Obsessive Cycling Disorder from OTT

UPDATE- latest Sportstracker Link

With holiday season here only two of us made the sedate ride of 17 miles through the villages. Paul (aka Moggy) and I left the mill and managed the lowest pace of the year (7.5mph). We headed towards Kimpton Woods where we did our good deed for the day and reunited “molly” the spaniel with her owner. We avoided the Rocky Road and sped through Whitwell up Water Tower Hill in anticipation of an early pint (or half as it turned out). With the infamous Sportstracker app on my Nokia 5800 still in limbo between BETA and FINAL version I am unable to upload the route, however give the KML file a go in Google Earth* and try the great “Flight Simulator” option from the tools menu - its fantastic (*open Google Earth first and then import the file)- fly over the villages. - Rich

KML file for google earth 

What a great turnout - 13 riders left Batford Mill with several newbies joining the ranks of the keen and mad leaving for the planned route towards Sandridge. Thanks to all the new faces who came along for an untypical OTT ride (unplanned and hitting new trails). After my comical attempt to fall off and remove two teeth from the chainset we headed towards Nomansland Common. I have posted some of the route as i had to leave before the ride had completed with a bust rear tubeless tyre (see GEAX post now updated) and a questionable bb. Our Newbies including Clay, Anna, Derick, Anthony etc probably wondered what all the fuss was and as a result the early pace was a lot less than normal.

John’s day had started also with a blown tubeless (there’s a message here), however this was at 8.45 when the OTT support vehicle (me in the Touran) went to collect him and drop of at the Mill - At around 11.30 on the ride John had a spill grazing his face and leg, nothing a Pint (?) couldn’t resolve later in the Amble.

It was great to see such a turnout both on the Ride (thanks to James for the tour) and also in the Amble Inn after. With such a large group it was going to be difficult to to ensure the pace suited all, however I hope it does not put anyone off coming again. I am glad the sight of the motley OTT regulars ( i can’t be rude about other newbies until you have been out a couple more times) did not put off Anna from coming along - It looks like Craig and James are going to have some competition on the hill climbs! or any of the other newbies…

I hope I have not missed anyone else from the list of names (Kevin, Martin etc) so feel free to add your views/stories to the board!

OTT - Rich 1, Tim, James, Mark, Dave,Tom,

      click on pics to enlarge

Garmin (Full route from Clay) - click here

Garmin (Route from Tim ) - click here 

Nokia Sportstracker Route (incomplete) - click here

Having a nasty off last month encouraged me to look at tubeless tyres (having shredded the s-works) - with some advice from Ben and some research I opted for a lesser known brand GEAX. Probably best recognised for budget tubes this brand from Thailand has some great support in the pro xc field, so I opted for the 2.10 BARRO TNT (mountain) with the GEAX tubeless system. The tyre is fairly light and has an unusually rounded profile,unlike the Specialized (Capt Controls SW + Controls) and Panaracer Fire Mountain I have used in the past -Having now run with them for over 100k in both wet and dry these are superb tyres for all types of terrain-

The grip is superb and my cornering has improved as a result -

I know tyres are a personal thing, but give these a go, they are well worth it. Take a look at the message boards, it seems as though GEAX are on to a winner with their TNT system- The only small negative is their appearance - the grey colour and the two tone finish which is not perfectly in line on the tyrewall does make it look blown (take note GEAX some riders do worry about appearance)

Take a look at the GEAX site 

Reviews on MTB site 

Dave R and I Rich 1  managed the 20 miler today in a mix of sunshine and cloud - with only one technical (Dave’s puncture) and Captain Slow keeping the pace down   click for Nokia Sportstracker Route

Taking our normal nite ride loop the evening started well with Dave and his new DX lights on his hardtail , James (singlespeed) and me (Rich) also sporting various DX stuff. The pace at the start was good (me at the back -of course). We headed towards Lamer Woods and  Ayot St Lawrence and the single track woods on to Water End - unfortunately Daves rather nice carbon XTR rear mech snapped leaving us with a quick technical mod to create yet another “singlespeed” (shorten chain etc), closely followed by me getting the mother of all thorns in the rear tyre(i know - i should have tubeless!). As this all happened close to the Greenway we decided to limp home (via the Amble Inn). Good ride and it was the technicals (not me) slowing us down for a change - Rich 1

link to ride  

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Well, with only a couple of weeks to go before the holidays time to plan a fun ride - Sunday 20th looks like the time for a trek (fancy dress or flashing lights - just Craigs idea) returning to the Amble Inn for a winter warmer (mulled wine) afterwards - Possibly the first time in the saddle for me in over a month also with the chance to get the SWorks out of mothballs (she’s only had the odd dusting and quick lube of finishing line since mid November).

I promised to take some photo’s for the planned revised 2010 website, so watch out this weekend (be sure to have on your best lycra)-plus it is also the Blogs 1st Birthday next week, so perhaps the first contributor (Mark) can think of something topical! - see you all soon and happy christmas - Rich

After a month of careful planning, it was down to a small hard-core of OTT riders who turned up at The Peahen (St Albans) for a night out. Mark was the first there, ever keen for the ‘off’. I (RichIV) was next to arrive followed by RichI and RichII shortly after. We started off at a leisurely pace with Mark leading the way and myself in my usual position, at the back, and last to finish my pint.Following the Peahen, we turned down the main road. It’s a tricky descent and was very slippery, especially if you had new leather soled shoes eh RichI? A sharp left turn followed by a section of flat brought us to our next resting place - The Garibaldi. A tricky, sharp left turn through a narrow door got us into the pub and we safely negotiated the barmaid and settled on another 4 pints. After carefully negotiating a small dog and myself still at the back and last to finish, we headed once more into the night. As the weather worsened, we headed left and round a sharp, blind right and over a section of road to the White Hart (I think). One more in there and RichII had to leave and take the short cut home. He clained it was due to work in the morning, but I think he just couldn’t handle the pace that RichI was setting. He may not be ‘pacey’ on a bike, but he leads from the front at downing Leffe.After that, we needed some nourishment so it was back to the main road and a steep ascent, similar to rocky road (without the bikes or rocks) to find Wagamammas virtually deserted. Fully replete and full of Singha, and with fading batteries, it was time to head for home after a lap of St Albans pubs. I jumped in a taxi, RichI got picked up by the wife and Mark walked home to WGC!!!!!!!!So a good night out with no punctures,  breakages or technical mishaps - we should do it more often.Thanks to all who turned up, apologies to those who wanted to make it but couldn’t and ppppppphhhhhh to those who just couldn’t be bothered to be social.

Craig,James,Bill, Frazer and me (Rich) followed some of the route we took last Sunday evening with explosive results - Craig managed to blow his 2.3 Kenda’s (tubeless tyres) not once, but twice. The first burst exploded with such venom the rest of us though it was “Pheasant Shooting Season” - after repairing his tyre with James spare inner tube it decided to blow whilst he was holding it -covering him in a yellow slime (tubeless sludge).

We had only been riding for an hour and half and were just about to hit the interesting jumps and forest section - you can see the route from last Sundays nite ride below. The guys were in lite training for tomorrows “London Skyride” so keep a look out for the blue and white jerseys (and OTT on road bikes?)

click for full size map

I have been absent from the OTT rides for a few weeks as I have been in Italy on a family holiday - however I did get a chance to attempt part of the imense 1750mtr dh from Malcesnie with my son Tom - I will post a couple of pictures later . I should have known better don’t hire a bike unless you really have to. Trying to ride a frame which after hour I can only assume was designed for one of the 7 dwarfs and you don’t notice this until your nose is facing the floor and you’re heading down a descent (unlike anything Herts has to offer) - you can keep KTM bikes . We also managed to bust a rear hanger, but more later- Rich

Top of ride (CLICK FOR PHOTO ALBUM OF LAKE GARDA)

 After dropping my car in for a service (Dunstable) at 7am this morning I will taking the chiltern way back through to Caddington (off road I hope). I will attempt this on the Stumpy FS and not as rumour has it swop into my “roadie” gear - Hopefully its going to be an uneventful 11 miles - Rich

Took a wrong turn and made 12.2 miles in 55 minutes - Captain Slow!

Sundays group was Craig, Frazer, Tim, Stephen,Mec, Neil and I (dont think I have forgotton anyone) - heading toward Kimpton and our normal village route we took a couple of detours towards St Ippolitts and Preston, taking in a couple of gentle slopes (Craigs view not mine) and both up and down the whitwell tower road.

Click on image to get an alarming bigger picture

 

   

Top - Mec - Frazer

Btm - Neil - James - Tim (Weight Weenie)

No major incidents, except Frazer getting the obligatory first ride puncture. Using our regular trail through the villages we stopped on the return leg at a local tea room (a haunt of the local roadies) - Ladies -if you read this blog it was a long wait for stewed tea and average coffee -sorry!.  Over 3 hours and 23 miles later we finished with a quick visit to the Amble Inn (in my case to take away the taste of the coffee)

Here we have our own “Vernon Kay” modelling this years OTT jersey in the latest performance materials (not sure if its going to make much difference!). Simon has applied for jobs with NEXT and we believe the new ARGOS catalogue (in the stores this week)….. Si, you did ask to see the pictures! - Rich

  

Sorry but we have a problem - the orange jerseys are delayed and won’t be availalble until next month, so the options are:

1.Replace with Blue Jersey for delivery next weds

2. Wait for Orange (may be later in August)

3. Cancel and get printed £45 job for late Summer (hope not!)

RESULT (July 23rd)

We are going for BLUE -they will be with us Weds 29th July and the good news is they are only £22 each…