.........I can't drown my demons, they know how to swim.......

After last weeks pity party I thought the best way of expelling the demons was to get back on the bike and go and ride up and down some hills. I've done okay this year, lost six kilos from somewhere and slowly got quicker so I really should stop feeling sorry for myself. 

Like a fool I believed the weather app, sunny all day, yeah right, should of known better, good job I dressed a bit better than last week, layers!! Wet roads and a headwind on the way out but felt good I even tackled some little lumps in the big ring to try and push myself a bit. I even managed a good time up the first hill of the day. A blast down the valley road, rough and flooded in parts, if any team needs any practice for next years cobbles on the tour just ride along here, think I've still got my fillings. I was going to retrace some of last weeks ride but thought better and headed to Dulverton via Exebridge, the river was flowing well even before the weather rolls in. Shopper dodging in Dulverton, look before you cross the road please, quick breather and then up the hill to the moor.

I like this hill, I'm a bit odd like that, a steady spin up through the trees with the river flowing beside you and then onto the exposed moor. I like it up here, windswept but beautiful, I think someone once wrote  "It’s pretty even when it’s ‘orrible out there, albeit in a bleak and statuesque fashion"  A nice tailwind up Winsford Hill but the descent was a bit dodgy as said tailwind became a strong crosswind threatening to take my front wheel away, soon down though. A nice descent down to Winsford sheltered by the hedgerows now, rain in the air now but I was enjoying myself so didn't really care.

All what was left was to retrace my earlier bit back up the valley road and the descent down from Wheddon Cross, always a blast but caution needed with the wet surface and debris.

A cracking ride, felt really good and felt good about myself which is important.

Strava bit.......

Exmoor Beast 2013............or "In the darkness at the dances in the school canteen"

I'm normally only awake at 5.00am when I'm at work or getting ready to go to work but this Sunday I was eating my Weetabix and getting ready to drive to the Exmoor Beast sportive which was starting in Tiverton this year. I for one liked it when it was based in Minehead because it meant a five minute roll down to the start. At least driving over the moors gave me an idea on what condition the roads were in which was covered in debris, apparently there was a storm, I slept through it, other aspects of my life resulted in no sleep the night before.

It was very dark when I got parked up at the school in Tiverton, the last time I was hanging around a high school in the dark was back in my schooldays lurking around the school disco. We never had proms in my day mainly because I lived in a northern industrial city and we weren't the kids in America. I registered in the gym were they told me the start was delayed until 7.15 due to the gloom, checked my helmet tag and bumped into Andrew who was doing some photography for The Western Morning news. I then bumped into Chris and Jennifer who said Guy was also there as I made my way back to the car, Chris cheerily reminded me what fun it must be to drive thirty miles to ride back past my house, yeah, cheers! As I thought I had some time to kill I sat in the car and considered going back to sleep only to hear the PA calling the riders to the start and starting the briefing. So a I quickly threw on my  far too warm should have left at home jacket and made my way to the start. I shuffled into the second pen but couldn't see anyone else I knew except Guy who was in the first pen and set off before I could say hello, he was wearing shades though so I doubt he would have seen me.

So just after 7.00am I set off into the dark which was quite a novelty for me, I was glad some people had really good lights so I sat behind them. This first half of the ride was pretty new to me and I quite enjoyed the gentle climbs up around Bampton and Morebath and past Wimbleball Lake. It was warm, I was warm and overdressed for the occasion and with just one heavy shower was a bit annoyed with myself for my poor choice of cyclewear. Perhaps I should of worn a shirt, jeans and wellies like one bloke and ridden my mtb for one hundred miles, well done to you for putting us Lycra lovies to shame.

I like the descent down to Timberscombe but I knew what to expect as I normally ride up it (?) I was slightly worried by the over confidence of one rider in front of me who insisted on riding down no-handed, bloody show off. I was soon in Dunster and the first feed stop, I only had a banana and I probably should of had more and was about to get on my way when Chris and Jennifer rolled in. I thought it rude not to say hello and also bumped into one of my workmates, Carl, who was doing his first sportive although he is a seasoned cyclist. Off we went again, past my house, sort of, without first nearly becoming victim of a water bottle incident and it was my mates bottle!

We were soon at the foot of the climb up and over Dunkery. I've tried it before and failed miserably and guess what I did again. It doesn't matter what gearing or bike you have it's about your head, heart and lungs and I had none, nothing there I even felt like turning tail and going home. I limply persevered and did the hill by instalment, ride, stop, ride a bit more until I got over the thing. I didn't think anyone would wait for me as I was taking so long and quite rightly they didn't. They got over it though and was quite rightly happy and they deserve to be in a happy place once in a while :) It was very busy on Dunkery with horsey types and weekend warrior downhillers getting a lift up with a Land Rover and trailer. Note to driver of said Landy, don't beep your horn at cyclists struggling up a hill you should know better! So I carried on alone again but not after blowing up big time as I rode up from Luckwell Bridge, if I was a car they would probably say my big end had gone. The legs were turning but not a lot happening, I just told myself to get to the split point and have a breather and eat something. I nearly missed the split point I was in such a stupor, another sixty hilly miles would not be a good idea.

I stopped, ate something and got on my way, twenty odd miles to the finish, head down and just get it done. I passed the odd cyclist and many passed me all far too quick for me to jump on with. I finally managed to jump onto the back of a little group in the last few miles and got a tow to the finish. I like the finish, inside the gym, name announced and a free tankard to fill with ale and a friendly face as Carl said hello. I chucked the bike back in the car and grabbed my change of clothes and made my way back to the gym where Chris and Jennifer were enjoying their ale after a good ride around Exmoor. We sat and chatted and I got changed in lovely warm changing rooms before heading off home the way I had just ridden, at least I beat the rain if little else.

I think I might have preferred last years route but I'm probably only saying that because I could ride most of it. Last year I took over six hours for sixty two miles this year albeit a different route I did sixty six in five and a half. I should be pleased with that but I feel slightly disappointed with myself, just one of those days......

Strava bit.....

.....lights will guide you home.......

I've been meaning to go out for an evening ride for ages but I kept putting it off, it's an annoying trait of mine that I'm trying to stop, trying to live my life and not go along with someone else's. The weather was set fair, the sun was out, I'd only finished two night shifts at 6.00am and had about five hours sleep so caffeine was needed before I hit the trails. The legs felt heavy and the lungs were a bit wheezy as I headed up the hill but seeing to two lads pushing up a steep bit made me dig in and show off and try not to show I was blowing out of my derriere as I passed them. That used to be me not long back and I used to push up the same bit so I know how it feels, I've come a long way this year, I need to remind myself that sometimes. I could see the sun dropping down low as I rode along and was worried I'd left it too late to catch the sunset so went for it up the hill to the beacon, I didn't though, hope you like the pics.

The ride down the hill was brilliant, cool and still in the fading light, once under the tree line things got a bit sketchy but my cheap light helped a little bit as I made my way down. I think I startled a couple out for an evening walk as I appeared out of the undergrowth smiling like a madman, got to be done though, great fun.

.....bark at the moon......

....my features form with a change in the weather......

After a couple of failed attempts due to the weather and him unfortunately taking a spill a few weeks back I finally took my workmate Stacey for a tour of Exmoor on Thursday. Stacey was worried about the hills, he doesn't do hills, at least that's what he kept telling me but he wasn't fooling me. At about six foot four and with more fat on a greasy chip he made going up gradients look effortless were I was doing my usual huffing and puffing as I trailed behind him. After just finishing night shifts I was feeling a bit groggy so kept the route a bit shorter than usual but just as lumpy but you can't really avoid hills around this part of Somerset. A steady spin in the sun up Porlock Toll Road, as quiet as ever but nice to have some company for a change.

After negotiating the top of the moors and the descent and ascent to and from Exford a quick blast along the valley to Winsford gave us a break from the lumpy stuff, at least I was a bit quicker at descending :) Back up the valley road to Wheddon Cross for a quick stop to discuss route options. It seemed a shame to waste an opportunity to go over Dunkery hill on such a nice day so we didn't. Once at Dunkery Stacey put his head down and went for it up the hill, I just pootled on as usual.

Nice on the hill were I may of commented for someone who doesn't do hills he was doing very well, just the descent then back towards home. A thoroughly nice ride, a bit chilly but you have to get out there.

Strava bit........

Yesterday I got the big green bike out and did a loop, I do enjoy the autumn I think years of suffering from hayfever means I strangely enjoy the colder months or I'm just strange?

I thought I'd head up through Horner woods and Eastwater to see how the river was flowing, a bit bike and hike in places as you criss cross the river but worth it just to be in such a beautiful place.

Compared to when I last did this loop and after the day before's efforts I was quite pleased with my time especially on the hills when my legs were burning. It went like this.......

....because it's happened doesn't mean you've been discarded........

It's been a bit of a warm, damp, breezy week so I decided to stick to the mtb, wet and slippy on a mountain bike is all part of the fun. On Wednesday I decided to do one of my usual loops in reverse mainly because it meant attempting a more challenging climb. With the seasons changing riding the mtb becomes more of a challenge, wet roots and rocks and mulchy leafs add to the difficulty on climbs and I think I put too much air in my rear tyre resulting in less traction. I nearly made it up the big climb but spun out on a steep bit right at the top, darn greasy rocks. The route went like this......

Same again today, the weather guess app was telling me sunny but it wasn't, after a stroll on the beach with my retired buddy I got the mtb out and hit the hills. Once I got to the top of the hills above Dunster I could see the rain hanging above Dunkery so was glad to have given the road bike a miss. Another happy muddy ride on the big green bike, went something like this.......

In between getting muddy I finally got some personal artwork, I've been putting it off for years but having friends who give you belief and support means a lot, just hope I can do the same for them? Sometimes you have to have a sense of humour and a sense of hope in times of adversity.....

....come up screaming........