Sleaford Cyclocross

Nearing the end of the TT season now, so that means only one thing to me - it's Cross season starting, and time to switch from a discipline that I'm OK at, to one that I'm a disaster at !!

This time last year was my first race, where I came dead last, and fell off loads. As my season progressed last year I got a little better and didn't fall off as much. This year I was determined to do even better......

It started well enough, weather gorgeous, and a change of venue from last years stupidly difficult Ancaster course, to a flatter, more sensible Sleaford Rugby Club venue. Everything shaping up for a good day, and then on the warm up lap I had two mishaps - the first banging my funny bone in my knee cocking up a dismount, and the second, also via a dismount, really damaging my backside !!

Beaten up already, I started the race, and was toward the rear for the early stages. The start had been very fast and I found myself being fast on the main straights, but in the more windy technical sections, I was slower. The course was mainly grass track, with some twisty sections cordoned off, and some tougher sections where hardcore had been put down to level the course. A couple of double board sections gave some respite, with both of these having to be dismounted for, unless you were able to bunny hop them - which I clearly couldn't !!

Laps 1-3, made my usual progress through the field, picking off riders eventually, and starting to get into the swing off things, when on lap 4, I managed to pick up a front wheel puncture in the hardcore section which prematurely ended my race.

so, not the start to the season that I wanted, but good to be back having some non-pressure fun again...

The ongoing quest to beat the hour !

VTTA Nottingham & East Mids 25 on the A25/34

How long have I been time trialling ? Well, to be honest, just since the very start of 2013. I'd done a couple of club events the previous year, but 2013 was the start of trying to take it seriously. This was my third full season and I'd seen winter training really pay off with better times than I'd expected.

I still, had not gone under the hour for a 25 miler and I was determined to put that monkey to bed by the end of the season. My only chance then, turned out to be the VTTA Nottm & E Mids event on the A25/34 course which is basically up and down the A46 between Newark and Bingham. I had gone 1.05 back in April on the trike, and liked the course despite the horrible draggy climb on the way out.

The event was almost cancelled, as the A1 at Newark was shut both ways and there were diversions in place, but we were lucky enough to catch a break and the event went ahead as the traffic didn't increase that much and there wasn't any queuing traffic on the course.

I chose a long sleeved black skinsuit for the day complete with bright pink overshoes - anything that would get me seen !  The wind was supposed to be 3-4 mph and north westerly - ideal conditions for the A25/34. My start time of 2.18 would see me off sandwiched inbetween two clubmates. I liked my chances which had been enhanced by a move to a larger chainring ready for next season - 53T gone, and replaced by a 55T - I was eager to see how I would fare with it.

I soon found out as I was set away, and began to find my was up and over the A46, ready to join the main carriageway going south towards Bingham. I've got to say, I much preferred the 55 as I tried to get a hold of a good solid 100 rpm cadence. a bit of gear twiddling (technical term TT fans) was going on, but I was happy with the speeds I was seeing. I did wonder if I had a cross backwind as I was making decent progress. I could feel wind on my face, but it played on my mind that I would have a headwind back - this made me push maybe a little harder on the way out.

There were a couple of drags, but I seemed to be in good order at the top of these brows and soon found myself at the bottom of the Bingham Mountain (tm). My plan had been to stick it in the bottom ring here, but I managed to get to the top in a 55 x 23 gear, albeit, really struggling at the top, and it was a good 30 seconds before I was able to get back up to speed again. 1 mile later and I was at the turn and it was time to find out about the wind !

Two roundabours and I had a backwind push up the ramp (pictured above sitting up as I pushed it) and I saw my average speed was already 25.3mph, which meant that I had the entire second half of the course along with back wind to push on and get a good way under the hour if possible, and thats what I did. Coming down the Bingham Mountain I couldn't spin enough in 55 x 11 and even thought about getting a 56 on, but that can be next year can't it !! Over 40mph and slowly catching my minute man - I couldn't beleive how well things were going. 10 miles later and I came to Farndon roundabout with a 27.3mph average.

One turn left and two miles of single carriageway to give it all I had. I wasn't as fast s it was a headwind, but buried myself to record a finish of 55.21 and a new PB of 7 minutes !!

Job done !

Tricycle Association National 10 & 25 Champs

So this weekend, I mostly spent my days at Wolvey riding the Trike Association 10 & 25 mile Championships. The 10 would take place on Saturday afternoon, and the 25 would take place on the following Sunday morning on the K41/10 and K41/25 courses respectively.

The races went like this:

The 10 Champs 26.01
21 riders in total, and I was off at no.19. My brother Dave was first off at 3.02pm, so once I'd seen him away, I got chance for a little warm up. The course was a straight out and back with a large A5 roundabout to negotiate. Pancake flat, albeit a slow road surface, with some drags. Usual SC stuff.
We had a c.13mph crosswind, but with good hedging along the course, it never seemed that strong. The first couple of miles seemed to drag upwards a bit, and I might have started a bit keen trying to chase down my minute man. I was minute man to the Champ, Barry Charlton, and I had set myself the task of holing him off until the turn, but within half a mile of it, he had caught me. as Barry powered away on the return leg, I was counting the cost of my keenness earlier, and making a meal of the home leg.

Crossed the finish line under 26 mins I thought (and I had lost time at the roundabout), but the TK's had given me 26.01. 2nd place - good ride !  Dave finished in 36.25 and won the Handicap. competition.

The 25 Champs 1.06.59
Drove back the following morning, on a lovely day, but cold, mind you the wind had moved and had quietened down at c.7mph - an ideal speed for time trialling.
The course would take in the out leg on the 10 mile course, but would join the A5 and give me 5 miles or so of lovely Dual Carriageway action !

A two lap affair then, to make up the 25 mile distance and I would be no.17, with only, yep, youv'e guessed it, The Champ behind me again !!

Went for it at the start, and managed to keep the effort a notch below giddy ! Not the keen start I had yesterday, but caught my minute man earlier. The Champ also caught me earlier though and came past me like I was standing still !  There were plenty of people to chase down, and I enjoyed the rolling A5 section first time round. 2nd lap of the course hurt though and the sections on the A5 that rolled bore no resemblance to the ones I had ridden just half an hour earlier - I had a definate a dip in power second time around.

1.06.59 (this time the TK's were nice, albeit, I thought I'd gone six seconds quicker. A successful weekend of second placings. Still 3 more trike events left and then a change of position for the front end beckons for the off season.

LRRA 30

Part 2 of the weekends racing, and having finished the 100 at 5.45 the previous day, I necked a SIS rego made with milk, before bedtime, and then rocked up at Frithville, Boston for the County's 30 mile championship - I would have to at least complete the 30 to get my first ever placing in the short distance all rounder competition. 

My legs felt OK, but not lively, as I came to the start at 9.27, and then proceeded to thunder off up the road. I made good progress to, overtaking a couple of riders within 6 miles and felt OK by the time the days only climb came around. a real grovel, not that high, but all of the big ring gears had been exhausted by the time I got up there ! 

7 miles of headwind followed, which I dealt with OK, and at 18 miles, the course turned left and I expected some cross tail, but didn't ever feel any benefit. The last 12 miles of this one, more uncomfortable because of saddle sore from yesterday, and I moved around a lot looking for a better position ! 

Crossed the line eventually in 1.16.05 which I was happy with given the previous days activity. On 2 wheels that was my 2nd to last ride of the season, if I can get on the A25/34 in two weeks time, otherwise the pink trike has been dusted down ready for another 5 events of fun !

BDCA 100

Part 1 of a full weekend of TT racing and first off it was a trip over to Etwall for the final 100 mile time trial of the season on the super fast A100/4 course.

I'd previously been to Etwall for the Trike 50 and had come away with the club record, so I knew it was a fast course. That day the wind had been a 10mph Westerly, whereas todays effort would see a NNE of c.12mph, and I wasn't sure how this would affect the course.

At 1.34, I got my chance to find out, as I charged away from the start, and made my way onto the A50 for the first 25 miles into a cross head. It wasn't slo for sure, and parts were still quick, and I managed to hit the bottom of concrete mountain holding an average of 24.5mph. I lost .5 of that climbing the mountain, which seemed harder than the day I did it on the Trike, and then didn't feel as much benefit as i went down the other side. I was though making good progress and got to the halfway out and back leg in good order. the road to Rochester was headwind, but it didn't feel too bad, and I had lost no time by the time I got back to McDonalds roundabout.

On the last stretch back to Etwall, I took my average from 24.5 to 24.9mph, but try as I might, I could not lift it above the 25mph I would need for a sub 4 hour ride. First half done in 2.01.10. reset the Garmin, and get on with the second half....

One stop to pick up my second bottle on the ramp onto the A50, and I saw 20.0mph on the Garmin, and it took ages to climb, first 21, then 22, then it skirted around 23mph !! I was much slower on the second 50 and struggled with the wind. the second time up concrete mountain was a real killer, and I struggled massively. Held 23mph by the top, but lacked the power needed to build on that on the way back. It climbed for sure, but not as quickly as I'd like. the Rochester leg was a grin and bear it, and the last 12 miles was a head down and give it everything. My ave. rose to 23.7mph in the end, and that second leg took a shade over 2.07 to complete.

The time overall was 4.08.11 - a distance PB of 12 minutes. I should be pleased, however, I came away knowing that I can go better on this course - next year hopefully !

VTTA 50 - Team record attempt

Or otherwise known as the day that Me, and Tricky, and Sean went up North to try and bag the clubs 50 team record which had stood at a modest 5.58.30 since 1981. We all had to finish and then hope we'd done enough for each of us get a time good enough to add up to less that the 1981 standard.

I'd ridden the Stockton T502/2 course back in May on the first trike and had notched up 2.15, and that was with a southerly 9mph which had been a bugger to ride into, but not as fast on the return stretch - compared to Etwall with similar conditions it is a slower course in my opinion. Our weather was a stronger wind at 12mph, with a SSW wind - so stronger than the day of my trike effort !

Tricky had an early start as he had to be away, something about it being his birthday ! So, I buddied up with Sean and used the two hour trip to Crathorne to pick up some useful tips from our Club Champ. A few wrong turns and we made the car park with some 40 minutes to Seans ride, and tricky must have already been on the road. I seemed to have all the time in the world to get myself prepped and then eventually warmed up. My start time would be eight minutes past three, which meant I would be time trialling all the way through City's game with Watford.

The first mile was largely single carriageway and slow as we made our way up and over the A19, so that we could wind our way down to the dual carriageway and start the business or settling into our record attempt. Ave speed 20.something, so concentrate, get into a good position and then get a good tap going - which I felt I managed to do quite early on. The course undulated as I remembered it, which meant a few long drags, and a climb of sorts, and a headwind that seemed to come in and out of focus randomly. It was hard work for sure, but if I'm something at all, then it's a decent wind-worker, so I tried to counsel myself that I would be making good progress and any shortfall would surely be made up as I enjoyed a taily on the way back.

I saw tricky at 31.5 minutes on the other side of the road, absolutely burying himself on a drag, and then Sean a little bit later on at 45.5 minutes - both had been kind enough to pass me at easily remembered points and both had looked to be going extremely well. Thoughts of not making two hours kept creeping in and then thinking about having to come in last and fessing up to a bad ride. Time trialling can play tricks on you like that and it's best not to dwell on those thoughts.

Meanwhile, I circling Thirsk, and the course was feeling easier and I was making up time again. the average speed crept to 24.4 I think, before falling back up the slog that is Dishforth Mountain. On the crawl up the Garmin showed 1.02.10 and by the time I had circled the roudabouts it was 1.03 as I felt the first backwind of the day. Whoosh, instantly 30 mph, and holding comfortably. BETTER !!

It was a very nice feeling seeing the average speed creep up by 0.1mph increments and at that point I knew, just knew, I would be done within the two hour target. I passed Sean's marker over two minutes down on him, managed my way through a slower, draggier section of the home leg,and then enjoyed a battle with my minute man which made things easier to pace.

With the to-ing, and fro-ing with no.67, I almost missed the point I passed Tricky, but remembered in time, and saw that I was c.25 seconds up. This meant that as long as we all finished, then surely we had done it.

Those last miles were a hard chase of no.67, who himself was trying to beat the two hour mark, and although I passed him again, he would eventually go past me again and finish five seconds ahead of me.

The record was ours - we had done it ! A 1.55 from Sean, a 1.59 from Tricky and my 1.58, saw the record lowered to a new level of 5.54.06.  Mission accomplished !

Team Swift Charity 10

Just a week after the '12' and I've scheduled in a 10 on the *fastest 10 course in the entire country (*subject to conditions)! Nice planning, but I was up for it in any case.

The week had gone like this :
Monday - recovery !
Tuesday - train badly
Wednesday - Train less badly
Thursday - 10km run - died at halfway
Friday - train better
Saturday - 5km parkrun, race 3km, jog 2km.

So the week had been a bit of a mixed bag, albeit towards the end, I had started to feel like myself again. so onwards and upwards, and this was an event for riders with a PB above 22 minutes, and with my 22.32, I got a place. I was to be no.16 on the day, which had a 20-22mph near easterly wind howling as we gingerly made our way to the start.

Plan of attack was simple, bury myself into the headwind to the turn, and then hang on for dear life with a backwind for comfort on the way back,

My ride sort of went like this :

1) Approached 40mph down the start ramp, hit the headwind, and abruptly slowed to a more normal speed.
2) Worked bloody hard into the wind, and kept wishing the miles away.
3) Got to the bottom of the halfway ramp at 25.7mph. Crawled to the top to see that drop to 24.2mph.
4) Immediately feel the benefit of the push home and wish that I'd switched to a 55T chainring, 8 weeks earlier than I plan to.
5) See the speed drop in the middle and wonder if I'm bonking
6) Ride a very fast last mile and a half where that 55T would again have been welcome.

21.25, a new PB by a minute, and something to aim for in 2016.