Bike Life: July 2011

Monday, 25 July 2011

Transport for London Cycle Challenge - Scores on the Dawes 18th July

After a month of cycling individually and with members of our GMV team, the challenge is over. Our team of six finished 67th on points in the rankings out of 340 teams in our category but 40th on actual miles cycled!
A marvellous effort all round and a great way of sharing some less familiar routes around London. We cycled c1,800 miles since 18th June.

Highlights;

Everyone doing more miles than they would do normally.
Two team rides around London - Spaniards Inn, Lee Valley Navigation, Regent's Canal, etc
Simon's outstanding 530 miles.
John's two 30 plus rides
Last nights' team ride
Simon going straight out and buying a replacement bike after having his bike stolen half way through the challenge.

Disappointments;
Simon's bike being stolen
Not persuading other people in the office to get their bikes out even at weekends (must try harder next year!)
That the challenge isn't 8 weeks long!!

Suggestions made to TFL for the next one;
T- Shirts - promoting the challenge
A massed ride on the last day - when teams can meet and ride in London

My tally

The Team's performance

Roll on the next one.......and of course the cycling goes on!

Saturday, 9 July 2011

The 'Blitz the Hayfever with a good ride' Ride - 8th July: Burghfield Common & Back

Hartley Wintney - Mattingley - Stratfield Saye - Mortimer - Wokefield - Burghfield Common - Silchester & back 32 Miles

Needed to get out as the hay fever bout that has been hanging about for two days was making me sit around feeling yucky. Funny.....after 10 minutes of cycling I felt so much better. How strange the body is!
Phone Pics - not great quality.

Berks street names are often quite funny. Passed one called 'Man's Hill'. Felt much better about being able to cycle all the way up this!

I have been......so favour due?

Intriguing street name. Researched this but could only find reference to an excavated Roman ditch. Who was Sweetzer?

Long path - Silchester


Saint Mary the Virgin - behind the Roman wall - Silchester

Route Maps

Monday, 4 July 2011

Sunny Sunday Morning - Oakley to Stockbridge 3rd July 2011

Oakley - Deane - Steventon - Popham - Norton - Bullington - Barton Stacey - Newton Stacey - Chilbolton - Leckford - Stockbridge ......and back by the same route. distance 43 miles

Up at 6am (insane behaviour for a Sunday!) drove to Oakley and set out in the sunshine for a ride down to Stockbridge.

Took no maps. Did this from memory, after looking at Google maps & satellite. The Route largely followed the course of the River Test. Conditions superb: a sunny Sunday, little breeze, hardly any traffic, beautiful scenery and it's high summer! Who could ask for more?!!

A bit hilly from Barton Stacey but nothing the old legs couldn't cope with in low gear!