Your Cycling Highlights of 2009

Buying my first fixed gear bike and not killing myself yet.
After enrolling for a triathlon next year, I went bike shopping with a mate who hasn't owned a bike since he was 12. He asked the shop assistant if the cut away bit in a saddle was to put your balls in.
My friends 3rd and successful attempt to pop my dislocated shoulder back in on a mountain in Wales.

I would say the Dunwich Dynamo but I bailed out about 20 miles short so I could get to bed in my parent's house. Not sure I can claim it was the actual DD, I just tagged along in order to get home ;D

The Brighton overnight ride I went on was great fun and despite my weakness on Ditchling, I felt more chipper about it than I thought I would.

The are doubtless plenty more great forum jaunts I should be remembering here but this is just off the top of my head.

Going on lonely rides down lonely lanes in the Suffolk countryside whilst back there in the summer was fantastic too. Riding for 30 miles without seeing a car is always such a joy, especially when you get to see plenty of people walking around in villages who look genuinely pleased to see a stranger and almost always give a cheery wave.

I also must mention riding my own version of home to home with my irregularly cycling brother about a month prior to doing it in the DD again.

Technically 2008 but a 90 mile fixed ride in near-zero temp led by cliveo+Rollas last Dec 28th was a massive wake up to the level of htfu I could muster on the bike when pushed . All 7500+ miles since have been a piece of piss by comparison.

Chasing Gustav on the ride into Southend on the longest "10 miles to go".

Every single minute at Herne Hill.

viner rider and i did the fred whitton challenge.

with gears but an awesome ride. some very steep bits.

Night Ride to Brighton back in Feb, the one with Fiddy's punctures, and freakishly long inner tube valves.

Riding along the White Cliffs at the end of the St Marges/Dover ride. I was massively unfit, my seatpost was too low, and I didn't take on enough water, but that final, crampy roll to the pub, basking in the golden early evening sun, followed by 4 very quick pints, was brill.

Also taking delivery of a new frame. Nothing like it, the smell, the gleam, only slightly tempered by the knowledge that it's never going to look that good again.

Also, my new commute. Not that glamourous but it's forced hitherto unheard of fitness levels on me. The next distance ride should be a pushover.

Going to the TdF and watching Cav win stage 2 from the finishing line.

Absolutely awesome and worth the 4 hour wait in the blazing sunshine.

I owe it all to the Dunwich Dynamo so...

1. Dunwich dynamo. Brilliant ride, a real test for me and a wonderful sense of achievement at the end. The camaraderie amongst all the riders was amazing and in particular the little group I settled into. It also lead me to finding this forum and...

2. Bridges Rides. I was looking around for ideas for training runs in London and found the Bridges Ride and thought "bugger training, that just looks like fun" so I joined the ride joined and the forum. That cemented my desire to try riding fixed and prompted be to finally go get a fix.

3. Marathon Ride. My first forum ride fixed. Undercover urban guerilla assault on the London Marathon course. Ok, maybe not quite so dramatic but charging round the closed roads at stupid o'clock in the morning, getting lost on the Isle of dogs, remonstrating with the plod and being cheered on and handed bottles of water by folk manning the route. Absolute hoot.

4. Overnight to Brighton take 2. Also again in the name of Dunwich training. Having never done a night ride that wasn't under street lighting this was a real adventure. Fabulous group of riders, brilliantly led and on my birthday (really the day after as we set off at midnight but I'm claiming it anyway).

5. TNRC. Having spent so much on adequate lights for the DD it would be a shame not to get my money's worth from them. I discovered this great group of riders far too late in the season so only managed 3 of them. All brilliant but the Essex ride stands out. The most beautiful warm late summer evening, sun setting on one side, moon rising on the other, flat smooth tarmac ahead and smiles all round.

6. Many other highlights including the Football ride, Circle Line ride, East London ride, Norths 1st birthday...

Points race at European masters track champs, came nowhere but kept up. Even the warm up was hard!!

Finding and fixing up the Christmas Quinn
Riding the 3rd Track day on it and getting the DFL prize. You've no idea how much of a personal achievement simply riding enough races to get that was. The year before I could barely finish the induction.

The compass drinks birthdays. great times at all of them.

Rollapaluzza mixed doubles was a great night out, and having my first go at the Science Museum evening and getting a decent time was excellent.

The London Lights ride the other week.

And most emphatically, the Tweed Run.

Riding through the Nesque gorges in Provence with VB was the best riding of the year. Spectacular and so much fun. Rain at the end never felt so good. Riding on the Moultons was fun, although I really missed my bike. Maybe I'll have to gear up my Thorn next year for an epic ride alongside the new Mather.

The Tweed ride at the beginning of the year was brilliant. I say take it on tour! Copenhagen?

Dunwich & the grupetto - Sam, Jonny, Soul, Braker, BigFatAl and Al's epic pub discovery waiting for the return of the of bikes
Epic ride around the IoW - Kattt, 50/14, Corny, Slag & cresting Blackgang on a fixed and getting some slack jawed looks of awe from the motorcyclists at the top
First vintage jersey ride - Mostly for Dante's epic blow out/gaffer tape fix and invading the Essex pub and leaving them forever bemused and confused.

Not as many events as I would have liked, but very happy for the reason I did fewer this year than last.

My main cycling highlight was being able to give up my job and become a full time cycling coach. Poor but happy.

Cycling highlight of 2009?..........finding the forum!

Then some fantastic rides with a great bunch of people...looking forward to 2010

Did my first skid.

Marathon ride - the most hilarious and amusing. Almost barreling into the disabled guys at the start of their race... and them telling us us to go for it when the Police were turfing us off the course. Must do the whole route next year.....

Cambridge Ride - missed the start by an hour. Dieseled relentlessly through the rain with a mate until we spotted the group buying donuts at Tescos in Epping! Nice little breakaway for the last 20 miles and great weather at the end.

The Nocturne - not a ride, but really enjoyable to watch after cambridge and a few beers.

Norths - Year anniversary and various drunken ascents for no particular reason with Andy. Swains is still fun. (apart from throwing up in front of old ladies after sober morning rotations....)

Dunwich - Seeing Jonny waving from the train as it pulled into Ipswich after we set off in opposite directions, to different stations in the filthiest fucking weather imaginable. 163miles (my furthest ever) and only a mild case of trench arse.

Afterwork rides with my chum Geraint - Surrey hills, Essex marshes, the Winsdor TT. Silent competition and some great delerious banter. Curry / Kebabs on late trains home.

Regents Park - Sounds weird but I've gone round it soooo many times this year. Some of the time getting faster in the process. Getting my head down and holding high 20's/30 for nearly a lap was really satisfying. Laps in the dark in the last few weeks have been tranquil and unusual.

TNRC - Essex / Herts ride. Lots of lovely folk, perfect autumn evening, and a comedy sprint at the end. Must do more of these next year!

Isle of Wight ride, spring time laughs.Pifko at back.

Wales, two trips 'working' on MTB tech leader award

forum rides over the Purbecks-this one is Lulworth

summer time c.mass good vibes

racing head to head Bournemouth-Brighton with Ben S for a work challenge (he won in 6.30)

winning my first S/S 12 hr night race at Bedgebury forest.(thats me honest)

having this 'shark bike' arrive at one of my school events, and generally being lucky enough to work in cycling.
joining the forum, meeting old friends through it and knowing that we are all connected.
heres to an amazing 2010 for everyone- cheers!

Ditchling Beacon

Probably a piece of cake for most, but nearly killed an old git like me.

Is that Pifko in the background of this one? Isle of wight is a great route, would recommend it to anyone!

Cool shot, this one. Left to right: lucas, *m.f, Arducius. That was a good ride, catching lucas before Corfe after he ground up the hill, definately a highlight!