Corley Cycles MK Bowl Race 11 E/1/2/3

Last night was Milton keynes bowl again, and the legs didn't feel great as I feel I'm over racing ...or under training but I looked over my Strava profile and found that I've not had many rest days in the last 4 weeks and since Sundays 25 I've been feeling tired on the bike when racing.  The race was out the bottom car park right from the start and there was loads of people there and I tried to follow wheels and even gave an attack near the start but it didn't get me too far up the road.  As the race went on loads of people started getting away and no one could bring them back.  I tried to get away twice but both time I got hunted down and just had to wait for the sprint.  As we got lapped by the lead breakaway someone just went around them and I jumped on his wheel and did everything to stay there and he pulled off at the bottom of the hill and I sprinted as hard as I could up the hill and started to catch a group but I have no idea if the where in front or behind me but I sprint as hard as I could and got to the line and hit stop on my garmin.  Justin then said that was not the end so I did another lap just in case...

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BSCC 13

Wednesday was the Banbury star 13.  I was just using it to test out a different saddle and aero bar, the saddle was my old TT saddle that has a lot of padding in it and the aero bars where more flat ones.  As it turns out it was a fast night as the wind was in the right direction.  I found the saddle to be more comfortable but the aero bars where not angled right so took some time to get used to it and will be testing different positions over the next few TTs to see what works and what does not.

As it turns out Jon Simpkins did a 25:54 to break course record.  I only managed a 29:00 but I hit stop on the garmin and saw 28:59 and strava thinks it was a 28:58.

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Results are here

Hinckley CRC 25

Photo by Mark O'Neill

Yesterday was a 25, part of the Hinckley CRC challenge weekend.  It was a very start the wrong side of 7 am and as we drove there it rain on and off and seemed to be very windy, so it was going to be hard!  After warming I started and there was a strong cross wind from the right and I overtook someone who was on there second lap.  As I went past the finish I tried to take note of where the finish line was.  With a good tale wind I got to the first roundabout  quick and took the first exit on to the A5 and there was a head wind and about three hills and I Pushed harder but still felt tired and I climbed the last hill and then turned left and went past the start and was about half way though and then found myself suffering so I took it a bit easy on the tale wind part to recover and then gave it everything for the rest of the time trial and I got to the finish in a time 01:01:12, Slower than I was hoping but as it turns out was everyone else was a lot slower.  Also my saddle spent a lot of time trying to make sure I'll never have kids, too many long TTs in the last week I think.  But I found my old TT saddle that does not look great but is a lot more bearable so I'm looking forward to trying that out soon.

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Hinckley CRC 10

 Today was the Hinckley CRC 10, part of the Hinckley CRC challenge weekend.  It was a nice day, dry with some dark clouds that looked like they were going to spill, plus it was very windy as well.  I had done this course about two years ago and I found out today that this was the same course.  After warming up and getting to the start there was a bit of a wait as I was early but soon I was on the bike sat on the start line.  I started off and soon got on the aero bars and then smiled as the photographer.  I got to the end of the road it was a U turn and back the way I came, but it was the 5th exit (a good place to go wrong...) but it was well marshaled and I luckily didn't go wrong.  Coming back the cross wind didn't help just like on the way out but I kept driving the pace and got to the Fosse way cross road and tried to dig deep as this was only 2 miles roughly from the finish and as I saw the car I started to sprint and hit stop on my garmin as I passed the car.  My time was 23:08 in hard conditions, I'm quite happy with that and am looking forward to the 25 in the morning, my first open 25 this year!

Corley Cycles MK Bowl Race 10 E/1/2/3

Last night was dry with some damp patches on the track and we got to go out the car park right from the start!  We did the first lap neutral and the second lap only a litter quicker there was one corner that was dodgy just before the finish it cambers the wrong way and was damp as it was under trees, and not too long into the race the guy in front of me went round and his back wheel slipped, he kept it upright but there was an oh bugger moment as I was right behind him!  As the race went on a break got away and then a 2nd group got up the road I decided as we stopped working together to attack and close the gap.  after just under a lap I got across and then recovered to try and work together but a few laps later the 3rd group on the road (the one I was in) came across to make a bigger group of about 8.  After quite a few laps that included going careful round the damp bend, there was attacking but no one was aloud to get away and as the laps counted down the adrenaline built up and on the last lap the pace went up high and I was about a bike length off someones wheel so going into the last bend I took a chance to get round it quick and I caught the guy in front of me.  Then it was about powering up the drag and keeping it going on the flat.  Anyway I past the guy and I think I was 4th out of the bunch, with 7 riders up the road (I think), works out at 11th so not a bad nights racing again, and some good training.

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Warwick and back

Last night was Warwick and back, and after winning it last year I was looking forward to it.  It was a nice day, quite warm and windy.  After a short warm up I was soon off and felt like I was flying (because of the tail wind) and I got to the first descent, Warmington hill, I was hoping to do 50 mph down there as normal, but I didn't push hard down there as it's a long time trial so only did 49.2 mph.  And as I got into Gaydon I looked round to see Jon Simpkins had gotten close to me and he was off 2 mins after me!  So I smashed it up the drag and managed to hold him off and as I got to a roundabout I dove round it as fast as I could, using my roadie skills, then I held Jon off until the next roundabout I dove round that one quick too but Jon soon came past me and just trying to keep his pace on the flat was too hard!  As I got to the next roundabout about two cars held me up as I was catching Justin, and going round the roundabout was slower than I would like but I got a small rest.  After this I caught my first two people of the night and hunting down my 3rd!  As I got to the roundabout to turn going down the hill a big artic lorry was sat right behind me down this hill (maybe trying to get a tow from me?) but very dangerous on his part and just another sh*t driver on the road.  Anyway I dived round the roundabout as fast as I could to get away from him.

I hit lap on my garmin and then it was time to focus and smash it on the way back!  I had a few Alice cooper songs in my head as I had been listening to him throughout the day.  And as I came back it was a head wind and uphill so I knew it was going to be hard but I kept going and was catching people and as I got back to Gaydon I was in the red with two big hills to get up.  However I was catching my dad and the first rider off, but there was a big horse and cart in the road and as the old man went past I was still flying because it was down hill and I went on the other side of the road got round it and past two more people to go on my list.  the first of the big hill was "10% hill" I got up that ok and then back into TT mode and then hit Warmington hill and I had to just sit down and spin my 42 25 up there I got out of the saddle of the steep bit but stayed seated for most of it.  Once finally over the top I got into the big ring again and just powered it all the way back to the finish and did a time of 1:12:33 for 3rd place.  I thought I had beaten the clubs record but I was 8 seconds off it (not that I'm a member anymore).  But Luke Souter came though to beat me by 10 seconds this year and got the record by two seconds so he was doing a good ride!

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Results are here

Hemel Hempstead CC 10

I didn't get a photo yesterday so I took this one the morning while on the bike.

I'm thinking white hoods and black bar tape would look good.

Yesterday was a 10 I was looking forward to as people say it was quick, I took the time to have a long warm up as I like spending time on my bike and also I take a long time to get going and warm up.  As I stood on the hard shoulder of a slip road I had got there with enough time to make sure I would not be late and after a short wait I was off!  As I rolled the big gear up to speed I didn't go to hard off the start line and then managed to hit every single bump and hole in the road but I felt like I got up to speed quite fast!  As I got to the first roundabout I turned right to get to the next one to then turn right again and back onto the dual carriageway.

As I got back on it was uphill and I thought a head wind but it was a tail wind!  And then going past the start it got flatter but my average speed was not too high so I was not sure about this course but as I hit the hill the speed was going up and then a gust of wind hit me from the left and I had to jump up onto the bull horns but keeping low I kept control and then at the bottom of the hill kept powering it along in the 53 11 and 12 but then the wind fought back and slowed me down with a head wind but I know it would help coming back the other way.

As I got to the last roundabout it was a U turn and back the way I came, and I was lucky as the was no cars behind me and got round safely and then time to power it back to the finish.  As I was going along I was truly on the limit and as the road curved round the wind came to help me and on a flat road I all of a sudden felt like I went from going fast to having to click up a gear to go even faster!  I sprinted for the line and did a time of 21:00 and Was very happy with that but would have liked to have gone a second quicker...But I'm still very happy with that!

Corley Cycles MK Bowl Race 9 E/1/2/3

Last night was The bowl again, and I signed for on with that nice lady Sarah Hooper, who wanted a mention in my world famous blog.  And she now owes me 50 quid!!  As we warmed up we were going anti clock wise and out the bottom car park/road bit but on the start line they changed there mind as it had started raining, so we went clockwise around the inner loop.  the first few laps were spent at an easy pace with some joking to see how good the grip was and then on the third lap someone shouted "your racing now!"  and the race did get faster.  As the race went on many people were attacking but no one could get away and every time up the hill the pace was high going up there.  I was feeling good for the first half and then not as strong for the second half but still quite good and I kept in the bunch just trying to stay upright and maybe think about the sprint.  We lapped the 3/4 race 3 times I'm not sure if this was because we were flying or they were going slow or a combination of both, anyway we averaged over 26 mph so it was a fast one!  In the last 5 laps everyone was smashing it to try and stay near the front and it was only on the last lap as we went along the back there was a slight slow in pace and someone attacked and I moved round quite a few people as I just kept the my pace and I was in a good place and as the sprint started I clicked up a gear and just hammered it to the line and passed a few people, and I think I was 7th or 8th!  I'm very happy with that as it was fast and hard in the rain.

Luke Souter Did well in the 3/4 race as he broke away at some point and he was with two other riders and he got 3rd!

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Banbury star 10

Last night was the 10 and I was looking forward to it as I had fitted my power meter and wanted to do some testing.  I covered a lot of what I wanted to try as I rode out to it and warmed up.  So on the start line I reset the power meter and was ready to go.  My starting effort saw me pushing over 1900 watts, very good if you are Chris Hoy or a track sprinter.  Alas I am not, so I had to assume that was a bit wrong.  And as I rode out to the turn some of the power I was putting out would be enough to break national records!  As I got to the first roundabout a car from the right wanted to come straight across and I had to ease off but soon got back to a good pace up the drag after the roundabout.  At the turn I took it easy round as this was where I crashed and as I got round I sprinted up to speed again and started hunting down my first rider to catch.

On the return it felt like a tail wind pushing me along which was good as I pushed to hard starting off and I managed to hang on a catch a few riders on the way back and as I hit the last hill known on strava as 10% hill, I was catching my minute man Simon Kisley and over the top is then kicked up again and that's where I got him and I pushed hard to the line to do a time of 23:39 for 3rd.

As for the power meter it needs to be mounted in a place where the wind will hit the front of it, not behind the aero bars. 

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Results are here

Bedfordshire Road Club 10

Today was a 10 mile TT, it was windy and rained not long after getting the bikes out!  As I rode out to the start there was a lovely head wind and I had to ride up a hill into a head wind to get to the start line ...Which was nice...  I soon found myself on the start line as I the 3rd rider off and I was ready to go.  As I started the speed shot up quick with a tale wind and being down hill.  I hit 43 mph and then kept pushing at the bottom of the hill and felt like I was flying but I then had to watch the average speed drop from 35 mph.  I got to the first roundabout and it was all clear so I went round quite quick and then could see my minute man up the road and I passed him and started to focus on getting to the turn.

As I got up to the roundabout it was big and all clear so I flung the bike around trying to go as quick as I could but then I had the head wind to fight back to the finish.  I caught the first riders off I felt quite happy that I now I would set the fastest time!  BUT the head wind was slowly pushing my average speed down and it went under my target and I knew I was not going to PB but as the finish line came into sight I gave every thing to set a time of 22:28 and get 15th

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Results are here

Corley Cycles MK Bowl Race 8 E/1/2/3

Last night at the bowl it was wet and just round the inside circuit and it was all one race.  We started off and not much happened it was just through and off for a few laps and then there was some attacking and I found myself in a small group of 3.  I was with Sam Price and Ross Mallen and we had an unorganized but fast chase and we got very close to the next group on the road but then we picked up a few riders and one guy was trying to get us to do through and off but it didn't work and the 3/4 came past us so we jumped in and had a break and at this point it was all together apart from a few breakaway riders and as the laps counted down we got to the sprint and I was on Chris Dredge's wheel and we both went for the sprint and he beat me by half a wheel.  But as it turns out I got 8th so not a wasted effort, and a few more points in the back pocket.

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Results are here

Banbury star 25

Yesterday Started with a recovery ride in the morning and I didn't feel good or bad just ok and with the normal digs on a few hill I still felt fine.  I rode out to the time trial and didn't feel like I wanted to do it but as my neck and shoulder pain had gone and ribs no longer hurt so I thought I best man up and get on with it.  As for a warm up I didn't do a lot but I got on the start line hit start on my garmin and was soon off I felt ok and didn't push too hard as it was early and down hill as I can never get the power out of my legs on a down hill bit.  I got to the first roundabout and feeling a bit nervous sat right up and tip toed round it and then sprinted to the next one and then tried not to crash on this one.  I got round and then it was time to focus and get back up the road to Warmington hill.  Down Warmington Jon Simpkins closed the gap on me a bit, Strava said I did 51 mph down there (but Garmin connect says 52 mph.  I'm not sure which is right), so I fear to think how fast he went down there...  Then as I could see someone ahead up the road and I hunted him down waiting for Jon to pass me and he did.

Then started the battle of trying to over take Jon and I did!  But then as the road went down hill I was soft taping and be just free wheeled past me and as the road was flat he pulled away but over the bridge he slowed a bit more than be but the other side just powered away again!  Then though Gaydon as the road kicked up he was quite far ahead but I pulled him back slightly but as the road flattened out again up to a round about he opened the gap again.  And the the next roundabout was the one I crashed at last week and as I made a big check over my shoulder, no cars behind I went round there quick and I could still see Jon ahead I was trying to get back to him but he had got to far ahead and was pulling out a bigger gap!

After I got round the roundabout where we turned my average speed was over 26 mph and I thought I could get a PB if I could keep this up.  So I Fought all the way back and Catching many people I dragged myself up the last hill and was Catching Justin Belcher and then we had a battle as I passed him and then he passed me then I passed him again and as we went though Warmington we even had a sprint for the finish!  And it turns out I did a 58:06 a new PB!!  I'm happy with that as I was not feeling too enthusiastic before the start.

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Results are here

Corley Cycles MK Bowl Race 7 E/1/2/3

Yesterday I did not feel too sore after my crash so I went to race at the bowl.  As I warmed up I was riding with Luke Souter and a squirrel came charging at me from the left.  I stopped pedaling in hope I would not run him over because I didn't want to get covered in squirrel blood!  Luckily he was fine, somehow.  then not long after that I rode over a screw and it got stuck in my tire.  So after quickly changing my back wheel it was time to start.  On the start line I think I was the only one listening because when they said go I was the only one who was ready but not being at the I could not.  Would have been a good place to attack.

As we went on my right side ribs were hurting when I got out of the saddle so I tried not to get out of the saddle.  I started to wonder if I had maybe cracked a rib or something after Wednesdays crash.  but about 30 minutes in and the pain just stopped and I started to feel better and was getting out of the saddle fine.  we where going out of the bottom loop after 20 minutes just to make it harder for us.  The pace was high, the average speed was 26.9 mph and I was glad to see the last 5 laps count down.  With the last lap going I was keep in the bunch well and we flew around the bends and around the last bend and sprint to go up the hill for the last time I was sprinting but my legs were not feeling too good and I could not quite keep up with the bunch but I did pass a few people and rolled in a few bike lengths off the back in about 12th or 13th place.  Not too bad I think I was in pain and sore but very happy with that.

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