Gordon Valentine's homepage title
  My favourite cycles
 
Introduction

Me in my cycling shortsCycling is something that I really love doing. It helps keep me fit and it gets me out the house. Which is a very good thing indeed, or I would just spend all my time playing on the net and watching way too much TV.

I enjoy cycling so much, that I have two mountain bikes. One for when I am in up Killearn, seeing my friends and family. The one that I use the most is at my home in Little Bytham.

At some point in the future, I am going to save up lots of money and get myself a new mountain bike. As the one that I use in England is over 10 years old. So it's had better days. So when I have the money, I really need to get myself a new bike.
Do I wear lycra while cycling?

Yes of course. When you do has much cycling as I do, you really need to. Wearing a good pair of cycling shorts, help's to stop me from getting a sore bum. They also stop the wind from slowing me down so much. Even better still, they look and feel great on.

If you want to see lots of photos of me in my cycling gear then, check out my photo gallery.

Cycling statistics (updated section: 08/05/2008)

Cateye CD300DW cycle computer Below is my cycling statistics from each cycling year starting from 2003. They start from 2003, because that is the year, that I started to keep a record of them. As you can see from the statistics, each year, I do more and more miles. Well in most years away.

In 2005, I did a record 2,092 miles (3,366 kilometres). Then in 2006, I beat that record, by doing 2,166 miles (3,485 kilometres). Then in 2007, it all went wrong. Somehow, I only cycled 1,073 miles (1,726 kilometres). Which was 1,093 miles (1,759 kilometres), less than I had done in 2006.

So this year, the race is on. To make sure. That, I at least get to the 2,000 mile (3,218 kilometres) mark.

2003 statistics
2004 statistics
2005 statistics
2006 statistics

Miles per month 2003

April: 73.9
May: 100.7
June: 270.3
July: 216.7
August: 208.9
September: 216.1
October: 53.5
November: 8.6

Total: 1,148.7 miles.

Miles per month 2004

February: 37.6 (37.6+)
March: 35.7 (35.7+)
April: 169 (95.1+)
May: 300.7 (200+)
June: 292.3 (22+)
July: 277.5 (60.8+)
August: 212.4 (3.5+)
September: 178.3 (37.8-)
October: 54.1 (0.6+)
November: 15.1 (6.5+)
December: 12.9 (12.9+)

Total: 1,586 miles.

Miles per month 2005

January: 10 (10+)
February: 29.5 (6.2-)
March: 53.4 (17.7+)
April: 138.7 (30.3-)
May: 200.7 (100-)
June: 379.9 (87.6+)
July: 401.1 (123.6+)
August: 521.8 (309.4+)
September: 225 (46.7+)
October: 65.3 (11.2+)
November: 48.5 (33.4+)
December: 17.6 (4.7+)

Total: 2,092 miles.

Miles per month 2006

January: 34.7 (24.7+)
February: 69.7 (40.2+)
March: 101.5 (48.1+)
April: 162.6 (23.9+)
May: 206 .3 (5.6+)
June: 298.5 (81.4-)
July: 451.1 (50+)
August: 471.1 (50.7-)
September: 234.1 (9.1+)
October: 86.7 (21.4+)
November: 37.9 (10.6-)
December: 12.1 (5.5-)

Total: 2,166 miles.
2007 statistics
Current statistics
    

January: 28.9 (5.8-)
February: 44.8 (24.9-)
March: 66.4 (35.1-)
April: 231 (68.4+)
May: 44.5 (161.8-)
June: 124.7 (173.8-)
July: 156.3 (294.8-)
August: 141.4 (329.8-)
September: 91.5 (142.6-)
October: 90 (3.3+)
November: 48.8 (10.9+)
December: 4.5 (7.6-)

Total: 1,073 miles.

January: 50.7 (21.8+)
February: 37.1 (7.7-)
March: 101.7 (35.4+)
April: 156.1 (74.9-)
May: 98 (53.5+)

Total: 443.6 miles.

Last updated: 8th May 2008.

    
Key: ( )=-/+ same month of previous year.
Favourite cycle routes (updated section: 07/05/2008)

Below is information, route maps and photos of the cycles that I enjoy doing the most.

The routes are sorted by country, then by distance, with the shortest being first.

Routes in England

Routes in Scotland
Useful links
ActiveSportsKit.co.uk - A great place to place cycling gear from.
A.W. Cycles - A great bike shop.
CatEye - Cycle computers and bicycle lighting systems.
Chain Reaction Cycles - A great cycling shop.
CTC - The UK's national cyclists' organisation.
British Cycling - The internationally recognised governing body of cycle sport in the UK.
Edinburgh Bicycle - A great cycling shop, with lots of other useful stuff on their website too.
Evans Cycles - A great cycling shop.
Every Day Cycling - Brand new leisure cycling initiative, including routes and rides, leisure events and a whole host of interactive features designed to get the whole Nation pedalling.
In Gear Online - A great place to place cycling gear from.
National Cycle Network - Information about the UK National Cycle Network.
Nelosporto - A great place to place cycling gear from.
Wiggle - A great place to buy cycling gear.
 
This section was revised 8 May 2008