5 Iconic Climbs - Curmudgeonly Grumbling

Cyclosport have put out a perfectly cheery article about the Top 5 Iconic European Climbs. There are some nifty facts and cool photos and the whole thing is just fine. But I felt irritated by it, and had to spend a couple of moments thinking why. The selection is to behonest fair enough given that they are 'iconic, not 'greatest'. Alp d'Huez, check, Tourmalet, check, Ventoux, check. Whst about the a Giro? Oh go on Stelvio, check. A small voice for the corner of the room, 'What about the Vuelta?' Eyes roll, go on then stick in L'Angrilu to keep them quiet. My gripe is that like coming up with a list of 'most influential rock groups of all time' however you game it they always come up with the same answers. Normally these answers are based on a narrow time frame, and become true by repetition. Who is the greatest Opera singer? Maria Callas. Why? Because everyone says so.

The inclusion of Tourmalet and Ventoux are justifiable by their place in Tour history, and Alp d'Huez by its sheer ubiquitousness. Side note, leave the history to one side Alp d'Huez is not in the same league as Ventoux or Tourmalet. But why trot out the same old names again.  It is like having a literary blog telling us that Shakespeare was a great playwrite. Why not a list that can embrace climbs where the iconography comes from the era of the black and white photo? How about the Col'd Izoard there Coppi and Bartalli shared a brief truce and a bottle of water, or Puy de Dome where Anquetil and Poulidour fought, (almost literally) shoulder to shoulder. This Could throw up some unexpected new ideas for us amateurs, rather than another run through the already familiar.

Froome and Team Sky's plan B

Having been rather scornful of the value of a plan B Team Sky, like Omega Pharma Quickstep are faced with coming up with one inside the first week. Both Teams left out supposedly superfluous heavy hitters. How much would Omega have loved to have Boonan on the start line today now that Cav is gone? But Sky's omission of Wiggins will capture the headlines, in Britain at least, now that Froome has gone. On the steps of the Team bus  Brailsford looked less than convinced talking up Porte as a realistic substitute team leader. With a following wind he is a fine rider but its hard to imagine that tonight Nibali and Contador are not quietly relieved.

However, given his clear form just how bad must Wiggins be as a team mate that it was safest to leave him out, especially given that he does have recent form on the cobbles. Its debate, that some if not all, will come out diminished. Either Brailsford has made a huge error of judgment, or there was something so toxic in Froome, Wiggins or both that made having them together impossible. 

Here is my guess. Froome is a self made man who resented playing second fiddle to Wiggo, who I suspect he does not really respect. Wiggo, a product of BC, happiest with the individual effort of the TT and pursuit, a man who appears emotionally vulnerable, needs a lot of support around him. My guess is that he has also cheesed off some of the more senior members of the squad, such as Thomas.  However he is more charismatic and popular with the public. Brailsford would have convinced himself that a team needs to be more than the sum of its parts, that a whole sans Wiggo was a better bet. He was wrong. Froome has been vulnerable to crashes in the Tour run in and has had his own health problems. With a stage on the Roubaix cobbles so early it was a huge gamble he did not have to make. Sky have made wrong moves before, but this is far more profound. It brings into question their fundamental strategy and people management. 

What it does mean is that the riders that remain should be liberated to do some harm on individual stages. The team slogging away to put Porte on the podium (a long shot) feels a drab choice, riding in the wheels of Bert and Nibbles. 

This Land is our land for cycling

Many cyclists in the South East will remember a month or so ago that a group of residents in the New Forest started accusing riders of all manner of things (mostly being middle aged and wearing Lycra) and started a campaign to get a Wiggle Sportive curtailed. We have also heard various complaints from Surrey residents about closed road events and their view that their neighbourhoods are being treated as a race track. Even having the tour coming through seems to be cause for unhappiness to some.  While as a cyclist it is pretty clear which side of the fence I am on some recent debate about the housing shortage rather hardened my view.

A number of commentators have suggested that the London housing shortage is in part the result of the greenbelt. Land for housing is at a premium because planning rules that protect the greenbelt ensures a shortage of supply. This means that we all pay higher prices for housing because of it.  Now, I am not about to suggest I want the Surrey Hills or the Ashdown Forest turned into a new town but there is an interesting point at stake here. We, the masses of city dwellers are paying a premium for housing in part because there is a consensus that a greenbelt is a good thing. The implication is that the greenbelt does not only 'belong' to those who  have the good fortune to live there, but to mangle the words of Leon Rosselson, 'to be a common treasury for all.' The roads, the paths and the hills exist in their wonderful greenness because we want to retain this playground for walking, riding, cycling, or simply for the sake of the environment. But it is a gift we all pay for in sky high prices for our cramped urban homes. For those fortunate enough to be able to live in this place, accepting a few closed roads and making a few allowances seems a small price in exchange.

Tour Wessex - On reflection

Last year a friend posted on facebook 'Tour of Wessex = Rain' and to be honest the weather has been one of the defining features of this three day mega sportive. Covering (officially) 335 miles heading north, south then west from Somerton its up there with the best Britain has to offer, and one of only a handful that actually attracts riders from overseas to ride it.

It has progressed a long way since I first did a couple of stages in 2007 as part of my training for the Marmotte. One senses that Pendragon Sports have got this down to a fine art.  Now as Shimano support vehicle is on hand to deal with practically any mechanical problem. Back in 2007 one of my friends was taken out by a broken chain, the other by a broken spoke and there was not much else for them to do than wait for the broom wagon. Now the feed stations are well stocked with decent grub (chicken tikka rolls work surprisingly well to take away that fruity clag of gels), back in 2007 on a freezing day in a down pour all they could offer was some energy drink at one feed. This time when riders got into trouble, as trivial as a puncture or as serious as the guy who went down with a suspected heart attack, trained motor bike marshals were there quickly to assist. In 2007 I remember us stopping to help a guy who had run out of tubes, was so cold he couldn't change his tyre anyway. One friend still describes that has is worst day on a bike. I also have a memory (possible false) that the only food available at the end of the stage were some cakes made by the WI. At that point more sweet stuff was a long way short of the mark. Now there is a good range of stuff from bacon baps to recovery shakes.

I have been back a few times, I completed all three days in 2008 but if I recall the final stage was cut to 100 miles because of rain and high winds. This year the first day kicked off in that fine tradition, but the second was dry and though rain was threatened for the third day it stayed away long enough for us to finish. All three stages are great in their own right, though in terms of scenery the final day is the treat, if you are able to enjoy it. A gently rising run-out take one the Quantocks (where I am convinced they added an extra climb in that wasn't on the route card) before taking us along the coast through Minehead and Porlock. While the brutal 1:4 climb out of Porlock is the 'classic' challenge of rider versus road, the ToW is sensible enough to use the Toll road up toe Exmoor, offering wonderful views out to see as one goes over the switchbacks to the top. Then out onto  the rolling road on the moor, followed by steep descents and sharp climbs. At the final feed there is a sense of having beaten the beast, ahead is 30 odd miles of more or less down hill to the end.

Clearly cycling is starting to get some serious traction with women. Given that this is long and tough event the huge increase in the number of women for 2008 is obvious, and they weren't doing the short route. I know because they were passing me. There is some kit that must be wonderful when out on the sunny roads of Southern Europe, it looks both more revealing and less attractive on a wet Saturday in Wessex when on dirty gravelly roads. And I am sure the 'Spiderman' cycling kit with matching jersey, shorts and leggings seemed like a great idea at the time but.....

The event brought home how for cyclists our playing field is the world, with all that can bring. The different landscapes, terrains offering endless variety and challenge, hard slogs and exhilarating thrills, and just stuff happening. 15 miles from home on the second stage we were stopped by cattle being moved across the road, this lasted abut 10 minutes, and apparently happens every year at this point. Like getting caught at the level crossing on the Paris-Roubaix, the world goes on around us.

Back Home? Addiscombe 25 27.4.14

Sunday's Addiscombe 25 was run on the G25/53 out of Broadbridge Heath. If there is any course I consider home this is it. It was where I did my first open TT (and went off course, turning back only when I saw the M23 slip road), and where a couple of years later on a lovely September morning  I went under the hour. If the rumours are true this course will not be around for much longer. Development in the area is happening apace, with new roundabouts and slip road appearing. Along with this major road works will be kicking in from the summer. All progress I guess but I will be sorry if the G25/53 is a casualty.

Not that the course exactly spoils us. Yesterday was wet with a wind that just seemed to never do you any favours. With lots of standing water it was as Bashers said, a day of 'tiptoe round the roundabouts' or risk ending up like Dan Martin in the L-B-L. However it nearly didn't happen for me. I got up in time, and was sitting reading the paper and eating breakfast. I checked my watch, 6.15, maybe should start thinking about leaving soon. It the dawned on me,  I was off at 7.32!! I reached the hall flustered at 7.10. Addiscombe's Andrew R Green kindly pinned my number on as I signed the start sheet. I the end I got a mighty 8 minute warm up riding to the start.

Bash was already on the road and Paul King was due to go off a little later. The upside of tearing around late was that I did not get the chance to brood on the crappy weather, and just got on with it. A couple of days before, Des at Cadence had worked on my position and warned me to expect it to feel a bit strange, but once I had finally warmed up and got into my stride it felt pretty good. I could have dug a bit deeper, but my 1.5.20 marked a bit more progress.

Paul King came in with a 1.4.47 but top dog was Bash with a 1.1.12, and excellent time on a tough day. Pete Tardros won well with a 53.49.

Circuit of Kent - OPCC Club Sportive

Not sure whose idea it was. I think it was Northern Jon who suggested it one night over a beer in the Blackheath Harriers. But after a big turnout from the Old Portlians in the Castle Ride, Sunday’s Circuit of Kent was designated the ‘Club Sportive’ for 2013.

The Circuit of Kent is ideal for this kind of things. At 130kms, (with an 80km option) is challenging enough for the fast boys without being a masochists’ slog fest. It has been up and running for years and I believe has been attributed as being the inspiration for many British Sportives. Run by the Sevenoaks Rotary Club to raise money Macmillan and Hospice in the Weald they have got just about everything right.

Having well stocked feed stations in one thing, but at the Circuit of Kent you can tuck into cheese baguettes, soup and Bakewell tarts at the finish. This is a big plus in my book. I had one particular grim experience on a well know multiday sportive a few years ago. Having rained solidly all day at the finish we were soaked and frozen. All they had were some very pretty, but very small cakes made by the local WI.

Anyway, back to the Club Sportive. The idea was something that would bring the club together, on the start line at least. It was great we had riders for whom this was their first sportive through to road racers. We had guys who have been in the club far longer than they care to remember, and guys who joined this year. In no particular order it was great to see Alan, Dave T, Oz , Kev, Paul C, Say, Peter, Rosie, Iain, Julian,  and Austen there together with friendly fellow travellers Joe McRae and Alex Le Bicycle. It is just a shame that the event clashed with the SCCU 25, or there would have been and even stronger contingent.

Any talk of riding round as a club was clearly only in jest as the fast boys buggers off up the road from the gun. That my friend is the Old Ports way.

I have ridden the event half a dozen times, normally in sunshine. Yesterday did bite back with some cold autumnal rain but we were all counted in by the time it really tipped down. But still a cracking event.

Special mentions for Alan Dock. He is quite new to the sport; more accustomed to the pace of the Saturday club run, but finished the 130kms in a very respectable time. Also, mention to the Iain Hawthorn my 2 up partner. Despite having a 12 hr in his legs from Thursday he was not shirking as we worked together along the lanes. Great ride.

Strava Virus

In +The Guardian today an article highlights a case from San Fransico where the family of a dead cyclist tried to sue Strava. Basically the case was the using the app made him ride recklessly. They lost but their argue ent has a superficial allure. You create urban courses (segments) where people can  compete to set a record time. People may then risk life and limb to break these records QED Strava is a menace.
The Court, accepted Strava's case the each rider takes responsibility for their own safety. But there is another dimension. Strava is simply providing a fun platform to do something I would guess every rider has done. Since the moment a victorian decided to bring together the pocket watch and the bicycle riders have tried to beat their best times. It is what we as human animals do. If somebody falls off in the process it is wrong headed to blame the watch.

A Women's Tour de France

I hope that Brian Cookson's public support for a Women's Tour is not just part of his campaign to be President of the UCI. Somebody of his stature throwing their weight behind it after the Tour's rather sniffy response could be a breakthrough. On the track, representing their countries Women riders have made huge leaps in recent years, and when given equal billing on the road, like at the Olympics deliver the goods. In Bejing Nicole Cooke delivered a win in a thrilling race, while in London Armisted only came up short to Vos, a true great.

But when it comes to professional road racing Women riders are getting a lousy deal, and as a result the fans are missing out. The shameful disparity in the incomes of riders was revealed when Cooke highlighted that as Olympic and World Champion she was earning £50k a year.

If you want to watch Women's road racing on TV well fat chance. Oddly because of ITV's coverage of the Johnson Healthtec series you have a better chance of seeing women riders in this slightly low rent domestic races than competing in the big World Cup events. ITV4 and Eurosport show little interest in covering these races, but at least there is a Women's Tour of Flanders. When it comes to the most famous and most prestigious cycling event in the world, nothing.

It was probably a bit rude door stepping Christian Prudomme on this issue when he came here to promote next years Grand Depart in Yorkshire. But his response, basically its all to hard, was weak. The sport has a duty to tackle this inequality, a duty most have shirked so far.  

National Pride - Oh no not here as well

I am no stranger to national allegiance in sport. In my teens I would even troop off to Wembley to watch Ron Greenwood or Bobby Robson’s England Teams draw or lose to the likes of Greece and Denmark. I would watch in wrapped agony on TV as Viv Richards humbled the English Bowling before the Windies bowlers put our batsmen to the sword. I sat through every Olympics since Brendan Foster fell short in 1976 rooting for our girls and boys. With tear filled eyes turning and asking that question 'Father, is there a sport we aren't completely crap at?'

It was the Tour de France when Lance was set to break the record number of wins that I got interested in cycle sport.  I had just bought a Ridgeback Hybrid and was congratulating myself on completing a 16 mile ride to Bromley and back. Feeling like a proper cyclist I bought a copy of Cycling Weekly. It was the pre Tour Edition full of the stories of the previous riders who had managed five wins, and a review of the teams.

With the help of ITV2’s coverage, always nicely aimed at the uninitiated, for the first time I started to understand how the race worked. How the teams worked, that is was not just a mob of blokes hammering up the road seeing who could get to the end first. Well it is and it isn’t.  I started to understand the difference between the GC contenders and the Sprinters. Lance was an easy pantomime villain, Tommy Voeckler battling away, Jan Ullrich sliding away. All wonderfully free from any national pride issues. There were no British riders. Not even a humble domestique. There was no British hope, I was completely free to get behind the riders I liked and wish ill up those I did not.

It was Cav who started spoiling this, but it was easy enough, Cav is the kind of rider I would have enjoyed even if he was Belgian, Spanish or French. The flamboyance in Victory and defeat. Still there was no threat to the GC, Millar and Wiggo were visible but not contenders, the sharp end of the race was in the hands of others. Then it wasn’t. Wiggo came 4^th. Then Sky appear, planning to win with a Brit. It started to feel like every other fucking sport again. My ability to enjoy the simple beauty of the racing being undermined by national sympathies.  Then Wiggo wins, then Froome is the favourite and I’m standing on Mount Ventoux holding a flag.

I had always found the throng of nationalities on the mountains part of the thrill, those strange Basque flags, the Lion of Flanders. While I suspect those regional flags probably have some political significance I am not required to acknowledge this. Its just part of the spectacle.

But standing on Alp d’Huez I found myself opposite a man wearing a bikini because he had lost a bet. Wearing in a Union Jack like a Sarong he wiggled his arse around while his girlfriend, in a Ginger Spice dress asked the men in Orange where they were from.  Their friends enthusiastically engaged with (harassed, annoyed, intimidated) anyone passing while tackling bottles of beer and red wine. A club mate suggested we should have pretended to be German.  I concluded that national allegiance is much more appealing in a language one does not understand.

Lukewarm response to Froome's TdF win

With the dust settling on both the Tour de France and the Old Portlians own mini tour this is a good chance to share some thoughts.

I would say that despite a fair bit of coverage last weekend by today the Chris Froome’s Tour win has safely sunk below the surface of media attention. Even in the immediate aftermath of his win a good few commentators were asking why in comparison to Wiggo last year, Froome had not captured the public imagination.

On one level this does seem odd; the manner of Froome’s win was at least as deserving. This was a far tougher parcour. Wiggo’s make time in the TT’s and defend in the mountains tactic would have been wretchedly exposed this time. And in 2012 the Sky team worked like clockwork throughout while this time they often looked brittle, Froome on several occasions is left to fend for himself. Beyond this Froome rode an attacking race, making time in the TT’s but also taking his opponent on in the high mountains in the process claiming some fantastic stage wins. To win a stage at the top of the Ventoux while in yellow in itself a huge achievement.

But then why the slightly downbeat reception.  Well, being the second to win is never quite the same as being the first, but it was the 100^th edition so special in other ways. Some have pointed to Froome’s ‘Britishness.’ Born in Kenya and educated in South Africa he doesn’t sound like he comes from Kilburn. While Wiggo was born abroad, he did grow up here and cut his teeth racing in Kent.  But to be fair we have learnt to love plenty of ‘English’ Cricketers who have more than a hint of somewhere else in their accent.

Others have suggested it is because he lacks Wiggo’s charisma. Now, I have to say I am something of an agnostic when it comes to Wiggo’s charm. A taste for Dadrock, Britpop swearing and sideburns does not maketh a personality. While some seem to appreciate his geezerish banter, it often seems crass to me.  Froome’s measured poignant and humble victory speech was appropriate to the occasion, when Wiggo’s raffle ticket ramblings fell a long way short. That said cool headed professionalism is not always a short cut to the nations hearts. David Beckham could become golden balls not just because he took descent free kicks. Disgrace, allowed him to seek redemption. A far more fetching story.

But for me another factor is surround success. For those old enough to remember, it was amazing how the British public could learn to care about ice skating when Robin Cousins or Torvill and Dean were our only medal prospect in the winter Olympics. On the Ventoux and Alp d’Huez there was no shortage of British fans, and cycling is a sport on the rise. But that is from a tiny niche base. We have few if any ancient grudges in cycling, there are no old rivalries that make defeat sting and victory sing. It is important to remember that last summer the Tour finished before the Olympics but after yet another disappointing England performance in football and yet another Wimbledon where our guy did not quite make it. This year it has arrive like the small chocolate with the bill in a curry house. Massive wins for the Lions, some dominant showings in the Ashes and that so long yearned for victory in Tennis has given the wider sporting public plenty to fear on. No need to dwell too long on something a little bit foreign. If the Aussies has sent the Lions packing, and England were following on in the Test, and Murray was once again rueing what might have been maybe we would have clung more passionately to this victory.

Reg Barnett - Nicest Cycling Story You Hear This Week

The smiling man in the Photo is one Reg Barnett. For those who are not big on their cycling history Reg was a Pro racer in the late 60's and 70's excelling in the track sprint. Nowadays he enjoys a slower pace of life, taking in  the odd pint at his local in Shoreham. As well as a bike racer he also built his own bikes and happened to mention this to one of his friends.
A few days ago he arrived at the pub to see something strange standing in the fire place. There in all its glory was one of the bikes that carried his name. Inspired by his story his friends had scoured E-bay and tracked down one of his creations and bought it as a surprise. The smile on his face will tell you what it meant to him.

Cycle Sport on TV

ITV4's Tour Series is coming towards its conclusion for 2013. Catching up with the last round night I was struck by a coupe of things. One that it has now become a well established event in the Calendar. But also how it highlights the huge difference in the treatment of Men and Women's racing.  For the male side of the sport the tour series is a fun slightly low rent side show in terms of coverage. ITV4 and Europort show the real stuff too, the Classics, Grand Tours. But for the Women's side, the Johnson Health Tech series is just about the only televised road event. What flows from this is the whole chicken and egg thing of  without coverage how can it attract sponsors, and grow.
Nicole Cooke's retirement interview exposed the massive divide in the sport. She was for a while the best in the world, but at her peak was earning about £50k. Ok cycling is a long way behind golf and tennis in the big money stakes but this is a long way behind what Wiggo and Cav.
But what the Tour Series highlights is that the women's sport generates some great racing that can share a stage on something approximating to equal terms. For me Hanna Barnes has been the standout rider. So much so that it stands as a J'Accuse to the sport as a whole. Why don't Team Sky run a women's team? Why don't the UCI demand more of its members. And for the Broadcasters, there are women's versions of the classics that are contested fiercely, but on Eurosport and ITV 4 you wouldn't know. It is a long time to the next Olympics, the only chance for Women racers to ride one level road with the men. Something needs to move on. 

The Joy of Audax

Yesterday I took part in the 'Ditchling Devil, a 200km ride to the coast and back run by Audax UK. For those unfamiliar Audax is a curious cycling sub set imported from France. The idea of an Audax is to complete a course (normally very long, 200km is a short one) within a set time limit. It is not meant to be a race. To emphasise this point until recently they would insist that all bikes had full mudguards.
In practice an Audax ride is like a cross between a Sportive and a treasure hunt. Therein, until recently lay the problem. Unlike Sportives there are no signs. Riders have to navigate themselves using a route sheet, collecting stamps on a card to prove they reached various points on the course. So for the novice there are two options. Do what I did in 2006 at the Tour of the Surrey Hills, stick  the route sheet in your jersey pocket and try to hang onto the wheel of somebody who knows the way. This resulted in me spending too much time in the company of a man who looked like Robinson Crusoe in a hi-viz vest. The only alternative was to fix a clipboard to your handlebars like a Cabbie doing the knowledge and follow the directions. But this is a pursuit revolutionised the arrival of GPS! Suddenly it is no longer the preserve of the eccentric. Just load the route onto your Garmin and go.
What this then reveals are some wonderful routes, and testing events run with a generous low key enthusiasm. On the Devil the feed at 65 miles was in somebody's back garden where they dished up pasta and cups of tea.
To their credit Audax UK have welcomed the GPS and are reaping the rewards. Yesterday's event had a full field, that included a decent cross section of roadies. The old school were there but also lots of younger riders up for the challenge. There is no chip timing but in this Strava age does that matter quite so much?
However, to the man in trainers at the start with a route sheet bungeed to his bars, I hope you were wearing bib shorts under your jeans. 200km of denim on saddle is not something I would wish on anyone.