2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 • 2013

2021 (15)

• Battle (SFA)

  My first club ride for more than three years..
  
• Villeplane

  A ride to climb high above the wonderful Gorges de Daluis..
  
• Cime de la Bonette

  I climbed the highest mountain pass in Europe and ended up on Mars...
  
• Col de la Sinne

  Another breathtaking road over the hills between the valleys of Le Tinée and Le Cians..
  
• Gilette

  Noisy main roads and tunnels followed by a peaceful ride in the hills
  
• Col de Tende

  An epic ride up the Roya valley and then a gravel climb to the Italian border at the Col de Tende, or the 'Colle di Tenda' in Italian
  
• Col de Brouis

  A ride through Breil-sur-Roya and in and out of Italy
  
• Col de Turini (from Sospel)

  I took on the Col de Turini for the second time, but using a different route up and a third route down. I think that's the lot now..
  
• Col de Laval

  A ride into new territory near Entrevaux
  
• Col du Trébuchet

  A ride around la Montagne de Gourdan on a greyish day
  
• D112a Balcony Road

  A hair-raising balcony road followed by an exhilarating gorge descent
  
• La Bérarde

  Amazing ride up the Vallée du Vénéon into the heart of the Massif d'Ecrins
  
• Alpe d’Huez

  Another iconic climb ticked off the list
  
• The Vale of Kent

  After 15 months of no serious cycling I'm trying to get back into it...
  
• Gorges du Verdon

  The Verdon Gorge has been on my list for a few years. Today I got to tick it off.
  

2020 (13)

• To the Med

  I finally made it to the Mediterranean! A ride to Sainte-Maxime on a gusty day
  
• Claviers

  Claviers and saxophones - a musical theme today..
  
• Salernes

  Tougher-than-expected ride ended with fraught race against a setting sun
  
• Snowy Sauze

  Plenty of the white stuff around today...
  
• Gravel at last

  Finally did a gravel route on my GT Grade. It was the track I declined on my Colnago last year
  
• Gorges du Cians

  At last I got to see the spectacular Gorges du Cians
  
• Sleet and Slog

  Climb to Auvare on a cold day, but aborted gravel section due to rain moving in
  
• Fitting New Disc Brake Pads

  Fitted new disc brake pads to the GT Grade to keep everyone happy
  
• Puget-Rostang

  First ride of the year. First ride on gravel bike. First hot sunny day of the year. Lots of things learned
  
• More Upgrades to Grade

  How I fitted a whole new drivetrain to the GT Grade and serviced the DT Swiss freewheel hub
  
• Gravel Bike Gear Ratios

  Gear ratios on the GT Grade are too high for a gravel bike. "Where's the data?" I hear you ask...
  
• Schwalbe Marathon Supreme 35c Tyres

  Fat tyres, angle grinders and weights
  
• GT Grade Carbon Ultegra 2016

  I finally bought a gravel bike - now all I need is some gravel...
  

2019 (31)

• Contre-Jour

  I've re-designed the site to make it easier to view
  
• Of Brides and Bridges (and Tramways)

  Ride to check-out the old tramway route to Guillaumes
  
• Gilette

  Gilette, the best a man can get! (Yeah, I know - different spelling - whatever)
  
• Gorges de Daluis and Col de Valberg

  The dramatic Gorges de Daluis followed by a tough climb
  
• Col de Turini

  Climb to the Col de Turini and beyond, until the clouds came rolling over
  
• La Madone d’Utelle

  Beautiful ride to see another Madone
  
• Col de la Madone (not that one!)

  Climb to the (other) Col de la Madone
  
• La-Croix-sur-Roudoule

  A quick ride to investigate La-Croix-sur-Roudoule
  
• Saint Léger

  A most amazing afternoon's cycling.
  
• Ascros

  Third aborted ride in a row! But turned out for the best.
  
• Auvare

  Two aborted rides in one day!
  
• Col du Trébuchet

  Slightly modified version of last ride
  
• Col du Buis

  Ride around la Montagne des Miolans
  
• La Molière

  Ride in the forest turned out more interesting than expected
  
• Saint-Nizier-du-Moucherotte

  Went in search of three maidens but they were stony-faced
  
• Canyon des Ecouges

  Climb of Route des Ecouges to the scary tunnel and beyond..
  
• Les Glovettes

  No churches, no clocks, no cows. Sorry
  
• Tunnel Mortier

  Went in search of two closed tunnels, and found one (open!)
  
• Col de la Joux Verte

  Went in search of a mountain lake, but found a building site Then some goats, Then another lake....
  
• Col de la Ramaz

  Tough ride in the Alps, not helped by my having a cold.
  
• Our Lady of Peace

  In search of a col but found Notre Dame de la Paix
  
• Vosges en vélo

  Climbing in the hills of the Vosges
  
• Black Forest Gânder

  Ride in the Black Forest on a warm sunny day..
  
• Ardennes Adventure

  Quick spin got a bit involved...
  
• Tunnel des Ecouges

  Less of a ride, more an exploration. Finally got to see the scary tunnel..
  
• La vallée de la Vernaison

  A ride down the beautiful Vernaison valley on a scorching hot day...
  
• Col de Rousset

  Hairpin-fest on a hot day...
  
• Col de la Bataille

  Ride to Col de la Bataille taking in a few other cols on the way
  
• Rencurel

  Aborted attempt to find scary tunnel
  
• Châtelus

  Beautiful peaceful climb, then great descent. 25°C. Amazing landscape!
  
• Presles

  Climb to Presles - first ride of my cycling holiday
  

2018 (9)

• October Surprise

  A ride to attempt to blow-away the blues...
  
• New Cassette

  After the chain-slipping incident in Devon I ordered a new cassette. And fitted it ....
  
• Exmouth Exodus 2018

  Me and Al once again took on this great ride through the night....
  
• Mission to Axminster

  Hills, rain and a heavy back-pack probably not a good idea the day before a big ride...
  
• Friday Night Ride to the Coast – Whitstable

  Second helping of FNRTTC with perfect weather...
  
• Shoreham

  New route over South Downs and an amazing end to the ride...
  
• Ideal Weather

  Another long ride on the hottest day of the year...
  
• Completing the Jigsaw

  Finally got around to filling in the missing piece of the Kent coastline..
  
• Mojo Rising?

  A ride with a sting in the tale...
  

2017 (2)

• San Fairy Ann Sportive 2017

  This year was even worse than 2016!
  
• Hanging on…

  ... in quiet desperation (is the English way)
  

2016 (16)

• Gone in 8 seconds

  Ride out to watch the demolition of the 800ft Grain Power Station chimney
  
• Another Twist(er)

  Not quite as Twisterish as last time!
  
• Twister

  A ride marred by bad surfaces, and saved by Twisters!
  
• 400k

  Extended 300k audax to meet one of this year's targets
  
• Mont Ventoux

  Finally completed this long-standing goal of doing the Bédoin climb of Mont Ventoux, non-stop
  
• Gorgeous Narnia (aka Gorges du Nan)

  A ride in the Gorges du Nan. Such a magical place, I prefer to call it Gorgeous Narnia!
  
• Cirque de Combe Laval

  Amazing ride in the Combe Laval
  
• Cyclotour du Léman

  Sportive around Lake Geneva...
  
• San Fairy Ann Sportive 2016

  The weather conspired against this year's goal...
  
• Hoo’d have thought it!

  Ride on the Hoo Peninsular with an interesting mechanical on the return.
  
• UCI Track Cycling World Championships 2016

  When my friend offered me a spare ticket to the UCI World Championships at the London Velodrome, I nearly took his hand off! Even better was that we chose to ride there and back.
  
• Kentish Killer 2016

  The clue is in the name......
  
• 2015

  Another amazing year of cycling that petered-out a bit towards the end...
  
• Freezing Cold

  Wet, very cold ride with a great group of club-mates
  
• Ramping up gradually

  Aborted SFA Saturday Inters Ride..
  
• Out of the rut

  My first ride for 10 weeks!
  

2015 (26)

• Hollingbourne Hill Climb 2015

  For some mad reason, I decided to enter the Hollingbourne Hill Climb this year...
  
• Oh, I do like to be . . .

  Long ride on a hot day
  
• South Coast

  Long ride to explore more of the south coast.
  
• Exmouth Exodus 2015

  Much drier edition of the Exmouth Exodus
  
• Dun Run Re-run

  A do-it-yourself version of the Dunwich Dynamo
  
• Beachy Head to Rye

  A ride to explore more of the South Coast
  
• Herne Bay

  Ride to the seaside on a lovely sunny day
  
• Buffalo Gals…

  ...go round the outside ... of the M25 - on the hottest day of the year!
  
• Pett Bottom

  Lovely lanes, nice pub and an interesting route through Ashford
  
• San Fairy Ann Audax 200k 2015

  Decided to ride to the start of a 300k audax
  
• Reverse Sandwich

  Reversed version of a favourite route from last year
  
• ¼ of a Million Metres

  250k + ride into Essex on a beautiful day
  
• 28mm Tyres to Rye Harbour (SFA Sunday Inters)

  First test of new 28mm tyres
  
• Blow-Up

  Ride to the site of an iconic scene from a classic 60's film...
  
• Chartham

  Beautiful sunny day to go for a ride... ... through a swarm of bees!
  
• Heathfield

  Went for a longish ride the day after a club run
  
• Bodiam (SFA)

  Nice club ride to Bodiam
  
• San Fairy Ann Sportive 2015

  A great club event with superb weather
  
• Chilham (SFA)

  Challenging ride involving lots of punctures and other failures
  
• SRAM Apex Front Mech.

  Fixed my front derailleur and other stuff
  
• Windy Whitstable

  Cold, windy, noisy, grey ride!
  
• The Hoo Peninsular

  I was going to call this post "Le Tour de l'Isle de Grain" until I realised that the Isle of Grain is just the NE-most tip of the Hoo Peninsular
  
• Brasted MkII

  Thought I'd have another go at Chart Lane..
  
• Brasted

  Thought I'd try the easy way up Toys Hill...
  
• Hernhill (No, not that one!)

  No wind, no sun, no nothing. Just grey. Grey sky, grey roads, grey trees. Just interminable greyness. And it was cold. And I got a puncture And it was so GREY!!
  
• 2014

  It was a great year, cycling-wise
  

2014 (50)

• Last Ride of the Year

  Last ride of a great year
  
• Ommadawn

  Ab yul ann idyad awt En yab na log a toc na awd Taw may on omma dawn ekyowl Omma dawn ekyowl
  
• Bredgar (SFA)

  First Sunday Inters ride for six weeks
  
• Padgham Corner

  Wet and windy ride started well but came to a painful end through some sort of knee problem.
  
• More mud

  Hilly route with lots of mud!
  
• Northiam (SFA)

  70 miles with wet feet.. and I punctured..
  
• Isle of Sheppey (Slight Return)

  Return to the scene of last year's adventure...
  
• Windy Day

  First ride using new Giro Air Attack Shield helmet...
  
• Mid-Sussex Hillier

  Audax number three
  
• 10-mile Time Trial

  My first time trial since I was a kid Things have changed in the last 40 years!
  
• Catford Hill Climb (SFA)

  A ride with the Sunday Inters out to spectate at the Catford Hill Climb
  
• Hengist’s Hills

  My second audax, featuring.... my being thrown from my bike!
  
• Groundhog Day

  Amazing misty ride along the cliffs... ...again...
  
• Samphire Hoe

  Journey to East Kent on a misty day...
  
• My First Audax

  Very hilly ride
  
• Head for the Hills

  Travelling light towards Chalkpit Lane
  
• Chalkpit Lane

  Another great climb up to the North Downs
  
• Ditchling Beacon

  The notorious climb featured in the London to Brighton...
  
• 200k (Mk II)

  I took on Ditchling Beacon as part of a 200 km ride
  
• 250k

  Friday Night Ride To The Coast plus some additional mileage = 250 km...
  
• Exmouth Exodus

  As the still potent remnants of Hurricane Bertha approached SW England, we rode through the night, straight into its path, armed only with rules #5 and #9...
  
• Essex Adventure

  Exploring Essex by way of the Gravesend - Tilbury ferry
  
• Travelling In The Dark

  Evening ride to the pub. At 17 miles, it's not exactly my 'local'
• To be continued…

  Aborted mission to exotic lands across the water
  
• Schwalbe Ultremo HT Evo HS423 Tubular Tyres

  My first foray into the world of tubs
  
• Reynolds MV32T Carbon Wheels

  Reynolds MV32T Carbon Rims
  
• 200k

  My first 200 km ride. That's 125 miles in real money!
  
• Rye Harbour (SFA)

  A big group of 16 of us rode out to Rye Harbour. Had a slow puncture in my front tubular.
  
• Birling Gap

  My first 100-mile ride. Well, 102.4 actually! The furthest I've yet been
  
• London Nightrider

  A beautiful night to be cycling around the world's greatest city. Warm, dry and calm. Raised £270 for British Red Cross
  
• 259 Miles in 4 Days

  Including two rides to Dymchurch and one to the Ashdown Forest
  
• Dymchurch

  Nice spin down to Dymchurch...
  
• Whitstable

  A ride to the seaside on a lovely sunny day. Only marred by an annoying rattle and an uncomfortable saddle.
  
• Greensand Ups and Downs

  A ride that had its ups and downs...
  
• Journey to the Back of Beyond!

  Another bloody stupid route through the back of nowhere!
  
• Toy’s Hill on a Windy Day

  Of Toys and Kings...
  
• Lidl Bike Stand

  I was amazed at the weight and quality of this stand for a mere £30 . . .
  
• Topeak Joe Blow Sport II Track Pump

  What's in a pump? (air I hope!)
  
• Product-testing Ride

  Testing out new shoes, saddle, etc
  
• Shimano R170 SPD-SL Road Cycling Shoes

  First impressions...
  
• Selle Italia SLR Super Flow 145 Saddle

  Light-weight saddle with large cut-out...
  
• Bluebells, Butterflies and Blow-outs

  ....and Blossom!
  
• Commuting

  Does commuting get any better? All this week I have been cycling to work at Tonbridge, a round trip of about 25.5 miles.
  
• York’s Hill

  Scene of the iconic Catford Hill Climb...
  
• Crockenhill

  York's Hill on a cool, grey day...
  
• April

  Beautiful Spring ride to Rolvenden
  
• Burgess Hill Springtime Classic

  Return to Cob Lane! And other delights of the Ashdown Forest...
  
• Hamstreet (SFA)

  Rain, hail and a broken chain...
  
• Blustery Brenchley

  Blustery Brenchley - try saying that fast, repeatedly!
  
• Spring is in the Air

  A beautiful day for riding around the Vale of Kent! My longest ride since my knee injury...
  

2013 (63)

• Christmas Floods

  Quick look at the floods
  
• Trosley Country Park (SFA)

  Wet and windy ride to Trosley Country Park, via the Medway Bridge
  
• Hawkhurst Lakes (SFA)

  Sunday Inters ride to Hawkhurst Fish Farm
  
• Hever, Eynsford & elsewhere

  Long ride to try and salvage my November total mileage...
  
• Four Elms 2 (SFA)

  Quick post about today's ride
• Wiggle Hellfire Corner

  Tough sportive more suited to mountain bikes!
  
• Return to Vigo

  Vigo Hill and some urban cycling...
  
• Wye (SFA)

  Cold, windy and wet ride...
• Cured Headset Rattle

  Further adjustment of stem finally cured rattle
  
• Hever

  Ride via Frant, Groombridge, Hever and Ide Hill
  
• Vigo and Birling or “The Day After The Storm!”

  Will I ever learn? Mud and detours.
  
• Vigo Hill
• Faversham (SFA) or “The Day Before the Storm”

  Very windy ride on a very mild day.
  
• Of Cassettes and Spacers

  Only read this post if you are trying to fit a 10-speed Shimano cassette to an 11-speed hub. Or if you are really bored!
  
• Challock (SFA)

  SFA club run to the glider club at Challock
  
• Ham Street (SFA)

  Good pace to Ham Street on a windy day.
• Michelin Pro 4 Service Course Tyres

  New "go-faster" tyres
  
• September

  A beautiful calm, warm September day
  
• Hawkhurst (SFA)

  First club ride with new bike
• Colnago CLX 3.0 di2 2013

  New bike
  
• Circuit of Kent 2013

  A 130k sportive on local roads
  
• Teynham Level and Luddenham Marshes

  Off-roading, sheep-herding and fly-catching. . .
  
• Going for it

  Trying to beat my previous best on the Laddingford route
• Knatts Valley

  In search of Lockyers Hill
  
• Lockyers Hill

  The lure of the double chevron . . .
  
• Wiggle Mendips Sportive 2013

  A 91-mile ride in the Mendips, or 146k as they say in the trade.
  
• Four Elms (SFA)

  We got faster the further we went
• 20+ mph

  Averaged over 20 mph
• White Hill

  A nice 50 mile ride on the Downs
  
• Burwash (SFA)

  52-mile ride to Burwash with the San Fairy Ann cycling club
• Greensand Hills (slight return)

  Down the ups and up the downs
  
• Hastings

  Rode to Hastings and stayed dry!
• Greensand Hills

  The ups and downs of the Greensand Ridge
  
• Saltbox Hill

  A hill I remember from childhood
  
• Epic Ride

  70-mile route with almost 6,000 ft of climbing
  
• Carter’s Hill (aka One Tree Hill)

  A tough 17.5% climb
  
• Rye Harbour (SFA)

  My third ride with the San Fairy Ann (SFA) cycling club
  
• Vanity Lane

  A steep hill, but not the steepest
• Off The Road Again

  An accidental ride through Godinton Park
  
• Hollingbourne Hill

  Hollingbourne Hill is a long, ever-steepening slog
  
• Second Club Run

  A very hot ride with SFA CC
• New Chain

  How I replaced my chain
  
• A New Challenge

  Move over Yalding and Barn Hill - East Hall Hill is the new kid in town
  
• Shades of China
  
• East Hall Hill
• My First Club Run (for 40 years)

  Club run with the San Fairy Ann CC
• Brenchley Again
  
• Voyage to Botany Bay

  That’s Botany Bay, Kent, by the way, not Australia!
  
• Über Granny Ring
• Le solstice d’été
  
• Yalding Hill Falls Again
• Hastings for Father’s Day
  
• Stonestile Lane
• Holdsworth Pro
• Giant TCR 3
• Giant Defy Composite 2
  
• Tour of The Isle of Sheppey

  Tour of Isle of Sheppey took me unexpectedly through the Elmley National Nature Reserve
  
• The Wiggle Surrey Sussex Scramble 2013
• Mavic Ksyrium Elite Wheels (2012)
  
• Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow Saddle
• Specialized Romin Pro
• Orbit America
• Off-road and Above-road!