Adam's Diary

Twenty One

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:03:00 +0000

Apparently, yesterday I reached the age at which I am supposed to grow up? Well, er, maybe later! I mean I've had my key to the door and such like for years, I couldn't even convince my parents to re-present it to me!! Haha, ah well, c'est la vie!

So barely three days after my last post and I've already done another couple of races, and not done too badly either I might add. Tuesday saw my 2008 and Elite/1/2 debut at the famous Crystal Palace Park (well, famous amongst south London racers anyway!). It was no where near as hard as I was expecting. I had raced there just five time before up to Tuesday and each time had failed to get anywhere near the top ten, and that was with the 3/4cats! So I was expecting to take a bit of a kicking. My former team mate and friend Stuart from ACC accompanied me for the race, and both of us took a liking to hiding at the back. Normally in the 3/4 race this was the worse place to be as with the circuit being fairly 'technical' for a road race anyway, the standard of riding in the lower cat races is such that every corner was followed by a sprint out of it as the concertina effect took hold. However in the E/1/2 race this was not the case, the general standard of bike handling is so much higher that each corner was taken smoothly and with minimal fuss. Meaning sitting at the back was actually quite enjoyable. Although my handling has improved no end over the past year or so, sitting at the back is a good opportunity to follow more experienced riders through the turns and learn from them. Well, that was my excuse anyway! The race was fairly steady throughout, but by no means slow, we still averaged a shade under 25mph for the race. It seemed no one was quite strong enough to get away so it was to be a bunch finish. I had never really had the chance to contest a finish at the Palace before Tuesday, but with 2 laps to go the pace slowed on the climb, and just by slipping through a few gaps I found myself right up at the sharp end, in the first third of the bunch. So I thought I may as well go for it! And that I did, I went as hard as I could in the final, which is effectively a 500m sprint almost, crazy! And it earnt me 7th place, which I was very pleased with considering it was my debut as such. And a good sign that I am moving in the right direction fitness wise. I don't think it would be totally impossible for me to maybe get a win there this year, so we'll see...

So after Tuesday's success at Palace yesterday was very much a day of drinking. I mean what else to do on one's twenty first birthday?? Although I have now decided that drinking Armagnac that was bottled before you were born is possibly not the best idea if you want to race the next day! So today I have been feeling not quite on top form shall we say, but I was determined to race today as it was my 21st race (of the season) one day after my 21st birthday. If there's such a thing as fate maybe it would smile on me this evening???

I had Paul Tunnell for company this evening, a veteran of my former club and somewhat of a canny sprinter himself. I was always going to have to keep an eye on him in the final, as if he finished higher than me, it would be a good few months before I would be allowed to forget it! This evenings race was a handicap around the circuit at MoD Chertsey, where I have recently been doing some Elite races. I am beginning to develop quite a liking for this circuit as it is a great opportunity for me to develop my 'big' bunch sprinting skills. The race was fairly normal, Paul T somehow gets away with going in the 'easier' 3rd cat group, while I narrowly avoided getting started with the scratch group again! Off we went, the scratch group caught my group of 2nds just before making the junction with the quicker 3rds. The pace continued to be hot as Paul T's 'slow' 3rd cats were still up the road as well as the 4ths. By about 2/3s of the way through the race we were all together and it was game on. The big boys were firing off the front at every opportunity but each time moves were keenly marked. I myself got in a move with the likes of Gary Dodd and Dan Santoni, unfortunately just as we were reeled in Ben Wilson and Mr Rollapaluza (Jos van... whats his name) steamed off the front and got an instant gap. There was a slight delay while the bunch picked the pace up, and we nearly had them back with about 2 laps to go. But as so often happens we just let them slip away a little more and that was that. I then happened to be on Gary Dodd's wheel again who looked like he was gearing up for a bridging attempt. As I went I was straight onto his wheel, unfortunately a brief moment later so was most of the bunch! So as he looked around I shook my head, knowing we where going no where. Bunch sprint for 3rd place it was to be then...Which was actually very safe despite possibly a 50-60 rider mixed ability field. I was a little too close to the front too soon and ended up getting a bit swamped when the sprint started. So I was making places up all the time, crossing the line in about about 9/10th from the sprint, so just missing the top 10. Must say I only just beat Paul T to the line as well, a very good sprint by the master himself. Mind you he had been sitting in the whole race!

Not too disappointed, most of the guys who were ahead of me were known strong men, Santoni, Dodd, Brueton and the likes. And the amount of alcohol I consumed last night was never going to play in my favour. Pretty sure it was the Armagnac from last night that just sapped that extra couple of percent from me! Though I was close enough to them all to realise that there wasn't a rider there who I couldn't take in a sprint on my day. So all fun and games, that's 21 races for me now this season, 0 DNF's and 54 BC points. And its only May, oh yes, there's plenty more to come...

BUSA Road Race Championships

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Mon, 19 May 2008 22:45:00 +0000

As mentioned in my last post, over the last weekend I travelled up to deepest Leicestershire to compete in the British Universities Road Race Championships. And what a real hard race it turn out to be. The original bill was for 130km, which is fairly long in itself. But then when I was looking at the course it became apparent that perhaps this was an slight underestimation, as the course was 22km and we were due to complete seven laps of the circuit! So 130km turned into 150km and nearly 4 hours of racing, the phrase 'war of attrition' doesn't even come close.

So on Friday afternoon I set off on my journey North. It ended up taking me 4 hours to drive 160miles, which I wasn't too impressed by. As soon as I joined the road works leading to the Dartford Tunnel there was just one jam after another all the way until I got of the A1 near Grantham, and onto the local roads in search of the course. I found the race HQ with ease by comparison to some of the tours of Surrey and Sussex I have had looking for village halls and the like! So at 5.30pm, out came the bike, and off I went on my Lance Armstrong style reconnaissance of the course. And wow, it was certainly a beautiful part of England to race around, there were some stunning views to be had at certain points on the course, unfortunately this did mean there was a horrible hill to be climbed at some point! The course consisted of one long, straight, flat road, along a ridge. Which was fairly exposed to the wind, although I knew on the other half of the course the wind would swing round and be directly behind us, good times. The course then took its only corner that provoked any thought onto the short undulating technical section of the course, which was then followed by a 75km/h descent, again, good times! As mentioned the course then took another long, straight and flat road along the bottom of the ridge, which being wind assisted meant even rolling along easy I was cruising at 25mph. Of course the sting in the tail was the next turn brought you onto the climb up to the finish. This part of the course dragged for a couple of miles, before becoming steeper up until about 250m to go where it levelled out just enough to make gaining places back possible. Or so I hoped anyway! To add to the climb, the wind was a fairly brisk cross wind from the left, forcing echelon's to form.

Here, the race is just making the ascent of the climb for the 1st time. On the front eventual winner Pete Williams has just attacked. And if you look really closely, you'll see my right in the centre of the shot on the left of the first group of chasers, staying nicely tucked out of the wind.

After a night in possibly the most soulless service station in the whole of England, just of the beautiful A1, I made my way back to the race HQ. Where the riders were already beginning to gather. I went about my usual routine, signed on, got the bike out, decided what to wear (seriously!) etc, and jumped on the bike to warm up. All pretty standard stuff. Out on the course it was clear it was a little windier than the night before, but when you're racing, you've just gotta put your head down and get on with it. And as the pictures show, it was fairly dark and overcast. With wet roads to start, that dried out later on despite a brief shower that did little but make you wipe your glasses! So having warmed up nicely we had our briefing from the commisaire and around 60 riders, of all abilities rolled out for what was going to be a sort of epic race.

Here, a couple of laps into the race a small escape group was away off the front. As the rider on the front from Newcastle here gets the group moving, I am hanging in there near the back after fighting my way up the climb.

The race kicked off as usual, with a standard flurry of early attacks until one lone rider went clear. As he was from Loughborough, who were organisers of the race and had about 15 riders in the bunch, he was allowed his freedom. As we hit the long flat section before the climb, I was tucking in nicely about 5th wheel behind a couple of Cambridge riders who felt they ought to have a couple of their team on the front to 'control the break'. I was fairly certain that attacks would go up the hill the first time, so I was content to sit in and allow them to do the work. Low and behold, we hit the climb and the only Elite rider in the race, Pete Williams launched a searing attack almost the second the road went skyward. Must be noted that this guy, rides for one of the top domestic teams in the UK and has spent the season so far working for two of the countries best riders. So it was fair to say he was the man to mark, and so he was!

I'm sure we dropped riders the first time up the climb but after the ascent the race settled again for a while, after a brief split was closed down over the top. Then it was surge after surge all the way around until the climb was hit for the second time. As we did so, the pace was red hot. And for just the second ascent of the climb, I was dropped, already. I've already mentioned how I am not the worlds best climber, and this climb was just that little bit too long for me to match the pure climbers. Over the top I was a little isolated initially, so I allowed a couple of riders to come up from behind me to work with. This was a gamble as they peloton didn't look to be slowing much. But eventually they did, and after about 5km of hard graft we just got back on again. And I headed straight to the front, knowing that this is the best place to be to allow yourself time to respond to the attacks. There was a moment there though where I thought ''this was an awfully long way to drive for barely an hours racing!''.

After this the pace eased a little for a few laps, although there were still many attacks, especially from Pete Williams. But each time Loughborough would close him down, using a combination of their 1st & 2nd cat riders and their stronger 3rd & 4th cats. Fair play to them, they were determined to have their riders up there. Eventually, for all the marking, Pete finally got away, and solo as well. Despite Loughborough's best efforts to chase him, he was gone, flying away solo to a spectacular win. The race was now on for the remainder of the podium places. This was soon taken up by two, wait for it, Loughborough riders, who obviously worked tirelessly together to get away from the bunch, but couldn't reel in Pete Williams. In the mean time, the sheer length of the race was beginning to tell on the majority of the peloton, particularly myself. For each of the last 3 ascents of the hill, severe cramp was beginning to hit my thighs almost to the point where I was forced to stop pedalling. It was now a case of survival, which was echoed by many of my fellow riders!

Above, Pete Williams of Pinarello RT takes his impressive solo victory of the 2008 BUSA RR.

In the mean time the peloton allowed one more solo rider to ease off the front, which in hindsight, was stupid as there were several riders left in the bunch that were much much stronger than he was. But he took his opportunity and made the most of it. In the mean time, while staving off the cramp in my legs, it was all I could do to follow wheels in the final and take the best place I could. The picture below shows me crossing the line 13th, and I had distanced many riders behind me but in truth I was a little way off the next couple of riders also. So if truth be told, I am a little disappointed not to have made the top ten as I feel I really ought to have done. But the consolation of course that I know in another year I'll be that little bit stronger and should be able to progress up the classification. After that? Well, I'll have to do a masters to maintain my eligibility for this race! There were a few over 23 riders in the race, and even if I did a masters I would still be under 23, so there's plenty of room for improvement...

Ultimately I thoroughly enjoyed the race and my thanks must go to the organisers and marshals as well as officials for putting on the race. And of course the other racers for making it such a good race. There was no bad riding at all, and it was generally a much more respectful race than much of what goes on down here! And of course, as I mentioned earlier, the course was simply stunning. Except, had the finish been anywhere but at the top of that hill I would of course finished much higher!! One more thing that became blatantly apparent, I am far from the only student who uses university as a front for being a professional cyclist!

A few statistics for those interested:

Race Distance: 149km

Race Time: 3:57:15

Energy used: 3278kcals

Speed Av/Mx: 38km/h / 72km/h

HR Av/Mx: 170bpm/195bpm

Power Av/Mx: 230w / 1,237w (5mins @ 403w)

Another 5 Races!

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:31:00 +0000

Another busy fortnight has seen a new goal added to my schedule, and as such, a whole host of what you might call last minute training! Since I last posted I have started, and finished (of course), another 5 races. All in preparation for my assault on the British Universities Sporting Association (BUSA) Road Race Championships this coming Saturday.

Step one: 1st May, the first of the Surrey Leagues Thursday evening handicap series around the Kitsmead Lane circuit. Now, is it just me or is summer supposed to start around May time?? I remember doing this race last year and turning up in shorts and a T-shirt! So the again, I raced through the pouring rain, and hail! To the point where my legs were bruised for days afterwards. Hmmm. The race itself was a bit of an odd one. A handicap is a race for all categories, where riders are set of in ability based groups with gaps in between. The slowest first, fastest last. The idea is that the groups should come together towards the end of the race and its game on from there. Usually the man that does the handicapping, Surrey League boss and ex-pro Keith Butler bases the groups on form rather than what category your licence says. As this is often misleading. However he wasn't there for this one, so as a result the riders went off in licence category order. Which sometimes isn't an issue... Unless you get the likes of Sean Yates (ex-pro, tour de france yellow jersey wearer and now director for the Astana Pro Team) turn up. Unfortunately for the rest of us his licence says cat 3! As he hung up his wheels a long time ago. Unfortunately they let him go, and that was race over for all behind. Due to the weather making life hard to get a chase organised, and the fact that he and his brother worked like clockwork, they rode away and his brother Christian took what was really an easy victory! Still, we had a good work out behind, I think...

Step two: My third and final test at Kent University. Showed some good improvements despite racing the night before, and really lacking motivation for a lab test when the real racing season was really upon us!

Step three: A hilly race around the Cutmill circuit, 60miles. Not much to say about this one except it was pretty hard as hills are not my forte. I basically sat towards the back of the bunch for most of the race, with all the other guys who are just a little to large to excell on a hilly course like that! Then I attacked with about 1km to go, thinking I was much closer to the finish than I really was. Bit of a school boy error to be honest. But it was only for 3rd as a couple of guys had escaped already, I turned in 19th which is funny because I sat up with about 250m to go when had I kept going I might just have scored my first points as a 2nd cat! Oh well, plenty more racing to come this season!

Step four: An incredibly fast blast around Dunsfold Aerodrome. Again run as a handicap, although a little more fairly judged this time I nearly got dropped by the 2nd cats as they were riding very fast indeed. By the end we had an average of nearly 44km/h, almost 27mph for over an hour! Basically the toll of race after race was beginning to tell, added to which I had been riding every day in between also. So good training racing, if you see what I mean. The sprint for 6th place was a little to hectic for my liking, I ended up sitting up with about 100m to go as it was not a race worth crashing for!

Step five: Another Surrey League Handicap, this time around the South Nutfield circuit. Again this is a tough circuit, and that wasn't helped by the fact that I was stiched up big time by Keith Butler! He made me go in the scratch group, which is what the fastest group is called. So a couple of uber strong and experienced 2nd cats and a 1st cat and a very very experienced Elite kicked the crap out of me for 5 miles until they dropped me! Which was unfortunate as we weren't far off catching the next group where I would have been able to sit in more and conserve my energy. Constant racing and training was really catching up with me. Still, I rode the rest of the race on my own, and still averaged 24mph! So still got a good hard ride!

Step six: Another E/1/2 race at MoD Chertsey. This time I rested the day before and felt pretty strong considering. This was the first race where I really felt like I deserved my 2nd cat licence. I was to the fore the whole race and really only ran out of steam in the final couple of laps. Which was more to do with the 4 other races I'd already done in the previous 10 days! It was also my team mate John's first race of the season, and wow he was strong. He punctured mid race, so having fixed it he returned to the peloton and worked his ass off for me. The trouble was, he was just to strong! He was nearly dropping me in the finish! Also well worthy of a mention, my team mate Lisa who got a well deserved 3rd place in the womens race that day. She has come on a long way since her Tour of Flanders disappointment. After taking a beating in a womens international stage race over the May Day bank holiday up in Bedford (which I rode up to on the monday to support!) she has really improved. She is racing the ladies South East divisional championships this weekend and looks set to go well.

The photo above is an example of me looking a little uncomfortable as team mate John kept me up to the front of the race, unfortunately his new kit was too big. So for the time being he's just racing in plain black!

Having moaned about the rain and sleet up to the 1st of May (which marked a full two months of racing in the rain by the way!), the sun has now finally come out, so we are all playing catch up on John. Who as you can see from the picture above is already a fine specimen of Mahogany! Anyhow, as mentioned on Saturday I make the trip up to Nottinhamshire to represent both Kingston University and TriSportNews.com in the BUSA RR Champs, and in all seriousness you could not ask me to be any more motivated for this race! I have worked my ass off over the past few weeks with the sole aim of doing a good ride in this race. It's not going to be easy, but I'm super motivated and I'm really up for challenging some of the stronger riders on the start list. So fingers crossed...

Making the step up

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:11:00 +0000

The last few weeks have seen my first real forays into the world of Elite racing, and it's certainly a step up. Well, a couple of weeks ago I did the E/1/2 race at Chertsey. So I was really at the bottom of the pile there. More recently, yesterday in fact I rode my first Elite Road Race. As Chertsey is really only just a closed circuit, so really, its easy. Ha, well, you've gotta have a sense of humour in this sport sometimes!

Chertsey was a bit of an eye opener, when your sitting on the wheel of a guy who rode the World Championships a few years ago you know your in for a hard ride. I later found out, he (Steve Calland) hasn't even really done much training latetly, well, it didn't seem like it! The race was to be 25 laps of a 2 mile circuit. I quite like Chertsey as a course, its mostly flat with a couple of small lumps just to stretch your legs. And most importantly, it has a very long wide straight finish, sprinters paradise. Well it is if you can make it to the finish in any sort of state to sprint anyway! We ended up covering the distance in 1hr 58mins, which equates to an average speed of just over 25mph, for nearly two hours. It was pretty tough I can tell you. To put it into perspective, in March when I got away in a break in the 3rd cat race at Dunsfold, I averaged about 270watts to break away and nearly win. At Chertsey I averaged about 270watts again, but this time just to stay in the bunch. It was a real hard race, for me at least, and by the finish I could not even contemplate getting out the saddle and sprinting for the line. It mattered little as a break had already won the race anyway, but it was the most tired I've been for a while. I did however have enough not to finish last!

Then, just yesterday was the Les Ingman Memorial Road Race. Which was to be 7.75 laps of the 10.9 mile Bletchingly circuit, but I was up against some of the regions finest Elites and 1st cats. As well as 2nd cats and 3rd cats in the mix. So theoretically I should have been somewhere in the midddle of the road in terms of ability, but that didn't stop me being the most nervous I have been for a long while.

The race kicked of real fast, this course is one of the hilliest around with many short climbs followed by a real leg breaker that just goes on and on. Then just when you think its all over, you turn left onto the A25 and it continues to drag up and up until a fast narrow left hand turn followed by a very fast and also narrow, twisting descent. For which the bunch was always strung out in single file. This means that at the back of a 70 rider field you almost a minute behind the front riders! So the first couple of laps were incredibly fast, and I was thinking from a very early stage that if it continues on this fast, I won't survive too long. But thankfully a break became established after two laps, leaving the remainder of the bunch to contemplate a further 5 laps chasing.

Nobody seemed to concerned to chase so the pace dropped to a more suitable level. Which was obviously not suitable enough as some riders chose to attack again, but they never really got out of sight and the main bunch soon swallowed them up. Then a few of us tried to instigate a thru and off system to try to at least limit out losses. But only about 10 would work, then all the other riders would just try to attack up the hills after we had dragged them along on the flat. I was not amused, there were some riders who seemed quite content doing it as well, despite annoying everyone else in the process. I think it was the next lap around that a spectator informed us that we were over three minutes down on the break away group, which was also fragmenting apparently. You could almost feel the pace drop as soon as everyone had heard the news. Then it started to rain (again) and as if by magic almost half the bunch sat up and threw in the towel. I was of the opinion that I'm going to be wet by the time I get back to my car anyway, so I might as well finish! Besides the fact that I havn't raced completely in the dry since the beggining of March!!

After about 30minutes of rain the sun came out again and at this point the commisaire came up from behind us to inform the main bunch that we were on our last lap. It is often the case that when the peloton is out of contention they drop a lap off and finish early as it is almost pointless doing that extra lap. I was almost disappointed as despite the fact it was still my longest race to date, I wanted to really put a big on on the board. But there you go, so I settled back down and began to think about the ''finish''. I thought I might as well go for the sprint as its all good practice. The only trouble was I wasn't too familiar with the finish, I knew it was flat but I wasn't quite sure where the line was. It was quite a strange sprint really, I think everyone was really on their limits as it was very spread out. But I was about 2 riders back when it started. A couple of guys jumped around my right shoulder and I immeadiately got on their wheels. Then began my sprint and just managed to throw my bike across the line to claim the bunch sprint. Which I'm fairly pleased with as there were still some strong riders left to beat, and its good for the morale to race all that way and still put in a decent sprint. Especially as I had been at work, on my feet for 10 hours on Saturday evening, which is hardly ideal prep!

I wasn't sure exactly how many riders were ahead still so I wondered back down to the finish to see what was what. The leaders were just about to finish to it was a case of waiting and counting them across the line. Eventually I think there were more than 20 riders ahead of me, which was the points gone. As it was a big race the points are much higher, 60 for the win, going down to 20th place. So I was probably about 25th, but I'm still waiting for confirmed results. Which is a decent result from a 70odd rider field of E/1/2/3s, so I'm quite satisfied with that. The biggest plus is I know I can ride better than I did on Sunday, I was fairly tired from working and riding through the week, so hopefully I'll have more to offer next time...

Next time being this Sunday realistically. Back to racing against my own categories, a 2/3 race around Cutmill near Guildford. Which is another rolling circuit, but a little less so, so should suit me better. Especially if I'm fresh. Which really depends on the weather this week as I'll be racing on Thursday evening if it's not too rainy, for the first of the Surrey League evening handicaps. Which are all categories in one race, but set off in ability based groups, fastest last. Usually they all come together by the finish and its anyones game. But sometimes the lower cats do work together enough to stay away... There are a few local riders who have pulled some suprises in these races! I might even make my season debut at Crystal Palace tomorow, if... it doesn't rain (it's literally impossible to race that cricuit in the wet) and if I finish my coursework in time! Two big if's! Quite eager to get back to Palace as its such a challenging circuit, but I may have to wait another week, if anything I think the weather will tell me to do some more work for my coursework than race!!

De Ronde part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:48:00 +0000

So after barely one beer and a McDonalds we all returned to our hotels to collapse into a heap in a vauge attempt to recover!

On the Sunday only Chris, Lisa and Myself ventured into town to see the Pro's sign on in the Market Square for the race proper. After which we returned to the hotel to have breakfast and check out. Even the pro's have to start early(ish) you see, 9.45am.

We were then the only members of the team to venture out into the Belgian countryside to rush around with the locals to see the race as much as possible out on the road... For which I was in charge of navigating. Now while I accept I may have gotten a little lucky at times, I got us to see the race three times on the road! The first occasion was at a souless roundabout in the middle of nowhere, even at this early stage there were riders off the back of the main bunch, struggling already. You had to feel for them, over night the temperature dropped even more, to about 6degrees and the pros had to endure a little snow also. Although it was much dryer and sunnier for them later on that the conditions that we rode in, so really, they had it easy!

The next stop was at the second feed station after 200kms, it was with great satisfaction that we got to look deep inside their eyes as they rolled by trying to stuff as many calories in as quickly as possible! They really looked as bad as we did the day before, which made it all seem just that little bit more worthwhile, hehe. And low and behold a Credit Agricole rider more or less handed his mussette (feed bag) to Lisa. He had barely even had anything out of it, he was obviously confident he had enough energy to get to the finish on an empty stomach!

The next stop was the climb of the Eikenmolen which happened to be where eventual race winner Stijn Devolder made his move. Again a fantastic atmosphere on the spectator lined climb must have carried the riders up it. It was here where we saw British favourite Roger Hammond still with the lead group and flying the flag. Although he looked a lot less relaxed than he did at the start in Brugge where he said hello to us as we cheered him on!

After the race had passed we then saw the last 15km of the race on a black and white TV in the back of a Belgians car, hows that for the authentic Flandrian experience??

So all in all, it was a brilliant weekend, and one which is already in the planning stages for a repeat next year... Trisportnews has found its annual Mecca! All of us, even those who said they didn't enjoy it want to go back for more wind, rain, cobbles and hardcore belgian semi-pros!

So... Bring it on!

De Ronde

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:45:00 +0000

Finally, a little late, here is my take on de Ronde van Vlaaderen. Or for those of you who don't speak flemish, the Tour of Flanders. All 260km of it (160miles), or was it, actually my clock read 275km by the time I arrived at the Finish in Ninove.

So most of the team travelled out to Brugge on the Thursday (3rd April) afternoon, after having settled into our hotels we convened in the historic and quite stunning market square. Where we then had a somewhat overpriced, touristic and very mixed quality meal! But the point was we were all there and all about to embark on one of the greatest adventures... There are so many stories to tell of the weekend. For a start, it turned out that the younger brother of the receptionist at out hotel rode for the Rabobank Continental team. Which is basically the Dutch U23 development team, luckily for him he was off on a training camp in Italy. While we were preparing for a day of typical Flandrian weather, rain, sleet, wind and cold!

Friday was then a quick ride through the city of Brugge, the a trip down (another) Belgian motorway to Oudenaarde where we visited the Centrum de Ronde van Vlaanderen. Which is the museum in dedication to almost 100 years history of the race. Then it was onto the finish in Ninove to drop off a couple of cars for transport home on the Saturday, post ride. While also meeting up with some of the late arrivals!

As dawn broke on Saturday morning, we were sitting at breakfast not really saying much. I think each of us was justifiably nervous of what was to be a very very long day in the saddle. After a little mucking about we all signed onto the ride and departed the market square in Brugge at 8am. Straight away we were in a reasonably fast moving convoy of riders, over 10,000 riders take part in this event every year, so you're never alone! After just 10km we had our first incident... a touch of wheels a few bikes ahead of me resulted in some shouts and some panic braking. I, having spent each of the past 8 weeks racing every weekend was straight on the brakes and looking for an escape. My team mate Grant however seemed to plow straight into the confusion. In the end, everyone stayed upright. There was no apparent cause either, bizarre. Well, a couple of guys ended up on the floor after forgetting to un clip from their pedals but there you go, school boy stuff.

It was only about another 30km until the next incident of the day too! We had been riding for about an hour when I said to my team mate Lisa that she ought to start eating now. As on such a long ride it is important to eat as much as possible. As she reached into her pocket she managed to drop her check card, which she would later need to claim her certificate at the finish. I kind of felt responsible, so in a moment of madness I did a quick U-turn and somehow found it. By this stage the next group on the road was about to catch me. I knew had I sat in with them I would never see my team again and I was acutely aware of the 220km I would end up riding effectively alone on that basis. So I soloed off the front of that group in search of the team. Eventually after a long period on my own working really hard, averaging about 42km/h (26mph) I caught up with everyone. And at the first feed stop at 60km we were all together.

After which we began to split up a little, as it was difficult to keep together when there are so many people riding on such small roads! After another 20km we came to what was one of the intermediate sprint points of the race itself (the pro event on the Sunday). As we came up to it I was on the front of a group of about 50 riders. On the incline leading up to it I was climbing out the saddle and my team mates John and Mark had dropped back a little by this point. But I had a couple of Spainards right on my wheel when one of them shouted ''sprint sprint sprint''. And all of a sudden one of them came roaring around my left side. Well, those of you who know me know full well I wasn't going to take that lying down!! So I gave it everything I had and just beat the crafty Iberian to the line! Whereby he duly patted me on the back by way of congratulation, my GCSE spanish the failed me as I could barely ask where abouts he was from!

For the next few kilometres things passed by fairly uneventfully as we completed the 'flat' half of the Ronde. After about 100km we came to the first climb of the day. Now this race is famous for its climbs, the 'bergs' or Hellingens as the Belgians would say. First up the Kluisberg, easy, only about 1.4km and an average gradient of about 8%, just like at home in Surrey I thought. So thats one down only 16 to go. The first climbs are quite seperated, it isn't until the final 60km where they really start to come thick and fast. Oh, and did I mention some of them are cobbled!?

Later on we reached the first real cobbled climb, the Molenberg. When the pro's do this, they sprint into this climb as it is a sharp right hander onto a steep narrow cobbled ascent. Unfortunately I only remembered this as we started the climb... Too late, almost imeadiately somebody stopped right infront of me, forcing me to stop also. And believe me, its impossible to get going again on wet cobbles at 20%. Unless of course you happen to have a friendly Belgian standing watching on his driveway who will hold you steady and give you a big push to get you moving again. It was incredible, I mean I guess he's used to seeing riders struggle up past his doorstep. But it was a great moment of the ride all the same.

A couple of climbs later the real drama started as far as I/we were concerned. The front group of TSN riders on the road was John, Mark and Myself. After one of the climbs Mark and I had slightly distanced John, so we stopped to wait for him. Then a few minutes later we realised we had taken a wrong turning! So as we came back onto the course we were sure that John must now be in front of us, thinking that we had buggered off and left him alone! Bit of a predicament as you can imagine, as Mark was also beginning to suffer a little. So at the next flat cobble section we hammered it across them like they were block paviers trying to make up ground on him. I actually really enjoyed the flat cobble sections as they were a unique challenge. I would like to ride the course of Paris-Roubaix now which includes 50km of cobbles as apposed to the 20km we covered in de Ronde, maybe next year!

So at the next feed we also met up with Grant and Neil who had ridden away from Chris and Lisa, who un-be-known to us had decided to stop. As the weather was truly awful at times, and they had started to get very cold. I think given the conditions Lisa did very well to get as far as she did, but I'm sure next year, given some sunshine, she could well make it all the way...

I decided at this point that I was going to try to find John, so set about riding hard in order to 'chase' him down. I thought at this point that we had bout 50km to go, when in actual fact it was more like 80km! So I rode on and on, berg after berg, and never saw a sight of him. I was thinking either he's found a second wind and is riding as fast as I am to try to catch up with us, as he probably still thinks we're ahead, or I've passed him and not seen him. As we were all wearing rain jackets at times, so all looking the same doesn't help!

I eventually found my way to the town of Geraardsbergen, which is at the foot of possibly the most famous climb of the race, the Muur. As I wound my way through the town and hit the real steep cobbled section of the climb the atmosphere was nothing short of incredible. It was late afternoon by this point, and the sun had just began to come out again. And the road was literally line all the way up with mad Belgian cycling fans, probably all of whom were looking out for a rider they knew, but cheering every rider as if they were their own. The wall of sound simply carried me to the top of the climb whereby there is a small chapel, that is simply iconic in the world of cycling! Unfortunately time was getting on and I was slipping into survival mode... I pressed on in the company of a young Belgian rider (who spoke excellent English, most of them do!) who then showed me the way 'home'.

One last climb, the Bosberg, ordinarily at only 900m long I would storm up a climb like this. But with 250km in your legs already you are simply reduced to just getting up it as best you can! At the summit it is more or less a downhill drag for the last 10km which still seemed to have a raging headwind, but the Belgian (can't remember his name!) and I worked well together to cruise through the last kilometres and into the finish area at Ninove. It was quite surreal arriving as there were just people and cyclists everywhere. Each with a story to tell.

I found the non-cycling contingent of TSN and Chris and Lisa who were annoyingly changed and dry and warm by this point, and was informed that I was in fact the first man home from our team. And that John was indeed way behind me with Mark after all! But what an amazing day on a bike, 11 hours I was in the saddle. Although it was hard, I think a wave of adrenaline and just a good day fitness wise carried me along quite happily all day. I thoroughly enjoyed the cobbles and despite the, at times, appalling weather conditions, had a brilliant day. I definately think every cyclist should come to Belgium and ride this course, it will certainly give you a new respect for the Pro's who tackle the exact same course in around 6hr30mins!

Incredible, just incredible!

It's been a while!

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:37:00 +0000

So the last couple of weeks seem to have vanished before my very eyes, all in a blur of coursework and riding. And it feels like it's barely stopped raining since February too, I havn't raced in the dry since March 1st. And a goo portion of all my other riding has been done in the rain too, it's almost like it's become normal!

Anyhow, this will be just a quick one to describe the debacle that was the Addiscombe cc round of the Surrey League a couple of weeks ago.

It was my first race as a newly promoted second cat and at the start I was feeling a strange mix of aprehension and care free'ness (if there is such a word!?). It was really quite bizzare, I felt good and was eager to have a few digs, yet at the same time was unsure as to whether or not it was going to be a big jump up to proper second cat racing...

As it turned out it was a bit of both. I made a few early efforts which ordinarily in a 3rds only race would have seen me away, yet everytime I looked round the whole bunch was still on my wheel! The wind was very stong all day and on particular sections of the course forcing the peloton to spread across the road as each rider was looking for shelter. Then of course the rain came, stinging at times and every time it eased, it was never long before it was right back at you.

I spent the majority of the race just hiding in the bunch in hope of a sprint finish. As it turned out in the last couple of laps a big break went away containing over 15 riders and therfore swallowing up the points.

Now, here comes the controversy. I tell you, this bike racing business is never boring!

As we went through with 1 lap to go, the break was clear, although it wasn't impossible to say we would have caught them. However, as we approached one of the narrower faster sections of the course a Police Community Support car over took the bunch, then had to violently swerve back onto the left hand side of the road actually making contact with some of the riders just ahead of me. The car then screeched to a halt at the next junction and the race was declared over. Er, what for? Seemed to be the general consensus, oh, and a six foot Sussex Police Sergeant who just happened to be riding didn't take to kindly to the Community Support Officers blatent overstepping of the mark.

Apparentlt they have no right to stop a race, let alone use blue flashing lights on there car. Let alone nearly run some of us off the road in the process. Way to go PCSO's. What exactly do they do anyway? Apart from wind everyone up, including apparently most 'proper' Police. It later transpired that the commissaire had instructed them to stop the race on his behalf. Something which he should have done himself. Allegedly we were 'all over the road' and it was apparently some of the 'worst riding he had ever witnessed'.

Now there was a general concession that we had been crossing the white line a little too much, but I for one never saw anything outright dangerous. So was a little bemused. In the end the break were allowed to finish, and all the dropped riders were also given places, while the main bunch were disqualified. Which I think is pretty stupid, as for most of the race we were together, therefore all in breach of the 'rules'. So in my opinion everyone should have been stopped.

But there you go, another example of Surrey Police doing **** all to 'make surrey safer'. They still havn't given me any kind of response for my van incident. How am I as a young person in this country meant to respect the Police when all they do is brush you off or send their reserve team to run you down?

Apart from all that the actual organisation by Addiscombe was good as ever, was just a shame the race turned out in such a manner.

Anyhow, the next day I did my single day prep for my Tour of Flanders ride. 210kms from Epsom to Brighton to Littlehampton to Epsom again. Man it was tough at times, but I made it and felt stronger for it...

In the next episode... my 11 hour Tour of Flanders epic...

Easter 3 Day - Stage 1 - The sprint to 2nd cat!!

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:18:00 +0000

So after Stage 2 was frozen out for us 3rds, today the tables were turned.

Driving down to Edenbridge this morning sunglasses were very much the order of the day, well, they were up to then anyway. Arrived nice and early at the leisure centre to have a bit of a chat and all. As we lined up at the start the organisation informed us of their problem, too few marshalls, think they almost didn't have a car either. Also, the finish had to be moved to a flat straight part of the circuit (sprinters paradise) instead of the planned off circuit up-hill finish due to the lack of support. We didn't even have a lap board! But despite all of this, the race did turn out to be excellently run, and safe also, which is always a bonus. So firstly my thanks go particularly to Tom McCall who is a commisaire and was down to be riding, but took charge to make sure the race went ahead. And of course all those who volunteered to do the little jobs like put the signs out sort the results... Paul Tunnell! (though this appeared to be a much larger job in the end!)

On to the race itself. It was to be three laps of a very undulating 15 mile circuit. The surfaces are generally pretty good on this course and I suspect I would have got away with using the Zipps this morning, but I opted for the power instead . Make no mistake, this is a hard circuit. There is only really one flat part on it, the finish! Everywhere else is either UP, DOWN, or somehwere in between, but certainly not flat! The first few minutes seemed almost club-run like, when the lead car pulled away after the short neutralised section, no body moved. Then after getting through the parked cars of Marsh Green, three riders eased themselves off the front. None of whom were in the top ten on GC, I had all them written down on my top tube you see . As a result they were allowed a little freedom. From then on the race became a waiting game, each of the GC contenders were simply watching one another, with the yellow jersey conspicuous by his abscence from the front 10 riders. One by one a few more riders had a few goes at bridging to the escapees who were never much more than 45-60 seconds away. Each time one of the top 10 went, and each time a couple of other of the GC men would close it down. This continued for the whole of the first lap.

Half way through lap two, at the main climb of the circuit just after Dormansland, the fireworks went off. I put some pressure on at the front to see who was playing ball. When I looked over my shoulder I was about 20m off the front. I had a perfect view of the faces of all the contenders behind me, including the yellow jersey, who looked nothing short of ominous. And then it kicked off, as the bunch came back up to me he launched a searing attack up the last part of the climb. Round the sharp left at the summit, and onto 8 miles of up/down dragginess (a new word there perhaps?). Immeadiately, in the blink of an eye, the peloton was split in two. He kept on the pressure at the front until a few riders saw the gap and began working, I really had to work to get on terms here. As soon as it became clear that all the contenders had made the split, the impetus dropped. And as soon as it did, the maillot jaune launched his first of a string of unbelievable attacks, almost Cancellara'esque. And who was right on his wheel when he attacked, yep, me. The right place to be you'd think, so did I, but I tell you, it bloody hurt to go with him. I was surging well over 1000 watts to go with him, which is a lot, I can assure you. Each time it came back together, he would go again, and each time he would go again. My power file from today reveals I had 3 5second power's at over 900 watts here in the space of 5 minutes. Now 5 seconds at 900 watts is enough to beat the cream of the training group to the Charlwood signs I can assure you. It was too much for me, I drifted to the back of the group and eventually the yellow jersey rode across to two Paragon riders who had attacked in a lul. They then worked together and caught the original break rather promptly, which then made a working group of 6 riders at the head of the race. It was game over in terms of the stage win.

The trouble was everyone in the now very much reduced peloton who was capable of working, was more interested in their general classification placing. And I have to admit I had resigned myself to failure at this point. It was kind of like in the Tour a few years ago, when Armstrong was in yellow, the other guys would ride to defend second place. As we approached the finish area with one to go, I saw some Paragon riders including Mr Kennett who shouted out 40 seconds was the gap. But my head had dropped, I was seriously in the red after trying to follow the yellow jersey. And no one wanted to commit to work to bring them back. Crossing the line with one to go I also spotted Chris and Lisa who had made the journey down to cheer me on, immeadiately I felt obliged to try harder! Also saw Hal from Addiscombe cc on the last lap, who was obviously looking for an ACC jersey as he completely missed me waving at him!!

Through the last lap I began to recover. But hang on a moment, I havn't mentioned the weather yet have I??? Well, almost as soon as we started it began trying to snow, and from the second lap in, it really was! I was dangerously on the limit with my clothing choices, summer jersey, arm warmers, and gloves that are certainly not waterproof. As it turned out snow doesn't actually get you that wet really, well not today anyway. I was damp and chilly, but not really cold until I finished, which was handy. There were times though when the snow became less fluffy, and started stinging as it blasted your face at 25mph.

So like I was saying, I began to recover through the last lap. I even began to work again. But each time I went through I seemed to go off the front a little, so each time I would ease up and then the same would happen to someone else. It was a shame, because we could have caught the escapees if we had worked together. There were more than enough strong riders to work. But it had become a game of poker. So I thought ok then, I can sprint, its a flat straight finish, lets be having it! As we came to the final corner, I was about 8 riders back from the front, as it was still a long way to the finish, perhaps 800m. Then through the blind bends before it straightens out a few more riders came past on the wrong side of the road. Ok I thought, I'm not going to get killed going for a 7th place! So as it straightened out and my eye caught sight of the finish, I slipped round a couple of riders into a more favourable position. I was just to the right of the white line when a few riders opened up the sprint, which wasn't a problem as what marshals there were had stopped the traffic beyond the finish. So I went, as hard as my legs would allow after a ver hard race. I was right to the right of the road and gaining ground, the line was approaching, but I moved into the lead with about 25m to go. Then threw the bike over the line as clear winner (of the bunch sprint anyway) by about a half a bike.

So I returned to the line where I was confirmed 7th by Chris, Lisa etc... I was pleased to win the bunch sprint, but was it enough? I started the day needing 6 points for promotion to second cat. 7th would give me 3, I still needed 3. So my thoughts turned to the GC where this morning I was 7th after Saturday's stage. It was going to be a moment for the calcluators, or as Paul will tell you, a carefully arranged spreadsheet. So back to the HQ for the post mortem, tea, coffee, chat, and most importantly to get warm! I was now beginning to freeze. While back at my car putting my bike away and changing, the snow was nothing short of blizzard like. I didn't hang about. So in the HQ I had a chat with Ben Wilson, the maillot jaune, who indeed won the stage, again, as well as the overall. He was simply awesome today, and on Saturday, i'm sure as soon as he's out of 3rd cat races there will be a huge collective sigh of relief across Surrey!

But I was in for a wait to see the final general classification, I even ended up helping Paul sort it out I was so eager to see the outcome. You see it's really quite complicated all this stage racing stuff! Eventually we got to me in 9th place overall, which would mean I would remain a 3rd for a little longer requiring one more point. Then as he watched my face drop (not for the first time today!) he said hang on... As there were a few riders on the same time around me, he said that the final order is decided by your placings. So we input more numbers into another column in the spreadsheet, and due to my consistency of coming 7th both days, I climbed a place into 8th overall. Netting me that extra point! So there I was, gleeful at last, the weekend of crap weather and suffering all seemed worthwhile at last! 40 points and my second cat licence should be winging it's way to me shortly...

So there you go, the Easter 3 day is over, in two days I'm sure there are as many frustrated 123 riders at not getting to race today as there are 3rds who will wonder what might have been had we been able to race Dunsfold yesterday. But apparently Easter won't be this early again for about 80 years or something, so i'll be pleased just to spectate that race! The weather dampened my expectations of this weekend. I was most looking forward to getting another crack at the stage I nearly won last year at Dunsfold, but sadly it wasn't to be. And I know Paul was really only in the three day for the bunch sprint at Dunsfold , of course I would have been happy to have him come second behind me . But it seems I managed a reasonable performance on two hard stages that didn't suit me, so I'm happy. And I'm even more pleased that next time I sign on at a race I can put a little '2' next to my name!

Easter 3 Day - Stage 2 - Snow Good!

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 16:31:00 +0000

Well, wasn't the snow pretty this morning!?

The Irony of it all is that it wasn't the snow that caused the cancellation of Stage 2 today, but the sheet ice that had covered part of Dunsfold Aerodrome after clear skies over night had allowed temperatures to plunge.

So, having arrived really early with Chris and Lisa to watch them race the support events. We then sat there in the car marvelling at the fluffy white snow flakes whilst waiting for the inevitable cancellation of stage 2. I am really quite frustrated this afternoon, I was really hoping to do well today. The stage was highly likely to result in a bunch sprint, my speciality. Still, I now feel more motivated than ever to put in the performance of a life time tomorow.

I am absolutely determined to ride as hard as I can tomorow to stake my claim on the yellow jersey. And if I can't gain the time I need for that, then perhaps win the stage. Obviously the ideal scenario would be to get both, but I would settle for a top 5 placing. Which combined with the resulting GC placing would grant me enough points to secure promotion up to 2nd category status.

Lets make no mistake, tomorow going to be a big day...

Easter 3 Day - Stage 1

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:41:00 +0000

This morning saw that rarest of occasions, the weather men were right. But why I ask do they only ever get it right when the weather is going to be crap!? Still, I have been determined to do a good ride in this Easter 3 Day event since, well, since the last day of last Easters event! Now lately my car has been misbehaving as some of you well know, so I called upon the team management Chris and Lisa for a lift and just general support and company. It was fantastic getting driven to the race this morning, a rare treat.

The conditions as you well know have been somewhat mixed today, as I write it’s bright blue sky out there. But this morning it was somewhat different. The clouds were a suspicious grey/white colour, perfect snow bearing clouds as the weathermen predicted. Thankfully it wasn’t quite as cold as they predicted, but cold enough for un-practically thick gloves!

The course for stage one this morning was the Milland hill circuit on the border of Sussex and Hampshire. The course is generally quite flat, with two or three good descents, then over the last mile… one almighty hill! The last few hundred meters of which are at 25%, there aren’t many roads steeper than that. Still, good practice for my upcoming assault on the Tour of Flanders parcours. I’ve mentioned before I’m not a fantastic climber, but I have improved over the winter, but by enough? The circuit is about seven miles around, with the finish being about 100 meters away from the top of the climb.

The race started off fast, I moved to the front to look for the protagonists that I suspected would feature heavily over the next few days. After little more than a lap gone, I ended up off the front, again. I had already said to Chris and Lisa at the start that I wasn’t going to get involved in any breaks today. But there I was, what was I to do!? It looked like we had a good gap so I thought I’d give it a go. After about another lap we were joined by a few more riders, most notably former professional rider Ben Wilson. I knew immediately that this break could well be the race winning move. So I settled into it and braced myself for another tough ride.

We shed a couple of the early aggressors, which included my friend from Thames Velo, Ian Lowe. He’s was the first to admit that he’s too big a guy for today’s climb. Each time we came to the climb it was edgy as everyone eyed one another too see who was strong, and who was not! At mid-race I felt ok, and we had a time check telling us we were a minute clear. I was thinking that this break may well sort out the top seven of the final general classification come Monday afternoon. But it later transpired that we probably never quite had the minute we thought. Apparently, according to eye witness accounts, the whole race was a total war of attrition. Behind my break the peloton had split into at least two groups, with riders in between and behind them. If our break was not going to succeed, at least it had put many riders well out of contention for the GC.

By the time we reached two laps to go, two riders had ridden across to us from the first chase group. The original break riders weren’t sure what to do. We weren’t sure how far back the first chase group was and so on the section immediately after the climb there was a lot of messing about. In reality had we continued working we may well have kept a good gap. But by the time we climbed up the hill for one lap to go, the first chase group had just about hitched onto the back of our escape group. As we hit the summit, I went to change back up into my big chain ring, then there was a kind of pop. And nothing happened! Shit. I looked down and tried to change up again, and nothing. The cable to my front mechanism had snapped, I had no big ring! So there I was on the first of three descents before the finish with 39x12 being my largest gear. I was very close at this point to getting off my bike and throwing it into a hedge! But I continued in the hope that luck might now swing onto my side.

Then the inevitable happened. As we got onto the drag after the climb, the ex-pro Ben Wilson launched a stinging attack; no one could get close to going with him. I didn’t even have the option of trying, there was no way I could go with him stuck in a 39 tooth chain ring! Well, I moved aside and alerted riders to my situation which actually worked to my advantage. Riders came through but I could just pedal fast enough to stay with them. In the confusion two more riders eased themselves off the front, followed by one more. The problems were going to come with the remaining descents. So I let just two riders hit the first one ahead of me, I got into the lowest possible tuck and tried to stay with them. For now I just about managed it. Coming into the next one, things were harder. We were hitting 60kph (almost 40mph) and there was no way I could maintain that on such a small gear. Despite my legs spinning as fast as they possibly could!! Thankfully the road leveled out again with enough time for me to regain a few positions.

The trouble was, I was now beginning to cramp up because my legs were being forced to spin so fast. It was going to be a painful final climb. I literally just held my position as best I could, my legs were hitting that point just before they lock up. I’m sure most of you know what I mean. And we hadn’t even gotten to the steep part just yet. But thankfully, they kept going, as we hit the steep part I made no attempt to move up. I just didn’t want the cramp to hit. As the road leveled out I could see the finish, but importantly I sensed a slight gap behind me and two other riders. I then tried to move round the man in front of me, but into the wind I just couldn’t overhaul him. I crossed the line in 7th place.

Which I can’t be disappointed with, it was a good result considering the gearing incident! I was disappointed the break I was in didn’t make it, and a little disappointed that my gears prevented me from getting a higher placing. But that’s racing I guess, c’est la vie. Ben Wilson did indeed ride to the victory, and was certainly the strongest rider today. But this is a three day event, so who knows what will happen tomorrow and Monday. I’m 57 seconds away from Ben, now in the yellow jersey. Which is a sizeable gap, and it may even be more if that time doesn’t include his 30 second win bonus. Which I don’t think it does. But there are quite a handful of riders on the same time as me, and just a couple above me. So on GC, I can realistically improve from 7th, but it’s going to be hard…

Once again, a massive thank you to Chris and Lisa again. Supporting me today, and driving me to and from made a big difference today. Made the Haribo eating all the easier on the way home! Also, thanks for helping me sort the Gear cable! See you tomorow...

Tomorows weather is due to be colder and more snow, which will certainly be a test of character. If last week we had Paris-Roubaix conditions, this week we have Liege-Bastogne-Liege conditions!

A Third Podium

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:40:00 +0000

This morning I continued on in my 'little league' races in the pursuit of my 2nd cat licence and as has already been reported by many, oh what a lovely day for it!

The 3rd cat race this morning on the Dunsfold road circuit was always going to be hard in such inclement conditions, but I made it really really hard for myself. After getting up at 6am yesterday (thats pretty early by my student standards you know!) to train before I went to a wedding in Essex, plus the late night and perhaps a little too much booze, getting up at 6.30am this morning was not pleasant. Let alone when I looked out the window. For a brief moment I did consider going back to bed!!

But I'm glad I didn't. During the week I had been told when racing in the wet, to race hard. With this in mind, I had a little recconaisance drive around the course as I actually got there a few minutes early for once. Considering the rain, there wasn't as much standing water as I feared there might be. This course is definately better surface than the Kirdford circuit last Sunday, but there were still some challenging areas. Firstly there was a section on the course that was very muddy, perfect for spending the rest of the day picking the grit out of your eyes. As well as this there was also a lovely stream cris-crossing the road on a downhill S-bend. Excellent I thought, theres a place to test peoples nerves...

After a feeble attempt at a warmup, I had a chat with Paul T of Addiscombe who had his ready made excuse of 200 miles in two days for when he got dropped. In actual fact he used the old ''my saddle slipped backwards'' when it came to it, Matt D was also present again continuing to learn his road racing craft... and quite well so far. We had the briefing and off we went, very short neutralised section this week, only about a kilometer. Not enough for me to warm up at all! So the opening few miles of racing were a bit of a wake up, but I soon got going. Going enough to hit the front at the afore mention S-bend and line the 60 strong peloton out in single file. People were already bottling it, when I looked over my shoulder there there were already gaps opening up. But I was merely testing the water, I had no intention of really taking off so early on... Until, the next time round. A few guys had the same idea and the peloton was duly strung out again. This time, there were big gaps, I pushed hard and held the wheel of the eventual winner, and we got up to the first pair of riders. Then one more rider came up to us. I was in fifth wheel at this point, I looked over my shoulder to see what the gap was like, and it was big. I was going to go through to help pull it out further, but the guy on the front had other ideas. He literally sat on the front of the break and drove it along at never much less than about 27mph, madness. The next time I looked over my shoulder the peloton was well out of sight!

Eventually the guy moved off the front and we started working a bit more together, although throughout the race we never really clicked as a break. We never quite got a real rythm going, but it was fairly smooth so it was ok. Before too long five became four as the Brighton Mitre rider either got dropped, or went back to the bunch as he thought the break was too early too succeed. The thought did cross my mind over the first couple of breakaway laps as the strong man continued to put in huge turns on the front and before we knew it, the marshalls and a cycling spectator were reporting we were already a minute clear with about 4 of 8 laps to run (we went clear after 2 of 8 laps). It later transpired that the man in the yellow jacket cyclin the opposite direction to us was the Dad of on of my fellow escapee's.

So we plugged away the four of us together, each lap we seemed to have grown our lead slightly getting up to around the 1min 30s mark. Having gone clear so early on, I couldn't believe that we were looking like staying clear. I'd never stayed away in a break before so I really was in uncharted territory. The one thing I knew was that my sprint was going to be of little effect today, I was giving it everything contributing to the break so the finale was going to be anyone's guess... In about lap four, after going through the muddy section, the rain had temporarily eased. Thus not washing my glasses clear, I had to ditch them. It was gonna be a squint and bear it day! By the finish everyone looked like they'd just completed a very muddy Paris - Roubaix, nice!Apart from that the race seemed to go relatively smoothly in the break, we all just kept working hard and kept gaining time. I began to see that I would have been a fool to return to the bunch previously, and if thats what the Brighton Mitre rider did, I bet he's kicking himself now! So the four of us were... Me, a ShavedLegs.co.uk rider, a Velocity bikes rider and an In-Gear Development rider, who looked pretty tasty. He was never shirking turns and seemed to be a little too comfortable. With hind sight I didn't do enough about that until it was too late, but there you go, lesson learnt...

We got to the last lap, and Mr ShavedLegs.co.uk, who had previously done the mammoth turns to establish the break... got dropped. Which was a shame, he deserved to at least stay with us to the finish, but thats racing I guess. So four became three, then Mr Velocity attacked... I looked at the In-Gear rider (can't remember his name! oops) and said, lets work together to hold him about 50m ahead and let him tire himself. He agreed, and thats what we did. But unfortunately our tempo riding soon brought us back up to his wheel anyway. Suprisingly the three of us continued to work well up to the last corner. Where you turn onto what is effectively the finish straight but still about 3-4km from the finish, but throughout the race the wind had began to pick up strength and was now very strong indeed. Here's where I lost the race... I went through to work... doh! Bad move!

So I worked for about 800m when the Velocity rider attacked, with the In-Gear rider leaping straight on his wheel. It was a classic move, almost straight off of Eurosport. But I was done over, big style! I just couldn't grab their wheels. I was only about 50m behind, but with the wind I just couldn't get back up to them. So I had a great view of those two fight it out... The In-Gear rider then duly attacked and dropped the Velocity man on the finishing hill and cruised over the line to take a well deserved victory. Velocity second, and me 3rd. And I do believe our former break away companion Mr ShavedLegs.co.uk held off the bunch for 4th. I can't really complain, if anything I was perhaps a little stronger than the Velocity man, but I'm not going to argue over one place! But the In-Gear rider thoroughly deserved the victory, he was certainly strongest.

Overall I'm really pleased with the result, it's my thrid podium of 2008 and puts me on 31 points. Only 9 to go until promotion... So I finally made the decisive break, and to a certain extent I even helped instigate it which is really cool too. I'll be glad when I finally get my 2nd cat licence so I can purely concentrate on racing again and not on points. Hopefully by then they'll be racking up anyhow. One things for sure, despite the crap weather I really enjoyed today, not so much at the time, but after the finish line I was buzzing. To get away in a break, ride 6 of 8 seven mile laps in a group of just 4 and stay well clear is really satisfying! What were the other 56 riders doing!? The beer this evening really tastes sweet I can assure you!

For the power heads out there, I smashed some of my records today, and boy do my legs feel like they did too!

10mins at 327w
30mins at 309w
60mins at 296w
120mins at 277w
Average power for 85km: 266w, Oh and an average HR of 179bpm, for 2hrs 21mins!!

Next weekend see's my first stage race of the season. The Sigma Sport Easter 3 Day. Over 155 miles of racing in three days. Last year I ent into it not knowing what to expect, and came out of it with a 2nd place on stage 2 (millimetres away from a win) and a 7th place overall. This year I go into the race having been thinking about it since my operation last year, and full of expectation. Hopefully in the next week I can maintain my form, avoid any dodgy white vans and not get sick! Then come next weekend, who knows what will happen...

A Return to the Road

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:40:00 +0000

Yesterday morning saw a long awaited return to racing on the open road. It was my first race on open roads since my season ending crash last May, so I was just a little nervous throughout. I had forgotten the grim reality of racing for more than two hours, the crap surfaces, which yesterday at least were soaking wet and pretty dirty also. Hammering over potholed Surrey lanes at 10am on a Sunday morning certainly wakes you up!!

Thought I was more or less on my own until a guy, Matt, from my former club rocked up for the briefing. Was good to see a friendly face. Was his first open road race yesterday morning but he seemed remarkably relaxed at the start and quite comfortable later on...

Having been targetting the next three weeks of racing since my operation, the pressure was high. But given that three weeks ago I could barely bend my knee after my white van incident I really wasn't sure how I'd go. Warming up I felt quite sluggish, but then I usually do first thing in the morning, so nothing new there! There was a long neutralised section to begin with before we were waved off, and to begin with, I thought it was going to be club run pace. Well, for a brief second it was... I turned to the guy next to me and enquired as to if we were still neutralised!?Then almost as soon as I said it that was it... the proverbial hit the fan!

The beggining part of the race was fast, and very agressive. I stayed up near the front for the first of five 10 mile laps, but not too close. Then in the second lap I thought I would start to test the water. Now, the conditions this morning were tricky, the sun was coming out and the air was warming up. But the roads were soaked... there was water everywhere! Even on the front there was enough spray to get you wet. It also meant that most of the potholes were full of water and so concealed. Though due to a mid week recce I knew where most of them were so it wasn't too bad. The 60kmph part of the course was rather slippery and at that speed, it certainly made me wake up. I got myself in a few early breaks but nothing seemed to have the right mix, the only one that looked promising was comprised of 4.1 riders. I say 4.1, there were really 5, but the guy just wouldn't come through. Er, hello, what are you doing!? I asked him politely to come through the next time I came to the back, but no. We were duly caught after barely a couple of miles. I retired towards the rear of the peloton to recover a while. Had a quick chat with Matt who seemed to be taking to the road like a duck to water, well, we all were in the conditions! While I was sitting in, the inevitable happened. A break of at least 6 went away, containing a certain Ben Wilson of Cycling Weekly. Who I am informed has competed at a much higher level before and has completed the best part of 80 hours training in the past few weeks. He looked it too. I knew that was the move to be in, but by the time I realised who was in the move it was way to far up the road and I was way to far back to even contemplate bridging. And to be honest, even If I had, I don't think I had the legs today to make it to the finish with them. So it was a schoolboy error all the same, but I knew right away we would not see them again.

The next 20miles were horrible, the resulting chase ensured the speed rarely dropped below 40kmph. Which left me hanging onto the back of the bunch. Literally. But hang on I did, having a nice long chat with a promising young junior in the process. Initially he kinda cut me up, so I told him to look over his shoulder before moving over next time. Then a few seconds later I realised I was a little harsh with my tone, so went back to him to apologise. So we ended up chatting for about 20mins! Quite a nice guy, can't remember his name mind, I never do! Oops! But he rides for I-Team.co.uk anyway, at least I remembered that, I'll know who he is next time anyway.

Anyhow, after stuffing a couple of gels down in the mean time I began to pick up again. Proof if ever there was that whenever you feel bad you should always carry on because you never know when the second wind might come... And it did, just in time for the last 10 miles. I began to slip forward, by this point the break was long gone, well over a minute clear. So I just told myself to go hard up the final climb to the finish and see what happens. So I lurked near the front constantly having to fight for position, then when we got the the last climb I just made sure I stayed close to the front. The finish today was about a 750m long climb that leveled out slightly over the last 200m to the line. Far from Ideal for me, but I gave it a go all the same... After all, the Easter three day will be decided on Milland Hill on day one, so I need to be able to power up these climbs... The funny thing was with a couple of miles to go, a few guys started either emptying their bottles, or throwing them away all together! I mean c'mon guys, this ain't the Tour! Besides, I payed good money for the energy powder in this water and I'm far to skint to be throwing it away!!!

Power I did, I waited and waited and waited... just before it leveled out the first man made his move, so with about 225m to go I had one guy ahead and not a clue who was behind. I was in the 39 (the small chainring, usually an easy gear!), in the saddle, and holding his wheel. I was seriously expecting to get swamped any second. But no one was coming. So with about 50m to go I tried to get round the guy, still in the saddle, still in the 39! I lunged for the line and just, by no more than a couple of centimeters. I couldn't believe it! I looked round and we shook hands, and we were probably about 3-4m clear of the next few riders! I was just amazed that no one came round us. And I had a full bottle of drink still!! So by leading the bunch over the line and taking the proverbial ''bunch sprint'' that nabbed me 7th. Which I'm pretty pleased about considering how bad I felt mid race, plus last weeks sickness etc. Matt closely followed behind me, just outside the top 10 I think, he said he got blocked a little on the climb. But I still say chapeau! It was a great effort for his first open road race. He'll do well in a few more weeks once he gets used to the distance more. Not to mention the fatigue caused by bumpy roads, I forgot what it was like racing on crap surfaces after only having done closed (and smooth) circuits since August last year!

I would rate yesterday as probably my best road race performance to date. And it bodes well for the next couple of weeks too, I'm a good few watts off what I was 4 weeks ago. Which is as encouraging as it is disappointing. But I reckon I'll find 'em again in time for Easter, so who knows... Adam Cotterell doing well in up-hill finishes!? Who'da thought it!!

A month gone bye

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 20:06:00 +0000

February vanished into thin air, did it not?

What a crazy month. Obviously it started fairly well, a couple of weeks of fairly decent racing capped by my first win. Hopefully theres many more to come, but since then life has hardly been plain sailing round here. You already know about 'the crash', but since then things are still yet to pick up.

In the immediate aftermath of the van incident I was nothing short of determined to jump straight back on my bike and get on with it. What better way to stick the middle finger up at the van man? Only my body didn't quite share my enthusiasm. I felt more and more fatigued that week which culminated in me being unable to complete the prescribed interval session that Thursday. I just could not get my legs to turn over at any more than a sedentry pace. However there was one small glimpse of brightness on the horizon...

The next day I got to ride a Cervelo Soloist SLC-SL which is pretty much the best bike money can buy. As we had the machine to test, courtesy of Ultimate Pursuits, one of our sponsors. The bike was quite something, although at almost £3000 just for the frame, it failed to convince me it was really worth it. Don't get me wrong, it was a joy to ride, a dream in fact! But for me it just lacked that je ne se quais! But I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was certainly the stiffest bike I have ridden to date. Ideal for a sprinter like me. And climbing on it felt almost easy, due to the noticable lightness of the bike. All in all it was around 2kg lighter than what I'm used to, thats a fair amount! I think the bike certainly gave me a much needed adrenaline rush to pick me up. Unfortunately though, it was short lived...

The next day I felt terrible, just riding along in a bunch of 12 was hard work. And it wasn't particularly quick either. I was due to race again the Sunday, the 24th, but I decided it simply wasn't worth it given my condition, so I just went to spectate instead. My knee was still swollen at this point from the van, so I guess it was wise to take some time out. I didn't ride again until last Wednesday, where despite feeling much better, I still wasn't back to being myself. So I wasn't really suprised when I awoke on Thursday feeling absolutely crap. Almost flu like conditions meant I spent most of the day in bed before forcing myself to start dismantling the now defunct Giant. Friday I felt a little better, although far from fantastic. The flu like symptoms were giving way into a cold instead. Great. So that's rumbling on to now, hopefully it won't last too much longer.

Anyhow, a brief story of the most dangerous race I have ever ridden... Saturday, at Hillingdon, almost 80 people had signed on to race the 3/4 cat race. Which was far to many people. Dangerous is not strong enough a word to describe it. Perilous perhaps? I still wasn't feeling particularly strong so for the most part I sat near the back joking with a De Ver Cycles rider about some of the dodgy riding we were witnessing. Nearer the finish I decided I would try to go for the win, so moved up accordingly. Then, on the last lap Evans Cycles rider Geoff Lulham forcefully barged me off the track. It was an incredibly stupid thing to do, to put it into perspective. Had I done the same to him, he would have gone into the rider next to him on his right and probably caused a mass pile up. But because I had the grass to run onto he thought it was Ok. I didn't. I was initially fuming, although I did later calm down. I did complain to the comissaire, although there had already been a crash behind us on the back straight, with an ambulance on the way he was obviously not too interested in what I had to say. Fair enough. Funnily enough though I have since found out from a friend of mine that this particular rider has something of a reputation for riding dangerously and causing crashes. So he is certainly a marked man now in my eyes.

One final piece of my comedy life, I wanted to take a look at the road racing circuits for my next few races this morning. And the car wouldn't start. Brilliant, whats next? It's crunch time now, the next three weeks are what I have been training for since October. But much more bad luck and sickness and it's all going to go out of the window...

Good Weekend, Bad Weekend...

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:41:00 +0000

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...

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 21:36:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 20:02:00 +0000

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?

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:21:00 +0000

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...

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 15:57:00 +0000

...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...

Time flies!

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:28:00 +0000

Its hard to believe, but we're already half way through January. Feels like only yesterday I was updating my blog, but there you go, time flies huh. Anyhow, I left last time with the intention to race New Years Day, and I did, and it went Ok really...

So, another token bank holiday race, and another race thoroughly enjoyed. I treated the race like Armstrong used to treat the early season. Nothing more than an opportunity to get out and give one's self a good hard work out. I know to win, or even score a point at these races is hard, given the quality of opposition. So I choose to use the race as an opportunity to learn and gain experience without the pressure on myself to seriously expect a point ot two. Any result is a bonus in my eyes, today, Christmas nearly, nearly, came early. After the initial flurry of attacks, in which I found myself working with super strong Steve Golla again. I settled back into the bunch and told myself to save myself for the final third of thr race. By then, Golla, Paul Pickup, Colin Parry and Michael Hill had flown the nest... for the day. They were gone, or were they!?

People tried, one by one to get across. Even Elite Jason Streather couldn't do it. Nice guy though, had a chat with him before the race. So I thought why not give it a go. Two laps I spent off the front on my own, man it takes a long time to do two laps on your own. Even with all the cheering of people I don't even know at the side I just couldn't bridge. See thats what I love about cycling, the fact that the people who watch are so in love with the sport that they'll cheer anyone who has a go, even if they're chasing down 'daddy'! As I hit the back straight for the second time I was within about 50m, but it was just too much. So back into the bunch I went. Then with about 5 to go, another group of 4 tried to bridge. I got across to them and they gave up. Then a couple of other guys came up to me and we started working. We got a good gap initially but as we got onto the finish straight as the bell was ringing we were being dragged back. What was I to do? If I sat up I wouldn't have had much for a decent sprint. So I just put my head down and dug deep, very deep. I was holding a good 50 meters right up until the penultimate corner. I looked over my shoulder, and began to dream that I was about to score my first '08 points. Last corner, I could really feel them breathing down my neck. Then I knew, once they start to sprint I'm history. And as I hit 200m to go, sure enough, they galloped. But still, it was a valiant effort, even if I do say so myself! Still had enough to stop 7 people getting past though according to my 31st place! Ah well, a good hard, educational work-out it was. Now I know how they feel in the Tour when the break gets caught inside the final KM!

Since then time on the bike has not been particularly consistent. My trip to Dublin took up the first week. And since then, my group and I have been preparing our presentation on our area of ''sustainability''. I use the '' ''s as the Irony of around 80 people flying to Dublin, emitting around 40 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the process, to learn about sustainability, is quite frankly, very amusing! Anyhow, we presented yesterday and we were the best. Come on! So now along with 5 other groups we are heading to the head office of the multinational property firm DTZ next Friday to present again. This time, with a thousand pounds on the line... Which would be nice...

So the next week looks packed already with polishing the presentation, not to mention other pieces of course work to be doing. So riding is going to be here and there, again. However, what the past few weeks have done is give me a chance to recover. So even though I havn't done so much lately, I still feel stronger, which is surely a good thing. With my first serious race just 7 weeks away, nows the time to get fit!

One Thousand Five Hundred and Thirty One

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 18:43:00 +0000

Kilometres.

So, despite a pretty busy December I still managed to notch up a fair amount of kilometres under the belt. And Im starting to feel the benefit of it also. Training with a certain ''SpecialK'' had really forced me to raise my game at times. And for the better as well I reckon. He is a classy rider, with many a years of racing experience, so to be able to compete with him is a sure sign im on the right track. Had a couple of great rides over the Christmas week with him as well as Chris and Lisa. Being taken down roads I didn't even know existed, and down some especially hilly ones down the way of the Ashdown Forest. Theres some tough riding down there! Coffee and cake at another new team mate Steve's house in Ardingly was also a treat, must get down there more often!

So remember how I was mad enough to want to race Boxing Day, well, I did. And I didn't do too bad either in fact! I had a great race Boxing Day, getting in a promising early break, with some super strong 1st cats. Then the rest of the race I seemed to navigate the field with ease, being able to move up and down the pack without many problems. I was just a bit frsutrated to miss the final split, and was unfortunately too far back to make it across. I did try later on though, with Jason Streather (an Elite rider, who won the winter series last year), but we just couldn't close the gap. So I settled back into the bunch to see what happened. It was clear the leading 11 were gone for the day. So I started to prepare for the final bunch sprint for 12th . There Jason Streather then had a team mate lead him out, with a Twickenham rider just off his shoulder, then me just off his. It looked promising, then on the last bend the Twickenham rider decided he'd had enough so moved right, right into me, it was all I could do to avoid him while the rest of the bunch galloped. I wasn't amused, but at the end of the day, it was for 12th so who cares.

I really enjoyed the race, when I was in the bunch I felt very comfortable. Then when on the attack felt pretty strong also. I just burnt my matches at the wrong time so to speak. I smashed a few of my power records anyway! But I have much to learn about racing with Elites and 1st's, and yesterday was a big lesson. But I have taken a lot of confidence from the race, mixing it with Elites and 1st cats in my first serious race post operation is more than I could have asked for.

Apparently it's going to be 2008 tomorow, so what better way to start the new year than by the way I intend to spend the rest of it... racing of course! More punishment at Hillingdon with the fast boys. Ah well, here's hoping!

So here it is...

noreply@blogger.com (Adam) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 21:07:00 +0000

Merry Christmas everyone!

Wow, another year has passed and where are we... The end of 2007, cyclists are still on drugs, Labour are still in power, the youth of Britain are all drunk. But hey, thats life!

How about that for a way to start my first post in what seems like ages. The last few weeks have just flown by what with uncounted hours on the bike in very very cold conditions, not to mention a weekend of night shifts to muck up what little sleep pattern I have. And my last post was all about coursework getting on top of me. So December has been sooooo busy, but we're nearly there. As I write its Christmas Eve and Im about to go for a few drinks to celebrate that fact. Even though everyone seems to hate it, at the end of the day, we all still love it! And even more exciting to me at least, on Boxing Day I will make my first return to competitive racing since my operation in August. Well, I say excited, its really a kind of nervous apprehension as I just don't know what to expect. I have ridden over a thousand Kilometres since the beggining of December, so I feel pretty strong now. At least I think I do... Added to this, im wondering simply will I have the bottle to be mixing it in the bunch at speed again. I really hope I do. But to be honest, thats why I'm starting racing so soon, before the 2008 season can even be deemed to have started really. Although as far as gaining points on the pursuit of promotion goes, the season is well and truly underway.

On top of all of this, It will be my debut race in the colours of my new team. And I'm determined to do the jersey proud. Further more, my Mum and Dad are even coming to watch. I've raced over 50 times now in my short racing career, but this will be the first time the are coming to watch. So, no pressure then! Although ultimately the biggest burdon of pressure comes from my own mind, something which I really need to overcome this year.

Anyhow, its Christmas, so enough about bikes, for now at least. (I am probably going to go for a quick spin in the morning though!) I wonder what Santa has in store for me tomorow??? Oh and I wonder if i'll see him while I stagger home later... Oh and for those of you who have commented on the seemingly infamous 'rollercoaster love life' part of the first post, maybe they'll be something to write about later, maybe... Anyhow, roll on Boxing Day!