Paul Carpenter's photos

Merselo Verona 1200km Randonnee

Old Roads and Drove Roads 200km

Here is a route for this weekends Old Roads and Drove Roads 200km audax.
The stand out part of this ride is a visit to Imber, a village in the middle of Salibury plain that was emptied of residents during the WW2 and was never allowed to be re occupied.
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outward Old Roads & Drove Roads 200km OutboundOld Roads & Drove Roads 200km Outbound return Old Roads and Drove Roads 200km InboundOld Roads and Drove Roads 200km Inbound

Highland trail route

Heading north
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Heading south

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May Flyer logo 2014

Strava test

Fairford to Southfields

Cornwall Tor Sportive

Four of the SWRC A group headed to Bodmin to take part in the Wiggle Cornwall Tor organised by Kilo to Go this Sunday. Simon and myself camped nearby on Saturday night with Trevor and his family who were down here for a few days. We were up early on Sunday and ready for the short ride to the HQ which was at the Bodmin Leisure centre. There we met up with the Simon Howard for the traditional start photo.

Alan, Trevor, Howard & Simon, but what will be the finish order?

Iwas still a bit chilly at 8am so I had arm-warmers on but we hoped for a sunny day not unlike the previous day.

A lot of riders had already left as we went through the start timer which for this event was a high tech sticker for your hat. What will they think of next!

We left the town and straight away hit the hills and the climbs were steep, 25% was not uncommon and I was keen to get some miles under my wheel. I felt good and rode with Simon for the first hour. But Simon is riding well at the moment and it wasn't too long after that Simon headed up the road spinning the pedals. We were heading for the north coast and hit it at Port Issac, where we turned northwards for the best section of roads and scenery of the whole day. Photos can't do justice to this beautiful coast road

We passed Tintagel, Boscastle & Crackington Haven before turning south wards toward the south coast. Half way was time for a a bite to eat and there was a great selection of drinks (energy and plain water) plus plenty of various cakes and bars. I couldn't eat quick enough as we were keen to get going but I managed to find time to take off my vest and store it in by jersey pocket. This turned out to be the best desision I made today as it was getting hot and I was over heating. by this time we had joined forces with a couple of friends of Nick Allen as they had all ridden the cent cols event together a few years ago.

Dave was strong and rode at the front of the group but Curtis did his turns too. We all reached the south coast at Looe together and had a couple of flat miles as we followed the river down towards the sea. After this it was a long slog of a climb as we headed back north and the last section of the circuit. I could feel my legs tiring and was getting dropped on some of the climbs until my legs completely cramped with 10 mile to go and I had to let the other ride off into the distance.

I reached the finish and can't remember climbing to the line in any event in bottom gear before. Simon was there a so was Trevor and family. I then got a call from Howard who hadn't had much luck, puncturing descending into Looe, and lucky not to come a cropper, & finishing the event in a recovery vehicle.