Well one of the Team Grumpy riders, anyway! We walked over from Yeadon and down East Chevin to Otley. We got there about half an hour before the publicity caravan was due to arrive, and found the town was completely full. We located a standing spot on the steps of a shop and awaited events to unfold.The crowd was very good natured, and cheered mightily as each element of the Tour passed by. Particularly loud cheers seemed to be reserved for anything with a Sky logo, and for the British police motorcycles. We didn't manage to grab any of the goodies being chucked out from the caravan (I just get Haribo when I order from Wiggle!). The publicity caravan took ages to come by, then we had a bit of a wait before the race proper came by. The sun had come out, and the other side of the street was bathed in sunshine. On our side, we were still in shade, and blasted by a stiff (and rather cold) breeze.The riders came through only a few miles after the finish of the neutralised section in Harewood, but nontheless, there was a break with Jens Voigt (riding his 17th and final TdF) and two others.After all the riders were through, we filed back up the Chevin via the Cat Steps and back to Yeadon, pausing for an ice cream while we enjoyed the view from the top of the Chevin.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz_uFw4ZqqoOf course, the big news of the day was the crash in the finishing sprint in Harrogate. Here's a video from a spectator which gives a real feel for the speed at which these events unfold.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B96ldgjS_kw
Another long day at work left me tired and uncertain how well I’d ride at this club event. We did have a good turnout, possibly because it wasn’t a bad evening, with a light and variable wind.
Lining up at the start, as number 17, I was rather aware of traffic coming past, fresh out of the newly ‘upgraded’ roundabout behind me. As usual, my passage through the first roundabout was somewhat cautious as a result, with the next being quite straightforward. On up the drag to the roundabout where we turn left onto the dual carriageway, and I was pleased o feel rather good, keeping a decent speed up until the roundabout itself.
Another lovely evening saw a good turnout of 16 riders for this event on the Stony Stratford course. Sadly, we were unable to use the regular course due to roadworks, so we switched to an alternative. Instead of heading to a turn on the A421 via Beachampton and Nash, we headed out via Calverton and Whaddon, to turn at a different roundabout on the A421.This road isn't one I ride frequently, and it was the first time I'd raced this course. I found it a particularly technical course, with many sharp turns, and frequently dubious road surface, so I was off the tri-bars quite frequently (deciding discretion was the better part of valour!). There did seem to be cars parked along the course, which one needed to be aware of, but the most alarming event was when one of my racing colleagues took a turn rather fast and appeared to be heading for a head-on collision with me! I say "appeared" because his bike handling skills were pretty much up to coping with the turn.At one point I found myself on an unexpectedly sharp (though fortunately short) climb after a lengthy and fast descent, which reduced me to grovelling up in an entirely inappropriate gear. I'd actually be quite keen to have another go on this course, now I've got a feel for it.The event, 10.6 miles, was won by Anthony Batt with an excellent 25:43 - despite one of his tribar extensions coming loose. I was fourth with 27:40.Results at the NBRC website.
A lovely evening brought out a good field of 25 riders for this NBRC club event. I had a bit of a mad dash to the event after getting held up at a level crossing waiting for two trains to pass, eventually signing on after the first riders had started. Still, I got there and managed my first ride for a few weeks (cycling holiday, illness, then work commitments being collectively responsible).After I started, I found myself going pretty well on the main road through Chicheley. My modifications to the saddle seem to have helped solve the problems I'd had sliding forwards on the saddle. Sadly, modifications like this are UCI-illegal - fortunately, CTT sanctioned events don't insist on UCI-legality!Rounding the first turn after Chicheley, I was still pedalling smoothly, and it wasn't until the approaches to North Crawley that I began dropping speed. This little climb always saps my speed, and I didn't regain my momentum until I'd exited North Crawley. From there, it's the usual ups and downs of a sporting course, but I was hopeful of recording a '23' in this event. (I couldn't read the smaller numbers on my computer by this time due to sweat in my sunglasses!).I approached the descent before the finish squinting at my computer - was a sub 24 ride still possible? On the first bit of climb to the finish, all seemed possible, but I flagged a bit on the main bit of climb to record 24:11. Oh well, not too bad given my lay-off from time trialling over the last few weeks!Results at the NBRC website (I came 7th, in the midst of a stack of riders who'd done 24s).
This was my first time trial in some weeks, due to being on cycling holiday, returning with a cold, and then work commitments. Not only had this restricted my racing, but my training has been affected by that dratted cold. This event had been entered some time back and I was keen to have a first ride on the F11/10, a local fast course based on the A41 Tring bypass. The course itself is characterised by having a fairly steep descent about halfway through (see the Garmin trace below) which you don't have to come back up.In advance of the event, there had been some internet chatter about the road surface on sections of the course. Apparently the formerly smooth surface had been 'improved' by top dressing with gravel. In places, this was supposed to be dangerously deep in loose chippings. But according to others, there was no problems, just a rough road surface. In any event, Tony and I drove round the course beforehand, partly to have a look at the chippings and partly to recce the course's turns (the first turn is a poorly sighted double roundabout that passes under the A41).The event was actually two events - one with male, female, juvenile and tandem categories, and the other with another 150 riders! The HQ was in a pretty good cafe/sports place in Aston Clinton (The Hub), and after driving round the course, we parked near the HQ, collected our numbers and set the bikes up. A brief warmup later, and I was about to start on a slip road leading down to the A41. By this time a rather blustery wind had built up, though it wasn't clear what effect that might have.Setting off, I rolled down the slip road, building up a decent speed. Sadly this seemed to evaporate as I joined the A41 and encountered the dreaded road surface with chippings. This really had a bit of a negative effect on my speed - all of a sudden, I seemed to be struggling to keep things above 25mph! Well, it did get a bit better, but then I got stopped at the first turn. The marshal was doing an excellent job of indicating that there was traffic oncoming from the right. The line of sight isn't great, and I slowed to see what he was warning about. Sadly it was a line of about eight cars, and I ended up having to stop. Annoying, but the safer approach!Moving again, I got round the turn with no further traffic problems, and set off again onto the A41. Again, the lengthy patches of newly chipped road surface were horrid to ride, rather like riding a pneumatic drill, but I did see some decent speeds on the descent and beyond. The second turn isn't too bad, a roundabout that you approach directly on the road rather than by slip roads. I had a clean passage round and headed back up to the finish. This final section was really quite tough at times, with the blustery wind causing my speed to fluctuate quite markedly. I crossed the finish line with around 22:20 on my computer (actually 23:20, since I started my computer's timer when the guy in front started), leaving me wondering just how much time the hold-up at the first turn had cost me. Back at the HQ, however, I'd been given the time of 22:31, which annoyed me a bit but, hey, I hadn't done a stellar ride and I never go questioning the timekeeper. Tony P. did 21:53 and Geoff B. 21:57.There was much chat about the conditions of the road and weather, with most riders complaining about both. Apparently the wind direction wasn't the ideal direction for this course. And everyone hated the chippings. So, the usual time trial grumblings! Anyway, despite the road surface and the wind, the event was won on an 18.I regretted my choice of wheels. I'd chosen to ride a Hed Stinger 90 front and Corima disc rear, both with 20mm tubulars at 140psi. I think I'd have been a bit better with the H3 front and Hed-Powertap disc rear with the 22mm clinchers at about 110psi. I think those would have dealt with the rough road surface a bit better.
Having missed out on our cycling trip in 2013 due to pressure of work, the same pressures led to us making our cycling trip in Scotland somewhat earlier than usual this year. As it turned out, we probably had the worst weather on a Hebridean tour that we’ve ever done.
It was also our first tour on our newest tandem, the Thorn Raven Discovery. See my multi-part review of this tandem.
I have recently been playing around with using Raspberry Pi devices as streaming music players within a Squeezebox-based system. I've arrived at quite a comprehensive arrangement, which includes a Pi as a player:This is a rough illustration of my current implementation of a network of Squeezebox players linked to a NAS (GrumpyBox) running Logitech Media Server (LMS). It consists of several Logitech Squeezeboxes, a couple of iPads that are playback-capable through apps such as SqueezePad and iPeng, and the software Squeezebox emulater, SqueezePlay. To this I have recently added a Raspberry Pi running piCorePlayer. I also have a second Raspberry Pi running Squeezeplug, which has its own instance of LMS (not shown in the diagram).I've summarised the usage cases of the three setups I have tried in the table below. My opinion can be summarised as:
- If all you want to do is run a media player connected to an existing LMS, choose the piCorePlayer option.
- If you need to set up a media server as well as a player, choose the Squeezeplug option.
- By far the most versatile of the two DAC cards I've tried is the Wolfson DAC - if you want to use this, then Squeezeplug or the custom Wolfson kernel options are best.
- Both Squeezeplug and piCorePlayer work well with USB DACs
| Squeezeplug | piCorePlayer | Wolfson kernel | |
| URL | website | website | website |
| Usage | Convenient low cost LMS server and player | Low cost and easy to use player. Configured via web interface. | Wolfson supply a patched image supporting the DAC. Squeezelite can easily be installed and configured |
| LMS | yes | no | no |
| Guide | Squeezeplug wiki | I also described this installation here. Instructions at the piCorePlayer website | I described this here |
| Wolfson DAC | supported | not supported | supported |
| HiFiBerry | supported | supported | |
| Notes | 1, 4 | 2, 3 |
- May require powered USB hub if a USB-powered hard drive is used with LMS
- piCorePlayer is run solely from RAM. The Pi can be powered off without corrupting the SD card
- Also supports the Sabre DAC and the HiFiBerryDigi card though I’ve not tried these
- I set up a script for a button press to shutdown the Squeezeplug (and the Wolfson kernel) systems so the Pi can be safely powered down. See here.
When we first visited Lochedge Guest House in 2012, Richard Barrett, who runs Lochedge, mentioned he was just completing a book on cycling in the Hebrides. By the time we returned in 2014, the book was approaching a reprint, and there were a couple of copies in the B&B. After leafing through one of these, I decided to buy a copy on my return.[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="187"] Cycling in the Hebrides cover[/caption]Physically, the book is conveniently sized for stuffing in a pocket or handlebar bag. But its small size doesn't detract from its contents. In its nearly 300 pages, all of the Hebridean islands from Arran to Lewis are well-covered, along with a number of linking routes, many on the west coast of mainland Scotland, which enable the individual routes to concatenate into lengthy tours. I have on many occasions ridden on Mull, Skye and the Outer Hebrides, and many of the west coast roads, and I think Barrett's descriptions of these routes are accurate and well-described. I imagine that the routes I've not ridden so far will be likewise accurate.The routes include maps and (usefully) altitude profiles. The descriptions include useful factoids such as places to eat and where bike shops are (they can be few and far between), along with interesting facts about locations that pique one's interest.While the main part of the book consists of six geographically grouped chapters of cycling routes, they are book-ended by an introduction that give well-considered advice on planning a trip (including equipment, weather, maps, and suggestions for tours), and a series of useful appendices with summaries of the routes, ferries and so forth. I am particularly taken by the table of possible day trips to the minor islands (e.g. a day trip to Coll is possible from Oban on Thursdays in the summer, with a possible stay on Coll of 8 hours).Having read the book, I am now planning excursions to the southern and minor islands!Highly recommended, even to those (like me) who may have cycled extensively in some of the Hebrides before.Cycling in the Hebrides - Island touring and day rides by Richard Barrett Pub Cicerone Press ISBN9781852846435
The weather forecast didn't bode well for this event - not only strong and gusty winds of around 25mph, but heavy showers were predicted. Actually, I was indoors when the big shower blew over, and all I really had to deal with was the stupidly strong wind. Accordingly, I'd replaced my usual H3 with a standard road wheel before I rode over to the race HQ at the Marston Moretaine social club.It was quite clear by the time I arrived that my choice of front wheel was a wise one - even the standard road wheel was slightly twitchy. I hung around at the HQ for as long as possible before riding over to the start at the top of Brogborough hill, about 3.4 miles or so. Happily, it stayed dry, and I didn't have to wait for long before my start.Descending Brogborough hill was rather quick. I recorded a maximum of 73.2 kph, and I'm sure it would have been faster had I the courage to stay on the tribars all the way down! From there to the turn, it was seriously fast, mostly at 46-54 kph (well in excess of 30 mph), only easing back for a car at the first roundabout. Having said that, I don't think I was taking full advantage of the tail wind, as I can't really pedal at high cadence when in the aero tuck position. The marshal at the turn was warning riders of gusts across the roundabout. This advice was very good!Once round the turn, things took a turn for the worse. I found myself grovelling back to the finish, struggling to keep my speed over 20mph. I was consoled by seeing decent power figures, so at least I knew I was making an effort. On the return leg I was having trouble steering round the myriad potholes while steering the bike in the strong headwind. Eventually, the finish time keeper came into view, and I finished in a disappointing 24:19. Mind you, this was the windiest time trial I can recall ever riding.
By the time I rode up to Astwood for this evening's club event the conditions, while dry, had got decidedly windy. As a result, the leg out to Chicheley was really rather twitchy. But somewhat oddly there were places in that section where I found it quite sheltered. Still, the upshot was that once past Chicheley, my pace picked up with more than a smidge of wind assistance.The roadworks before North Crawley seem pretty much complete, with some nice smooth tarmac - though as a fellow competitor observed before the race, had it rained the greasy surface wouldn't have been much fun. The speed kept reasonably well through North Crawley and on past the University road. I pressed on, oblivious (nearly!) to the tugging wind. Just past the Cranfield turn, I started hearing a tick-tick-tick from my bike...clearly something on a wheel striking the frame (or the reverse)...Somewhat alarmed, I looked down at my wheels, and couldn't see anything amiss. Sadly, I was wrong. A few hundred metres further on, I was cornering when the rear tyre blew quite noisily. Somewhat gingerly I came to a halt. Ho hum! I set off on the trudge back towards the finish. Oddly, I could still hear the ticking noise...after a bit, I saw the actual cause of the noise and puncture - a half-inch nail protruding from the tyre sidewall. I doubt any tyre could have resisted that treatment.[caption id="attachment_2888" align="alignright" width="150"] The offending nail![/caption]Geoff, one of my fellow competitors, came to fetch me - and took me home so I could repair the puncture in a bit more comfort - for which I am hugely grateful! I do hope this doesn't mark the return of "Puncture" Bob!I presume the ticking noise was the nail protruding from my rear tyre and striking the frame. I've yet to have a look and see what damage (presumably cosmetic) my frame has suffered.
I maintain several other related websites:Wonderful Life is a blog covering my interests in atheism, particularly as they relate to biology and creationism.North Bucks Road Club is the website of my cycling club.Northwood Wheelers is a website dedicated to the eponymous (but now defunct) cycling club, of which my father was a member.Team Grumpy features stories concerning cycle timetrialling, particularly as they relate to 2-up team time trials.The Team Grumpy blog is Team Grumpy’s blog, and most definitely tongue in cheek.
The rather sunny conditions belied the actual temperature as Tony and I got our bikes ready to ride in this event. It was actually pretty nippy in the car park, but once we got racing, I found it quite comfortable. For this event, I'd got out my trusty old Corima disc wheel and paired it with a newly refurbished Hed Stinger 90 (I removed the yellow tub and the yellow and red stickers). I was rather pleased that the chain wasn't jumping on the new cassette I'd fitted to the Corima. I was rather less pleased with the astonishingly loud howl that emanated from my bike every time I applied the rear brakes! That will need a bit of attention, I think.The F2D/10 uses the A428 dual carriageway, starting on the old road and joining the DC at the Cambourne interchange. It turns at the Madingley road junction. Conditions were pretty good, and I found the outward leg pretty quick. I like the turn as it feels a fair bit safer than Caxton Gibbett. The return was a bit tougher, particularly at the interchange that we ride past - there seems to be a striking descent at that point!Annoyingly, the finish of this course is just off the dual carriageway: you exit up the slip road at the Cambourne interchange, and take the first left to the finish. I was just about to catch my minute man when a small car entered the roundabout and displayed all the driving courage of a minnow. This held me up a very little but enough to annoy!I finished with 22:14 (my best '10' time since the 2010 season). Tony finished with 21:41 - so I'm gaining on him! All in all, quite a satisfying ride.Davey Jones was out on the course photographing - here's a picture of me near the turn (with my skinsuit leg riding up!)
I regularly compete in the Duo Normand 2-up time trial, held in Normandy in the autumn. Associated with trips to race, we frequently take the tandem for a spot of cycling about the Normandy countryside.