Corley Cycles MK Bowl Race 18 E/1/2/3

Last night I raced MK bowl as normal and I felt a little bit tired before the start but I warmed up and felt a bit better.  The race started off fast with a lot of attacking and it was soon half way though and we where going out the bottom car parks and no one was away but after more attacking a big group went away, I think maybe 7 people and we soon got to 5 laps to go and everyone was pushing to stay near the front.  The last lap was hard and I tired to stay in the right place but was feeling tired and wanted to finish.  As we went round the last bend it was not a flat out sprint but it was fast and I felt ok when everyone kicked and I managed to get 9th out of my group I think with 7 people up the road. 

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Corley Cycles MK Bowl Race 17 E/1/2/3

Last night is was nice and sunny and hot at the bowl and it was out the extra loop right from the start and then round an extra extra loop up a narrow road over the A5 to a tight roundabout and U turn back down.  and then a big sweeping U turn back onto the bowl.  The first lap was done at a steady pace just to see what it would be like and then the second lap was taken quicker and I think 2nd or 3rd time round I had to go the other side of the cones on the narrow section as I was heading for one, but I managed to get back over and was a little more careful the next time round.  As the race went a couple of breaks got away with quite a few people up the road the main group was looking small as quite a few were up the road or off the back and lapping the 3/4 race for the 2nd time was abit easier as it was as we where a small group so getting past a big group worked quite well.  The race was hard with alot of sprinting and breaking on the extra bit over the A5 but did make a "nice" change.  And as we got to the bell lap we where ahead of the 3/4 and the pace went up and it was fast till upto the line with a hard sprint at the end and I was beaten for a few in the sprint but got 14th so another 2 points to add to the collection.

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Abbeygate Developments/Corley Cycles MK Bowl Races 16

Looking at the photo above you would think is was Paris Roubaix (one of my favorite pro races) but it was Milton Keynes bowl again.  I forgot to take my Garmin with me and the camera so no pics from tonight.  The track was covered in mud and it had been raining throughout the day but warming up it seemed ok for grip.  The race started off and everyone took it easy for the first few laps just to see what the grip was like and then attacks started to fire off the front and I went with a few and managed to get away with a few overs but it was a short lived break and pulled back soon.  at one point as I was trying to sit in and recover the group started to split and the front group was getting away so as some one attacked of the right I attacked on the left and we each soloed to the front split and it took about a lap and I looked round to see that the last group was going backwards and felt glad I went when I did.  We did though and off but as we got to the last few laps it went a bit cat and mouse but we caught the front break within the last 5 laps and as we for the sprint I felt good and was ready and as we hit the hill for the last time the sprint began and I was on the outside and I could see Jake Hales he was a bike length ahead of me and his back wheel just hit the puddle on the left and I saw it sling round like he was going to go down but luckily he held it and I managed to cross the line in 9th place.  I was happy with that and I'm now on 62 BC points so it's looking good.

Results here

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.

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...

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

So, I got all the Belgium toothpaste out of my eyes and ears from Mondays race and I even washed my bike after my morning ride because it was a bit dirty Just so I could get to the bowl and see it was wet.  I had a short warm up and soon found myself on the start line ready for another race and as we set off there was attacks flying off the front and a few people got away for a while I even went but only stayed out for a lap then sat in to recover with what was left of the main bunch that was a little on the small side.  As the race went on I got grit in my eye and spent about two laps rubbing my eye trying to get it out and then all of a sudden it was fine and I could see again!  As the race went on, we did not have much left and the count down for the last 5 laps was a welcome sight.  And the laps counted down the bell for the last lap rang and I kept on the wheel knowing the sprint was going to be fast and as we came round we hit the hill and the pace went up and I sprinted as hard as always, and kept driving but had to sit down before the line and as I did I looked down at my garmin to see 32 mph over the line!  I crossed the line 5th out of our bunch and with 8 riders up the road in a break I got 13th place and 3 more point.  Every little helps.

So far racing at the bowl I've got 15th the first week, 14th the second and last night 13th.  I'm not saying anything but maybe watch out in about fourteen weeks...

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Results are here

Abbeygate Developments/Corley Cycles MK Bowl Races 2

I found out after last week I got a point as the points now go down to 15th place at the bowl.  After a easy recovery ride in the morning and then it raining all day I was expecting it to be wet and grim again but once I got to Milton Keynes it was nice a bit cold and windy but nice.  After a good warm up we were on the start line ready to go and and soon as it started there was an attack and I got on the back of it but it did not last long as the bunch brought it back very soon.  With the first two laps being attack after attack the average speed was up to 28 mph.  As we caught the 3/4 race we went past ok but then soon after 2 3/4s on a breakaway came past and then did the rest of there bunch and got in the way.  One rider came up on the left hand side and said excuse me and as I moved over he said thanks.  This was letting the breakaway get further up the road and this went on for two laps and then people started to push though and I manged to get past with a few other but I think some people were still behind the chippers at this point.  The gates opened up and we started going round the extra bit of the course and loads of riders where getting kicked out the back door.  My plan was to stick with the main bunch as the flew round the bends and after a few laps like this the group got smaller and I was enjoying going round those bend as fast as I could.  As we went past the line the bell was ringing for one lap to go and five riders from our group started to pull away and as the person on the front pulled off the rider on his week who was in front of me kicked hard and got a gap and I could not go.  Then I dropped the only guy left with me as I sprinted for the line.  I think I may have been top 15 but don't know so I will be waiting for the results to be posted on the interwebs.

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Abbeygate Developments/Corley Cycles MK Bowl Races 1

Last night was the first Milton Keynes bowl summer series race and it was damp when I got there and started raining about 5 mins before the start, so we just raced on the inside. As soon as we started there was an attack From Nick Baker (from zappis) and I found myself chasing and once I got up to him and another rider we worked together for a few laps but then Nick disappeared so we worked together a bit but we got caught by the bunch. The race involved a lot of attacking and after a short while we had lapped the 3/4 race the bunch split and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and as we fought to get back to the front more and more people dropped until it was three of us (me, Justin and some guy in red) left for the last few laps and on the last lap the front bunch lapped us as we where going up the hill for the line. Nick Baker got 2nd, I got 15th and Justin got 17th and was happy not to be last!



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Results here

Team Corley Crits

Today was another race at MK bowl, I got there to see the last half of the 4th cat race where Dave Anson was keeping a good postion near the front of the bunch untill be was unlucky enough to get dropped. Jered Allcock also did well in his first ever race to stay with the bunch and not get dropped, he also took the photo at the top of this blog post. As I started to warm up I found it was very cold and after a while I went to the car to get some mitts with no fingers so they did not help and came off before the race. On the start line I was right at the front with Nick Baker a rider from Zappi's, and as we started I jumped on his wheel and we went down the hill round afew bends and I looked round and saw we had a gap. I shouted we've got a gap, GO! and we got the pace up and made some people suffer but we got closed down. After flowing a few attacks and staying near the front it was time for a sprint for money! I think this was the second one and with a team Corley rider up the road the guy infront of me started to sprint and I was straight on his wheel and then he moved over a left a long sprint for me so I kept going telling myself I could win that £10! But as I got closer to the line so did the Team Corley guy and just on the line he beat me by half a wheel. I was disappointed but told myself to get over it and get on with the race. With loads of breakaways and many attacks we got to five laps to go after an hours racing the pace went up and stayed up. Crossing the line and hearing the bell was great because we only had one lap left. After getting round all the bend we got back on the bowl and the sprint started and I was staying up there in the top 6 or 7 and we moved across the whole road and as we crossed the line I counted 5 or 6 people beat me plus 3 in a breakaway so i may have got some points. Nick also won the race from the break.



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Milton Keynes Bowl Season Starter 2

Today was a nice sunny and warm day to race at Milton Keynes bowl and I even got to work on my tan! As we lined up to start I was front and centre and as soon as we started I was in a good place for the first bend. As the race went on I kept drinking but my bidon was full of warm energy drink and there was no taste but after about a lap it would then kick in and I would feel a bit better. As the race went on loads of attacks went but only two riders got away and with attack after attack no one else could get away! As we finaly got to the last lap, the pace was high and I was near the front and on the down hill bit one guy looked around and said "we've got a gap" I look round and he was right it was a big gap. So we did though and off and as we got to the bottom of the hill we sprinted and I was feeling ok and I crossed the line 4th in our group and was 6th! Thats 4 points and a good race.

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Imperial Winter Series At Hillingdon Round 12

Today was the last race for the Imperial winter series until next winter. Me and Luke went again and it was even colder this week, about 1 degree when we started racing! There was a few place with ice but they were marked out had salt on them. Luke was trying to be like Mark Cavendish and Crashed in the sprint after getting pushed onto the grass! For my race my plan was to sit in and not attack, but with all the sprinting and attacking today I'm glad I waited for the sprint. We started off at a good pace and a few riders tried to get away but got brought back and thoughout the race many people attacked but no one could get away. As the race went on we finally got to the 5 laps to go and I was starting to feel good but was in the wrong place and felt I needed to start moving up a bit so I worked on it and with 3 laps to go I Started to get near a rider from Beeline cycles named James (who is sortof a Zappi) and I stayed with him and as we got to the last lap the bell rung and I was near the front keeping near to James and felt good and as the sprint came I gave it everything and not sure on my placing but I think I was in the top 20 so it was a good days racing for me.

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imperial Winter Series at Hillingdon Round 11

Today was Hillingdon again and it was very cold! Me and Luke had the same plan as last week, after I had warmed up a bit I went to see how Luke was getting on and after shouting at him abit he managed to get 6th in his race. I felt a bit better this week and from the start I was in a small breakaway with two others and we stayed away for two or three laps before the bunch pulled us back. As the race went on quite abit one rider who was on a breakaway on his own got pulled back and he swung into the side of he and got mine and his bars stuck together we got untangled and he said sorry. A bit more into the race and another breakaway went and I went after it and another guy worked with me but the bunch pulled us back and as we tried to get on the back the three on the back were getting dropped and made us get dropped as well. after giving up trying to get back to the bunch I just waited to get lapped and just took it easy. I then just sat in the bunch and waited till the end.

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Imperial Winter Series At Hillingdon Round 10

Today Me and Luke Souter from Banbury star went to Hillingdon, Luke was in the 3rd cat race and I would be in the E/1/2/3 race. On the way there Luke said I should try doing a longer warm up, and I had got ready early and was warming up I did about 3 miles and I punctured. This was not good I did not have any spare wheels or tubes! I had to wait for Luke to finish (he did well and got 11th for his first race of the year) and swap my front wheel for his (which was better than mine). I then had to time to sit on the start line and feel cold. As the race started my legs felt abit tight, but I wanted to stay near the front but as I pulled of the front it sped up I found myself not being able pedal hard my legs felt ok but my lungs would not take it, it felt like not being able to take in enough air and lungs just hurting. I ended up not being able to get on the back and gave up after that. I did a few laps waiting to be lapped where I managed to warm up a bit better and then the bunch came round again and I jumped on the back and just tried to do the race as easy as possible, but by this point I did not care. As the race went on I thought about how I could have done the start better without a warm up, like wheel hanging for a few laps. I started to get a bit warm by the half way point and ended up taking my gloves off when the race slowed down. Not much happened and I kept up with the bunch and got 30 miles in at 25mph so it was still a good training ride. In the morning I will try and do a 5 hour training ride to make up for not doing so well today.

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Imperial Winter Series At Hillingdon Round 9

Today I raced at Hillingdon again, it was windy but it was also warmer than last week. I was right on the front on the start line and feeling ready. As we started we rolled off and got up to speed soon after. The first 10 miles or more were hard, with the strong riders on the front pushing hard in the head wind and cross wind they managed to get away and it was a big group that got away! All though the race riders kept getting away and there was loads of break up the road, we even got lapped by the leading breakaway! As we got closer to the end I felt a bit better and with 3 riders not too far ahead and 1 lap left, I attacked and got up to them hoping we could work together but one guy got away and the other two would not work with me as I pulled over to let them come though. We got caught by the bunch and I managed to sit not too far from the front and in the sprint I managed to give everything to get too the line and I think I may have come about 26th. It was a hard race with the wind but I can say it was good training.

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Results here

Imperial Winter Series At Hillingdon Round 8

Today was my first race of the year, I was unsure how this was going to go because over the winter I've been doing longer rides but I never had any fast average speeds even on short rides and I seemed to good at going slow for a few hours. It was cold as I warmed up and I met another Zappi rider who was in my race -the E123 race- Nick Baker who had already been doing well at Hillingdon. As I waited for the 3rd cat race to end an ambulance turned up and drove on to the track to help some one who had been in a crash and was laying on the floor, luckily the bunch got past it safely. I was on the start line I felt good but not sure if that would be enough to keep up. After a long wait the race started, there was no sudden sprinting but I looked down and we were up to 23 mph already and we hit the hill and it got faster about 28 mph and I was still there and still felt I could keep with the bunch. Not too long into the race a breakaway managed to get away and I was starting to feel like it was not too bad and like I would keep up. Nick got in the break and I never saw him again. A few more breaks try to go throughout the race and because this was an elite race everyone worked together and I even did a few turns on the front! This surprised me as I did not know if I had the legs to help work at the front. After many fast laps we got to the 5 laps to go and I checked my garmin and it said an average speed of 26 mph. The sprint came very quickly and I was near the back but felt I had somthing in the legs to pass some people and I sprinted as hard as I could and was doing 32 mph up the hill and crossed the line about 13th in the group I think with 8 or 9 in the break I think I may have came about 20 somthing, not too bad for the first race of the year.



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Results maybe here

Corley Cycles MKCA summer series race 19

Last night was the last race in the Corley Cycles series and it was also my Birthday, last night I was using my new mavic shoes and socks for the first time and they where great! The race was round both car park right from the start and the 3/4 race had loads of people in it but soon after starting I thought I was not too far from the front and looked round and found out I was at the back because we had dropped so many people in the first few laps. as the race went on the pace stay high and there was not many points where the race slowed right down and the elites only laps us once. As we got closer and closer to the last few laps I found myself holding a good position near the front and with one lap to go I was about 5th in line and as we hit the bottom of the hill the sprint was on, I managed to sprint for 3rd and then found out someone was on a breakaway so ended up with 4th place. Not too bad and my last 3/4 race, and today my 2nd cat race licence came so this will be my my last 3/4 race for a while.

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Corley Cycles MKCA summer series race 18

Last night was Milton Keynes Bowl and with the rain it was just the inside loop because it was wet and raining - the best way to race. The race, elites started a lap down and when they lapped us it was one race with two results. Tonight I had a plan to sit in and sprint, and soon after starting I had to tell myself to just sit back and take it easy. After about half an hour the elites were with us and it speeded up quite nicely I managed to keep myself out of trouble and as the laps started counting down I started to feel good. I remembered what I was told and I got near the front and got pushed back a bit but as I went past with one lap to go I was a little boxed in but got out and moved round the outside of the group with half a lap to go and got about 3rd or 4th wheel and as the front rideres started to sprint hard I also sprinted hard too and on the way up the hill I was winning the 3rd/4th cat race and as I got over the line rased my right arm in the air and shouted "YES!" only to see another green number rider (from my race) right by me look round and then I said "dam!". I thought I had won it but I only needed one point and I got that last point to move up to a 2nd cat so it was a good night on the bike.

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