Cheddar Gorge & Burrington Training
Winter Sunrise and Sunsets
December has been kind, the weather has been wet & windy at times but fundamentally dry on my long Saturday cycles. I’ve also teamed up with a brilliant group of riders who have been road cycling for quite a few years and who also do reviews on cycling equipment and road gear.
Jason with The Winter Solstice Sunrise
- Cycle Training for The JoGLE 2015
I’ve been cycling mid week as a set route with my neighbour Phil and fellow Jogle cyclist Pete, we take the ride along Kewstoke woods, along the Weston Beach front, up onto Bleadon Hill, then back through Locking and back through Weston and Worle. The route is only 17 miles but with Bleadon Hill it makes it a nice early morning ride and to be back for breakfast is perfect. We’ve been blessed with some amazing Winter sunrises and obviously had a little fun as the sun came up. A highlight on one of the rides was watching hundreds of thousands of starlings fly overhead during the starling murmuration near Uphill.
The Saturday cycle with Del, Peter and Andrew has been an eye opener in the form of taking on Bleadon Hill, Burrington Combe or Cheddar Gorge depending on our route, clockwise or anti-clockwise. The 1st cycle was 41 miles, taking on both hills and we we treated to glorious sunshine. I am never going to forget cycling up Burrington Combe, I’m pleased to say I didn’t need to get off of my bike with the support from Del, the advice given has given me some huge benefits on my rides since, especially when it comes to hills.
Peter Boardman with a planet in his hands. Winter Solstice a new chapter, a new Challenge.
Cheddar Gorge
As all climbers, walkers and cyclists know, What goes Up, Must Come Down 
We found ourselves at the top of the Gorge, the Somerset Mendips, a beautiful landscape on a sunny day, but what can be such a bleak view with little shelter on a cold, wet and windy day. But today was bright as the Winter sunshine gave a little warmth and the views were simply fantastic out across to Glastonbury Tor, Wells and beyond. Our descent began down through the Gorge, Del leading the team, he glides through the first section and then is gone out of view as the twists and turns need knowledge of how to tackle them and at what speed. Cyclists wave as they approach us ascending in the reverse direction, a quick nod of the head or a swift wave from us as we focus on the road in front, traffic coming round bends, our speeds exceeding 35mph, 40-50 if conditions are good, the scenery is simply amazing. Shear rock faces either side of this World famous natural beauty cycling route, as the Cheddar Gorge twists and turns a little more before you find yourself arriving at the foot of the Cheddar Gorge Village where shops and cafe’s greet you along with the famous Cheddar caves, cheese makes and Cheddar Sweet makers shop. I find myself wearing the biggest smile on my face, another dream is complete, cycling down through the Gorge at speed on 2 wheels, my Carrera Virtuosa bike seemed to handle the twists and turns well, the adrenalin kicking in at times thinking my wheels ARE locked in properly and that my brake pads do a sufficient job when required if and when an emergency stop would be needed, thankfully not in this case.
The coffee and bacon butty in the Edelweiss cafe or the Simply Gorgeous cafe makes it all worthwhile as the Strava app states burning up around 1,000 calories during a 40 mile cycle ride.
Cycling Pace & Riding Equipment
Our cycling pace is how we judge ourselves, the team have been slowing down for me, thankfully, especially on the hills, my legs are good and strong but my pace is definitely slower so it’s my goal to try and get to an average of 15mph overall on each ride and to not feel so bad for the guys, currently at 12.5mph so a 20% increase is required to achieve our goal. A consistent pace is goal to our Challenge. Cycling for 10 hours a day would be extremely tiring so planning for 8 hour rides for the JoGLE and hoping to cover over 110 miles per day. My bike doesn’t have cleats so my pedals will need changing, statistics show a 30% increase in leg pedalling with these so they would be a huge benefit increase on each cycle. Also, a new chain, as my current one has too much slack and changing gears has caused a few issues with chain gear slipping and even the chain coming off twice recently, not what you need when you’re cycling a 1,000 miles in a challenge. I’ve purchased new clothing, new lights, a cycle counter to show mileage and speed, my mid week cycle gave me 100 miles covered overall so well on my way now to a quarter of a century in miles. A cycle storage pouch is essential, for my micro pump, Allen keys for seat, handle bars and any adjustments, along with a place to put my spare inner tube and puncture kit, it’s surprising the amount of stuff needed on every ride.
Cycling Safety Attire
I personally hate wearing a helmet, but you’ll not see me riding without one. Safety in cycling is paramount, it could save your life. The helmets are designed to sit on your head without causing issues, comfort is everything. Being seen is so important, front and rear lights, along with illuminated clothing.
I purchased an additional front light do my night rides and early morning training will be even more safe as the route in front will be lit up that much better. Drivers think cyclists should always be in single file, however, I would suggest they read the rights for cyclists as doubled side by side cycling is actually permitted, blasting your horn as you pass cyclists isn’t. I guess it’s all part of sharing the road.
Del Mottershaw Road Bike Team
Cycling Shorts and Bib Shorts
Padded Shorts and Bib shorts have made my rides and post rides more enjoyable protecting the nether regions, anyone considering taking up riding long distance should make the padded shorts a priority.
Nitrates Fluids Carbs Gels
In each of my Challenges I’ve become accustomed to certain gels, nitrate drinks and therefore always take 2 bottles on the bike, both attached bottle holders are full with either a Bodyshox resolve nitrates drink or water. If I only go on a short ride then I can fill the one bottle with gels, jelly beans or a protein shake in preparation for if I hit the wall.
Del and Andy, The Road Bike Sadistic Crew
Bike issues and Problems
Needless to say I’ve been finding various problems as each training session arrives and passes from bike failures to ascending hills, gear changing, drivers, road safety, lights and the time required to achieve 40+ miles in a single ride. So far around 3 and a half hours but with a coffee bacon butty stop and photos, water stops, each long ride takes about 4 and a half hours. Our swift mid week ride of 17 miles around 90 minutes. My first puncture turned out to be a front tyre blowout, after hitting a major pot hole in Locking, coming down a hill at 30mph and hitting what can only be described as a huge hole in the middle of the road damaged my tyre valve but I was relieved my front tyre didn’t collapse on me, my challenge would have been over, even before it had actually began.
Reviews and feedback
We all love giving feedback, it’s so important to know what’s good and what’s simply a waste of hard earned money, so, in the coming 4 months you’ll probably be getting a review or two on the cycling equipment and clothing we all wear. Feedback on road bikes comes from a very personal view through experience and knowledge of riding for many hours. At this moment in time it’s too early to review my carrera but I already know my bike choice could have been so much better but with the budget I had I believe I’ve made a great purchase. A carbon framed bike would be my preference of choice. If any bike companies or cycling companies would like to sponsor through equipment we would be willing to blog and post reviews on the bikes, helmets, loathing or cycling spares provided.
Beautiful Winter Solstice Sunrise
Winter Solstice
Today is the shortest day and a new Seasonal Calendar year begins as the sun drops this evening a new day begins tomorrow with more light, so it seems appropriate to wish all cyclists a great Christmas and most of all a safe journey, be it for fun, for charity or a personal Challenge. Bring on the many more Sunrise and Sunsets we will all share in 2015.
Merry Christmas x
