Motivation: La Marmotte 2009

Col du Glandon, 1924m. Col du Telegraphe, 1556m. Col du Galibier, 2646m. Col du Lautaret, 2058m. 21 hairpins of Alpe d’Huez to finish. This is arguably the toughest sportive out there. Congratulations to Al and Joe on completing this year’s race in amazing times. Motivation for next year? 

Chasing the dragon ride

The Dragon is the UK’s leading sportive, and it’s easy to see why. The Ride combines stunning scenery, long alpine-esque winding climbs, rolling roads and fast technical descents. The administration is impeccable, and the scale of the event – relative to other British rides – is something else. Car parking congestion meant we were late starting. [...]

Dragon Ride

Jonny, Matt and I will be tackling 120 miles in the Brecon Beacons this Sunday. Not sure I like the look of Bwlch2 at 160km in. At least the ‘heavy showers’ forecast from earlier in the week appears to have changed to ‘sunny intervals’. www.dragonride.co.uk  

Reigate Sunday Sportive

British weather is almost as odd as our choice of TV weather presenters (I mean, why not more Ulrika Jonssons?). Last Sunday in the Chilterns the concern was dehydration as the sun beat down; mistaking lightning flashes for speed cameras on the drive in torrential rain to Reigate, the concern was whether this event would [...]

Chiltern 100: review

As the Giro was finishing in Rome, I was spinning my pedals for 7 hours and six minutes around the Chiltern hills. Starting early at 8am from Great Missenden, I joined the first group of 20 and quickly leapt out with two other guys – also on Madone’s – keen on setting a good early pace. The [...]

Burgess Hill Springtime Classic 09

114K and 1509m of climbing in the Sussex countryside. The Burgess Hill Springtime Classic 2009 proved to be a great early season sharpener as I begin my preparation for 365 days to Ironman 2010. Coming from Sussex, I was fairly aware of what to expect from this challenging and scenic route. Bright warm spring sunshine greeted us as [...]