90 miles Battle of Edge Hill Road Race

Sunday's race was a challenge - 90 miles over a circuit including 7 major climbs against riders of all ages over 40. It was a bit like doing a running Marathon, as it took 4 and one half hours, so survival was in itself  a success, although I was first in my age group.

The race included various Sprints and Hill Primes, so the pace was high (until my legs gave up).The first time up Edge Hill (yes, as in English Civil War, Warwickshire) the bunch split and I was just off the back of the first group, which was gratifying as I was giving away nearly 30 years to some of the riders. I worked with Malcolm Whitehead and we got back on. The second time up it, I was again slightly off the back, but I worked with another rider to get back on. At the next major climb, I ended up between the two main groups, and there I stayed for the next 40 miles until a younger rider caught me. After 65 miles, apparently the second group behind me opted to go straight to the finish, but I carried on, arguing to myself that I had not come all the way to Warwickshire for half measures

Because of the length of the race, there was a designated "Feed Zone" at 52 miles, but I had opted to take a third water bottle in my back pocket and a cheese sandwich. The cheese sandwich was not a good idea, as the butter and cheese became very greasy, and the bread disintegrated inside my plastic bag. I was, however, very grateful to have 4 gels and a "Mule" bar with me, all of which were used, plus 5 salt tablets. The gels were fantastic, as I became skilled at judging at what point the "bonk" was about to overwhelm me and getting another gel down. Despite these aids, my legs proved a problem, starting with what felt like a pulled muscle in my right thigh (still with me today) and progressing to cramp in both legs, first in the calves and then in the thighs. However, I found that it was possible to "ride through" each of these episodes by taking it easy for a while. Unfortunately, at the prize giving ceremony cramp hit me again, and my wife Marian had to go up to accept my envelope, which caused some merriment.

It was a great day, but I will probably not do it next year    

Bottrill V Wiggins

Nice bit from the Guardian

Champions Time

It's the British Masters Track Championships at the Velodrome in Newport this weekend
 

World Champion (SWRC)

I'm taking the extra day off to see Wiggins, 'G', Bottrill and the rest ride for the BC Time Trial jersey based around roads at the Celtic Manor resort which is also just outside Newport on the Thursday evening (Ladies and Espoirs race in the afternoon). Mores the pity I will not get to see the British Road Race title on Sunday as I will have my own jerseys to chase (Pursuit in the morning and Points race in the afternoon) Scratch Race on the Saturday

SWRC (World Champion)

I had a nice experience working with Kalas our clothing supplier while they did me some designs for a SWRC version of a World Champions Jersey, above is the full monty Masters version of the UCI Track jersey and since I can now have 'rainbow bands' on all my club clothing then I just went the whole hog and got a new set done. Thanks to Andrew at Kalas o7ò

Check out last years event in Glasgow when Alex Dowsett won the Time Trial and Mark Cavendish and Lizzy Armistead triumphed in the Road Race

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SWRC Riders on the Money!

The Redhill Cycling Club Road Race on Sunday June 22 was held on the Kirdford Circuit on a glorious morning. The 55 to 65 years race was a large bunch and the pace must have been fast, as we caught the 50 to 55  years race, and had to be stopped for 10 minutes to let them go ahead. A few of 55 to 60 year olds in our race  were "allowed" to get away, leaving the rest of us to fight out the bunch sprint finish on rising ground. This was won by one of the remaining 55 to 60 year olds (Mick Bath, ex pro), but I was half a wheel behind him and took 1st place in my age category and our Roger Jackaman took 3rd in the same category. All in all, a good day for SWRC. Roger and I were so pleased that we donated our winnings to a childrens charity     

A Tale of Two Rides

1970 World Champioship

Two contrasting events over the same distance approached in different ways with the same objective and different outcomes. The Leicester Forest '25' on my local 'Six Hills' A46 course that was used for the 1970 World Team Time Trial course.

The Rolling A46

It was won by the mighty USSR from Czechoslovakia and the Netherlands. Britain was represented by the cream of the Time Trial scene at the time '100' Competition record holder (03:46:37) Ant Taylor Oldbury & District, with Houndslow & District duo Martyn Roach and Jeff Marshall all three were BBAR top five the year before, the odd man out was 'Huge Gear Man'  John Tooby (Coventry CC) but their time only good enough for 16th place (from 21 starters!) This was when the TTT was an amateur affair.  By the time Britain hosted the World Championships again in 1982 and the TTT was held on a hilly course over the South Downs at Goodwood (in the pouring rain) we had gone over to almost exclusively roadmen (Joe Waugh, Bob Downs, Steve Lawrence & Phil Bateman) placed also 16th (from 21 starters again), winners were the Nederlands from the Swiss and the less mighty Russians in third (Czechs 6th) so no change there then!

Team GB in the rain at Goodwood

I'm using a fixed again, put up to 54 x 15 that's 96" or slightly above what I have been using in the evening 10's and on here 2 weeks before. It was raining 'Cats & Dogs' in the morning as we are having allot of showers so I have no chance for a ride just a bot of stretching and twenty minutes on the rollers in the now sweltering heat but by the time I get to the start the roads are pretty much dry apart from the off DC bits where I will just take it easy. Only fifty percent of the riders start a legacy of the rain but I hope for a good workout and a moderate good time in the blustery conditions with the 'Rolling' nature of the course

A46 pedalling action

I had a tail wind start to the turn at Widmerpool and then a little climb up to the roundabout the only place I need to get out the saddle as its steep and I'm barely moving at the top. We go half way back to Wymeswold (It's Stilton city round here with Cropwell Bishop & Colston Bassett up the A46) under the dual carriageway and back to Widmerpool again. Coming away from the far turn I was caught by Dave Ellis (Mapperley RC) twenty minutes behind me but on the first lap of the circuit and we passed and re-passed each other before he turned off.

Winner Dan Barnett

It was tough work into the wind but once back at Six Hills there was a long section dropping gently down to the finish at Thrussington where I was able to average 30mph which is 110 RPM on my moderate gear but nothing compared to the 155RPM and 45 mph finish (on aero bars somewhat hairy!). 56:15 was good enough for 7th place 98RPM Av. helped by that last section and two minutes faster than two weeks before. Winner was Dan Barnett (drag2zero) 52:42 from Nick cave (Lutterworth) 53:26 and Ellis 54:38 able to pull out more time on the fast sections

As a point of interest Dan's speed (all be it over 25 and not 60 miles) 28.46mph would have been faster then the four man Russian squad put up to win the World title in 1970 28.18mph. My speed 26.7mph would have been faster than the British quartet 26.36mph

1970 Team Time Trial Result

A week later I'm playing away on the A11/14 otherwise known as the E2/25 or the Newmarket bypass, the API/Metrow Zak Carr Memorial '25' is developing a reputation as a fast event on these roads that can be exposed and windy, it had been calm all week and then Saturday morning it blew up a bit 15mph from the North which is good for this course which travels NE to SW. We are staying with friends in Bedford so no chance of a ride in the morning but I do get 25 minutes in the rollers at full pelt
I'd asked for an early start so off number 10 but with David McGaw a minute behind me who was second to Alex Dowsett in his recent record breaking '10' ride with 19:24 How long before he catches me? Well as I stick to my high revving attack (on gears this time) and its very fast with the wind half behind it takes him about nine miles! I'm still inside 20 minutes at ten miles and 96RPM but with the wind taken out of my sails I have to tackle the harder return. I get caught up behind a tractor (on the A11!) and have to pass it TWICE! as its going uphill faster than me but not when I get on the flat, it also passes my two minute man which just puts me in the outside lane, I eventually get rid of it on the long flat middle section.
Ooh! its hard coming back and my hard week has caught up with me and my revs drop markedly, the finish is more covered and I finish with a bit of a flourish. 53:47 is a decent ride in the conditions but there are some fast times McGaw has gone close to 30mph with 50:06 but only good enough for 8th the winner Matt Smith (Velocity) 48:34 and a string of 49's, my time good enough for a lowly 43rd but I'm happy with my form on limited racing o7ò

Leicester Forest result

API 'Zak Carr Mem' result

This is a great Result finding site

Pro Tour

Is this not just the most exciting (and dangerous) thing you have ever witnessed in your life?
Those of a nervous disposition (and Barry) might not want to watch this

Thankfully I had my hat on.

Last Saturday’s ride could have been so nice. The forecast was for warm sunny skies and our A group leader Trevor had decided that we could go out for a longer ride than the one printed on the runs list. I had found my summer cycling hat, the one with more ventilation holes in, and put on some sun cream ready for a day out in the sun. The car park at Cobham was packed out with riders when we arrived, all getting into their groups for a few hours on the bike. The uppers and downers were the first to leave lead this week by Gordon Bowser, I think. I’m never quite sure who leads but it’s great to have more and more people willing to take control of a group if needs require.

What with running the May flyer sportive and then my Scottish trip, I had not been out on a clubrun for 7 week, and well I was really looking forward to it. The fact that I had not touched the bike for a few weeks was just a minor misdemeanour and I should be able to keep up. My shoulder was feeling better after my crash in Scotland. Well as soon as we reached the lanes south of Effingham I realised that there must have been some almighty downpour the previous night as there was masses of debris strewn across the roads as we climbed up over then Downs on our was to Wiston. I struggled to keep up at the first climb but we all met up at the cross roads. I struggled up the second climb but thought I’d be Ok once we had reached the flatter lanes further on.

Then disaster on the decent from Leith hill. Barry had a front wheel impact puncture going down a steep section and basically had to take evasive action and dive into the grass verge or end up with a load of road rash if he had come down on the road. By the time I arrive he was sitting in a bog contemplating what had happened. With all the cut and trust of racing at Hillingdon Barry experiences he was unlucky to be downed on a more moderate club run but that can sometimes happen I guess.

Barry cleaned himself off a bit but he looked as if he has been doing a very wet and muddy mountain bike ride, even I though he was a bit too muddy, but he was not hurt and that was a great relief to all of us in the group. We were able to fix his tyre and he was able to ride home with Matt for company.

I hope you all stay out of trouble when out on the clubruns this summer, however I would always recommend wearing a hard shell helmet. It saved me the other week in Scotland and probably save Barry’s head here too. You never know what's around the corner

Barry's soft muddy landing - Yuk.

More photos HERE

The ride to Wiston was quite tame after that but my legs were not having any of it on the way home and I had to say good bye to the others soon after leaving the tea stop as I was far from an A group rider today. More training for me I think.

Roll with it

As before its a late start for me but last year I was into June and did not give myself enough time to get race ready for the British Track Masters at the end of the month so this year I got out and rode some evening 10's on 92" fixed just to ease myself into it. Times were pretty slow but trying to spin that gear at 100RPM is like being punched in the stomach so I just had to lean on the ropes and take the blows. My first open was the Nottingham East Midlands VTTA '25' on my local Six Hills course (A46) just North of Leicester, It was sunny a brief interlude between the rain making it the wettest month since the early 30's. I put my gear up to 95" as its nearly all DC but 'roll'in' and a stiff breeze was going to make it tough in places so I thought best to not make it too hard for myself. In the end it was the faster sections that were more painful (note to buy some more chamois cream!) as I nearly topped 150RPM on the down wind downhill sections Ouch! 58:10 good enough for 10th overall and second Vet on Standard, won by Phil Hunt of the Nottingham Clarion 55:31
Second event came after a two week break and a week in Devon schlepping up the hills when I should have been honing my speed but no worries its all training at this stage still. Sunday 1 June arrived like the Summer was here, Movistar professional Alex Dowsett had broken the 10 Competition Record the day before 17:20 on the E2 at Newmarket but the Sunday was also hot and windless. The Nottingham Clarion '50' I have ridden numerous times and its 2 1/2 lap course on the Vale of Belvoir is flat and well broken up a good thing in the windy Midlands, I was on gears here but with no 'form' I set out to keep my gears low and attack the second half. A brief ride to the start and a few efforts tells me that it may be too warm for just the one bottle but its all I have as I sit on the line with sweat dripping down my nose (riders were actually warming up on their turbos!) I find it difficult to hold back once out on the road and maybe I started too fast but by 15 miles I was blowing a bit into the wind on bumpy B roads, I eased off a bit but still trying to keep up my 90-95RPM and attack every incline and hard section. I allowed myself to put the gears up a bit on the fast A52 section between Grantham and Nottingham. A car came the wrong side of an junction island so I was faced with an on coming car on the second lap, that and another trying to run me down on the longest straightest Long lane because I was passing another rider made me feel a little concerned
The first half 57:20 and I could feel the un-natural pressure in my arms and neck from the position and the effort, I'd got to the HQ early and remembering I'd put my most aero position on for the last race of last season I'd raised the front end a couple of inches but my saddle was a bit too sloping and I kept having to push myself back as you tend to draw yourself forward with higher revs. It was now mid day and very hot, my bottle was nearly gone and a second gel just to smooth out the last half lap effort but the finish came along too soon before I got all my effort out and coping with a newly 'dressed' road surface (Why do they do that?) and a bit of headwind I was over the line and done. My time 1:55:59 is two minutes faster than I've been on here before but 93 RPM Av. is tidy and good enough for 6th place, the best over 50 rider and contented with my effort. Winner was local Scott Walker (MG Decor) 1:47:33 o7ò

Nottingham Clarion '50' Result

New Season begins............

Never done a new season intro before just got straight on with the business of racing but then I never did quite finish that 'review' of the last season either, I put a few words together but somehow. How was I going to describe that? As I think I have said before nobody puts 'WIN WORLD TITLE' in their list of objectives for the year 'On the podium' yes but for fear of all those things that stop us achieving or just to stop a pastime turning into a full blown obsession you just have to hope its all you thought it would be. I almost never got my head around that I was a World Champion when you reach the summit everything looks a bit small so hard to tell if it's all real

Getting my award(s) from Jon-Allan Butterworth

There I've said it now so it must be true, well I had a nice day at the expense of British Cycling. In Feburary I was invited (for the second time) and I always said I would take Fiona when I was World Champion so I had to be as good as my word. The Hilton NEC was the venue so nice and local we could drive there and back and not have to spend the rest of the weekend with the odd assortment of people that made up the Sherlock Holmes convention that was on at the same time (don't ask!) I got to stand on a platform and get my picture taken with one of BC's 'real' World Champions have my picture taken and get a couple of certificates to memorialise my achievement.

John-Allan Butterworth in the red top tries

to keep warm with the brothers at HH

There followed a meal and we sat on a table with some of the other Masters John McClelland (who won his 25 minutes before mine thus spoiling my glorious day in Manchester of being the only British winner that evening) John a ten times (count them) British Champion with his first World crown Peter Ettles who also has ten British titles and was here picking up a double European but still to win at World level  "Are you ready to retire now"? Says he (The Scott's are such a dour bunch!) but they have produced some of our best track riders and Peter one of the best Masters around "I'll defend my title Peter" I could not accede and he wished me well. 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame

I was given my award by the British Paralyimpian and World medallist Jon-Allan Butterworth who i'd last seen and spoken to at a freezing cold Good Friday meeting at Herne Hill trying to keep warm on the rollers. He told me his story of losing his arm in a rocket attack while serving in the RAF in Afghanistan. Ex SWRC old boy Roger Hammond was inducted into the BC 'Hall of Fame' with Multi World and Olympic champions Rob Hales and 'Queen of the track' Victoria Pendleton, I had a quick word with Roger but I did not get a chance to talk to him about the club ten mile record. o7ò

Fiona gets a night out at the NEC

British Cycling Awards

Tuesday mtb

Very steady today, but some nice new trails too.