Raced the London Dynamo summer road race, starting at Handcross, entered on the line at £18, not cheap for 76 miles over 6 laps. Field of about 65 riders, half way through the first lap I was in a move with 3 others, worked steady in regards the pace, for me my body was already on the limit, soon settled down though, we hovered at 30 to 40 seconds in front a chase group and already 1.10 on the field, after 2 laps we got caught by about 20 riders and had 1.40 on the field, was harder now as the pace varied so much, certain riders like braking when they get near the front, what is wrong with momentum, the wind will slow you down anyway.
The circuit was Staplefields which has to steady drags either side of the circuit, undulating along the back with dead flattish section, got in another couple of moves, did not attack the race, just rode harder on the hard parts, eventually I started to tire, well get twinges of cramp so had to roll as best as I could which meant watching the winning break go up the road.
Anyway I came in at the back of what was left of the group for 19th place. Rob Hurd won again, he bridged across with 1 and a half laps to go to the 4 up front. Wiley old racer he is.
Strangely feel good about the race as I was making the moves and I have really not done many races longer than 1 hour. Tan lines coming on strong as it was about 25 degrees, a lot cooler than last week but still plenty warm enough as it was humid as well.
Thinking of racing Crystal Palace on Tuesday night, need to see how I feel tomorrow as the Guildford town centre race is Wednesday night. look forward to it.
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Monday, 29 June 2009
getting set to leave.
Sorry to anyone who has been following my racing and such on here, as I have been rather lax in updating my blog.
This is just a brief update as on the 1st of august i will be at Richmond Park for a farewell ride at 9am, meeting at the cafe. As of the 10th of August I fly back to New Zealand to live and hopefully keep racing, so will have more time as well. Lifestyle and to be closer to members of my family, ie daughter.
At the moment I am recovering from the 2nd crash of my racing year, this time taken out in a sprint after 130km's of racing, landed on my knee hard, also abrasions on hip, shoulders and elbows. Been over a week and the flesh wounds are healing up well, just my right leg after a longish ride starts to be affected with the pressure applied on it. Which then makes walking hard. will get it looked at by a pysio on wednesday.
Wont stop me racing at Crystal Palace tomorrow night, try to get back to winning ways, won 3 already this year.
Thats me done, see how soon I am back reporting, later.
This is just a brief update as on the 1st of august i will be at Richmond Park for a farewell ride at 9am, meeting at the cafe. As of the 10th of August I fly back to New Zealand to live and hopefully keep racing, so will have more time as well. Lifestyle and to be closer to members of my family, ie daughter.
At the moment I am recovering from the 2nd crash of my racing year, this time taken out in a sprint after 130km's of racing, landed on my knee hard, also abrasions on hip, shoulders and elbows. Been over a week and the flesh wounds are healing up well, just my right leg after a longish ride starts to be affected with the pressure applied on it. Which then makes walking hard. will get it looked at by a pysio on wednesday.
Wont stop me racing at Crystal Palace tomorrow night, try to get back to winning ways, won 3 already this year.
Thats me done, see how soon I am back reporting, later.
Sunday, 29 March 2009
My ride from hell(Denghie Marshes Tour-Hell of the East)
17th place. rode at or near the front for most of the race, legs were getting tired but was measuring out my effort well, last lap the mud had started to get tacky going across farm yard,as opposed to the first few laps when it was well muddy, so we all had more mud on our tires, 3 corners after the farm muddy section everyone had a scare, I had to adjust my line as it looked as Sam was going to come off in front of me, he had his feet out of pedals when, my front wheel went from under me, slid on my face and ripped up my hip, arm and fingers as well, stunned and in real pain. Remounted after some time sitting on my arse figuring out if I had broken anything or even had a face. Straightened stem and bars and tried to catch but had no legs, managed to latch onto two riders that caught me and hung on in till the finish.
Was physically and emotionally wrecked, hard not to cry as arm and wrist hurt.
Seem Ok at the moment but have yet to have a shower as I know this will hurt with my hip.
Bike frame and fork as far as I can see is undamaged, only damage has occurred to the left and right Sram shifters, scuffed badly. wheels straight and true, although there is dirt rattling round inside them know, may prove interesting when I come to clean. Bike is back at the shop.
Shorts and gloves have been binned, have scratched my race glasses and put a small hole in Gillet (max temp was 8 degrees) and two holes in left arm warmer.
Other than that I went out and bought a top up for my first aid box which got some interesting looks at Tescos, people double taking to get a look at my face, at least the security guy asked what happened, made a new friend, yeah!
1st race of the year, bike is fantastic, had no issues at all, so comfortable while being stiff, got plenty of approving looks. 50/50 with the bar tape though, will be changed once the weather improves and staying to mud free roads.
Monday, 12 January 2009
winter grit
On Sunday went out with Stephen, over the north downs, lots of snow from the day before, even though it was a warmer day, nice and sunny, still icy in places though.
Did my normal route, Woldingham,Crowhurst,Edenbridge, Hever, Toys hill, Idle Hill, Westerham, Pilgrams lane,Sundridge, Knockholt, Cudlam Downe and back via corkscrew hill.Encountered lots of ice and snow on Sundridge Lane even though we only encountered that part of the ride in the afternoon, looked like deep snow drifts from the day before, stays shady all day.
My legs felt tired but when it came to climbing the really steep climbs I went up in a gear higher than normal, all while seated, so the power is there.
Feel good, but do notice I have a patch at about 2.5- 3 hours when I feel crap, once through I am fine. Maybe because I try not to stop and am always pedalling, even the down hills.
One thing is for sure though, when all the ice melts and riding on farm tracks can get very dirty as the pics I took once home will testify. Not nice hearing your chain grinding away at the cassette etc as it is caked in grit.
Gave my bike a good wash and clean after while it was still sunny, used my chain cleaner device to get the grit out from between the chain links, bike looks like new again.
Was thinking I could get a gentle spin in today, being Monday before it started raining, but I was so tired I only got up at 10am.
So that went out the window, went to the cinema instead and watched Yes man with Jim Carey, thought it was OK.
Need to get out on my mountain bike this week before the race on Sunday, just to dial into the slight position change with hand placement etc.
Still have this cough from new years lingering on, only has an effect once I start to exercise, so just let it be.
Did my normal route, Woldingham,Crowhurst,Edenbridge, Hever, Toys hill, Idle Hill, Westerham, Pilgrams lane,Sundridge, Knockholt, Cudlam Downe and back via corkscrew hill.Encountered lots of ice and snow on Sundridge Lane even though we only encountered that part of the ride in the afternoon, looked like deep snow drifts from the day before, stays shady all day.
My legs felt tired but when it came to climbing the really steep climbs I went up in a gear higher than normal, all while seated, so the power is there.
Feel good, but do notice I have a patch at about 2.5- 3 hours when I feel crap, once through I am fine. Maybe because I try not to stop and am always pedalling, even the down hills.
One thing is for sure though, when all the ice melts and riding on farm tracks can get very dirty as the pics I took once home will testify. Not nice hearing your chain grinding away at the cassette etc as it is caked in grit.
Gave my bike a good wash and clean after while it was still sunny, used my chain cleaner device to get the grit out from between the chain links, bike looks like new again.
Was thinking I could get a gentle spin in today, being Monday before it started raining, but I was so tired I only got up at 10am.
So that went out the window, went to the cinema instead and watched Yes man with Jim Carey, thought it was OK.
Need to get out on my mountain bike this week before the race on Sunday, just to dial into the slight position change with hand placement etc.
Still have this cough from new years lingering on, only has an effect once I start to exercise, so just let it be.
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Back to it.
Been awhile, and after seeing that London Cycle sport has used some of my blog for the Dengie marshes race I better start updating what I have been up to.
So far since I had such a crap year last year race wise. I hardly rode my bike from september through to November. Once I got my riding head on and had my back seen to by Michael Lanning of Gonstead clinics, long running issue, although I don't help myself as it was July when I crashed at Guildford that tweaked my back. I just eased off the riding so it would not flare up again, although once I felt like I was walking sideways and had upped the milage, the pain caused was to great to ignore, so off I trundled to see the good Doctor, one almighty crack and we were back in shape again.
So far gone had my riding became, that I had to start by increasing my weekly commute distance, which I did by adding half an hour to an hour to my normal 30 minutes each way. After a few weeks I then felt tired but more at ease with riding, saddle time I guess, that I started adding in a hilly 2 hour ride on the sunday, and depending on work get to Richmond park to do 3-4 laps at my one gentle pace on a saturday.
So slowly been building it up again to a point that I am know comfortable doing 4 hours in the very cold weather we have now. Managed back to back rides over the Xmas break, 2,4,4 and a 3 hour rides, 2 days off then 3 and a 2.5 hours on mountain bike as I had destroyed the bearings in my rear hub and Bottom bracket on my road bike all at the same time, to busy to service my own bike with the time I had before Xmas, did have new chain, cassette, inner chainring and jockey wheels on but that was easy to do. So much muddy, wet riding in the last year.
New Years messed things up a bit, but my legs had had enough in that time, so getting drunk at a club was quite nice in itself, just caught another bloody cold instead.
So easy last week, started a 4 hour ride sunday but knew it was not wise so headed home to do 2 instead, slept the rest of day, took monday off riding, handy that it is also my day off work anyway. Just done 2 easy rides of an hour after work the last two days. Still have a slight cough that takes chunks out of me.
Aiming to start racing early this year on the road. 1st race though will be the Gorrick spring series of mountain biking on the 18th of Jan. Be interesting as it has been two years since my last off road excursion.
Have plenty of new events planned this year, so should be good, not all racing though, More events like the Tour of Flanders sportive, Etape de Tour etc.
So far since I had such a crap year last year race wise. I hardly rode my bike from september through to November. Once I got my riding head on and had my back seen to by Michael Lanning of Gonstead clinics, long running issue, although I don't help myself as it was July when I crashed at Guildford that tweaked my back. I just eased off the riding so it would not flare up again, although once I felt like I was walking sideways and had upped the milage, the pain caused was to great to ignore, so off I trundled to see the good Doctor, one almighty crack and we were back in shape again.
So far gone had my riding became, that I had to start by increasing my weekly commute distance, which I did by adding half an hour to an hour to my normal 30 minutes each way. After a few weeks I then felt tired but more at ease with riding, saddle time I guess, that I started adding in a hilly 2 hour ride on the sunday, and depending on work get to Richmond park to do 3-4 laps at my one gentle pace on a saturday.
So slowly been building it up again to a point that I am know comfortable doing 4 hours in the very cold weather we have now. Managed back to back rides over the Xmas break, 2,4,4 and a 3 hour rides, 2 days off then 3 and a 2.5 hours on mountain bike as I had destroyed the bearings in my rear hub and Bottom bracket on my road bike all at the same time, to busy to service my own bike with the time I had before Xmas, did have new chain, cassette, inner chainring and jockey wheels on but that was easy to do. So much muddy, wet riding in the last year.
New Years messed things up a bit, but my legs had had enough in that time, so getting drunk at a club was quite nice in itself, just caught another bloody cold instead.
So easy last week, started a 4 hour ride sunday but knew it was not wise so headed home to do 2 instead, slept the rest of day, took monday off riding, handy that it is also my day off work anyway. Just done 2 easy rides of an hour after work the last two days. Still have a slight cough that takes chunks out of me.
Aiming to start racing early this year on the road. 1st race though will be the Gorrick spring series of mountain biking on the 18th of Jan. Be interesting as it has been two years since my last off road excursion.
Have plenty of new events planned this year, so should be good, not all racing though, More events like the Tour of Flanders sportive, Etape de Tour etc.
Monday, 8 September 2008
Four in a row!!!
What a great English weekend, wet and windy, so a good time to be out and about racing. Started at Hog Hill for the London Criterium champs, was alot faster than the previous race I did there two weeks ago, started with a very wet circuit but no rain until 5 laps from the end of the 25 lap race. I had a go at the sprints but as the finish line is at the top of the hill it was hard to fully commit while still trying to keep some energy in reserve for the finish. At 10 laps in I was attacking out of the bottom hairpin bend leading onto the back straight when I got a front wheel puncture so rode up to the top of the hill and borrowed a wheel and had a lap out, Takes 3 minutes to do a lap at Hog hill so had plenty of time.
So that was my 5th puncture of the year on my Tubular wheels, not good.
In the end I got 6th place in the race, was feeling good but still lacking that extra drive at the end, it is coming though.
So Saturday night was busy cleaning kit, drying shoes etc and gluing another tub on front wheel for Sundays racing in central London in support of the Tour of Britain stage start.
Again wet and windy but rain held off during our support race that got underway with 77 riders at 10.30am. As I sat on the start line I realised my rear tire had gone flat, managed to get hold of an official so was allowed to have a lap out straight away and get a spare wheel of the London Dynamo contingent. It is a bit poor of me having no spares but I haven't got any wheels that are suitable, and also have been lucky not to puncture, but then I don't normally race on tubulars.
Anyway as I was racing I was marking the moves, covering the primes without wasting to much energy, 4th and 3rd respectivly and in general felt good as the other riders were getting tired and I was staying the same. After a bit of attacking we came into the finish straight having established the race winning move when my front tire punctured, as I was at the front I rolled along to the pits and got another wheel, as I was waiting for the field to come round I was told I had no more laps out and would have to chase to get back in, so rolled round the corner then thought this is pointless as with 5 laps to go I could never catch the bunch, and saw no point in being in the bunch but being a lap down so called it quits.
Found my wheels and started walking to our store in Covent Garden. In the end I rode very slowly as walking in cycle shoes at 3.8 mph is slow when I could ride very slow and do 10 mph.
Got to the shop and changed wheels to allow me to head back to Tower Hill and the Bike Jam where we had a display and I had my car and dry warm casual cloths. Spent the rest of the afternoon drinking tea and eating, oh and talking to the odd passing visitor about bikes and cycle fitting.
Then to top it all off, this morning on my training bike I had to avoid a car sweeping across 3 lanes in Aldwich when I caught my rear tire on something sharp which slashed my tire in half, so again rode to the shop on a flat tire. At least this was quick and easy to fix.
Tubular wheels are not going to be used on the road ever again, instead I have already mounted some 30mm cyclocross tubs for the cross season, which starts for me in two weeks, maybe three as it is my birthday on the 20th and feel like having a drink or two.
Race is at Hillingdon at 1.30pm on Sunday the 21st so will probably make it.
So four ruined tires in one weekend, pretty shit really, This weekend I will be at the final National circuit race of the year at Warwick and will be on clinchers going for the win.
goodnight Warrick
So that was my 5th puncture of the year on my Tubular wheels, not good.
In the end I got 6th place in the race, was feeling good but still lacking that extra drive at the end, it is coming though.
So Saturday night was busy cleaning kit, drying shoes etc and gluing another tub on front wheel for Sundays racing in central London in support of the Tour of Britain stage start.
Again wet and windy but rain held off during our support race that got underway with 77 riders at 10.30am. As I sat on the start line I realised my rear tire had gone flat, managed to get hold of an official so was allowed to have a lap out straight away and get a spare wheel of the London Dynamo contingent. It is a bit poor of me having no spares but I haven't got any wheels that are suitable, and also have been lucky not to puncture, but then I don't normally race on tubulars.
Anyway as I was racing I was marking the moves, covering the primes without wasting to much energy, 4th and 3rd respectivly and in general felt good as the other riders were getting tired and I was staying the same. After a bit of attacking we came into the finish straight having established the race winning move when my front tire punctured, as I was at the front I rolled along to the pits and got another wheel, as I was waiting for the field to come round I was told I had no more laps out and would have to chase to get back in, so rolled round the corner then thought this is pointless as with 5 laps to go I could never catch the bunch, and saw no point in being in the bunch but being a lap down so called it quits.
Found my wheels and started walking to our store in Covent Garden. In the end I rode very slowly as walking in cycle shoes at 3.8 mph is slow when I could ride very slow and do 10 mph.
Got to the shop and changed wheels to allow me to head back to Tower Hill and the Bike Jam where we had a display and I had my car and dry warm casual cloths. Spent the rest of the afternoon drinking tea and eating, oh and talking to the odd passing visitor about bikes and cycle fitting.
Then to top it all off, this morning on my training bike I had to avoid a car sweeping across 3 lanes in Aldwich when I caught my rear tire on something sharp which slashed my tire in half, so again rode to the shop on a flat tire. At least this was quick and easy to fix.
Tubular wheels are not going to be used on the road ever again, instead I have already mounted some 30mm cyclocross tubs for the cross season, which starts for me in two weeks, maybe three as it is my birthday on the 20th and feel like having a drink or two.
Race is at Hillingdon at 1.30pm on Sunday the 21st so will probably make it.
So four ruined tires in one weekend, pretty shit really, This weekend I will be at the final National circuit race of the year at Warwick and will be on clinchers going for the win.
goodnight Warrick
Thursday, 14 August 2008
The Devil ride....
Well that was a bloody killer ride, 2nd hardest event for me this year, Etape de Tour being my worst experience on a bike ever at number 1, maybe one day I will write about that.
As it goes having 10000ft of climbing over 100 miles is always going to be challenging, but how hard can it be. The first 25 miles nearly took 2 hours, well I did it in 1.40, but I saw plenty of times slower than this. First checkpoint at the top of Devils staircase which happens to be 25% for quite a long way.
At this point I had already lost contact with Steve, he was supposed to be the main man for the climbs, but turned out he had a very rare off day, I wasn't feeling that much better but experience kept me on track, nice steady pace, deal with the odd rain storm and the narrow single track roads, even stopping to put rain cape on and off, wind and roads to twisty, steep etc.
I managed to get in a little group of 5 riders and we rolled along until another long but not so steep climb got us down to two, at this point we picked up the tailwind so the valley after we blasted it and that was my undoing. Mentally I was not racing but could not stop the urge to monster a big gear, didn't take to long to realise my error as on the next climb found me lacking, started drifting back one bike length then two and before I knew it I was a couple of hundred meters adrift, managed to catch my man on the descent but from then on I was flagging, eventually I was done in on a 25% climb, could see it coming up but once I saw the sign I cracked, so that left me with 25 miles to go alone.
I just rolled along feeling every single pedal stroke, wondering if I could finish at all, made it to the last checkpoint to be told there was a group of 4 just in front and 1 solo rider 10 minutes further up the road. sort of made me go a little quicker but really was suffering so had to back off, was trying to remember the route discription in my head as I was praying for no more climbs in the the last 10 miles, how very wrong was I. Hence the name of the ride I guess. Even when I could see the finish town of Bulith Wells below it was still plenty of short steep climbs to contend with which hurt like a bastard.
Eventually rolled in for 3rd fastest time in 5.33.32hr, loosing 11 minutes to my man I was with who got fastest time of the day.
Easily inside the gold standard time which was 6.14hr.
Will I do it again, maybe as I know the route now and 2nd time is always easier in the mind.
Since getting back Steve and I have found an event this coming sunday in the Chilterns called Ride to the Horn, have entered as it is the only way for me to get out on my bike and get the miles in at the moment, although did manage a 2.30hr ride after work tonight so that was good.
As it goes having 10000ft of climbing over 100 miles is always going to be challenging, but how hard can it be. The first 25 miles nearly took 2 hours, well I did it in 1.40, but I saw plenty of times slower than this. First checkpoint at the top of Devils staircase which happens to be 25% for quite a long way.
At this point I had already lost contact with Steve, he was supposed to be the main man for the climbs, but turned out he had a very rare off day, I wasn't feeling that much better but experience kept me on track, nice steady pace, deal with the odd rain storm and the narrow single track roads, even stopping to put rain cape on and off, wind and roads to twisty, steep etc.
I managed to get in a little group of 5 riders and we rolled along until another long but not so steep climb got us down to two, at this point we picked up the tailwind so the valley after we blasted it and that was my undoing. Mentally I was not racing but could not stop the urge to monster a big gear, didn't take to long to realise my error as on the next climb found me lacking, started drifting back one bike length then two and before I knew it I was a couple of hundred meters adrift, managed to catch my man on the descent but from then on I was flagging, eventually I was done in on a 25% climb, could see it coming up but once I saw the sign I cracked, so that left me with 25 miles to go alone.
I just rolled along feeling every single pedal stroke, wondering if I could finish at all, made it to the last checkpoint to be told there was a group of 4 just in front and 1 solo rider 10 minutes further up the road. sort of made me go a little quicker but really was suffering so had to back off, was trying to remember the route discription in my head as I was praying for no more climbs in the the last 10 miles, how very wrong was I. Hence the name of the ride I guess. Even when I could see the finish town of Bulith Wells below it was still plenty of short steep climbs to contend with which hurt like a bastard.
Eventually rolled in for 3rd fastest time in 5.33.32hr, loosing 11 minutes to my man I was with who got fastest time of the day.
Easily inside the gold standard time which was 6.14hr.
Will I do it again, maybe as I know the route now and 2nd time is always easier in the mind.
Since getting back Steve and I have found an event this coming sunday in the Chilterns called Ride to the Horn, have entered as it is the only way for me to get out on my bike and get the miles in at the moment, although did manage a 2.30hr ride after work tonight so that was good.
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