Ride to Final Stage of Tour Of Britain TFL Stage- The Docklands Newham 18th September 2010

I rode to and from the race with a total of 25 miles cycling. I got to ride a small section of the actual circuit before a marshall pointed us off into the arena where there were stalls and the race teams were getting ready. Got to meet a few :).
Unbelievable day out, free too lol..........These riders were reaching speeds of up to 30mph and did 7 laps of 12km per lap. Team HTC Columbia celebrated winning in style as Andre Griepel took third stage win of the tour  while Michael Albasini sealed the yellow jersey with an overall victory.

By Connaught Bridge

Tour of Britain 2010
Stage 8 Summary
The TfL London Stage 18 Sep 2010

Stage
1	Andre Greipel	Team HTC-Columbia
2	Lucas Sebastien Haedo	Team Saxo Bank
3	Roger Hammond	Cervelo Test Team
Overall
1	Michael Albasini	Team HTC-Columbia
2	Borut Bozic	Vacansoleil Pro Cycling
3	Greg Henderson	Sky Pro Cycling Team
Points
1	Greg Henderson	Sky Pro Cycling Team
2	Borut Bozic	Vacansoleil Pro Cycling
3	Koen De Kort	Skil-Shimano
Mountains
1	Johnny Hoogerland	Vacansoleil Pro Cycling
2	Richie Porte	Team Saxo Bank
3	Wout Poels	Vacansoleil Pro Cycling
Sprints
1	Michael Golas	Vacansoleil Pro Cycling
2	Richie Porte	Team Saxo Bank
3	Greg Henderson	Sky Pro Cycling Team

BHF London To Southend Bike Ride 18th July 2010

The big day arrived the 18th July 2010!!! I got up around 0545 hours and rushed around and cycled to Romford Rail Station for just before 0700 hours and bought a £3 single ticket to Stratford. I waited on the Platform and the train pulled into Romford and I got on the carriage where I met up with my Uncle Eddie and his friend Shaun.
About twenty minutes odd later we pulled into Stratford Rail Station, and then cycled a few miles to Victoria Park, Hackney,London. After a quick comfort break we crossed the start line at 0750 hours for the 59 mile ride to Southend on sea.
We set off passing through Hackney and couldn't wait to get out of London and its traffic and numerous sets of traffic lights and bad drivers( including those on their mobiles paying no attention to where they were going ,let alone realise they was thousands of cyclists coming their way!) .
Before long we passed into Chigwell and began to leave London behind, However this was the first hill to climb out of the London basin. We climbed a fair way up to the Maypole Public House which was the first official stop on the ride, however we didn't bother to stop here and instead we continued through Lambourne End and onto the next official stop in Stapleford Abbott's, for another comfort break, some bananas and cereal bars. I took the opportunity to refill my water bottle and we set off again down the road and turnt into Tysea Hill and onto Navestock side onto the Ongar Road and turnt right into Blackmore Road.

We rode on through various roads, until we came across Mountnessing and its windmill, Myself and Eddie planned to stop here but Shawn was a fair way ahead and had already passed the stop! So we continued further until we reached Hanningfield Reservoir another of the official stops. We had some more bananas and a energy bar. I had a comfort break and bought some Mars bars in the visitor centre( lovely place will have to come back for a visit!). This was just over the half way mark and we were already making good time.

we then set off again and headed toward HullBridge ,I began to get serious cramps now on some hills and  my legs were losing energy (think I may have to invest in some sort of drink that restores salts and minerals etc next time) then we passed through  Rochford and Canewdon before skirting pass Southend Airport and onto Southend where we rolled into Priory Park and the Finish line. I had to wait for a while to cross the line as Mel and the kids hadn't arrived yet!. I finished far quicker than I thought and made it in 4 hours 10 minutes and a average speed of 15mph!. I was impressed with that. Once the family had arrived I crossed the line to receive my medal and certificate and applause from the large crowd.

I treated myself to  Jacket potato and baked beans and then was met by mate Dan and his Dad Tim , who kindly treated me to pints of lovely beer and ice cream :)..... thanks!
My Uncle and his friend made their way home, whilst my family,my friends and I went onto Southend Seafront and spent time in Adventure Island before having Fish and Chips on the seafront be fore the train journey home. A total of 69 miles for the day and a sense of achievement and an amazing time.
Thanks to everyone and my riding buddies Eddie and Shaun!

Short trip from Romford to Chelmsford

On 25th May 2010 I left sunny Romford for a short ride with no destination in mind. I rode through Collier row up Upper Bedfords Road and turned left into Wrightsbridge road and cycled up into South Weald, where I stopped by the St Peters of South Weald Church.

I cycled a little further and stopped in South Weald Country Park for a comfort Break, lovely to see a field full of Bluebells.

From here I continued up the road and turned into Honeypot Lane and then onto London Rd A1023 and onto Brentwood High Street. The High Street has been cobbled and obviously cyclist aren't welcome here, how are we expected to cycle on that!!
I continued onto Shenfield Road and then Roman Road and stopped further up at Mountnessing by the windmill.

From here I ran on through  into Ingatestone and still following the Roman road I stopped in Margaretting for a couple of pictures.

From here I rode under the A12 and up the Three Mile Hill and onto London Road. I made my way into Chelmsford, where I made the decision based on time I would stop off in Chelmsford have a look around the Cathedral and catch a train back to Romford. Maldon will have to wait for another day. 25 miles in total for the day and took about 1 hour 30 mins to get to Chelmsford.

Short trip out to Tawney Common,Epping 7th May 2010

I left home on Friday the 7th of May 2010 for a short bike ride out. I made my way through Collier Row, up Orange Tree Hill and past Havering Atte Bower and its Church on the Green. I cycled my way along Stapleford road up the hill through Stapleford Abbotts and stopped on Passingford Bridge over The River Roding.

I then continued my ride , cycling under the M25 onto London Road and then turned left into Tawney Lane. I stopped further up this lane  by St Marys Church,  Stapleford Tawney  that looks Identical to the Greensted church. Unfortunately  its doors wasn't open for a nose around inside.

I continued my ride along the lane towards Stapleford Common.Passed fields of Rape and by the looks of it Cabbages.

 

As you could see heading out the weather wasn't too great and on top of the hills I had a headwind the whole way. I  arrived at Tawney Common and stopped for a couple of pics by the pond before having a Saracen IPA made by The White Horse Brewery in The Moletrap public house. I haven't been here in years and was pleased to see it was still open after all these years and now has a inside toilet lol. During my drink I had a call from my sons school saying he needed picking up as he wasn't feeling well. So I had to cut short my trip and rush back the way I came which thankfully was a little easier due to more downhill stretches and the wind now on my back.Was held up briefly by two pheasants that decided they wanted to wander across the road at their leisure.
All and all a nice ride of about 20 miles , average speed was 12 mph and highest speed of 30.4 mph.

3 peaks 4 Jack Brown

London to Southend Charity Bike Ride for British Heart Foundation 18th July 2010

I've now signed up for the 59 mile London to Southend Charity Bike Ride for British Heart Foundation on the 18th July 2010.Please follow the link on this site to donate or go to my just giving page.

Its starts at Victoria Park Hackney, going through Chigwell, Brentwood ,near Hanningfield Reservoir and then down to Priory Park Southend where it ends.
I will add a post on here when its completed. I am also agreed to do the three peaks challenge, which involves climbing Ben Nevis, Scarfell Pyke and Snowdon in 24 hrs in aid of the Jack Brown Charity. I will Post a link to a just giving page when I have one. Thank you.

Romford to Whitstable 16th March 2010 via bloody everywhere as I was constantly lost!

Not done much riding over our awful winter we've had other than a 2.2 mile to and from work (even that stopped during the few weeks of constant rain) and riding about at work. Oh and the Romford to Rochester ride. So with not much riding done for a while, I was apprehensive about my fitness and whether or not I could reach Whitstable. At the least its warmed up a bit and the sun is out!
I set off at 0930 hours on Monday the 16th March 2010 and made my way through Romford, Hornchurch, Rainham and onto Thurrock where I went all over the place trying to find the road up to the QE II bridge at Dartford (including through a industrial estate and found myself on Lakeside retail park!!)
I eventually found the road and made my way to the control booth at the bridge, where I put my bike on the back of a truck and was taken across the bridge to Kent.
I made my along the road heading towards Bluewater and then into Greenhithe, Swanscombe,Northfleet and then into Gravesend.
Then this was where I got lost, trying to make my way to Rochester, whilst trying to avoid the A226. I ended up on an Industrial estate by the water and had to turn around and go back a couple of miles the way I came. I ended up having to use the A226 through Shorne ,Higham and then into Rochester.
Once in Rochester I became lost again trying to find my way into Chatham, Gillingham and the road out heading towards Sittingbourne whilst trying to avoid the A2. I eventually found the road out after having to backtrack a little and made my way into Rainham Kent and the road to Upchurch.
I stopped by Upchurch church a 14th century church. The church is also notable for its very unusual 'candle-snuffer' steeple: an octagonal pyramid appears to have been stacked on top of a square one as if they were a couple of inverted ice-cream cones.

From here I made another big mistake on navigation and turned left instead of right! I ended up going through Lower Halstow and into Iwade! and thinking what the hell am I doing by the water , I shouldn't be anywhere near the water!! lol After a correction I made my way through Kemsley and into Sittingbourne. Sittingbourne what a crap-hole, couldn't to get out of here ASAP!!! I was through the industrial estate and onto Murston and Tonge. I stopped by an old mill a few miles outside of Faversham.

Once in Faversham I passed by the Shepherd Neame Brewery founded in 1698 and stopped briefly by the St Mary of Charity, Faversham Parish Church ..

I then made my way on to Goodnestone, Graveney and then into Seasalter.

I have many memories here from when I was a kid as my Nan had a caravan here on the Blue anchor site which sadly has now closed although the pub is still open. My legs started to really give me problems about now and I thought they were going to cramp up, I walked a small stretch along joy lane to rest them, I was also seriously out of energy!!.

I eventually made it to Whitstable after 5 and a half hours riding and 69 miles, I had a well earned lager and a jacket potato with beans to restore some energy.

I then made my way home via train which took 2 and a half hours!! train to London Victoria, Tube to Liverpool Street and then a train home to Romford and a short ride home. Got home just gone 2000 hours. What a long day and to make things worse my phone went dead in Whitstable !! think that was down to constant use of GPS on the phone and taking photos!!

Looks like it may be time to think about a GPS for the bike!!