A Cold November in France... The Epic Beaujolais Run

Whatever the reality is regarding "Global Warming" this past November's weather has been warm even when it has been raining.

It has been in sharp contrast to a November weekend in the mid eighties when along with a seven other Southborough club members I took part in a charity ride to Beaume to collect the Beaujolais wine for a local Tunbridge Wells pub.

The riders plus two support vehicles (one of which was a converted undertakers hearse and was driven by the publican) set out across the channel in reasonable weather with the intention of buying the wine when it was released at midnight on the 24th. The bulk of the wine would be transported in the hearse but two bottles were to be carried in the bottle cages on the bikes.

We cyclists booked into a hotel in Beame and found a great French Bistro where we dined on French onion soup, steaks (and one more adventurous than the rest had frogs legs and escargot) whilst the unfortunate publican drove to the vineyard to await the midnight sale.

A journey of some 170 km to Paris was schedule for the next day so we all decided on an early night.

When getting up the next morning we found to our horror that it had snowed overnight and that temperature had dropped to well below freezing.


quelle heureux, il neige!


The hearse is prepared for the return journey

Undaunted we set off on what was to be an epic journey through snow sleet and freezing wind. Hands and feet were soon stiff with cold (this being the days before modern cycling gear) but we all persevered with just one or two riders having short spells in the support cars so as to thaw out.


a very cold French village


A colder French D road

We were met under the Eiffel Tower by the group from the Charity who were amazed that we had managed the whole journey. On taking the bottles of wine from the bikes we found that in fact it had started to freeze so we must have experienced an incredibly low temperature.

Handing over the frozen bottle of wine

We were taken to the hotel in Paris where the charity group had stayed over night and after a quick shower we were then driven back to Tunbridge Wells to arrive just in time for our annual club dinner.

At the dinner we were toasted for our efforts in the wine we had carried, which I can remember as being classed as a wine that did "not travel well."

More Cycling Themed Christmas Cards

A must have Christmas item to make you friends laugh… none of those rubbish cards you get everywhere - these are made especially for you.

This pack of 5 cards is £6. To see our full range of cycling Christmas cards… oh yes! Click HERE

Social Season: An Old Cyclist Remembers The Excitement of the Balloon Release 1950's Style

Whilst the weather never stopped or even reduced the amount of cycling the 1950's club riders did in the months from October to January this time of year meant more to us than just turning the pedals.

This was the Social Season, that is not to say we were not very social beings at other times of the year, but a full programme of Cycling Club Dances and Dinner Dances brought the people that we had seen out on the road into a completely different environment. Most of the time we would cycle to the local events with a change of clothes carefully stowed in the saddlebag (this must have been much more of a problem for the ladies and looking back it is amazing what they achieved under what must have been really trying circumstances).

It was at these social gatherings that you really got to know that cyclist had other skills and talents than just riding. You found out who could make a good after dinner speech, who had a good sense of rhythm and enjoyed music and dance and also those who could drink alcohol and those that never should.

One of the most memorable after dinner speakers had almost got to the end of his oration, which he was carefully reading from handwritten notes, when he lost his place in the text so without any embarrassment he turned back the pages and began over from the beginning, to the delight of all those present! (it wouldn't have been so bad if it had been interesting the first time round)

The dance always culminated in a giant knees up and the release of a big net of balloons which couples fought tooth and nail for only to burst them. Another great tradition was the Spot Waltz which was always contested with as much energy as any sprint finish with much pushing and shoving that would have mean't disqualification had Eddie Wingrave been in charge.

The excitement of the balloon release 1950's style

The social events were the reason why so many looked on cycling not just as a sport but more as "a way of life".

Next week: bicycle pumps.

Love Yellow's cards in Paperchase

Our cards have just launched in the Paperchase store in Tottenham Court Road, London. It's nice to be in such good company, there are some hilarious cards and a few other nice bits and pieces on show… as well as tasty cakes and coffee upstairs…

Love Yellow's Christmas Cards

Cyclist Rhyming Slang Greeting Cards

Check out our new bold and brightly coloured Cyclist Rhyming Slang designs… here are the cards. In Love Yellow's online shop.

The Magic Time Trials

Some years ago, when I was approaching middle age (or was it nearing 65?) I rode a club evening 10 mile time trial which to me at the time was absolute magic. It was a time when everything came together in perfect unison.

I had just had a good uninterrupted few weeks training, the event was being held on the fastest local course and the weather conditions could not have been better. I remember that I arrived at the start early and did a proper warm up on the turbo trainer. The actual ride went off without a hitch, everything was just right. It was in fact my magic time trial, and to cap it all the ride meant that I had broken the club veterans 10 mile record. 

But that is just my small scale personal story. Since that time I have been lucky to witness three absolutely magic time trials all ridden by one man. That man is Sir Bradley Wiggins. The three rides were the final time trial in the 2012 Tour de France, the time trial in the 2012 Olympics and last and by no means least the 2014 World Time Trial Championship.

I had the extra pleasure of being at the roadside for two of them and the third I watched on the T.V. but on all three occasions as soon as he rolled down the ramp it was impossible not to realise that Brad was doing a Magic Time Trial.

At the T de F the anticipation of Brad's arrival was coped with by taking our own time checks on the top seeded riders and by eating some gorgeous french pastries which we purchased in the local village boulangerie and although this was extremely enjoyable the arrival of our top man hurtling by in the famous aerodynamic position beat the pleasure of the cakes into a "cocked hat".

At the Olympics the excitement generated by the crowd made waiting for the now world superstar "Wiggo" almost unbearable and the incredible noise of the spectators as he swept by in majestic style was something that no one could possibly forget.

My view of this years World's was only on the 'box' but the pleasure here was being able to see more of the superb style, effort and pace judgement and the demonstration of how a time trial should be ridden. Even in the first few metres on leaving the starting ramp it was evident that the man in the Sky skin suit was flying (and in all probability out to prove a point to some of his doubters). At no time when the camera tracked him did there seem to be any doubt of what the final result would be.

To me (and I suspect to many others) all three rides can be described in two words.

JUST PERFECT! (or even one word "MAGIC").

My problem now, is that my personal magic ride is now in my memory as just another good evening club event and can in no way be described as magic.

A Healthy Interest or Obsession

Dusting a bookcase I happened to notice that books with a cycling content are gradually taking over a complete shelf.

This may not seem unusual to the modern day cyclist but to a person of my age (really old) I can assure you that the great variety of good cycling literature (in English) is in fact a recent phenomenon. In the past our knowledge of how the top riders developed, lived and trained was gleaned from short and incomplete articles in the few cycling magazines that were available. However on my bookshelf I now have chapter and verse of the lives of several of the top riders in the last decade - even if some have omitted to tell the whole truth or even half the truth. Having watched some of the events that are described sometimes in great detail it is interesting to reflect on my perception of what was happening at the time and what was actually going on. I feel that for years my view was that all the riders were super human and had no feelings other than the obvious pain in their legs.

But now rumour has, in some cases, been cast wide open and we all have more in depth knowledge I have to know more… hence my interest

It is now almost impossible to visit a bookshop without discovering some new cycling tome. This of course greatly appreciated by me but I am now beginning to wonder if my purchases can be described as a healthy interest or should more properly seen as some sort of cycling related obsession?

Slow Profile Bike Card

Did I show you our new card? Here is is. And here it is in our SHOP

GREAT CHOPS KID'S T-SHIRT

Kid's Great BRITISH Chops. Sizes age 2 - 13

£15 

We're In Women's Cycling Online Review!

We were chuffed to be included in Women's Cycling Magazine's top 16 cycling t-shirts for summer 2014.

Check it out here: http://womenscyclinguk.co.uk/gear/16_womens_bicycle_tshirts/

Eltham John: Super Domestique?

How I became a domestique at the age of seventy-eight.

Last Sunday I took my grandson on a ride. We were to tackle his first real climb. In the great scheme of things the local Gover Hill is not massive, being less than a mile long and rising some 300 feet, but for an eleven year old it probably looked like an alpine pass.

Riding at old gentleman's tempo at the front I was quite pleased with the pace I was able to maintain but having reached the summit I was told by the little voice behind (attached limpet like to my back wheel) he would have been happier with a slighter higher speed.

To get my revenge I took a slight diversion so as to take on a short but somewhat steeper climb. But again as I reached the top the eleven year old wheel sucker who was not even breathing heavily, announced that he would have come by on the climb but was not sure if we were to turn right or left at the end of the road.

So twice in one short ride I had been told how I should ride. I have now accepted my lot as a poorly performing domestique.

Do The Saxby's Bike Shops of This World Still Exist?

A couple of weeks ago I visited the new Velo Cafe and bike shop in Tunbridge Wells.  It was quite an impressive place and the cappuccino was fine. What surprised me about the place is that the cafe is the main part of the premises being on the ground floor and is therefore the entrance to the bike shop which is upstairs.  

This is very different to Saxby Cycles which was the bike shop in the Old Kent Road in South London where we spent quite a lot of time on  Saturday afternoons back in the 1950's. To start with the shop was operated by one man, the legendary Labour Councillor Ron Cheesewright (although it was rumoured that a sprayer worked in a shed out the back of the shop - but he was never seen.)  The tea which was always available was made by Ron himself (complete with black greasy hands for added flavour) and if he was engaged on this chore any customers that came into the shop would be completely ignored until in desperation they would leave.

The shop was tiny but was an Aladdin's cave of bike parts, which could be purchased at not much more than cost price.

On an average Saturday there would be about 6 to 8 members of the Eltham Paragon and Sydenham Wheelers enjoying Ron's free tea and biscuits. Conversation, in the main, was rubbish but usually entertaining. It was truly a great place to be.

Another bonus was that if you wanted your frame re-enamelled, provided you wanted Post Office Red it would be done for a pittance. This was because Ron's main source of income was a contract to maintain all the postmen's bikes in the South London area. I will add here that my bike was always red.

Racing through Green Street Green roundabout on my Saxby Cycle before it was sprayed red

Whilst accepting that the Tunbridge Wells business is of its time I sincerely hope that the Saxbys of this world still exist and are alive and well in the land of real cycling.

Pleased to support Crystal Palace Triathlon again

Really happy to be supporting Crystal Palace Triathlon again.

www.crystalpalace-tri.co.uk

Eltham John's: Books Wot I Have Read

Yet another great book from my local library.

Not cycling this time, but a really informative book about the 1953 ascent of Everest.

It was written by the daughter of a man who I had never heard of, Griffith Pugh. He was an Olympic skier, doctor and physiologist. The book is called Everest, but it was the sub title "The First Ascent - The untold story of Griffith Pugh the man who made it possible "  that made me want to read it.

His brilliant experiments and physiological tests he designed, especially on the effects of altitude, seem to me to be the basis of much of the modern approach to cycle training and I would be interested to know if any of British Cycling's current Gurus have been directly influenced by him in any way.

If you do get the chance to read this book I am sure you will not be able to put it down until the last page. It is a multi themed biography which I found to be thought provoking and informative.

Love Yellow at The London Bike Show

Come and see us at STAND LB 532

Love Yellow Supports Total Woman's Cycling Awards

HERE

And the Winner is...

The competition was to decide what the most important part of the bike was and draw it.
We chose Jacqui Ma's drawing for its individuality and sense of fun. She wins 2 Zen Cyclist Mugs.
Thank you to everyone who too the trouble to draw and submit an entry...

Competition entries: Draw the most important part of a bicycle

A couple of the best entries drawn by people visiting us on our stand at Spin x LCF...

Eltham John Reviews: Swim, Bike, Run by Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee

BOOK REVIEW: by Eltham John

Swim, Bike, Run by Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee

My local library is very good at providing the latest sport related biographies and two weeks ago I was lucky enough to pick up the book  "SWIM, BIKE, RUN" (just because I read the word Bike).

The book is the story of  Olympic Triathletes Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, and  culminates in their Olympic and World Championship Gold Medals. It is of course a great story, easy to read with the brothers giving their own slant on events in alternate chapters. It tells how and why they got into their sport. It gives some tips on the development of their particular training methods, but for me the best part is that it goes into great detail of the relationship between two brothers with only two years difference in age who happened to go for the same sport.

So many of their experiences and achievements (which are of course far more significant than mine) reminded me of the feeling I had when my younger brother followed me into club cycling. As you follow the path to the successes, from the early days even to the highest level competition, they talk frankly about their mutual support as brothers, training partners and even their temporary jealousies.

There is no doubt that this a good book for a youngster to pick up valuable training tips, particularly in the cycling section, but most of all it accurately describes how a competitive spirit is born and develops and is a wonderful example of what results it can produce.

...I did at one time think I would recommend the book to my "young brother" (now aged 76) but I think that even with the wisdom of age he would would probably think I was trying to gain some underhand advantage.

You can BUY THE BOOK. British Triathlon have a special offer - Brownlee Brothers Book Offer HERE! Special discount to Triathlon South East and the Regions £14.99 instead of RRP £20

Track World Cup

I can't believe this World Cup is not on the BBC...  apparently it is! Red button stuff
British Cycling, as usual, keeping everyone up to date
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/trackworldcup

I've been keeping up to date via British Cycling and Twitter and the atmosphere at Manchester looks and sounds amazing... The British riders have had some great results so far. GB women won the 4000 m pursuit well and truly smashing the World record on the way! Incredible.

GB women 4:19.604  W R (Trott, King, Roswell, Elinor Barker) beat Canada in the final.

GB men 3:58.654 beat Australia in the final.

Fantastic silver medal ride by Becky James and Victoria Williamson in the team sprint behind Olympic champions (!!) Miriam Welte and Kristina Vogel of Germany. 
The GB team sprint men won bronze against New Zealand.

Katie Archibald, representing Scottish Cycling won silver in the scratch - fab result.

BBC red button
Friday 1 November
BBC red button: 7pm-10pm

Saturday 2 November
BBC red button: 6pm-9.45pm

Sunday 3 November
BBC Two: 2.30pm-5.30pm

Balance - Learning to Cycle

Most Saturday mornings this past summer I have had the pleasure of going to Cyclopark, Gravesend with my young grandson who has discovered cycling (in a big way).

Ready for action

It has been great to see some really young people take their first wobbly rides in safety on the purpose built track and from week to week to watch them improve their ability and skill as a result of the basic coaching they receive.

warming up

It's all a long way from how I first learnt to ride. My first stuttering attempt on two wheels took place at Gelli, in the Rhonda Valley, South Wales. This was sometime in 1941 - 42 during my evacuation and I would have been about six years old.

Could this be the bike?

The bike I rode was a girls loop frame Hercules that belong to a girl of about twelve who I believe was called Thelma and was a friend of my cousin Doreen. I can remember that I was given a push start from the top of a railroad bridge and then made a very shaky descent off the bridge and took a sharp right turn into Rees Street where we were living. I just about made the bend before falling off.

I persevered, as you do, and from that very dodgy beginning my love for cycling was born. I just hope that the kids at the Cyclopark get as much enjoyment as I have over the past seventy odd years.

Tilly Dog in her Tee

Tilly in her Love Yellow t-shirt

The Venn Cyclist… it's in the shop

Love Yellow's: Cycling Glossary

It's important to know the lingo...

Sitting In there's nothing wrong with Sitting In despite what others might tell you, or say about you behind your back.  Some people are so skilled at Sitting In they can do their whole Sunday ride without having a hair blown out of place. There are times when Sitting In is perfectly acceptable, i.e. you are too worn out to go on the front, you are twelve years old or it is accepted that you are really lazy. Use: she had a free ride the whole time sitting in then out sprinted me at the end! 

Blowing Up (knacker-d) when you only just make it home you have Blown Up. When the last 30 k is made in a fog of pain you have Blown Up. When your eyes can only see the wheel directly in front... then it drifts away up the road you have Blown Up. Use: Chris Froome should have a special pocket the exact size of A Gel sewn into his jersey in case he blows up, again.

Womens Professional Cycling News: 'Casino' Chaos!

Top women's professional teams took action in refusing to start in 18th Giro Della Toscana 2013. Many top teams including Rabo Women, Orica-AIS, Sengers, Specialized-lululemon, Boels, Wiggle, USA, Optum, Argos-Shimano, Hitec Products, and also Italian team BePink refused to roll out as some Italian teams and German National team rode the stage.

This race has a history of bad road control and chaos in general. This year's race saw Chloe Hosking knocked off by a photographer as she sprinted for the line. Thankfully she was not badly hurt.

Article written by C J Farquharson of WomensCycling.net goes into depth about the protest:
http://www.womenscycling.net/2013/EventsPages2013/09_Toscana/04_Stage4.htm

Our Cat Loves Yellow

Eltham John: Being Caught Out by Quality

I may have mentioned it before - as you get older you get caught more often when out on your bike.

A couple of weeks ago during my usual wander round the local Kentish lanes I was passed by a father and son who were obviously doing a spot of training. The father was the 1976 British Professional Road Race Champion Geoff Wiles. For a couple of miles I sat behind them to remind myself what it's like to ride at training speed and for a short time it was really enjoyable. Having then completed their speed work they both eased back and as all cyclists do we had a chat about local racing scene. I took the opportunity to ask Geoff about the current form of his San Fairy Ann team mates who I've had the pleasure of riding with over the years. 

Quite soon Geoff and his son were ready to resume their next fast interval so I excused myself by saying that I wanted to go off and climb a few hills.

Gianni Bugno. jimenezvelosport.com

Despite having bottled out of the opportunity to do a bit of real riding it occurred to me that if I've now reached the stage that I am always going to be caught it will be some consolation if the person doing the catching is of genuine quality. This thought and the fact that I had just been hearing how well Dick Naylor was now riding reminded me of the time when Dick and myself were overtaken by real quality in the form of the whole of the Italian National Road Team. We were in San Sebastian to see the Worlds in 1997 and the day before the race we decided to take a ride round the championship course, which seemed like a great idea at the time. After we had completed about half the distance the Italian team which included Gianni Bugno, Fondriest, Castagrande came ambling by. I quickly accepted that I was completely out of my depth but Dick stayed on the back of the group for a couple of laps.

I must be easily pleased as I was content just to know that I had been overtaken by one of the greatest group of riders I ever shared the road with.

Cycling Equipment: 5 quick fire questions

Equipment - Quick fire questions

Do we need it? Yes.

Do you know much about it? A bit.

Do you care much about it? Not really... a little bit, maybe.

Is it expensive? Yes.

Are there too many bits and pieces nowadays? Yes, I reckon there are.

What's the most crucial bit of equipment? Saddle, without a doubt, or ball bearings... perhaps it's wheels or handlebars. I don't know.

Training Regime: The Café Stop

Once you can do 2 hour training runs you are ready to attempt a little sit-down mid-ride known as The Café Stop. This decision must not to be taken lightly as remount can be dangerous when full of coffee and cake and it is possible to experience a refusal to remount resulting in a café stranding and subsequent fake, 'I'm stranded with a mechanical' call you never want to make.

Entry:
Park your bike where you can see it from the café window. If some unsavoury heathen tries to make off with it you will be able to jump up, slide around on your cycling shoes, and at least witness the assailant is aged between 20 to 50 noting generic clothing that will be impossible to recall later on.

The Selection:
I could write reams on this subject but there’s not time to cover all possible scenarios. Some people think cake is cake, they are mad. Some think there are certain types of traditional cycling cake that must be adhered to and will not stray from bread pudding, fruit cake or victoria sponge. I say, and I know I’m going out on a limb but, chocolate brownie, gypsy tart and lemon meringue. I would even add cream horn, banoffee pie and curlywurly stack cake.

What you drink is up to you. I’m a lover of tea and coffee and solve this dilemma by having one of each. I'd advise against ice cream based drinks because I wouldn’t wish my rum and raisin shandy incident on anyone (I won’t go into detail but on the way home it made an unpleasant fountainous return through my nose. This is not the way you want to remember ice cream shandy)

Timing the Exit:
It’s best not to outstay your welcome, two visits to the cake trolley is sufficient to give the impression of treasured customer (you never know when you’ll forget to bring your money out with you and need a hunger knock favour). A cheery wave will distract from comical Max Wall cycling shoe walk as you leave.

Remount:
Remember everything I’ve mentioned before with regard to leg lifting but take care not to grunt, belch or F……..orget to lean the bike over. Successfully on board all you need to do now is get home for a nice cup of tea.