winding its way down to the the River Creuse. Seasoned cyclists will know that however lovely downhill sections are, there is always a price to pay. The bill came sooner than any of us expected. We crossed an ancient stone bridge, turned to the right and the road went up. And boy did it go up. High above us was the church of Anzeme sitting beside a road that appeared to be on a separate route to the one we were on. Slowly it dawned on us; Anzeme was our destination, and the steep road we were grinding up in bottom gear would somehow meet the impressive church and the high road above.

With gentle encouragement from Andy and each other, the first challenge was completed and we caught our breath at the top of the climb whilst taking in the splendid view of the valley beneath us.

“ Right, down to the lake for lunch and a swim” enthused Andy. Bizarrely, although Andy clearly said ‘down’ to the lake, it involved going uphill! However we were soon speeding down to the car park at Les Trois Lacs, all thinking “Its going to be tough going back up after lunch!”

We had the beach to ourselves (it was still the ‘off season’), which enhanced our time by the water with only the sounds of nature around us.

Cycling World September 2015

It turned out that only Katherine and I had remembered to bring our swimming gear (or was that by design!). Tentatively we entered the flowing river. Amazingly the water was not as cold as we had expected. In fact in the shallow areas it even felt warm. Swimming in a river in rural France was a magical experience. From the water we observed buzzards flying overhead, smaller birds flying into the woodland on the far bank, heard the water lapping on the shore and around us, and felt the sun on our backs. Simply wonderful.

Walking back to our bikes, Andy and Cris bumped into the owner of the only cafe in the park. He very kindly offered to open up just for us.

An offer we could not refuse. Out came coffees, ice cream, and apple tart. Our lunch stop had seamlessly developed into a traditional French two hour lunch break, an experience we all enjoyed immensely. We were in danger of turning into francophiles, if we weren’t already.

It was still late spring so it came as no surprise when the weather broke on Day Three.

The temperature dropped and showers were forecast. Andy decided a mountain bike trip around and through the forest at Ajain was the order of the day. Bikes were loaded on the trailer, and we set off for the small market town. Everyone gave a hand unloading the trailer and we were soon introduced again to the saddles we met on the first day. Andy’s and Cris’ local knowledge was evident as we shot down a small road and was almost instantly on a dirt and gravel track heading for the forest.

The province has given it’s name to the distinctive golden red breed of Limousin cattle, and as we bumped and rattled our way to the forest, we passed a mixed herd quietly grazing.

Incredibly Limousin cattle may be as old as the European continent itself. Cave drawings of cattle resembling the modern day Limousin have been found in the Lascaux Cave near Montignac. The

䌀夀䌀䰀䔀 吀䠀䔀 䈀䔀匀吀 刀伀唀吀䔀匀 䤀一 䤀刀䔀䰀䄀一䐀

嘀椀猀椀琀 琀栀攀 愀挀琀椀瘀椀琀椀攀猀 瀀愀最攀 漀昀 漀甀爀 眀攀戀猀椀琀攀 昀漀爀 愀 猀攀氀攀挀琀椀漀渀 漀昀 猀甀最最攀猀琀攀搀 氀漀漀瀀攀搀 挀礀挀氀攀 爀漀甀琀攀猀 昀爀漀洀 攀愀挀栀 漀昀 琀栀攀猀攀 氀漀挀愀琀椀漀渀猀

䘀漀爀 昀甀爀琀栀攀爀 椀渀昀漀爀洀愀琀椀漀渀 漀渀 琀栀攀猀攀 愀渀搀 漀甀爀 漀琀栀攀爀 ㈀ 栀漀琀攀氀猀 愀挀爀漀猀猀 䤀爀攀氀愀渀搀 䌀愀氀氀㨀 ⬀ ㌀㔀㌀ ⠀ ⤀ ㈀㄀ 㐀㌀㤀㄀㤀㤀㠀 嘀椀猀椀琀㨀 眀眀眀⸀猀攀氀攀挀琀栀漀琀攀氀猀⸀椀攀 September 2015 Cycling World

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drawings are estimated to be 16,000 years old. The other prominent breed seen in the mixed herd and often seen in herds of their own were Charolais, originally from the Charolais area around Charolles, in Burgundy. Both breeds are farmed for their meat.

Yet another challenge was handed down once we entered the wooded play ground.

A steep gully was to be traversed. Those with superior off road skills than me, did it with relative ease, either way, we all had smiles on our faces.

Dashing about the forest and dirt tracks was great fun, I was almost converted from being a roadie, and when we stopped for a breather the smell of the pine and the sound of birds singing in the quiet forest was breathtaking. It was very soothing to the soul.

I had been looking forward to Day Four ever since Andy had informed us lunch was to be at Gueret (via Saint Feyre), and we had the option of eating at a restaurant renown for it’s pizzas. I love the pizzas with the egg in the centre, which seems to be a particular french twist and I was looking forward to sampling its delights again.

We reached Saint Feyre in need of coffee but unfortunately the usual coffee stop was closed. We needed a scout to find a watering hole, Simon rose to the challenge and started cycling around the town like some crazed stray dog looking for his next meal. I would have loved to of helped but Andy was informing me of the 1000 kms of numbered and marked off road cycle routes in the Monts de Gureret. Laminated guides detailing the sign posted routes are available from Tourist Information Centres. Our conversation was interrupted by Simon’s shout; he had found a hotel willing to serve coffee to slightly damp cyclists. Result!

After our caffeine fix we soon entered Gureret via back roads. Andy informed us of the communication ariel located on the Monts de Gureret where there is a Category One climb up to mast via the Col de Maupuy. Andy threw down the gauntlet for us to have a go at the two and half mile ascent. A rush of blood went to my head and I thought “What the heck, I’ll give it a go”.

The group wished me luck as they started to coast down to the restaurant, I turn left and started climbing. According to Strava the Col has an average of 7%, but as you leave the main road to go to the mast the road kicks up to around

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12%. My heart was beating so hard it felt like it was trying to break out my chest. Motivation is the key to any climb, for some it is simply to get to the top, for others to do it in the quickest time. For me it was pizza. I knew the quicker I got the job done, the sooner I could order my favourite eggy pizza.

I stopped on the crest, and whipped out my camera for a selfie, which is harder than you think, hence having in my private collection photos of a concrete communication building and the top of someone’s head with thinning hair. I then sped down the mountain to join the others and the food of my dreams.

Andy greeted me outside the restaurant and informed me my lunch had been ordered. For the second time that day my heart tried to leave my body, this time it was via my mouth. What had they ordered? As I approached my seat I gave a whoop of delight. In front of me was exactly what I wanted, one huge pizza with an egg in the centre.

The guys had picked up on my culinary tastes and guessed what I wanted. What a team!

Cycling World September 2015

There was the normal offer to take the van home, which we took a few miles later when the weather closed in.

As usual we all looked forward to the evening meal, not just because of the high quality delicious meals that Cris provided, but also for the social element. All members of the group were of the same age, apart from Katherine who at 18 years old was younger than the rest of us by at least 20 years. However this gave us an golden opportunity to educate her in social history, specifically growing up in the 1970s.

We reminisced over TV programmes, cartoons, films, food, sweets, cars, and music. Colin, Jules, Simon and Tessa were like human encyclopaedias when it came to remembering characters and actors’ names. The few times their memories failed, another creation of our generation, the internet, came to our rescue. Katherine was caught yawning a couple of times, which we put down to the exercise and country air she experienced throughout the week. Surely it couldn’t have been anything else!

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I’m glad to say the weather started to pick up on Day Five for our trip to Boussac.

This time, if the simple joy of riding through the picturesque tranquil countryside wasn’t enough, then cake at Boussac and the opportunity to overcome your fears whilst swinging from tree to tree at one of France’s answers to ‘Go Ape’, was there to tempt us.

The cakes from the patisserie at Boussac were to die for. The cream in the strawberry eclair tasted like nothing I have experienced in England.

I’m sure it also helped us to conquer the climb to the restaurant and rope climbing centre above the town.

Katherine and I couldn’t resist the challenge of the ‘Go Ape’ course high in the trees.

Although it was only the two of us swinging around like chimps, team work came into play with the rest of the group giving encouragement and at times instructions to us, especially when we both became stuck! We has a great time ‘playing on the ropes’ as Andy referred to it, and the group enjoyed Katherine’s fits of laughter, witnessing her father getting in a right tangle when mistakingly taking the most difficult route. Tired, we all took the bus home.

It was the chef ’s night off, and although we would all miss her cooking we were looking forward to sampling the food at a french restaurant.

The table was booked at Le Moulin de Breuil, which sat on the River Creuse. It was a sublime setting, and sitting outside in the mystical light provided by the evening sun, it was easy to understand why impressionist painters such as Monet chose the Limousin to create some of their best works.

For three months Claude Monet lived in the village of Fresselines, close to the town of Crozant, and produced his first impressionist paintings, inspired by the light and landscape of the Creuse. Limoges provides another connection to the impressionist movement; Renoir was born there and several of his works are exhibited in the Museum de

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L’Eveche.

Conversation flowed as easily as the wine, over the exquisite perfectly cooked meals, which reminded us that the area is also known for it’s traditional cuisine.

Finally our last day of cycling arrived.

One last carbohydrate laden breakfast and we were off to Aubusson.

Cycling through a tiny village called La Tour, we discovered the remains of a tower (clue was in the title) from the tenth century. We took a few minutes soaking in the atmosphere of the one thousand year old site, trying to imagine what the area would have looked like when the motte and bailey was in use.

The coffee stop was at a charming cafe/come butchers called Cafe Charcuterie. The business has been in the elderly Madame’s family for years, and there was a steady stream of people either coming in for a drink and a chat or for provisions.

The scene was a stark contrast to the quiet almost deserted villages we had been cycling through all week. There had been no reports of mass evacuation of rural France, so I can only presume the fact that Limousin is the second least populated region in France is true. (Only Corsica has fewer residents).

We climbed up to St. Martial le Mont for lunch, a lovely spot with marvellous views .

The route then followed the River Creuse along its banks and thus the cycling was easy into Aubusson.

After a little break the group decided to cycle back, however Katherine and I had a little mystery shopping to do before the holiday came to an end. The group knew we had slipped into the local patisserie to sample the sausage rolls. (I’m happy to report the rolls were the best we have ever had, filled with minced meat flavoured with herbs and garlic). But what will come as a surprise to them is that we also sampled a couple of cakes

Cycling World September 2015

to compare with the ones from Boussac; a caramel eclair and a mille-feuille pastry. All in the interests of science of course. The cakes were gorgeous but we came to the conclusion the ones from Boussac were slightly better.

We left the town reflecting on our week in Limousin; the sights we had seen, the cuisine, the new friends we had made.

It is easy to end an article by saying we would definitely return, but the fact is Limousin is perfect cycling country and Andy and Cris are perfect hosts. In any case we need to return to continue the research, and it would great to meet up with our new friends again.

We are definitely going back.

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