Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle 2016

I had so much fun doing the Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle. I did the very first back in 2013! But had not been again since now! I loved it! The weather could not have been better! Was great seeing so many other cyclists out! I be be for sure going again next year!

Here is a speeded for video of the cycle! I start the ride from King’s Cross station, then via various roads, before cycling down Oxford Street and Regent Street before meeting up with the FreeCycle route at Trafalgar Square.

You also check out the full route I took @ www.strava.com/activities/658601925.

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 30/07/2016

Cycling - RideLondon Classique - 31-07-2016 - YouView appCycling – RideLondon Classique (BBC 2/HD | 6:00pm to 7:00pm | Saturday 30th July 2016)

Jill Douglas introduces live coverage of the RideLondon Classique, a newly credited UCI women’s WorldTour race. The event boasts the strongest ever field assembled for a one-day race in Great Britain as the world’s top 20 teams battle it out through the streets of central London. The new 5.5km circuit takes in many of the capital’s most iconic landmarks including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Strand and Trafalgar Square before it concludes on the Mall. In a watershed moment for women’s cycling, the prize money on offer is the highest ever for a women’s one-day race, matching that of Sunday’s men’s race. Simon Brotherton provides commentary with expert analysis from Chris Boardman and Rochelle Gilmore.

Cycling – Ridelondon-Surrey Classic (BBC 1/HD | 3:30pm to 6:35pm | Sunday 31st July 2016)

Jill Douglas presents live coverage of the RideLondon-Surrey Classic, the world’s richest one-day men’s race. Seven UCI WorldTour teams race over the closed roads of London and Surrey, with 2015 champion Jean-Pierre Drucker returning with his BMC Racing team. A strong field has been assembled, including German sprint star Andre Greipel, former world champion Tom Boonen and Britain’s rising sprinting star Dan McLay, which should ensure the eventual run into the line is once again fast and furious. Live rider data and onboard cameras add to the coverage as the peloton heads out from Horse Guards Parade into the stunning Surrey countryside, before heading back to the iconic finish at The Mall. Simon Brotherton provides commentary, with expert analysis from Chris Boardman and David Millar.

Saving Lives at Sea (BBC 1/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 3rd August 2016)

Documentary following the men and women of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). In the summer months, millions of Britains flock to the UK’s 11,000 miles of coastline, making it the busiest time of year by far for the RNLI. The army of unpaid volunteers has to contend with everything from overly ambitious novice sailors caught in a storm, to a little girl who has become trapped in the rocks below the high-water mark. The dangers of the water are further put into perspective when a father gets himself into serious difficulties after swimming out to try and rescue his young son, whilst a YouTube prankster deliberately flings himself from Tower Bridge for ‘a dare’.

Full Steam Ahead (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 4th August 2016)

Series exploring how the expansion of railways in the Victorian era transformed Britain. Historians Ruth Goodman, Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn find out how the railways transformed the British diet, rescuing a nation that was struggling to feed itself. Alex and Peter load a flock of sheep onto a train, discovering how the mass transportation of livestock by rail transformed the quality and quantity of meat available to Victorian consumers. Ruth follows in the footsteps of Britain’s herring girls, revealing how the North Yorkshire Moors Railway revived the fortunes of Whitby, turning it into a thriving fishing town. Alex looks at how pioneering farmers attempted to use steam power to increase production. Peter discovers how steam-powered engines revolutionised production at Britain’s oldest brewery. In Yorkshire, Ruth sees how farmers created a monopoly on rhubarb. Meanwhile, Alex boards a locomotive on the watercress line in Hampshire.

Amazing Spaces: Shed of the Year (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 5th August 2016)

George Clarke’s mission to find Britain’s shed of the year continues. George and his fellow judges look at the Eco and Unexpected categories. Eco includes a mud hut in Norfolk and a shed on wheels. Featuring in the new Unexpected category is a shed located in a flood plain designed to rise up with the water. There is also an allegedly haunted shed.

Olympics 2016: Opening Ceremony (BBC 1/HD | 11:40pm to 4:00am | Friday 5th August 2016)

Clare Balding introduces live coverage of the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympic Games from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as the games head to South America for the first time. The ceremony is a chance for participants from all 207 competing nations to parade with their flag in the iconic Maracana Stadium.

All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide — www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.

UK TV programmes to watch this week : 23/07/2016

Saving Lives at Sea - 27-07-2016 - YouView appSaving Lives at Sea (BBC 2/HD | 9:00pm to 10:00pm | Wednesday 27th July 2016)

Documentary following the men and women of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). In Cornwall, newest recruit 18-year-old Shaunna is following in the family tradition and her grandfather’s footsteps. After a successful first rescue of a teenage holiday maker, she has hopes to one day become Newquay’s first helmswoman. And in the remote fishing village of Oban on the west coast of Scotland, the RNLI have another new 18-year-old recruit. Young Andrew and the rest of the crew are given a painful reminder of the dangers all lifeboat volunteers face when they are woken by their pagers in the middle of the night to try and rescue the captain and crew of a fishing boat that is sinking having run aground in the middle of a storm.

Full Steam Ahead (BBC 2/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Thursday 28th July 2016)

Series exploring how the expansion of railways in the Victorian era transformed Britain. Historians Ruth Goodman, Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn visit Beamish in County Durham to examine how railway companies began to develop ways of moving people, rather than just stone, coal and iron, around the country. The comfort of the early passenger wagons are put to the test. The team then visit a refreshment room, discover the downside of compartment-only carriages and investigate how travellers made do without modern conveniences. There is also a look at the impact of railway construction on cottage industries, the important role of the train guard, and the harsh life of navvies who grafted tirelessly to lay the miles of track.

Amazing Spaces: Shed of the Year (Channel 4/HD | 8:00pm to 9:00pm | Friday 29th July 2016)

George Clarke and the Amazing Spaces team return for the highlight in every shed owner’s calendar: The Shed of the Year competition. From hundreds of entries, just 32 have made it on to the judges’ shortlist for 2016, and only one will take the ultimate shed accolade. The first episode features the ‘Unique’ and ‘Historic’ categories, including a shed that rotates 360 degrees to follow the sun, to a shed that can hit the road clocking in at 90mph. There is also a faithful replica of an Anglo Saxon longhouse and a Vietnam War bunker in Staffordshire.

All TV guide information taken from DigiGuide — www.getdigiguide.tv/?p=1&r=15119.

Now done 603.8 miles this month!!

That’s me now done 603.8 miles of cycling this month!!!!!! Well pleased with that! But still got a long way, to go! Need to end this month on at least 777 miles! To get my “July Distance Challenge” trophy this month on Strava!

But at least, I got my “July Climbing Challenge” trophy, which means I’ve climbed over 8,000 meters!

Check out my trophy case so far @ www.strava.com/athletes/11925537/trophy-case

Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 2014
Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 2014
Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 2014

Getting so close to 600 miles!!

I am getting so close to doing 600 miles of cycling this month! Right now my total stands at 575.6 miles! So just 24.4 miles to go, then I will have done 600 miles!! Last time, I did over 600 miles in a single month, was way back in July 2014! When I did 705.2 miles! Really hoping, I do can do more than that!!

Really hoping that I can get the “July Distance Challenge” trophy this month on Strava! To get that, I need to have done 1,250km (776.714 miles). So still got another 202 miles left to do this month!!!

You can check out today’s route @ www.strava.com/activities/648620182.

Pearl Izumi Team Garmin-Chipotle team kit
Pearl Izumi Team Garmin-Chipotle team kit

More miles than last month!

That’s me now done more miles of cycling this month, than last month! Right now my total stands at 539.5, so already 17.7 miles up on last month! So should end this month, on around 600 to 650 miles!

You can check out today’s route @ www.strava.com/activities/647389177.

Pearl Izumi Team Garmin-Chipotle team kit
Pearl Izumi Team Garmin-Chipotle team kit
Pearl Izumi Team Garmin-Chipotle team kit

Photo gallery now encrypted!

encrypt-zenphoto-20-07-2016That’s the photo gallery part of this website now been encrypted using SSL/TLS Certificates. Hoping to get the whole website using SSL/TLS at some point.

You will now see a ‘padlock’ icon in your browser’s address bar, indicating that SSL is present and trusted by your browser. When looking at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/ section of the website.

28 mile ride, in 29C! #hottestdayoftheyear

Well that was a great cycle! On #hottestdayoftheyear was round 29C for most of the cycle! Would, not have wanted to do much more than 28 miles in that sort of heat! Also was glad, I had white Lycra on again…



200 miles cycling, in 7 days!

I am, well pleased with myself. I did just over 200 miles of cycling in one week! The most, miles I’ve done in single week in a long time! But of course, I’ve done much better than that before! When I did the End to End cycle, I did around 450 miles, in 7 days!

200 miles in 7 days