Fair Weather Cyclist - Cat & Fiddle update

You may have noticed that there has been no update on my Cat & Fiddle challenge ride...that's because I didn't do it.

I got up on the morning of the ride to be greeted by torrential weather conditions. It was a case of 'Hard Core or Foolhardy' & I am neither so I went back to bed....Chapeau to everyone who did take part!

What goes up - Must come down

Although nothing will replace the actual terrain of the Cat & Fiddle - for the benefit of Lee & Darren with last Saturday's ride I tried to simulate long climbs at similar gradients of the 'Cat & Fiddle' & then a couple of climbs one after another with no recovery between.

The 5-mile steady drag from home up to Horsehay was first for me - not too difficult - this was followed by the quick descent to Ironbridge via Coalbrookdale. We then climbed 6-mile from the Buildwas bridge up through Much Wenlock & up to Broseley - some respite followed with the 3-mile descent back into Ironbridge. Following the short climb out of Buildwas & the drop into Leighton we were back into a long 5-mile climb, around the south side of the Wrekin up to Little Wenlock before cresting the Wrekin & the fast descent into Wellington - this just left the short climb off the A5 into Wrockwardine before heading for home.

Although not long ride at 34 miles - with nearly 50% of it on the ascent [& some exhilarating descent] it was more than useful for Cat & Fiddle training.

Its Cat & Fiddle time!

Just registered for this years Cat & Fiddle Cycle Challenge on October 3rd - the ride is 55 miles out of Stoke thru Cheshire into the Derbyshire Peaks & back into Stoke - which includes the infamous 7 mile Cat & Fiddle climb.

As usual the ride is raising funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust & this year the the organizers are hoping to get 1500 cyclists to attend the event!

The Great Big Bike Ride Review

So we rode the Severn Hospice Great Big Bike Ride - Sue rode 30 miles & I rode 68 miles.

Sue's was accompanied by Clare & a few guys from work [Ricoh] - her morning was not without incident as Clare had a couple of spills, the second of which brought Sue to the ground as well - but with gritted teeth, bruised & blooded limbs they both finished the event.

A group photo call for Ricoh employees & friends meant a delayed start for my 68 mile ride. We eventually set off as last on the road 45 minutes later than the majority. The ride itself was as a little tougher than expected mainly due to a strong head wind - I was accompanied by my London2Paris cycling buddy Mike, Lee, Darren, Jo & Richard from work [Ricoh]. Luckily I had done most of both routes in prep for our rides so directions weren't a problem - although there were several souls that got lost along the way following the printed directions & maps issued at the start. I'm sure a few directional signs would be very welcome next year. All in all it was a reasonable event for a very worthy cause - I will post later how much our group managed to raise through sponsorship.

3 Days on my Bike

Prep miles for Sue & myself for next weekends Great Big Bike Ride.

Saturday - 15.5 miles of the 50km route - Coalport to Bridgnorth along the NCR 45 trail - this was with Sue on the Mountain Bikes.

Sunday - 35 miles - rode the last section of the 100km route from Lilleshall to Blists Hill with Lee - then from Blists Hill up thru Madeley, Dawley & down to home - last 2 miles in a torrential downpour - tired, wet but happy.

Monday - 16.5 miles - rode the Telford section of the 50km route with Sue on the mountain bikes again - Blists Hill circuit Telford back to Blists Hill.

A weekend total of 67 miles for me & Sue blazin' a trail with 32 miles!

More GBBR prep miles

Great ride today - more prep miles for the Great Big Bike Ride - Rode down into the Ironbridge Gorge then out through Buildwas - at Leighton we turned up to Garmston - a bit of a climb up the south side of the Wrekin which averages at about 6%. Continued on the GBBR route to Wrockwardine village & out to Shawbury -> Stanton upon Hind Heath -> Peplow etc etc & back to Lilleshall before spinning home through Preston-on-the-Weald Moors.

A total of 57.6 miles in great weather - a bit tired but really enjoyable - add this to the 7 miles I did with Sue on the mountain bikes yesterday at thats a weekend grand total of 64.6 miles.

Quick Sprint before Tea

Did a quick sprint before tea tonight, out to Wroxeter then back up the A5 turning to go down Charlton Hill - then along the back lanes to Wrockwardine village. From Wrockwardine I took the back lane into Wellington and out toward PRH before the sprint back home. Only 16 miles but an excellent buzz of a ride.