Winterton Cyclocross (Wheelers Champs)

My last cyclocross race of the season. I just decided, right now, this minute.

It's not because I don't love cross, it's not because I had a bad race today, in fact, I had a good race - it's just that I'm thinking more about next seasons TT season and I need to be the best prepared as I can be and that means long solo rides on sundays in december. A bit serious, but necessary.

Today saw the usually boggy paddy fields of Winterton Showground replaced with an almost bone dry crit race. The Wheelers start their race a minute behind the senior race which meant that today would be an hour.

We started in a row and it was a drag race to the first corner at which I was second Wheeler, however, I'm not as quick at tight turning or getting on and off, and consequently I lost a few places.

I eventually settled down and found myself in a good place (6th Wheeler), lapping consistently, and working hard. the hour seemed to fly by and the post race rice pudding felt well earnt !!

Roll on next season :)

Woodhall Cyclocross

My third race of the season and a welcome return to one of my fave courses from last year. Woodhall cyclocross is held at Ostlers Plantation and can be best described as a good mix of everything : there's long straights, tight turns, range of surfaces, and the mounds !!

One of the longest laps on the circuit and never boring although driving down the muddy roads to the parking raised the heart rate somewhat I can tell you !!

Our race was 12.00 and the sun was out albeit it had rained all day the day before so there were puddles in places and plenty of mud too. I had decided that I wasn't going to get left in a procession like last week and decided to have a good go at the start - making sure I got gridded was a good start as it moved me up a few places.

Off the line in the big ring, my start still wasn't great, but much better than last week all the same. HR through the roof pretty quickly and that it generally where it would stay.  Tyre pressures seemed spot on, but I was aware of movement and a bit of sliding here and then.

First couple of laps went by without incident and I felt I was doing reasonably well. On the third lap, I had a mishap, when I missed the line following a hump and had a food down at the top of the second which caused a crash !  It was what it was and I got over it very quickly and from that moment on seemed to hold my own place in the field. No more mistakes and held off a late challenge for position. Felt it went really well to be honest and a bit better than last year.

No cross next week as I've a club run to lead, next race up is two weeks time at Winterton - the paddy fields !!

Wheelers Cyclocross

Getting up at 5 on a Sunday is no joke and neither is setting out a course when it's rather chilly willy. A couple of wet marshalling gigs later and I was ready to have a quick look at the course and then it was off to stand in a cold wet field with hardly anything on and wait for the start. 

That came rather quickly, and I soon found myself quite far down the order as usual going into the first lap proper. What is it with me and starts at the Cyclocross ?? 

Once I had field position and we were on the full course, I found my feet and began the usual ritual of piecing my race back together. Places were hard to come by, but I found a way past some folf eventually as the speedier longer sections meant that I was able to put some power down. 

The course had really churned up and it was beginning to remind me of last years pilgrimage to the Regionals !! My lap times were quite consistent and ranged from 7.18 to 7.33 and thius eventually resulted in a 49th place finish out of I thing 74 riders. 

Bearing in mind that was my first cross race for about 6 weeks, I think I can take that ! 

Next up is my favourite course from last year - Woodhall !