Imperial Winter Series 2013/2014 Race 10 4th CAT

Saddle Drunk February 6, 2014

After thanking the weather few times for the stunning days, last saturday we paid the toll for just a 24 hours rain splash.

Richard and Lucy from Imperial Cycles, they had a nice surprise present when they arrived to the circuit which they did not expect.A turn of the circuit was completely flooded.

For the crew was a tough challenge to get the race going, and avoid the disappointment,anxiety by the riders. Therefore they came up with all sort of ideas and plan A.B,C,D etc etc to get the circuit dry. They were all in deep waters with pumps & hoses and wellys.

It was a great team effort that managed to delay the start of the race by only 30 minutes. This is why their skills of organising racing has been award with the chance to take care for the Crit at the next London Bike Show in London next week.

The race start in an easier way than usual, it was like a 24 hours "Le Mans" start.The wind was with us and again quite strong,probably stronger than ever for my experience.This was my third race in the circuit, so I took in consideration loads of factor to gain a good position, and to finish the race better than the previous time.

The Race Commissaire has briefed us in the meeting that maybe was going to be shorter than normal. His little speech gave us a sort of mystery race with the unknown to when expect the final "5 laps to go" sign out.

The race again evolved more or less with the same attacks from various riders from the teams, few unattached riders as well, including my self founding for a short spell with the top 5 and have a quick chat with another rider,before being rejoined by the rest of the peloton.

It was a definite improvement in my race tactics. I was waiting for a sprint to start in the last lap, but not so early.This attack made by few riders, left few of us at the front not ready for it, and making us working hard to regain any positions lost.

I was pleased with my result, still an improvement from last time 26th to 21st...

I am looking forward for saturday, Race 11 and the season "finale" by Imperial Racing Team and Imperial Cycles.

Many thanks again to all of them that made everything possible for us enabling to race last saturday.

See you in few days.

SaddleDrunk.

Colle Fauniera 2481 m.s.l. nicknamed the "Mule's Colle" or Colle dei Morti

Saddle Drunk December 11, 2013

In July some friend from Italy invited me to go with them for a weekend of cycling in Piemonte,in the Italian border with France.The weekend consisted in getting there on a friday,followed a training ride on a saturday then the race on a sunday.

It was really appealing especially because I flew out from London in the early morning enabling me to travel with the rest of the team to Alba where all together we tasted some delicacies from the province.

The following morning, we woke up early to have a huge breakfast to load up for the training ride were apart for few no one knew the destination.We loaded our minibuses with bicycles and us, to drive just short of 2 hours to a little town at the bottom of the Italian Alps on the border with France where we got off.

We all set up our bikes and got ready to jump on the saddle to follow the "Capitan"( in my dialect means Team Captain).

After few miles the rumours were spread around the team that we were heading to the famous Colle Fauniera, part in the past of stages for the Giro d'Italia 1999 and also Tour De France.Everyone knew that it was an interesting climb, starting from 500 m.s.l. to the top of 2481 m.s.l. of 25 KM of continuos climb.Yes a total ascent of nearly 2000 metres in one go.Still nothing in compare to "KOM Challenge Taiwan".

The sceneries are really beautiful and appeals to climb even for much longer than 25 KM.

During the climb we were able to be escorted after the 2000 m.s.l. by few marmots, fresh water sources, cows and finally the snow..The temperature obviously dropped down a fair bit, but the most noticeable drop was us slowly slowly stopping to chat due to the refined fresh air.

Fresh water for our bottles direct from the source.

The road are really narrow,just a car width and due to the weather condition it deteriorate drastically with the continuos water melting from the snow making more challenging for us.

Some of us were thinking about the cyclist most favourite climb the "Stelvio" conditions are 100 times more easier than this.There is also to say that nowadays those famous place like the Stelvio,Gavia,Mortirolo,Zoncolan are so popular that sometimes it is like going scuba diving in the Red Sea.

Just to let you know that, this Colle Fauniera is one of the top 10 Climbs to do in Italy,therefore I should strongly advise and recommend this climb for those who loves climbing.

Both sides of the mountain are beautiful, at each descents you can enjoy a well deserved meal with the local wine and food in a traditional trattoria.

You can check the graph below,my Garmin profile and finally a bit of nostalgia from the Giro d'Italia 1999.

For more details do not hesitate to get in touch with me.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/345986776

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX37LsFmBbw

Evans Cycle Sportive Hampshire

Saddle Drunk December 9, 2013

The cold weather is approaching us in the northern Hemisphere, days are getting shorter and the road are getting dirty.

This morning was ideal to take the student that I have been coaching from beginning of October to take part in his first sportive.The wake up call was early,and still dark outside but the passion for the bicycle has prevailed the extra few hours of laying in bed.

Driving along the motorway for approximately an hour from London to reach the beautiful country side of Hampshire we admired the sunrise and the wakening of the day life.

The amazing country side.

We arrived to the venue with no problem at all,it was sign posted from coming off the motorway junction all the way to the car park.We then walked to registration office with our helmet, where they issued us the microchip to be placed on the side of it.We made our final toilet stop before jumping on the saddle and go through the start line.

Being the first sportive for P.( Student's Name kept secret for privacy) we decided to do the short route of 30 miles and to set a target to finish it around the 2 hours mark. Taking in consideration that for P was only the forth exit with pedals and cleats, I could notice that he was very excited due to the atmosphere created by the event organiser pre race.

The race route was very well planned to keep the cyclists away from the main roads, enabling them to be astonished by the amazing surroundings of the nature during the cold sunday morning.During the ride we could smell the perfumes and essences of the trees,fields,bushes,forests and to listen the animals.

The organisers(Evans Cycle) did provide a good route marking utilising the 3 point system. Which is one sign on approach, to indicate the turning or the direction to go, second point are two signs to indicate the actual turning, and the final sign to be just one to indicate and relieve cyclists are in the correct direction.

The 30 miles course had a variety of cycling difficulties and demanding tasks due to the road conditions from being hilly to the mud on the road caused by the weather.

There were challenging hills for the student, where I could test him on climbing techniques and the stamina.I was pleased when he told me that he likes climbing. The Hills made the scenery just flabbergasting, the chilly wind made it particular challenging for the riders keeping the temperature not higher than 6.6 C.

I have to give just a quick advise to the organiser,which is related to the feed station.My advise is that you can not have just a station at 24 miles for 30 miles route.I do understand you also had a medium,long distances but feed stations are important and they play a key factor on most beginner or intermediate cyclist.You need to place an extra table with an extra couple glasses and bananas to makes more enjoyable.I would suggest at an event like that with today distances if the condition allows it, to have stations at those distances such one between the 14-16 miles,34-36 and the final one at 52-55 miles mark.

I would strongly recommend this event for those having a rest during the Christmas Festive before the hang the bikes in the garage and to those want to keep training hard for the following this season.

LONDON CYCLISTS PROTEST "Stop The Killing,Die In"

Saddle Drunk November 30, 2013

On Friday afternoon at 5pm, nearly 2000 people, cyclist and non-cyclists,,gathered together opposite the Transport for London HQ in Southwark to protest (peacefully).

Their demands were directed to Mayor Boris Johnson (link to March article of him relating to cycling click here) and all relevant departments in London and Nationwide to protect the "Cyclists". This demand has arisen due to the recent death of cyclists.

Unfortunately, again (as nowadays) we act after catastrophic matters happen like death.

We do act in any sort of ways after that, but quite important factor, we do not act or talk when someone get seriously injured causing a loss of mobility or loss of limbs or anything that life changing of those individuals hurt during accidents. There is no need to see, check, talk about numbers to see improvements, we (everyone) as human beings, appreciate more facts, real facts, concrete improvements. Therefore stand up!.

We can all search online for the numbers of how much the government spends on cyclists all over the world, we can check how many accidents happens in other big cities and try to compare and find immediate solutions. But it will take time before the roads will be safe for us or for London to be like "Amsterdam" (in relation to Cycling).

"Elementary my Dear Watson", famous Sherlock Holmes quote.

The key part of this process of changes is the continuous improvement on behalf of all (cyclist, pedestrians, drivers, anyone) road users to share the road, to respect each other. Completely forget the "Jungle Rule", known as the biggest prevails the smaller.

The reason I say this, is that as cyclist myself I see danger every time I ride, this due to the fact that drivers do not consider or can not understand why cyclists are on the road.

This is a point of weakness of a driver who is not confident in driving on the road. I am not pointing fingers at anyone but standards of driving are abysmal (talking on the phone, checking the kids in the back seat, eating sandwiches, whatsapping and much more) also there drivers who are not insured and to finish off they do not know the road legislation.

Now I am writing to you as a driver. I do drive a lot of different vehicles and I go mad when I see cyclists crossing red lights while riding in groups, whether a "Roadie"( road racer cyclist in Lycra) or if a cool "fixier" trying to impress with his skill or his dress code.

My Final advise to you all out there using the road, love each other, respect each other, educate yourself on the road legislation, make sure that if you are a cyclist or a pedestrian make sure you are seen by others (try this products http://uglow-alg.com).

Let's educate our children in loving cycling and the road and not keep them away from the roads. Let's enjoy more of nature. Drivers leave your car at home for a day and become a cyclist. Your perception will be totally different. Just try, do not be lazy, doing that you might save someone life.

Cycle Safety everywhere in the World.

Saddle Drunk November 19, 2013

I came across during my travels with an amazing company specialised in High Visibility products.UGLOW. Wherever you ride,whatever you ride safety it is a MUST nowadays especially with the latest accidents involving cyclist.

SaddleDrunk: Good morning romain! it is very nice meeting you now specially at this time of the year when daylight gets shorter and safety is on top of our priorities after the recent devastating events.

Please introduce more about what you do and mainly your company? can uglow really bring more protection and visibility to people while on the road ?

Romain: Well good morning,

We do basically specialise in ACTIVE LIGHTING, the future of safety in other words. A higher end type of making people more visible and safe by the use of HI VIZ colours reflective material and flat homogenous light using a very special light spectrum cutting fog, rain, bad weather conditions, and visible from further than the LED technology.

We have materialised it and the company is called Uglow. we exist since 2010 on the market.

Our technology is fully flexible and waterproof, it can as well be washed.

SaddleDrunk: How do you think your products can protect more people and save more lives?

Romain: Simple! look at this exemple , the best safety today on clothing is what ?: reflective material.

Our conclusion was that this is not the best way to protect people, specially if the car coming in front of you or behind you is not using its traffic lights properly or for any reason they are are broken.

Here comes Uglow technology , while having both combined Active lighting and passive lighting, it is guaranteed that you stay visible in all circumstances.

check out our products the U-ROAD sport on our website , you will see that this is really efficient if you want to make people more visible and save more lives by day and by night.

we do have very special helmet kit( the U-HELMET) that will fit cycling helmet and allow its user to be seen from 600 meters.

we do cover mainly cycling , running , and trailing, all type of sports very demanding in term of training, that requires training early morning or after work in poor light conditions.

SaddleDrunk: How do you see the regulations/ law in the coming few months?

Romain: the government must at all cost protect road users. it really depends on education i guess.

for instance , come and ride a bike at night in a large busy city and you will understand what danger cyclists are facing.

my suggestion would be to create tracks for cyclists all over the city. they would get a better protection, but this would not solve the visibility problem. i keep on pushing and lobbying because we believe ACTIVE LIGHTING combining HI VIZ clothes and PASSIVE LIGHTING( reflective material) is the only way to go for a better visibility and less road fatalities.