jimmythecuckoo's blog

As a bloke approaching my 40's, the thought of not having had a proper day in the mountains on a bike was hitting me hard. 

The 20th anniversary of my first race had gone and past a few weeks ago, it had been a 2-up time trial with my first and current club Fenland Clarion. 

So the chance of a day's guided riding and coaching with Girona based Bikecat, whilst on holiday, was too good a birthday treat to miss!!

Me and my big mouth... 

Other people have often said it and now I am saying it about myself too... 

Have a look at this headline... >>Click here<<<

"Fun"?

Nowhere close. 

Now I have a bit of history with this event. The first year I rode it in 2009 there wasn't (in my opinion) enough difference between the sportive signage and that of the main road race the next day. 

It must be something to do with the East Midlands... Spelling it CiCLE has always added a little bit of something different to the Rutland Classic.

The pro race has been saved after a winter of financial rumours. The sportive survives too and I am looking to get round the course a lot more successfully that my last outing in 2009.

I am only doing the 54 before anyone thinks some sort of heroic ride is about to happen. That is still 3000 feet of climbing so I will need my climbing legs on.

It was meant to be my crowning moment.

Sat on the sofa with SKY+ remote in hand... the Daughter and the Wife were to watch on in awe as the pro peloton in the Volta Catalunya struggled up Els Angels with the same pain and lack of pace as I had on my stag party.

The wind and rain I woke to on Sunday morning led me to wonder if UK Cycling Events could rename their sportive “Plenty of Excuses” but alas that wasn’t to be.

I had suspected that a number of riders would take the easy route out and the last proper day of winter bit back, but on swooping three junctions down the A1(M) I was taken aback by the number of people about over an hour before the first riders were off.
So much so that I was relegated to the station car park through sheer numbers!

In my mind everything was planned nicely. 

I did the club hardriders on my old bike (see picture) before building up the new beast last weekend. A lovely spin on Sunday in the unseasonably hot weather set me up for a week of sportive preparation. 

Now work and other stuff has taken away that relaxing build up and I am currently smashing my way through a Dairy Milk on the sofa after getting home late. The glass of wine has already been consumed...

Even Mark Cavendish doesn't divide opinion in the British Cycling scene like David Millar, and that is saying something..! But why is the Scot seen as so controversial and marmite-esque? 

Here's what I think...

David Millar exploded on the world cycling scene at the turn of the millennium having dominated stages in the Tour de L'Avenir in the late 90's. At that time we were seeing Chris Boardman retire and only had the likes of Max Sciandri to hang our hats on as British riders. 

As years go 2011 was a pretty monumental one in our house... and when I say house, I mean houses.

A change in role at work, a move of home and then within four weeks our first baby. All within 12 months and one week of getting married... bullets have left guns slower than that but throughout all of the chaos and settling in, I still maintained a bit of fitness and enjoyment on my bike.

After a couple of seasons on a upward trajectory, friend of this website Albert Timmer has had a poor time of it in 2011.

The Dutchman became a favourite after I spent a pleasant afternoon at the side of the road with his family watching him speed by in the Catalunyan stages of the 2009 Tour de France. Regular readers will have enjoyed posts mentioning the great man in the past.

As a loyal Bianchi owner of 4 years now I look forward to their infrequent owners club updates. The emails are written in what we call at work "Italish", a bizarre hybrid of the two languages.

The owners club hasn't really changed my life or my use of the bike. Maybe if owners got discount in the branded cafes they were rumoured to be opening a while back I would be more interested.

A nice celeste mug brimming with hot chocolate might secure my next bike brand decision.