BSCC 13

Sunglasses that match the bike

Tonight was the Banbury Star 13 again, it was hard every where except the last road. As soon as I started it felt a bit like a cross head wind and that was hard but then the next road was a head wind and that was even harder! The second road also had some gravel on it near the end. As I went down a small hill and the road started going up again there was the gravel and it all felt lose so I sat up and got over that bit safely and around the bend at the top of the hill very carefully and still felt the wheels slip a bit. Looking back it was a bit like stage five of the giro this year when they went over the "Strade Bianche". The next road still felt hard but after catching a rider near the end I was glad to see the last road because I knew it was going to be fast. Going down the last road about 6 miles long and I did it in 12 minutes and 12 seconds (avg. 29 mph) and it did feel fast all the way down there and on the last descent I hit a top speed of 46.1 mph and finished in a time of 29:37 (2nd) 1 second off my PB and 38 seconds off the winner Luke Souter Who is just too fast.

Thanks for reading
Results are here

Reading CC Road Race

Today was a 62 mile road race with 2nd cats and it was fast and painful. The race start and took off very fast and as soon as we got to the descent I was behind someone who slowed down too much for a corner and people just came past us so I got past him and went as hard as possible to make up the gap. The first lap we averaged 26 mph and as the race went on the speed stayed high. There was a few near misses but luckily no crashes. The last lap seemed to ease off a bit and in the sprint I saw people who tried but I think their legs must have gave out! There was quite a few people bunched together on the left and I was catching them, I got around them and just went kept sprinting to try and pass as many people as possible and I think in the end I got 22nd but not sure yet.

Average race speed 25.7 mph (Fast!)
Max. race speed 38.4
Calories burnt 3,111

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Results here

Corley cycles summer series race 4

Last night I raced at Milton keynes bowl again and not long into the race and I tried to attack but it did not last for long. A little later into the race and someone attacked and I jumped on his wheel and we got away until the bottom of the hill and the bunch got close behind us and so I attacked again and stayed away for over a lap and my team mate Henry got away with another rider a girl form motorpoint marshalls pasta team and caught me up so I jumped on the back and we where working well together and got a good lead but we got caught by the elites and I think that when they past the bunch chasing us they sped up a bit and then we sat in the bunch to try and recover. By this time we where going around the extra loop at the bottom of the bowl. After sitting in the bunch it was time for the sprint and I was in an ok place but bit far back and ended up with 10th place, not bad, so it means I get one point. Justin Belcher from Banbury star had another good week getting 5th place.


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Results are here

Banbury Star Athletes 13

Tonight was the Athletes 13 it was the same course as most weeks apart from the fact most people where on road bikes. And as soon as I got there it was pointed out that my wheels where aero but it was a good job I did not have one of these as well, or else I would have been in trouble! As I started I felt ok but I soon found out that its hard trying to get an aero position on a road bike with out my arms hurting, maybe because there as thin as pipe cleaners. I was Lucky to catch 3 riders and no one came past me. Down the last road I was finding it hard to stay aero because my arms kept hurting but I was soon getting to the last hill and going down there was slower than normal but I still hit 41.3 mph. Going up the last hill felt not too bad but I then had to push hard for the finish and that also hurt. I got to the finish in a time of 31:38 just over 2 mins slower than my PB but not too bad for a road bike, Martin Hall also did a good ride and did a PB getting into the 35 mins. Also I don't think the heart rate monitor was working tonight because the garmin said average heart rate was 219 BPM and in the 230s for most of it ...Not sure that's right some how.

Thanks for reading
Results are here

Mk bowl - North Bucks Circuit race

Today I raced at Milton Keynes bowl again and after finding out about this race last night I thought it would be a good idea to do it. The website said a 12:00 start, so we got there just over an hour early and found out that the race was at 1:30 so we had to wait around for 2 and a half hours. However the race was good, it was the standard hour plus 5 laps on the inside and as soon as we started we had attacks. I kept trying to get away and jump on to breakaways going but nothing stayed away. I even when away for about a lap and a half caught and passed the guy in the lead but then someone jumped across to my wheel and would not help me so that breakaway failed or else I would have kept going. I did try getting away a few times but the bunch did not want to let anyone go. After sitting in the bunch and getting nearer towards the end I was starting to recover from attacking and was getting ready for the sprint. When sprinting for the line I was keeping myself on a wheel and just went as hard as I could and in my top gear (52x14) I was strating to spin a bit more than I would have liked but managed to get a top 10 placing not sure yet.

Thanks for reading
Will post results soon when I find them

Milton Keynes bowl again

An unsuccessful breakaway

Last night I raced at Milton Keynes Bowl again and it was a nice night for it again. The race started slow and stayed slow for the whole race, we only averaged 24.6 mph. Not much happened in the race we got lapped by the elites many times. when we got to 4 laps to go Justin Belcher from Banbury star broke away and managed to stay away until the end to get 2nd place. I however just was waiting till the sprint and then did not even get top 10 so I must try harder next week.

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Banbury Star 10

Warm enough for arm-warmers but not gloves...

Tonight was the Banbury Star CC 10 mile time trial on that course that everyone hates ...although I do like that course. It felt like a fast night when warming up but once I started and got going it felt like I got to the turn around point very fast even with that bit being the slower part of the course. After taking the roundabout quickly I looked down to see the average speed and was surprised! On the way back I was just going over the small hill in the middle and was starting to get a lot of sticky saliva in my mouth so I turned my head side ways and tried to spit it out but it did not go very far (all down my face) and so I tried to wipe it off but ended up just getting it all up my arm-warmer, not good. Any way I then hit the last hill a nice 10% climb and over that in the saddle and then a bit of a dip and then more uphill. After dragging myself over this last hill it was all flat/slightly down hill towards the finish and at the point I was pushing as hard as possible towards the finish. I did a time of 23:23 a PB and 2nd fastest.

Thanks for reading
Results are here

H10/181 VTTA 10

Warming up

Today was a 10 mile time trial on the H10/181 course again. After getting up at 5 am I was on the bike warming up at 6:30 the earliest I have been on a bike this year. I had just started off and got up to speed quick and even saw the average up to 29 mph 3 minutes in to the TT. However as I got closer and closer to the turn around point the average speed dropped, but coming over a slight rise I did catch my 2 minute man and that helped me push a little harder. Going around the roundabout on the aero bars and my average speed dropped even more and then I found out it was going to be a head wind back. I was heading towards the finish and my average speed was below my target and no matter what I did I could not get it 0.5 mph faster to get my target average. Coming over the last small drag I was pushing hard and could see number 1 ahead but the finish came up too soon and my average speed was too low so in the end I did a 22:42 but everyone else was slower because it was a harder day so its not too bad.

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Stratford CC 10 miles time trial

Today was a ten mile time trail by Stratford CC, it was two laps and flat but a bit windy. I started off and it was a tail wind and this was good until I got to the end of the road and turned left and started headed into a headwind. After I tuned off that road it was a nice cross wind that helped push me along heading towards the start, ready for my second lap. The second lap was the same as the first one but just hurt a bit more. On the last road heading towards the finish a fast rider James Wall was starting to get closer and closer! I pushed on the pedals as hard as I could and passed the line and he was not too far behind me but I managed to hold him off and I was happy with that. My time was 23:31 and I think about 4th fastest.

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Banbury star 13 with a PB

Tonight I rode the Banbury Star 13 mile time trial again, after missing out last week to marshal and everyone did very fast times any way tonight felt like a normal night. I started off in a lower gear and sprinted away faster and got in the aero tuck quicker. It felt fast on the way around and having trouble remembering alot of the TT. The last road that is the fastest on this course felt very quick going over 30 mph a few times and getting my max speed down the last hill of 46.3 mph and this was enough to push my average speed up to get my personal best time of 29:36 and 4th fastest.

Thanks for reading
Results are here

Corley Cycles MKCA summer series 2

Last night I raced at Milton Keynes bowl again and this week we went the opposite way around. We had just started and some one looked like they where trying to up the pace so I jumped on his wheel but the bunch just sat there behind us. At the end of the flat bit at the bottom of the bowl there was a bit of cold water across the road and getting near the end I was getting warm so this was a bit refreshing... Half way though we turned off to do the bigger loop and the bunch was a bit twitchy around the bends, at one point there was a crash and it was not that far ahead of me. I think about 2 or 3 riders went down and I had to try and jump back onto the bunch. After this I just sat in the bunch and did not try to get into the sprint and just speeded up to keep pace with everyone, I think I was in the top 25 but not sure. Justin Belcher from Banbury star got in the top 10.

Thanks for reading
Results are here

I can't walk but I can cycle...

Sorry no picture today

Today was the Wyre Forest CRC SPCO time trial and first off my leg was still hurting and quite hard to bend after Thursdays crash but I got on the turbo trainer and the first minute was spent trying to get my leg to bend. I then spent some time just trying to get it moving and once I had been on it for a while my knee was not to bad. I was on the start in a low gear so I could stay in the saddle and just roll away. This plan of staying in the saddle worked until it got to the first hill and I felt I was going too slow so I got out of the saddle to try and speed up and my knee was fine, no pain, nothing. I then spent the rest of the race in my time trial pace and feeling not to bad. I had just caught a rider and turned off the road heading to the finish and was just getting to the bottom of the last hill, I sprinted up it flat out to get a time of 34: something and 8th place and first junior. Although afterwards my knee went back to being stiff and painful very quickly.

Thanks for reading
Results coming soon

MK bowl With a crash

Last night I raced at Milton Keynes bowl and it was half on the inner loop and half on an extra bit. I keep up OK and once we started going around the outer loop the group got a bit strung out going around the bends. The race was fun, the speed we where taking some of the bend entering the bowl was great because it swung right with a hard left then a hard right and hard left, this was fun and when everyone is in a its line safe. After laps at the same sort of pace we caught the break away and we where getting ready for the sprint finish. As we where going up the hill we where flying and coming over the line I got 7th place. However someone fell off and hit my back wheel and sent me heading for a pile of spare wheels on the side, I then did what I think is the biggest bunny hop I have ever done but landed and rolled my tub off the wheel and just soft of slid along the ground a bit until I stopped (the garmin say 29.7 mph to 0 in 13 seconds ...without using the breaks). I now have some road rash on my left knee, left of my backside and left shoulder with a couple of bruises. The Bike is all OK just a few marks on my left brake leaver but I have a very big crack in my carbon front wheel and big hole in the tub.

But at least I got 7th place and 3 points and I'm happy with that even if sleeping was a bit hard last night. Not sure if I will be able to race tomorrow in a 14 mile TT I was planing on doing but I will have to see.

My knee after the crash

Thanks for reading
Results are here

BSCC club 13

Today was Banbury stars club 13 mile time trial like last week but this week it was a solo, it was a hard night because there was no tail wind only head winds and cross winds. I started off and felt like I was going ok but by the time I had to turn off that was into a headwind and the head wind felt like it was there until the last road but by that time my average speed was lower than I wanted it to be. Down the last hill felt fast but was not a quick as the week before but going up the hill I felt like I got up that very fast and then heading for the line I was pushing as hard as I could on the pedals. My time was 30:46 only 31 seconds off my PB from last year and I'm very happy with that.

Thanks for reading
Results are here

Warwickshire RC 28 mile time trial

Just Starting

I was on the start line ready to go and as I went off I sprinted away ready for the 28 miles of pain ahead. I just got up to speed and then had to sit up to go around the first bend, and once around it was a nice down hill bit. This road was very fast because it was mostly down hill with a few up hills. However the next road was mostly up hill. Once at the end I turn left to a lot of hills but once past the line I had one more lap to do and that meant the fun fast bit again. By the end of the fast bit I had overtaken three riders and was about to head up the hard road. I had caught a rider and the James Wall came past me (6 mins off after me and won the event) and as I hit the hill I put it on the small chain ring for the first time and started inching towards him but once over the hill he powered away and I never saw him again! I had turn off on the last road towards the finish and was going up the last steep hill and just catching a rider so I set myself the goal of staying on the aero bars and in the big ring. Coming up to the finishing line I was starting to get quite a bit of pain in my legs but I was catching a rider and once over the line I was glad I had done a good time of 01:08:32 first junior and 6th overall. This was a very well marshalled event and very well organised. Although once we got home I found out I had a puncture in my rear tub.

Just after the first lap

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Oxford City RC 10

Sorry no pic's

Today was a 10 mile time trial on a new course the H10/181 and a simple course just all the way out to a roundabout and then back to the finish. After I started I got into a good pace and just kept pushing all the way out, once around the turnaround point I got round safely and started heading back and was going hard to the point I can't remember much of it. I started to see the finish line in sight and just put it in the 53x11 and sprinted. I did a 22:12 a new PB and congrats to my team mate Henry Latimer beat me by 11 seconds to get a 22:01 also a PB.

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Banbury star 2 up time trial

Me and my 2 up partner Justin

Today was the Banbury Star CC first club time trial of the year a 2 up and after having a good warm up I was on the start line behind Justin waiting to go. We got off to a very fast start after Justin pulled his foot out of his pedal. We where going fast and sharing the work well up the first road. On to the second road and a rider was in sight but I had to ease off a bit for Justin but we still kept a good pace together. We where soon on the last road and on the right day can be very fast today however was not because it was a cross wind all the way. We where into the last village and caught a car that we overtook and never saw again. On the last down hill before going up hill we hit 46.1 mph according to my garmin and up the last hill I kept the pace steady and Justin held my wheel and over the top of the hill towards the finish I may have pulled out a bit of a gap but we got to the line in 29:44 to be the fastest.

Thanks for reading, results are here

Thames Velo Road race

Today was the Thames Velo Road Race, 43 miles long and fast. The average speed was 24.7 mph and I managed to hold a position up near the front of the bunch for the race, the race started and was quick I was near the front on the start line and after the rolling start still up there. We went down the hill and got up to speed quickly and everyone stayed together and finally we got to the hill and going up it was not to bad but coming down the other side was very fast. After a some time it was the last lap witch was also a prime. On the last lap my team mate Henry Latimer went for a solo break away, I meanwhile stayed in the bunch and as we went down the last hill I heard a lot of bike going down and looked around and saw people going down, soon after this everyone eased up a bit and heading for the finish Henry still on his break away was in sight and in the last 500 meters got caught and passed. I was getting ready for the sprint on the left hand side of the road and just over the hill and I got myself into 4th place but my sprint started too early and I got passed by a lot of riders. I'm not too sure but I think I was in the top 20, Matt Derrick another team mate got 5th place.

Thanks for reading, results will be posted when I find them.

Stratford CC 10 miles time trial

Last night was the Stratford CC 10 mile time trail and it looked like it would be a fast course because there was no hills. I soon found out it was very windy and the first 5 miles was in to a headwind. As I started off I felt Like I was going quick but then started slowing down and then just focusing on getting to the turn around point and hoping for a fast tale wind home. Once around the small roundabout I got up to speed quick and just when at hard as possible for the next 5 miles. Once over the line, my time was 24:03 (13:21 to the turn around point and 10:42 back). I was surprised at how long it took, but then seeing the winning time of 22:51 (by Tony Kiss) I don't think it was too bad for the day.

Thanks for reading, Results are here

MK bowl season starter 2

Me trying to get into a breakaway

Today was the 2nd and 3rd cat race at Milton Keynes bowl and as soon as we started I know it was going to be fast and to make it harder we had to do an extra bit round the bottom. After a lot of suffering we where about half way into the race and I saw a rider ahead and so picked my point to attack and jump across the gap and as I got onto his wheel I sat there to get a quick rest but as it was my turn to go on the front the bunch where just about on top of us. On the next lap I tried to go again but the bunch did not let me get away. I then sat in the bunch for the rest of the race and on the last lap I got boxed in on the second to last bend but got round the last bend OK and then when it came to the sprint I was a bit far down but sprinted to the line but I don't think I was that high but glad to keep up with the 2nd cats. Average speed of the race was 25 mph.

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