Photo courtesy of Paul Martin
Photo courtesy of Rob Allen
CLUB CAPTAIN’S BLOG
Off the road but still on the bike – Sunday 2 November 2008
The sun was attempting to break through the
previous night’s cloud cover when Matt Wyles and Paul Martin met up at the
George. It was interesting to see Larry
Wiltshire and Andy Page of the Fareham Wheelers also choosing to meet there but
they soon headed off in the direction of West Sussex while our two freewheeled
down to Purbrook Heath.
A slight detour via Sheepwash Farm took them
out to Denmead and Catherington. The
slogging ascent past Hinton Manor brought them out to the foot of the Bat and
Ball climb and the wet lanes around Chidden Farm were soon splashing the leggings. Good job neither bike was clean to start
with. The western end of the Teglease
plateau was a welcome relief for Paul who had not touched his bike for a few
weeks due to a lingering chest infection.
The descent to Meonstoke took the riders to Exton where Paul was careful
not to fall foul of the pothole that had left him bloodied and bruised last
April. Climbing through the back of the
village Paul persuaded Matt not to take a right turn up the well-known climb and
instead they carried straight on.
Neither rider could remember there being road
straight out of the back of Exton and the lane soon became muddy and with an
ill-defined surface. Things got worse
and it gradually dawned on them that they had found a byway. Not wishing to concede defeat our two North
Enders valiantly carried on, risking a puncture at any moment. Paul was the first to climb off, wishing that
he had put his SPDs on and that he had donned the MTB boots he was wearing only
the day before for a jaunt in Hundred Acres woods. Matt carried on until forward motion became
impossible. By now the lane had
steepened dramatically and it was clear that their chosen path was running
parallel with the Corhampton-Bishops Waltham road beloved of so many Meon
Valley 25 mile TT riders this year. The
difference was that this had turned into a hike for the summit. At last tarmac was reached, but not before
they had passed a sign stating that the lane was “Unsuitable for Motor
Vehicles”. Paul muttered something about
his Land Rover while Matt began unpicking the stones from his cleats.
Corhampton golf course was soon passed and the
twisting descent to Swanmore ensued. The
riders remembered to slow for the hard left turn on this particular road which
was just as well – it was flooded. Matt
accepted Paul’s offer of a cup of coffee at his place in Soberton Heath and,
after a few biscuits, Matt finished off the ride with a solo effort to get back
to Havant for a spot of lunch, although not before one of the many flints
Hampshire is blessed with had found its target.
Distance: Not known
Duration: Two hours (to Soberton Heath)
Conditions: Overcast and wet underfoot but
warm for the time of year
Two hours of simple undulating terrain - Saturday 23 August
2008
It has been a while
since I have put virtual quill to parchment, for which I apologise. With this meagre and basic narrative I will
attempt to enlighten you and hopefully encourage some more team riding. I don’t think riding your bike gets effected
by the credit crunch so let’s shove off without further ado.
From the George pub
the small group departed at 0910 down hill, heading north to Purbrook Heath Road.
There was a definite chill in the air
and I suspect that it was the herald of a chilly autumn and winter. As the sun was shining at this time of the day
it was not an uncomfortable start and once the group were warm the chill was
removed. Continuing out from the Heath
and heading for the Chairmakers pub, the various pot holes were deftly avoided
and the team of three proceeded at a good spinning cadence. By the time Newtown was reached the world was
put to rights and legs were warm. The
pace was elevated slightly and we headed out towards Soberton and the slightly
hillier areas. There was very little
traffic for this bank holiday weekend and the weather had moved into the warm
zone. The spirits were high in the group
and all that was missing was a little sweat and some sprocket teeth to grind. This was well and truly remedied by the climb
from the Hurdles pub up to Teglease Down.
The lofty route
took us past some of the most stunning scenery the south can provide. The vista was truly breath taking and it made
you feel proud to be part of the grand scheme.
Drawing breath at a suitable vantage point we watched a pair of buzzards
soaring and swooping in the thermal currents provided by the morning sun. Their full game-play was captivating and
almost caused a break in momentum for the group. The small river that had appeared under my
helmet after the exertions of the climb jolted me back into the real. This minor respite was followed by a continued
effort up to HMS Mercury and off we went heading for Clanfield and the rapid
decent it affords. Swiftly passing
through Clanfield we proceeded up to the Bat and Ball pub and the rolling route
heading back towards Hambledon. The
traffic was a shock to the system as we bottlenecked into Hambledon and the
small village was throttled by a bus and impatient car drivers. With a turn of speed we avoided the mayhem and
then took the quiet lanes back through to the Chairmakers pub. Paul Martin Peeled off at this point and the
reminder of the group finished the round robin route in short order.
All in all it was a
very enjoyable morning and we were back in time for lunch and a satisfied
feeling for the rest of the day. Well
done to all and roll on next week.
Steve Purser’s Easter Racing Holiday in Guernsey 2008(?)
Well to call it a holiday is not strictly
true. The Purser clan travel to Guernsey
every Easter and it nicely coincides with the annual Guernsey Easter athletic and
cycle events. While the missus (Amanda)
and more recently my 5 year old son Ollie take part in the athletic races, I
with all good intentions (every year) enter the Guernsey Velo 4 stage cycle
series run over the 4 days of the Easter period. It generally consists of 2 road stages &
2 time trial stages. Well how did it go
this year?
My alarm went off at 5.30am on Good Friday for
the 1st stage, a 26 mile road race which was scheduled to start at 7.30am. The weather didn’t sound too inviting outside. It was chucking it down and the wind sounded
almost of gale force proportions, so I convinced myself I was actually on
holiday and basically whimped out, so no overall prize for me this year. Day 2 was the 10 mile time trial along the
coastal road and I was again up at 5.30am.
Thankfully the rain had gone but the wind was still blowing at gale
force strength. This time I managed to
get outside the front door. After
battling the couple of miles riding against the wind, being blown across the
road and at one point being blown off my bike onto my backside, I eventually
got to the start only to be told the event had been cancelled. To say I was relieved is an understatement so
I made my way back to our holiday apartment via a little inland circuit of the
island (which was a lot more sheltered) just to make me feel better.
Day 3 was a 30 mile road race and, basically,
I just didn’t bother because it was still windy with blinking, freezing
sleet/rain. Just to rub salt into my deflated
ego, Amanda and Ollie braved the weather to take part in the cross-country
events that morning. My excuse is that
someone had to volunteer to look after our youngest son (Eddy) and I’m sticking
to it. Day 4 and the last stage, a 25 mile
time trial, arrived. This event was
basically a flat 2 lap circuit up and down the coastal road, and - you’ve
guessed it - it was a bit windy and cold. I was up again at 5.30am and cycled to the
start for my 7.45am off. The ride was
filled with mixed emotion as I was glad that I had eventually started a stage. In parts it was fun with the wind on my back,
spinning out at 34mph in the big chainring, the next minute struggling to stay
upright on sections of cross winds and then grovelling at 10mph against the strong
headwinds on exposed parts of the course. I was only passed by my minute man and a young
whippet who obviously didn’t have respect for his elders after starting 7
minutes behind me!
Well how did I get on I hear you ask? Firstly let me remind you it was VERY windy and
cold; I was on my road bike with no tri-bars; and I don’t really call myself a
time trialist. I’ve not been able to get
as much training in as I would have like because of work commitments etc, etc
and I was technically on HOLIDAY….?
Yep, you’ve guessed it: A PW! My SLOWEST 25 mile time trial ever L L (and
I’m still not going to divulge the time!)
Wet & Windy – Sunday 23 March 2008
Rob Allen and Paul Martin decided that the 23rd
would be a great day to stretch their legs and so Rob arranged to drop round to
Paul’s house in Soberton Heath on Sunday morning. It was, of course, raining. Apparently Paul tried to make his excuses but
Rob, being made of sterner stuff, insisted that a few miles was in order. A quick circuit of the PTTL event 1 course
was agreed and waterproofs were donned.
The ‘Mad Mile’ through Newtown was tackled in the big ring with Paul
adopting his favourite position trying to hang on to Rob’s wheel. Mutterings about Rob’s lack of mudguards were
made but these fell on deaf ears. The
back road past the Chairmaker’s Arms was fairly waterlogged (as usual). After Hambledon the delight that is Grenville
Hill loomed into view and Rob was gracious enough to not overtake a decidedly
wobbly Paul. In his usual way, Rob insisted
in striking up a conversation just before the top of the climb. Paul, in his usual way, responded by
coughing, grunting and blowing his nose at Rob’s front wheel. In a scene reminiscent of the PTTL event a
nice headwind greeted the two bedraggled riders as they began the descent to
Racecourse Corner. There was no respite
from the breeze as Soberton was approached and Paul’s house was reached in 40
minutes. (Paul concluded that Rob would
have shaved at least 10 minutes off of that time without Paul’s ‘assistance’ on
the circuit.) Sipping welcome mugs of
hot tea, Rob and Paul were able to sit back and watch the sun come out. Roll on Spring!
Club Captain’s Report – Club Run, Sunday 24
February 2008
A small group of us
set off with great intentions only to have yours truly puncture not once but twice before we’d even got off of
Portsdown Hill. (Coupled with our ice
skating excursion last week (see my previous blog) I believe that I am the
front runner for this year’s Nana award?)
A brisk pace soon had us passing through North Boarhunt and up Lodge
Hill. The descent to Newtown was
followed by an easy ride to the Hurdles pub.
Then came the gradual ascent of Teglease Down only for us to drop right
down to East Meon in the opposite direction to the proposed hilly 39K time
trial. The roads were a little damp and
we experienced quite a bit of wheel spinning on the upward bits. After East Meon we turned south again and
climbed back up to Hyden Woods and so to Clanfield. Deciding not to take the easy way back via
Catherington we climbed again to the Bat and Ball pub and down to Hambledon and
home via Denmead and Newlands Lane.
A good morning was
had by all with the weather decidedly warmer than of late. These early season miles are beginning to pay
off but it’s not too late for some more PNE riders to be thinking about taking
the dust sheets of their wheels! Next
week’s run will be taken by our Sub-Captain, Steve Purser as I’m away working
for a few weeks. Please be sure to
support him and don’t forget that guest riders are always welcome.
Club Captain’s Report – Club Run, Sunday 17
February 2008
The later start
time for the club ride this Sunday (0900) was a resounding success. There was a 200% increase on the previous
weekend’s turnout and hopefully these numbers will continue. I am constantly open to feedback on these
timings and will again reassess as the clocks change for the spring. The intention to run evening rides as the
light permits is also on the table for discussion. Usual feedback and ideas are always welcome
so don’t be shy.
The group set off
from the George at 0910 and descended London Road to enter Purbrook Heath
Road. We turned right at the ford and
headed towards Horndean. The bitter cold
of the morning was rapidly disappearing as the sun broke through and warmed our
bodies and hearts. It was a good job
really as together (not unlike a well disciplined ice dancing sextet) we all
slid down the road. The Pigeon House
Lane ice rink which stretched across the entire road was treacherous beyond
belief. The co-ordinates are
50*52’07.56N / 01*04’46.12W (or to the layman, Hookheath Farm). Had there been anyone there with a video
camera we would have earned a pretty penny for sure. As luck would have it the only casualties
were just a couple broken bits of bike and holed clothing. We dusted ourselves off, genuinely laughing
at the whole incident and continued with the ride. (Note to self – don’t include ice rinks in
the route plan, it’s not good when the laughter stops!) We tested our bikes’ roadworthiness over the
next few miles and headed to Clanfield.
It was at the top of Day Lane where our initial group split to
accommodate riders returning from injury and that had requested a more moderate
pace.
Having swept
through Clanfield we crossed the A3 and dropped into Chalton, turning left at
the Red Lion and proceeding towards Finchdean.
The precarious nature of this road lay open as the hedges were without
foliage. The corners are sharp after the
descent and the apex contains those small marble-like stones that will spit you
off in a heartbeat. This is one to watch
for the summer if you pass this way. On
towards the turning to Idsworth we started the slow climb that eventually led
us to the B2146 to Compton. The roads
were now busier than we were used to and yet still manageable. The speed of our ride picked up as we got
into the flow and powered our way towards West Marden and then on to
Aldsworth. As we sped along Emsworth
common road the pot holes became more hazardous and more frequent. The bad road finally ended when we turned
onto Bartons Road near the BUPA Hospital and on to Havant. We took care through the more congested
Havant roads and moved through to Bedhampton and the climb back over the
A3. The final spurt of speed carried us
up to the George again where we ended the ride after just shy of 2 hours. An eventful ride was had by all with thrills
and spills and above all, a camaraderie that can only be found by sliding down
the same piece of tarmac on your a*se with your mates.
Many thanks to the
chaps who pitched up and we will meet again at the same place and time next
Sunday (Sunday 24 February and only 6 days before the first Portsdown Time
Trial League race). It was good to have
Matt Wyles and Ricky Eastman along with us today. Matt is an ex-North Ender who needs no
introduction here and Ricky is a professional saxophonist, potential new North
Ender and friend of Les Buckingham (who, incidentally, turned up to see us off
at the start).
A Friday Off by Rob Allen – 15 February
2008
I went out for a
ride this morning, 37.5 miles in 2 hours 20 minutes. I know it was slow but I took this route: Up the jolly old hill [Portsdown, northbound]
and at this point my thighs were exploding already. Down to Purbrook, left past the Heath and on
towards the golf course. Onto Mill Road
and then up to Lovedean power station. On to the Bat and Ball, past the farm to the
top but could not manage the sprint for the telegraph pole. I dropped down towards East Meon and it was frightfully
chilly at this point blasting down the hill at over 30mph. Past the paper shop in West Meon I stopped at
the junction with the A32 to retrieve a banana out of my back pocket. Left onto the A32 and hung a sharp left to
struggle up Paul Martin’s favourite – Old Winchester Hill. The bottom gear was regretfully selected at
this point as my thighs decided to give in. After a minute or so, up went one gear and
then another. Out of the saddle and up
that hill I lumbered. Legs a-screaming but
lungs okay. To the top and onto Mercury
[Leydene] with a sharp cross wind. To
the Bat and Ball again, I retraced my outward route to Denmead, this time with
a diversion via Waterlooville and back on the old London road to home.
Club Captain’s Report – Club Run, Sunday 10
February 2008
After a 0805 depart
from the George in Widley the descent into Purbrook Heath reminded us that the
cold wind just loves the exposed parts of the body. Kev Barrows was in shorts believe it or not!
(I hate to imagine what he will wear in the summer.) Totally unaffected by the temperature we
cracked on. The shadier parts of the
road still required total respect due to a light frost. Thankfully being remarkably light on traffic
as well, this seems to be an advantage of the early departures. I still welcome any feedback or comments on
the departure times to maintain a happy medium.
The chill ensured a
self induced tempo increase and the miles were quickly gobbled up. From Purbrook Heath through the back roads to
the Chairmaker’s Arms we turned left and headed towards Newtown and Soberton, the
slight elevation in terrain bringing instant relief from the chill with bursts
of brilliant and warming sunshine. We
turned left at Soberton village hall and headed to the Hurdles at Brockbridge
where we then took the slow climb up
The traffic was
still in its rightful place (on the driveways) and we moved unmolested along
the Hambledon road and on to the Bat and Ball. The temptation for some through
and off is very hard to ignore on this road and the pace remained high. I am sure we passed Keith Jarrett at this
point but I couldn’t confirm it. Once
into Hambledon we took the next right after Lott’s Café and headed back to the
Chairmaker’s Arms and the initial stages of the ride in reverse, finally ending
the ride back outside the George, after a well spent and thoroughly enjoyable
couple of hours.
Honestly Folks it
doesn’t get better than that. I hope to
see you next week where we will be doing much of the same. The meet will still be at the George for now
and the time will remain 0800 (unless as I mentioned there are any objections). Enjoy your week wherever you may be and
please don’t forget to publish any rides you may be undertaking. It’s more fun
in a group and the PNE should be out in force.