Cowhorn Capers

Saturday 4th May. and over to Northampton for the Cowhorn Capers "klunker" ride. 

I didn't know what to expect, apart from the unexpected!, meeting near the "racecourse" a small number headed North, stopping for supplies at a local supermarket, which also gave shelter from the heavy rain which suddenly appeared! After a few minutes we braved the remnants of the storm and a short ride saw us at the "race" site.

In my head this was a flat field, a short coarse, but no, rough and hilly and quite a bit longer than I had guessed. Numbers had grown and the racing was soon in full flow, great to watch and with some liquid refreshments, much fun was being had. I made it to the semis, and was up against Richard, Bill and Morgan in the second "semi". A good start I thought, pushed by Pete who was filming, following me on his electric stead, I guess we must have been close but nearing the finish, I went head over handle bars and with that went any chance of a final!.

Morgan beat Bill and in the final Richard won out, a great afternoon, finished with a go on the bumper cars this followed by a few beers!

Semi Final Lap - my fall at about 1.35!

Drone footage - Thanks to Pete Cobbe!

             

1,000 Miles in May

And were off -

Total to date - 270 miles with 10,921 feet climbing - 

27th April - So rain and 40mph winds are not really what I wanted today!  21.7 miles / 21.7
28th April - Damp and still a bit breezy but better than yesterday!              55.7 miles / 77.4
29th April - Rest
30th April - Foggy Morning ride!                                                                  18.4 miles / 95.8
30th April - Steady ride home                                                                      17.3 miles / 113.1
1st May    - To Work - extended                                                                   21.3 miles / 134.4
1st May    - Commute home                                                                        17.3 miles / 151.7
2nd May   - To Work - extended                                                                   23.3 miles / 174.9
2nd May   - Wet and windy ride home                                                         17.3 miles / 192.2
3rd May    - Rest
4th May    - Cowhorn Capers - Not counted
5th May    - Short ride                                                                                  23.25 miles / 215
6th May    - Longer ride out - 6am start!                                                      58.00 miles / 273
7th May    - Rest
8th May    - Wet (very) and windy commute                                                19.1 miles / 292  
8th May    - Commute home                                                                        17.3 miles / 309.3
9th May    - Rest
10th May  - Long ride to work - nice morning 
10th May  - Another wet ride, hail, thunder, wet
11th May  - Quick Blast                                                                               12.1 miles /
12th May  - Late in the day ride (should have been much more today!)     41.6 miles /   


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Mixed Weekend.....

A mixed weekend, the Lichfield Re:Cycle project held its AGM on Friday evening, so as a nice night I took the "Tall Bike" for its first trip of the year.

Saturday, again as a nice day, decided to dust the canoe off, and spent 40 minutes paddling, quite nice it was too, Saturday evening, another trip to "town" on the "Tall Bike"!

Sunday up early and a ride of the Ride Lichfield Sportive "long" route, at just over 60 miles the longest ride of the year, at 14.6mph average, a nice ride in good weather.

This was followed by a 6 mile walk....... roll on Monday and a rest!

     

Busy Weekend

A rather busy one -

Firstly a "rush" on Sponsorship, taking me to 15% of my target, many thanks to all who have donated so far - if you've not yet donated - please look Here  

Longest ride for some time on Saturday, 51 miles, as I joined around 20 riders for the Run & Ride Spring Challenge. Rain and wind where forecast and so unfortunately the numbers taking part where a little lower than had been expected. 

The rain held off, but not the wind! Gust of 40 miles plus had been in the forecast and on a couple of occasions side winds made for a "exciting" ride, but the last 8 or so miles where in to a horrible head wind, this and me "suffering" a little, saw my average drop from 14.6mph to 13.8.

I had the help of another rider for this last bit for which I was most thankful!

The route headed out over Cannock Chase, hitting a top speed of 44mph on the Stile Cop hill!
Longdon, Rugeley, Great Haywood, Hixon, Abbots Bromley, Hoar Cross, Barton and "home" to Lichfield.

Thanks to the staff at Run & Ride and the other riders - I think I returned as 6th rider back.          

Mixed day.....

So, after taking part in the Cannock Chase Park Run, 3rd "race", 3rd "PB"!, we decided to catch the train to Birmingham for dinner, a pizza and pint at Dig Brew.

First though we would stop at Erdington for the Cycle Jumble, snowed off last year so I as keen to do a little rummaging..... much to my disappointment, as we arrived, everyone was packing up. Still, around the corner  is the Cobble Cycle Cafe. A great little find, good coffee, great cake and very friendly - we will be back! 

So, on to Brum, BrewDog, The Pint Shop, Dig Brew (their Pizzas are the best!) with a last one in Clink.

We happened by the lights "festival" - Festival of Light, bit of fun, with a bike challenge..... we had to have a go!

     

31 years with stickers!

Its 31 years today since I started at Secura Labels! See the full Linked in Here


15th February, is the anniversary of the day I first walked through the doors at Secura Labels. While 31 years may not be a regular anniversary to celebrate, and thanks for all the good wishes!, it does somehow feel a "milestone".

Back in 1988, I joined Secura at their Ashby factory, following 6 years as a coal miner. I took the number of employees to 7, and in those days it was truly was a family concern. David and Kay, David`s Father, Bernard, along with, Andrew, Peter, and another who`s name escapes me! Each day, 12.00 O`clock prompt lunch was always taken together, and always fish and chips on Friday!

Going back over the years, I have worked with 66 individuals, the shortest period 2 1/2 days, the longest 27 years and counting. Among these, and also among suppliers and customers, I have found lifelong friends, and count myself lucky to have worked with some great characters down the years! In the 31 years we have moved four times and the team has grown to 14 in total, but I hope we have maintained some of the "family" feel.

We have, in my time here, sometimes been at the forefront of technology! When I first joined, "artwork" was set with "letraset" & "linotype", and then posted out for approval, posted back once approved. It seemed then a good idea to invest in a fax machine, so we could fax "proofs" and have them faxed back, saving 2 -3 days..... the fax duly arrived - great - unfortunately few of our customers had faxes, it took around 5 weeks before we could actually use the machine for the purpose it was brought for! We also had Thermal Transfer long before many had even hear of it, still a main part of the business today.

We also have been instrumental in the growth of several competitors - Paul left to Form/Join Charnwood Label Craft, Andrew Davis to form Acre Labels (Jenacre) and Andrew Hough to form Trent Labels.

Over the years we have also helped others with Press advice, indeed OPM`s relationship with Nilpeter followed a day spent with us after we purchased our first Nilpeter F240. Chris Ellison, his Father and some of the OPM team spent the day putting the press through its "paces" - a day where we also learned a lot!

There have been some challenges during the 31 years, moves, change of ownership, along with the "daily" ones, but I still get up looking forward to each day, another 31? that would make me 86, so why not? With the continued backing of the "Board" and the "Team" here anything is possible!

(Those with good memories may be thinking, "its only a couple of years since his 25th?", I took a couple of weeks "broken" service to further my professional portfolio (selling sandwiches!) and on my return, had to "re-start")

Re:Cycle Valentines Ride 2019

Although a little damp, a small but perfectly formed group set off on our Re:Cycle Valentines Ride.

The past two years we have had to cancel this ride due to the weather, so we were quite happy to get out this year.

Coffee and cake where enjoyed at Mabel`s Cafe at Curborough.   

HS2 Cycle Path

Scrapped HS2 bike path 'five times better value than HS2 itself'

So, you drive to work, the ice and rain making the cycle option less attractive than usual!, listening to the impending doom on the radio of not reducing CO2 emissions, the fact that obesity, especially in the young, ought to be classed as a health epidemic, to then see that the proposed HS2 bike path, is to be scrapped! 

- Read more here 

Now, to me, it would not appear to be "rocket science" that the bike path could be massive in helping the two issues of emissions and obesity, and i can only see this as a massive opportunity missed.... looking at how to address would not seem easy, I have contacted our MP, HS2 and others, but get the feeling that this is one project that will be lost, saving, in the grand scheme, pennies, but letting pass an opportunity to improve health, reduce emissions and so much more to help all of our futures!

Just over ten years ago, I cycled across the Sinai Desert, rising funds for the British Heart Foundation, it was a great trip, one I often look back on, sleeping under the stars, climbing Mt Sinai to watch the sunrise........      

Back talking bikes and trying to get money off you -

So, back to blogger, as is usually the case, basically as I am fundraising again!

This time to help out Charlie & Freddie -    

Charlie and Freddie are aged 4 from Stone in Staffordshire. They made a surprise early arrival in 2014 born at 30 weeks gestation and spending the first 7 weeks of their lives in NICU.

Charlie was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (quadriplegic) soon after birth, while Freddie was diagnosed (diplegic) shortly before his 2nd birthday. Coming to terms with the prospect of having a disabled child is daunting but then the shock of having disabled twins was something we were not prepared for.

There is no cure for cerebral palsy but hopefully we can do everything we can to improve their lives now and in the future.

Freddie has recently been approved to have Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery at Alder Hey Children’s hospital and with your donations for Just4Children we can pay for additional physiotherapy to supplement the NHS sessions and buy equipment to use at home. We would also love to make adaptions to our home which will benefit both boys and make life easier.

Charlie and Freddie are such happy determined boys. We will not let cerebral palsy beat us.

You can sponsor me Here

More to follow, but please did deep and pop back to see how I am doing!