Back at the bowl!

After a few weeks of no MK bowl I was back and with two days racing in my legs wanted to see how my legs could do.  After the race started it took longer for my legs to get going but I kept in the bunch and after following wheels I found myself out on a breakaway with about 4 other riders, we worked well together doing though and off and we were going well.  However when they opened the extra loop the main bunch could look across and see us, as we looked across to see them and they then chased hard.  After being brought back I still felt quite good and soon went on another break but it did not last for long.  I kept in and wanted to get away as I felt good but no one would let any breaks go until the last few laps.  A group got away and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was in a group that was a bit far down to get in the points.  I got 19th but had fun and felt good, I even found out when I got home that I got KOM at the bowl on Strava!!

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BSCC 13

Tonight was another hot day on the bike and it was also the 13 and my heart rate monitor strap didn't want to work so I had to take it off!  The time trial went quite well I was caught by Jon Simpkins for a minute quite soon but I was holding pace with him but as normal on a flatter part he pulled away and once he pulled away he was not seen again by me until the finish!  I managed to keep pushing and found the last round to be not quite as fast as normal - possible head wind - but managed to finish in a time of 28:59 and I thought that was a PB until I got home and looked on strava to find I had done a 28:59 last month.

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Mallory Park Tuesday League 1

Yesterday me and Justin went to Mallory park together and it was nice and sunny for my second time very at Mallory.  There was a big line of people wanting to sign on so we knew it would be a good night racing.  As Justin and I went to warm up he found the new cleat he fitted would not go into his pedal, he handed his number in and went for a ride and it clipped in so had to go get his number back and just in time to start!  On the start line the said 2nd cats go to the back, as it turns out we had a min handicap and someone on the line told us what normally happens and we started and did though and off for about 20 mins to catch the 3/4s and then when we did we eased off and had a rest.  As the race went on I got out in a break for about a lap but it soon got caught and then my goal was to go for the sprint, and as the laps counted down we had the bell to tell us it was one lap to go and  I was in a good place but got a bit boxed in in the last maybe half a mile and then we hit the hill.  It was a flat out sprint and I managed to get out and sprint hard but was a bit too far down to get in the points.  I enjoyed the race anyway but the hot days are nice but I'm not used to it!  ...Yet.

Midland 10 champs

Sunday was the midland 10 champs and I didn't feel great on the day.  I warmed up for quite a while in the sun and was soon time to race.  I started off and the first 3 miles where into a very strong head wind as well as the road being rolling, and by the time I got to the first roundabout to turn left I had an average speed of 22.7 mph so I knew I had to push hard after that to try and get my average speed up.  The road was a quick one even with a cross wind and I was slowly getting to my target average speed, and then it was another left turn at the next roundabout.  The dual carriage way to the finish was quick and I managed to keep the pace high to cross the line in a time of 22:40 A bit slower than I would like but I think I was having a bit of an off day and will have to hope for better next year.

Leisure Lakes Bikes Crit Elite Race

Last night did not go to well at Leisure Lakes Bikes Crit Elite Race as I Attack right from the start after the neutralized lap and then people started to come past me and after a few laps I got dropped and so did a few people ahead of me.  After me Jonathan Wears and another ride all got together we formed a small group and after about 50 something minutes of racing we were given a prime and so I sprinted hard to try and win it.  I crossed the line and showed off a bit by sticking my arms in the air and then went into time trial mode for the last 15 mins of the race.  I finished the race a bit disappointed but I made £5 although is was £15 to enter the race...

BSCC 10

Last night it was the 10 TT and after good warm up I was off and after the first descent it started raining very hard!  I could hear it hitting my helmet and make quite a bit of noise.  the rain eased abit and I pushed on and felt quite good, I climbed the first hill ok and got round the first two roundabouts with the roundabout I hate coming up next.  I checked over my shoulder and slowed right down and entered the roundabout and tried to slow it a bit but went a bit straight but managed to get round without crashing or any stupid drivers, which was nice.  As I returned I felt good a pushed on being sure to go careful round the roundabout.  I got though fine and on my way back went over the bridge and a car pulled out infront of me and did not go very fast, so as I got closer and closer to it I moved out and started to over take it.  This made think I must have been going well as I had just over taken a car on an up hill slope.  I then hit the last hill and big ringed it up there and over the top to then power it to the line, I dug deep and crossed the line in a time of 23:46 for 2nd and 24 seconds of winner Simon Smart.

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TMG Horizon Road Race

Yesterday was my longest race ever at 75 miles and it was a nice day for it.  I started off with arm warmers as it was bit chilly and I did a very short warm up and we soon were lining up ready to start.  The neutralized part from the HQ to the course was short but just right to get the legs going and as soon as the flag dropped someone attacked and everyone just kept the pace the same not wanting to go to hard but it then picked up and the racing was on.  The first lap was not super fast but people kept trying to get away and I got to see what the course was like and liked the look of the last climb towards the finish, but was unsure how much my legs would like it after 75 miles.

As we crossed the line we had 5 full laps to go, with two laps to the first prime.  A lot of the time there were people up the road but not too far ahead as no one would let anyone get away, and if one group got pulled back another would get away!  I was getting warm so when the pace was low I took the opportunity to take off my arm warmers and had to put them up the back of my jersey out of the way.  As we got to the end of the second lap I threw my bottle to the side and just had time to grab my next bidon (first time I've ever done that by the way) and luckily I didn't drop it!

The next lap was spent mostly trying to keep fueled up and I drank a lot of water from the bidon I had grabbed over the line.  The race carried on with people just of the front never getting too far away and people always attacking and as we crossed the line again I ditched my bottle I got the last time round as it was almost empty and was just extra weight.  Then as the pace was up on a rolling part of the course I was about 20 bike lengths off the front and all I could hear was the crashing of man and carbon hitting the road as we were doing about 32 mph.  As it turns out my mate Luke Souter was in the crash and came out the worst with a broken collar bone.  I never saw him in the race after that (now I knew why) but I thought he was just hiding in the bunch ready to surprise everyone at the end.

The last two laps got very hectic as the pace went up with attacks and people pushing the pace on.  And as we crossed the line for the last lap 18 people were up the road and it took a while to get anyone to chase but one big guy got to the front and just strung the bunch out and the Justin Belcher did a turn and then so did I, we got the break close and then the bloke who started the chase rode away as no one got on his wheel.  one of his team mate attacked and so did I and we got up the drag and then down a fast hill and we got to the front group just in time for them to slow down and then the main bunch came across.  The pace was then fast to the finish.  As we went down the last hill it was time to fight for a place and as Team Corley were leading out everyone wanted to be behind them and as we hit the hill I sprinted as hard as I could and ended up clipping someone who was going backwards!  I lost my speed after this as I tried to keep up right and then had to fight a big gear to keep moving and with the worst cramp ever in my right leg!  I crossed the line but could not stand on my right leg!  I'm not sure on my placing but I'm glad I got though the race, as it was a 6am start and 3 hours of pain on the bike ...But it was fun.

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Leisure Lakes Circuit Series 2

Most of this week I had been ill and not been on the bike much, and watched alot of How I Met Your Mother and Tour De France.  As I was feeling almost fine yesterday I went out for a short ride in the morning to try out my new chain ring and found it helped with my knee pain.  I warmed up quite well and then did a few laps round the track and then we were on the start line and as we started it was up hill and hard to get clipped in but I luckily got my foot in first time and just had to watch everyone else and the first time down the hill me and a few others near the front got a gap that did open after the first lap but it soo got together and someone went on the attack.  the first 20 minutes were very hard as the pace was around 24 mph and we were hitting the hill very quick and its steep with a little dip in the middle just to make it harder.  After many laps we got to 5 laps to go and, I did not know this until I looked and saw the 3 lap to go sign and started to feel good and with the one lap to go it started to get aggressive as we went down the hill trying to stay near the front of the group, so I just sat in hoping I could give everything for the final sprint.  And as we got round the last bends and hit the hill it was time to sprint as hard as possible for the line and as the group flew up the hill I gave every thing as I pushed round that big gear and I got 7th and I was surprised as at that and very happy!

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Oakley Village Road Race

Today was the Oakley Village road race and, it was wet in some places but mostly dry on every where else to make it interesting.  The race started in a side road and then we moved out to the finish line and stopped there so we could then start.  The race started off fast with many attacks and riders trying to get away but no one could get away, I even tried to get away and TT off the front for a while but someone joined me and the bunch was then not too far off and I thought it was best to sit back in and try and recover but the pace was then high and hard to recover but I kept in and then started to feel fine again.  As we had two laps to go and there was a crash ahead of me and I saw and I saw a guy on the floor I thought I was going to hit him and go down.  Luckily as I braked and un-clipped my foot I saw a gap and got though, but as I braked someone hit me in the backside.  I got though the gap and then had to close the gap and get back to the main bunch.  The last lap was fast and everyone wanted to be at the front and I was trying to stay there as well and there was a lot of touching and knocking going on.  There was not much space and I hit a few peoples bars and legs as did others.  But I was in a good place and feeling good, but as we started to wind up I started to cramp up in my right leg and went from being in a good place to go for the sprint too quite far down.  I'm quite disappointed with that as I felt I could have done something

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Corley Cycles MK Bowl Race 12 E/1/2/3

Last night at the bowl it was out the bottom right from the start.  But as we lined up on the normal start line we got told it would start down the bottom of the hill.  So all of us in the elite race went down there the 3/4 race stayed where they where and did come down ...I don't think they where listening...  The race started off fast and got faster!  Every time we hit the hill it was a case of trying to give everything to keep with everyone else, we dropped quite a few people though out the race, I think it was the pace up the hill and round the Bends.  I think about halfway though we caught the 3/4s and it took us a lap to get past as they suddenly sped up and mad it harder for us to come by.  But they got shouted at to hang back once we mostly got past them and then we rode off.  As we started to get the 5 laps to go I was feeling tired and was glad there was only a few more laps left.  There was attacks but nothing that would stick and as we got to the last lap we went out the back round a few bends and on the straight someone attacked and a rabbit ran out from the right straight across the track between the attacking riders and what was left of the main bunch.  And as we hit the hill I gave it every thing to get to the line, I past a few people and I think I was 10th!  A good result as I was suffering most of the race.

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BSCC 25

Today was the Banbury star 25 and it seemed like it was going to be a fast night due to the head wind start - tail wind middle - head wind finish.  And as I started off I got into TT mode and started to bring the average speed up and just got it up to 27 mph and a big Line painter was stopped on the side of the road and a car had just over taken me.  I checked it was clear behind and moved out to get a good look, there was a few cars coming and the car in front of me stopped and I had to slow right down.  Once I got going again the average speed dropped below 26 mph and I had to get going again.  But then at the first roundabout a car was coming round and I had to slow down again.  I got to the next roundabout and got round fine and the had to focus.  I got to the big down hill just past the start and did 50 mph down there as normal and then on with the job.

As I got to Gaydon there was temporary traffic lights and I thought, bugger I'm going to get caught here.  But luckily I did not and I got though ok and dug deep and finally got to the turn around.  on the way back was a case of holding on and get giving everything and as it was raining I took it very easy on the roundabouts and had luck on my side at the temporary traffic lights and got though ok.  I hit the last hill and decided not to big ring it and managed to drag myself over it and then gave it every thing to get to the line.  As I got closer to the line I took it very easy round the bends, and sprinted as hard as I could to the line.  My time was 59:37 not as fast as I would have hoped but not too bad on the night as it rained a few times.

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