So I hoping to update this as often as i can. But to be honest at the moment all i am doing is just poodle'in along getting the legs spinning again.
Did a nice three and a bit hours today with the Glendene. With a nice stop at the infamous Blue Egg at Great Bardfield, until one of my so called friends tipped a wee sachet of sugar down my neck, which went straight under the base layer into my shorts, bastard! Give him credit tho for the precision of the 'tip'. Image can be found on @JohnWoyton on Twitter. ;)
Now for some home made pizza for tea.
Have a great weekend all!!
Cheerio
Saturday 30 November 2013
Friday 29 November 2013
And so the pedals start to turn again
After a relaxing weekend trip to Gent with some guys from the club, tackling the Bergs which to add, I LOVED!! It is nice to ride my bike without much effort.
Before I went out there I was offered a ride for the Professional Amateur team which was called Twenty3C Focus run by Andy Lyons. After some thought, which looking back now was to long to be honest I accepted his offer. The team next year has got a different sponsor, a local bike shop to me in Leigh on Sea, Richardson Cycles. The team next year will be called Richardson-Trek Cycle Race Team.
This is a big step forward for me and my ambition to become a professional. I will be immersed with more riders all of which have very good experience and strengths that I hope will rub off on one and other.
Further another break in Belgium and week off back in the UK I have started my training for the 2014 season. All seems to be going great. Gym training is going great and getting stronger with every session.
All is going well! :D
Before I went out there I was offered a ride for the Professional Amateur team which was called Twenty3C Focus run by Andy Lyons. After some thought, which looking back now was to long to be honest I accepted his offer. The team next year has got a different sponsor, a local bike shop to me in Leigh on Sea, Richardson Cycles. The team next year will be called Richardson-Trek Cycle Race Team.
This is a big step forward for me and my ambition to become a professional. I will be immersed with more riders all of which have very good experience and strengths that I hope will rub off on one and other.
Further another break in Belgium and week off back in the UK I have started my training for the 2014 season. All seems to be going great. Gym training is going great and getting stronger with every session.
All is going well! :D
Friday 6 September 2013
Update, weeeelllllll over due!!
Well, the last update was in June, ages away. A lot has happened really.
Races.
I have had quite a few since then so a report for each on is going to be pretty short and sweet.
Just counted and its 15!! so reports will be for the more important ones.
First up was the Elveden series 3. This raced is being cursed with bad weather. This time rain and hail. I decided to go skin suit only as before the race started it was sunny and about 17'c. then as well rolled out, the clouds rolled in and hell started. Well anyway, I got away with five others which included team mate Josh. With four laps to go I punctured and was just about to retire coming into the finishing area then a young chap from Lea Valley CC came running up with his brothers wheel and changed it for me, so I chased and chased and chased. I caught back up to break and with just enough time was able to cause a surprise and confusion. And team mate Josh won the sprint. Good day for Glendene.
Next. now showing a quality bit of form was the Eastern Road Race Championship. 90 miles smashing it around Bicknacre and Woodham climbing radar hill each time. Yipeeee!
Josh, Dan Snow and I started and all finished. Dan came in with the main bunch and was the first race he finished this year, chapeau ;). Josh and I made the break stick and all the main strong contenders joined us. Coming into the last lap riders where chipping off the front all the time. I choose mine 3 miles from the finish and two riders came with. Dropping one on the hill before the finish it was a sprint for 5/6th place. I was just pipped to the line but getting sixth in that race I was extremely happy, and Josh came in 8th too.
Next. East London Velo RR. Another Win!!!!!!! John Woyton and Josh Green joined me with this triumphant Victory. We all road extremely well as team, John taking a savage turn on the front to bring back a breakaway. And constant attacks from Josh and I fatiqued the riders. Unfortunatly the breaks did not amount to a decent break away so it came down to a bunch sprint. Having a decent lead out from Wayne Crombie coming into the last hill I kicked with 250m and held off all the other sprinters to win, josh also coming in third. Great day at the races for Glendene.
Huge thanks goes to my team mate for their help in this win.
Also thanks to Simon Parker from spactionimages.com
Circuit of the Fens.
Well this will be a short entry. First National A race. Elute riders all round. Nerves maxed out. Lasted 60 miles then speed was picked up and got dropped in the crosswinds only to be taken out of the race because the gap became to big.
Getting close to my Cat1 I wanted to go out on a high profile win. I entered several other Eastern Region races to help out team mates and picked up small points here and there but was just racing to get the last bit of form before the Otley Crits in Yorkshire. I wanted a big win in front of big teams.
The Crit was epic. Fast and very hard work. i chased down most of the breaks and in the last lap i was well positioned. Coming into the last turn riders came underneath me forcing me wide, so wide in fact that when I started my sprint, my elbow hit a few spectators and the fencing. Coming into the last turn i was second wheel, perfect, but the six riders under took me. I put out the best sprint of my life, unfortunately the line arrived 5 metres short and I got second. by half a bike length.
With a recently fitted power metre I looked out my output throughout the race and ave'd 334w! my output for my sprint was 1224w and that was for 4.2secs. big power!!
that's me lunging for the line with the white arms
More to the point, I now have my first cat license :D
Next race. Glendene Road race. Quite a bit of pressure for this race as its my own clubs race and expectations are high. With breaks going all over the place it was difficult to judge which wheel to follow and break with.
With a team of four Dan Young, Ben Thompson, Josh Green and myself we had a fairly good team.
Dan getting into the first break early on was good which meant we didn't have to chase. Giving it time to establish it self I was intending in chipping off the front and joining them. Well that was not to happen and Dan was dropped after a short period of time and the break amounted to nothing anyway.
With more attacks going off a group sustained themselves and stayed away. After a massive turn on the front from Ben which almost shelled me and Dan off the back, I quickly made my way to the front to help him out with the intention of attacking when it came back around to the hill in Stebbing. Which I carried out to perfection. A rider from Spin-rotor Joined me with a few others that had riders up the road already who wanted a free ride. Well that was not the case for them. With my self and the chap from Spin-Rotor nailing it we soon dropped them. we got across to the group with 4km to go and then it soon eased up. Then the attacks started happening within the group which now contained around 8 or nine riders. Four were already up the road and had a gap of what I was told around 2 minutes which was not do-able.
I worked my nuts of getting to that group, I could not let the Glendene have no riders in the top five let alone the break. The guy I worked with flew past with 2.5k to go, then the group swelled and no one chased, I waited for about 15 secs then I attacked, no one made it on my wheel. Perfect. Having Recc'ed the finish a few times in training, i had practiced my efforts for a similar attack, I had planned this. I bridged the gap to the chap from Spin-Rotor in the last 1km and instead of easing up I carried on powering wide past him, he had to sprint had to get onto to my wheel and I kept the power high waiting for him to try and sprint past me and in the last 200m he tried came level and i started my sprint and pulled away from him and he soon gave up. The pace seemed too high, which was good because my legs were SCREAMING.
5th place, bosh. Happy days.
Follow the links to view photos of the chase and final sprint.
http://spactionimages.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Glendene-Summer-Classic-Road-Race/G00002LVgqBy917o/I0000I.jVylrtr9o/C00004kL4jdEUYTk
http://spactionimages.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Glendene-Summer-Classic-Road-Race/G00002LVgqBy917o/I0000w2JuqIYwbcM/C00004kL4jdEUYTk
Next race.
My first race in Belgium. A Kermesse. Wow this was awesome, the speed, quality of all the riders out there and the general atmosphere.
120km, we ave'd 28mph. It was so intense. I was told to finish your first one is a good achievement. To get a top twenty after a few races is good. But I achieved both :)
Big Thanks to the guys from Twenty3c-Focus, Andy Hastings from Finchley RT and Team mate Josh for wicked day.
Races.
I have had quite a few since then so a report for each on is going to be pretty short and sweet.
Just counted and its 15!! so reports will be for the more important ones.
First up was the Elveden series 3. This raced is being cursed with bad weather. This time rain and hail. I decided to go skin suit only as before the race started it was sunny and about 17'c. then as well rolled out, the clouds rolled in and hell started. Well anyway, I got away with five others which included team mate Josh. With four laps to go I punctured and was just about to retire coming into the finishing area then a young chap from Lea Valley CC came running up with his brothers wheel and changed it for me, so I chased and chased and chased. I caught back up to break and with just enough time was able to cause a surprise and confusion. And team mate Josh won the sprint. Good day for Glendene.
Next. now showing a quality bit of form was the Eastern Road Race Championship. 90 miles smashing it around Bicknacre and Woodham climbing radar hill each time. Yipeeee!
Josh, Dan Snow and I started and all finished. Dan came in with the main bunch and was the first race he finished this year, chapeau ;). Josh and I made the break stick and all the main strong contenders joined us. Coming into the last lap riders where chipping off the front all the time. I choose mine 3 miles from the finish and two riders came with. Dropping one on the hill before the finish it was a sprint for 5/6th place. I was just pipped to the line but getting sixth in that race I was extremely happy, and Josh came in 8th too.
Next. East London Velo RR. Another Win!!!!!!! John Woyton and Josh Green joined me with this triumphant Victory. We all road extremely well as team, John taking a savage turn on the front to bring back a breakaway. And constant attacks from Josh and I fatiqued the riders. Unfortunatly the breaks did not amount to a decent break away so it came down to a bunch sprint. Having a decent lead out from Wayne Crombie coming into the last hill I kicked with 250m and held off all the other sprinters to win, josh also coming in third. Great day at the races for Glendene.
Also thanks to Simon Parker from spactionimages.com
Next race.Circuit of the Fens.
Well this will be a short entry. First National A race. Elute riders all round. Nerves maxed out. Lasted 60 miles then speed was picked up and got dropped in the crosswinds only to be taken out of the race because the gap became to big.
Getting close to my Cat1 I wanted to go out on a high profile win. I entered several other Eastern Region races to help out team mates and picked up small points here and there but was just racing to get the last bit of form before the Otley Crits in Yorkshire. I wanted a big win in front of big teams.
The Crit was epic. Fast and very hard work. i chased down most of the breaks and in the last lap i was well positioned. Coming into the last turn riders came underneath me forcing me wide, so wide in fact that when I started my sprint, my elbow hit a few spectators and the fencing. Coming into the last turn i was second wheel, perfect, but the six riders under took me. I put out the best sprint of my life, unfortunately the line arrived 5 metres short and I got second. by half a bike length.
With a recently fitted power metre I looked out my output throughout the race and ave'd 334w! my output for my sprint was 1224w and that was for 4.2secs. big power!!
that's me lunging for the line with the white arms
More to the point, I now have my first cat license :D
Next race. Glendene Road race. Quite a bit of pressure for this race as its my own clubs race and expectations are high. With breaks going all over the place it was difficult to judge which wheel to follow and break with.
With a team of four Dan Young, Ben Thompson, Josh Green and myself we had a fairly good team.
Dan getting into the first break early on was good which meant we didn't have to chase. Giving it time to establish it self I was intending in chipping off the front and joining them. Well that was not to happen and Dan was dropped after a short period of time and the break amounted to nothing anyway.
With more attacks going off a group sustained themselves and stayed away. After a massive turn on the front from Ben which almost shelled me and Dan off the back, I quickly made my way to the front to help him out with the intention of attacking when it came back around to the hill in Stebbing. Which I carried out to perfection. A rider from Spin-rotor Joined me with a few others that had riders up the road already who wanted a free ride. Well that was not the case for them. With my self and the chap from Spin-Rotor nailing it we soon dropped them. we got across to the group with 4km to go and then it soon eased up. Then the attacks started happening within the group which now contained around 8 or nine riders. Four were already up the road and had a gap of what I was told around 2 minutes which was not do-able.
I worked my nuts of getting to that group, I could not let the Glendene have no riders in the top five let alone the break. The guy I worked with flew past with 2.5k to go, then the group swelled and no one chased, I waited for about 15 secs then I attacked, no one made it on my wheel. Perfect. Having Recc'ed the finish a few times in training, i had practiced my efforts for a similar attack, I had planned this. I bridged the gap to the chap from Spin-Rotor in the last 1km and instead of easing up I carried on powering wide past him, he had to sprint had to get onto to my wheel and I kept the power high waiting for him to try and sprint past me and in the last 200m he tried came level and i started my sprint and pulled away from him and he soon gave up. The pace seemed too high, which was good because my legs were SCREAMING.
5th place, bosh. Happy days.
Follow the links to view photos of the chase and final sprint.
http://spactionimages.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Glendene-Summer-Classic-Road-Race/G00002LVgqBy917o/I0000I.jVylrtr9o/C00004kL4jdEUYTk
http://spactionimages.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Glendene-Summer-Classic-Road-Race/G00002LVgqBy917o/I0000w2JuqIYwbcM/C00004kL4jdEUYTk
Next race.
My first race in Belgium. A Kermesse. Wow this was awesome, the speed, quality of all the riders out there and the general atmosphere.
120km, we ave'd 28mph. It was so intense. I was told to finish your first one is a good achievement. To get a top twenty after a few races is good. But I achieved both :)
Big Thanks to the guys from Twenty3c-Focus, Andy Hastings from Finchley RT and Team mate Josh for wicked day.
Monday 17 June 2013
Ixworth Crits Photo
Ixworth Crits photo of the team lining up against the tough field that went on to dominate the Tour Series.
I like to think that if it wasn't for us Glendene boys pushing Sigma and Raleigh so hard in this race they wouldn't have done so well in the Tour Series :P
Dan's Collar bone is on the mend now and is back on his bike, turning the pedals well. Making a come back very soon.
I like to think that if it wasn't for us Glendene boys pushing Sigma and Raleigh so hard in this race they wouldn't have done so well in the Tour Series :P
Dan's Collar bone is on the mend now and is back on his bike, turning the pedals well. Making a come back very soon.
Friday 31 May 2013
On a Roll...... Crit racing. Awesome carnage.
Charlotteville CC Handicap RR
I entered this race with team mate, John Woyton. John has the talent/problem which means he is the strongest in every race he enters but can never finish his dinner! So frustrating for him but he does extremely well in races but he is so unfortunate that it never amounts to anything.
We trek all the way over into Surrey for what turns out to be a hugely popular race. I think around 75 racers turned up.
The handicap was pretty sketchy I'm not sure how it worked out but it was a good race for training nonetheless with 3 minutes between Johns lot and mine. John was sixth and got placed 8th, and I was the only one to make the gap and pretty sure I finished within the top 20 but some how got placed 65th. Highly unlikely. Bit of a trek for decent training session, one not to be made again though mind you.
IXWORTH CRITS 6TH MAY
First Crit race ever, this should be interesting.
Having never raced a crit before I had a very small idea what it was about which proved extremely valuable.
Some really harsh intervals helped with the lead up to this race with some stupidly early morning starts to race around Rayleigh High street with no traffic to worry about for some cornering and sprinting efforts.
With a full team from Rayliegh, Sigma, Node4 this was going to be an extremely fast race. And it was.
The first race was manic but I stayed upright with team mate Josh Green. However Snow didn't finish the race was a bit fast starting for him and Dan Young crashed into the barriers knocking himself out and breaking his collarbone. Ouch!!
Young Harry Paine from the Club also raced and was taking his time in getting into a rhythm. He found a good pace and became confident with cornering however he also became a cropper and come off pretty bad, resulting in some road rash and a hole in his elbow which required stitches. Some good scabs to pick ;)
Bryony also raced and came second. She had a fantastic race considering.
On one the laps she had a bit of a skid and her rear wheel popped out which span her out and some how stayed on the bike but getting a minging tire burn on her shin which made mine sting just looking at it after the race. The only bad thing is....after the days racing when she got home she realised one of her seat stays had actually cracked. expensive. All sorted now though :)
After our performance in the first race, Josh (15th) and myself (10th) got the invite into the Invitation A race. An event which would be far faster and hectic.
Josh and I hung on for dear life dodging crashes and helping each other back on if one of us drifted off the back. Coming into the last five laps there was a break that got away and I wanted to see if I could bridge the gap. few attempts but nothing strong enough until a Rayliegh Rider went off and i was perfectly placed to jump on his wheel after 3/4 a lap he eased of and I carried on pressing for the last lap. Resulting in 10th place again. A placing that I am extremely pleased with. and Josh rolling in 15th I think again.
Good day for some, not for others though unfortunately.
Photo to follow for this one. :)
I entered this race with team mate, John Woyton. John has the talent/problem which means he is the strongest in every race he enters but can never finish his dinner! So frustrating for him but he does extremely well in races but he is so unfortunate that it never amounts to anything.
We trek all the way over into Surrey for what turns out to be a hugely popular race. I think around 75 racers turned up.
The handicap was pretty sketchy I'm not sure how it worked out but it was a good race for training nonetheless with 3 minutes between Johns lot and mine. John was sixth and got placed 8th, and I was the only one to make the gap and pretty sure I finished within the top 20 but some how got placed 65th. Highly unlikely. Bit of a trek for decent training session, one not to be made again though mind you.
IXWORTH CRITS 6TH MAY
First Crit race ever, this should be interesting.
Having never raced a crit before I had a very small idea what it was about which proved extremely valuable.
Some really harsh intervals helped with the lead up to this race with some stupidly early morning starts to race around Rayleigh High street with no traffic to worry about for some cornering and sprinting efforts.
With a full team from Rayliegh, Sigma, Node4 this was going to be an extremely fast race. And it was.
The first race was manic but I stayed upright with team mate Josh Green. However Snow didn't finish the race was a bit fast starting for him and Dan Young crashed into the barriers knocking himself out and breaking his collarbone. Ouch!!
Young Harry Paine from the Club also raced and was taking his time in getting into a rhythm. He found a good pace and became confident with cornering however he also became a cropper and come off pretty bad, resulting in some road rash and a hole in his elbow which required stitches. Some good scabs to pick ;)
Bryony also raced and came second. She had a fantastic race considering.
On one the laps she had a bit of a skid and her rear wheel popped out which span her out and some how stayed on the bike but getting a minging tire burn on her shin which made mine sting just looking at it after the race. The only bad thing is....after the days racing when she got home she realised one of her seat stays had actually cracked. expensive. All sorted now though :)
After our performance in the first race, Josh (15th) and myself (10th) got the invite into the Invitation A race. An event which would be far faster and hectic.
Josh and I hung on for dear life dodging crashes and helping each other back on if one of us drifted off the back. Coming into the last five laps there was a break that got away and I wanted to see if I could bridge the gap. few attempts but nothing strong enough until a Rayliegh Rider went off and i was perfectly placed to jump on his wheel after 3/4 a lap he eased of and I carried on pressing for the last lap. Resulting in 10th place again. A placing that I am extremely pleased with. and Josh rolling in 15th I think again.
Good day for some, not for others though unfortunately.
Photo to follow for this one. :)
Got to start being a bit more up to date with this. Too many races!!!!!
KEN WRIGHT MEMORIAL ROAD RACE. 21st APRIL
So after the dive bomb into the bushes from my last road race, I pick my self up and brush of the minor cuts and bruises and get on with training for the Ken Wright.
Before entering the race I asked my Club chairman Colin Mannakee if I should enter this race and I got an immediate reply. Colin explained to me that Ken was a dear friend of his and it would mean a great deal to him if I could win it. So no pressure then eh! This is the second race of the Eastern Road Race League which means I will be pretty much up against the same chaps from the Crest RR.
With more experience gained and the training adaptations also, I taper perfectly for the race. I was a little unsure about how strong I was, nerves, and to be honest a little bit of self doubt.
I had two other teams mates in the race, Dan Snow and Dan Young who are both fit and ready to race, this was a nice feeling, team mates feeling great made me feel great.
Roll out and start racing.
Breaks tried going away but nothing stuck. Only to get the first couple of primes. after a couple of laps around the Abberton course I see my team mates on the side of the road?!! what the?? Snow man had been involved in a crash which was caused in his words 'some total chopper' having a gel. Young Punctured, service vehicle didn't give him a wheel and then crashed as he made his way around on a flat. Bugger.
I sit at the front to stay out of trouble and to keep an eye in case some the stronger riders that I have marked try to break.
Without realising i'm pretty much pulling the entire race along. Not something I intended on doing but I didn't want anyone getting away that caused a threat.
Last two laps and I apply a bit of pressure coming up to the finishing line and a break forms with the help of Wayne Crombie from ELV.
So now we have a proper break formed with myself, Wayne, Douglas from CC Luton and Vince Devine From Finchley. We smash it and get a wicked time on the peloton, at least 90 secs on the last lap.
Coming up out of the reservoir I find my self at the front, not the best place. I ease up and Wayne comes around, now I'm second wheel Douglas third and Vince 4th. Colin has told me before that Vince is a pretty handy sprinter and I know Douglas is as well so this is going to be a real test.
Wayne turns the screw as we go up and as soon as we hit the 'S' bend before the last 175m straight sprint to the line I feel fresh, pumped and buzzing! He starts his sprint and I hang on for about 10metres then kick myself. It took quite a distance to come round him but I get round without having to put in another kick, saving that in case the others come round. No one does and the line quickly approached. It felt like the sprint went on forever though. Lined crossed and huge, overwhelming smack in the bollocks of emotion hit me as a won clear as day.
The relief was immense, I was so happy to win, so proud it was a fantastic feeling, more than any other win I had previously attained. I carried on cycling up the road because I was a ridiculous mess. I turn around and make my way back to the finish line where all my supporters are; Mum, Dad, Paula, Zoe, her BF Connor, my Granddad, his partner Kath, My Godfather Gary and his wife Emma, Colin and the rest of the family of my team mates. All congratulating me which brings back the tears and emotions again.
I was so happy to win that race for Colin
The photo shows the emotion as I cross the line. You can see my Mum and Colin cheering in the background.
The Video is the finish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6diyQqqu64
Thanks Guys :D
So after the dive bomb into the bushes from my last road race, I pick my self up and brush of the minor cuts and bruises and get on with training for the Ken Wright.
Before entering the race I asked my Club chairman Colin Mannakee if I should enter this race and I got an immediate reply. Colin explained to me that Ken was a dear friend of his and it would mean a great deal to him if I could win it. So no pressure then eh! This is the second race of the Eastern Road Race League which means I will be pretty much up against the same chaps from the Crest RR.
With more experience gained and the training adaptations also, I taper perfectly for the race. I was a little unsure about how strong I was, nerves, and to be honest a little bit of self doubt.
I had two other teams mates in the race, Dan Snow and Dan Young who are both fit and ready to race, this was a nice feeling, team mates feeling great made me feel great.
Roll out and start racing.
Breaks tried going away but nothing stuck. Only to get the first couple of primes. after a couple of laps around the Abberton course I see my team mates on the side of the road?!! what the?? Snow man had been involved in a crash which was caused in his words 'some total chopper' having a gel. Young Punctured, service vehicle didn't give him a wheel and then crashed as he made his way around on a flat. Bugger.
I sit at the front to stay out of trouble and to keep an eye in case some the stronger riders that I have marked try to break.
Without realising i'm pretty much pulling the entire race along. Not something I intended on doing but I didn't want anyone getting away that caused a threat.
Last two laps and I apply a bit of pressure coming up to the finishing line and a break forms with the help of Wayne Crombie from ELV.
So now we have a proper break formed with myself, Wayne, Douglas from CC Luton and Vince Devine From Finchley. We smash it and get a wicked time on the peloton, at least 90 secs on the last lap.
Coming up out of the reservoir I find my self at the front, not the best place. I ease up and Wayne comes around, now I'm second wheel Douglas third and Vince 4th. Colin has told me before that Vince is a pretty handy sprinter and I know Douglas is as well so this is going to be a real test.
Wayne turns the screw as we go up and as soon as we hit the 'S' bend before the last 175m straight sprint to the line I feel fresh, pumped and buzzing! He starts his sprint and I hang on for about 10metres then kick myself. It took quite a distance to come round him but I get round without having to put in another kick, saving that in case the others come round. No one does and the line quickly approached. It felt like the sprint went on forever though. Lined crossed and huge, overwhelming smack in the bollocks of emotion hit me as a won clear as day.
The relief was immense, I was so happy to win, so proud it was a fantastic feeling, more than any other win I had previously attained. I carried on cycling up the road because I was a ridiculous mess. I turn around and make my way back to the finish line where all my supporters are; Mum, Dad, Paula, Zoe, her BF Connor, my Granddad, his partner Kath, My Godfather Gary and his wife Emma, Colin and the rest of the family of my team mates. All congratulating me which brings back the tears and emotions again.
I was so happy to win that race for Colin
The photo shows the emotion as I cross the line. You can see my Mum and Colin cheering in the background.
The Video is the finish
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6diyQqqu64
Thanks Guys :D
Sunday 12 May 2013
Training and Racing again
Training has been going pretty well, been doing 200-300 miles week in week out. Its not about mile-age now, more of quality. Short intense time trial training 6,7,8,9,10 minutes efforts at a short recovery around 30% of effort. And chucking in the max sprint efforts on flats and up short steep hills.
Elveden Series 2 E12 6th April
I am starting to feeling pretty strong and confident at competing in this level now. As I line up at the line there are some elite teams there, Madison Genesis, MG Maxifuel, Twenty3c and wealth of other 1st cat riders.
From the off I try and try to break away with some other riders but kept on being bought back by the peloton. Gradually getting frustrated I sit up and take a breather but do so in a bad place, up the hill at this course. I got a little swamped and three go up the road, MG, Madison and a few other riders. Bugger it. They build a fairly big gap with the rest of the peloton becoming ever so more unorganised and messy. After a few laps I try to bring them back with a few others helping but not really working consistently and basically ending in disrupting flow and getting in the bloody way. A few team riders in particular.
So the break doesn't get bought back and the bunch are sprinting for 6th place and so on. Leading the sprint out I manage to hold off most of the riders apart from two riders and I place 8th. Not bad, Im happy with that, worked hard, deserved a better place mind you but another top ten result in an E12.
Autostrasse Porsche RR 14th April
Another E123 road race. Not feeling particularly strong at the start of this race as probably worked a little to hard leading up to it but I am training for a more important race the following weekend so using this race as training.
What a training session!
After two laps of the course Sigma are on the front lining the peloton out putting everyone in the gutter because the savage head/cross wind. Starting with from what I can remember the 3rd lap maybe, a motorcyclists had pulled over and was stationary as he saw a load of cyclists coming out of a sweeping left turn at about 30 mph. With the group lined right out, towards the middle of the group 2/3 riders abreast the motorcyclist is very hard to see up the road, I see the riders sweeping quickly left and back in again avoiding something, nothing being shouted out or pointed out though. It was the motorcyclists, and at the last fraction of a second I sweep to the left and miss the motorbike but the rider on my right was not as fortunate. Hitting him face on. Now I used to play ice and roller hockey and saw some pretty savage hits and this was by far a brutal hit. I saw the cyclists face hit the motorcyclists helmet and the visor went flying off! The perspects safety glass on the bike shattering into millions of pieces covering me and surrounding riders. The noise was horrific and expensive. The grunts, the 'wwwwoooooaaaaah's' and the 'oh fucks' filled the road and the crunch of wheels and carbon fibre was enough to give you goose pimples.
This was pretty scary, especially after what had happened a few weeks before to a rider in an elite race, unfortunately he lost his life. So this definitely put the shits up me which I have to admit then made the rest of the race difficult to concentrate on.
The race is neutralised whilst the carnage is cleared up and the injured parties seen to. It re-starts and has been shortened by 3 laps. With the commies re-iterating the rules on how to race on an open road. This obviously doesn't last long. WE HAVE TO HAVE ROLLING ROADS BLOCKS!
Off we Go!
Anyway I obviously miss the break and the rest of the field have been whittled down to around 10-15 riders because of the winds and pace set by the Elite teams.
So almost three hours myself, Paul Londors from Mg and rider from Luton CC break from the rest of what turns out to be total choppers on the last lap and hit it hard for 3/4 of a lap. Coming up to the last 1km I move out to let the Luton rider take a turn and he says 'no I'm fucked'. Great, the game of 'silly buggers' has started. So we slow down and on the last hill I hit it hard feeling strong and confident, Paul comes with me and in the last 100m he started a sprint and a go to start mine but shit happens! I push down with my right leg as its stronger and pull up with the left but my foot becomes unclipped so as I push down with my left my foot goes straight to ground, handlebar hitting me in the thigh sending me over the flipping handle bars into nettles and a row of fern tree.
Damage done......tear in my shorts showing off my white arse cheek, broken cleat and realising I had lost my Garmin at the finish I go back down the road to find a car had run it over. Bugger it.
Oh well all in all a decent training session nonetheless and good for team mate, Dan Young on finishing strongly too a few places in front of me.
Elveden Series 2 E12 6th April
I am starting to feeling pretty strong and confident at competing in this level now. As I line up at the line there are some elite teams there, Madison Genesis, MG Maxifuel, Twenty3c and wealth of other 1st cat riders.
From the off I try and try to break away with some other riders but kept on being bought back by the peloton. Gradually getting frustrated I sit up and take a breather but do so in a bad place, up the hill at this course. I got a little swamped and three go up the road, MG, Madison and a few other riders. Bugger it. They build a fairly big gap with the rest of the peloton becoming ever so more unorganised and messy. After a few laps I try to bring them back with a few others helping but not really working consistently and basically ending in disrupting flow and getting in the bloody way. A few team riders in particular.
So the break doesn't get bought back and the bunch are sprinting for 6th place and so on. Leading the sprint out I manage to hold off most of the riders apart from two riders and I place 8th. Not bad, Im happy with that, worked hard, deserved a better place mind you but another top ten result in an E12.
Autostrasse Porsche RR 14th April
Another E123 road race. Not feeling particularly strong at the start of this race as probably worked a little to hard leading up to it but I am training for a more important race the following weekend so using this race as training.
What a training session!
After two laps of the course Sigma are on the front lining the peloton out putting everyone in the gutter because the savage head/cross wind. Starting with from what I can remember the 3rd lap maybe, a motorcyclists had pulled over and was stationary as he saw a load of cyclists coming out of a sweeping left turn at about 30 mph. With the group lined right out, towards the middle of the group 2/3 riders abreast the motorcyclist is very hard to see up the road, I see the riders sweeping quickly left and back in again avoiding something, nothing being shouted out or pointed out though. It was the motorcyclists, and at the last fraction of a second I sweep to the left and miss the motorbike but the rider on my right was not as fortunate. Hitting him face on. Now I used to play ice and roller hockey and saw some pretty savage hits and this was by far a brutal hit. I saw the cyclists face hit the motorcyclists helmet and the visor went flying off! The perspects safety glass on the bike shattering into millions of pieces covering me and surrounding riders. The noise was horrific and expensive. The grunts, the 'wwwwoooooaaaaah's' and the 'oh fucks' filled the road and the crunch of wheels and carbon fibre was enough to give you goose pimples.
This was pretty scary, especially after what had happened a few weeks before to a rider in an elite race, unfortunately he lost his life. So this definitely put the shits up me which I have to admit then made the rest of the race difficult to concentrate on.
The race is neutralised whilst the carnage is cleared up and the injured parties seen to. It re-starts and has been shortened by 3 laps. With the commies re-iterating the rules on how to race on an open road. This obviously doesn't last long. WE HAVE TO HAVE ROLLING ROADS BLOCKS!
Off we Go!
Anyway I obviously miss the break and the rest of the field have been whittled down to around 10-15 riders because of the winds and pace set by the Elite teams.
So almost three hours myself, Paul Londors from Mg and rider from Luton CC break from the rest of what turns out to be total choppers on the last lap and hit it hard for 3/4 of a lap. Coming up to the last 1km I move out to let the Luton rider take a turn and he says 'no I'm fucked'. Great, the game of 'silly buggers' has started. So we slow down and on the last hill I hit it hard feeling strong and confident, Paul comes with me and in the last 100m he started a sprint and a go to start mine but shit happens! I push down with my right leg as its stronger and pull up with the left but my foot becomes unclipped so as I push down with my left my foot goes straight to ground, handlebar hitting me in the thigh sending me over the flipping handle bars into nettles and a row of fern tree.
Damage done......tear in my shorts showing off my white arse cheek, broken cleat and realising I had lost my Garmin at the finish I go back down the road to find a car had run it over. Bugger it.
Oh well all in all a decent training session nonetheless and good for team mate, Dan Young on finishing strongly too a few places in front of me.
Monday 29 April 2013
Update on Races
So an update on races is now well over due.
Elveden series 1 9th March
So after the Crest the next race was an E12 at a new Venue, Elveden Estate, bit of a mission but the course is closed roads and a decent track. Weather depending. It was shit. Rain and snow fell the week before leading up to this race so was very damp and soggy.
The Estate has a lot of farm vehicle that drive around and use the road that we are using to race on. So you can imagine the grit, mud, sand, silt and other mank minerals all over the road.
The race was alright, a break got away and I couldn't get warm enough to get across to the break and yet again my positioning skills were at fault. I will learn one day. I came 9th which gave me 7 points and being a National B race they went to the team standings too.
At the start before the mess began. nice clean kit :D, wont last, rain fell throughout the race. In the final sprint for the remaining places I think 6th and so on, I cramped in both calf muscles which was horrific and managed to carry on but unable to hold off three coming round me after leading out and got 9th. pleased with result as it was an E12 race.
The mess after the race. Freezing, and very dirty. I was 'snot-rocketing' pebbles out my schnoz and digging sand out me wotsits for days afterwards.
The Jock Wadley Memorial Race 10th March.
Now this was my first taster at Elite racing, and shit the bed it hurt. I was quite sore from the race the day before but still decided to go because I made the reserves list. Big Teams were here, IG Sigma, Team Rayliegh, Twenty3C and Rapha-Condor Sharp and a handful of ex Pro's.
Getting the go ahead to race ten minutes before was hardly the best prep but I got ready and left. Snowing, Raining and very windy, this was not going to be pretty. 75 Miles of hell.
Well they smashed it for the first 35 miles and averaged about 26mph, I was buggered, I hung on as long as I could but the prevailing weather conditions didn't help at all, my right leg was slightly strained after the cramp from the race the day before so I retired after 35miles.
My legs literally got ripped off and I was then beaten with them. A day of full rest was needed after this. Thank F***
Training
The next race is the Ipswich Scramble. I want to win this as this is where I was born and would mean a lot to me to win. I had planned my training schedule to get a decent 14 day block in, including taper phases so that I was at my strongest for this race.
The race HQ and race course was only a few miles from where my gran lives so I stayed at hers so I didn't have to get up at Stupid o'clock to travel to the race. The day before We drove up, mum, dad, and dog and we went out to recce the route, I like to know as much as I can about the course.
I have trained up here in Suffolk a few times now and i'm quite familiar with some of the roads but not all of them. Well it didn't matter anyway because it Snowed, And Snowed, And Snowed, and F****** Snowed all after noon and night which ended up in the race being cancelled! Quality :/.
So now the two week block turns into four, so Ill be super fit for the next race which was going to be on the 6th April. I had booked a weekend away with the good lady for a rest and recovery. Unfortunately she came down with a bug which eventually turned into flu so that put an end to those plans. Instead I raced at Hogg Hill on Good Friday E12, and did pretty well. Got into the break and then in the sprint I came around and 'through' riders and lunged for the line and got second place. Happy Days! Position was not the best at the start of the sprint 6th wheel back, may have won if it was better, who knows, all I know is I got a shite load of points, bit of wonger and quality workout.
Dan, Me and Josh at the beginning.
Final Group including the young star Tao and Simon Alexander and a couple of Corley chaps.
Sprint Final, Background noise comes from the usual support, mum and sister screaming away.
Elveden series 1 9th March
So after the Crest the next race was an E12 at a new Venue, Elveden Estate, bit of a mission but the course is closed roads and a decent track. Weather depending. It was shit. Rain and snow fell the week before leading up to this race so was very damp and soggy.
The Estate has a lot of farm vehicle that drive around and use the road that we are using to race on. So you can imagine the grit, mud, sand, silt and other mank minerals all over the road.
The race was alright, a break got away and I couldn't get warm enough to get across to the break and yet again my positioning skills were at fault. I will learn one day. I came 9th which gave me 7 points and being a National B race they went to the team standings too.
The mess after the race. Freezing, and very dirty. I was 'snot-rocketing' pebbles out my schnoz and digging sand out me wotsits for days afterwards.
The Jock Wadley Memorial Race 10th March.
Now this was my first taster at Elite racing, and shit the bed it hurt. I was quite sore from the race the day before but still decided to go because I made the reserves list. Big Teams were here, IG Sigma, Team Rayliegh, Twenty3C and Rapha-Condor Sharp and a handful of ex Pro's.
Getting the go ahead to race ten minutes before was hardly the best prep but I got ready and left. Snowing, Raining and very windy, this was not going to be pretty. 75 Miles of hell.
Well they smashed it for the first 35 miles and averaged about 26mph, I was buggered, I hung on as long as I could but the prevailing weather conditions didn't help at all, my right leg was slightly strained after the cramp from the race the day before so I retired after 35miles.
My legs literally got ripped off and I was then beaten with them. A day of full rest was needed after this. Thank F***
Training
The next race is the Ipswich Scramble. I want to win this as this is where I was born and would mean a lot to me to win. I had planned my training schedule to get a decent 14 day block in, including taper phases so that I was at my strongest for this race.
The race HQ and race course was only a few miles from where my gran lives so I stayed at hers so I didn't have to get up at Stupid o'clock to travel to the race. The day before We drove up, mum, dad, and dog and we went out to recce the route, I like to know as much as I can about the course.
I have trained up here in Suffolk a few times now and i'm quite familiar with some of the roads but not all of them. Well it didn't matter anyway because it Snowed, And Snowed, And Snowed, and F****** Snowed all after noon and night which ended up in the race being cancelled! Quality :/.
So now the two week block turns into four, so Ill be super fit for the next race which was going to be on the 6th April. I had booked a weekend away with the good lady for a rest and recovery. Unfortunately she came down with a bug which eventually turned into flu so that put an end to those plans. Instead I raced at Hogg Hill on Good Friday E12, and did pretty well. Got into the break and then in the sprint I came around and 'through' riders and lunged for the line and got second place. Happy Days! Position was not the best at the start of the sprint 6th wheel back, may have won if it was better, who knows, all I know is I got a shite load of points, bit of wonger and quality workout.
Dan, Me and Josh at the beginning.
Sprint Final, Background noise comes from the usual support, mum and sister screaming away.
Friday 5 April 2013
The Inspiration and Motivation
I think its fair to say that the recent bashing the rest of the world got from us GBR's at the Olympics this year has got a fair amount to do with my sudden change and full whole hearted effort into becoming and professional cyclist, however there is a lot more than just a few blinging medals that have spurred me on.
Its quite difficult to start because there are few moments, parts and people in my life that all have a very important part to my motivation.
School
The backing I got from the school I used to work at when I handed in my resignation stating that I wished to become a professional cyclists was outstanding!!
I was only at the school for a very short while but the bond that I had created with the teachers and students was unreal. I was only there for around six months and not actually realising the impact I had made on the school was to such a great effect. I have made many friends whilst working there, some I shall never forget. My last day there I found ridiculously and pretty much embarrassingly emotional. It was truly overwhelming the support those guys gave me. I left with lots on sentimental gifts, t-shirts, helmets, lube :P, cards and also a whole topic book signed by pretty much the entire school wishing me luck on success and journey into becoming a professional. A DVD was also made and it still fills me with emotion to this day if I watch it.
With the recent crappy weather we have had, whilst out training and suffering from seriously numb extremities and really tired legs I remember the smiles, warm hugs and laughter from my last day and it fills me with a warm feeling and gets me through to low times.
Name and Shame.
Obviously my Mum and Dad are very proud of what I have achieved so far, they have to be, I am an offspring of there's after all.
When I told them I am going to become a professional cyclists they could see the passion and commitment in my eyes that I wanted this to happen. There was no argument about it. Which I funny because in our family we argue about pretty much everything. This was very re-assuring as I felt they had the same passion for wanting me to become professional.
My Current employer at Fungi Fitness, Chris is also a key figure in my inspiration. He took me on as a work experience student when I was 14, nearly 10 years ago. I trained at the gym ever since to help me with my ice and inline hockey which I was playing at the time. He helped me with my training which I am very grateful for. Probably my first role model I looked upon. I have great respect for the man. The following years passed and just as I was about to start university he gave me a job at the gym which was fantastic. Earning whilst I studied, trained hard and succeeded in my sporting endevours. There was a great group of us down there and still is, We did events such as the Tough Guy which was a brutal race and I actually ended up doing alright in it. I never looked at running and strong point.
After this he got me to enter a few triathlons with his son Matt who is a couple of years younger and at this present moment in time training at Loughborough uni with the GB elite Tri squad. (his commitment to triathlon was ever so slightly stronger than mine :/). So for the next couple of years whilst studying I trained for triathlons. This was where I found my strength in cycling.
I wont bore you with triathlon stories, because somewhere out there is always another triathlete that has a better one. But I was always told I should take my cycling into the unknown and start racing. Bike racing. No swimming. and definitely none of that running bollocks.
The Famous Names
There are of course the famous name in sport that I look upon as role models. There are loads so just going to reel off the household name now;
Wiggo- of course, fellow mod and the best rider cycling has had in a long while,
Cavendish- like Wiggo great british rider and known for his open mindedness and freedom of speech.
Alex Dowsett- not many will know him but he used to ride for the club I am at now and is a top guy.
That's enough of that back to me.
I want to be able to create a life for myself and girlfriend Paula. It is hard for us at the moment with me living in Essex and herself in Suffolk. Before I started my journey into becoming a pro we saw each other every weekend and it was great. Now the journey has begun we are not able to see each other as often as we both would like, its difficult, really difficult. I am racing pretty much every weekend which means seeing her now is a heck of a lot shorter. Paula owns a horse too which also takes a great deal of effort to look after too. She is fully supportive of what I am doing and only wishes me to become professional even quicker so that we can buy a home and create a family. We both know that this will take time and we also know that we are perfectly right for each other. We miss each other dearly when we are apart and I change this pain into energy whilst I train and compete to succeed into becoming the professional I aspire to be.
Its quite difficult to start because there are few moments, parts and people in my life that all have a very important part to my motivation.
School
The backing I got from the school I used to work at when I handed in my resignation stating that I wished to become a professional cyclists was outstanding!!
I was only at the school for a very short while but the bond that I had created with the teachers and students was unreal. I was only there for around six months and not actually realising the impact I had made on the school was to such a great effect. I have made many friends whilst working there, some I shall never forget. My last day there I found ridiculously and pretty much embarrassingly emotional. It was truly overwhelming the support those guys gave me. I left with lots on sentimental gifts, t-shirts, helmets, lube :P, cards and also a whole topic book signed by pretty much the entire school wishing me luck on success and journey into becoming a professional. A DVD was also made and it still fills me with emotion to this day if I watch it.
With the recent crappy weather we have had, whilst out training and suffering from seriously numb extremities and really tired legs I remember the smiles, warm hugs and laughter from my last day and it fills me with a warm feeling and gets me through to low times.
Name and Shame.
Obviously my Mum and Dad are very proud of what I have achieved so far, they have to be, I am an offspring of there's after all.
When I told them I am going to become a professional cyclists they could see the passion and commitment in my eyes that I wanted this to happen. There was no argument about it. Which I funny because in our family we argue about pretty much everything. This was very re-assuring as I felt they had the same passion for wanting me to become professional.
My Current employer at Fungi Fitness, Chris is also a key figure in my inspiration. He took me on as a work experience student when I was 14, nearly 10 years ago. I trained at the gym ever since to help me with my ice and inline hockey which I was playing at the time. He helped me with my training which I am very grateful for. Probably my first role model I looked upon. I have great respect for the man. The following years passed and just as I was about to start university he gave me a job at the gym which was fantastic. Earning whilst I studied, trained hard and succeeded in my sporting endevours. There was a great group of us down there and still is, We did events such as the Tough Guy which was a brutal race and I actually ended up doing alright in it. I never looked at running and strong point.
After this he got me to enter a few triathlons with his son Matt who is a couple of years younger and at this present moment in time training at Loughborough uni with the GB elite Tri squad. (his commitment to triathlon was ever so slightly stronger than mine :/). So for the next couple of years whilst studying I trained for triathlons. This was where I found my strength in cycling.
I wont bore you with triathlon stories, because somewhere out there is always another triathlete that has a better one. But I was always told I should take my cycling into the unknown and start racing. Bike racing. No swimming. and definitely none of that running bollocks.
The Famous Names
There are of course the famous name in sport that I look upon as role models. There are loads so just going to reel off the household name now;
Wiggo- of course, fellow mod and the best rider cycling has had in a long while,
Cavendish- like Wiggo great british rider and known for his open mindedness and freedom of speech.
Alex Dowsett- not many will know him but he used to ride for the club I am at now and is a top guy.
That's enough of that back to me.
I want to be able to create a life for myself and girlfriend Paula. It is hard for us at the moment with me living in Essex and herself in Suffolk. Before I started my journey into becoming a pro we saw each other every weekend and it was great. Now the journey has begun we are not able to see each other as often as we both would like, its difficult, really difficult. I am racing pretty much every weekend which means seeing her now is a heck of a lot shorter. Paula owns a horse too which also takes a great deal of effort to look after too. She is fully supportive of what I am doing and only wishes me to become professional even quicker so that we can buy a home and create a family. We both know that this will take time and we also know that we are perfectly right for each other. We miss each other dearly when we are apart and I change this pain into energy whilst I train and compete to succeed into becoming the professional I aspire to be.
Tuesday 2 April 2013
First Proper Road Race, THE CREST
Right then after the success of all races previously my club sorted me out with some more kit which is a huge help as I train full time and one pair of team shorts can only last so long before honking.
So new shorts, jerseys, tights and skin suit am I all sorted out in full Glendene Regalia! whoop!
A feeling of acceptance and assurance from the team is exactly what I needed, and in return I was going to explore new boundaries and limits in this race to say thanks.
Training
So my training leading up to this race was consistent as always even with the shite weather we have been having. Doing speed work in 30mph headwinds was not exactly easy but it did mean my strength was forever increasing. Adding the resistance training I had prescribed my self since October my legs in February became increasing ripped and a lot larger, thus leading to hypertrophy which was the desired effect however knowing that would effect my frontal surface area I eased off the headwind 'eff my self up' efforts that I begun to call them and decided to mount to turbo to get my legs spinning fast and powerful with a gentle breeze coming through the veranda.
The Crest!
Cold start to the day, no change there for this year. so the choice of clothing was always going to be tricky. I was willing to work hard so staying warm was never going to be a problem, keeping cool would be. Changing my mind at the last moment worked out to be a great move.
Rolling out thru the neutralised zone was a new experience, as you read that will be the first of many new experiences in this race :/
Fat blokes on expensive carbon bikes pushing there way to the front and the race hasn't even started yet. One guy particularly in mind (wont name and shame the team to save embarrassment) over took me crossing the white line of death and hit every single cat eye for about mile after on carbon wheels, sounded horrific that poor bike. think it was a drug dealers bike (trek) so didn't care too much but eased up because I didn't want to be any where near him if came off because it would be a complete catastrophe!
Race starts and off we go
5 or six guys go flying up the road straight away, Dan Young chases and so do I, two strong guys from Glendene in the break cant be a bad thing.
I get across to the front two and so does one other guy and we are off, Dan doesn't make it across chases but fails. A lap and half we have 2 minutes on the peloton great im doing alright here.
4 laps in lets have a gel, bollocks wrong place to have one! and I end up getting dropped, second experience to learn from. Ride for a whole lap on my own and three guys come across to me and I wanted to get back to the leaders.
Organising this lot was going to be a bloody hard task, half fit old boys that didn't want to do anymore work. FML.
Lap later two guys come across and pull us along the useless bugger an' all. so taking turns, rolling thru and on at the front we make ground quickly and start closing time on the front three. I need more food bar a gel I choose to have, see off the gel and start with the bar. Telling the stronger blokes i'm feeding they allow me to miss a turn but the useless buggers don't come thru so small gap opens, mouth half full with bar in hand I try to sprint to bridge the gap but I'm all over the place and cant get a decent mouthful of air because its full of food. The other guys do fuck all. Dropped again. doubleFML. the two guys that left us eventually get up to the front and over take to get 1st and 2nd. Sods law.
I pull us along and catch with a guy from Essex Roads that was in the original break and he catches on to us on the last 5km, No one wants to work and we cant even see the finish and the peloton start to close in.
The finish is quality, I love a up hill sprint and the Crest provides a cracking finish. nice and lumpy with about a 120m straight uphill, I pull us thru and kick and win the bunch sprint.
6th Place, ill take that.
video of the finish
Photo of Harry Paine who raced at cyclopark that day, Dan Snow and Myself
NEXT INSTALLMENT
A sentimental blog about my inspiration and motivation into becoming a professional.
So new shorts, jerseys, tights and skin suit am I all sorted out in full Glendene Regalia! whoop!
A feeling of acceptance and assurance from the team is exactly what I needed, and in return I was going to explore new boundaries and limits in this race to say thanks.
Training
So my training leading up to this race was consistent as always even with the shite weather we have been having. Doing speed work in 30mph headwinds was not exactly easy but it did mean my strength was forever increasing. Adding the resistance training I had prescribed my self since October my legs in February became increasing ripped and a lot larger, thus leading to hypertrophy which was the desired effect however knowing that would effect my frontal surface area I eased off the headwind 'eff my self up' efforts that I begun to call them and decided to mount to turbo to get my legs spinning fast and powerful with a gentle breeze coming through the veranda.
The Crest!
Cold start to the day, no change there for this year. so the choice of clothing was always going to be tricky. I was willing to work hard so staying warm was never going to be a problem, keeping cool would be. Changing my mind at the last moment worked out to be a great move.
Rolling out thru the neutralised zone was a new experience, as you read that will be the first of many new experiences in this race :/
Fat blokes on expensive carbon bikes pushing there way to the front and the race hasn't even started yet. One guy particularly in mind (wont name and shame the team to save embarrassment) over took me crossing the white line of death and hit every single cat eye for about mile after on carbon wheels, sounded horrific that poor bike. think it was a drug dealers bike (trek) so didn't care too much but eased up because I didn't want to be any where near him if came off because it would be a complete catastrophe!
Race starts and off we go
5 or six guys go flying up the road straight away, Dan Young chases and so do I, two strong guys from Glendene in the break cant be a bad thing.
I get across to the front two and so does one other guy and we are off, Dan doesn't make it across chases but fails. A lap and half we have 2 minutes on the peloton great im doing alright here.
4 laps in lets have a gel, bollocks wrong place to have one! and I end up getting dropped, second experience to learn from. Ride for a whole lap on my own and three guys come across to me and I wanted to get back to the leaders.
Organising this lot was going to be a bloody hard task, half fit old boys that didn't want to do anymore work. FML.
Lap later two guys come across and pull us along the useless bugger an' all. so taking turns, rolling thru and on at the front we make ground quickly and start closing time on the front three. I need more food bar a gel I choose to have, see off the gel and start with the bar. Telling the stronger blokes i'm feeding they allow me to miss a turn but the useless buggers don't come thru so small gap opens, mouth half full with bar in hand I try to sprint to bridge the gap but I'm all over the place and cant get a decent mouthful of air because its full of food. The other guys do fuck all. Dropped again. doubleFML. the two guys that left us eventually get up to the front and over take to get 1st and 2nd. Sods law.
I pull us along and catch with a guy from Essex Roads that was in the original break and he catches on to us on the last 5km, No one wants to work and we cant even see the finish and the peloton start to close in.
The finish is quality, I love a up hill sprint and the Crest provides a cracking finish. nice and lumpy with about a 120m straight uphill, I pull us thru and kick and win the bunch sprint.
6th Place, ill take that.
video of the finish
Photo of Harry Paine who raced at cyclopark that day, Dan Snow and Myself
NEXT INSTALLMENT
A sentimental blog about my inspiration and motivation into becoming a professional.
Monday 1 April 2013
First Blog, the start of my racing career.
About time I started this blog been saying I would for the last three months so here goes.
If your looking for a professional yet laid back or opinionated approach into my journey into becoming a professional cyclist then should make entertaining reading.
Admitting that I used to be a triathlete around cyclists is always going to be a slightly sore subject, after all there is a small stigma about it, However I do owe it to my employer who is a World Ironman competitor and my first Tri coach for telling me to stop pissing about and start putting in the effort because they can see I have what it takes to do well.
Studying Sports Science and PE at uni has helped me devise my year training program which started mid way thru October, Some say slightly early but I know what I had to achieve and how long the time frame I had to achieve those goals meant I had to start a wee bit early. Basically getting rid of the broad shoulders and shapely back which swimming had given me and leaning right out to becoming a skinny weedy ectomorph, with exceptionally well defined legs.
So ill make the first the first 3 months short. Starting from Oct 28th 2012. First race day. Two races in one day with a 30min gap in between. Both wins, oooosh. cracking start.
November cat three with 10 points train, train, train, train. According to my Garmin November and Dec I tallied up nearly 1300 miles. :O.
January, cat three race=win, 20 point. race=win 30 points. race=win er....'no sir apparently a guy got away so your second'.
'you what? I sat on the front and pulled the whole race along because no one wanted to put any fecking effort and you tell me someone got away, bollocks'. I worked it out he fell off the back and cheated, bastard.
So February last race as a cat 3 all I need is to place to move up. Cue Mannakee 'you gotta win this one Lloyd to secure you place in the Crest RR in March'.
So plan was to take it easy, tempo at the front drop all the choppers and triathletes (sorry) then last 4 laps fly off and arrive in style on me todd, Cancellara style. No.
Puncture with on the last lap before count down. Bollocks. (6 laps to go) make it all the way round, just with some scary moments. peloton just ahead of me at the pits with 3-4 secs up. Change wheel with the help of the misses who turns out to be a mechanic in disguise. She sees I got a front puncture and stands there ready with wheel ready, I undo the skewer she removes and puts in the front wheel, the right way round too lever to the left I wind It up and she pushes me off. it took me around 15 seconds. and I didn't take a lap out so I started to chase, challenge accepted.
I lost about a kilometre in total and took me almost three laps to get back on, rolled for about 30 seconds and made my way to the front and put the hammer down much to all the disappointment of the other riders because immediately it was strung out and I was pulling of the front with a lap and half remaining.
Finishing sprint required and slight effort to get away from the remaining strong ones that hung on for dear life :P and there it is... arms open to grab my CAT2.....finally.
Stay tuned for the crest RR and my other recent race and training progress
If your looking for a professional yet laid back or opinionated approach into my journey into becoming a professional cyclist then should make entertaining reading.
Admitting that I used to be a triathlete around cyclists is always going to be a slightly sore subject, after all there is a small stigma about it, However I do owe it to my employer who is a World Ironman competitor and my first Tri coach for telling me to stop pissing about and start putting in the effort because they can see I have what it takes to do well.
Studying Sports Science and PE at uni has helped me devise my year training program which started mid way thru October, Some say slightly early but I know what I had to achieve and how long the time frame I had to achieve those goals meant I had to start a wee bit early. Basically getting rid of the broad shoulders and shapely back which swimming had given me and leaning right out to becoming a skinny weedy ectomorph, with exceptionally well defined legs.
So ill make the first the first 3 months short. Starting from Oct 28th 2012. First race day. Two races in one day with a 30min gap in between. Both wins, oooosh. cracking start.
November cat three with 10 points train, train, train, train. According to my Garmin November and Dec I tallied up nearly 1300 miles. :O.
January, cat three race=win, 20 point. race=win 30 points. race=win er....'no sir apparently a guy got away so your second'.
'you what? I sat on the front and pulled the whole race along because no one wanted to put any fecking effort and you tell me someone got away, bollocks'. I worked it out he fell off the back and cheated, bastard.
So February last race as a cat 3 all I need is to place to move up. Cue Mannakee 'you gotta win this one Lloyd to secure you place in the Crest RR in March'.
So plan was to take it easy, tempo at the front drop all the choppers and triathletes (sorry) then last 4 laps fly off and arrive in style on me todd, Cancellara style. No.
Puncture with on the last lap before count down. Bollocks. (6 laps to go) make it all the way round, just with some scary moments. peloton just ahead of me at the pits with 3-4 secs up. Change wheel with the help of the misses who turns out to be a mechanic in disguise. She sees I got a front puncture and stands there ready with wheel ready, I undo the skewer she removes and puts in the front wheel, the right way round too lever to the left I wind It up and she pushes me off. it took me around 15 seconds. and I didn't take a lap out so I started to chase, challenge accepted.
I lost about a kilometre in total and took me almost three laps to get back on, rolled for about 30 seconds and made my way to the front and put the hammer down much to all the disappointment of the other riders because immediately it was strung out and I was pulling of the front with a lap and half remaining.
Finishing sprint required and slight effort to get away from the remaining strong ones that hung on for dear life :P and there it is... arms open to grab my CAT2.....finally.
Stay tuned for the crest RR and my other recent race and training progress
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