Spring Madness is coming

Its the silly time of year for me. Spring is coming which means the Spring Classics. I just love this time of year for cycle racing. Domestically and Internationally. It really allows the hard men to shine. Its gives the opportunity for the riders who cannot and will never win a grand tour to say to the peloton. Just look how fast I am over one day.

In my opinion, the real racing season starts with Paris-Nice, the run to the sun. Ice,snow,wind,rain in the north of France all the way down to Nice and the warm springtime sunshine. This is followed quickly by the Northern European Classics. My favourite are the cobbles. The Grande Dames of racing. Paris-Roubaix, Ronde van Vlaanderen, Ghent-Wevelgem, Liege-Bastogne-Liege are for me where racings hard men shine.

The modern giants of cycling like Phillipe Gilbert, Fabian Cancellara, Peter van Petegem and Tom Boonen have made names for themselves in the Belgian heartlands but there can be only one true all conquering dominating figure in my eyes.

King Kelly himself. Sean Kelly always seemed to excel here. Maybe its just childhood memories being blurred, but i used think he was the best thing ever. I always pretended to be King Kelly when riding my Lazer Custom around the village. Attacking hard up Vicarage bank to the sweet shop. Yes for me, Sean Kelly was the all conquering hero of the Spring Classics.

So roll on Springtime and lets which new king will arrive to make himself a name amongst the gods.

Sean Kelly's Spring Classic wins

1982

Paris - Nice

1983

Paris - Nice

1984

Paris - Roubaix

Liège - Bastogne - Liège

Paris - Nice

1985

Paris - Nice

1986

Milan - San Remo

Paris - Roubaix

Paris - Nice

1987

Paris - Nice

1988

Paris - Nice

Ghent - Wevelgem

1989

Liège - Bastogne - Liège

1992

Milan - San Remo

Helping Hands

Those who follow my Twitter feed or my Facebook page will have learnt that Iam currently going through some tough times. That is not what this post is about. This post is more about how I am coping with it and more overly the reactions to those about me. Or alternatively, it could be about why i cycle?

Since being on Twitter and Facebook and in my earlier carnation on Buzznet(which I joined to cope with depression) I have met and become friends with some truly wonderful people. I have met people the reaffirm faith. Not a religious faith but a more moralistic faith. I have faith in the world that 'good' people do exist. The same became apparent 3 years ago when my daughter had a liver transplant. Throughout my current hard times I have received countless messages of support,encouragement and advice and more than my fair share of offers of hugs and cuddles. At your darkest moment when the life you know and have become comfortable with comes crashing down around you, it is then that you find your friends. It is these friends that have been inspirational in my continuing with life. Getting on with it and accepting that shit happens. More importantly to me. They have reminded me to drag my sorry ass out on a weekend and pedal like hell. They know what the bike means to me. Its good for my head. its good for my soul. Its good for my fat belly too. My friends are those that say "sod that Rich, get out on your bike" Sometimes i need to be reminded just how good it makes me feel.

So to 'Big-Up' some folks, let me introduce you to my support network.

• Big-Kev; He is a legend in his own tea cup. Ex pro cyclist and northern hard ass. He pushes me to the very limit. He is also the warmest, kindest person i know
  
  
• Jo; my bestest best friend. Need a hug? need a coffee? Jo is the girl that picks me up and gives me a very ample bosom to cry on.
  
  
• Jason; my other best friend. we been through a lot together and he is always there for me.
  
  
• Mel; a twitter friend who is just adorable. cycling nut, foodie, coffee and hug supplier and all round good egg.
  
  
• Carol; another twitter friend with lots of offers of hugs and a top cyclist to boot. we have become very good friends in such a short space of time. I truly delightful lady
  
  
• Simon; The Lamb! a sheer inspiration for me and coping with depression.
  
  

These are only a few of the dear dear friends that are supporting me now. And because of your love, I will forever feel like i am cycling with your helping hand upon my back.

The Lion roars once more

My favourite cyclist Charlie Wegelius starts his 2011 campaign at the Tour de San Luis in Argentina http://www.tour-sanluis.com.ar/

This will be his first outing for his new outfit United Healthcare Pro-cycling.

We wish him all the very best and hope he shows some great form.

Tips for winter cycling

Cycling through out the year is never easy. The British weather just isnt that kind. So here ar BC towers, we have compiled a uselist of tips and hints to get you through till the sun comes out again.

what do you need?

• Buy a winter bike you can pick up cheap ones for around £1500
• Buy a good quality riding jacket...about £300 should get you a good one to get you started
  
  

Now you have all the equipment, how do you prepare for your ride?

1. Rise early and have a hearty breakfast of Porridge and coffee
2. Check the weather updates, you dont want to get caught out
3. have your morning ablutions
4. check weather reports incase its changed
5. have another coffee
6. get the bike out of the man-cave(lady grottoes are also acceptable)
7. tinker with the bike and check it is road worthy
8. fit winter tyres if not already done so.
9. check tyre pressures
10. check brakes
11. check seat
12. check paint
13. check mate
14. check weather reports
15. decide which team issue winter clothing you're going to wear
16. spend 29minutes trying to squeeze yourself in to your favourite Kelme shirt from 1995
17. put your Aldi specials on. its all you have left that fits
18. hunt high and low for your left over-shoe. it was in the shoe cupboard last January
19. put second pair of socks on because the wife thing thinks she may have thrown it out
20. fill bidons with luke warm juice so it takes longer to freeze
21. dont forget skull cap for under the helmet
22. realise you forgot to put heart rate monitor on.
23. undress
24. put on chest strap
25. re-dress
26. check weather incase second coming of the iceage is predicted.
27. Head outside
28. its dark!
29. Give up and put bike away
30. watch german porn on the computer till the wife comes home
31. tell your mates "winter training is going great"

This is not an exhaustive list but i think you find it ultimately useful.

Riding in winter

Riding in winter is NOT my favourite thing to do. There I've said it. Its not like winter in Europe where is dry and cold and the roads remain clear. In Britain it sucks! Its wet and usually muddy from farm vehicles. Normally windy too. its too cold for shorts but you over heat in full thermals. Your bike is constantly dirty and none of your favourite coffee stops are open. Its just rubbish!

But this winter i am on it. I am getting out every weekend and riding as far as this blasted cold will allow. I am training 3 nights a week on a cross-trainer and with weights. I am super focused to get my massive frame from 105kg to 95kg or less. Why you ask? well Easter weekend will be here very quickly and that is when I have the task of riding the Ronde den Vlaanderen sportive. Arguably one the hardest events non-pros can enter. OK so you don't have the soaring altitudes on the Etape, Marmotte or Gran Fondo but 17 cobbled climbs of around 15-20%. I shit you not,its hard! I've tried walking up some of them and that is hard enough. So boys and girls, I'm in full attack mode at the moment.

Now those of you who know me will know of my distinct hatred for hills. I'm too heavy to get up them quickly.I struggle,scream,shout and swear at them all the way up. But Flanders is my territory!Short steep climbs I can attack full on. Just try staying on my wheel when I hit Micklegate in York. You'll know what I mean.