Eroica Britannia - The Ride (Part 3)

The final phase of my blog about the Eroica Britannia ride starts with the climb upwards from Great Hucklow. Through the trees you can't see how long the climb is which is perhaps a good thing as it carries on for quite a while beyond the trees but  fortunately it is never too steep. Part way up I paused to get the photo of the gliders (and not of course due to tired legs - or was it?)

Gliders near the top of the climb from Great Hucklow

Over the top and we dropped down to Eyam. The extra weight I carry these days is no help on the climbs but, with the confidence that comes from using the same bike and brakes for over 30 years, the Peak District descents are always so much fun. The refreshment stop in Eyam was superb, as we've come to expect from Eroica, with plenty of fruit, scones, home made baking, tea, coffee and beer.

The refreshment stop in Eyam

An interesting extra at Eyam was the gazebo seen in the picture above where two local artists were producing individual illustrative drawings of riders and bikes - sketched while you wait for just £5.00 a go - really unusual and unique memento of the ride.

Up to this point I'd been having a great social ride and other than a bit of headwind on the exposed hilltops the next part of the ride flowed by comfortably.

Then the route took us past the top of Monsal Head. The route previously had taken the riders up the climb of Monsal Head so I'd built myself up (psychologically not physically) and wondered how much of a challenge it would be having last climbed it more than 25 years ago. Now I realised that the climb itself hadn't even been included in this year's route. I paused for a moment. This is where I made my mistake.

I didn't want to miss out on the challenge so I turned right and rolled down the hill. As I rode down a group of cyclists with carbon bikes and low gears struggled upwards and doubt filled my mind.

Ready to climb Monsal Head

I turned round in the bottom of the valley and faced the climb, pausing to take the photo shown above. Then off I went, taking things as steady as possible in my lowest 42x25 gearing and expecting the hill to get steeper near the top. Fortunately it actually eases toward the top except for the last couple of metres and with relief I was over the top and back o the route dropping down fast to Ashford.

The mistake had been over-enthusiasm and over-exerting my legs on the climb; I would pay with cramp before riding back in to Bakewell. Fortunately a brief stop at Thornbridge Hall let me stretch the muscles a bits. Yet more refreshments were available here but after a stretch I decided to plug on back towards Bakewell.

Thornbridge Hall

Bike ready to leave Thornbridge

At the Bakewell end of the Monsal Trail riders were advised to dismount for the steep track down to the lane and I watched many skidding and sliding in their cycling shoes. Riding the previous day on my Brompton, with my friend Howard Broughton, I'd spotted and ridden down right hand side which had a tarmac surface and although steep was easier and safer to ride down than to walk in cycling shoes so I'll admit to ignoring the "Dismount" signs.

Riders walk back down from the trail

The last stretch across the show ground into the finish was lined with spectators and many young hands reaching out for high fives as the commentator announced the poet from Rochdale and I slowed right down to reach the smallest of stretched out hands - after such a great ride it would have been churlish to miss one small child.

All done!

The ride had been less challenging than the 55 mile route I did last year (just as well given my current lack of fitness) but it was great fun and well worth taking part. There were some real stand-out features:

• The Peak District itself
• The relaxed atmosphere among the riders
• The support that riders offer to each other
• The support from spectators
• The tremendous refreshment stops

A grand day out!

Congratulations to Marco and his team.

Eroica Britannia - The Ride (Part 2)

Under the start banner and followed out of town across the bridge by warm applause a large group turned onto the first gradual climb out of town. The difference between various old bikes and their riders became apparent very quickly with some finding the going easy enough to chatter as they rode whilst others gamely struggled with old heavy bikes and limited gears and others still backed off the pace to keep their powder dry. Nobody was in a rush.

I pedalled up to the road junction leaving Bakewell to grab a few pictures before rejoining the group heading to Hassop Station and the Monsal Trail.

A gorilla, smoking a pipe, leads the army and a chap in a Fez out of Bakewell

The postman carries his parcels out of Bakewell

Yes the soldiers, gorilla and postman were all doing fine here.

We joined the trail and headed towards Mill Dale and there was plenty of conversation, about the bikes, about where people had come from and inevitably about the beautiful Derbyshire scenery.

Riders setting off from a brief stop at Mill Dale Station

Leaving Mill Dale the routes take their own direction and for those on the short route it was straight into the first substantial climb of the ride. Over that climb and an easier ride to Tideswell and the first refreshment stop at the church - often called The Cathedral of The Peak. Excellent refreshments with bacon butties, fruit, flapjacks and heaps of other goodies and of course plenty of drinks. A very crowded, and very friendly, stop where it would be easy just to linger to chat but so early in the ride.

Tideswell - The Cathedral of The Peak

Bike ready to set out from Tideswell

After Tideswell the road climbed into and then out of Great Hucklow and in the village I paused to grab a picture of the impressive vintage wicker sidecar outfit - awesome efforts young man! As the climb steepened the passenger valiantly got out and pushed for a little while.

Sidecar outfit climbing in Great Hucklow

More photos to follow in the Part 3 of my blogs about the Eroica Ride....

Eroica Britannia - The Ride (Part 1)

Having barely ridden my bike in the last few months; riding around Derbyshire was always going to be a bit of a challenge. Last year I was commuting to work fairly frequently and opted for the 55 mile route; it was superb and just the right level of challenge with the distance and climbs plus the fact my 1985 bike doesn't have very low gears. This year my regular commute is up one flight of stairs from breakfast to the office so things are a little different.

Pat and Christine pose with their 1930s tandem

Fortunately the options for Eroica include the easier 30 mile option for those who are riding vintage bikes that are harder work to ride (for example my good friends Pat Carr and Christine Tindale on their 1930s tandem - pictured below) and of course for those like me who are just not fit enough for the longer rides.

When I arrived at the show ground on Sunday morning to register for the ride I was relieved to find some areas a little less muddy than they had been the previous day. Heading to the registration tent were lots of cyclists tip-toeing through the mud with shoes gradually taking on the appearance of the soggy ground; I wasn't too keen to do that to my shoes so I pedalled across the mud covered boards and amazingly stayed upright and kept the shoes pretty clean.

Registration for the ride

I left the registration tent attached the number to my bike and pedalled back across the mud as onlookers waited for the slip. They were left disappointed as I and my kit stayed moderately clean but the tyres on my bike were now perfectly blended to the Derbyshire earth.

The back of the long queue to the start line

A quick trip into the centre of town across the footbridge and I joined the back of the queue heading for the start. At this stage we were not even in the road where the event started and there was clearly going to be a fairly long wait. Fortunately this is Eroica and not a sportive event so the riders were in very relaxed and friendly spirit and the half hour or so of waiting was filled by impromptu conversations about bikes, about the place, about where we had travelled from and of course about the ride.

A Mark 1 Raleigh Chopper, original flares and a brave rider

We walked around one last corner and along with the gentleman on a Mk1 Raleigh Chopper (in his original 1970s flares, the postman, a gorilla and a bunch of "soldiers" we were off and sauntered out of town cheered on by a surprisingly large crowd. The experience had begun and the next few hours would be a voyage of discovery and a social event as much as a bike ride....

The start line finally in sight

More to follow in my next post tomorrow....

Sunshine and Poetry – Best way to work

7TH JUNE 2016 BY SEAMUS

Set list for Eroica 2016

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This morning the sun has been shining, the mercury nudged past 24 degrees and the garden bench beckoned. I’ve dealt with emails, checked the social media and then set to work in this rather warm and temporary office.

My set list for Eroica Britannia (now only 11 days away) needed some more thought and, as I tend to doodle while I think, I have ended up with the illustrated set list as shown below:

I’ve yet to decide the order for the set but I know where it will start and I have a pretty good idea where it will finish too and the middle will always find its own way if necessary.

Perhaps I’ll produce some printed copies for the audience once it is finalised – I’d be interested to know if people think this is a good idea; please comment here or let me know on Facebook at – “shaycycles”

Countdown to Eroica Britannia 2016

Last year the organisers of the UK's greatest festival of all things cycling and vintage gave me a slot to perform my poetry in their Arts tent. The experience was terrific and you can read about it in my posts from last year's event.

Pen nib with red ink

I am really delighted to say that I've been invited back for the 2016 Festival and will be performing at noon on Saturday 18th June.

I'm busy planning my set for the event and I'll be sure to include some of my poems about cycling and of course some of my newest poetry. It would be safe to assume that the set will be designed to entertain, to inform and most of all to give pause for thought.

I'll be reading work from my book "Thinking Too Much" and a range of my more recent work including some about my own family which, although very personal to me, are likely to resonate with any listener. There will be copies of my book available for sale and I'll be very happy to sign copies after the performance, I may also have a selection of my vintage cycling images for sale and will be happy to take orders on the day.

Here's one of my recent poems under development- Come on Hat - it may well feature at Eroica Britannia 2016

The full set-list will evolve over the next couple of weeks but it is sure to include:

Too Soon - a poem that looks back to my 3 year old memory of my Grandad and the photo, still displayed in his house, that takes me back 52 years before he was taken too soon.

A minute and a half - one and a half minutes of words that hurt less but evoke the memory and feelings of racing up Monsall Head - a hill that some thousands of riders will tackle the day after my performance; in my case at a much more sedate pace than in the 1980s!

Entitlement - A brief look at the Lance Armstrong story and the American Dream (with a line nicked from John Mellencamp).