Good Weekend, Bad Weekend...

Okay, so I'm sure most of you will be aware that I won at Upavon yesterday. So undertsandably I've been floating a little since then. Although this morning I was brought right back down to earth with a bang.

I was meant to be meeting some guys in Reigate for a nice steady spin out into the lanes. So I was on my way down the A217, and just after crossing the motorway, that's where it all went out the window...

As I began to pick up speed on the descent down Reigate Hill, a van pulled out rather abruptly from the left, from Gatton Bottom (the road between there and Merstham). Now initially I was just displeased by his timing. Gesticulating my opinions appropriately. Then I realised the next van pulled out too, but not out of shear ignorance, but because he was being towed by the first van. I had absolutely no where to go. I hit the second van at the front, which catapulted me over the bonnet, smashing his windscreen on the way over. Then I somehow executed a very professional stunt roll and came to a stop about a further 5 meters along. I was doing about 25mph when I hit the van. I got up pretty quickly which was a reasonable sign that I wasn't too injured.

I then retrieved my bike from underneath the front of the second van, completely oblivious to the fact that it was my bike stopping the vans from pulling away. The guy from the second van was also out of the vehicle now wondering what was stopping the van moving forward. Since I'd solved the problem for him, he briefly asked if I was ok, which I wasn't, and he then said that they'd pull in at the lay by just up from there. And in my dazed state I somehow believed him. Of course once I'd picked my bike up, and eveything that had come off it, they'd vanished. No numberplate, nothing. I wasn't really thinking that well obviously. I hadn't even noticed the fact that my forks were totally snapped and my front wheel was pretty buckled with 3 spokes snapped. So I called Marcus to let him know I wasn't going to make it, obviously. And then called my Dad to get picked up. I guess I was in a state of disbelief to be honest. It just all happened in the space of about 2 minutes.

I then decided to walk back across the motorway to the lay by just before it, so my Dad could pull in there. All the cars passing me were staring. It was surreal, It was like I'd just crashed in the final sprint in a tour stage and I was staggering over the line dragging my smashed up bike behind me. When I got to the lay by, I laid the wreckage of my bike down and phoned the Police. In the hope that perhaps they can trace the vans on cctv or something. It's not even really the money I'm fussed about, despite the fact I'm skint. It's the fact that they drove off, arseholes. Not to mention the stupidity of the driver for pulling out in the first place.

Although there was some comfort to be had in the fact that two cars stopped to check I was Ok, one even offering me a lift. But by then my Dad was only a moment away anyway, but it was nice of them to offer. I also had a posse of Brixton CC riders come across me who also stopped and checked I was all good.

In a way I'm very very lucky as really it's only my right knee that is injured, very grazed and quite swollen. But the bike is in quite a state, put it this way it was an interesting excercise in uncovering the way carbon fibre is formed. And my beautiful Mavic Open Pro rim is definately a write off, its not just buckled, its very badly deformed in places. As well as my saddle, which probably got broken by the twats trying to drive over it.

I'm just in disbelief at the complete polar opposites this weekend has turned out. Crazy.

But there you go.

And another thing...

I forgot to mention in my last post my thanks to the organisers of the Upavon Winter Series. Obviously run by some highly dedicated people as whether signing on or handing your number back, or even collecting prize money ( ;-] ) it all seemed to effortless. The organistation was simple top notch. So thank you to the Army Cycling Union for a brilliant promotion.

Also, I forgot to mention that due to winning today I also snuck up into the top 10 on the overall rankings for the series. Despite only riding 3 of 6 races. Which meant another fiver prize money in the bag... can't complain ay!

Victory!

Well, what can I say, except... c'mon!!!

This morning, I once again made the long and winding journey to the west, to sleepy Upavon Army Airfield. I tell you, this morning was bitterly cold. I'm sure I nearly got frost bite just scraping the inch of ice off my car! Anyhow, off I went, bit late out of bed this morning, was up for the race but there's just something in me that makes me really not want to get out of bed in the morning sometimes. Well, I say sometimes... But still, I arrived at the airfield just after 8.10am. Signed on, race number 12, fairly inconspicuous I thought.

Got changed in my car again, which isn't the easiest of things to do in a small city car, but still, better than standing half naked in -1.5 degrees huh! Off for the warm up, didn't feel particularly good at first, as it was seriously cold. Within 5 minutes my finger tips were already numb. That's life I guess, It is only February after all. Not that you'd think it after all the days we've had of 15 degrees and sunshine recently, most unseasonal. One thing that immediately struck me is that the gliding club were obviously in a hurry to get flying today, they already had one of their cable machines out, parked right on the track. Nice one guys. So little cones were placed around it. Which I knew would be dodgy. Luckily only once did I nearly get pushed into them.

After a few warm-up laps my body started to wake up a little. Which I was expecting really as I've had a good week this week training wise, two strong interval sessions and a nice easy ride yesterday had left me in much much better condition than last week. Anyway, I digress...

The race itself kicked off in the usual manner, the initial early flurry of attacks. Although this week I was very restrained, well, for the first three laps at least. It was much much windier today than the previous two weeks, so if a break was going to succeed, they would have to be super strong. So after three laps I thought I'd test the water and see who was feeling good. I attacked fairly hard just as wee got to the start/finish line to start lap four. As it just levels out there after a longish climb up to the finish, that was today in a raging headwind. Okay, maybe not raging, but you get the idea! I looked back after about 10 or so seconds and no one had come with me, but, I had a decent gap. So I thought I'd get working and see what would happen. I went fairly hard for a lap (two miles) and still no one would come with me. So I began to ease up, smiling for the photographers. Hopefully they'll be some decent photos for the British Cycling website, I'm so vain, bless me!

After another lap or so the bunch had slowly worked its way back up to me, more I suspect because of my slowing, rather than their speeding up. Still, it was gruppo compatto with 30 minutes raced. There were more attacks, and I covered some. There were two strong teams today, DH Cyclesport and the Army Cycling Union, and I was riding solo for Trisportnews today. So each time one of them went, I would wait for the other to chase, then sit on their wheel while they towed me along. Crafty, but then in this game you 'gotta be! After a while it became reasonable clear, to me at least, that nothing was going to succeed. So I drifted to the back of the peloton and had nice little chat with one of the other riders that I have become friendly with at these races. It's not all eye balls out this racing lark you know! I even had time to sit up and gulp down an energy gel in relative calm for once.

So when the three laps to go board appeared, I started to make my way forward. I kept telling myself, 'You can do this'. So I got close, but not too close to the front of the bunch. Close enough to see what was going on anyway. However, before I continue I must make special reference to another cycling friend of mine, a Mr Ian Lowe of Thames Velo. He is a real hard man, a big powerful South African. He has a certain no nonsense attacking style that earns him much respect in the racing 'fraternity'. He had attacked a few times already during the race, but when 3 to go was called, he was away again, solo. Like me he had speculatively attacked a few laps before hand but no one went with him. I was tempted, but just didn't quite have the confidence. Anyhow, he had about a 20 second lead on the group, which was always going to be tight. I had already mentioned in the afore mentioned chat that I would be more than happy to come second to this man today. As it was he was brought back with about 1.5 laps to go. But his never say die attitude meant that almost immediately he attacked again. Now this was great for me because it forced guys to work on the front, while I was quite happy to let him go. Time and time again he went, until eventually he dragged the whole bunch down the back straight on the final lap until he eventually capitulated. His work was done, and it was a mighty fine job!

So coming into the final kilometre of racing it seemed to be working out for me. I was on the left side of the bunch, which was the right side to be on, out of the wind! The only negative was a few more people than I would have liked slipped in front of me before the final straight. But it soon opened up again. Then with about 400m to go people decided to open up the sprint early, which suited me fine. I waited and waited and waited. Then with probably about 250m to go I made my move. In much to big a gear I stood on the pedals as hard as I could, and immediately created a gap behind me. Which is just what you want that way the guy behind has to work that little bit harder as the draught he's getting is less. I was going 100% all out, I glanced under my arm and I had a good lead. Only about 100m to go... Which seemed to last a life time, it felt like a slow motion clip from a film. The line just couldn't come fast enough! I gave it one last look under my arm with about 20m to go and this was it, I was going to win! I crossed the line and let out an almighty roar. I thrust one arm in the air and 'punched' the crisp blue sky as hard as I could! Unfortunately I just didn't have enough left to make a proper pro's celebration and sit up with both hands in the air, but there you go, guess you can't have it all.

On reflection I couldn't be more pleased with the way the race went, I felt much better than last week, and to win really is something special. It's my first ever race win and after all the hours of hard training I have put in since my operation last August, somehow today just makes it all mean that little bit more! Although I'm not going to lose sight of the fact that this is really only a small race, and there really are much bigger fish to fry. But it's only Februrary so hopefully this is the first victory of many.

Apart from that, lifes just been uni uni uni this week. A theme that looks set to continue right up until June the way things are going right now! Oh and occasionally going to work to earn some money of course. Which went rather well on Thursday night as we somehow managed to earn a £20 tip each from a wedding, we must be good! Which is a stark contrast to the Irish traveller christening we had a couple of Saturday's ago, which ended in a mass brawl. We certainly get a mixed bag of guests!

One final note, I am very very excited right now... Chris has managed to get a Cervelo Soloist SLC-SL on test at the moment. Thanks to our sponsors Ultimate Pursuits of course, I wish I could afford one but at over £3000 just for the frame its not so simple! I do however look forward to having a little test ride on it myself one day this week... hmmmmm. I think I deserve it after getting Trisportnews.com's first win of the season! Apart from the fact that most of them have been sunning themselves in Mallorca this past week while the rest of us have been slaving away round airfields in the middle of no where! Ah well, who knows what the next week will bring...

What's the point?

Sometimes, I just don't get it. I mean, your in a race, and its like people just leave their brains in their cars. Some people just seem to be clueless.

So yesterday I raced at the airfield in the middle of nowhere again. There was a much bigger field this week. But I wasn't bothered, after looking at people last week it was clear many were just making up the numbers. This week seemed a bit different though. There were more strong guys, but I didn't really recognise too many. The race itself kicked off fairly similar to last week. The usual early flurry of attacks. But it wasn't until about 20 or 30 minutes in when the race winning break went clear...

As it was fairly early, I wasn't too bothered just yet. But later on it was quite apparent they were gonna take some dragging back. So I and a few others tried to initiate a chase. But everytime we got it going, it just didn't last. Nobody wanted to commit. Hence I ask, whats the point!? They do a turn then break up the thru'n'off by not going through again. So every time it looked like we might be gaining on the break, they just seemed to edge away again. Now at this point I must congratulate the first five, as they were clearly strong riders. The point is what the **** were some of the people in the bunch playing at? If they didn't have the legs to chase, stay away from those who are working their asses off. But no. Then, idividuals started to jump off the front and try to bridge alone. Which was clear that they weren't strong enough on their own, so why not work with the rest of us to chase properly? There was one team in particular that kept doing this, I won't name them, but I think their the only team connected to HM Government in any way. Idiots. None of them were working at the front of the bunch at any point by the way.

So later on I'd had enough, so along with the guy who won last week and one other, we tried to get across. But only after my team mate Dave had done a superb effort to string out and eventually split the bunch. Before he peeled off and rode back to his car anyway! But joking aside, it was a brilliant effort, I struggled to hold his wheel initially. So I and the other two worked quite well initially. But then, a few guys on the front of the bunch dragged us back. Arseholes, they do no work before then they chase us down! I really don't get some people. If truth be told I wasn't strong enough to stay with the other two, I think my cold at the beggining if the week took more out of me than I thought. So eventually another group formed up the road, of five. At this point I nearly stopped, I was so pissed off that people were riding so stupidly.

Ultimately, I dont like the initials DNF (did not finish), so I stayed in. By the time the bell was rung for the final lap, I had lost count of who was up the road as riders had been dropped from the break but other had had goes off the front. So I half heartedly went for the bunch sprint, in which I took second place. Which later transpired to be 11th overall. Brilliant, the points only go down to 10th in this race. That kind of summed up the race for me. I really felt like I wasted my time. But thanks to Rob of my former club Addiscombe for giving me a lift, and taking the sting off the day by saving my fuel bill!

Hopefully I'm fully recovered from this cold now. And I can have a good week training. Because next week I want to rip up that race. It's the last one and I fully intend to leave them knowing who's strongest... After that its back to racing more locally thankfully. Good for my fuel bill, the planet of course, and most importantly I know there a lot less idiots racing around here.

It's a bittersweet symphony...

...When you turn up to a race, feeling like your getting sick, but actually more than hold your own and turn in a decent result. Thats what happened today. Only now Im scared that when I wake up tomorow im gonna be unable to move, or breathe through my nose, and my head will feel like its going to explode! Maybe thats a little dramatic, but there you go. Anyhow, so when I awoke yesterday, thats when I started to feel like I had a cold coming on. And I feel pretty similar today, so im drinking more water than an elephant in the hope that it'll all get worked out that way, sooner rather than later.

Anyhow, the race. So the other week a kind of verbal agreement was struck that Chris and I would do a race in Wiltshire (of all places) today. As it's one of the few races that we can do together right now as we are both different categories. So I had all but gotten ready when Chris called to say he couldn't make it. Which was doubly dissapointing as he was gonna drive, so there I was, dilemma! I know Im fairly strong right now, but im getting sick, and I have no money, driving is gonna cost me £20! To race or not to race? And on top of this the forecast wasn't brilliant, sunny but barely above freezing. It did cross my mid that I would get down there and the race would be called off due to an icy track or something, thankfully, it wasn't. A 170mile round trip would have been throughly wasted otherwise!

So, I decided to go. Which then meant getting up at 5.30 this morning, not a time of day I see much. Well not without having been up the entire night before anyway! So In my zombie like state I got up, dressed, ate and got in my little car. Which, after de-icing, actually started more ot less straight away for once! So the Wiltshire adventure began, as it happens the circuit I was heading too is an old army air field near my Aunt's house. I had sent her a late message last night to see if I could get a post race coffee out of them, but she was 'having her hair done' this morning! All credit to the Army Cycling Union for putting on these events at Upavon though. So I arrived to this desolate air strip, at 7.50am, I got out the car and... oh my word, it was bloody freezing! Easily the coldest conditions I've raced in. So I signed on, first, cool, race number one on my back. Last time I had that I nearly won, a good omen perhaps?

The race kicked off with an ealry flurry from a couple of riders, from a club I won't name, who decided with no obvious tactic to try to attack from the gun. Actually what they ended up doing was stringing the bunch out, pissing everyone who hadn't warmed up off, and nearly caught the Elite race. Good one boys. After this the proper attacks began, which I joined in with. Then low and behold seven riders went clear after about half and hour, without me. Typical! So I just threw caution to the wind, judging that they had a handy gap and looked strong, so if I can get across, maybe its the winning move. I got across, just, nearly killed me trying mind, and sat on for a lap to recover and then started working. I thought we might have had it at one point, but unfotunately we sort of imlpoded about with about 15 mins to go. However, three of the guys stayed out front. Risky I thought, it's all or nothing now surely? I'd had enough breakaway time for the day, so sat in and recovered for what turned out to be the inevitable bunch sprint. After a less than ideal final 500m I made my move with about 250m to go...

It was good, only two guys could get close. Unfotunately, they both just overhauled me before the line. But we all finished within a foot of each other, we were all pretty equal I think. But the fact that made me smile was the fact that the three of us had all been members of the afore mentioned breakaway. So it was good to see the strongest guys winning for once, doesn't always work out like that in a road race. Afterwards the three of us shook hands in recongnition of the fact that we'd had the best race of everyone. The pro's might be on drugs, but cycling has gotta be one of the most sportsman like sports around. Anyway, 3rd place, in my third race for Trisportnews.com. And more importnantly, 7 points to start my campaign, only 33 to go before promotion! The icing on the cake was of course the £5 prize money, not a lot I know, but it took the sting off the fuel bill for the day!

There we are, as long as I don't wake up with the flu tomorow, it'll all be good! And of course, it must me noted that one of my team mates did show up! David, like Chris is on the hunt for points this year to finally get promoted to 3rd cat. And he made a solid start to his campaign today finishing with the bunch. Unfortunately however due to the short notice beg for a lift, he'd already let his spare seat out to another frind of ours. Not a team mate I might add, he just got in there first! David (another one!) is a 2nd cat rider but had a funny day in the Elite race, after a mechanical he seemed to drift in after the bunch. Which still earnt him 2 points for getting 14th place, as the points get awarded down to 15th in the Elite race. Jammy so-and-so!

Remember last time I was talking about a Uni presentation? Well, last Friday, we did indeed head off to DTZ in London. And we won! It was just a little bit intimidating presenting to one of the largest property companies in the world, but we obviously did alrite. Was great to be recognised by a large firm like that, now we have the possibility of a summer placement with them this year too. Which can only be more good experience I guess. Still, plenty more work to do for Uni right now though, so I assure you the success certainly won't be going to my head!

One last note, on the subject of the seemingly infamous 'roller coaster lovelife' comment. There is a possibility that its not so roller coaster now... Im not saying much, because when I do it usually all falls to pieces before I even finish speaking! But she's American, from California, and coincidently just started her second semester at Kingston. Coincidently as I met her on a night out last week, nothing to do with Uni! But things seem to be going well, so who knows...