Wednesday, 26 October 2011
South Downs 100
The South Downs 100 Official Video...
So 'You'll have to get out of bed earlier!' he said, so that's exactly what I did for the South Downs 100 last weekend. I was there at 0800 to enter on the line, I saw Steve in the car park beforehand but then went off to get changed etc. The course today was the 'standard' route of 73.6 miles mainly due to time requirement to be back home earlier than the previous sportive. I was ready shortly after 0830 (30 mins earlier than of late). I lined up knowing that somewhere out on the course was Steve and his riding buddy Andy. I knew some of the hills and also knew the wind was going to be a factor at 27km/h.
A nice pace at the start and into the first climb up towards Goodwood. The images above were from the top of Goodwood. I was rolling along nicely, a good pace and soon I was beginning to drop down the steep side of Duncton Hill and trying to keep the right side of the white lines (unfortunately there was a big accident on one of the descents).
After 1h 30mins of riding I spotted the riding style of Steve up a climb and caught up with him, both of us struggled to talk in more than 3 word sentences, and as I drew level he sped up. He then introduced me to Les and William who were also riding with him. That makes 4 of them in a tight pack!! I crested the hill and started the slight descent and could see in the shadow cast by the autumn sunlight I had collected a wheel sucker or two. I took a brief look over my shoulder and confirmed my suspicion - Steve and his 'crew' were back there, but I didn't mind at all and just kept riding. It soon became apparent that this group had only started 5 mins before me and I had just taken 90 mins to catch them! We worked as a 5 for a little while until they decided to let me push on a little.
I had planned not to stop on the course as I felt that I had enough fluid and it wasn't a particularly hot day. Unfortunately I had an unplanned stop when I lost the chain going from the big ring to the small ring and unable to get it back I ended up laying on my side on the road like a true amateur. Luckily only a very small amount of road rash on this occasion.
Butser Hill and the final sections from Rowlands Castle to Chichester were all into the wind and I suffered more than I wanted to and I could see my average speed dropping, but I was back at Chichester College 4h 2m after I started (Average 18.2mph). Feeling smug that I had caught Steve during the ride this time I felt my work was done, and I went to my car to change. I was a little alarmed to see him coming across the line about 5 mins after I had finished to complete the course in 4h 11m. I think it's about time I started to ride with a 'crew' to level the playing field a little....
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
WORLD MASTERS TRACK - Manchester
10Km SCRATCH
Adrian had made it back up to Manchester to catch the Points race final and I think the competition was making him distinctly nervous as its a long way to come to do a 5Km heat, he was right to be wary, after the heats of the Points race I was beginning to doubt my own motivation for doing this sort of thing, you sort of just get carried away with it. I know its a World title and that would be nice, but the cost difficult to square with what goes on in the middle of a bunch at 35mph and what you are prepared to risk in a 'comfy' mid life, we are not young and a race can be an unforgiving place, but none so hard as the ground beneath our feet, and that is where we are heading if we slip up or take one risk too many, there is always somebody else to blame but ultimately we have to take the decision to get up on the track
Having said that, it's a beautiful place to be, I have likened racing on the track to "The closest thing to flying", and none so free as on a Scratch race with its destiny a headlong rush to the finish line, complete freedom to move in space, the banking gives the sensation of being unhindered by gravity and in a bunch at speed we wheel and swoop like a flock of starlings under the artificial light and in the dry air of the stadium at once freedom and speed. A heady combination with adrenalin and competition track racing has been my drug of choice and here I am still chasing it. At this level the highest level I have tried I can sense that feeling I had in a previous life on the boards at Leicester, the cold air of a summer evening rushing past your face at 35mph in the 20Km final, a dryness in the throat, always the most amazing rush, preceded by a game of 'Jenga' with bike and rider tessellate to the width of the track and try not to fall that is the simplicity of the Scratch race, one dash for the line
To get to the final we have to compete in a 20 lap heat and the first twelve go through, heats are the devils work, they get under your skin and make you sweat, you cannot take risks, and yet you must to get up into position, there is no moving up in the final lap, you have to position yourself with a kilometer to go and then hold that. The race continues going on around and fend off the opposition and then push for the line in a maddening rush, no tactics just hold your position and hold your nerve. I have been in heats where only six riders go through so maybe I'm not so stressed as some of the others but I'm still a bit shaky even if I don't show it
Adrian and I are in the first heat and I am getting to know the opposition, the race does not take long to unwind and we are in the final sprint already, I position myself on the outside where I can move , It's further and you catch the wind so its tougher, the big South African Michael Bevan goes past with somebody on his wheel (Gomez?) I just have to stay upright, on the final bend I sense a rider at my elbow and I have to use it to keep them at bay as I close up on David Klipper (USA) who in turn is shouting at Adrian not to move up the track (& not in a calm way!) I push up as near as I dare without contacting the fence at the top of the track over the line and then kick back as hard as possible and my bike shakes in an impossible speed wobble as I try to take off some of the speed before we hit the banking, and the banking hits me. There is no incident just a blanket finish and its tight for places, it did not help matters that Greenstreet who had been on the attack was being swallowed by the bunch in the final 100 metres but he too makes it as do myself and Adrian in 5th and 9th. A rider informs me he could smell rubber when I kicked back on the line but it was too close to call and at that point you can hardly call your mother and tell her to "Get me out of here!" and I still see track riders with no lock ring on their sprocket in races, madness!
The second heat more of a 'dragstrip' affair with Steve Clayton (GBR) lining the bunch out with 3 laps to go and making the pace so high that nobody can move up (how nice of him) so the bunch goes over the finish in a long line. With 11 British riders in the final maybe something good will come as the home nation not having a great Championship in our age group (but better in others).
The final can be approached in a more relaxed fashion, you are in the final so the pressure is subtly different, for some riders getting in the final is there final and they are happy to ride it with no pressure and no expectation, but if you want to do a good ride then you need a strategy that suits your ability and your expectations, there needs to be a bit of pressure. The 40 lap final is a strange affair, Gomez is determined for a solo attack as he sits up in a group of four that get away early on and then when he gets away he stays away for 25 laps! The Argentinian has over half a lap at one point but the bunch goes into stasis and we lap after lap after lap and nobody attacks at all just a steady pace almost like a neutralised race. With less than 10 to go we are pulling him back, there is a bit of bumping and boring as riders jockey for position Adrian goes down on his own in the middle of the banking under pressure from Thomas Kapuste (GER) and hits the blue inner as we all move away, I have been trailing Ettles through the bunch for a few laps and approach the front, I go up to the top of the track and with 5 to go attack, Plan A is the only plan for me, it would be good for me to have somebody on my wheel but I do not have time to wait and its as fast and as far as my legs will take me to the line is all I'm interested in
I pass under Adrian getting back into the race and over Gomez as his magnificent effort comes to a close and I just put my head down, for this (Plan A) to succeed you need the bunch to hesitate and it does for a moment and I get a quarter lap but the Germans have other ideas and Blasczyk goes to the front and in a blatant lead out for his team mate Kaspuste, he drags the bunch up to me on the bell lap and I am swamped by a mass of riders and I know my race is done. Kaspuste wins it from Paul Whatsmouth (GBR) so at least one of the British riders got up there and Colombian Jaime Cardona in third. As I circle the track to cross the line Blasczyk is next to me Whooping & cheering, sometimes the German aptitude for winning is justified but here in a non team race it is a bit hard to take, not blatant but just annoying. Plan A is an all or nothing strategy, it's rarely successful but it does give you a chance and in a world final that chance is just too juicy not to take, with Adrian in the bunch (a better finisher than me) but you just have to stick with it and say you took part and carried out what you planned , the result shows a different story. Adrian was up and back in the race but all at sixes & sevens so did not have a chance to get himself into position for the sprint, he has taken skin off all over as he tumbled to a standstill but he will mend, the damage to a pair of Mavic wheels more difficult to bounce back from.
Report & Result
Adrian had made it back up to Manchester to catch the Points race final and I think the competition was making him distinctly nervous as its a long way to come to do a 5Km heat, he was right to be wary, after the heats of the Points race I was beginning to doubt my own motivation for doing this sort of thing, you sort of just get carried away with it. I know its a World title and that would be nice, but the cost difficult to square with what goes on in the middle of a bunch at 35mph and what you are prepared to risk in a 'comfy' mid life, we are not young and a race can be an unforgiving place, but none so hard as the ground beneath our feet, and that is where we are heading if we slip up or take one risk too many, there is always somebody else to blame but ultimately we have to take the decision to get up on the track
Having said that, it's a beautiful place to be, I have likened racing on the track to "The closest thing to flying", and none so free as on a Scratch race with its destiny a headlong rush to the finish line, complete freedom to move in space, the banking gives the sensation of being unhindered by gravity and in a bunch at speed we wheel and swoop like a flock of starlings under the artificial light and in the dry air of the stadium at once freedom and speed. A heady combination with adrenalin and competition track racing has been my drug of choice and here I am still chasing it. At this level the highest level I have tried I can sense that feeling I had in a previous life on the boards at Leicester, the cold air of a summer evening rushing past your face at 35mph in the 20Km final, a dryness in the throat, always the most amazing rush, preceded by a game of 'Jenga' with bike and rider tessellate to the width of the track and try not to fall that is the simplicity of the Scratch race, one dash for the line
 |
| The stress of the heats |
To get to the final we have to compete in a 20 lap heat and the first twelve go through, heats are the devils work, they get under your skin and make you sweat, you cannot take risks, and yet you must to get up into position, there is no moving up in the final lap, you have to position yourself with a kilometer to go and then hold that. The race continues going on around and fend off the opposition and then push for the line in a maddening rush, no tactics just hold your position and hold your nerve. I have been in heats where only six riders go through so maybe I'm not so stressed as some of the others but I'm still a bit shaky even if I don't show it
Adrian and I are in the first heat and I am getting to know the opposition, the race does not take long to unwind and we are in the final sprint already, I position myself on the outside where I can move , It's further and you catch the wind so its tougher, the big South African Michael Bevan goes past with somebody on his wheel (Gomez?) I just have to stay upright, on the final bend I sense a rider at my elbow and I have to use it to keep them at bay as I close up on David Klipper (USA) who in turn is shouting at Adrian not to move up the track (& not in a calm way!) I push up as near as I dare without contacting the fence at the top of the track over the line and then kick back as hard as possible and my bike shakes in an impossible speed wobble as I try to take off some of the speed before we hit the banking, and the banking hits me. There is no incident just a blanket finish and its tight for places, it did not help matters that Greenstreet who had been on the attack was being swallowed by the bunch in the final 100 metres but he too makes it as do myself and Adrian in 5th and 9th. A rider informs me he could smell rubber when I kicked back on the line but it was too close to call and at that point you can hardly call your mother and tell her to "Get me out of here!" and I still see track riders with no lock ring on their sprocket in races, madness!
The second heat more of a 'dragstrip' affair with Steve Clayton (GBR) lining the bunch out with 3 laps to go and making the pace so high that nobody can move up (how nice of him) so the bunch goes over the finish in a long line. With 11 British riders in the final maybe something good will come as the home nation not having a great Championship in our age group (but better in others).
 |
| Waiting for the 10Km final |
The final can be approached in a more relaxed fashion, you are in the final so the pressure is subtly different, for some riders getting in the final is there final and they are happy to ride it with no pressure and no expectation, but if you want to do a good ride then you need a strategy that suits your ability and your expectations, there needs to be a bit of pressure. The 40 lap final is a strange affair, Gomez is determined for a solo attack as he sits up in a group of four that get away early on and then when he gets away he stays away for 25 laps! The Argentinian has over half a lap at one point but the bunch goes into stasis and we lap after lap after lap and nobody attacks at all just a steady pace almost like a neutralised race. With less than 10 to go we are pulling him back, there is a bit of bumping and boring as riders jockey for position Adrian goes down on his own in the middle of the banking under pressure from Thomas Kapuste (GER) and hits the blue inner as we all move away, I have been trailing Ettles through the bunch for a few laps and approach the front, I go up to the top of the track and with 5 to go attack, Plan A is the only plan for me, it would be good for me to have somebody on my wheel but I do not have time to wait and its as fast and as far as my legs will take me to the line is all I'm interested in
 |
| It's tougher than you think |
Report & Result
Monday, 24 October 2011
Parlee meets silicon valley, just for the ride
Please close your eyes if you are a traditionalist the single forked MTBs look awful but the video at the end , well who knows ?
http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2011/10/electronic-shifting-is-here—now-what/
http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2011/10/electronic-shifting-is-here—now-what/
Whilst we're looking at viaducts...
Earlier in the year I took part in the Rutland 300k audax, a lovely ride from Baldock in Hertfordshire - so not too far to travel to the start. The highlight of the ride was passing under the Welland viaduct. Although not as high as the Balcombe viaduct, it's length makes it the longest viaduct (across a valley) in Britain. It's definitely worth a visit or better still, do the ride next year and see it up close.
Welland Viaduct, also known as Harringworth Viaduct and Seaton Viaduct,[2] is a railway viaduct which crosses the valley of the River Welland between Harringworth in Northamptonshire and Seaton in Rutland, England. It is 1,275 yards (1.166 km) long and has 82 arches, each of which has a 40 feet (12 m) span. It was completed in around 1878, and is the longest masonry viaduct across a valley in Britain.[3]
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Trevor in shock Dropped scandal
A stunning day and having wished Mr Redhead a happy birthday in the car park -and expressing our surprise that he was only 67,off we went on way to Balcombe via Turners Hill and Ardingly. It is with no little sadness however that I have to relate the news that at 12.03pm about 1.2miles short of Ardingly after Messrs Hicks and Reynolds had upped the pace that Trevor,our guide and ever reliable Routmeister ,the rider who does more work than any other on the front ,was ,I can hardly type the word ,dropped. As "Bomber" explained," I changed up and sprinted to close the gap thinking the Routemeister was on my wheel but when I looked back he was out of sight ". Fortunately we did not have to wait long and a few minutes later Trevor finally came into view.
For once we stopped by the Balcombe Viaduct -a highlight of the ride on this route rivalling even the delights of the Balcombe tea rooms.
In case anyone missed it the last time a short note on the elegant construction is repeated below
Another great day's ride -see Andy showing his pleasure at the feast of cherry and coconut he is about to devour.
The viaduct is96 feet (29 m) high and is carried on 37 semi-circular arches, each of 30 feet (9.1 m), surmounted by balustrades. Each pier contains a Jack arch with a semi-circular soffit in order to reduce the number of bricks required.[1] At each end of the abutment there is an ornamental square open tower, the brickword of which is faced with stone from Heddon Quarries near Newcastle-upon-Tyne.[2] It was designed by engineer for the line John Urpeth Rastrick in association with the architect of the London to Brighton railway, David Mocatta. It has been described as probably the most elegant viaduct in Britain.[3]
The viaduct is96 feet (29 m) high and is carried on 37 semi-circular arches, each of 30 feet (9.1 m), surmounted by balustrades. Each pier contains a Jack arch with a semi-circular soffit in order to reduce the number of bricks required.[1] At each end of the abutment there is an ornamental square open tower, the brickword of which is faced with stone from Heddon Quarries near Newcastle-upon-Tyne.[2] It was designed by engineer for the line John Urpeth Rastrick in association with the architect of the London to Brighton railway, David Mocatta. It has been described as probably the most elegant viaduct in Britain.[3]Friday, 21 October 2011
WORLD MASTERS TRACK - Manchester
20Km POINTS RACE
I had a day off on Tuesday and went out for a ride to the top of Snake Pass the entry into the Derbyshire Peak District from the red brick of Manchester, It was a miserable day, proper Manchester weather steady rain and wind but I needed to be outside as the claustrophobia of the track seemed to be heightened by the Pursuit dicipline a very intense effort with an insular focus. With that now gone I could concentrate on the Points and Scratch race, more racing effort and more my thing. The weather was worse at the top of the pass, driving rain and misty low cloud, I was determined to get to the top but immediately turned around to come home as I was getting cold as well, the 30mph decent was blinding but I warmed up once down and the rain receded to a drizzle by the time I was back in my hotel.
Two heats with 25 riders and twelve to qualify, only four sprints in a 10Km (40 lap) race that would test the nerves as well as the skills of the riders, I was in the second so I could watch the first and it was completely different styles of raceing. In the first five riders in two groups including the British champion Tony Nash gained a lap mopping up the sprint points as they went, leaving few for the bunch to sprint for. My heat was more closely contested 'sprinters' race and I knew a single point would probably be enough but If I could get two that would make sure. I broke the habit of a lifetime and went for the first sprint and came up 5th which left me short of breath and on the back foot for the second sprint. With only two sprints to score I knew I needed to make it so hard that nobody would come past me and I chased down Peter Ettles (GBR) but could not pass him but I got my three points and all I had to do was make sure I was well up in the final gallop to ensure there was no problems. At this stage quite a few riders not scored so a bit of desperation set in and the last couple of laps like a scratch race and on the bell a mass of barging and elbows making it dangerous so I was on the outside. All four riders on my inside came down in a tangle of frames and bodies, I heard a pair of forks break as I missed a riders head with my wheel as they squirmed up and then down the banking. I was still placed 8th in the finish and 7th overall so comfortable in the end but a near miss on the way, The only rider to miss out Stephen McNally (IRL) who had points but unable to contest the final due to his injuries, the other three walking wounded with no points
We had a few hours to kill before the final at the end of the evening session, brother Phil had come up from London to be my helper for a few days, I think I saw him blanch at the crash and the rider on the floor for quite a while until he could be moved, he had broken his collar bone falling the long way down the track and in the next heat for another age group there was another crash which delayed the rerun until the evening as the session was brought to a halt to let the place calm down. Crashing is part of track racing, the riders and the officials were already getting a feel for the quality of the riding and with such a variety of events and riders, it can all get a bit heated rather than dangerous but you still need to be able to impose yourself and adapt to the style of the racing. Some of the whips were shaking their heads at the maneuvers in the bunches but as a rider you just do not have time to think too much if a rider is too close stick an elbow out and if another does not hold their line then shout, there were 25 nationalities at these Championships but I don't think there was any misunderstanding in the racing, it was full on and committed and you just have to deal with it.
The final was over 80 laps so more time for the race to develop but judging by the pursuit times allot of very evenly matched and powerful riders and all of the 24 riders has a different strategy to suit their style of riding. I can sit out the first couple of sprints and let the race settle as I plan to make a break to get my points as I'm better from a small group, Michael Blasczyk (GER) took the first 5 Pt's. and Gerardo Gomez (ARG) the second and Kerry Harford (NZL) the third, five points is a big score when things are so tight and the 3-2-1 for the other places looks paultry for the effort required in a mass sprint. No rider had scored twice apart from Thomas Kapuste (GER) who has a 3+1+1 Pt's. so when he scored a single again in the forth won by Ettles (GBR) from Blasczyk and Harford there were allot of riders in contention and plenty of riders with nothing, including me! I had tried to get up in the sprint but 5th the best I could manage, several riders had already tried to get away but the pace was too high and there were too many willing to chase you down but I had to try and so I took my chance in the lull after the forth sprint
In this style of race you hope that somebody will come with your attack in a race too fast to suvive on your own, so best not to make your attack too much of a surprise or too hard, a gentle drift over the top is better than a thunderbolt underneath like enticing a fish with some 'tickling' it will only work if you have somebody to work with and after a lap or two on my own Ian Greenstreet (GBR) is up with me but trailing Blasczyk and we settle down and change every half lap, no need to knacker yourself when you have a sprint coming up. We three only have a few laps before the sprint which fall kindly for Greenstreet on the bell so I have to out sprint him and hold off the German for the win and my first points. Blasczyk responds by attacking us a lap later I know we are doomed if we do not work together, it's too late, confusion in the break and the bunch hunt you down and we are swamped by the melee.
I sense that the German duo are working as a team with Kapuste taking the next sprint while I get my breath back and the bunch is getting elongated more and more at every sprint but the pace is still too hot for my sprinting and I can only manage another 5th in the next sprint won by Harford with Kapuste another 2 Pt's putting him in the lead by one point from the New Zealander, Blasczyk on 10 Pt's and Ettles 8 Pt's Gomez 6 Pt's and myself in 6th place
With the penultimate sprint gone but the bunch in a long line I have no option but to attack again, this time the Pursuit winner Daniel Casper (USA) and Gomez but the Argentinian will not work with the American and keeps swinging up the track, I think he feels he does not have to work but it is not helpng my cause and I have to attack to try and rid myself of them as we have a third of a lap and the bunch in dissaray, I do not have enough in my legs for a third attack after he swings up again with no intention of working. We eventually are absorbed in the bunch and the final gallop is upon us, of all the cheek Gomez gets up and wins it and celebrates like its a scratch race, Blasczyk is second so on the same points as his team mate so its a German 1-2 and Blasczyk takes it by virtue of a better placing in the final sprint, Harford takes the Bronze a point infront of the now sombre Argentinian who thought it was his in a very close race and picks up a warning from the judges for "Entering the sprinters lane when there is already somebody there" ie Dangerous riding and suffers a deduction of points in the relavent sprint(s) I'm 7th (and 2nd British rider) in a final only four scored from the nine that contested the final a pretty poor showing.
Report & Result
I had a day off on Tuesday and went out for a ride to the top of Snake Pass the entry into the Derbyshire Peak District from the red brick of Manchester, It was a miserable day, proper Manchester weather steady rain and wind but I needed to be outside as the claustrophobia of the track seemed to be heightened by the Pursuit dicipline a very intense effort with an insular focus. With that now gone I could concentrate on the Points and Scratch race, more racing effort and more my thing. The weather was worse at the top of the pass, driving rain and misty low cloud, I was determined to get to the top but immediately turned around to come home as I was getting cold as well, the 30mph decent was blinding but I warmed up once down and the rain receded to a drizzle by the time I was back in my hotel.
 |
| Madchester |
Two heats with 25 riders and twelve to qualify, only four sprints in a 10Km (40 lap) race that would test the nerves as well as the skills of the riders, I was in the second so I could watch the first and it was completely different styles of raceing. In the first five riders in two groups including the British champion Tony Nash gained a lap mopping up the sprint points as they went, leaving few for the bunch to sprint for. My heat was more closely contested 'sprinters' race and I knew a single point would probably be enough but If I could get two that would make sure. I broke the habit of a lifetime and went for the first sprint and came up 5th which left me short of breath and on the back foot for the second sprint. With only two sprints to score I knew I needed to make it so hard that nobody would come past me and I chased down Peter Ettles (GBR) but could not pass him but I got my three points and all I had to do was make sure I was well up in the final gallop to ensure there was no problems. At this stage quite a few riders not scored so a bit of desperation set in and the last couple of laps like a scratch race and on the bell a mass of barging and elbows making it dangerous so I was on the outside. All four riders on my inside came down in a tangle of frames and bodies, I heard a pair of forks break as I missed a riders head with my wheel as they squirmed up and then down the banking. I was still placed 8th in the finish and 7th overall so comfortable in the end but a near miss on the way, The only rider to miss out Stephen McNally (IRL) who had points but unable to contest the final due to his injuries, the other three walking wounded with no points
We had a few hours to kill before the final at the end of the evening session, brother Phil had come up from London to be my helper for a few days, I think I saw him blanch at the crash and the rider on the floor for quite a while until he could be moved, he had broken his collar bone falling the long way down the track and in the next heat for another age group there was another crash which delayed the rerun until the evening as the session was brought to a halt to let the place calm down. Crashing is part of track racing, the riders and the officials were already getting a feel for the quality of the riding and with such a variety of events and riders, it can all get a bit heated rather than dangerous but you still need to be able to impose yourself and adapt to the style of the racing. Some of the whips were shaking their heads at the maneuvers in the bunches but as a rider you just do not have time to think too much if a rider is too close stick an elbow out and if another does not hold their line then shout, there were 25 nationalities at these Championships but I don't think there was any misunderstanding in the racing, it was full on and committed and you just have to deal with it.
 |
| Preparation for Points Race |
The final was over 80 laps so more time for the race to develop but judging by the pursuit times allot of very evenly matched and powerful riders and all of the 24 riders has a different strategy to suit their style of riding. I can sit out the first couple of sprints and let the race settle as I plan to make a break to get my points as I'm better from a small group, Michael Blasczyk (GER) took the first 5 Pt's. and Gerardo Gomez (ARG) the second and Kerry Harford (NZL) the third, five points is a big score when things are so tight and the 3-2-1 for the other places looks paultry for the effort required in a mass sprint. No rider had scored twice apart from Thomas Kapuste (GER) who has a 3+1+1 Pt's. so when he scored a single again in the forth won by Ettles (GBR) from Blasczyk and Harford there were allot of riders in contention and plenty of riders with nothing, including me! I had tried to get up in the sprint but 5th the best I could manage, several riders had already tried to get away but the pace was too high and there were too many willing to chase you down but I had to try and so I took my chance in the lull after the forth sprint
 |
| Tight scoreboard (three sprints to go) |
In this style of race you hope that somebody will come with your attack in a race too fast to suvive on your own, so best not to make your attack too much of a surprise or too hard, a gentle drift over the top is better than a thunderbolt underneath like enticing a fish with some 'tickling' it will only work if you have somebody to work with and after a lap or two on my own Ian Greenstreet (GBR) is up with me but trailing Blasczyk and we settle down and change every half lap, no need to knacker yourself when you have a sprint coming up. We three only have a few laps before the sprint which fall kindly for Greenstreet on the bell so I have to out sprint him and hold off the German for the win and my first points. Blasczyk responds by attacking us a lap later I know we are doomed if we do not work together, it's too late, confusion in the break and the bunch hunt you down and we are swamped by the melee.
I sense that the German duo are working as a team with Kapuste taking the next sprint while I get my breath back and the bunch is getting elongated more and more at every sprint but the pace is still too hot for my sprinting and I can only manage another 5th in the next sprint won by Harford with Kapuste another 2 Pt's putting him in the lead by one point from the New Zealander, Blasczyk on 10 Pt's and Ettles 8 Pt's Gomez 6 Pt's and myself in 6th place
 |
| That was tough! (Photo's by PDP) |
With the penultimate sprint gone but the bunch in a long line I have no option but to attack again, this time the Pursuit winner Daniel Casper (USA) and Gomez but the Argentinian will not work with the American and keeps swinging up the track, I think he feels he does not have to work but it is not helpng my cause and I have to attack to try and rid myself of them as we have a third of a lap and the bunch in dissaray, I do not have enough in my legs for a third attack after he swings up again with no intention of working. We eventually are absorbed in the bunch and the final gallop is upon us, of all the cheek Gomez gets up and wins it and celebrates like its a scratch race, Blasczyk is second so on the same points as his team mate so its a German 1-2 and Blasczyk takes it by virtue of a better placing in the final sprint, Harford takes the Bronze a point infront of the now sombre Argentinian who thought it was his in a very close race and picks up a warning from the judges for "Entering the sprinters lane when there is already somebody there" ie Dangerous riding and suffers a deduction of points in the relavent sprint(s) I'm 7th (and 2nd British rider) in a final only four scored from the nine that contested the final a pretty poor showing.
Report & Result
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Tuesday mtb
The sunny days just keep on keeping on! A gentle ride around the North Downs with Roger. There was a bit of water about after last nights rain but generally it was still dry!
WORLD MASTERS TRACK - Manchester
3Km PURSUIT (45-49)
I've never been great at the Pursuit so this time as it's my last opportunity to do the 3Km distance as next year I go up into the 50-54 age group and its only 2Km so I've been doing a bit of preparation, as well as building myself a starting gate to practice getting going I also did a dozen max HR sessions on the turbo and threshold at 115-120 RPM to simulate the race in the two weeks prior. As the event is on the first day of the Championships and I have a rest day before the distance races get going I can give it an all out effort and try and break the 3:40 barrier, I figure a 3:36 good enough to get into the top 4 and the ride off for Gold, Silver and Bronze but the world record a blistering 3:21 to the American Ken Bostick faster than all the worlds best down to 35 years.
Sure enough two days before the Pursuit I wake to feel a bit under the weather, I stay in all day and fore go my final turbo session but feel a little better on the Sunday so on my way up to Manchester with a carload I stop off to watch the Jonny Helms 2 Up at Congleton, Lots of champions past and present in an end of season event more of a social than a race but the day is a bit wet but fun none the less. Adrian who is riding with his dad Mick (multi National champion from the 50's) decides to come and help me with the pursuit but has to go back to London for work commitments before coming back up for the Thursday the 10Km Scratch race the only event he is entered, I have the 20Km Points race on the Wednesday
Jonny Helms 2 UP - Result
Photos (c/o Cycling Weekly)
I still feel a bit under the weather but nothing I can do about it, there is an impressive 16 (seeded) heats and Michael Bevan (RSA) records an early 3:35.187 catching his man and I think I may have underestimated the opposition, a couple of riders DNS including my opposition Steve Clayton (GBR) with a sore throat so the whips put me in with Geraldo Gomes (ARG) as his has likewise scratched. I have finished my warm up so ready to go but its all a bit sudden and I'm sitting in the gate on the line with the clock ticking down from 50-49-48 ............ sweat is pouring off my head onto my visor.................... 29-28-27 .............. I sit bolt upright take a few deep breaths............. ...........19-18-17..................my mind has gone blank..............I look at Adrian and he stares back as if to say "Time to go" the last ten seconds and I push back on 5-4-3-2-1-GO.
My start is fine around the 22 second mark and I settle down for my ride, I do not look across until 4 laps are gone but I sense that Gomez is up, I go through the first kilometer in 1:14 not super fast but workmanlike 17.5 -18.0 second laps is enough I still feel OK but I need to lift it from here to the finish. with 4 to go I can see Gomez a bit and my breathing is feeling out of control, I try to put a bit more into it, I can feel I am lifting it but it feels like more pain than I can take to lift it any more, the last couple of laps I can feel my style going to pieces. At the bell I can hardly see for the sweat and the sheer effort, but I just have to fling my legs around until I cross the line
I know I got it all out but within a few minutes the pain has subsided and you wonder to yourself what all the fuss was about, the time is a personel best 3:40.288 the second fastest to date but not good enough I feel a bit dejected and disappointed, and slope off to warm down, Gomez 3:43.199
Kenji Yano (JPN) and Daniel Casper (USA) record 3:33.835 and 3:33.501 in the next two heats Stephen McNally (IRL) 3:33.663 in the penultimate heat means that they go through with Bevan to the ride off, my ride is good enough for 10th and only 4th British rider so while I have never got a medal at this discipline (the closest I came was 4th in the Europeans) I just do not have the aptitude to go deep enough as I have peppered the 4:40-43 mark with regular consistency just not able to take it further. Best British rider Peter Ettles 3:36.328 in 5th
The final goes to form with Casper slowing to 3:35.416 from Mc Nally 3:36.932 and Yano 3:36 an easy winner over Bevan 3:39, you have to be able to get it all out in that one ride, there is no room to develop during a series of rides like in the past when the you could improve through the rounds, when I have got through to the final four I have been very consistent but at this level it requires a dedication I do not possess and a talent that has thus far eluded me
All that remains is a haltering cough
Report & Result
I've never been great at the Pursuit so this time as it's my last opportunity to do the 3Km distance as next year I go up into the 50-54 age group and its only 2Km so I've been doing a bit of preparation, as well as building myself a starting gate to practice getting going I also did a dozen max HR sessions on the turbo and threshold at 115-120 RPM to simulate the race in the two weeks prior. As the event is on the first day of the Championships and I have a rest day before the distance races get going I can give it an all out effort and try and break the 3:40 barrier, I figure a 3:36 good enough to get into the top 4 and the ride off for Gold, Silver and Bronze but the world record a blistering 3:21 to the American Ken Bostick faster than all the worlds best down to 35 years.
Sure enough two days before the Pursuit I wake to feel a bit under the weather, I stay in all day and fore go my final turbo session but feel a little better on the Sunday so on my way up to Manchester with a carload I stop off to watch the Jonny Helms 2 Up at Congleton, Lots of champions past and present in an end of season event more of a social than a race but the day is a bit wet but fun none the less. Adrian who is riding with his dad Mick (multi National champion from the 50's) decides to come and help me with the pursuit but has to go back to London for work commitments before coming back up for the Thursday the 10Km Scratch race the only event he is entered, I have the 20Km Points race on the Wednesday
Jonny Helms 2 UP - Result
Photos (c/o Cycling Weekly)
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| Getting out the gate |
I still feel a bit under the weather but nothing I can do about it, there is an impressive 16 (seeded) heats and Michael Bevan (RSA) records an early 3:35.187 catching his man and I think I may have underestimated the opposition, a couple of riders DNS including my opposition Steve Clayton (GBR) with a sore throat so the whips put me in with Geraldo Gomes (ARG) as his has likewise scratched. I have finished my warm up so ready to go but its all a bit sudden and I'm sitting in the gate on the line with the clock ticking down from 50-49-48 ............ sweat is pouring off my head onto my visor.................... 29-28-27 .............. I sit bolt upright take a few deep breaths............. ...........19-18-17..................my mind has gone blank..............I look at Adrian and he stares back as if to say "Time to go" the last ten seconds and I push back on 5-4-3-2-1-GO.
My start is fine around the 22 second mark and I settle down for my ride, I do not look across until 4 laps are gone but I sense that Gomez is up, I go through the first kilometer in 1:14 not super fast but workmanlike 17.5 -18.0 second laps is enough I still feel OK but I need to lift it from here to the finish. with 4 to go I can see Gomez a bit and my breathing is feeling out of control, I try to put a bit more into it, I can feel I am lifting it but it feels like more pain than I can take to lift it any more, the last couple of laps I can feel my style going to pieces. At the bell I can hardly see for the sweat and the sheer effort, but I just have to fling my legs around until I cross the line
I know I got it all out but within a few minutes the pain has subsided and you wonder to yourself what all the fuss was about, the time is a personel best 3:40.288 the second fastest to date but not good enough I feel a bit dejected and disappointed, and slope off to warm down, Gomez 3:43.199
Kenji Yano (JPN) and Daniel Casper (USA) record 3:33.835 and 3:33.501 in the next two heats Stephen McNally (IRL) 3:33.663 in the penultimate heat means that they go through with Bevan to the ride off, my ride is good enough for 10th and only 4th British rider so while I have never got a medal at this discipline (the closest I came was 4th in the Europeans) I just do not have the aptitude to go deep enough as I have peppered the 4:40-43 mark with regular consistency just not able to take it further. Best British rider Peter Ettles 3:36.328 in 5th
The final goes to form with Casper slowing to 3:35.416 from Mc Nally 3:36.932 and Yano 3:36 an easy winner over Bevan 3:39, you have to be able to get it all out in that one ride, there is no room to develop during a series of rides like in the past when the you could improve through the rounds, when I have got through to the final four I have been very consistent but at this level it requires a dedication I do not possess and a talent that has thus far eluded me
All that remains is a haltering cough
Report & Result
Monday, 17 October 2011
Lessons on how to ride with Paul Alderson
Having ridden ,or should I say,started a number of audax events with Paul this year,Alan and I have learned a number of lessons if we wish to ride with Paul for longer than it takes to leave the car park.
These are ,in no particular order ,other than the last one ,which by far and away outweighs the others,as we realised yesterday
1 Hope that he is late .
2 Hope that he has come in his wife's car and then forgets to lock the door and only remembers he may have left it open when he is 1km down the road and has to go back .( I know- this one sounded a dodgy excuse to us as well as his reason for not catching us earlier)
3 Plan on doing a ride when it is cold. He is soft and comes from the wrong side of the equator and does not like it .
4 Very important-do a ride when he has finished his serious challenges for the year so that he is as "relaxed " as he ever is going to be ( those of you who know him will appreciate that this is a relative term)
5 Enter a ride with a small ,uncompetitive field ,so that even riding at your gentler pace than he is used to -he will still come in first .While of course remembering that an Audax event is of course not a race.
6 When he does catch you up-as he will- do not under any circumstances throw down any challenges but instead quickly engage him in conversation to distract him from the task in hand of riding himself ( and you if you let him ) into the ground.
7 Last and the one that really swings it -enter an event that finishes in a public house ,on a warm sunny afternoon ,selling pints of very fine Ringwood ale to wash down the freshly made rolls laid on by the organiser.
AND ,crucially -you have said half way round you would pay for the said pint of Ringwood ale .
Result -a most enjoyable 112 kms spent in Paul's company .
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Wylye & Ebble valley 200km audax
My October audax started in Denmead just north of Portsmouth and headed west to the Salisbury plains. I picked up my Wandsworth neighbour Nick Allen, while it was still dark and headed off down the A3. As we headed out of town the temperature on the car dashboard began to fall until it was only just above freezing. Yesterday had been lovely and the forecast for the day was for 16 degrees, so I hadn't packed and warm gloves.
We met up with Paul Alderson at the start, pick up our brevet cards and headed off. It wasn't long before my hands were frozen and I had wished I had been better organised. The first stop was in Amesbury where this statue kneels and looks out from the new shopping development there.
Up to this point I had ridden with Nick as we left Paul who had been faffing in the car park. Paul's usually pretty quick and we knew it wouldn't be too long before he would catch us up and while we had our beans on toast he turned up.
Later on we road along the river Wylye valley then turned to do a bit of climbing as we headed south over the Downs.
Then onto the New Forest and a bit more climbing and by now the sun was strong and I had stripped off a layer. The horses and cattle are allowed to wander about as if they own the place.
Then onto the New Forest and a bit more climbing and by now the sun was strong and I had stripped off a layer. The horses and cattle are allowed to wander about as if they own the place.
We stayed together for the rest of the day and were first to finish when we arrived back in the pub in Denmead.
Don't expect Nick to keep awake if every you share the car with him. He was totally worn our by the early start and the miles covered.
Saturday, 15 October 2011
Tempting Fate
Last Sunday ,Mark W, Will , Alan and me not having been able to ride on the Saturday, went for a ride down to Balcombe.It had been wet over night and that with the expectation of a ,more relaxing "gentlemen's " day out led to Alan and Mark electing to ride their fixies .We met Will at Effingham and then went cross country via Polesden Lacey,the back road to Charlwood, across the ridge above Faygate towards Manningtree ,via Staplefield to Balcombe,giving 53 miles before lunch. I should add that as Mark expected to have had an evening in the company of Bacchus he wanted us to have a lie in and leave at 9am so we were all very pleased to see the delights of the tea room for what really was lunch.
The tea room was full but the very obliging ladies -even without us having the benefit of the Iberian Charmer -allowed us to carry a table and chairs outside .A leisurely 1 hour or so later we gently pottered home along the usual route .While eating, Mark proudly -and understandably-told us he had been given the frame he was riding as a present on his 13th birthday.A Carlton from Worksop as pronounced by the rather fine badge on the head tube.He was about to buy some new chrome forks and stem to further enhance the fine machine it was.It was a lovely sunny day,we had all had a good lunch,no-one had ripped our legs off on the way ,and so generally being generous of spirit and acting as the gentlemen that we are,we all agreed with his view and sang the praises of the fine English craftsmanship.
What a shame then to receive Mark's email the following wednesday announcing that Mark had tried to ride over the top of a BMW when doing about 20mph while travelling along the Embankment.Mark is mercifully fine tho' a bit bruised.The mighty Carlton however now has an even shorter wheelbase with the front and back wheels almost touching and as our Club Chairman noted ,it is perhaps now more a case of workshop than Worksop.
A few pictures below at the top of the climb by Faygate. Ignore the order of the photos as it was our Hill Climb Champion bringing up the rear and apologies for the lack of focus but I was laughing too much at his antics
Nick .
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
Got a free entry into the Cycling Weekly Sportive on Sunday, and chose the 77 mile option – far enough for me with a few nasty hills on the route. Got to Dorking by car with Malcolm who was just riding the 33 miler ‘fun’ route with the Cycling Weekly crowd, signed on and actually started at 8.50. Almost straightaway it was up the steep climb past the waste depot up to Ranmore – that woke me up! What woke me up even more was being hit some flying thing which got stuck under my helmet and stung me on the forehead…ouch! Then the whole way along Ranmore and up the climb up to the top of Coombe Bottom, down and then along past Albury and like a normal tour of Surrey clubrun…Shalford, Bramley, Hydestile, Hambledon, Chiddingfold , Dunsfold, Ellen’s Green, until I stopped at the feed station at Forest Green for a light refresher. Saw Peter Wright briefly, who was also doing the 77 miler, and rode on. I’d had a mix of being with small groups and alone, but just riding my own pace and feeling OK with my efforts so far. The weather had got milder but a little windy, especially when I was on my own. Don’t you just love riding in a group, making a little less effort and going that bit faster (not when you’re on the front)! After an all too quick stop at Forest Green, it was ‘head for the hills’ time with Leith Hill and the lumpy bit along the top, down through Abinger to the beast of Whitedown There may be some amongst us who say ‘…oh it’s not too bad’ or ‘…actually I quite like it’ or ‘…never had a problem getting up that one’, but me…I hate it. I hate it more when there’s a photographer there waiting to capture your image of tortured face and body trying to grind your way cheerily up an18% pain ramp. But on a more cheery note, the route went back over Ranmore, down to Westhumble and the enjoyably easier climb of Boxhill. To be honest, I wouldn’t have minded if the ride finished right there, but there was still a loop to do….along Boxhill down Pebblecombe, through Betchworth where I managed to wheelsuck a couple of faster guys all the way down to Leigh, then back towards Dorking and the finish in Pixham Lane. Pleased to have finished in 4h35m, well within gold time. And Whitedown? Hah…easy!. My one and only sportive of the year, right on my doorstep and all along familiar roads. Well run,well signed and 2 DVDs and a pair of socks when you finish…result! After a tired 10 mile drag home, I was surprised to see my face was swollen from the insect encounter…a ride with a sting in its tail for sure!
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
New Forest Heat
Making the most of the October heatwave, I rode the Wiggle Super Series New Forest 100 Sportive. Set in the beautiful New Forest, the relatively flat route goes through some of the places where I grew-up. The HQ was Brockenhurst College, and once again I was later than planned, finally rolling over the start line at 0850. This is where it all went a bit wrong, my brother, Steve, was riding this one too and a mix of things happened, firstly I knew he would have gone out much earlier than me so I had to chase him down and secondly, I let him get in my head a little when discussing the route. I knew the first section was flatter to let you ease into the ride but I went off a bit fast aware that Steve was looking at a 19mph average to start with. First food station was at 22 miles so I skipped that one. 35 miles in and I was still averaging 21.2mph, so I figured in for a penny and the hills were approaching so I pushed on a little. I was just concentrating on working through the miles, but on such a hot day I should have been thinking about fluids and when to stop. The result of this lapse in concentration meant that I was surprised to reach the second food station at 44 miles, with one complete bottle left. I was worried that if I stopped I would need to stop again later and I was aiming at minimising the time stopped, so I took the decision to go onto the third stop. I think this was probably a mistake, the last time I pulled this type stunt was a few years ago in the Etape du Dales and I blew up in a big way. This meant I was hitting the more bumpy sections and was beginning to feel the pace. Following the 25% Blissford Hill, I was relieved to see the final food station at 76 miles having completely run out of fluid - not a good plan in the heat!Whilst filling my bottles and asking the staff where I could get some EPO, I was nudged by SWRC rider Peter Dewis who was also on the ride shortly before he almost fell down a cattle grid. It happens in threes Peter!
Having not caught Steve yet, I jumped back on my bike and started to hit the last 22 miles, the first bottle was gone inside 5 miles, which meant I had to preserve water again. Soon I was on the wonderful Ornamental Drive heading back towards Brokenhurst which would have been brilliant but the car drivers were tripping over each other on the narrow tarmac which caused me to slow and wait for them. With 9 miles to go, I saw my parents at the side of the road and my father yelled '15 minutes' - what??, I thought, Steve was 15 mins up the road with 9 miles to go. There will be no catching him today, but I did manage to find someone to start to work with as we closed into the last 6 miles which was a welcome relief. We raced into Brokenhurst and I crossed the line after 98.1 miles with an official time of 5h 01m and a ride time of 4h 57m (average 19.8 mph) and I went to my car and had a little rest in the shade next to it. Steve had done a great job on his new carbon bike and despite a Mavic mechanical he producing his fastest ever sportive and I was only able to take 23 mins out of him. I think it took about 12 hrs to rehydrate.... I hope I have learnt my lesson....
Sunday, 9 October 2011
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Last Hurrah!
It's a month since the BDCA and I had two weeks anxious wait to see if I could improve my '50' time, In the intervening week I began preparation for the end of the season as I have the World Masters Track at Manchester (Oct 10-15) I will be riding the 3Km Pursuit (Mon) the 20Km Points race (Wed) and the Scratch race (Thurs). I train and race quite a bit on a fixed wheel during the season to keep my hand in but I have been inspired to do a bit more in the longer distances as one or two of the other top Testers have been getting good results most noticeably Scott Povey who has been going better this season than ever, the second fastest '50' of the year 1:40:08 and even broke into the BBAR in 6th place, he didn't ride the 12 Hour on a fixed but I would not put it past him in the future
I'd entered the Echelon '10' on what I thought was the National course from 2010 and what I thought would be a good 'fixed' course and put a conservative 106" gear on (56 x 14) I usually use 93" or 96" for my evening 10's but on a much slower course and I manage 100RPM for a short 22 most weeks. Here I thought was a chance to let loose and get a bit more power on the go. When I turned up I realised it was a different course with the first 4 miles on 'lumpy' B roads into a stiff headwind so I put the gear down to 100" and after a good warm up on the rollers was left freezing at the start as i miscalculated the 4 mile ride to the start which was only about 2 miles and reached allot quicker on a 100" gear! Needless to say the first part was deeply unpleasant and at one point I was going uphill at what seemed like a ridiculous cadence to be racing a fixed and everything I hate about riders who tell me they only have 120" gear on today "And I was twiddling my N*** off!"
The first 5 miles was looking like a disaster at 11:36 and I would have been better on gears as I turned onto the A46 at Salford Priors and got a bit of a tailwind, coming home was all that riding a fixed should be, I'm not saying I would not have gone faster on gears but so enjoyable as I sped along the gear dragging me up the inclines and encouraging me to put in some nifty footwork on the downhill. I finished with 21:21 so 9:45 for the second split for 5th place behind Jon Simpkins (Drag2Zero) 19:59 and that gear cost me dear as I was only a couple of seconds off 3rd as they were tied on 21:20
in the Severn RC event on the A419 between Cricklade and Cirencester, I only needed 32 seconds to make the top 12in the BBAR which may seem little to ask but as I'd already broken my PB in the season a might taller than I was able to reach in the end of. I came up a couple of minutes short of my target with a 1:49:40 which was still a good ride (7th) behind the flying Scott Povey (i-ride) 1:43:12 and Jeff Jones the BBAR elect 2nd this time 13 seconds behind. The course is exactly two laps of the same roads so my 55:09/54:31 splits was a good effort on a chilly morning with the odd splash of rain from the passing showers that plagued the late season, I missed riding the Stone Whs. '25' on the Sat to give this event me every chance of doing what I needed to do but despite a valiant effort it was not to be and I will have to settle with what I have.
The next day we were off to France for two weeks holiday and the Masters the week after I get back so it was into the car with turbo and bike and one on the back for good measure, I had a couple of days off cramped up in the car as rest bite but when we got to St Astier (Nr. Duras) an hour east of Bordeaux we were greeted with blue skies and balmy temperatures, I hear it was spectacular here as well but the blessing for me was NO WIND or only a moderate amount so I could do a decent amount of speed work on the road without knackering myself to go with the Turbo clatter and French roads Mmmmmmmmmmmm! Smooth I just want to get off and lick them!
To be honest the heat was almost too much for the turbo even though I kept it to the evening and outside the sweat was pouring off me and one time I did it in the rain until the water made my my power meter fail and I was still like I'd been swimming so it was 20 minutes in a cold shower to cool down or sweat all evening and leave a damp patch on the sofa. I just did 30 miles every morning and 45 minutes on the turbo in the evening and that was enough, a couple of rest days
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| Scott Povey (Pic Andrew Kiss) |
I'd entered the Echelon '10' on what I thought was the National course from 2010 and what I thought would be a good 'fixed' course and put a conservative 106" gear on (56 x 14) I usually use 93" or 96" for my evening 10's but on a much slower course and I manage 100RPM for a short 22 most weeks. Here I thought was a chance to let loose and get a bit more power on the go. When I turned up I realised it was a different course with the first 4 miles on 'lumpy' B roads into a stiff headwind so I put the gear down to 100" and after a good warm up on the rollers was left freezing at the start as i miscalculated the 4 mile ride to the start which was only about 2 miles and reached allot quicker on a 100" gear! Needless to say the first part was deeply unpleasant and at one point I was going uphill at what seemed like a ridiculous cadence to be racing a fixed and everything I hate about riders who tell me they only have 120" gear on today "And I was twiddling my N*** off!"
The first 5 miles was looking like a disaster at 11:36 and I would have been better on gears as I turned onto the A46 at Salford Priors and got a bit of a tailwind, coming home was all that riding a fixed should be, I'm not saying I would not have gone faster on gears but so enjoyable as I sped along the gear dragging me up the inclines and encouraging me to put in some nifty footwork on the downhill. I finished with 21:21 so 9:45 for the second split for 5th place behind Jon Simpkins (Drag2Zero) 19:59 and that gear cost me dear as I was only a couple of seconds off 3rd as they were tied on 21:20
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| Came up short in the Sever RC 50 (Pic Andrew Kiss) |
The next day we were off to France for two weeks holiday and the Masters the week after I get back so it was into the car with turbo and bike and one on the back for good measure, I had a couple of days off cramped up in the car as rest bite but when we got to St Astier (Nr. Duras) an hour east of Bordeaux we were greeted with blue skies and balmy temperatures, I hear it was spectacular here as well but the blessing for me was NO WIND or only a moderate amount so I could do a decent amount of speed work on the road without knackering myself to go with the Turbo clatter and French roads Mmmmmmmmmmmm! Smooth I just want to get off and lick them!
To be honest the heat was almost too much for the turbo even though I kept it to the evening and outside the sweat was pouring off me and one time I did it in the rain until the water made my my power meter fail and I was still like I'd been swimming so it was 20 minutes in a cold shower to cool down or sweat all evening and leave a damp patch on the sofa. I just did 30 miles every morning and 45 minutes on the turbo in the evening and that was enough, a couple of rest days
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
It is not Holland
sorry I am not clever enough to set this up for you to go straight into it but this is worth watching .
Monday, 3 October 2011
Sunday, 2 October 2011
M group rides
Making the most of the of the wonderful autumn weather the M group has ridden out two Sundays in a row. It's an exclusive group comprised of myself and, by invitation only, M. Last week we started from Greatham just off the A3 above Petersfield. Lots of lovely steep wooded hills, or hangars, dot this area and we rolled across them via Hawkley (beautiful and unusual church), Colemore, Ropley, Monkwood, Steep and finally Liss for a good cream tea. The ride was marred only by M being virtually forced off the road by a berk in his vintage car hammering it up a short 1 in 5 slope, tooting and shouting at her to move over - it was Toad of Toad Hall come alive. Unbelievable scene and I had strong words with him.Today we had a wonderful ride from Chawton just off the A31. Not that I like Jane Austen but it's a pretty place, less than an hour from home and surrounded by superb country. We ambled through more pretty villages like Bentworth, Farleigh Wallop, Dummer, North Waltham and Deane, each with their green, pond, church and pub and filled with pretty thatched cottages. A leisurely pub lunch was enjoyed outdoors in the baking October sun at Hannington (the final hilltop feed station on the Highclere sportive). The return journey was through slightly emptier country, the narrow lanes almost devoid of traffic, often strewn with gravel and occasionally with a grassy strip down the middle - Hampshire can feel like a different world to Surrey. Back at Chawton at 6pm with 50 quality miles on the clock, the temperature still well in the 20s but less than an hour of daylight left.
Saturday, 1 October 2011
Club hill climb result
Four SWRC members rode today's Kingston Wheelers, John Bornhoft memorial hill climb event. We used this event as out own club championship and the course was up Leith Hill along the Abinger Road. Measuring 1570 yards or just under a mile.This is the group before the start. Me (Parky), Karl, Simon & Matt. We had ridden out from Cobham with the rest of the Alpha clubrun but they were heading down the coast as it was turning into what you would exspect in July and not October. I think it got up to 27 degrees.
We were all a bit blurry by the time we reached the top.
We were all a bit blurry by the time we reached the top.Results when we arrived back at the village hall in Forest Green showed that I had won again for the forth year running but only just.
Alan Parkinson 4:45
Simon Howard 4:48
Matthew Scholes 4:51
Karl Halliday 5:06
Simon put so much effort into the event he had to have a rest on the massage bench to try and recover.
Leith Hill and SWRC Hill Climb Championship – 1st Oct 2011
I set off for Leith Hill with the aim of seeing the Kingston Wheelers organised Hill Climb competition which is also used as the SWRC annual Hill Climb event. Journey out from Kingston was via Cobham, Effingham, Whitedown and Abinger Common. At the foot of Leith Hill I saw Steve McCormack and we made our way to the start point with the intention of seeing the SWRC riders, Alan, Karl, Ralph, Matthew and Simon set off. We were soon joined by a few other SWRC riders.
Once Steve and I had seen all the SWRC riders heading onwards and upwards we returned to the Race HQ at Forest Green Village Hall where we were later joined by all the other SWRC riders – I believe Alan got the best time amongst the SWRC riders. I’m sure Parky’s blog will have all the details, not least a pic of Simon’s post race massage al fresco.
Steve lead a return route to Newdigate and the familiar roads back to the Dorking Gap. I bid farewell to Steve at Dorking and I carried on to Leatherhead, Oxshot, and Kingston. Many thanks to the Kingston Wheelers for the event and refreshments and to Steve for the route back. Total mileage 57.
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