Bigger And Better Things In 2012

Today is the first time in a while that I have written here, simply because my life is pretty monotonous without the excitement of sanctioned competition.  Tomorrow is a new year, and a day where I have to turn all the lost mumblings inside my head into some form of achievable, challenging and pleasing plan. Some mumblings outside my head hint that I should quit cycling and sell all of my gear to buy a car or something of equal value or store the thousands in a bank account. I say to them that I do not want to conform to the norms of society and will continue cycling and eating as I wish, although the eating needs to cut down.

The number 2012 has for a long time now been affiliated now with the London Olympics. 2012 this and 2012 that. Now, I think the olympics is a wonderful thing, a culmination of culture and competition,  a landmark of human achievement to what separates us from the survivalist nature of animals. People that complain about the 'unnecessary' amount of tax payers money that goes into the two week event and how that money could go into social housing or education have a valid point, however, without the olympics a lot of peoples sport lives would start and end with Match of the Day. The Olympics gives people an opportunity to dream, to be inspired and provides role models for people that are wandering aimlessly in life. It motivates people to put their physical talents to good use and if a generation of young people became champions and related jobs in a number of sports that make up the Olympics, the large amount of money that goes into such an event would be well spent because it got lazy obese people of their sofas and encouraged them to make something of their lives. Not to mention the direct benefits of jobs, such as building the venues and large amount of affordable housing once the games have finished. 

The 2008 Beijing games is what I believe thrust cycling into the mainstream. The haul of medals obtained by the Great British Cycling Team because almost legendary amongst cycling folklore and have become a national pride. I can happily say that I became obsessed with cycling firmly before the exploits of sir Chris Hoy in 2008. The 2012 games have an opportunity to yet again thrust cycling further into the mainstream. I know that we have a long way before cycling in Britain has similar coverage to that of Belgium, or other European countries, but every journey starts with one step and we have travelled quite a distance since the 2008 games. Mark Cavendish winning the Sports Personality of the Year is a testament to that, although I'm quite surprised that there wasn't a big reaction to when he swore several times on live television during this years Tour de France. 

I could spend a lot more time and space writing about what is good and great in this world, but as the name of this blog suggests, that would be slightly off topic. 

Now, for 2012, I want to do the same as I did in 2011, however, a lot more of it this time. I have gained valuable knowledge about the cycle race, where to position myself, when to attack, who to attack with etc etc. As well as knowledge, I am also a year older, meaning I am a year stronger too. Looking back on last year, I seemed to train aimlessly. To little or too much, at too easy or too hard an intensity, maybe even not often enough. I once read somewhere that there is something called a 'sweet spot' for training, where the intensity is just right to get the maximum gains from your efforts. In the last few weeks I believe I have been training on this sweet spot because I'm starting to see gains. Easier hill climbing and a more efficient pedalling style. 

For next year, I'm hoping to have around 30 races on the calendar with two being stage races. Also, the Tommy Simpson Memorial road race this year is a Junior National Calendar. I raced the course twice this year so hopefully I'll have a bit of an advantage among my peers. I'm also hoping that Yorkshire has a Junior Team in mind for the other National Series races because I cant afford to travel around the country and an opportunity like that would be great. The two stage races next year is the Holme Valley 2-Day and the Junior Tour of Wales. The Tour is only possibly if I get onto a team because that too has expenses to be paid so touch wood. 

Looking on the BC calendar, there seems to be something called a Yorkshire Road Race league so it'll be nice what format the 'league' takes. 

Once again I am targeting Otley as a major race simply because of the crowds. To be able to win in front of 4000+ people and in front of some very big domestic teams would be an amazing experience. I've learnt my lesson and this time I'll make sure I dont have any broken spokes and listen to the commentary. 

My racing bike is still coming together. Its the same frame and wheels, however, there are some major upgrades. From Veloce this year I am moving up to Campagnolo Record throughout. Brakes are going to be some pimping red Ciamollo Zero Gravity's with finishing kit from FSA. FSA K-Force Light cranks complete the drivetrain with ceramic bearings. The bike itself is looking pretty amazing as it is now (without brakes or shifters) and will only look better when completed. 

Also, courtesy of my sponsor I have received some top of the range kit. From Pennine Cycles I have received a Giro Pro-light helmet, Giro Pro-light shoes and a pair of Giro Filter glasses. Ive been wearing the shoes for a month or two now and I have to say they are the best cycling shoes I have ever used. I feel the same with the glasses which have a neat catch mechanism that lets you replace the lenses without using an excessive amount of pressure, therefore keeping you greasy fingers of the lenses, something my fellow cafe racing riders havent quite been able to get the hang off. Hopefully, I'll be a trendy billboard for one of the best bike shops in Britain - Pennine Cycles.

In terms of goals, my for next year is to get my 1st category license which is joint in priority to get on a high-level team for the year after. Lower down the ranking is to win races, but through winning races hopefully I'll achieve my other two goals. 

Well I think thats everything for the time being. Oh, my first race is the Clayton Spring road race followed by the traditional season opener- Eddie Soens.

Stava is a GPS app for cycling and tracks your ride and records all the common statistics. Here is a link to my profile. Not every ride is recorded because some days I am unable to get a GPS signal, but the other days ride are on there somewhere. Strava Peter B

Thanks for reading this far - Peter.

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."
-- Bill Vaughan

See You Next Year

Well, thats it for the road racing season for this year. My final race was the Doncaster Wheelers Autumn Road Race that took place in Harworth. 
I got into the break after 1 lap with 3 other people and stayed there for the next 45 miles, the longest break I have ever been in. Anyway, we got reeled back in. Im saying that we had to slow down or stop when cars, on 3 occasions, got in front of the lead vehicle , but whats done is done. I wouldnt have won anyway because after 35 miles I was missing my turns at the front I was that knackered, and I was reduced to grovelling at the back of the line. 
When we got caught, I was reduced to grovelling at the back of the bunch, but before the last hill I managed to get roughly somewhere towards the front.
At 300m to go, my legs where drowning in lactic acid and shut down. I came a miserable 30th, but, at least I had a nice days riding in the sun.


Looking back on the year, I have mixed feeling about my results. I manged to archieve one main goal, to get my 2nd catergory license, but failed on my other one, to win at least one race. Some might say that I'm being a bit of a twat, but I did come close to winning a few, I just messed up royaly or got outwitted in the closing metres. 
Also, I got lots of top 10's and a handful of podiums, not bad to say that all I'd done previously was a couple of races at Richard Dunnes because I had a road bike laying about. 

For the rest of the year, Im going to keep my legs ticking over by partaking in the short, but painful, hill climb season, culminating in the Nationals somewhere towards Manchester. 
When thats done, I shall use the cross bike to do a few cyclo-cross races, and see what the fuss is about. Thats the plan anyway.

Because I probably wont have much to say after all thats done, I might do some reviews on various cycle gear, since Im going to have to built my winter bike (courtesy of Lee), improve the 'cross bike (its the frankenstein of bikes) and upgrade my race bike (courtesy of Joel) , theres going to be a few shiny new bike bits being used. 
Well thats all for now, Ill put some reports and results from any competitive events I do up here and my plans for next year closer toward january.

Thanks for reading. 

Richard Hoyland Memorial and Out Of The Saddle Road Race

 Richard Hoyland Memorial Road Race


My first road race (or one that I managed to finish) after Poland was the Richard Hoyland Memorial Road Race over towards Doncaster. Starting late for a road race and in light drizzle, the race navigated its way around a 3-sided circuit roughly 4.5km per revolution, 16 times, coming to a total of around 55miles.
First half of the race not a lot happened. People attacked and got brought back in. More people attacked and got brought back in. 
Eventually a trio of riders got away, and stayed away. Towards the last few laps, a more determined chase brought the time gap down from 30 seconds to 17. 
Few 3 laps to go, I decided to try my luck at bridging to the break. 
A sneaky attack on a corner managed to break the elastic and I got away. All was going fine until I got midway into no-mans-land. Now, every bridge attemptee hates the scenario. You attack, your making great progress. Get half way. And run out of steam. 
After realizing that I was not going to get any further, I sat up and waited to be swept up by the peleton. 
My plan after the failed bridge was to sit nicely in the middle of the bunch, recover and attempt the final sprint. This didnt go quite as planned because just before one of the corners, a large farm vehicle decided to venture onto the course in the wrong direction. I didnt mind have to partake in filtering a 30-mph 5-abreast peleton into single-file 10mph. What I did mind was having to chase the split until I was breathing out of my unmentionables. Luckily, I managed to latch back onto the first group. 
The final sprint was a bit hairy. At 400m somebody came down and at 300m someones pedal went into someones back wheel, effectively turning it into a huge, inedible pringle. 
At 200m I was 3rd in line, boxed in. After a short discussion with my captor, I was freed, then fired up all cylinders and won the bunch sprint, with 5th overall.

  
Out Of The Saddle Road Race

I only need one word to describe this race - HARD!!
To put things slightly into perspective, I did my first 2/3/4 cat race after a winter of training and got 21st. I did this race 3 weeks after a month in Poland, so I went into the race knowing that I was going to burn. 
 Held in patchy sunlight on a 3-point-something kilometre rolling circuit,  in the following 2 hours we would cover just shy of 60 mile. 
Attacks went almost straightaway, but didnt really lead onto anything. Halfway into the endeavour,  a certain machine called David Shackleton attacked, and quickly established a minute on the bunch. He was steaming along so much that his dad told him to slow up a bit so that a duo of chasers could bridge. 
Another 9-man chase group followed, and then the group that I was in. 
Things pretty much stayed like that till the end. Sprinting uphill out of most corners was the hardest. Sprinters like me arn't supposed to sprint during the race. Thats why Cavendish has a lead-out train. Not only does it set a high pace to discourage attacking, but it also maintains a constant effort, therefore saving Cavendish's fast-twitch muscle fibres till he needs them- in the last 200m. 
So 2 hours, 60 miles and 75 sprints later, knackered would be an understatment. Non-the-less, I dug deep and managed to last till the flamme rouge. I tried to latch on over the crest off a small hill but to no avail. 
I did a little sprint for the spectators, before rolling up to the side off the road, getting off the bike and lying on the pavement for a good 5 minutes while I wondered about the meaning of life, and why I race bicycles. 

 Thats all for the time being. Ive got my last road race next sunday, the Doncaster Wheelers Autumn Road Race. 
I must go now, the smell of fried Gołąbki is wafting up from the kitchen.
 

The Last Month

This is my first post since, well, my last post a month ago and blog viewer-age has drastically dropped because of it. However, this is what I've been doing for the last four weeks.

Week 1: 
The day after Le Tour ended, I jetted off to Poland to visit family and to do any work that needed doing. I was presented with a heavily equipped town bike that would be my main port of call for training for the remainder of the trip.

 Make: Unknown
Model: Unknown
Brake Type: Single Pivot
Brake Make: Unknown
Cranks: Unknown
Drivetrain: 5 speed Shimano Positron
Wheels: Unknown
Age: Have a guess 
Weight: Couldn't find a scale big enough
Other: Dynamo w/ front and rear lights, full mudguards, spring saddle with suspension seatpost, luggage rack/seat, buckled wheels, loose headset, stand.


Me, being ever resourceful, thought I would make life easy for myself and brought other a few tools and spares, to make the bike a bit more cosy. 
In my magic bike bag where, Sram Gripshit, full cable kit, quickrelease front axle and Shimano SPD pedals, which I quickly transeferred onto my bomb-proof steed. 
Handle-bars where a bit more tricky, but I tried a variety of different postions until I found one that let me almost replicate drops.

With this set-up, I could terrorise the rural Polish population to my hearts content.


Week 2:
The villagers seem to have gotten wind that there was someone that could fix their pre-war nags for free, so I spent half the week fixing their bikes. I was surprised to see ovalised chainrings on one. I tried to swap them but they where welded to the crank. 
The other half of the week I spent eating, sleeping and pooing, inbetween bike ride to various places far away. I always got lost but somehow managed to find a loop everytime.


Week 3:
Poland is a very agricultural country, with just over 40% of available land being arable. We live in the rural south-east and own a fair chunk of land, which all needed to be harvested when I was there. So, off I went across the Polish country-side bombing round in one of the three tractors that they use; the German 'Zetor', the Bellarussian 'Belarus' and the Italian 'Lamborghini'.
Then, when I got to the designated field, I pulled up, hopped out and sealed the two-ton grain trailer I was towing, hopped back in the tractor to escape various blood-sucking insects and played on my phone for three hours. The combine harvester came every half hour, dumped its load and off it went for another circuit of mentioned designated field. 
Occsionally, a deer or two would run past the stationary tractor with a family of storcks pecking obsessively at the newly harvested ground behind the behemoth of the combine.


Week 4: 
More or less the same as week 3, but I got to visit Przemyśl. This ancient town was once surrounded by Europes third largest fortress, which was purposefully destroyed when it was being surrended to the Russians in 1915. It is a ring of 44 forts in a circle of 45km in diameter, with most forts being open to the public in various states of ruin. 
The town itself is very old with every second building being an Archcathedral of various donimations. 

A view of Przemysl half way up

A view of Przemysl at the top

A big catherdral

Another big cathedral

Inside big cathedral

Yorkshire Summer Circuit Series 4

I was third in this race, and with it brought a much sought after moral boost. Ive only been doing one race a week for a while now and I dont like it. In last weeks race I came a miserable fifteenth and with no road race on the weekend to try and make amends I had to wait a whole week. 
Anyway, on tuesday it rained at Tockwith, a first for the circuit series. Me, knowing that crashes are a lot more likely in the wet stayed top 5 at all times, and after maybe 10 laps or so, I latched onto Rob Watsons wheel to try and chase down the lone breakaway rider. We pulled out a significant advantage and another rider came across to help us out. Us four riders worked solidly as a unit with each taking their share of pacemaking. I came second in the prime after a badly timed sprint, but quickly got back into the rythm. Towards the latter stages of the race, we had picked up such an advantage over the peleton that possibly we where chasing them instead of the other way round. At three to go, a rider attacked from the break and got away till the finish. I mistakedly thought that we would catch him and followed the wheel i was already on instead of going with him. 
Last lap I let a little gap go hoping that the rider behind would chase it down and then I would be in the best position for the sprint. However, the rider I was behind was content with 4th place, so I had to drop it down into gear and cover maybe 25 meters in a space of a 100. I came third by a bike length.  

My next race is the fabled Preston crit series that Ive heard so much about. This is the last race before I go to Poland for a bloody month and I only need 3 more points for my second catergory license. Thats 7th or better in the race. 

Yorkshire Summer Circuit Series 2

Well, today I actually finished the race without having a chain or spoke snap on me. I also got a taste of big bunch sprinting, not a 10 rider chase to the line that I had previously taken part in. 
We arrived at the venue just as the 3/4 cat race was finishing, and there was a guy on the floor on the first corner surrounded by paramedics. Broken collar bone apparently. The rain earlier on in the day must have drifted over the York plain and there were a few small puddles here and there, so cornering had to taken a bit softly.

The race got underway and there were attacks straight away. I settled into the constant surges of speed at 30mph that are so typical of circuit races Ive done this year. In fact, I went with most breakaway attempts but all were brought back. Eventually, after around 10 laps a group of 3 managed to get away, who were joined by another 4 later on. These 7 riders stayed away till the finish. Even after attacks every other lap from my group (mostly by me), and big turns at the front (I played my part), the gap didn't seem to be diminishing too quickly. A lack of cooperation in my group let the break succeed I guess. Eventually after 5 laps to go of the 1km circuit, it became evident that the break had beaten us fair and square, so any sprint was for the minor placings. 
Coming into the last lap, the was a strange lull of speed at the bell, but as soon as this was noticed, attacks came from all directions, which were promptly caught and extinguished. At 500metres to go a few desperate riders launched their sprints, but this was used as a spring board into the last straight. After entering the last corner in around 10th position, I opened up my sprint and came across the line second in the bunch sprint (albeit by half a wheel) and 9th overall. A small 2 points go towards my 2nd category aspirations.

Tour of Blackpool Support Races

There were mixed feeling about this race, ridden on a banana shaped course in bright sunshine with the ocean not far off. Some people though it was a good race that tested the pure sprinters and strong men, while others thought ,'what a shit little criterium that was.'  Basically, the course was two 500metre straights linked by two hairpins. The lighter people generally did better on this course because they could get down lower on the nasty corners and open up a fair few metres on the bigger lads coming out of them.

There was a field of about 60 on the start line, but this was reduced down to around 20 after thirty tedius laps on this peculiar shaped track.
In the opening stages of the race, I launched a few probing attacks to see how the bunch responded, and nothing really stuck or got away until roughly half way through the race when a duo slipped away and where joined by two other riders in the following laps. This proved to be the decisive move and they maintained a slim lead of around 15 seconds on the rest of the field. Often there would be an attack from my group to try and bridge, but they where always reeled back in, resulting in surges of speed. Whenever we passed the breakaway on the opposite straight, you could easily tell that they where giving it their all to stay away. 
On the final bend, I was in the first ten into the corner, and I knew that with my sprint I could take home some points at the very least, if not some money. Unluckily for me, someone had to crash in front of me on that last corner. I switched to the outside line but two other crashes had to develop there. So, starting to panic as other riders slipped through the carnage and seeing my chance of points starting to die, I unclipped and frantically scrambled onto the grass verge, round the pile up and back onto the track. Jumped back on my bike and opened up an all out sprint. I passed a few riders but was just half a bike's length away from the riders that came in 10th and 11th, meaning that I missed out on those increasingly precious points.

Yorkshire Summer Circuit Series 1

A menacing black cloud hung over Tockwith and the York plain in general on Tuesday night, and stretched out in all directions, with the distinct blur of rain in most. 

Luckily, this cloud stayed closed for the duration of my excursion to the race track.

The summer series are being run in a different format than that of the spring.

The two races, instead of a 4th cat race and a 2/3/4 cat, there are now a 3/4 cat and a 2/3/4 cat race. The first race has now become surprisingly popular as people hunt for easy points. This led to the halving of the field in the second race, with a few riders trying their bodily and mental limits and competing in both.

Also, the races are run the other way round on the course, which makes a nice and refreshing change to a course that was starting to lose its magic.

The race started at a nice pace, with no hooligans bombing it off the front as soon as the official let us loose. After the inaugural lap, I realised that the new finishing straight suited my style of sprinting more to the previous one, since it was longer and was slightly downhill, perfect for a sprinter that spins instead of grinds.

After the first lap, I was going round the first corner when the was a sudden jump in speed, so I dropped it down a gear, stood up and pushed on the pedals. As soon as I did this, there was a loud snap followed by the crack of a whip as the chain connected beautifully with the entire length of my lower leg before wrapping itself round the rear break calliper. 

The Weakest Link

Luckily, there was no structural damage to my bike, just some scratches.

Its impossible to see if any good will come out of this if any. Maybe I might get a better time it tonights time trial, but Im not doing the time trial tonight because Im having to baby sit. Or maybe it might that Ill be fresher for the weekends race. I'd like to say that every dark menacing cloud has a silver lining, but Im not seeing it yet.

Otley Town Centre Cycle Races and Eric Biddulph Memorial Road Race

This race was one that I had been looking to all year. This was my first ever race back as a 15-year old and being really my only 'local' race, a lot of preparation had gone into it to ensure I peaked in that week.
It was a cool evening with no wet on the course, meaning that the race would be fast. A full field of 100 also ensured a few crashes too.
After a bit of a fuss evicting the under-16 race riders from the course after thier race, we got down to business. 
So, running 20mins behind schedule, the organisers started the race. All was going well.
I was feeling good, going with a occasional flyer, sticking near the front, keeping up with the bunch and cornering well. There was a lone crash on the first lap but nothing to worry about, although the crashee did send up some pretty impressive sparks up from the road. 
On the second lap, the back end of my bike started drifting a bit on the corners. I presumed this to be the tub coming off, but I was later told that if the tub was going to come off, then it wasn't going to mess around and it would come off and throw me into somebody's plastic pint glass. However, I wasn't taking any chances so I took it easy on the corners.
Fourth lap, I was second off the prime of £40.
Then 2 laps later, the race ended. No bell, no announcement, except for the first few riders across the line apparently. Confused faces and profanities accompanied the bunch on the cool-down lap.  
Due to the stubborness of the riders in the previous race, the organisers had to cut the race short, meaning that my tactics of bombing it down the last hill, taking the last corner like someone with a death-wish and sprinting till my calves popped off all went out of the window.
However, this hasnt detered me and I will sent of my entry to next years race, if the organisers will have me!
Also, well done to local lad Scott Thwaites for winning the pro race, a nice little coffee machine he got for that.


Otley BC Page


The Eric Biddulph Memorial Road Race was raced under clear skies and through a slight wind. The course wasn't too bad, although the false flats and long drags went some way to break the field up. After a neutralised start, the racing got underway and attacks were attempted, but nothing stuck. A lap later, I attacked with 3 or 4 other lads and we built a decent lead, of about 20seconds. Coming to the start/finish line I left my sprint late and won the £10 prime.
Then I sat up and waited for the bunch. However, I don't think I should have done that because the people I was with decided to make the most of their failed prime heist and turned it into a fully fledged attack, which stayed away till the finish.
A few more riders attacked over the next few laps in ones and twos and some where brought back and some got away. 
Coming into the the last 500 metres, the was a crash towards the back end of the diminished group I was in, so I took advantage of the confusion the sped up, but so did everyone else. Coming into the last 200metres, I was 2nd wheel back. The rider behind my opened up his sprint, I jumped on his wheel, and easily over took him with 50 metres to go, with a small seated effort, eventually coming across the line in 7th. 
Not a bad day, but in future I shall stay in the group Im in, even if I win the prime, because that group may just get away.


Eric Biddulph BC Page

Eric Biddulph Photos


Thats all from me for the time being, and thanks for reading.


Next race is the first of the Yorkshire Summer Circuit Series.

Cautiously Optimistic

On tuesday, I finally made some impact in a 2nd cat race. The circuit races at Tockwith have been running to an end of the spring series, and I certainly made some impact to my confidence with the last one. 
It was a nice day, not too windy, and a decent field of around 60 riders had turned up. Racing got underway and the usual attacks went away, got the first prime and where reeled back in. However, I noticed that this week, the attacks where staying away for quite some time upfront. Maybe the field was reluctant to take up the chase because quite a few of them had raced on the weekend.
So, I attacked halfway through the race, and a break of four was created. I attacked again towards the prime lap and won some money. Then I sat back into the break, unsure whether to put an effort in taking into consideration that it was very likely that we were going to be caught. However, I still came through every now and then and did some work. 
Now, the break had been away for about 5 laps or so, and the time difference between the two groups was stagnating. A few riders realised this and came across and started to contribute, and slowly we gained even more of an advantage. The group, now consisting of 8 riders, was working well and maintaining a high pace. With around 5 laps to go, it became clear that if the peleton did nothing, we where going to make it all the way to the finish, so slowly but surely, they started to chip into our advantage, so much so, that on the last lap, we may have have a 15 second advantage with 1km to go. 
Coming into the penultimate straight, a few riders opened up their sprint, to try and get into the last corner first. By the time I got to the last corner, the peleton had caught the remaining riders from the break and they where breathing down my back. I got into the last corner third, came through low and opened up my sprint, eventually coming across the line in third place and a nice 10points toward my BC license.


Thats all from me, and as always, thanks for reading.

City Road Club (Hull) Road Race (2/3/4)

This was my first road race for a while, with my last one being the Bridlington Road Race back in April. Having got fed-up with just doing the mid-week crit, I persuaded my race driver to drive down to Hull for my latest bash at glory.

Luckily, the forecast of rain managed to stay away during the race, with a sunny start that gradually got worse and it eventually did start raining, but not till half an hour after the race. That was for the better, since the local council decided to put loose chipping along half of the course, so it was hard enough not falling over going round the corners with tyres that where just over a two centimetres wide, without having to worry about rain. Add the loose chipping flying into your face, the sharp corners and gradual climbs, the course was very technical and very hard. Eight laps of this was really going to test the legs

Hard racing started from the word go as riders surged forward to try to be near the front going into the first sharp bend, and my lack of warm up was felt during the first 2 laps. Attacks went thick and fast, and the pace was kept high and no breaks really stuck. On the 3rd lap, a determined trio of riders broke away, and stayed away, leading into the first promising break of the race. Other riders saw this, and one by one they joined the break until it contained about 6 escapees. Around the 4th lap, I attacked going up a hill with another rider, and we opened up a considerable gap on the bunch, maybe 30 seconds. Another rider joined us and we formed the chase group, successfully forming a chain gang to pick up stragglers from the break and eventually catching it. There was another chase group down the road but beyond that, the main bunch was no-where to be seen, and it remained like that for the rest of the race. This large break of maybe twenty riders formed a chain gang to heighten the pace and to discourage opportunistic riders from attacking. Coming into the last 2 laps, another trio of riders attacked, and this eventually turned out to be the winning break. 

Coming into the last lap everybody was shattered, maybe me more so because I had done a considerable amount of time at the front of the break, riding into the wind and chasing down the occasional attack. At this point in the race, the trio of escapees could only be seen on long straights, and it was obvious we were not going to catch them. Other people realised this and eased off the pace, saving their remaining ounces of energy for the inevitable bunch sprint. About a mile from the finish, I found myself second wheel, and i remained like that till the last corner, where it seemed everybody had been plotting against me and opened up their sprints at exactly the same time, leaving me helplessly trying to catch them. At the finish I crossed the line around 15th place. I will not know for sure until the results are posted on the British Cycling website.

And thats my race. In hindsight, I should have done less work at the front and let other people do the chasing, but its a learning curve and I'll get it sorted one day.

My next race is the mid-week crit at Tockwith in the (2/3/4) race, and my next road race is the Bikeline Tom Simpson Memorial Road Race near Doncaster, and that again is a (2/3/4) category race of 60 mile.

Thats all from me, and once again, thanks for reading this far.

Theres nothing too interesting to report on recently, I haven't won any races or been selected for any teams over the last few weeks and thats why theres been the lack of bloggage. 

Competitive cycling has mainly consisted of Kildwick timetrials and the Yorkshire Spring Classic series over at Tockwith with me consistently placing top 10 in both. In fact I've gotten my first points over at Tockwith and my 3rd category license came through the door the other day. Now I need 29 more to move up to the 2nd category.  

Theres another Tockwith race tomorrow, but theres no road races for another two weeks, so there'll probably be no new blogs till then, unless I win one of the Tockwith circuit races or have a place confirmed on the West Yorkshire Junior cycle team for the Junior tour of Wales...

Its All Starting to Pay Off

Tonight was the start of the Yorkshire Spring Classic Series at Tockwith. The there are two series, the spring and summer and each has six events. 

It was a bit hectic setting out, because I was late home after playing too much pool at the squash club, so when we got there (after getting lost in an industrial estate), I had 20 minutes to give my bike a quick clean from saturday's ride, to restrict the gearing to junior level and sign in. I had 2 minutes to spare before the race started, so I did a couple of sprints on the finishing straight.

Thankfully, the rain had stayed off and the was a light breeze blowing into the finish. About 60 riders had turned up for the 4th category race (I was number 59), and there where to be two primes (pronounced preemes, Becki!), one at 15 laps and the other at 10. 

When the race started, I immediately felt the late nights I had spent revising sapping the energy out off my legs, and the fact that I had done close to no warm-up and had a meagre lunch of soup  didn't help.

However, I was determined not to come out of this race empty handed, so with two laps to go the first prime, I attacked, and only one rider went with me. 

We built up a pretty decent gap, off maybe 10 seconds, but more than enough to keep the peleton away. Me, knowing that there would be headwind coming into the finishing straight, I let the other rider go round the last corner first and open up his sprint, however, I over took him with about 10 metres to go to the line and took the first prime, a decent £20. 

Then, for the rest of the race I stayed in the peleton, conserving my energy for the final sprint, or late attack that might happen. 

With 7 laps to go I attacked with a fellow junior, and two other riders followed us. I opened up a gap over the main bunch and the break worked well for about half a lap, but then everyone was knackered and gave up. I, determined, carried on but was eventually caught with 3 laps to go.

From two laps to go, I worked my way up the group knowing that a bunch sprint was going to happen. On the bell, the dirt wheelers team was busy (like Becki's Mum) organising themselves into a lead out train, and on the penultimate straight I tried in vain to get onto their sprinters wheel. I entered the last corner in about 8 place, and opened up my sprint. 

After gaining on everyone in front, and passing half, I settled for 4th place, and my first British Cycling license points, 6, to be precise. 

Thats all from me, and once again, thanks for reading. 

Yorkshire Day @ The Races (2/3/4)

Wind was the order of the day, with a strong gale blowing across Tockwith throughout the races. The cloudless sky and sun did little to warm the place up, with temperatures hovering about 14ºC. 
The course itself was triangular in shape, and completely flat. The wind blew directly into the straight before the last corner, and this is where a lot of people struggled. At 1.5km in length, the race was to complete 25 laps.
A field of 60 riders turned up on the day, the majority of them 2nd category, and also a few familiar faces from races gone by.


A very fast start on the day nearly caught some people out, and it wasn't long into the second lap that a break formed. The break itself consisted of about 8 riders, which was whittled down to an elite 4 by the end of the race. 
Sensing that this break had potential, and by now I was fully warmed up by having to work my way up the field after starting at the back, I put the pressure up at the front, in hope of bridging to this strong pack of riders. After a lap of some crazy riding, I looked behind me to see that I, in my haste, had formed a group of my own, and we probably had about 20secs on the strung out peleton. 

However, the 5 riders behind me where fully content on sitting on my wheel and not pulling through to catch the leading group. 
Even after much frantic hand shaking symbolising that we should form a mini-chaingang, and some encouraging words pointing out that we where actually catching the lead group, a rider or two reluctantly came through to take up the chase. However, the efforts where half-hearted and they weren't really trying to catch the break, scared that they may spend too much energy in doing so, and get spat out of the back of the peleton if it caught them. 
That little episode could have reminded you off this years Paris-Roubaix, where the second favourites of Boonen and Flecha were reluctant in helping Cancellera, and in doing so, this lack of co-hesion enabled Van-Sumeran to snatch the win. 


The following few laps consisted of much reluctant pedalling from my fellow breakees, the now bunched peleton crept up behind us and engulfed us
Even in this peleton riders where reluctant to contribute and the big teams had no interest either since they too had people in the break. 
A couple of short-lived attacks later, I settled into the bunch, hoping to conserve my remaining energies for the bunch sprint for 5th place.


After much frantic accelerating on the bell of the last lap, I saw myself starting to slip back into the belly of the peleton. Relizing that if I was pretty far back, I would  do horribly in the inevitable bunch sprint, so after a spot of cheeky riding in the form of amazing cornering on the chicane before the last corner, I managed to salvage 20 place or so. 
The 100m bunch sprint was the best I have ever done. Many weeks of training dedicated to this form of riding saw me jump up another 15 places near to the front of bunch. However, the finish line came too soon and I had to settle for a respectable 21st place and 1st Junior.


Thanks today to Vicky for taking me, who herself did exceptionally well in the women's race to grab herself a ninth place and her first licence point.



Once again, thanks for reading.

The Last Week, in Cycling

A pretty hectic week it has been, with the bank holidays and such (not that I'm complaining), the amazing weather and that the road racing season is now in full flow. 

On tuesday, I completed my first Leeds Chaingang training session. A manic pack of over 60 cyclists bombing down the bypass at 30mph that terrorise the roads from Lawnswood(?) to Addingham and back. As well as completing the ride, I did several turns at the front, setting the pace and breaking the wind. 

See, a chaingang is a group of riders that rotate in a group to maintain a high speed, while the participating riders have a wheel to follow most of the time. 

Here is a better description of how it works, from the chaingang's Facebok page;

   

    " This method is the basic group technique adopted by a 'breakaway' group in a race situation where riders form a temporary       alliance. This is the method which is most commonly practiced on the local 'chaingang'. Usually involving at least 5 individuals, it works by creating a constantly rotating 'chain' of riders, sharing the wind workload and the shelter provided by the other riders. It is fast moving and relatively intensive, but the speed is higher in return for a greater input of energy than other methods. "

This week also saw the first Kilwick 10 mile Time-trial of the year, with a full field of 22 taking to the Skipton By-pass in a range of machines. 

I started the Time-Trial on my humble race bike, equipped with deep-section carbons.

That wednesday was a sunny, fairly still evening, and I was to be 20th person to set off, a minute after Joe Moses. 

Setting off, and all throughout the TT I felt great. Half way through the  second section, I saw Paul sat on the side of the road, with his machine propped against the barrier. He had punctured on the horrendous road surface. 

'Thats one person I'm beating tonight', I though to myself as I zoomed past.

As I circumnavigated the second roundabout and entered the 3rd section, I could just spot the red and white of Joe's kit in the distance, a first during the TT. He might be much better at climbing , but I'm better in the wind .

Filled with the new determination of catching my mate, I put my head down, and by using the white line on the side of the road as navigation, started to press that little bit harder on the pedals. 

All was going well until I bulldozed over a deep pot-hole, where the distinct gush of air escaping from expensive tubulars became evident. After a brief moment of cursing, I rolled up to and joined Paul at the side of the road.

Thanks to Nigel for giving me a lift back to HQ. 

Friday saw the cafe racing lot meet in Keighley at a chance of getting double points because of the bank holiday. 

After casually riding away at the roundabout out of Skipton, I noticed that there was no-one on my wheel, so I decided to have a crack at a lone breakaway. Therefore,  I got onto the drops and did what I did on wednesday, not puncture, but time-trial. 

A pretty significant lead was built up, maybe peaking at a minute at one point, but once I was at Hetton, I spotted the pack, chipping into my advantage on the rolling terrain. 

Eventually, my advantage had decreased to 5 seconds at the bottom of the last hill, and maybe if this was well organised, I would have been passing under the flamme rouge.  I looked behind me and saw a flash of blue shoot out of the pack on the descent. A team-mate was making a last ditch attempt to get me to the line. 

After Stuart's legs had expired, I was maybe within 500 metres. The pack was breathing down my neck. My legs where knackered. Looking behind me, I had maybe a 25metres lead on the next man, who was sprinting like a maniac to catch me before the line. Incapable of opening up my own sprint due to fatigue, I pressed on the pedals that little bit harder. In vain, one front wheel cruised past my own to snatch the victory from me. 

However, I was pleased with my 2nd place because I know have some cafe racing points to show off. (4)

Once again, thanks for reading. 

Bridlington Cycling Club Road Race (BCC RR)

Im a bit late in publishing this post after the race, and over a week has gone past since it happened. This is because an unofficial and only known to me war of attrition has been taking place with the company that took the pictures for this race. I had no personal photographer (sort of) for this race because he had buggered off to Bridlington and was tucking into a hot chocolate by the sea when I  phoned him after the race. However, please don't tell him this because I am eternally grateful for him taking me in the first place.

Luckily for us, we know some people that keep a static caravan at Reighton Gap and so we hired this for the weekend. What was even more coincidental was that the race HQ in Burton Fleming was just a mere 10minutes drive from where we were staying, so I didn't have to get up at 6!

The day before I took it upon myself to try and get to know the state of the local roads and do a bit of reconnoissance before the race. Unluckily, the organisers gave no information about the course details to first-timers like myself, so basically I had to ride round and hope I was riding the road the race was going to travel on. Fortunately, I happened to stumble across the finishing straight, albeit I went the wrong way.

That same day I got lost, but thanks to my trusty mobile/satnav, I managed to get back to the caravan 50 miles later.

The big day itself was very nice, a sunny and blissful 15˚C was to be the high during the race, but towards the ending stages of the ride, it soon felt like double that.

I started as a reserve, but I got to ride because there's always one guy that doesn't turn up. The line up of 70 riders where nearly mostly 2nd Cats, followed up by an equal number of 3rd Cats and just a handful of 4th's to fill the start sheet up.

The course itself was rolling, with a long (about a mile) uphill finish, that would soon put a stop to anyones chances of winning if they started their sprint up it too early. This route was roughly 10miles in length and we were to navigate it 6 times. 

All this was unknown to me before, and during the race..

From the first hill I knew there was going to be a split, and the second cats where determined for this too. Knowing this, I actively stayed in the top 25th riders, and was consciously looking for any signs of weakness in the immediate riders in from.

Devilishly bad luck on my part, the one time I put my head down on the hill during the second lap, the break formed. And the break formed a mere 5 places in front of me. 

By the time I put my head up and had realised what had happened, it was too late and the split was never to be caught. 

So, for the next 50mile, I rode very puncheur like and attacked every lap, to try and bridge, but to no avail, and I was always reeled back in. 

In the final 500 metres I attacked from the group I was in , and kept them off all the way to the line, and I bagged myself a satisfactory 24th place. 

So in conclusion, my third, hardest and longest race has given me my best placing so far.

Unfortunately, I have no pictures to show to you, but check back to the following website to see if they have uploaded the images from the event yet.

www.printmyride.co.uk/

Also, congratulations to Joe Moses who bagged himself an impressive 2nd place in the Wetwang 3rd/4th Cat race. He himself wasn't too happy with it, since he won cafe racing the day before, during which he offered me his wheel during his early attack, that I foolishly refused. (See, if I had gone with Joe, I would have probably won because I've got a better sprint!)

Once again, thanks for reading and check back for regular reports. 

Bored As ...

Im starting to learn how the racing world works, I think. I may have only raced two of them, but I should have done four. In terms of early season races, sending off your entries with 3 days till the deadline is fine since most people are still hibernating in early March, however, in April the season is almost in full-flow and races fill up a lot faster. 

I now have the advantage of knowing how a reserve feels. My mum said to me that I should send the entries off a month before the deadline instead of a fortnight, and also count myself lucky that Im even a reserve. I guess she's right since I ticked the box saying 'I am not prepared to be a reserve'.

Another thing thats evident on the entry sheet to the Bridlington CC Road Race is that almost half off all entrants are 2nd Cat's, then 3rd Cat's and only about five 4th Cats in a 70-wo/man race. NOw if you ask me thats a bit out of order, giving preference to higher ranking riders, instead of the first come first served philosophy I expect when it comes to these things. I mean, if all races adopt this thinking, they'll be no new, aspiring, talented riders coming through because they are not allowed to race in the first place!

Right, rant over. 

Over the last 2 weeks I've done a healthy 15 hours and 300miles on the bike. NOt my best stats this year, but I did do a two day, 22 mile hike over Friday and Saturday for my Duke of Edinburgh, which I felt when I did[tried] a high-intensity chain-gang session with some of the good racing riders round here. I got dropped almost straight away, but they let me catch on and I held[sort of] a wheel for the ensuing hour. 

Im off to Filey tomorrow. Then on Saturday I shall do a recon of the race I might be doing. Im expecting it to be rolling (coz its like that there) and windy because its by the see, so no deep-section wheels for me .

Anyway, the pictures from the recent club run to Settle with my bike buds (V.C. Bradford). If you want to join, give Paul at Pennine Cycles a buzz and he'll give you some info.