Weekend cycle fest

Last weekend the weather was still a bit grim, grey and drizzly, but that did not stop 3 days of cycling fun - First up was the annual networking mountain biking around Devil's Dyke near Brighton, held on Friday and as demanding as usual. Lots of very steep slopes.

On Saturday morning my son Nick (13) and I then decamped to the Isle of Wight for the weekend to take part in a part closed road Sportive in the West of the Island, starting and finishing in Yarmouth. My very first visit to the island found us staying in Ryde on Saturday night - and found me discovering how hilly it is in places with a short warm up ride which included a short sharp ascent of 16% up Knighton Shute. Saturday evening was pure heaven though as we watched as against all the odds Chelsea won the Champions League against Bayern Munich on penalties after extra time. Viva Didier Drogba!

The Sunday sportive was blustery and damp but a brilliant ride - we were doing the 62 km route, but went a little wrong and ended up covering 70 km and a few serious hills. Quite tough for Nick and the furthest he has done to date, but he really enjoyed it nonetheless. He now wants to do a few more... which I am sure can be arranged!

Box Hill!

Nick and I checked out part of the route of the Olympic men's road race - Despite continued poor weather which meant a stop at the Evans Cycles HQ in Gatwick to pick up some more arm warmers and another rain proof jacket. Both these were donned by Nick for a drizzly start to our 55 k ride. Box Hill has been resurfaced so it is smoother than a baby's bottom, lovely to ride up. Enjoyed coffee and cake at the top, which seemed to ruin Nick's momentum as the last 15k of the ride he found very tough. Good to get out!