What do a great customer experience, finance and happy accidents have in common?

I hope you won't be surprised to learn......it's cycling (well duhhh).

As you know, I commute by bike into London when I can. Well today, I had to resort to the train (booo).

When I got to the station the newspaper guy spotted me coming and already had my paper ready. I haven't seen him for weeks. That proactive service gave us a few seconds to talk. We talked about working over Christmas, he suggested I cycle in on the days he is closed (well he can't sell me a paper when he's not open). We wished each other a Happy Christmas. I also bought two other things (unplanned). Good work newspaper guy.

I saw this letter in The Independent a while back:

"For Sale. Economic cycle. Stabilisers fitted. Quick release wheels. Derailleur gearing." Sent in by Rod Danton of Wingham, Kent. Hilarious!!

On a recent ride into work, my bike picked up a piece of glass and pssssss, bye bye front tyre. Changed the tube and carried on. Result was I arrived at work about 20 minutes later then planned. As I walked into the office in my finest lycra wear, who should I bump into?? None other than triple Beijing Olympic gold medal winner and hero of mine, Chris Hoy!! I came over all starstruck as we talked all too briefly. If I hadn't caught that flat, I'd have missed him. Best puncture I ever had.

Cheers - Snoop

Sensory Overload

The Snoop family took another visit to the Tate Modern last Thursday night, this time to see the Mark Rothko and Cildo Meireles exhibitions.

Tate Modern is such an exciting place to visit, right from the moment you set foot into the vastness of the Turbine Hall you just know something exciting awaits. Last night was no exception.

Mark Rothko once stated "If a thing is worth doing once, it is worth doing over and over again - exploring it, probing it, demanding by its repetition that the public look at it." I think we all know how that feels. For me, it's about translating the monotony of each and every pedal stroke into a fluid, collaborative series of motions building to a flat out crescendo at the finish of the time trial. What does it mean to you?

The nature of Rothko's comment feels almost like his undoing? So many have since imitated his bold, powerful style that on first look, I couldn't help but think "what's all the fuss about?" These vast blocks of colour felt quite remote, although some of the combinations of orange and red vibrated and stood out from the crowd. I confess I had to work hard to overcome my prejudice before enjoying the scale of his later work. Rothko exhibition is on until February 1 2009.

I had no prior knowledge of Cildo Meireles. What an immersive experience. Meireles work is highly interactive and we are encouraged to literally enter into the pieces. About his work, Cildo says "My work aspires to a condition of density, great simplicity, directness, openness of language and interaction." We had loads of fun exploring and playing with this exhibition. Rolling balls across the floor, balancing stuff, crunching glass beneath our feet, rustling through a forest of plastic rulers whilst endless clocks ticked away. We marvelled at a huge sculpture of radios, hissing and playing hypnotically. We lost ourselves in a red living room and we wished it was ours.

For us, Cildo was the star of the show. His exhibition is only on until January 11, so if you have some time over Christmas, why not pay a visit? Great fun.

Cheers - Snoop

New Art Riot

Mrs Snoop and I visited the Saatchi Gallery recently to see "New Art From China". A fascinating exhibition of…..new artists from China (maybe you were expecting something else?). A completely mixed bag of styles and emotions. We thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition which is housed in the new Saatchi Gallery at Duke of York Square just off Kings Road. http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/new_art_from-china.htm Admission is free, though I don't know how much longer the exhibition runs for.

If you find yourself in London this is definitely worth a look, and the mojitos in Caffe Fratelli over the road aren't bad either.

Cheers - Snoop

velopaint rocks!

This is a photo I took of the T Mobile team in the Tour of Britain London stage in 2006. I think this is one of my better attempts to capture the excitement of cycle racing. I received an email from an Addiscombe Cycling Club mate exiled in Chicago earlier this week. Turns out he used this photo to inspire a painting!!

If you want to see the result, then go to http://velopaint.blogspot.com/2008/10/magenta.html and check it out for yourself.

Cool

Good, and not good enough

Here are the cycling goals I set myself at the end of last year for the 2008 season.

“Come on then......let's 'ave it.

1 - PB in a 10 mile TT

2 - PB in a 25 mile TT

3 - PB in a 50 mile TT

4 - PB in a 100 mile TT

5 - Complete SCCU BAR

6 - PB in a 12hr TT

7 - Equal my PB of helping/marshalling at least four events (again)

8 - PB on the Bec CC Hill Climb (Again! Have I learnt nothing this year?)

9 - Keep the Yellow, Black & White flying over The Rawson Shield (team effort y'all)”

So – how did I fare?

1 – new 10 mile PB by 2 minutes (was 27min 37, now 25.43)

2 – new 25 mile PB by 6 minutes (was 1hr 11.10 now 1.04.50)

3 – new 50 mile PB by 4 minutes (was 2.26.37 now 2.22.38)

4 – new 100 mile PB by 20 minutes (was 5.30.43 now 5.10.43)

5 – completed the SCCU BAR knocking 24 minutes 54 seconds off my 2007 time

6 – Seriously, did I say I was going to do a 12 hr TT???!!! Nope - after my mid season unwellness there was no way this was gonna happen so I bottled it and went to Disneyland instead. Smart move.

7 – Job done, in some style if I might say

8 – after a rough night in hospital with a sick daughter, I did not make it to the start line. She’s much better and at least I avoided suffering up that damn hill.

9 – Oh yes, team ACC nailed it!

I've had a weird year. Great winter training and early season form, knocked for six after I stupidly knackered my shoulder in May whilst doing the gardening (it’s still not right). PBd in every race I finished bar just one, and I won the handicap in the Southern Counties 10. The one and only event I didn't PB in also happened to be the one I enjoyed the most largely due to the fact that I rode it intelligently (yes honest) and finished all the way up there in mid table mediocrity, a place I could only dream about in 2007. I should feel much more satisfied with these results yet my fading form has left me frustrated.

Thanks to Super Toks (again) for getting me to write down my goals and huge thanks to Richard Viney. Without his help, advice and a worrying willingness to inflict pain on me I'd never have made such consistent improvements. I’m sure I can go much faster in 2009. Need to get back to some training and a few sharper targets.

Ten Footer!

Keira planted a few seeds back in the Spring.

Now - it's taken a while what with all that lousy, cloudy weather but.......today the tallest of her three sunflowers chalked up ten foot. That's three hundred and four point eight centimetres for all you whippersnappers out there.

Good work!!

The Hill Climb Bec(kons)

Oh dear.

I've just posted my entry to the 53rd Bec CC Hill Climb. This is a hell of a ride up a 700 yard hill, with a mainly 1 in 6 gradient, kicking up nicely to 1 in 4 just before the finish, ouch!

Last year was my first attempt, I came second last, finishing in 3 minutes 24 seconds. I wasn't happy, there was a prize of £10 for last place.

The photo is me giving what little I had last year. I'll let you know how I go this time around - hoping for a slightly quicker ascent....

The Commutopia Experiment

For the first time since I was knee high to a Raleigh Pavemaster, I recently commuted to work two days running.

Door to door the train takes me around 1hr 35 mins each way, the bike takes around 54 mins in and 1hr 5 mins on the way back. Saving a bit of time, and a bit of money, keeping the legs spinning.

It’s jolly good fun and blimey, you need eyes in the front, side, back, top and bottom of yer noggin on these London commutes. Certainly keeps you focused.

I'm really surprised just how many cyclists whizz through red lights on the commute into town. And I got undertaken a few times in a most unsafe fashion by fellow cyclists. Based on my non scientific non extensive research I reckon mini cab drivers are about the worst closely followed by cyclists. Based on what I’m seeing I can see why we get such a bad rap from other road users. I saw the ole bill pull a rider over today for jumping a red, he he.

It's quite a logistical challenge getting towels, clothes and all the gubbins in/out and I can only manage this stuff when I have a few days in town on the trot as I'm not willing to lug my laptop around on me back.

Still, so far I likes it and will try to do this as often as I can.

Snoop

Gotta Getaway

Wow! The family Snoop has just left Southern California, in more or less the same shape as we found it. What did we see...?

Well we barely saw the Olympics . What little coverage there was centred on how the USA were winning the medal race. They are the only country I've ever been to who count total medal haul before golds.....strange? I did see (local Carshalton girl) Romero win gold, yee harr!!

On the business news, China was always referred to as Communist China. Sitting over there, taking our jobs type stylee.

LA on sea (Santa Monica) very nice, had a very enjoyable time riding a laid back bike with Keira on a tag along up and down the beach (even went under the boardwalk). Keira was ultra competitive and pedalled like fury to ensure we weren't overtaken. Motovational promises of medals and other glories were constantly being shouted to me from my energetic co rider.

Hollywood dirty and unpleasant, just as expected then.

Joshua Tree National Park great fun - hotter then the inside of a pizza oven, didn't smell as nice tho. We did a 1 mile hike (ha ha ) quite enough in 120+ temp thank you. Keira was elevated to the status of Junior Ranger, badge, sticker, the whole shebang.

San Diego - great city. Zoo is fabulous, Seaworld is great fun tho slathered with pure USA cheez which makes you want to barf if you do anything but ignore it. We didn't get to see Balboa Park so.....we have a reason to return.

Disneyland was the big finalé. Park cynicysm at front desk, enter and enjoy. Two days spent having a real blast on some monster rides.

I haven't been Stateside for a few years. How the hell did America get so fat...? I know I'm not exactly Mr Matchstick Trim but jeez, I was shocked at how many people are so grossly (in every sense) overweight. It quite gave me the heebie jeebies don't you know.

Fantastic trip, glad to be back to the cold weather. Got bike fittings booked in for next couple of weekends to cheer me up. Hope you enjoyed Summer as much as we did.

Snoop

Mad Balls and Englishmen

So the time trialling takes a back seat for a while. What else has been going on?

Mid July we let 20 odd good friends invade our garden and camp out for the weekend. I could regale you with tales of late nights by the fire pit, telling stories, jokes, hurling insults, singing songs and laughing like only great friends can. But I won’t.

Instead, I’ll tell you about our trip to the park. We all moseyed on over late Saturday afternoon, a great mini trek across some green belt farmland situated at the end of our road. On arrival at the park we grabbed an ice cream. Then, what to do?

Someone suggested a kick about, great. A fantastic concept was put forward. Swap the football for a space hopper. Goals can only be scored from a header or volley. And so, Mad Ball was born. For the next thirty minutes all present enjoyed the most outstanding piece of sport witnessed in this country for many a long year. The game progressed, the rules evaporated. Pick it up, bounce it Harlem Globetrotter style, score a goal, or die trying/laughing. It was great fun, our team displayed silky skills, enjoyed loads of possession, and showed true grit. We lost 3-1.

As we made our way home, tired limbs, sore necks (you try heading a space hopper), we reflected on the opportunity we created.

Sincere thanks to the Poingdestres, Stotts, Birds, Windsors and Christies for a great game well played.

Now – where is Jacques Rogge’s email address, I reckon this is a shoe in for London 2012.

Coward of the County

I'm exhausted, that was my best, and hardest TT ever. The Southern Counties Cycling Union’s centenary 100 mile time trial. I rode this event last year in five hours, thirty minutes and forty three seconds. It took me several days to recover.

This year, A crocked shoulder (hadn’t ridden the bikes since a 50 mile TT one month ago) and a bad cold meant I'd set a target finish time of 5 hours 15 minutes. Mrs Snoop and others had advised me against racing. I wasn't going to miss the start of the 100th SCCU 100, no sirree.

Music tends to worm its way into my head on the longer TTs - some kind of weird way of concentrating on something... Today's offering was "The Coward of the County" Couldn't shift the bloody thing all race.

Started riding on my TT bike. Forgot to pin number to arse - timekeeper not happy. Luckily I had the shoulder number on so they let me ride (failure to start due to complete rider stupidity could have been very embarrassing).

“Evryone considered him the coward of the county.
He’d only stood one single time to prove the county wrong.
His teammates named him Snoopy, he raced in black and yeller,
But something always told me they were reading Snoopy wrong.”

Sections of the course are familiar as the local 25, 50 and 100 follow some of the same roads. As I set off I quickly remembered how hellish the 100 course is though. The first ten miles is lumpy, and me no like. No rhythm, gear changes all the time. I pushed through this section and settled into a good pace. I managed to hang onto a 20mph average for the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth ten miles. I knew I couldn't keep it up but it was good (for me) to clock 60 miles at that speed.

I got held up at the lights on the A24/A272 junction. Must've lost a few minutes there easily (it was 37 seconds when I checked later).

Mrs Snoop met me at Bolney on 67 miles and I swapped bikes. I didn't think my shoulder would hold out for the remainder so I wanted more position options. I don't think I'd do that again mind. I started getting some really (and I mean really) painful muscle twinges as my body tried to adjust. Thought they would force me to stop but I ironed them out after a few miles.

Sure enough I began to fade as the roads got worse, more undulating, my speed slowly ebbed away. It was piggin hot by now too and like others I was feeling it. At the 75 mile mark I reckoned I could just squeeze my target time and so I ground on as best I could. The last ten miles are a complete kick in the teeth. A rotten undulating country lane nightmare. Country - don't talk to me about it.......

“Promise me, son, not to do the things I’ve done.
Walk away from trouble if you can.
It won’t mean you’re weak if you turn the other cheek.
I hope you’re old enough to understand:
Son, you don’t have to fight to be a man.”

I ain't quittin’ pa... My feet were on fire, needles of pain blasting out of every nerve. In the intense heat my head was spinning and I just grit my teeth and tried to push as hard as I could. Two miles to go and I hit the final stretch of dual carriageway. Knowing the end was in sight I dug deep and floored it. I had just enough left to sprint for the (county) line.

So pleased to be off the damn bike, seeing some of my teammates quickly lifted my spirits and we had a few laughs about how bloody hard things were today.

I was keen to know how I did so went into HQ and there - on the board.... 5.10.43. So - I PB'd by 20 minutes dead and I beat my target time.

For the last time, I let Kenny Rogers back in….

“I promised you, dad, not to do the things you done.
I walk away from trouble when I can.
Now please don’t think I’m weak, I didn’t turn the other cheek,
And papa, I sure hope you understand:
Sometimes you gotta fight when you’re a man.”

As I left HQ I saw many folk hobbling away. It had been a mega effort to finish in the gruelling conditions today, there were no cowards in this county.

Easing Back into a World of Pain...

...but this time most of it was self inflicted. Crikey, work, life, fun and everything else have kept me waaaay too busy to write. Camping, fire side sing songs, too much to drink and some belated hard core veg planting have all been achieved. More later......maybe.

So - after a nightmare on the ESCA 50, how would I fare on the Southern Counties 50 at the end of June? Well I'd been to see the Doc after my shoulder pains refused to sort themselves out. A thoroughly unpleasant cocktail of valium and diclofenac didn't agree with me. So I stopped the former and used the latter when it became necessary.

Shortly after the ESCA 50 I attempted some interval training which went disastrously wrong, I was getting over a cold and just.....crap. In the build up to the SCCU race all I did was a few short twiddles on the bike to make sure everything still worked (me and it) and a 45 min easy session the day before. I've been feeling too tight to train, worried that too much exertion might mean I had to miss the race.

Race day comes and off I go in breezy conditions. I felt much better than on the previous race, got my drinking regime into better shape and with a good knowledge of the course I knew when to push and when to save a bit. I began to feel some pain in my knee after about 30 miles. This was due to some adjustments I'd made to the saddle which had cured some other discomforts, one door shuts, another opens.

The final four miles I had the wind behind me so gave it everything (well everything I had left anyway) and blasted over the line with my heart rate well into the red, and a time of 2.22.38. That's a PB by 3 min and 14 sec. Happy with that, oh yes indee.....ppppsssssssssssssss. My tyre blew about 15 metres after I crossed the line, boy that could have been a real bummer.

A plus for the day - I managed to stick my tongue out for the camera, well you've just gotta do it.

Two days after the race and I've made the shoulder a bunch worse straining to take the pedals off my daughter's bike :( Back to the Doc again this Friday. Got the SCCU 100 at the end of July, worried how I'm going to fare with so little training these past few weeks....we'll see.

Snoop

Learning from a Painful Personal Best

Up at 3am to go racing last Sunday. Had a stinker of a cold the previous week just to top off my gardening related self inflicted crippling. So - having not touched the bike for a fortnight I wasn't expecting great things, good job eh? My motivation for doing this was to put a mark down for the SCCU 50 @ the end of the month. I haven't ridden my bike that distance for a long time - would I make it round? Secretly I was hoping for a PB but not by much - want to hit form @ end of the month and who knows....

Things didn't get off too well, the timekeeper was late. When I'm late I get a late start penalty, I reckon we should all get 10 mins off our time to make up for this administrative shabbyness.....

I roll off in my customary casual stylee. The road surface was not up to much, lots of bumps and more than a few 'oles. As I began to push on I'm afraid I started to expel the remains of my cold - this unpleasantness continued the whole way round, eeewwwww. At the half way mark I wasn't feeling too bad, I hit that point @ 1 hour 11 mins, well ahead of where I was expecting. I should've bailed out here. The second lap just sapped me of everything. The final 13 miles was the most draining experience. I hit that mark at 1.45.37. I crawled back and even had to use the small ring for a short distance. The final kick up to the finish was just cruel (I survived this by thinking what must it be like to pull your finger nails out - more painful than this, surely).

I came home in 1.25.52, a PB by 45 seconds. Mission accomplished in a most forgettable style. Much better efforts from t'other fellow agreeables and ye Tri Sport news crew. Dave Palmer's shouts en route helped to keep me going (he could see how f***ed I was - we spoke after). Jim Burdett, 2.3.40 (PB), Dominic 2.8.39, Dave P 2.9.44, RRE 2.10.15

It's now Friday and I don't think I've managed a full nights sleep this week. Shoulder and back, chest in a lot of discomfort. Eases a bit through the day but not good at night. I've had to pull out of the Horsham 10 tomorrow. Going to take it as easy as I can in the desperate hope of being fit for the SCCU 50.

I'm learning that as I push myself, then my body pushes back.....hard. Hindsight's a wonderful thing but I'm sorry that I raced last weekend.

Publish & Be Damned!

Last week I wrote about a piece of "agony aunt" advice I offered up to The Independent newspaper. They only went and published it in yesterday's copy! Sent me a nice box of chocolates for my trouble too, who'd have thought it eh? Here's the link to the article.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/healthy-living/virginia-ironsides-dilemmas-847711.html

So, if you have any personal problems you've been wanting some common sense solutions too, why not drop me a line. Then again.......maybe not.

Snoop

How to be in Two Places at Once

I read this in the paper today:

"My mother died five years ago, and I have her ashes in a plastic bag in the attic. The time has come to scatter them, but my sister wants to scatter them in New York where she had a house - and I want to scatter them in Hyde Park, where my mother loved to walk. It seems awful to divide her in half. Can you suggest anything?"

In response, I've just emailed in the following "advice":

"On the one hand you think it would be awful to scatter your late Mum’s ashes in two places with which she had a strong connection, yet it’s OK to leave her tied up in a plastic bag in the attic for five years? Whilst alive most folk would love to be in two places at once. Now she’s passed away, you and your sister can make that a reality for your Mum. When my Gran died we saw to it that she went to as many places that she had loved as we could manage. These range from the River Dee to my vegetable patch and many more places in between. A permanent residence in New York and Hyde Park sounds rather grand – go for it!"

Whaddya think - can I cut it as an agony aunt?

Snoop

Super Toks Puts the Hammer Down

Hey is this guy cool or what? Fellow Agreeable and all round bloody nice bloke, Toks Adesanya waved the Addiscombe flag big time at the Smithfield Nocturne last Saturday. A storming effort from all the ACCers leanin' over the barriers shouting out his name. Toks didn't do too bad either. No time for tongues out - a great ride!

http://theademerckx2008racingfiles.blogspot.com/2008/06/smithfield-nocturne-support-race-234.html

What a great evening out. Loads of familiar faces out enjoying a warm early Summer evening. Tip top racing, tip top company, tip top food and a few bevvies thrown in for good measure.

I'd recommend this to anyone regardless of whether or not cycling is your bag. It was great fun - can't wait for Nocturne 2009.

Punk, Piano and Papayas

It's been a beautiful sunny morning with a light breeze. Perfect cycling weather. Looking back at my lawn laying exploits last Saturday and still feeling the pain I'm gazing out of the window feeling frustrated. I've been taking paracetamol and ibuprofen like smarties all week and I continue to hobble around. My fault, lesson learned.

So, instead of enjoying a hard 45 miles on the bike with the Addiscombe Cycling Club I've done the weekly shop. Woohoo that's exciting....you might think? Well I took my Ipod and wandered up and down the aisles in a blissful state, listening to an excellent random music mix including The Clash, Franz Ferdinand, Massive Attack, Groove Armada and the pianist Daniel Varsano. The fruit and veg has not looked so colourful and interesting in here for a long while. With a little twist I made a mundane activity so much more engaging. Going to make a delicious prawn & leek risotto for lunch.

Muscle-wise I hope things realign and knit back very soon otherwise the ESCA 50 mile time trial next weekend may be my first Did Not Start of the season. This is an important race in the build up to the SCCU 50 at the end of June, which will contribute to my season goal of completing the SCCU Best All Rounder competition and improving last year's average speed by at least 15%.

Hoping to make it up to the Smithfield Nocturne this evening, more ibuprofen anyone?

Take it easy - I intend to.

Snoop

Don't Forget What's Important

False Start

4am – that time already…? Scoff a quick breakfast and out the door. Today’s race is my first ten miler this season. I’ve not felt well for the past ten days but I’ve been improving leaps and bounds this year, and I have high hopes for this morning. My PB over 10 miles is 27.37 and I’ve set a target of 24.30 for today. I’ve been visualising this one for days.

I arrive at race HQ and there is patchy fog splattered over the course. Sign on, get my number and prepare with a thorough warm up. My guts are gurgling, partly nerves and partly the tail end of my illness.

Let’s go racing…

The air is still and damp, the sun hasn’t burned the fog away yet. I’m off at 6.19 and after a steady climb up to the railway turn I start to apply the power. I feel like I’m working hard but at the halfway point I know I’m not quite hitting the mark. I work hard over the return leg, really hard. At times I’m hitting 35mph on the flat but whenever I check the clock I can see that I’m slipping further away from my goal.

I cross the line in 25.43. I set a good new PB. I win the handicap race. I’m really pissed off, really. Back at race HQ I chuck my shoes on the floor and stomp around in a right huff. Post race shoulda woulda coulda’s are exchanged, there have been some great performances today*. I go home, still grumpy (stupid arse).

My darling Carole is pleased for me – her words “you can never be disappointed with as PB”. Good point.

Hard Gardening – Good Training

Legs still aching from the race I dig over a patch of the garden, about 15 square metres, in readiness to receive some turf. My close friend Curly comes round to help, accompanied by his beautiful and charming wife and young son, Lou and Freddie. We chug round to the garden centre in Curly’s beat up old Land Rover to pick up the grass carpet. Several buckets of sweat later, the deed is done. Satisfying – but somehow not sufficient. We cap the digging off by knocking up a raised bed into which we’ll plant some salad veg, yum.

Excellent Finish

After the digging, we enjoyed a cold beer. I reflected on the day. OK, so I missed my target for the race, but it was a very ambitious goal and I’ve not been well. I managed to knock 2 minutes off my PB and I won the handicap – that’s a first. I shared a race with some great colleagues who put in some sterling performances. Spent the afternoon with family and good friends indulging in some hard labour. I set the bar too high this morning but I think I recovered well. It’s been a really good day.

* Those great race times:

George = 21.50, Mark McL = 22.57 (PB), Andrew G = 24.17 (PB), Ivor = 24.34 (PB), Snoop = 25.43 (PB), Chris L = 25.44, Carole = 27.44, Marky Mark = 29.11 (PB), Rob R-E = 30.56 (including a 2m55s late start penalty)

How did I get a 6 Minute Handicap for a 10 Mile Race?

One of my cycling colleagues asked me this morning....

Good question. Please let me explain.

Handicaps are based on previous performances. My track record over 10 miles (nay any distance) is simply not good. 29.26, 28.27, 29.29, 28.52, 28.20, 27.37. Y'see.

Short history lesson. I started this TT lark in 2004, I did a 10 in 29.26.

In 2006 I did 5 TTs. Two of those 10 times shown above plus three 25s at 1.17.46, 1.14.06 and 1.14.41.

In 2007 I decided to up my game. I did this to push myself a bit, to make a contribution to the Rawson Shield and to prove to anyone in the club that this sport is accessible. I wanted to see more people breaking into TTing and I thought I should lead by example. So, with no training I did ten TTs including a DNF, four 10s, two 25s, a 50, a 100 and the Bec hill climb. So what? I helped to bring home the Rawson Shield - along with a host of others of course. I achieved things I previously thought unachievable. I encouraged/cajoled folk to have a go. From a personal perspective I got a place in the SCCU Best All Rounder. To earn this you need to complete qualifying events at 25, 50 and 100. Yes - it was last place but I did it, only 20 other riders in the whole of the SCCU managed this.

Richv encouraged me to do the 100 and I've not forgiven him since.

So - this winter just gone with Richv's help and patience in the coaching dept. I began some training. I started the season with a PB of 1.11.10 over 25 miles. So far I've got that down to 1.04.50.

Now, after four stuttering years, I am no longer the guy who turns up to make everyone else look fast . Health permitting I know I'm going to make huge improvements this year. I also know that my passion for including more and more people into this aspect of cycling is brighter than ever before. If I can squeeze the odd handicap prize along the way, well that's what they're there for innit?

Let's go racing.

Snoop

Secret Weapons

Well now....

My bike now has a nice shiny new rear mech which matches the number of gears I have (ain't technology great?). Thanks to the good folk at Geoffrey Butlers Cycles for fixing me up. http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/ Also - I'm borrowing a nice time triallers saddle which, unlike my old saddle, isn't made out of broken glass and rusty nails.

I had a good workout this morning doing five intervals of five minutes each with three minute rests in between. Final interval was at an average speed of 27.1mph on a 53x16 with the turbo snoozer set to 5/6. Evil!!

I'm looking forward to this Saturday's race. My first 10 miler of the season. Last year I PB'd at 27.37. The winter training means I'm hoping for much better things. With a handicap of 6 minutes.....who knows, I might even sneak a prize? That would be great but if the weather is good it's a big PB I'm aiming for. Target is 24minutes 30, stretch is sub 24.

Bring it on.

Snoop

Back on the Hamster Wheel

With no race this weekend, it's back to the torture chamber for me.

Got up as dawn was breaking and then proceeded to break myself. This is my first non racing weekend for a while so I need to be putting in some serious interval sessions to keep pushing myself. Plan for today was a 2x20minutes averaging 25mph with a 10 minute rest in the middle.

Warmed up for 10 minutes then off I go. Started easy, as if I was racing, but soon had the tempo up. I'm working on 53 x 16 (teeth on the cogs) and the turbo is set to 5 out of 6. I've not done a 2x20 for a while and I'd forgotten how much they hurt. When I race I concentrate on breathing - keeping it controlled. I'm not able to marry that control with the speed I need on the turbo so I end up dissolving into a pool of sweat, heart pumping at 96% of max, legs a blur.

So how did I get on? Not too good I'm afraid. I managed the first session and got the average speed to 24.9mph. Second session was awful and I bailed after ten minutes with an average of 25mph. My rate of perceived effort rose to around 9.5 for the first interval. The second started at 9 and quickly got worse.

I'll find some time to train again this weekend so I'm sure I'll be back in the swing of things before long. I guess the moral to this story is - make sure I've got a race every weekend!

Cheers - Snoop

Excelsior - Ever Upwards

I raced the Worthing Excelsior 25 mile time trial this morning. According to some dictionaries, excelsior means ever upwards. With a 15mph NE wind and a miserly 10.5 degC I was not expecting to PB today. I was keen to race intelligently and see if I could continue my climb up the results table. Time wise I'd be happy with under 1.07.00.

I've got my race prep off pat now - or so I thought. Finished my warm up and as I was getting ready to go realised I needed a pee . Taking a leak with a skinsuit on takes some planning so by the time I was back on my bike I was cutting it fine...school boy error. Got to the start with 20 seconds to spare . Afterwards one of my fellow racers Dave Palmer was kind enough to say "how professional"!!

So - I roll off the start, blimey it's brass monkeys glad I put my arm warmers on. I was number 49 today so as usual I got passed by the super fast guy just behind me just after the railway turn. He didn't go whizzing off mind so I focussed on him and pushed myself along. I had a gear change nightmare day today, I really must abandon this 10 speed cassette 9 speed mech nonsense. I kept jumping out of gear and hitting the shifter = change a gear was not a mathematical certainty.

Keep going and I spot someone else. Crikey, it's MY MINUTE MAN!!! I worked hard, and caught him just before the left turn to Tollgate hill. That's a first for me on a 25 - I was dead chuffed I tell yer!! Struggled a bit up the hill in the end used the small ring cos my gears were buggering me about. Rounded the top of the hill and blow me down I can feel my minute man breathin down me neck, bloomin cheek! I stepped on the gas and as I changed to the big ring I dropped my chain . That just made me mad so I stomped all over the pedals and blew the guy away down Tollgate never to be seen again.

I caned it down the long straight to the railway turn cutting roundabouts as fine as I could, spinning my 11 toothed cog and loving this speed. I was feeling good though my saddle was starting to cause me major pain in the arse. Up and over Farthing interchange and push hard up to the service station. I allowed myself a glance at the time - oooooh. Not on for a PB - but pretty damn good nonetheless. Got to the turn and just killed myself for the last 2 miles, passing two more fellow competitors, yeah!!!!! I had to sit up briefly on the last climb - my backside was so painful I needed some relief .

Finished in 1.06.14. Not a PB but definitely my best race this year so far. I wonder how many other riders came within 1 min 20 odd sec of their PB in the race today? I'm learning loads and getting better at dealing with the pain. Got a break next weekend then my first 10 of the year @ the SCCU course. I am soooo looking forward to that - I know pretty much every inch of tarmac on that baby. Surely my crappy 10 PB of 27.37 has got to fall ?

The only negative points from today were - no photographer, how the hell am I supposed to win the tongues out competition with service like that!! Also - I need a new saddle - badly.

Cheers - Snoop

Parliamentary Citizenship Awards

I was stalking the corridors of power this week. Well, what I really mean is I was lucky enough to enjoy a few drinks in great company somewhere deep in the Houses of Parliament. How on earth did that happen?

I am one of the judges for this year's Rugby in the community awards. Glasshouse Partnership http://www.glasshousepartnership.com/blog/parliamentary-citizenship-awards/ organised this and I was delighted when they asked me to be involved.

As a panel, we had three decisions to make. We needed to decide the winners of the Impact award, the Innovation award, and we had to draw up a shortlist of clubs for the club of the year. I'm not a big fan of rugby but I was really keen to find out how a well known local brand, such as a rugby club, seeks to integrate with the local community.

We reviewed materials that clubs submitted through Business in the Community’s Clubs that Count tracker and shortlisted Bath, Saracens and Newcastle for Club of the year.

Bristol Rugby won the Innovation Award (for an innovative new programme started in the past 12 months) for its Inferno Programme, which tackles social inclusion by teaching rugby (and life) skills to young offenders at HMP Ashfield. Bath Rugby and Sale Sharks were also highly commended for their Language Through Sport and School of Hard Knocks programmes respectively.

Newcastle Falcons won the Impact Award (for an established programme able to demonstrate the positive impact it’s making on its community) for its Touch Rugby programme, which gets 950 adults active each year (40% of which are female, 35% of which haven’t done any form of physical activity in past year). Bath Rugby was also highly commended for its Wilts / Sportsmatch Girls Rugby Programme.

The awards were presented at the Houses of Parliament last Tuesday. It was a real pleasure to celebrate the success of the inspiring people that run these excellent programmes.

http://www.rugbyinthecommunity.com/saracens-and-bath-share-community-club-of-the-year-title/

Hard work - and a great result

Y'all - I'll keep this (mercifully) brief.

I've been in training over Winter. Nothing too mad, just a couple of hard sessions a week on the static trainer plus a ride at the weekend. Honestly, it's been boring. I keep a training diary and I check in with my coach once a week. Without him I'm almost certain the programme would have been shelved.

The time trialling season is now a few weeks old - so how goes it?

Well - last year I finished off doing a 25 mile time trial in 1.11.10 which was an improvement on my previous best by 2min 54 sec. I was happy with that. This year I had a short term goal to get under 1 hour 10 by end of May.

So far this year:

April 20th - 25 mile TT in 1.10.15
April 27th - 25 mile TT in 1.08.32
May 11th - 25 mile TT in 1.04.50

I am flying, and suffering too. The pain I'm having to manage is new for me and I pushed myself very hard last weekend. At work on the Monday I gave everyone a good laugh as I hobbled around like a 150 year old.

Hope you are all well, and remember, I'm doing the hurting so you don't need to (somebody get me a doctor.....)

Cheers - Snoop