Buckinghamshire Off Road Sportive - 83km

Here are some statistics, just in case you are curious :

- 81km (that's a piece of news !),

- 7H30 minutes in total of which pure cycling time was : 5H43mn

- 11km/h speed average for the whole event but a very solid 14.5km/h average when cycling.

- average pace was 4:05 minutes per km

- speed max : 55km/h

- height gain : 1154 metres

This is an average of 202 metres of climb per hour of cycling. 

Monday 2nd May - First Time to Ashstead

A Monday ride rather than Sunday it was Tom Hewitson and Ed Hems who left Chorleywood trying to blow out the cobwebs of a long weekend of good living.  Without the normal time pressure of a Sunday we headed to Ashstead and took the route through Latimer, Ley Hill, Ashley Green and Berkhampstead.  The road out of Berko into Ashstead we understood the meaning of a good hill and it was a strong climb up to the top but it was worth it.  Beautiful May day with green fields and yellow rape seed everywhere.  Awesome.  We took the turn into Aldbury and discovered another beautiful village setting up their village fete (and without a Cafe) and carried on into Wigginton and then down the hill to Chesham.  As we were so close to home (Seasons that is and not Chorleywood) we dug deep and kept going up the Hyde Heath road to the back of Amersham where we enjoyed the Red downhill slope into Old Amersham.  Tom won the downhill with a speed fractionally in excess of 45mph - the granary toast was calling.  After the ride Seasons deserved a Michelin star and it was hard to head back to Chorleywood.  Life is good and what a great morning.  38 miles.

Saturday 23rd April 2011 - Windsor Ride

A leisurely ride out to Windsor with Tom and Ed.  Along to Denham and the usual route out on a great morning.  Rather than go through Slough we skirted around and went through Datchet for a different arrival point which was equally impressive to see the home of the Monarch.  With a small wait for our usual cafe to open had the obligatory toast before coming back through Fulmer and Gerrards Cross.  Great ride in 2 hours 10 minutes.

Sunday 17th April 2011 - Training Ride to Windsor

After meeting at Christchurch at 7am it was sad that after going to Tom's gaffe to wait for him to mend his front tyre it burst on Blacketts Wood Drive again and he retired from action.  The rest of us continued to Chalfont Common to Gerrards Cross to Slough to Windsor at reasonable pace.  With Andrew Morley, Adam Kirkham, Kevin Watson and Steve Bailey it was a good pace and we arrived in Windsor at around 8:30 for breakfast.  Alas the coffee shop where Adam's professional carrot cake testing friend (seriously) had told us served the best carrot cake in South England was closed and we went to Costa for a quick coffee before heading back.  It was a sunny morning and the weather was really warming up as we headed back through Datchet, Iver, Pinewood Studios and Fulmer before going into Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Giles and home.  Quick pace and around 38 miles at 16 mph.

10th April 2011 - Dash out to Berkhampstead

After a wine fueled raclette evening with Tom and David and spouses we met at top of Green Street at 7:10am with Andrew Morley, Steve Bailey and XXX.  We decided to go out to Ashridge and went through Latimer and up to Ley Hill.  On the road there we had a temporary loss of Tom and David and with the luxury of mobile telephony we agreed to meet up with them at Chesham Prep.  Although it was a clear morning it was quite chilly and we kept going to Berkhampstead where we stopped in Costa Coffee for a chat.  As there was time pressure to get back we turned for home rather than going into Ashridge we wend south into Hemel and found a great single track road to Chipperfield and back.  Another good run of around 30 miles and home for 9:45.

Sunday 3rd April 2011 - Mothers Day Ride

Tom and David go out while Ed shames them and makes Isabelle breakfast in bed and adds to his already large quantity of Brownie points.

Sunday 27th March 2011 - Short Ride around Amersham

Tom was back in the saddle after his knee op and Tom and Ed headed into Amersham and around the back before a coffee and toast in Seasons.  The jet lag after the America trip, a night out before and the loss of an hour meant Ed was not in good shape and we leisurely cycled back into Chorleywood all the better for a ride out.

Sunday 13th February 2011 - Pednor in Reverse

Tom, David and Ed headed out to Amersham on a mild damp morning trying to get the best of the day before the rain started.  This was the last run for a few weeks due to Tom's knee op and skiing for the others.  To get back in time for 9:45 we decided to do the Pednor loop in reverse and we set a good pace through to Hyde Heath and to the top of Pednor.  There was a strong headwind coming into Old Chesham which cancelled out the incline and from Old Chesham it was the climb back into the back of Amersham.  Seasons breakfast was usually great and the most difficult part of the morning was coming out of the cafe as the rain (and cold) started.  23.5 miles at 13.5 mph average.  Hope all goes well on Tuesday Tom.

Sunday 6th February - Full team ride out to Pednor and Great Missenden

A mild winter morning with only the blustery conditions from making it perfect winter cycling weather.  Rendez vous at the Sett for a full team - David, Tom, Andrew, Adam and Ed.  We agreed on Chequers to make it back in time for Sunday morning commitments and set off.  It was a good pace down the hill into Chesham which was just shy of 40mph - a top speed for MAMILS.  Pednor never lets you down and in the light it was beautiful and from there we descended in Great Missenden.  To allow time for Seasons the road to Chequers was missed out for a detour into the church where Roald Dahl was buried and then along the A413 into Amersham.  The MAMILS stopped for a large slap-up breakfast in Seasons which the athlete of the team had to forgo so as to get back to take his kids to the Watford fun-run.  Great ride at a good pace for the climbs - 24 miles at 14 mph.

Sunday 30th January - Sprint to Deep Mill Diner

Alas our team President was tucked up in his sett this morning so it was just the Team Badgers Hewitson and Hems heading out to Amersham via the badly tarmacked Nightingale Lane (past Chalfont St Giles).  Due to the frost and icy weather we stuck to the main roads and took the Amersham bypass around to the A413 towards Wendover.  To allow time for the coffee stop we cycled only to the Deep Mill Diner at a good pace and nearly wavered on our loyalty to Seasons before seeing sense and heading back into Old Amersham for the obligatory granary toast and latte.  Our mate was again waiting for us in usual position.  Good ride and fine hangover cure for Ed at quite a good pace - 22 miles at 15.5 mph average.

Sunday 23rd January - Ed Puncture and Sprint to Seasons

The pace was good going out from Chorleywood and into Sarrat and then Ed spoiled it all with the first puncture in a long time.  How many men does it take to fix a puncture?  3 to get the tyre off - that is before trying to fix the puncture and then to pump up the tyre with a small and delicate (i.e. ineffective) pump.  Just as well that David mentioned the imperatives of the CO2 canisters securely zipped into his saddle bag as we cycled off.  A Wiggle purchase this week.  After the roadside maintenance was done it was a race against time to get to Seasons for the usual and then back in time for 9:45 am.  It never disappoints although our mate must have been fed up with the usual company (thanks Tom).  We made it back in time and were all the better for a 17 mile cycle at just under 13 mph average.  We are starting slowly and still in January - the improvement comes in March.

Sunday 16th January - First Pednor Loop of 2011

A mild January morning required a removal of winter gear on the way out of Little Chalfont.  The core Badger Racing MAMILS (and Ed) were joined by Andrew Morley who, as one of Chorleywood's seasoned professionals, pushed the pace.  To meet the Sunday morning time requirements, and of course fit in some granary toast and coffee in our favourite Amersham establishment, we opted for the Pednor loop (the left hand way).  We headed out to Amersham and into Chesham before the grade 1.5 (the other side is harder) climb to Pednor and into Hyde Heath before descending into Old Amersham.  As "Seasoned" cyclists our table was reserved in Seasons and our new mate waiting there to hear this week's cycle tails and yet again the skinny latte and toast (and carrot cake for the fit guy) did not disappoint - thanks for shouting Andrew.  A quick ride back along the A404 and we were nearly there for 9:30.  Enjoyable ride - 21 miles at just below 14 mph average.

Sunday 9th January - Frosty Amersham Circuit

On an icy morning it was careful on the roads down to the Sett HQ.  Is cycling really a good sport in January?  Concensus was rather than go for quieter roads which would be quite icy we took the safer option on the main roads.  Thinking about the obligatory stop off more than a scenic route we headed to Amersham and around the back circuit before a very enjoyable latte and toast in Seasons.  What a fantastic stop off location for cyclists.  A 9:30 return time forced us to cut short out investment discussions and head back on main road to Little Chalfont.  The first ride of 2011 and an easy start.  More impressive rides will be surely logged here in the Team Blog.