Ciclo Blog

StoppOmat Time trialling equipment Coll de Rates Costa Blanca Spain

2010-01-15T15:14:00.050+01:00

Long time since my last post,

Not because ive been doing nothing, on the contrary ive been busy with a Cycling related project which have taken plenty of my time up through the last few months.

So here´s what ive been doing .

Ciclo Costa Blanca along with two other local Cycling related companys ,, has been busy with the purchase of Spain first permanently installed time trialling equiment.

The System in called StoppOmat,, its already up and running and the best thing is ITS FREE ! You can use the equipment any time you like and its free each and every time

Heres some history and blurb on the Official opening of the Stoppomat

Sunday 10th January saw the official opening
of The first permanently installed `STOPPOMAT´ time trialing equipment in Spain
Located on one of the Costa Blanca´s most well know and attractive mountains The Coll de Rates. Alt 636 mtrs
Present along with around 100 or so local riders was professional rider and current Spanish national champion
Ruben Plaza of Team Caisse d Epange

Tom Boonen and Team Quick Step currently on a training camp on the Costa Blanca stopped by to ask what was going on

Joint best rides of the day was by
Toni Molina Colet 17 yrs of Team Eleval and British rider Alistair Robinson both with a time of 17 min 16 seconds .

The Equipment has been installed due to a collaboration btn 3 local cycling related businesses
Ciclo Costa Blanca provide bespoke cycling holidays and training camps are based in the coastal resort of Denia http://www.ciclocostablanca.com/
.
The Hotel Los Caballos of Els Poblets
http://www.fitforbiking.com/ &
Maxima Bikes of Ondara
http://www.maximabikes.com/

The Equipment named Stoppomat was originally designed and built in Germany with funding /sponsorship provided by Continental (tyre manufacturers ) & Lightweight (wheels )

There are 8 stoppOmat machines operating in Germany and each year `Lightweight´ sponsor the `Lightweight uphill challenge ´ , http://www.lightweight-uphill.eu/

How does StoppOmat work http://stoppomat.de/
Equipment is installed bottom and top of the climb.
Riders take a card from the bottom machine completing their details on the cards reverse.
Inserting the card into the machine prints a start time on the card.
Once the rider reaches the top station the card is again inserted into the machine and a finish time is printed onto the card.
The card is then posted into the letter box of the top machine.
Cards are then collected weekly
and all competitors details and time are posted onto the Stoppomat site http://stoppomat.de/Python/html_navigation.py/auswertung?strecke_id=9&sprache_id=2
(link to the Coll de Rates unique rider times page )

Once the riders time has been uploaded the rider receives an email advising him of his individual time, position in category and provides him with a registration number.

The registration number is all the rider needs to write on the time card next time he uses a Stoppomat machine whether in Spain or Germany or any other country.

In addition each registered rider gets their own unique Stoppomat page listing all there times on all the climbs.

Location:

Start station is at the village of `Parcent´ East face of the Coll de Rates, Marina Alta region, Costa Blanca, Spain (inland from Denia )
Finishes top of The Coll de Rates 636 mtrs
Course distance is 6.92 km.
Starts from an altitude of 284 mtrs (Parcent )
Height gain is 365 mtrs

If you are heading over to the Costa Blanca for your 2010 spring training The equipment is free of charge to all users and should prove an incentive to test current form

More pics at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/CicloCostaBlanca/StoppOmatTimeTrailingEquipmentOpening10012010CollDeRatesCostaBlancaSpain#

and lots more info an

StoppOmat in Spain at at http://stoppomat.com/

Valencia international sportive 2009

2009-10-17T18:44:00.004+02:00

Here the Ciclo crew for the 4th International sportive of Valencia.. another great day, if only a little dangerous in the first 20 km or so,, a few crashes, as the bunch just didnt get stretched out..

WHY..

The Rides special guest was Alejandro Valverde 2009 Tour of Spain winner `Team Caisse d´Epargne ´ he started late ?? so the front runners including Ivan Basso held the pace down allowing him to get to the front..

5000 riders all over the road,, hence a few crashes..

Luckly our vice president Ken wills managed to get back on the bike after his crash and finish the race.. a little battered and briused he decide to rest up for the following week..

Ivan Basso of team Liquigas was also there !

a great day and we will be back there next year. More pics at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/CicloCostaBlanca/IbizaValenciaSportives#

http://www.ciclocostablanca.com/

Vuelta September 2009

2009-09-20T12:43:00.013+02:00

The Vuelta ends today in Madrid,, and it look very much like Valverde will finally win a grand tour !!

if it had not been for Evan´s untimely punture then maybe, he would be in Gold today ? ,, But I doubt it. Valverde has a team behind him and Evans ??? just never has, & NEVER WILL win a grand tour whilst he´s with that LOTTO BUNCH.

During this years Vuelta & along with our guests we got to see 4 Vuelta stage

stage 6 Xativa - Xativa (sprint finish )

Stage 7 Valencia (individual time trail )

stage 8 Alzira -Alto Aitana ( Mt top finish )

stage 9 Alcoy - Xorret de Cati (mt top finish )

lots more pics at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/CicloCostaBlanca/Vuelta2009#

Oscar Sevilla Sportive August 09

2009-08-10T20:30:00.026+02:00

Well its been a long time since my last post.. It summertime and im have some hols But Ive done plenty of riding. I never keep a tally but id guess ive done maybe 1700 km in the last 20 days all with guests and all in the hills so come Sundays sportive i was feeling very strong ..

Here we are at the Oscar Sevilla sportive 9th august 09.. Photo time outside our sumptuous one star hotel at Ossa de Montiel .. In fact the hotel was great.. and good cafe first thing in the am

If you cant remember or just dont know Oscar Sevilla has raced as a Pro rider for Spanish squad Kelme (very nearly winning the Vuelta back in 2001 I think,, ) & Team T Mobile along side TDF winner Jan Ullrich.. Oscar currently races with the American Rock racing team and wins plenty.

His sportive has long been a fav ride of me and Monica,, It was her first full sportive a few year back. So this year we were really pleased to have the company of some of the club guys.. Ken, Graham & Bob..

More team pics here we are in this years Sevilla sportive jersey.. a different colour each year..

The ride is 115 km and always very fast,, no monster mountains in this one just hot & windy .. about 500 riders..

Heres Graham post ride looking forward to his Paella & beer

& Monica receiving her winners trophy from Guti Gutierrez ( 2nd overall in The Giro de Italia 06) his currently rides for Rock racing along side Oscar Sevilla

More pics at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/CicloCostaBlanca/OscarSevillaSportiveAugust09#

TDF stage 7 summit finish Andorra Arcarlis

2009-07-22T14:52:00.023+02:00

Summer holidays !!!!!! SO

We went to Andorra for a few days riding and to watch the TDF. In the main we went to see the Stage 7 finish on The Arcalis ski station climb. The following day we watched the riders sign and depart for stage 8.

Arcarlis ski station is at 2230 mtrs The final climb starts from the village of Ordino and is 13.41 km long and gains 728 mtrs in height

Here me & Dolly ( Monica ) on the top of the Arcalis climb. This pic was taken by a very brave American, who was 7 days into riding the full length of this year Tour stage by stage.. Hats off to the bloke !!
His wife was following in a motorhome. But he did look the part.. This guy looked like a racer super lean !

Race day. We set up camp just below the 2 km to go banner same curve as a big bunch of Norwiegn vikings

Try as i might i didnt succeed in snapping a pic of Armstrong & Contador as they flew by, Just too fast. But did get Cancellera in his last few minutes in the yellow jersey

Whilst in Andorra we stayed in the village of Ordino. This is a great base for riding The Arcalis, & Pal ski station climbs. Plus we were at the foot of the Col Ordino

Here´s dolly on the Col Ordino.. its a 40 km return trip from Ordino to Canillo and back, a really beautifully climb and its a shame the Tour didnt use it to soften the legs of the riders before the Arcalis

Sat 11th Stage 8 start Andorra la vella..

we managed to see most of the riders sign on and snapped a few pics..

here´s dolly with the King of the mountains. Armstrong & Cantador

& then we set off for home ..

Holidays over its now back to work..

Guests staying this week and im pleased about that as I need to ride..

Quebranthuesos 09 report

2009-07-01T11:36:00.017+02:00

Quebranthuesos 09 has now been and gone and Im already planning next year´s trip and training programme .. I need a training plan as this year´s time was a little more than in 2008. BUT i still managed a GOLD..The day started well the flag went down at 07.30 hrs and we set off in warm conditions.. Although we had been warned that it was cold on the top of Somport. Cold but atmospheric.. The top 1 km was shrouded in mist and the road was dripping wet.. It was some relief to begin with, as it cooled everyone off after the days first climb..

Heading down hill into France once over the frontier, wasnt so much fun .. The descent of Somport is long long long,, and it twists and turns..

It was also cold & wet, At least for me as Im now very aclimatized to the Spanish heat.. Id not been so cold in years.

The result was that i just couldnt function,, couldnt pedal the legs just didnt work. I lost plenty of time,, and didnt get going again until near the top of the Maria Blanca..

From here I stuck with my original plan, didnt stop at the big feed station which is a couple of km after the top. But carried on down hill.

Id also planned not to work on the front of any groups as we headed to the base of the Portalet.

As last year I did too much here and then got tired on the main Climb..So instead I took it a bit easy and was fresh for the 30 km portalet..Found this climb easyish !! no cramp as in 08..

Arrrgh the cramp came on with about 100 mtrs to go before the top of `Hoz de Jaca´ Its not much of a climb on any ordinary day but after the Somport, Maria Blanca & Portalet and more than 100 mile done , This little one hurts..

I had´nt a clue what time Id done once finished as my bike computor packed the day before.. So i was suprised to get my second Gold medal & diploma in two starts. This years time was 7.59. hrs 51. seconds.. and still some time to spare for a gold.. Next year I really do want to get below 7.30 hrs..

Our club guys did very well with Ken Wills 8:35:29 & Eddie Dixon 8:12:04 John Fegan
7:42:46 All getting catagory golds.

Gavin 10:27:26 & Ralph 11:05:31 Both got Bronze..

I expect we will see Ron back from 2010 we all missed him this year

And our guests ??

Simon wright got Gold in 6:52:39 Very well done Simon you are now our fastest guest at the QBH

Steve Parun got Silver in 8.06. Steve´s first time at a European sportive, it wont be his last and he will def get faster and faster this guy has some style

Gareth Mchale Silver in 9:22:48.. quicker than last year !! Good job

Brian Perry Silver 8:47:26 Brian was also quicker having done some specific hill training.

Reuben Obrien got a Bronze in 11:03:57,, Rueben´s first time at one of the big ones and its been just a short while since he packed up the fags.. So def very much more to come from Reuben

Helen Oconnor. a dnf for helen.. after packing at the top of Somport she opted for a early bath, Sounds good to me helen plans to give it a go again next year..

Here a link to our 2010 trip. Hotel rooms are already booked.

http://www.ciclocostablanca.com/sportives2.htm

more pics at

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/CicloCostaBlanca/QuebrantahuesosSportiveTrip#

Off to watch the TOUR next week Plus a few days of riding in Andorra.. speak soon

Quebrantahuesos 09

2009-06-16T15:42:00.004+02:00

Not far off now the big one is this coming Saturday 20th June ..http://www.quebrantahuesos.com/
Give me a chance to recover and next week, ill tell you all about it.

last year i managed a Gold with 7 hours 41 mins.. not so sure about this year.. given a nice hot day,, and a couple of good night sleep.. Id like to break 7 hours 30 mins.. But its hard to see where I can lose those 11 mins from..

heres some pics from last year´s QBH trip
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/CicloCostaBlanca/QuebrantahuesosSportiveTripJune2008#

Sportive Alto Palencia (Segorbe ) June 14th 2009

2009-06-16T15:01:00.020+02:00

This event has long been a favourite of mine, Its not super hard, nor does it have any really monster climbs. Its just a great event that has been running for years.

Since coming to Spain this was my 7th ride at Segorbe, Monica´s 5th.

Monica is getting better and better on the bike. Having recently found `aggression´ Its a neccessary requirement for good bike riding. She suprised a few guys by riding hard and dropping them on the hills and on the flat into the wind..

There is a lot more to come from Monica

The Segorbe sportive was our clubs first on mass sportive start ..
we fielded 12 riders.. both local & guests.. and we had a great day..

Winning 4 out of the 6 trophies up for grabs.

Alex Winniker our guest from the USA won the rider having travelled the farthest.

Monica for the oldest female !!!! she isnt that old.. Two years ago she took the trophy for the youngest.

Our club won trophies for the club with the most participants and the club from furthest away.

A Great day Many thanks to all the club members that took part and our guests for getting involved.

More Segorbe sportive pics at

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/CicloCostaBlanca/SegorbeSportiveJune14th09#

150 km MTB Marathon 30th May 09

2009-06-03T18:23:00.034+02:00

I was pretty nervous about this one, 150 km of off road riding, Id never ridden that distance off road before.. !

But its really was´nt that bad.. The route was all on old railway lines , so climbing was just on shallow gradiants and required technical skills were minimum.

The ride Started from Villalonga close by to us in Denia and ending at Elche in the south past Alicante. Onroute we stopped for breakfast & lunch all very civilized..

The final 70 km was an all out race..

The best bit, PLUS it was virtually all down hill to the finish in Elche .

500 riders ! and are group of 4 were just about the only foreigners..

We stopped at Castalla for lunch,, not just sandwiches but a four course meal.. Meats and Salads & bread, followed by Pasta, Then ice cream and cafe .. We also tucked into beer wine and the odd glass of water .

500 or so mountain bikes parked outside whilst we had lunch

After the lunch the fun really did began. 70 kms of racing it was almost all down hill.. & fast..
What I hadnt repaired for were the TUNNELS..

They were long and very dark & I didnt have lights !!

Going into the first tunnel i was just off the front group.. losing them Until the first crash..a few riders went down infront of me,, and i made up some places..

But I was worried about the next tunnel.. I tried to hold onto a group of guys with lights..

They were just to fast,, I got dropped off and went into the tunnel on my own.

I hoped it would´nt be to long,

But after just a few mtrs I was in pitch black,, and could´nt see a thing. PANIC

Expecting to crash or for another rider to hit me in the arse i stopped and dragged the bike over to the left side of the tunnel.. where there was a pavement section.. fell over and then very nearly go run down by the following rider.. So next time ill bring some lights.. !!!!

Going into the finish and positioned for my best place in 10 years or so at around 30th. .......

I punctured in the last 500 mtrs in sight of the line..

Mended the puncture and then got the chain wrapped around its self..

Just impossible to sort out I decided to walk the finish line.

This was a great event and ill def be back next year.. with lights..

El Llop (The Wolf ) Mtb Sportive Sunday 18th May

2009-05-19T18:32:00.007+02:00

Persuaded by Burkhard this would be a good idea I agreed to do my first MTb sportive in 3 years or so.

Its a very different thing to the Road. !

Great event organised and run by the la Penya lloberos of Villalonga..

The route took us up the notorius La llancuna climb.. (I used this to prepare for Mt Ventoux a couple of year back.. )

Its nowhere near as long as the Ventoux But the slopes are similiar..

Then we climbed a bit more upon to the top of the ridge looking down into the Gallinera valley. heading west I think ?

Here´s Burhard heading downhill and the last was of him till the finish line.

The ride descended into the village or Lorca (Lorxa ) and back to Villa longa via the via verde route ( its a bit like a sus trans route but more natural.. )

Great ride. But next time ill have a better saddle with one of those cut out bits in the middle..

I just wasnt ready for this type of event.. and have my work cut out to complete our 150 km MTB Marathon in two week time..

Im just not sure how much that will help me to prepare for the 205 km Pirenean Quebrantahuesos Road sportive just two week later. ? Ill let you know.

L2P Training Weekend Round 2

2009-05-17T16:28:00.018+02:00

John was back over weekend 9th /10th /11th May this time he brought over the remaining team members Chris & Chris

The weekends format was prety much the same as last time with Big Al & Bernie out on the road with the guys and me driving the Ciclo support veh.

Easy one for me i had to just stop off on the top of the climbs & hand out cans of Coke , energy bars and offer some advise on what to expect next. !!

What really made it for the guys during both weekends here with us, Was that just by coincidence BERNIE was also signed up to the L2P.

First climb Sat am Alto Rafol

And here they all our Day 2 on the lower slopes of The Col de Rates

Day 2 Lined out and heading for home along the `Riviera ´ coastal road btn Calpe & Moriara

Last day and I got to ride !..

This picture shows us on the 18 % slopes btn Castell de Castells & Tarbena.. Alto Castells its at 800 mtrs.. and features in this year ` Vuelta ´Tour of Spain

London 2 Paris Sportive Training weekends Round 1

2009-05-13T15:21:00.015+02:00

John Daly & his mates Alan, Colin, Chris & Chris, thought it would be a great idea to ride the 3 day London to Paris sportive.

Well it sounded like a good idea at the time. They were of course down the pub when the deal was struck !!!

It wasnt long till reality HIT HOME and they thought it best to GET ON THEIR BIKES.

The L2P is a tough one,,, 3 days of riding and around 500 km to cover..

Its as close as anyone could get to riding the TOUR..

http://www.londres-paris.com/site/html/home/index.php

Hoping to get the boys fit,, John organised two long weekends of training in Spain in the Company of Ciclo Costa Blanca... NOW that was a good idea.

First out for Training Weekend Round 1 (1st/2nd & 3rd May) was John, Alan & Colin.

Myself, Big Al & Bernie did what we could to look after them.. We took them out on our best routes and tried to make them into

Tour riders ..

It almost worked

Heres Colin in his famous Yellow Jersey Big Al & Bernie

enjoying a beer. End of day 3 .

Our first Club ride

2009-04-27T18:39:00.004+02:00

So,, Near to the end of 2008 Some of the local guys persuade me it would be a good idea to set up our own club. ??

Within 3 weeks Mónica as always, had it all sorted.. from speaking to the Valencian federation to arranging a visit to the Notario. (Official paper signing ) A routine course of events for anything here in Spain other than buying cafe.

The 5 founding members Me, Mónica, Ken Wills, Sandy Carne, & John Fegan signed on the dotted line and after forking out a small fortune,,, ( It costs a lot to set up a club here ! I don´t know why ? )

Club Ciclista Ciclo Costa Blanca was born.

Possibily the first federated Spanish club for British riders ? I don´t know of another

Here`s the club´s website address.. http://clubciclocostablanca.com/

You will have to wait a while as we hav´nt upload anyhing just yet . Give us a week or so.

We all know that club clothing takes an age to arrive.

It came in the end !
And it looks great ,,So I say myself

Next a club ride ?
We advertized our first ride in the local expat newspaper The Costa Blanca news . Here´s the newspaper cutting. The picture is of Me, my good friend Peter Elms and his club mates all decked out in Our Ciclo kit and by the beach in mid January !

As we didn't have the time through the winter and spring months to sort out a club ride . It had to wait till after our busy spring training camp period . But the very next day after our `Etape camp´ Sunday 26th April in the year 2009

CLUB CICLISTA CICLO COSTA BLANCA hit the road.

Our club ride started from the hotel Los Caballos with around 16 riders including the weekends guests `Shirley´ a Doctor from Chicago USA (she actually Canadian ) and `Jamie Gray ´ from the good old UK.

Just a social ride this time we headed on up to Bar `Bonaire´ In Benichembla at the foot the `Col de Rates ´for a

traditional Spanish Cycling club breakfast of Bocadillos (Baguettes) Salad, Cacahuetes (Peanuts ) Coke & beer.

Followed as ever by Cafe

More club rides coming soon, they will get longer and harder I promise .
As a federated club we will also be off to the races with our race captain Sandy Carne and on mass to as many Spanish sportive as possible..

More pic´s from our ride at http://picasaw eb.google.co.uk/CicloCostaBlanca/OurFirstClubRide#

Camp season week 2

2009-03-14T09:22:00.000+01:00

Along with two dutch guys (Big & little Jan ) club members of Gateway cycling club jioned us on week two of our 09 camps. The sun shone all week !

Camp season has begun

2009-03-03T08:00:00.000+01:00

Second day of the 09 Ciclo camp season and the
bunch push on up to Castells de Castells

John and a few from of the second group approaching The Col Confrides

Col de Rates and now just 1 hour from the hotel

Today´s ride profile.
From Denia to Castells over the Col Confrides at 1000 mtrs, Then The Col de Rates.
Total distance 154 km Total ascent 2450 mtrs

2009-03-03T07:58:00.001+01:00

Welcome to the Ciclo Blog

2009-02-17T19:09:00.000+01:00

In the planning for all of last year !! We can now finally welcome you all to our CICLO BLOG.

I hope you like it.

The Ciclo Blog will include, Our lastest news and offers. Info on up and coming Sportive Trips, Training Camps and our forever popular Cycling break stays. Plus pictures and write ups once were done.