David Young

Big 200- Brighton and back!

Monday 15th Jun Got the big ride in that I felt I needed, 2 weeks before the big big ride #M2L220 (355km) and it all went well; bike was super smooth, legs good, back and shoulders aching a bit, beautiful sunny day but not too hot, great cafe stop on the Dyke Road and great riding companion in Darren who is one of the team of four riders. We rode well together and were in Brighton for just gone 0930 on fresh legs and a flattish route with a slight tailwind. The return leg not so easy with lots of steep pokey climbs wearing out the legs slowly but surely. Had to do a lap of Richmond park at the end to get over the 200km and felt I still had a bit left bin the tank, but not sure about another 150km 🫣 Just short rides now to ‘keep the legs turning’ until the big day! Oh, we had two vintage Bianchi’s out which always attract a lot of attention . Beautiful riding them down the seafront together all sparkly in the sun against a not too dissimilar coloured sea. 10 years between them 1982 & 92 respectively. Share

Big Storm

Thursday 11th Jun Last Saturday (06.06) I rode down to Brighton for the weekend and arrived to, what was quite frankly, a breathtaking storm. Fortunately the wind I’d had all ride intensified and turned tail for the Shoreham - Brighton along the seafront and blew me very fast to the pier. Waves were colossal, incredible! One puncture on the way and various warm bath soakings from cars made it a bit of an epic 100+km. Rode back on Sunday the hilly way with a lovely SW wind helping me maintain a 27kmh average speed! Happy with that and stopped for a beer at the Eel Pie in Twickenham where I enjoyed a pint of Badger ale and bumped into my fellow vintage club mate on his beautiful Colnago Master. Sponsorship is going well and at £14 / km we would have reached the north Midlands (143km and just over £2000!! 🙏🏻 another 212km to get to London and to reach our goal of £5000 for Autism. So £14 will get us 1km closer to our finish line. Thanks to all for support and for reading this. Cheers Dave Share

Big weekend!

Monday 1st Jun A 290km weekend is a confidence builder although I did start to run out of energy in Leatherhead yesterday on the way home but I’ll blame that on not eating enough and the Harvey’s Sussex Best on Saturday night. Great weather weekend with a couple of days annual leave. Super ride back with a WSW wind pushing me along. Enjoyed two ascents of Steyning Bostal on Saturday on a 50km ride, a good test of the lowest gear available to me on the classic Bianchi. Enjoyed riding the shiny bike down the seafront in Brighton in the beautiful sun. Also bolstered the tanlines!! 😁 Share

Brighton again - upping the distance! 🥵

Friday 29th May Share

Brighton - scorchio!

Monday 25th May Great to arrive at the seaside by bike Share

Scorchio ride to Brighton

Sunday 24th May The getting the body used to riding the vintage steel bike continues with a good dose of heat acclimatisation thrown in for good measure. 💯 km ride was stunning and  I was accompanied by a couple of mates for half the ride before they split to return home. Took the time to get a closer look at the magnificent Lancing College and arrived at Brighton seafront like everyone was on the beach enjoying a height of summers day.  All good with increased average speed thanks to my mates for the first half. Bike ran well , body held up well and improving.  Riding home with Twickenham cycling club tomorrow (bh Monday) when it’s supposed to be even hotter , like 30deg!! 😎 Share

Brighton is all celeste green

Monday 18th May Did a couple of good solid traing bike rides over the weekend, London-Brighton and back over two days with essential overnight refuelling at the Rock Inn and Vel South Indian restaurant.  It was the first big try out on the borrowed Bianchi Specialissima I'll be riding on the big day.  An 80's vintage beauty complete with down shifters and 'rattrap' pedals and straps.  Trip down on Saturday morning was direct to Steyning and then along the coast from Shoreham to Brighton, generally the less hilly route to Brighton avoiding a South Downs climb like Ditchling or Steyning Bostal which I was contemplating but wind against all the way was just about enough.  Trip back on Sunday afternoon via Devils Dyke was more wind assisted WSW but a damn sight more hilly and attritional up through Twinham, the 'Gates and Rusper, and then skirting underneath Box (Juniper) and home by Chessington and Kingston.  Over 1200m of climbing and the legs were feeling it by the end.  This weekend was all about getting the body used to the bike and in particular the Turbo saddle (head scratch?!).  Prior to this weekend I was trying out the bike, lent to me by a very generous CCA club member, on Richmond Park in the sun which suited the chrome wheels and finishing very nicely indeed!  Early June I will try a Brighton and back to see how 200km goes...but still !50km off the Manchester-London distance?! Maybe I should have a go at L-B-L-B :) Share