Banbury star 13 incorporating the midlands women series

Today was the Banbury star 13 mile time trial again, however with this one being part of the women's Midlands series it was a bit like riding an open because there was a hall and how organized it was. I started and it took a few minutes to get into time trial pace but once I did I felt like it was a bit slow, although I could see my minute man (my dad) I then spent the next few miles trying to catch him and once I did ended going up the inside. After getting to the next road I felt good and was on target to PB but when going down the next road there was no tail wind so I did not make up as much time as I have done. Jon Simpkins also passed me on the last road and just went flying donw the road and by the time the road started bending a bit I never saw him again! After going down the last hill as fast as I could I then had to get up the last hill and I did and as I sprinted for the line in the saddle Luke Souter came past me just on the line to be one minute ahead of me. My time was 29:38 not my fastest but not too bad for what felt like a hard night.

As for the women series bit well that was won by Banbury stars rider Suzy Patience In a time of 31:44 to break the woman's record ...again and get a shiny medal.

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Result are here

corley cycles MKCA summer series race 14

Last night I raced at Milton keynes bowl again and this week was just on the inside because it was a bit wet and they did not have enough marshals. After starting we had quite a quick race and average 25.2 mph, soon there was attacks I even tried a few but no one was getting away. as we got closer to five laps to go I was feeling good for a sprint and with one lap to go I moved up and then started chasing a group that got away and once I got the I eased off and quite a few people came around me and so I had to sprint from quite far back again but still got 10th and that means another point. And after two bad rides in time trials within a few days of each other I was quite happy to have a good ride again.

Results are here


After last night good ride, I looked at the results today and now that they have posted this weeks and last weeks points from racing on at the bowl I got another two points and am now some how at the top of the central regional rankings with two other riders and we are all joint 1st.

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Banbury star 10

Last night I rode the Banbury star 10 and after Sunday I did a long warm up to make sure I was ready and after starting I felt good and I even made it to the turn in a good time (under 12 mins). I was feeling good and was going well all the way to the last hill then once I got to the top of it I then dropped my chain but not on the inside, as I changed to the big ring the chain went to far over and as I tried to move the front mech over to get it back on, the chain got jammed behind the pin that stops the chain going down between the crank and chain ring. After trying to get it on I had to stop and do it, after getting covered in oil I then had to ride back to the finish but did not push it like I normally would. My time was a 24:29 a lot slower than I would have liked and I do have a idea of how much time I lost but still annoyed about it. Shaun Mullins on his new machine, a Cannondale managed a time of 29:12 ...he asked for me to mention him...

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results are here

Midlands DC champs 10 mile TT

Yesterday I raced in the Midlands DC champs (10 miles on the K33/10D), I felt good but as soon as I started I found out I had not warmed up enough because as I hit the first hill my chest hurt a lot this with the wrong front wheel the blew me all over the road was turning out to be a bad day. Also when my heart rate got to TT effort it hurt more than normal and after completing a very painful time trial that my chest hurt and legs did not feel a thing I was disappointed. I tried not to feel to disappointed till I had seen the results but after seeing the results I was more disappointed with only doing a 23 minutes dead on a slow day and not reaching my goals. The event was well marshalled and I got a bronze medal for 3rd fastest 17 year old.

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Results are here

corley cycles MKCA summer series race 13

Last night I raced at Milton Keynes bowl and when warming up we found out that the route was different to before instead of going straight though the back we where sent left and around the edge to make it a bit different. Then after that we where sent left thought some gates and straight down to a right hand bend and picked up a route we have done before. We where told on the start line it was half inside and half outside as normal and as we started the pace was not too high bet a bit quick and it got faster and faster I saw the average speed up to 25.5 mph while we where on the inside. After about half an hour of racing they opened up the extra bit and on the first lap of riding it there was a crash, I saw someone riding down the out side and just heard him go down luckily I was not near it so I got away OK. However on the next bend I was following someone who got half way round the bend and then went straight and all I could do was go straight and try and stop before going into the hedge, while this was happening I think heard crash behind me. As I got going again the group split up quite a bit and so I had to get back on and the try and move up. After this there was no more crashes. Thus we get to 5 laps to go and I was still in the group feeling good like I had a good sprint in me and I was holding a good position near the front but with a lap to go I got boxed in as people moved up, so when I hit the bottom of the hill I was quite far back but I started sprinting and held a fast pace up the hill and passed loads of people and I think crossed the line about 7th and with a breakaway of 2 up the road I think I was 9th but will have to wait and see, but another good night racing and slowly chipping away at my 2nd cat licence.

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Banbury star 13

Today was the Banbury star 13 mile time trial and with normal conditions it was going to be good. After I had started I got a few miles up the road (if that) and a cop car stop in the junction on the right and waited and after a car had overtaken me he then pulled out and I ended up about a bike length off his back and if I had done that to him I would have got in trouble for that! Bit annoying but it could have been worst. After getting onto the next road I started seeing quite a few people ahead and one by one I started passing them and by the time I was at the end of that road I was feeling good and got to the last road quickly I felt good like I was going to do a good time. The last road felt quick all the way and once I got to the final hill I though I was going to PB because my average speed was higher than the last time I rode that course but as I climbed it dropped to about the same as last time and as I sprinted for the line I did a time of 29:29 7 seconds off my PB on what I think was a slower night, its looking good for my target events later in the year.

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Results are here

Oakley Village road race

Photo by Steve Avery

Today I raced in the Oakley Village road race a 2nd, 3rd and 4th cat race so the speed was going to be high over the 52 mile (6 lap) race. Thus after getting there a bit early it rained very hard but with a hour and a half till the race it dried up quickly. We all meet in a side road to be told the DOs and DON'Ts for the race and then we started but stopped on the finish line and then started the race soon after. After the first bend there was a few cars parked on the side and everyone slowed down and as we slowed I felt someone hit my back wheel but I did not hear anyone go down. Soon into the race the pace was high and after a few laps I moved up and sat behind Rob Yeatman from Team Jewson and he attacked and I went with him and we where going fast and I did a turn on the front as we chased the break and as I pulled off the front more and more people started to sit behind us so that was that breakaway over. After sitting in to recover we had about 2 laps left and a breakaway went and stayed away with a Zappi rider Roger Prior (who took 4th). On the last lap me and Rob Yeatman moved up to the front and as the bunch got ready for a sprint finish the bunch got a bit scrappy as I sat in the middle and people came around me from both sides! I managed to stay near to the front and as we entered Oakley heading for the finish line the speed was high and getting higher and going for the line I was sat in the saddle sprinting and passed some riders and got over the line but unsure of my position but I'm happy with that it was good training.

Race stats
Avg. speed 25.5 mph
Max speed 36.3 mph
Time 02:04:33
Distance 52.83 miles

Thanks for reading
Results are here

Corley cycles MKCA summer series race 12

Last night I raced at Milton Keynes bowl the first time after a few weeks of not going there. Last night was one big loop from the start with a nice head wind towards the finish line. After a few laps going around the bend in the picture above there was a crash behind me I not sure what happened but I just heard someone going down. After that the race did settle down a bit until the elites came past us and then the pace jumped up a bit but not for long. Getting towards the end and I was starting to feel a bit tired but on the last lap someone attacked and I went after him but the whole bunch sat on my wheel and then up the hill everyone started sprinting and we still had one bend to get round and I thought they where going a bit soon and once we got around that bend it was into the head wind again and then the sprint for the line just went and I managed to just hang on for 9th place I think, not bad after all I was not feeling great but another fun night racing.

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Banbury star 25

Last night was the 25 again and after a ride in the morning I felt good I even felt good riding to the start with a strong crosswind that would be there to slow everyone down. I was trying out my new visor tonight as well and it felt a bit like riding without sunglasses (because its clear) and without my eyes watering so it was great. Thus brings us to the time trial and after starting I could feel the cross wind in some places that where open but after a few miles when we turn around it was a cross wind that helped until the next turn around where it was then a head wind back to the finish. On the return it was again hard and in some place it was a head wind but once getting up the last hill I then got hit by a headwind and just tried to keep going and got to the finish in a time of 1 hour and 12 seconds not a PB but not too bad for a hard night. After the time trial had finished Me and Suzy Patience went over to see a horse that was watching the time trial from his field (I was asked to add that bit).

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Results are here

Leisure Lakes Circuit Series 2

Last night I raced at Leisure Lakes Circuit series race 2 of 2 and it was hard! It was the normal hour plus 5 laps and I was with 2nd cats and there was a short steep hill in it that we went up 37 times. While on the start line they called out every ones names and number while each rider raised there hand, then soon after all 38 of us started and because it was a hill start every one got very tight and I bump shoulders with someone as we tried to get clipped in. However soon after we got sprinting off and the group strung out a bit. After a few laps it started to get less hard but then someone crashed as we was going up the hill and I went off course a bit and headed for my mum (not the first time I've rode at her after a crash) and then there was some more laps some harder than others. Getting towards the end there was 3 of us and a small split happened and we started chasing but at we got to the worst corner on the course the guy leading us round went to fast and ended up hitting the ground and I ran off on to the grass to avoid him and lost more time to the main group so over the next lap I got going and caught them back up just before we hit the hill again. As the end got closer and closer I was starting to get more and more cramp when I got out of the saddle to get up the hill but as we got to one lap to go I held on to the back and as they sprinted and I sprinted too but lost a few bike lengths to the group but I think I finished about 15th. After I stopped at the top of the hill I was in so much pain from the cramp and I felt a bit sick and my head hurt but it was a good night racing.

Race stats
37 laps
Avg. speed 22.7 mph
2,678 ft of climbing
Time racing 1:12:10

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Banbury star 13 with a PB again

Last night was the 13 course again the first time in quite a while and I was 3rd from last off and I had Jon Simpkins chasing me. After starting off I felt good and was going well up the first road and then along the next road I was thinking get to the end before Jon passes me but not long after thinking that he came flying past me, but it was not to long before the road goes uphill and I was slowly pulling him back but then he pulled away and I had to do the same for the next hill but after getting to the top he just went and I could not keep pace with him. As I was getting closer to the last road the fun one that normally has a tail wind I was stating to feel happy because it would be fast all the way back and it was. the last road felt like it was over very quick and I got to the last hill and got over it and then I crossed the line. Thus setting a new PB and junior course record with a time of 29:22.

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Results are here

Newbury RC 10

Yesterday was a ten mile time trial on the H10/181, and with a strong head wind on the way out it was going to be hard. After I started I could feel the head wind slowing me sown a lot and I had to keep telling myself it was the same for everyone. By the time I got to the end I caught my minute man and got round the roundabout safely and as I returned I felt my speed picking up and getting faster and faster until I was in the 53x12 (almost top gear) and with a few time getting in to the 11 tooth! It was fun but was over very quickly and I got to the line in a time off 22:41 and it was the fastest time for a few minutes until a faster guy did a quicker time.

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Results are here

Ben Owen 10

Last night was the Ben Owen interclub 10 mile time trial it was a lot like an open with a results board and and a HQ. But When I got on the bike last night my legs were OK but after I started the time trial I could not get my heart rate as high as it should have. Although I still passed three people. after finishing I found out I did a time of 23:31 not too bad on what seem like a hard night. As for winning the interclub, we didn't but it was a fun night on a different course.

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Will post results when I find them

Warwick and back time trial

Last night was the warwick and back 30 mile time trial. I never know what to write in a blog post about time trials. As I was on the start line I felt good and I was sure of that when I passed my minute man (my dad) about 5 miles into it. Behind me was some fast testers (Jon Simpkins and Luke Souter) chasing me. it was not long before Jon over took me and that was not a surprise. By the time I got out to the turn I set myself a goal to try and catch ever in front of me, only 10 people how hard could it be? As I was returning it was mostly up hill from the turn, and I still kept going and felt good. With two hills left I had caught every one in front of me and the only person ahead of me was Jon or so I thought, as it turns out he went the wrong way at the roundabout because he beat the marshal there and continued to do the old course so I ended up being first back and wining it by a second and a junior course record and I am very happy with that.

Some stats
Max speed 50.3mph
Average speed 24.7mph

Thanks for reading
Results are here

Corley cycles summer series 9

Breakaway! After passing the elites race

Last night I raced at Milton Keynes bowl it was half on the inside and half on the extra as normal. After we did half a lap I attacked and no one went with me so I kept going and did a few laps on my own and caught the elites race and passed it, and just as I got past them they sped up and left me so I kept my own pace and felt good. Soon after another rider caught me and we worked well together for a few more laps catching the elites and then getting dropped by them a few times until he dropped off. Then I was left on my own and I think the bunch started attacking when the saw my breakaway partner dropping off. After a few laps on my own two riders, Chris Dredge (Team Milton Keynes) and Mike Betts (team Zappi) bridged the gap to me and we worked well together and one last rider Will Jenkins (team Synergy) made it up to us and we pulled out a good lead. Thus brings us to the point I started suffering and after a few bad laps I then got better again and towards the end felt like I was not fatiguing to much. As the laps counted down I hung in there and then with about half a lap to go I felt good again but when it came to the sprint I could not go with Chris and Will so just kept my speed up to roll over 3rd. As a team we had a good night, me 3rd, Mike Betts 4th and Henry Latimer powered to win the bunch sprint and get 5th pace.

Me, Chris and Mike working together

All four in the break

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Will post results soon

Banbury Star 10

Last night was Banbury star CC 10 again, but this week was wet and with a strong head wind on the way back that did not help on the way out. After staring I quickly caught my minute man Tom Spijkers, he used to be my maths teacher a few years ago. On the way out I caught a few people and not much happened then I got to the turn and started heading back into a head wind and by the time I got to the last hill I was suffering a bit but got up it slowly and once over the top I pushed as hard as possible to get to the finish. I crossed the line in a time of 23:55, not too bad but my legs felt better after the time trial than before and that is annoying me a bit.

Thanks for reading
Results are here

Corley cycles summer series 8

Last night I raced at Milton Keynes bowl and right from the start it was fast! The pace got hammered right from the start and after the first lap the bunch was strung out. After about half the race a few of us managed to get away from the main bunch and took turns at the front and we lapped loads of riders but when we got to the last lap I did not have it in the legs to sprint so I came in in 7th after my first ever successful breakaway. I'm happy with that, a few more points.

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Results are here

Banbury Star 25 again

Last night was the Banbury Star 25 mile time trial again and this this time there was more of a cross wind than last time and it did not feel like it helped that much. After starting I felt good and felt quick but once getting to the turn at the second roundabout it was all up hill again until I passed the start then there was a nice descent to get the speed up. I was getting near to the next turn around point and had a good idea to eat an energy gel on the down hill bit unlike last where I had it going up the hill. After tuning round I saw the fast guys, Luke Souter and Jon Simpkins coming towards me very quickly and after that my goal was to get to the finish before them. Coming up the last hill a short 10% climb I just sat on the aero bars and passed my dad (the same place as last time) and went passed him feeling very happy. I then got to the finish line in a time of 58:55 a new PB, reached my goal and 2nd place! The Handicap part was won by Suzy Patience who also did a quick time of 01:06:53 for her first 25 mile time trial.

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Results are here

National 25 mile time trial

On the start ramp

Yesterday was the national 25 mile time trial championships down in Devon. The course was great because it started in a town centre and had closed roads for about half a mile before joining a main road out to the roundabout. At the start there was a start ramp, a crowd and even a jazz band, when I started I was on top of the ramp and when the time keeper said go I sprinted as fast as I could to the end and on the aero bar thought the first bend. On the descent thought the town I hit 40 mph in the 30 zone and sat up to slow down to get around the bend at the bottom. Once on the main road it was out to the roundabout turn around and head back. On the way out I passed the finish on the right and the road was up and down a lot and I don't think any of it was flat and it even rained in one bit in the middle. Once I got to the roundabout to turn around I got held up a bit by a car but got round the roundabout and got going again, it then seem very hard on the way back. On the way back I got to the bit where it had been raining and the road was very wet and I had to go down a hill with a few bends at the bottom with it very wet so I took it easy round the bends and after about a mile it was dry again. By the time I got to the finish I was glad to get there and I crossed the line in a time of 01:02:44 as it turns out it was a very slow course with the hills and so I don't think that was too bad and only and 1 min 46 off my team mate Henry Latimer.

Results for my race are here

The winner was Ryan Mullen in the junior and in the men Dr. Hutch won in 53:36 and Julia Shaw won in a time of 59:20 with another team mate Chrissy Radon second.

Results: Men Women






There is a video here of most people in the race, I'm in it at 5:10

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BSCC and A5 rangers interclub 10 mile TT

Last night was an interclub between Banbury star CC and the A5 rangers, this year it was on there course again. This looked like it was going to be a fast course however the headwind on the way out mad it very hard. As I was on the start line I think the pusher-offer was showing off by holding me up with one finger on my saddle (I think I need to put on some more weight), After I started I felt good on the nice smooth tarmac but once I got to the first round about I slowed down a lot into the headwind but I did not go wrong this time like two years ago when I first rode the course. The head wind was hard all the way out but because it was not super strong I did not find out till I turned around and started flying back. And once I got to the short dual carriageway bit it was smooth tarmac and a tail wind, if only it was like that for 10 miles. I finished in a time of 23:02 not too bad of a time I think.

Thanks for reading
Results are here