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. :)
Friday 31 May 2013
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)