Ending 2016 with the Rapha 500

It was back in March that I lost my dad, having lost my mum less than a year before. Subsequently the Christmas period has been hard at times and there has been much reflection on the memories of years gone by - it being the first Christmas without both my parents. Many are saying that they are glad to see the back of 2016. I don't really subscribe to that view but 2016 has been a difficult one for yours truly and I look forward to 2017.

I have had some time off work over the Christmas period and this coincided with the arrival of a new mountain bike that is very different to the bicycles I own already. I have taken to it with more than a little enthusiasm and have enjoyed being able to tackle routes not considered previously. Perhaps having this new toy and wanting to keep myself occupied over Christmas I decided to have a go at the 'Rapha 500.'

The 'Rapha 500' was a challenge the clothing company of the same name made to customers back in 2010 to cycle 500km on the eight days between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. I have not participated in this during previous years but with a new bicycle and new possibilities wanted to this year.

Grand Union Canal

Lots of people have taken up the challenge but the weather has not been wonderful during the past few days with fog and ice on the road. More than a few have come off their bikes. My plan was a rather simple one. I would use my mountain bike as much as possible on surfaces that were best suited to its ample attributes  - off road.

Off-road easy on a mountain bike

In addition as I am an early riser, I wanted to be out and return home having done the necessary miles at the point where Mrs Orange and the Orangettes would be just about ready to venture out somewhere. This way I would not inconvenience them and would be able to have the rest off the day as normal.

Setting off each morning I only took the bare essentials. This consisted of:

• 1 x inner tube
• 2 x CO2 bottles
• 1 x CO2 inflator
• Small high pressure pump (with duct tape wrapped around)
• Tyre levers
• Emergency tyre boot
• Pack of pre-glued patches
• Light rain jacket
• 1 x multitool 
• Small amount of cash
• Credit card
• iPhone
• Front/rear lights
• Garmin Edge 820

I didn't bother with a water bottle as I knew that I would be able to find somewhere I could buy a cup of tea. A camera was also left at home as I had the iPhone if I wanted to take a picture.

One early Christmas present was a 'Quad Lock' case and bicycle mount for my iPhone. This has been brilliant and allowed me to see where I am on a map at all times, get turn by turn directions - if required - via google maps and work hand in hand with the navigational features of my Garmin 820. As a result I have actually been able to cycle into uncharted territory with greater confidence and without getting hopelessly lost. 

Knowing that I take too many photos when cycling as stated I decided not to take a separate camera. If I did I would be a great deal slower, so I rationed myself to a few photos using my iPhone. As the protective cover was on the phone most of the time to keep it from being splashed with mud - something you have to get used to when cycling off-road on a mountain bike - I couldn't be bothered to faff around with it.

Almost all of my Rapha 500 km's were off-road and on the Grand Union Canal. My longest journey was from my home to Little Venice, then back out as far as Berkhamsted and finally home. This was a particular favourite which I completed twice.

When passing Ladbrook Grove I passed Kensal Green Cemetery - where both of my parents had their funeral service.  As always when cycling alone ones mind races with all sorts of things. I could imagine my dads wheezing laugh if he had of been told of me cycling on a mountain bicycle along the Grand Union Canal for a small piece of cloth - you may or may not get in the post - to sew onto a cycling jersey or similar.

Kensal Green Cemetery

For a few days I cycled each morning to Richmond Park and back. While there I took advantage of its off-road Tamsin Trail. I found this very agreeable and will definitely return in the near future. The trail is just over 7 miles and completing a few circuits - if early enough to avoid dog walkers, joggers and the walking dead who can't quite make their mind up what they are doing - doesn't take that long.

Tamsin Trail

Another route I hope to do again in better weather was cycling to and from Windsor. I really enjoyed this and it also provided the best halfway stop in terms of shops selling tea, bacon rolls and cake!

When trying to make up the miles of an evening, I would complete circuits of my local area. I mainly did this on my Condor road bike but also enlisted my trusty P-type Brompton. In all I was able to cycle around 80 km a day. This combined with me getting lost and therefore adding a few additional miles in order to get back on track resulted in me completing the challenge with a day to spare.

My new mountain bike has clocked up the most miles towards reaching the Rapha 500 challenge and I have enjoyed getting to know the new addition to the stable. It is a brilliant bike and I can see us becoming close friends. My Condor road bike is just lovely on the open road, swiftly gliding over any distance and my Whyte is I suppose the the off-road equivalent. I also love the fact that I have done most of the miles on a mountain bike - not perhaps the image that comes to mind when thinking of Rapha!

I have enjoyed the challenge of doing the Rapha 500 on many levels and sure that in better weather my off-road adventures along the Grand Union Canal and Thames will be tweaked and added to. I think that this time next year I would also like to give this another go. My cycling has obviously wained in 2016 and I hope that 2017 will see me back on track somewhat.

Some of you out there have already entered into 2017 but I wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year. Keep cycling and make sure that you go on adventures of your own.

Tamsin Trail Richmond Park

Yesterday I was up bright and off for a cycle around and old haunt, Richmond Park. It seemed like ages since I had been there but it was to be a very different route to my usual.

Taking my mountain bike - which I have to report is more fun than I had ever expected - instead of my usual circuits on the road, I ventured to something called the Tamsin Trail.  This is a trail just over 7 miles in length going round the outer edge of the park. The surface is pretty good and it is shared by other cyclists, joggers, walkers and what appeared to be the walking dead (those without a clue where they were going or any sense that other people where walking, running or cycling past).

I got there quite early and my first lap was a great deal faster as there were fewer people about. I have not included any ride data for this as my journey started from a friends flat in South Kensington.

The second lap was a great deal slower as lots of people were quite rightly taking advantage of a lovely morning.

The trail itself is rather good fun and although I did see a few road bikes on it, I would say that it is definitely best for hybrids or mountain bikes. The latter were certainly out in force and there were as many uber expensive mountain bikes as there were equivalent road bikes on the road circuit.

At a few points on the ride around deer were quite happily munching away and blasé about humans taking pictures of them.

When I reached one of the cafes within the park I could not resist a bacon roll and a tea. These were consumed with much enthusiasm.

My new mountain bike and I are getting on rather well so far. I do like being able to cycle over the rough stuff quickly and being able to cycle quite happily to Paddington via the Grand Union Canal instead of take the tube has been brilliant. I have done this on a Brompton a few times during the summer months but this has been a quite slow and jittery affair. I am much happier doing this on big wheels and especially ones with such grip.

I do still like my Brompton bikes a great deal but they have been resigned to what I suppose they are intended for - convenient folding bikes for ones commute. For the moment at least the fun is definitely with my Condor road bike for distances/speed and my mountain bike for urban rough and tumble...

Map and ride data

Dirt stripe on a mountain bike adventure

Those who know me in a cycling capacity would probably say that I am a little OCD as far a my bicycles are concerned. I am not alone in this. You know who you are. I mean, my Condor road bike has not been allowed out in the rain and would not leave the house even if there the slightest prediction of precipitation. Yes, I like to keep my bikes clean. My new mountain bike has taken me to a state of being I had not thought possible. More on this later.

An early riser and one of those people who do not like to waste a day, I was soon up and out on my new bike. It was a little before 07:00 and it was still dark. I took my powerhouse of a front light - Exposure Toro - with me as part of my route involved navigating a woodland trail. Yes you read that right. Me on a woodland trail, off-road and in the still darkness of dawn.

I am glad that I brought it with me as proceedings would have been terrifying without. Strange little creatures ran across my path. Unknown flying objects, tweeted and flew as I glided past. One very small section has an extremely steep incline but even going halfway up the chainset it was a piece of cake.

Much of my route saw me cycling along the Grand Union Canal. I am liking this little route into London as it is traffic free and on this bike does not take too long.

I really like my new bike. On the open road it is very comfortable and although I am slower on it compared to my road bike, I am can still happily cycle along much faster than I can on any of my Brompton bikes. Once on a canal towpath, trail etc.., things are a very different picture and it is in its element. There is just no way I on these surfaces - although others I am sure might be able to - could cycle as fast or as confidently.

There were a few people out an about, mainly dog walkers, joggers, other cyclists and what appeared to be a few people walking to work. The vast majority of people I passed were very pleasant and responded in kind to greetings of, 'good morning.' Unfortunately I encountered a couple of walkers who walked shoulder to shoulder and would not give way to any cyclist or jogger. I watched this from afar and when I got close I simply cycled on the grass to the right of the path and shouted out, 'Merry Christmas!'

As I cycled along the sun came out and I spied the familiar and welcome sight of Trellick Tower. This is a Grade II listed building in the brutalist style designed by the architect, Erno Goldfinger. It is a love it or hate it sort of thing I suppose and I am in the former camp.

When I reached Paddington Basin which has been and is still being developed I stopped for a cup of tea bought from one of those coffee establishments that happened to be open and a few sweets I had brought with me.

Two states of men, one standing and the other walking by artist Sean Henry caught my attention for a few moments. I do like these but he does seem to be a one trick pony as much of this other work is along a very similar theme.

After taking these last pictures I turned round and headed back home. In all I cycled 27.93 miles at at average speed of 12.2 mph. The maximum speed was 19.5 mph which I did on a section of flattish road just after entering / exiting the canal section.

When I got home the rear of my jacket was covered with a splattered mud stripe and only then did it dawn on me that the seat of my shorts was wet. I will have to invest in one of those Ass Savers, although the wider version for mountain bikes.

My bike was filthy so before us all having to venture out I gave it another therapeutic clean. It is really strange but I still don't care what state this bike - or I - get into. It would seem pointless buying it if I did. I just love the fact that this bike really can go over almost any surface - however steep - and if it or I get a little dirty in the process, well that is half the fun!