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.

Thanks for reading
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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Banbury star 10 mile TT

 Tonight I felt good it took me a long time in the day to get going so I didn't go out cycling in the morning but I felt good as I hopped on the bike and road out to the start.  After signing on I warmed up a bit put on aero helmet on just in time for it to start to rain.  And did it rain hard, like there was extra force behind it.  As I started the TT it was still raining but I think it may have eased slightly - I think this was just wishful thinking.  It was just like any other time trial I have done before start off, don't go too hard just yet then once the legs are going push harder and harder on the pedal.  I was at full speed and as I went over the first hill, well a bridge, I was starting to catch my minute man.  As I got closer he was catching his minute man.  After passing both of them I kept powering away and over the last hill on the way out I just had to go round a roundabout and then turn around at the next.  I was taking it easy on the bends as I didn't want to fall off.  As I got up to the third roundabout I check there was no cars behind me only one down the road, so I moved out to the middle of my side off the road.  But as I got closer to the roundabout a car tried to overtake and just got level with me.  So indicated I was going right and felt it was my right of way because I was not the idiot trying to overtake upto a roundabout.

As I went into the bend the conti competition tub on the front wheel gripped well but the vittoria on the back slid away and the bike just went and nothing I could do.  I slid along the road as did my bike just a bit quicker than me.  and then I ran out of momentum and rolled over once or twice.  I felt my pointy helmet hit the ground and give my neck a good whack as I rolled.  I ended up laying face down if the road I think and looked up to thankfully see the car stopped and not killed me to death.  Although I thought that was her original plan!  I laid in the road not rushing to get up because if something was broken or close to broken it would have made it worst.  As I dragged myself up as she asked if I was alright, with her door open and standing behind it in fear I may have beat her to death with my own bidon.  I was however not sure how to answer that.

"NO, you fucking idiot!  You tried to overtake in a dangerous area!!" Is what I think would have been a simple response that got to the point.  However when a thing like this happens all your wit can get pushed out your head as your in a bit of shock .

My real response was "Yes... I think" as I got out of the road she soon fucked off and John Shaw kindly gave me a tissue to mop up some small amount of blood.  I got my chain back on and got going again.  my head was not quite in the right place and did not push it.

All the work to catch the two people in front of me and the average speed the right side of a PB, I was disappointed.  Once I could get my are on the arm pad without any paid I started pushing again and overtook the first guy I caught and then pushing hard I caught the 2nd at the top of the last hill as it went down hill towards the finish.  I gave up a bit before the line and free wheeled over.  I took my helmet off and rolled back to the layby to tell everyone the tale of my "adventure".  Ignoring everyone and getting to my parents car I though my favorite aero helmet in the back of the car and proceeded to use profanity to explain what had happened.

The list of injures seems to be growing apart from the road rash I have a bruise on my left leg that I found driving this morning as I rested my hand on my leg.  Pulled muscles in my right shoulder and left side of my neck.  I am hoping to race at the bowl tonight as my leg is not stiff, not I hope it will be warm enough for no arm warmers as getting one of them of my left arm will hurt...

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Results are here

Corley Cycles MK Bowl Race 6 E/1/2/3

Feeling a bit tired I did MK bowl again and this week, but before starting I did a lap to warm up and the front mech was rubbing on the chain in every gear combo in the big ring so a quick panic to sort that out and I was off warming up again (not to self, fix that tomorrow).  Racing was great it was out though both car parks and the pace from the first lap was so high.  And with the amount of bends most of the race was spent in one long line and the pace at 30 minutes in was about 26.5 mph as we passed the 3/4 race and kept going.  As the pace was being pushed hard I went to pedal a bit soon and hit the ground with my pedal and the back wheel jumped in the air and I had some profanity go though my mind but I kept it upright and soon the pace eased a little and I got a chance to sip some water from my bidon.  As we got though the last 5 laps I was feeling not as good as I have been on the bike and as we came for the sprint I passed someone but not sure of placing.  All I know is it was fast and I took a bit of a kicking!

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Results are here

Banbury star 25

After a good warm up in the sun it was soon time to start, and I didn't want to sprint off too hard but found I was going very fast and by the time I had got to the 2nd roundabout to turn the avg speed was over 29 mph.  But it dropped as I made my way around and I got to the main down hill and did 49.6 mph down there, I wish I had gone a bit quicker now!  I made my way out to the over turn catching and passing people then turn round to suffer back to the finish I got to last hill and after passing Keri Williams I thought I would show off and big ring it up there in the saddle, I got to the top then had to get out of the saddle just to push over the top.  And the it was just a matter of getting to the finish and I did and passed the line in 58:37, A new PB and I am pleased with that!

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Results are here

Corley Cycles MK Bowl Race 5 E/1/2/3

Last night was another race at the bowl and now I only have to get 5 more points to keep my 2nd cat licence I was hoping to chip away at it last night but it wasn't to be.  As we started we had done half a lap and a bit of attacking was going on and I looked around and we had a small gap over the bunch and as someone went I was straight on to the wheel and we had made a good move a few of us working together and we caught up to Will Fox who is one of the Zappi pros and we lapped the 3rd/4th cats very quick with a gap of around 30 seconds.  But more riders kept coming across and the group was up to 12 (with 2 or 3 pros) and the pace went from steady working together to attacking, with someone getting dropped and on the 46th minute someone put in a big effort on the climb and there was a small gap between me and the break so I spent two laps trying to time trial on to the back of the group telling myself I could get a rest if I did but with my legs screaming at me and my torso hurting in every possible way I caught up with someone on a bend who didn't know I was there and I shouted I was on the right and he did move over but I could not get round the bends as quick and I saw the break had pull out a bigger gap on me and I knew it would be over so I sat up, maybe if I had kept time trialing I could have held off the next group but it was a big task and I just could not do it.  As I got into the next group Flavio was asking if I was in the break and who was in there as I was trying to rest but the pace was too fast and I gave up and did the last 5 laps at my own pace as a bit warm down on my own, I didn't just want to quit and not finish.  Now I'm looking at ways to get stronger on the bike maybe train harder or maybe get another tattoo as after I got my first I started to get some good form ...I'll have to try both.

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The big showdown!

Tonight it was the big showdown!  Between my new deep 88mm wheel and my old tri spoke.  I've ridden the 13 course many times and tonight I wanted to try out my new wheel to see how it compared.  I had a good warm up and was soon sprinting off the start line and had my minute man in my sight and worked my way up to him and passed him and was catching another as the road kicked up hill.  It felt like I was going quicker on the slower part of the course but once I got to the last road even with a tale wind I didn't feel super quick and the average speed did not go up as fast as I would like it to but once I got to the last descent it did get up to 26 mph but climbing as hard as I could up the last hill and keeping it going over the top it still dropped to just below so I had a time of 29:26.  Again, but not too bad and I'm hoping once the weather starts getting warmer a quicker time will be done ...I hope.  As for the front wheel I liked it and in a cross wind it was very stable but it was not as fast as my tri spoke, I need to do a bit more testing but the tri spoke is faster and looks better.  And at the end of the day looking good is what its all about!

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Results here

Cheltenham & County CC 23 mile time trial

Today started with the wrong side of 7am and with about 5 and a bit hours sleep.  It was another SPOCO hilly time trial around a 23 mile hilly course that looking at past results were with slower average speeds.  As me and the old man rode to the start we had to climb a 4th cat hill so I pushed it a bit up there then looked back to see him on the side of the road playing with his front mech.  I rode back down and his front mech had jammed or moved and he could not get it to work, there was nothing I could do and what was worst there was no phone signal so he rode back to the car carefully and I went to the start.  I arrived with only a few minutes to spare and was soon off and found it was fast going and the average speed was up to over 30 mph, there was some small lumps but I got to the end for the road average speed was still high and there was a very fast descent and I went down it to find there was a very hard hill, I big ringed it up the steep bit at the bottom but then had to go to the small ring because it dragged on for a long way but once over the top it was another very fast down hill.  The next road was a narrow one with lots of gravel and a right hand bend (I think Testers have trouble with right hand turns) But I got though ok and then turned left to go along the road to the finish to do my next lap.  Going up the last road was hard it felt like a bit of a head wind but it was a drag with a few kick up making it hard, and the hill at the end was very painful.  As I took a left hand turn I had passed the finish and about to go past the start and I was on the quick roads again and I had a plan to attack the the first hill of the lap.  Hitting the hill again I dropped it into the small ring just before the bottom and spun the pedals up the hill and I passed a rider was out of the saddle and I could see someone up the hill who was my next target.  As I got up to him I realized he was on his first lap and I passed him and got to the top and down the descent and along the little road and was ready to give every thing to get along the slow road to the finish line.  And as I got closer and closer to the finish I kept repeating Paramore Brick by boring brick in my head to help push out everything and on the last hill I caught the another rider (the sixth rider I passed) and I sat in the saddle, upright sprinting with lungs hurting and I crossed the line in 01:02:46 feeling happy that was a good time we waited for the old man to finish, who had to big ring it all the way round!  Good job he likes pushing a big gear.

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Results are here

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

BSCC Athletes 13

I forgot to do this blog post last night so I'm doing it now while I watch an episode of my new favorite documentary, Ancient Aliens.  I turned up with my new and ONLY wheelset (it's a long story why I only have one wheelset for my road bike now, good one too).  So after getting the P taken out of me for using very aero wheels I warmed up and then was ready to start.  As I sprinted off I soon found it was a tale wind up the first road so I knew it was going to be a little on the slow side because the next two roads would be slow going (head wind) with the last road to the finish having a cross wind!  So I got going and caught Shaun Mullins and as I turn into the second road it was slower but not quite a head wind and the two climbs felt quicker being on a road bike but the flat was slower.  The next road was like someone had put my brakes on for me but trying to keep aero and keep pushing and I caught someone who was not in the race and could see some one ahead.  The last road to the finish was where its normally fun but with that cross wind it was slow going and I had to keep an eye on my front wheel because of its depth, it was mostly fine as long as I kept an eye on where the wind might gust from and I sprinted up the last hill and crossed the line in 32 minutes dead.  22 seconds slower than last year but last year it was warmer, dryer and the wind was a lot kinder, so it was not too bad and as far as I know that was the fastest time (out of everyone) that night!

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Millbrook Classic for Men

One of Bob Walkers many great photos, the rest can be seen here

Yesterday I rode the Millbrook classic for men, and just as I started to warm up I thought it maybe best to change my front wheel.  So as I rode back to the car I dropped my chain and it got stuck behind my chain catcher (that was not doing its job was it!) after doing that I went to continue warming up and I got half a mile up the road and punctured on my back wheel, so I had to run back to the car to change it (and change brake pads and move said brake pads).  After this I went to find out where the start was and we found out it was not the finish.  Once we lined up I was with my mate Dan Bill and then we were off I was not too high up but I managed to move up a bit as we went round the bowl and then we turn off and went round the alpine handling course with one main climb and two small hills after it.  I think the first time or second time up that climb someone near the front dropped his chain and I went around him then all I could hear was what sounded like a big pile up!  I was glad to be near the front and out of the way!  The race went on and I got soaked and must have been pulling some ugly faces because I could not see with my sunglasses on so I took them off and it was not quite as bad.  After quite a few laps I was just hanging in near the front of the main bunch and the last two times up the climb I tried to big ring it because the wheels I was using had my dads 27 tooth cassette on it so I found it was a bit better over the took just dropping it down a few gear on the back instead of changing on to the big ring.  As we went past the line the bell rang and I felt like I was in a good place I just had to get over the climb one last time which I did then over the two hills that were not as hard.  My plan was on the last bit round the bowl was to keep in the right place and the bunch moved around a lot but I stayed where I wanted ready and the bunch kicked quite hard two or three time with riders trying to stay in the right place and as we got near the line it all kicked off I stayed on the wheel and then manged to come round him and sprint as hard as I could!  I think I was 6th out of the bunch with three rider up the road so I think 9th place but not sure yet, but I felt good and used instinct and had good sensations throughout the race.

My garmin does not like riding it the rain so the elevation is a bit off it should have been 1,618ft.

Then later in the day I went out on the local chain gang to get 20 miles in the wet in my legs!  Only 3 turned up and I won the sprint again, so far I've won every chain gang sprint this year when I've turned up!  So yeah, I'm king of the chippers for now.

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Andy Morrison Memorial Road Race

Today I rode the Andy Morrison Memorial Road Race, near Cranfield on a 2 mile circuit that we had to do 18 time!  As we started I tried to get out in a breakaway and was riding near the front with Henry Latimer because I know hes a good rider to get in a break with.  After loads of attacking we had done one lap including the neutral section and had 18 laps to go.  Once I saw that I was not going to get in a break I tried to sit in the bunch and recover, there was the normal hard efforts you get in road races and at no point did it slow down and bunch up as riders were hammering it and the wind was strong, going up the climb there was a head wind then on the descent it was fast 35 to 45 mph most times then round the left hand bend and up the hill.  not much happened until the last lap were I started getting into a good place, when we went down the hill the pace was up and fast but I kept near the front out the way of crashing.  Then as we hit the hill for the last time I followed the right wheels and got to the top in maybe the top 10.  As we went round the last bend people kicked hard out of it but I was keeping in a good place but as we got closer to the line and people pulled off I was going to sprint, feeling I tried to move left but so did the person in front of me and and ended up smashing over a top hole on the side and I tried to sprint after that but hitting that pot hole it broke my rhythm and slowed me down and ended up rolling in maybe outside the top 20.  Not what I had hoped but I was in the right place when I needed and maybe able to go for it one day.

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