After Running and Cycling in the Sahara Desert

QotD: Cover Story

nobody@vox.com(Nic Bertrand) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:07:35 +0100

If you could be featured in a magazine which one would you choose?

Audax UK's Arrivée after riding LEL2009 next year?

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Club des Cinglés du Mont-Ventoux

nobody@vox.com(Nic Bertrand) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:00:21 +0100

Col des tempetes - Mont Ventoux

Excellent article over on PezCycling about climbing the Mont Ventoux from the three routes in one day.

It is something that I have been thinking about tackling for some time.

The Mont Ventoux is a legend of a hill, a mecca for all cyclists. The views from the top are worth every single bead of sweat. The climbs are dreadfully hard on a good clear day and horrible if undertaken on a day with some mistral. Mistral is a cold, strong northerly wind predominant in the Rhone valley. As you can imagine its strength is amplified significantly at high altitude.

My preferred option would be to start off fairly early from St Jean de Sault where my sister Sandra lives. The climb from Sault is great and not too much of a challenge until you get past the Chalet Reynard. I would then descend to Bedoin, climb from Bedoin whilst the heat of the day is not at its peak. The climb from Bedoin is very very hard. I went up two years ago. I was very lucky in my timing as the Mistral had been blowing at speeds above 100km/h for weeks on end. The only point at which the wind was significant was on the infamous col des tempetes. A very exposed steep slog of a climb.

Northern road of Mont ventoux viewed from the Summit

The last and remaining ascent from Malaucene onto the northen road would be unknown territory to me. I have never attempted that ascent. The gradients are apparently not as severe as from Bedoin. However the road looks mighty from above and will be a fantastic challenge after completing the two earlier ascents from Bedoin and Sault.

The last stretch is a pleasant and fast descent to Sault and a steep climb back to Sandra's.

One hell of a day ahead :-)

More info: http://les.cingles.du.mont-ventoux.club.fr/regles.htm and http://www.clubcinglesventoux.org/index.php

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Time Trials

nobody@vox.com(Nic Bertrand) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:23:35 +0100

This year has been my first stab at time trials. There is something funny about time trials. It's you against the clock, adrenalin flowing, plenty of agony and a constant battle in the mind to squash negative thoughts.

I have completed three time trials this year. The first one was around Coniston. There I learned that a standing start is tricky, that it's a bad idea to eat scampi and chips 30' before the start, cycling the route before the race is a good idea and that riding a time trial was like banging your head against a wall, it feels better when you stop.

My other two time trials were at Salt Ayre cycle track. 10 miles evening ride around the newly resurfaced track. Good atmosphere, great mix of age, skills and no option for getting lost. My time of 27'12 and 26'47 are a start and hopefully a good base for next year.

I am going to turn my attention to Lancaster Cycling Club's Hill Climbs (Conder Bottom and Jubilee Tower). These present an interesting challenge, are litterally next door to me and are organised at a convenient time after work. I timed myself this morning on Jubilee Tower for the first time and as expected it's not pretty at 12'. (the course record as set by Ben Greenwood stands at 7'22s!). My plan is to ride Jubilee tower regularly between now and 11th September.

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Vox Hunt: Good Eats

nobody@vox.com(Nic Bertrand) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:41:09 +0100

Show us your favorite local restaurant.
http://www.edamame.co.uk/
Sadly it is no longer my local restaurant since I move away from Oxford but still my favorite restaurant.

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Vienna Alone days 2-3

nobody@vox.com(Nic Bertrand) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:28:43 +0100

Only tomorrow left before I head back home.

In Summary:
I have had very busy few days
- getting lost can lead to walks taking over 3 hours. Best way to discover a city?
- I tried one of Austria's fast food specialities from a würstelstand (hot dog stand) some sort of sausage meat injected with cheese in a bun. Interesting... Here is a relevant little flash game: http://www.wuerstelstand.net/

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Vienna alone day 1

nobody@vox.com(Nic Bertrand) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:08:34 +0100

I skipped a couple of days in my diary as nothing much happened. I brought our cat Box to the vet and then to the cattery, went to the Go-Ride session at Salt Ayre to help with the coaching. I was wondering where the British summer had gone. I don't think the tomato plants in our garden will reach fruiting stages let alone produce edible red tomatoes.

I now know where the summer is. It's in Vienna / Bratislava. Absolutely brilliant weather. Mid twenties C, no wind and clear skies. The sort of weather you get once every ten years in the UK (if you are lucky!).

I am not there to enjoy as I am there with work and it's not a holiday but I can't say I am not enjoying the change in scenery and banking on empty evenings to discover Vienna a little more. It's an absolutely stunning city. My self imposed mission is to visit some of Vienna's markets. On top of my list is Naschmarkt.

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Home alone day 4

nobody@vox.com(Nic Bertrand) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 11:09:19 +0100

For the first time ever I commute to work in Lancaster by car. I had no choice as I was ~~in court~~ interviewing for the day. So today was full day's work. Nothing to say about that. I came back home by 17:30 chopped a few vegetables for the chili con carne I had in mind. I swapped the wheels and pedals to the better bike, ancelled the milk delivery until early September. I looked at the clock and abandonned the cooking to get ready for the last time trial of the year at the Salt Ayre time cycle track. I arrived with 30' spare to sign in warm up and drink well before the start. There was good mix of experienced time trialists, adults and youngsters.

I started first on the track. No idea whether it's an advantage or a disadvantage. The ride was hard and the legs felt heavy, big boggies / bodily fluids escaping along the way. About 5 miles in I was feeling so rough that the thought of packing came running through my head. I kept pushing on and eventually got it over and done with.

26'47s. 25s improvement over the first 10miles Time Trial.

Came back home relieved at slow steady pace and finished cooking the chilli:

Chilli Cooking

Chilli and Nachos

News from Japan: It's hot and great food, time diference is less of an issue and they are having a great time. Japanese is progressing well too. No. not mine... I am hopeless ;--)

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Home alone Day 3

nobody@vox.com(Nic Bertrand) — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:49:46 +0100

I headed to Marple (Near Stockport) for the second audax of the week. The forecast looked bleak so I packed the winter ribble bike and a range of waterproofing clothing items. The journey to Marple was uneventful if a bit slow around the outskirts of Manchester. I arrived with ample time for the 10am start. A 10am start for an audax is slightly unusual and to be honest brilliant. Very relaxed.

I collected my brevet card from the organiser (Winston Powes) as well as a banana and chocolate roll, met Noodley from YACF cycling forum and briefly acknowledged Mike who I had met on the previous Sunday riding the Bowland Audax. At 10am and prompted by strong whistle from WInston, the group of 40-odd cyclists started the ride. I don't know why but there is always a kind of nervous vibe in the first 15-20' of such a ride. I always have trouble keeping track of the routesheet in these early stages. Thankfully with many riders around who know where they are going it isn't much of an issue. No sign of the torrential downpours forecasted by metcheck. Perfect cycling weather. 17 degrees, little wind and overcast.

The first serious climb of the day was Snake Pass. A delight. It's a long by british isles standard and does not contain any of the silly 20-30% gradients one encounters in parts of the Lake district. Beautiful views, moors with heather in full purple blossom. Fantastic. This climb set the scene for the rest of the ride. Gorgeous scenery, climbs to the top of some moors. The two cafe stops were great too. Efficient, good value. For a change I avoided the beans on toast. Tuna and cheese toastie, carrot cake / scoop of ice cream and cups of tea kept me well stocked up and hydrated.

My favorite climb was on the way to Sheldon HERE

All in all, an excellent audax, one of the best if not the THE best I have ridden in my young and limited audax experience. The Peak district is superb cycling country. And the weather hold out!

Route:

Dinner was in the shape of a filling plate of fish and chips from Hodgson's chippy.

Hodgson's fish and chips with mushy peas

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Bowland Audax

nobody@vox.com(Nic Bertrand) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:24:58 +0100

That's one hilly scenic ride around the pennines and the forest of Bowland. Recommended for the scenery, challenge (if you are as challenged by hills as I am) and good company. Well organised by Don Black under the hospice of Audax UK.

Bowland Audax Route

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Home Alone Day 2

nobody@vox.com(Nic Bertrand) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:43:40 +0100

Pepper chicken Spaghetti

My day so far:
- Got woken up at 6am by a very welcome phone call from Japan.
- walked into the city centre to pick up a parcel at the post office and a couple of energy gels at the Edge.
- checked my work email for the first time in more than a week
- Ate a pork pie from Susan's pies in Lancaster.
- Called Japan twice. Isn't skype wonderful? The girls are finding it hard to the time difference and the heat but seems to enjoy themselves :-)
- Watched the Dark Knight. Disappointing movie.
- Called into work to print out the route for the Mid Peak Audax (sshh..) and book hotel and flights to Vienna next week. Last minute workshop at UBA.
- Booked "Box" into a local cattery.
- Booked a vaccination session for Box as his vet can't find his vaccination records...
- Washed my cycling kit... twice... as it ponged in a spectacular fashion.
- Cooked dinner (see above) inspired by a blog post over at one of my favorite food blogs Tasca de Elvira
- Missed the start of the criterium at Salt Ayre.

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