THE LONG ROAD TO CRICCIETH

This is the fifth year that I have joined the Balti Bike Club of Stafford's annual ride to the Welsh coast. Their main rule is that it must be at least 100 miles long passing through Snowdonia. This year it was to be 116 miles to Criccieth and we duly undertook the ride on Saturday.
Our meeting point was at Stafford Castle for a 6am start. Nine bleary eyed cyclists arrived with Andy heading the back up vehicles. He soon wakened us up with his bbc style interviews on his camcorder so our thoughts are recorded for posterity. I hope that I did not make a mug of myself!
Snowdonia beckoned. It was a 40 mile warm up over beautiful Staffordshire countryside to reach the Welsh border where the hills start.

The sun rose crystal clear in the sky and as we left Wem, it started getting hot. I had some factor 30 German suncream from a previous ride and on one occasion I plastered so much on my nose that I was asked by another rider if I had taken tips from Shane Warne. Well no, but my suncream became very popular with some of the others. At Llangollen, I was ringing wet with perspiration and had drunk 2 litres of milk (best drink for these conditions) as well as lots of water.
At Carrog while the others were enjoying lunch beside the River Dee, I cycled up to have a quick look at an old steam engine.

Lots of people have a nostalgic fascination with steam trains including me and I do not know why. Cycling is more fun though and I was relishing moving on.

We left Carrog for Corwen and Bala where by now we were in Snowdonia. The peaks were stunning in the glorious sunshine. How lucky we were with the weather. A wind blew up to cool us off. We had all spread out a bit because of the terrain.

Our fabulous back up crew kept us replenished with home made cakes and water. They always give magnificent support. There was the most enormous downhill through Ffestiniog. It would have been a killer if we had been cycling in the opposite direction. Becky and I whooped with joy as we passed 100 miles then I realised she might have been filming me.
The twist in the tale was at Maentwrog where with just 10 miles to go there was a 1:6 hill that did its best to break us. After that it was an easy ride into Criccieth where we had that mixture of elation and weariness that goes with a good challenge. A hot shower, dinner of roast lamb and a pint of cider soon replinished me.
Balti Bike Club's website can be found here and you can follow me on twitter.
Keep pedalling

PEDAL ON UK

I opened my post two weeks ago to find a letter from Sustrans inviting me to take part in Stage 4 of Pedal On UK.  Having overcome my initial excitement, I read on.  It said that Pedal On UK will be a national event to celebrate new cycling and walking routes on the National Cycle Network.  Games Makers and celebrities will also be taking part and it is funded by the National Lottery.  As a committed supporter of Sustrans it took me about one millesecond to say yes.

So, may I say what is special about cycling for me?  Cycling is for everyone.  Can you imagine my surprise when I met a nomad in Mongolia on a bike?

My friend in Norway has such a happy smile

What about these cyclists on tour following Way of the Roses?

These kiwis find that cycling is not just the cheapest but most exhilerating way to travel the World.

Here in UK, Sustrans is on a mission to bring the National Cycle Network to everyone where people whether walking or cycling feel safe away from busy main roads.  In some places the network offers adventures such as Lon Las Cymru through the Welsh Mountains and others offer level safe off road tracks set in stunning scenery such as the Exe Estuary and Mawddach Trail.  Increasingly schools and shopping centres are being connected to the Network.

This is why I think cycling is for everyone....fun...adventure...healthy...safe....practical.
To find out more please go to Pedal On UK or follow me on twitter

PLYMOUTH-POTENTIAL TO BE THE BEST CYCLING CITY IN UK?

Plymouth with its fabulous waterfront and set amongst dramatic scenery just a few miles inland now has the opportunity in my view to make it into UK's leading cycling city. It has a maritime story to be justly proud and now it can have the same for cyclists. It is well connected on the National Cycle Network, has an excellent train service that carries bikes and a cycle friendly ferry company for those who want to travel and cycle in France. There is every potential to jump with joy!

What is needed is the vision and commitment. It is not just me but lots of local people are working hard to make their voices heard. I think that The Council might just be listening. Moreover more money is being made available for cycling to attract visitors, help commutors and give more of us lifestyles to enjoy. Here are a few of my ideas and if you like them why not join the growing team here?

A Bicycle Expressway

We can have our own bicycle expressway with footpaths alongside. The concept is a fast safe two way cycle route uninterrupted by cars. They should also be used by mobility vehicles. It is possible to build these now from Plymstock and Plympton. Here is a plan that I have drawn and has been presented to Tudor Evans, leader of Plymouth City Council by Plymouth Cycling Campaign.

Bicycle expressways are now being pioneered in Europe. Boris Johnson wants to build one in London. Why not Plymouth first?

Bicycle Parking

Pioneered in Germany, the World's first dedicated bike tower has been built. It is the cyclists equivalent of a multistory car park but is fully automated, safe from thieves and under cover. Built for minimum of 75 bikes, it can be used at train stations, city centres and anywhere there is demand. Built by e-bike-mobility, it will save space and money.

Wheelchair and Bicycle Friendly Water Taxis

Crossing the River Tyne,  there is ferry that offers level access for wheelchair users and cyclists. Having spent a vast sum of money of easy access terminals, how practical is to have suitable water taxis in Plymouth? It is provided on buses and some trains. Why not ferries as well?

In Conclusion

I cycled up Devon's C2C yesterday, now part of La Velodyssee. The weather was cool and sunny. I cycle the route between Ivybridge and Barnstaple about three times a year. Yesterday, there were significant numbers of touring cyclists heading south to Plymouth, more than I have ever seen before. For me this tells a story

HEART OF DARTMOOR CYCLE CHALLENGE

It was cool and the sun was shining as 85 cyclists arrived to take part in the second Heart of Dartmoor Cycle Challenge for Devon Wildlife Trust. My role was to lead a group on a 50 mile loop starting and finishing in Ivybridge.

I wanted this to be a challenge and a holiday ride all in one. After all, where is better than Dartmoor to test the stamina and find brilliant scenery all in the same ride? Stuart from Plymouth Cycling Campaign was joint leader with me. For the Trust, bluebells and wild garlic were in full bloom and made a wonderful colourful backdrop in the hedgerows. Here are a few pictures to show the day:

Thanks to everyone who took part and I hope that it was a great day

AND FINALLY

Dagmar and I parted company yesterday for our journeys home. We both travelled by train. Dagmar's journey took 12.5 hours while mine was longer taking 16 hours. Every train ran on time. My exciting moment was to cycle through Paris in its rush hour for my first time.

Dagmar, Badger and myself met many different types of bicycles. Here are two being very new and very old.

The very new bike is to carry luggage and is made in Denmark, home for many practical cyclists. The very old bike used to be used as a knife grinder. In the picture the grinding wheel can be seen on the cross bar. The person would set the bike on a stand, connect the chain to the grinding wheel and peddle away while sharpening the knives. This also was very practical.

So how did we do and what happened to Badger?  Here are our journey facts:

Start: Meckenbeuren, Southern Germany
Finish: Avignon, France
Cities visited: Konstanz, Geneva, Grenoble and for me Paris
Countries: Germany, Switzerland, France
Countryside visited: Swiss Jura, French Alps, Mont Ventoux
Major rivers: Rhine and Rhone
Distance:  650 miles
Climbing of hills: 10,500 metres
Punctures: 0
Breakdowns: 0
Favourite moment: Dagmar's fire extinguisher
Worst moment: Badger and bike had gone back to London.
Badger's favourite moment: Best forests since the North Sea Cycle Route

Finally, what happened to Badger? Well, Badger has an appointment with his creator on Saturday, 18 May for a fund raising bicycle ride and he will be with me for The Heart of Dartmoor Cycle Challenge
After this Badger will return to Dagmar and she will look after him until we next meet

MY DAY IN PROVENCE

We left Sault this morning to cross Provence to Avignon, our final destination. The sun was shining but it was cold as the Mistral was blowing. We were expecting an easy 80km ride. Great, it was all downhill at the start but it was cold. We arrived in the valley of the River Nesque to find delightful old farm houses, vineyards and a semi-dry landscape. Then our first hill took up to St Hubert to overlook the Gorges de la Nesque. In the distance we could see the Beast of Provence, Mont Ventoux, now high above us. If the Mistral is blowing hard here, it must be fierce at the Beast's summit.

We now had the first of two new experiences on our final day. A group of enthusiasts were driving some  vintage cars and they stopped in front of us. Dagmar and I could not help but talk to one of the owners.

The French owner told us that his car was a 1932 Standard made in England. Behind it was a Bugatti. We peddled on to find a few cyclists and no motor bikes. A merlin soured overhead to remind us of wildlife here. After lunch our second surprise encounter was with a Swiss family on their bikes. The wife was on a fully loaded touring bike but the husband was most amazing. He had customised his bike into a tandem. His load included their daughter, tent and the dog. The daughter was sitting astride the tent as if she was riding a horse while the dog had its own special basket. Anyhow we peddled more or less side to side with them to Avignon and the last we saw of them was cycling up one of Avignon' main streets. The family reminded me of a modern day Swiss Family Robinson.

Dagmar's skills for organising this trip are amazing. She must be the best cycle guide in Germany. But she is not a guide at all for we are both good friends and I hope one day to show her an amazing cycle route that she does not know. We peddled into Avignon and wandered around its ancient streets. I like the Pont d'Avignon best

Badger has also had a thrilling trip. Has he decided whether to stay with Dagmar or me? That will be in my next blog.

MONT VENTOUX

Mont Ventoux is reckoned by many to be the second most famous climb for cyclists in the World, the first being Alpe d'Huez in Austria. Today it was my turn. I admit not to taking the climb from Bedoin opting instead to cycle from Sault. Bedoin is the route taken in the Tour de France. Mine does the same amount of climbing but is shallower until the two combine for the final 6km to the top.

The net climb over 26km on my route is 1,150m and it was expected that wind speeds at the top would be at least 90kph coming from all directions. It is not for nothing that this mountain is nicknamed "The Beast of Provence". Here is a short story best told with pictures.

Our experiences were exactly as expected. Our legs kept us going well and I felt a huge surge of adrenylin kick in with about 200m to take me to the summit. The wind roared at the top and I was nearly blown off the bike as I rounded the final curve. The wind chill was crazy cold but it was only when the body relaxed coming out of the summit cafe was that I felt it. So my winter gear went on for the ride back down to Sault and a beer.