This morning I headed off on the train to get to know the first part of the South Downs Way. I was full of optimism. That didn’t last! As the ride was going to be a lot shorter than the whole thing I thought I would ride is as fast as I could. I may…
Tag: South Downs Way
South Downs Way – final prep
As is usual the calendar has rolled by and I’ve run out of time to improve my strength and fitness. I don’t seem to have done the miles that I usually do. Let’s hope that less ok more holds true. I have, however, dotted just about all of the “Is” and crossed all of the…
South Downs Way – getting prepared
I have ridden the South Downs way once on 1989 and then over the last 4 years. Each time I just turned up and rode on natural fitness. Sometimes I prepared for it by tyre choice or weight reduction; but nothing really special. This time I am being a bit more thoughtful. I have definitely…
When you feel that magic… Scott Spark RC 900 WC review
This was my second ride on my new Scott Spark RC 900 World Cup. The first was on a very wet and muddy trip following the South Downs Rough Ride route. I couldn’t really draw any conclusions from that other then it was a bit more comfortable than my Scott Scale 900 SL hard tail…
Scott Spark RC 900 World Cup review – first ride
We all expect everything immediately these days, next day delivery even same day delivery. Many a customer bleats about their wait. Of course you can get just about any bike that people don’t want delivered to your door next day. However, the special bikes are in demand and often in short supply. When that happens…
Sorting my own bike fit never stops
I have some new bikes and it is surprising how it has affected my set up. Just over a year ago I felt that I needed to go smaller to go faster. I had been riding a Whyte 29C medium which is billed as an XC machine but devours the meanest of tracks like a…
Enjoying the summer and the South Down’s National park
Average speed and a blurred bit of chalky trail is my usual view of the South Downs. The view gets somewhat better when I repeat Chris’s mantra: look further ahead, look further ahead…. This is how to corner faster. Look ahead. At speed you tend to hit what you are looking. Try it next time…
BHF South Downs Way 2015, failed again!
It’s been a while since I’ve written up anything about riding. And what a time to restart following the death of Don Lock. That puts any riding achievement into its rightful place. It’s simply cycling. Nothing more. There are more important things. However, Don might have disagreed such was his love for cycling and competition….
West Sussex County Council will use cycling to rejuvinate the countys image
Last night I attended a meeting hosted by WSCC in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority to launch their campaign to bring high spending visitors from London to the county. They have identified cycling as the key element to do this. Look at what Sky have done, they too sort an activity that…
What motivates you? And a renewed passion for mountain biking
I have found a new passion for mountain biking and it all came about by buying a new bike.