Ride Numbers

This week will see an important step in this year’s ride.

The entries for the 2009 event opened February 1st, following our launch party. Since then there has been a steady rush to sign up, which has been brilliant.

We have also in the last 10 days completed (with Salad Design) the poster for the ride, and had it available as a download on the website. In fact, last week saw the first poster popped up in a shop- quite rightly, the shop of our sponsor, Southfork Cycles, Braunton.

The steady rising of numbers will see us this week surpass last year’s rider count. The feedback from the riders signing up now (thank you for those who have provided the feedback!) is the word is spreading quickly only by recommendations of existing riders.

This is brilliant, and from all the organisers, THANK YOU!

We are about to start sending posters out to shops and leisure facilities across the South West, to encourage the next wave of riders- those who will be inspired to participate in an event they would not normally do. With the weather (hopefully) picking up, members of the public will start to cycle more, see the posters, and pick up the mantle of a challenge.

So if you have signed up- great to have you with us! If you have not, seriously- hurry- at this rate, we will be fully subscribed by the end of April.

And to all of you- keep talking to your friends! Tell them what you are doing, tap them for sponsorship- or get them to join us!

The future of the riders

One thing I love about the ride this year is the slight rule change we have made-

‘All riders under 16 must be accompanied by an adult’.

Up to now, for insurance and logistical reasons, we have said a straight no to riders under 16. Routes have been hard enough,and we wanted to ensure that no is left ‘baby sitting’ on the day.

This rule change means that we can open the ride up to the next generation of riders- people who will hopefully be coming to the event for years to come. It is very exciting.

It also, on a more personal level, means that my son Ethan can ride. Ethan is 13 at the start of April, and is already training. He has a sensible head on his shoulders, and does not focus solely on cycling; he plays rugby for his school, table tennis (is that a real sort? discuss!), badminton, a bit of football… an all round sport billy.

We got a healthy 30 miles in yesterday, cycling from Barnstaple to the Puffing Billy at Torrington, then climbed up into Torrington, then home again. His first ride with SPD’s; his climb into Torrington was really strong- he rode with a purpose.

It’s nice, because as I am not (honestly!) a pushy father, if he wants to come out with me, he does, and if he doesn’t, he … doesn’t. We are planning some bigger rides before the day to get used to cycling for a long time, but he is very excited- as I am- about him doing the ride. Previous riders will remember him on the back of the support motorbike at the 2008 event. This enabled him to see how tough it can be; he also saw the smiles!

This year wil see big steps taken in the ride. The first time we have changed both the start and the finish in one year, the first time we are starting outside of Ilfracombe, the numbers, the venues… but I think, in time, the biggest change will be…to allow accompanied under 16 year olds.

The 2009 poster

Drum roll please- here is a preview of this year’s poster- soon to be available to download!

How bloody cool is this?!!

The Blog- a new start

Welcome to our new Coast to Coast blog.

All the old details are here, just as searchable, just as long, just as personal to me.

But with the 2009 ride, it will take a new direction.

Up until now, the blog was always somewhere I recorded my own personal progress with fitness towards the ride. I wanted it not only as a  journal of my rides, but also to act as reassurance to newbie’s that you do not have to be supersonically fit to complete the ride- I always got by on the minimum amount of training.

But as the ride has grown, I think that the blog had served it’s purpose. 3 years of training should be enough to please anyone! (You also get the 3 years worth of not training- those are the days where I never blogged- I think you will find that there are far more of those).

Now in it’s sixth year, the ride is now different from the start. From the first year with just 4 riders, we are now having to cap it at 200 to ensure that we are growing safely and at a managed level. We want to keep the ride safe for all concerned, and keep our reputation of being a great ride in tact. Yes, in year 10, we want to be capping it off at 500, or 1000, but we also know that to get there, we need to be looking at 200 this year.

I know that I say it every year, but I am really excited about this year’s route. The thought  climbing out of Woolacombe with 200 other riders is exciting! Also, on the reckie my son and I recently did, we discovered a real treat- the ride along side the canal through Exeter. And the part around the back of Powderham castle is great!

I will be updating this blog regularly towards the ride, and beyond, and hope to give you all some idea of what we were thinking in the planning of the ride, and why it is like it is. Let me know if you think is good! Also, feel free to post your comments below.

June 7th will soon be here. Will you be?

OMG!

Wow!

No really, Wow!

We knew that this year was going to be good- we had prepared it that way. Lots and lots of painstaking detail was planed out- clarity was a big focus this year.

But last Sunday surpassed everything we could have hoped for.

It’s great to see how much the ride has evolved- from the first year with 4 of us, and stopping in lay-bys- to the great memories I have of over 130 cyclists sat at Libbatton Golf Club drinking coffee and applying suncream .

Ironic that the one thing- the weather- we can not plan for (as the 2007 ride shows!), is the one thing which went in to making the ride what it has been this year. I don’t think that I will ever forget cycling away from Libbatton, with a big group of cyclists in front of me, thinking wow!, but then turning around and seeing a group just as big behind me! Superb!

So many people to thank, so excuse me if I forget anyone; Edd’s Fruit and Veg, Southforks Cycles (AKA The Smurfs), John Smales Estate Agents, Hugh and Neil form The North Devon Hospice, Steve from Teignmouth Town Council, Alan from The North Devon Festival, Salad Design, Dynamica Solutions… the list goes on.

BUT my personal thanks to the team who have created this ride. I nearly laid the Coast-Coast as it was known then to rest, and if it had not been for Mark and Sean nagging, it would still be dead. Their enthusiasm, knowledge and love of 2 wheels have brought the ride an amazingly long way- we have created something which no one could do on their own. This ride is as much theirs as it is mine, and I thank them.

Ian and Mike also play key roles- their tireless work on the day facilitates our fun; also their companionship and thoughts throughout the year help me to keep thinking bigger. Thank you.

Finally, our newest member, Emma. Emma came to us as a link from The North Devon Hospice, and has become a friend. Her event knowledge, passion and more importantly female qualities has meant that she has become such an important member of the squad that I just can’t imagine the ride without her.

Thank you all of you!

One last mention to those who have come back to us since the event and said thank you- through email or the guest book- Thank you! You have lifted us all, and ensured that next years ride is starting to be planned today- we want to give you more- more experience, more challenge, more fun!

It’s the day after tomorrow? WHAT!

And all of a sudden, it was here- I don’t know if I should be excited or scared!

The ride, this end of the weekend, looks brilliant. We have some great twists and features, and the route is great. I spent five hours marking out the D route today from Bishops Tawton to Bovey Tracey; I had forgotten what a challenge it is going to be! In all the organizing and lost sleep, I have just remembered- with a jolt- I myself am riding the 65 miles on Sunday.

Training has gone a bit too well- I have kept it very light and simple, with a couple 40 mile ride thrown in, and I do feel very strong; my cadence is off the scale! Yes there are questions about if I can ride for that length of time, but this year, I really am going to chat, ride, and have fun.

There are a couple things that I wish I could have made happen for Sunday, but that will come for next year. Ah next year. Such big ideas….

On behalf of myself (Simon), Mark, Sean, Mike, Ian and now Emma, we really do hope that love Sunday as much as we think you will, and look forwards to seeing you there!

We want NONE of this on the day, right?

LOVING the sun!

What a great, hot, sunny week it has been! I have took the opportunity to do over 100 miles on the bike this week- which is great preparation for the rides ahead.

Last Sunday I went for a 30 mile ride, around the circuit known as the extended Muddiford Circuit- that is, Barnstaple, Lynton Cross, Mullacott Cross, Georgeham, Croyde, Saunton, Braunton and home again.Average of 14 mph, so pleased with that. Truth is, just glad I enjoyed the ride.

Managed to squeeze 20 miles in then on Thursday- down to Bideford and back. Average 15mph, but rode a bit silly- that is, have been trying to ride smoothly and gently- giving me chance to look around and enjoy myself. Instead I rode head down, and about as smooth as a bucket of sand. Oh well.

With the sun still shining yesterday, I went out on the Coast to Coast route, cycling from Barnstaple down to Winkleigh and back, average 15 mph. It was great- the sun was shining, and I was riding roads which (other than the first 7 miles) I had never rode before. There was a vicious head wind going out, which turned lovely to push me home again.

Another thing I learnt- the climb into Atherington is STEEP! On a 39×23, I was standing and it was hard work to keep going forwards.

You have been warned!

99 Riders and turbo training

99 riders! C’mon we need 100 before the end of the month! Have you signed up yet? If not, do it now! PLEASE!

Gentle session on the turbo tonight- 10 miles. Forgot how much I sweat on that thing! Also feeling the effects of lack of hours in the saddle. But it will come- it has to, 5 1/2 weeks to go!

Sun and Stupidity

After 2 months, and a heavy bout of man flu, the sun shone yesterday, which inspired me to ride.

Still a lot of cobwebs in my lungs, but went to Torrington along the cyclepath. It was a head wind all the way down, which was fine, as I knew that I would have an easier leg on the way back- just when I needed it. Something good to come out of spending a week in bed not eating is that I have lost about 7 pounds in weight; mainly from my chin, it seems.

After spluttering the first 5 miles or so, I got into my rhythm. First time that I have ever rode my road bike on the tarka trail- I have been worried about the surfaces ripping the tyres to shreds.

Got to Torrington; my computer said that I had done 14 miles. Felt OK, so kept going a bit, on another 2 miles up to the next ‘junction’ on the cycle path. Rough surfaces, but lovely woods- also like the wooden people on the benches.If you have not rode this bit, recommend it- it really is a lovely section of the trial.

So I turned, and now had the wind behind me. Soon got back to Torrington, where I switched to the road, and cycled back to Bideford. I have always like this section of the road, and got my head down in a workman like fashion- starting to feel a bit tired though.

From Bideford, across the new bridge, and along the road through Instow and Fremington. Got burnt off by a tall bloke on a Carrera, which did my ego nothing. Sometimes, it is hard to remember where you have been; especially when you are looking at the arse of someone else’s cycle shorts.

Stiff as a board when I got home, but chuffed; 32 miles, average 14 mph.

Not bad, considering.