R + R

Loch Chaim Bhain


Taking a month off the bike at the end of the season to rest and recover and only ride the bike once or twice a week, it's the most time I've had off the bike in the past four years and I felt like I needed it after what has been a long and arduous racing season.



One week was spent in the Scottish Highlands on a little inlet on Loch Chaim Bhain just near Kyleski Bridge, (although the exact spot I have been sworn to secrecy!) this is only 25 miles south of Cape Wrath so a 500 mile journey from the Midlands meant an overnight stop after picking Mick up at Tebay services in the Lake District. We camped on the way up in a rain storm which did not auger well for the week as we only had 'bivvy' bags and a 'basher' tarpaulin for cover and no Ray Mears to help out!


We called in at Inverness to do a bit of a shop at Morrison's and had to wait until 12 o'clock to buy some beer for the trip, and then Ullerpool for chips our last prepared meal of the week as we would be cooking over an 'open hearth' although with so much food we were hardley going to starve as we had all brought 'private' supplys of jam and treats for emergencies!


It's a long time since I've done this sort of thing (Scouts?) but Adrian was pretty prepared and does this thing regularly with his son Ben on the outskirts of Upminster (in the snow!) all the time so I'm told. Also along is my old drawing tutor Mick (from Poly days) and Adrians dad so three generations of the family. They have been coming to this spot (known only as the 'Special Place' on the sat nav) for 25 years, Ben he's only eleven but still on his third trip so I'm honoured to be asked along


The camp is on the Loch by a river in a secluded valley populated with Birch and the odd Rowenberry tree, there is plenty of dead wood but it is all pretty damp and does not burn well so we hoard pine driftwood for kindling and move the fire three times to avoid the smoke settling for a separate 'kitchen' in order to have a bigger fire under its own 'tarp' our supplies of wood dry out and make the fire easier to control



To augment our supplies we find a recently dead rabbit on the road 'for the pot' and the discovery of lobster pots in the bay the lure of some fine dining, we bate the traps with rabbit skin & innards. Out in the Loch a Salmon farm has a daily visit and the gulls sit on the rails of the netted pontoons waiting for one of the leaping fish to make an escape and an easy lunch.
The days pass with a couple of squally days and one a real misery when we visit the local village of Drumbeg to make calls back to civilisation (postal strike) and buy supplies of whiskey! Long haired highland cattle are indifferent to our presence and at dusk a stag by the road makes a striking pose in his habitat as opposed to by the road in Richmond Park
Two days are bright and clear and we go walking in the sun and scatter the sparse sheep on the dense heather strewn hilltops, we only meet one ranger & see the odd car heading over Kyleski Bridge to NW Sutherland and the tip of Scotland. It still rains on and off but as the week progresses we ignore this as we become more attuned to our surroundings



To be fair we eat like kings as most of our energy goes into the meals and we build an oven between two stones and have roast lamb (done overnight) under a mass if wet moss. We make flat bread with rosemary (nearly everything is tinged with rosemary!) to go with our lamb curry and the rabbit stew a real treat as all free meals but no success with fishing or with the pots apart from crabs which we leave to the gulls
Soon the week is up and we take our gear up the hill leaving this private place, soon all trace of our visit erased and nature will do its thing in this beautiful part of the country.

Kyleski Bridge

Review of the year

It was good to catch up at the dinner and see some of the new and old guard (in 'civvies' of course) I was out with the A's on the Saturday for a relaxed run out through Kent to Westerham. These are my thoughts on my racing year, hits and misses I always start with targets for the year but invariably they move along the way, I'd put in a full winter of training all through November and December, turbo twice a week and two or three other rides to try and get a flying start (or not loose too much of my form from the year before). I even went up to Manchester track for a 3 hour evening session, getting back after midnight on January 3rd this set the standard for the year, I'd never been able to hit 'form' until mid season so my target was to get going alot quicker and match the other fast men from the off.

My target for the year was the BBAR and with my list of events for the year I could make a claim for the 'best allrounder', track, road, crits, time trial (in all its forms) but NO cross NO hill climb NO sportive NO mountain bike well mabe not such an all rounder as I first thought but if you judge by sucess there were a few notables

With only three outings on the track came three medals, Bronze and Silver in the National Masters and GOLD in the Euro masters not a bad return although 4th and 6th in the Pursuit less successful but theres no doubt where I need to concerntrate for the future. Fewer outings on the road but I won a Crit (and a 2nd) This gives me 130 points for the year and a 2nd cat licence

I have to say I obliterated the opposition in the Planet X OldSkool series, there was not a great deal of opposition and only a few managed the whole series (2 x 10 & 2 x 25) but my times 21:46 (still my 2nd fastest of the year) 22:15, 55:51 and 1:00:14 gave me a clear margin over the next rider Gavin Hinxman (Welland Valley). The series involved alot of travel for these events in Hull, Maidstone, Bedford and Petersfield, this last one on a Monday evening saw me getting back to Leicester after midnight. Three wins and a second place was my most lucrative events of the year and a bike to come from Planet X as the overall winner, I became an instant celebrity through the 'New' Testing Times fanzine which sprung out of the 'Testing' communitys need for a paper to cover the sport.
I didn't manage to win an 'Open' time trial this year (OldSkool excepted) as most of my rides were in fast events with full fields and all the top riders, a tough task to win under those conditions, the same riders win every week and although I made the top 5 on several occasions the win eluded. My best ride of the year was the 12 Hour by far, I concerntrated on this like I concerntrated on the '100' last year but when you put all your eggs in one basket you leave as little to chance as possible, I did an early Twelve so I had the chance to do another and although conditions for the Elmet were far from ideal building up to do another just did not appeal as I'd moved my perception of what I could acheve and I would wait another year to do another!
I was particularly pleased with my '100' rides 3:46:20 only 25 secs off a PB and then 3:47 and 3:52 in the National Championships on a slower course but still gave me a compact set of times after several years of trying. Because I did the OldSkool series I did not do so well over the shorter distances and my fastest '10' 21.23 one of my slowest of the past few years but I did get to ride the National '10' for the first time 22:05 for 68th place (4th in age cat) on the Shefford course which took me back to all those events I rode on the Bath road in younger days.

My '50' time was again the weak link in my BBAR effort although I did a PB by 20 seconds I only made my position on my '100' and 12 Hr. rides, the '50' influences your MPH because it is the fastest event and the total MPH is an average of the three. It has always been my favourite distance and I guess I've not paid enough attention to the event as the riders all around me in the BBAR were 3 or 4 minutes faster and I know I should be up there too.

Got an invite to the Cycling Time Trials dinner in Nottingham, as I had done for the past two years being an Age Champion (in the National 12) but I promised myself I would'nt go unless I got in the top 10 of the BBAR but as they seem to always select the top 12 for inclusion I felt I'd done enough to justify going for the first time. Then last week I got an invite to the British Cycling 50th Gala dinner in Manchester (G Mex!) as befitting my status of European Masters Champ,
BC will be establishing their Hall of Fame covering the last 50 years, I hav'nt decided what to do on this as it looks like a scarily big and corporate 'do' and I'm not sure that I'm into that.

LVRC Time Trial Championship

A second case of deja vue in just over a week as I come home in 2nd place (or Silver if you prefer) in the 45-49 age category of the LVRC Time Trial Championship at Warmington (Stupid boy Pike!) in Warwickshire on Sunday.
A drizzle while I warmed up on the rollers turned into a full downpour for the event but nobody escaped and luckily there were no accidents on the twisting 'P' shaped course alongside the M40 to the Harewood House roundabout on the Fosse Road and then back through Kineton and Gaydon near the Heritage Motor Centre.
The start on the B4100 was down a long hill but unlike a normal Time Trial where there is a tendency to 'gift' you a fast start the roadmen 'hardmen' of the LVRC make you finish up the said hill which makes for a lung bursting finish on the slopes up to Edge Hill.
A last minute slap of embrocation was quickly applied as the rain came down harder, I was the last in my age category away last years victor (Andy Eagers) wasn't riding and BTTC Champ (Kevin Tye) DNS so it was looking good for me. Having not ridden in the cold wet conditions for ages I was slow getting going but cautious as there were some tough hilly sections before the finish and I made sure I reved up and over all of these catching several riders but my minute man proved elusive when I had a minute of road ahead.
There was a steep decent into Kineton with a tight left hander at the bottom and my brakes on carbon took ages to take effect as I tried to keep a close line without ending in a ditch. Back on the B4100 at Gaydon and the road straightened out and I was able to see I was 10-15 seconds up on my MM but I could not close the gap any more

The winners

In the end Michael Ellerton (Team Swift) beat me by 39 seconds 42:59 to take the title, he had beaten me by over a minute in the recent Team Swift '25' so it was to 'form' and I had to be happy with my 43:38 and the runners up spot, Tim Booth (Newark Castle) my mm was a further 16 seconds back in third. I was 4th fastest overal, only two of the 'A' cat (40-44) Champion James Heaton (Leasure Lakes) 42:48 and Andrew Meliak (ODLS Racing) 43:36 while the 'C' cat won by Jim Moffatt (Spirite RT) 43:46, 'D' Peter Greenwood (Clayton Velo) 44:30, 'E' Tony Taylor (Team Endura) 46:18, 'F' Roger Iddles (Stourbridge Velo) 45:21, 'G' Mick Ives (Team Endura) 49:53 and the ladies Ruth Eyles (Beacon RC) 45:33

That's my final event of the year - 55 Events

4 x Hilly
1 x circut TT
1 x 2 Up
1 x 3 Up
7 x Crits
3 x RR + 1 x Prologue
11 x 10 (2 x OldSkool)
9 x 25 (2 x OldSkool)
3 x Track
3 x Pursuit
8 x 50
3 x 100
1 x 12

Total 1993.7 miles

BBAR 2009 - 11th - 25.771 mph

British Best All Rounder, but whats in a title? (always a contentious title - why no road racing or cyclo cross?) That's the way its been since 1930 when the competition was run for the first time in conjunction with Cycling Weekly now that esteemed magazine, Cycling 'Weakly' as its come to be known among the disenfranchised racing sector of our community. They do not cover time trialling hardly at all (the National Championships perhaps) but did you know Chris Boardman's 17 year old '25' record had been broken? Maybe if you read this blog but not in what was the UK's cycle racing publication. Boardmen, Engers they made the front cover when they achieved this feat, the blue ribband distance for time trialling now reduced to a footnote in a couple of weeks or a review of the year.
Your even less likely to read about the BBAR, the cumulative speed for 50 and 100 miles and 12 hours racing (divided by three so the shorter distances have more weight but moot point) I will blow my own trumpet here and tell you that I've broken two of my own PB's at '50' and 12 Hours this year to achieve my highest ever miles per hour average and position of eleventh, that 10th spot just eluded me by just over 1:10th of a mph
Winner as last year to prove it wasn't a fluke Nik Bowdler (Farnborough & Camberley CC) with a slightly reduced speed of 27.206 mph Second was 47 yer old (same as me) Andy Wilkinson (Port Sunlight Whs.) who last competed in the BBAR in 1996 who broke (his own) comp record for 12 hr. 302.46 miles (25.2mph) but missed out by 25 seconds in the late season YRC '50' (a course we now find out to be 0.4 m long! - so you do the maths) Third Barry (Baz) Charlton (Lyme RC) having a 2nd go after placing 5th in 2002



I have to say I fell down on the '50' again, despite doing a PB in this distance and having already told you the shorter distances make more difference to the 'average' Neil Skellern (Congleton CC) pulled out a terrific 1:44:07 to push me down the extra spot as his '50' was more than 1mph faster than mine even though I was faster in the two other events there was a string of faster riders I held at bay among them Paul Holdsworth (Houndslow & Dist Whs), Lee Bark (Stowmarket & Dist), Gary Drew (RN & RM CC) and Aran Stanton (VC St Raphael) with what I consider my best ride of the year, the 12 Hour where I beat my PB by over nine miles to do 276.5 miles (23.04 mph) in terrible conditions although to be fair I do not think this was a great summer for 12's (Wilco's ride excepted). My '100' only twenty seconds slower than last year but I was more pleased with my consistency after last years experiment with pacing over numerous rides at this distance this year I managed 3:46, 3:47 and 3:52 in the National on a bit of a slower course so I should be able to do my BBAR in less rides if I can translate this targeted success to the 50 mile
This is my 4th attempt at the BBAR and I jumped 4 places with this years speed that would have places me 12th last year when I only went from 18th in 2007 (25.044 mph) to 15th in 2008 (25.374 mph) and there has been some close racing with 22 riders over 25 mph (a speed that would have got you a top ten place as little ago as 2005)
There's always a few in & out for various reasons 2nd last year Supervet Cammish (Illness) and Bradley Johnson (Road Racing in Belgium) as with the 'East' connection Platts, Lubin and Smith but in comes 'Wilco' Charlton and Ex Tri Pro Julian Jenkinson (Utag Yamaha) in 4th, also 5th Navy man Sean Childs (RN & RM CC) with 2 x 12 Hrs and a 2nd place in the Nat. 24 Hr. to his name he was the stamina man of the year. After our season long battle for places and times Andy Jackson (Pedalsport) finally ended up in 9th after missing last year.
With no Platts or Cammish who are both 50+ Wilco and myself the joint oldest in the top 12, Brian Phillips (East Grinstead CC) at 50 I think the oldest in the top 20
My final time of 25.771 mph would have been enough to win the BBAR up until 1977, with the exception of 1970 - John Watson (Clifton CC) and 1976 Phil Griffith (G S Strada) but since the early 90's with the advent of aero bars and disc wheels the times have gone stratospheric, the winners speed not dipping below 27mph since Gethin Butler in 1994. Kevin Dawson holds the record for the most wins (ten) and the fastest in 2003 with 28.260mph but Andy Wilkinson only just behind with his only win in 1996 28.236mph, Michael Hutchinson's fastest of his two wins in 2000 27.558mph although he did record 27.786 when being second to Dawson in 2003

End of season blues

Returned my fastest '25' of the year in the Team Swift event on my 'local' A50 event this Saturday afternoon, event closed on a middle 54 minute ride so allot was expected especially after the super fast Port Talbot event the week before when Chris Boardman's Competition record was broken by Ireland's Worlds TT entry David McCann (Pheonix CC) 45:54 (Finished a creditable 11th)
Again it was a story of two half's, with the harder outgoing leg dominating my performance, I was OK to begin with but my effort slipped away in the several harder sections and I was only 28:40 (26.12mph) at half distance some two minuted down on my 5 minute man Baz Charlton (Lyme RC), he only took 30 seconds out on the return 24:30 (30.61mph) as I got into my stride to finish in 53.11 Event was won by Matt Bottrill (I-Ride) 48:59 the only rider to break 50 minutes, Richard Handley coming close with 50:03 and Stuart Dodd 50:11 a minute back on last week, Charlton an un accustomed 4th in 50:28. and most agreed it was 1-2 minutes slower than the Welsh event.
On the Sunday I had a promisingly fast '10' in the Team Midland Racing event on the A46 near Alcester but again there was a big difference in the out & home legs with me taking only 10 minutes to the turn but an agonising 12 minutes to come back to record 4th fastest of the day 22:05 youngster Dean Robson (Somerset RC) running out winner in 20:30 from promoting club Rob Weare 21.28
Getting to the end of the season now, only got a couple more weeks of racing to go before I can have a jolly good rest. Talk after the race is of last weeks super fast race (15 riders inside 50 minutes) and Fabien Cancellara performance in the Worlds TT which he won by by two and a half minutes. The most impressive piece of time trialling I think I have ever seen. The sheer speed of his cadence almost defied what we have all come to perceive as 'fast' it must have been above 110 RPM for the race on a far from flat course, his time would equate to a 43 minute '25' (35mph) as he made the other pro riders look ordinary and had caught the silver medallist (for a minute) and then Bradley Wiggins for two minutes who looked likely to take the bronze until his untimely mechanical mishap on the final hill with 10Km to go.
The result board is generally more chatty and people hang around a bit longer to talk to rivals and friends, I always try to keep up with what other riders have been doing during the season but its time to ask other (and yourself) how you found it? beat your targets? enjoyed the best/worst? Starting to analyse what went right and wrong and thoughts are already turning to what to change for next year, I have to pull up a bit until I have a proper chance to take it all in. Phew!

European Masters Track - Photo's

Solo breakaway to take first points


Leading Greenstreet, Jackson, Abadie and Christensen in the break


Holding off the (world pursuit champion) Claus Christiansen (DEN)


Halfway the Frenchman leads! And I follow


Going into the lead with third sprint win


Final sprint with Peter Ettles (pursuit champion)


And the winner is?


Top spot on the podium :- Steve Clayton (GBR) 2nd Sylvain Abadie (FR) 3rd.


Victory lap :- 'We are the champions'


Starting effort in the 3K pursuit :- Holding on to qualify 4th



Missed the bronze by 1:40th of a second

2 x 50 + 500 = <10 BBAR?

A final attempt to improve my BBAR times as this is the final counting events, I've entered two '50's this weekend at opposite ends of the country! The thinking at the time of entry proved logical and despite valiant efforts on my behalf I strike out on both occasions.
I entered the Yorkshire Road Club 'Victory 50' on the A19 up to Northallerton from Thirsk, the day was promising (as most of the week had been - Indian summer Ahoy!) so with Fiona doing the driving we trecked up the M1/M18/A1 mid day, I'd asked for an early start my next ride on the Sunday morning being the Severn RC '50' 250 miles away! (setting a new record for exclamation mark use!)

Mind over matter




A warm Yorkshire day with light wind from the South greeted us as we got out the car at the HQ in Dalton on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, It was a decent ride to the start and I'd done some stretching in the morning so I went to the start feeling confident about my chances. Start was wind assisted so I tried to keep my gears down and something for the second half but I was impressed with HR at 162 on the climbs as that usually means I'm in the red but here I feel comfortable and balance out my effort on the faster sections to reach half distance in 54:00 on target for 27.5 mph ride.
I saw Andy Wilkinson (Port Sunlight Whs.) out on the course needing a 1:42:04 to clinch the BBAR from Nik Bowdler last years winner and current leader, I needed faster than 1:49:16 to improve my position. Fi said "That 'Wilco' went by with such a Whoooosh!" after talking to his helper while roadside, I was trying to do my best to emulate Andy's onomatopoeia! My ride began to unravel here, I could point to so many things, too much the day before (38m at 15mph - slowest ride of the year), no ride in the morning (first time this year!) wrong food (bit of too 'spicy' risotto on the way up!), not enough warm up (warm day - its not a '25'), not enough to drink (only drank half a 750cl bottle - but not a hot day either) I just could not press home my advantage.

Thums Up!


When your average speed is over 27 mph for fifty miles the pressure is on to be close to the limit all the time, I should be able to push through this speed ceiling but it is dependent on so many factors and yet they all serve to show you that you will fail if you let your speed drop and this at the end of the day is too crushing a reality for the under pressure rider to resist, it is no coincidence that many of my best rides have been done when my computer failed, and riders tape over their 'values' on power meters. In the end the will to ride fast is only balanced by the knowledge that 'it was done' in the mind as well as the physical limits of the rider.
Make of that what you will but I came up short (again) with 1:49:59 for 9th place - I found out later as no sooner had I got back and delivered my number at the HQ than we were on the road back to Leicester, before we left news came through Wilco had also narrowly missed his target by 25 seconds (or 0.12 mph if you prefer) bummer! I left the remains of the field to benefit from the exodus of traffic from the Middlesborough V WBA football.
A brief stop to swap cars and refill bottles I ate my tea (frittata) travelling along the M40 to a rendezvous with old mate living in Clanfield (Darkest Oxfordshire) from which it was but a short hop to the next mornings event on the A419 between Cricklade and Cirencester at 7.00 the next morning. Apart from riding back to the HQ (5m) I'd done a bit (20 min) of stretching to ease off the muscles but that was it, It was a lovely morning, sunny with the lightest of breezes (but some people will complain about anything!) I was the only rider to attempt the 'double' although several had entered both, I still wanted to see what I could do, a new course for me, I'd only ridden part of it 4 years ago as part of the WTTA '100' (my first of my comeback 4:38:27!)
The back end of the field had been 'stacked' with all the fast men in an effort to ease pacing issues on the three lap course but as we were to find later these measures were to prove not useful because if riders are not prepared to 'self regulate' as we saw in the recent BTTC Champs then Time Trialling can be reduced to a farce. the start was wind assisted and I kept my gears down as yesterday but here to give my body a chance to ride myself into a second severe effort in less than 15 hours, after the turn we had a long 10 mile pull into the wind (which for this course not so favourable) which was slightly rising so I was mildly surprised to be going so well around the outskirts of Cirencester and the first lap completed without too much trouble and above 27 mph. 25 miles came along in 55.30 not going to set the BBAR alight but I was moving well and felt I could push on a bit into the wind, My minute man Dave Kiddell (CaleverCC) caught me soon after and I let him go although he was travelling only marginally faster as I felt I would pull him back if I began to 'motor' AS it was I started getting twinges of cramp second time up the steep slip road and I was a bit ragged, when the downwind section came I could not take advantage of it like I hoped and when I came to turn into the wind I closed in on my 2 minute man Nick Green (Stratford CC) but could not drop him, Dave Summers (Bath CC) my 6 minute man was now also in the mix as I was cramping up badly and only able to turn over a smallish gear but still ahead of these two.
It was then that scratch man Barry (Baz) Charlton (Lyme RC) came past with Paul Holdsworth (Houndslow & Dist) glued to his wheel, this was not edifying as the paced passed the pacer on the slip road shouting "Your going too slow" this to the man 3rd in the BBAR! and winner of many events this year Bizarre!
Summers and Green passed me in agony but I was able to continue and re-passed them on the way to the finish and there was a bit of 'ding dong' racing to the line (which I lost) this was fair and I don't think any of us felt taken advantage of, we did not speak about it but if we had then I'm sure we would have seen it for what it was, committed riding at the end of a race. Baz had caught Paul around 25 miles and was not happy to have him there for the rest of the race, we talked about it as we rode back to the HQ, he was very reluctant to make a complaint, he had after all won the race but Holdsworth by his action had come second and the third rider Nick Sparks (Sheffield Tri) was also not happy. We had all seen the 'action' all the marshalls had seen it too! and on a 3 lap course it's hard to mistake pacing for what it is. Holdsworth is way more experienced in the ways bike racing lore and law to know that this sort of stuff, riders do not like it Paul and I have raced together over 30 years, I spoke to him after the event and made it clear that Baz was not happy and likely to make a complaint, we have been close (in times) all season but pacing has given him an unreal advantage in this event and that can have real consequences for this and a season long competition like the BBAR and so the complaint was lodged with the organiser.
I think you can definitely make a clear distinction between no nonsense 'battling' riding of the style that engulfed the three of us at the end of this ride and the type of riding that Paul was engaged in. As a separate incident earlier in the year I was accused of pacing at the Team Swift '50' when Antony Nash (Scunthorpe Poly) (A good TT'er Tony but I'd been out of racing for 20 years Tony Who?) caught me for 2 min with 8 mile to go and we had a 'battling' ride to the finish. The third party who we caught during this incident was disgusted at what had taken place or what he had seen (me being a fast rider on a zero etc etc). But Tony who at the time I did not know (but subsequently got to know better as he rides the track) was OK with what had taken place as we discussed the incident immediately after but It must have looked like pacing to the third party, he was very angry & indignant and was going to report me! In the end he was convinced but the onus should always be for the caught rider to drop back a distance (although this is never specified) but once it gets to 10 seconds in my experience then riders get on with 'their' ride.
Back to the Severn RC event, waiting confirmation but Baz won it with excellent 1:44:17 I came in with a credible 1:52:30 and with hindsight I could have done better BBAR ride here if I'd not ridden the day before but we shall just have to live with the consequences - It's only a bike race!

Yorkshire Road Club 'Victory 50' Result

Severn RC '50' Result

STOP PRESS! - Paul Holdsworth Disq! Self 7th

2 x 25 + 10

We had the first decent week of weather in ages and I was able to train without fear of being blown or washed away so come the weekend I felt like I'd prepared well. Stone Whs. '25' on the Saturday afternoon was a repeat of the Manchester Whs. two weeks before but the conditions as I made my way up the M1 and A50 nearly to Stoke were more promising, I did 25 minutes on the rollers in the warm sun I built up a head of steam with a towel over my neck as the sweat poured onto the ground.
The wind had got up a bit but was much the same as before, I slightly misjudged my time so went to the start in a bit of a panic but had five minutes to compose myself before pushing into the race, I decided to take the first part of the ride a touch easier and leave myself something for the return so my 19:30 at 10 miles and 24:20 at half distance some way down on before (18:25 & 23:04 respectively) I went better on the way back but was some 11 seconds short of my previous time with 53:40 so not able to make a difference with a different strategy, my RPM in both 85 and my pulse 152 Av. / 160 Max almost the same (152 / 158)
My dad used to say "Does not matter if you start fast, go fast in the middle, or at the end, you always end up with the same time" It seems on this occasion he is probably true, I feel that this course with such a discrepancy in speed one way is just not for me and I require a more even paced course. Although it did not deter Charles McCulloch (Shorter) who recorded 49:02 the only man over 30mph road man Richard Handley 2nd (KUK) 50:38 and Manchester Whs. winner Baz Charlton (Lyme RC)a second faster 50:59 3rd.
Sunday I had another '25' the ANDCC 'Lighthouse Trophy' over a sporting circuit at Granby in the Vale Of Belvoir, a 9.00am start was generous but we all wished we had started an hour earlier as the wind got up to spoil the morning. I was 6th overall in 57.46 but back on form after his aberrant behaviour in the BTTC event last week Matt Bottrill (I-Ride) banged out an astonishing 52.23 to beat the next man by nearly 4 minutes. I went home to make 10Kg of damson jam!

Stone Wheelers Result

ANDCC Result

BTTC - Men - Women - Espoirs - Masters - Juniors

I'm not chasing times this week but a title, around the lanes of Buckinghamshire, the British Time Trial Championship on a circuit based at Botolph Clayton, 3 times for the men (30.1) and 2 times the rest (20.8m) I'd done a bit of preparation for this, a recce of the course and a couple of 'speedy' sessions in the week to perk up those quick twitch fibres that haven't had much of a workout of late, it's all relative in the wet and windy conditions as the day was likely to be but under the circumstances we were spared the rain and a full days racing with 300+ riders ensued.
I even did a proper warm up (on the rollers) for 25 min as it was a straight out effort from the off, no hanging around to see how you feel? Just get on with it as hard as your legs will take you. These events are a great leveller, as a National Championship should be but the Masters (30+) split into 5 year age groups so see how we fare against competition from road and time trialling alike.

'Wiggo' and shadow!


The course was a fair test of all the skills necessary to be a bike rider, speed, stamina, bike handling and climbing, well not too much climbing just enough to put off the pure speed merchants. The wind posed the biggest obstacle as I sit on the line 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO.... just had to keep my revs as high as possible, keep on top of the gear, drive up every incline and into the wind which seemed just about everywhere, I had the good fortune to catch Dave Johnson (High Wycombe CC) on my first lap (on his second lap) as I'm one of the last to go at 2 min intervals and on a circuit you never see another rider anyway so it's a bit of a lonely ride but with these circiuts its a concentrated effort and over so quickly you just have to deal with the pain of the effort which is pretty much max (for me 155 HR) all the way
On the back of the circiut Tom & Jerry Nason and Martin Koester on a railway bridge that takes on the proportion of an Alp and then a fast bit before the climb up to the finish of the first lap in 22.58 a good effort but can I better it on the second? I spray my legs with water and have a gulp to drink on the decent to Edgcott before the sharp left hander but my mouth is dry before the top of the next rise, no time for any more luxury before the finish just drive all the way, up the climb for the last time trying to keep 'evens' but dropping to 18mph by the top it is just a dash for the line less than a mile and it is all over. I turn in the road Geoff Platts (I Ride) my 2 MM is 30 seconds further adrift so I know I have done OK.

'Hutch' gets the crowd excited




In the end only 6th 47:25 with 23:00 second lap so pretty even pacing as you would expect the only way to go faster is to go faster all the way and I just cannot see I could have done more. Defending champion Kevin Tye (ODL) is the champion again 45:34 from Mick St Leger (VC St Raphael) 46:20 up from 3rd last year and Stephen Whitewick (Utag) 46:35 in the bronze, I'm only 50 seconds off the podium but about where I should be on form. Ride of the day Jeff Jones (Chippenham & Dist) 45:09 winnerof 'B's and fastest overall, I was 30th but with masters starting at 30 years no disgrace.
Womens and Mens went to form with Emma Pooley (Cervelo) beating all commers (and a fair few men) with 46.11 from Wendy Houvenagel (SIS) 46:41 and Julia Shaw (Utag) 47.15
Bradley Wiggins (Garmin) 1:2:15 put on a good show for the excellent crowd with a 30mph display of exhibition bike riding putting over two minutes into Michael Hutchinson (In Gear) 1:4:34 and Chris Newton (Rapher) nearly another two again 1:6:14 after Matt Bottrill (I Ride) was DQ'ed for pacing 'Wiggo' for nearly 2 laps after being caught for two minutes.

SWRC at the BTTC


Masters 'D' Result
Masters overall Result
Womens Result
Espoirs Result
Mens Result

The Elements - Empirical lessons Pt.1

Every ride at this time in the season is dominated by the weather, will I get a good day to improve my time this season? I'm at the peak of fitness and recovered from the workload that dominates the run up to the 12 Hour in which every ride plays a part in providing a foundation for the vital half day that is the extreme of all my racing, you know you are in good condition but will the conditions be good for you?
A cursory glance at the weather forecast becomes a full blown prayer to the gods that it will be good, half decent, not terrible just not like it is now with the trees outside bending to breaking point and the dark skies pregnant with foreboding for another downpour.
Wind and rain has made for a testing few weeks that have stretched to months in this island we call home and Time Trialling is not called 'Testing' for no reason, but just now it seems particularly apt as I try to spin a positive outlook on what has been a dreadful summer and the statistic that in the few weeks that remain I am going to be 'Tested' more for my patients than for my speed.
Having said that there is still allot of fun to be had at the expense of the weather and all it can throw at me, I had a potentially fast couple of events at the week end, on the Bank Holiday Monday the ...a3crg '50' down south on the A3 near Petersfield had taken on greater significant as my fastest ride at this distance was looking in jeopardy as the CTT (the governing body of TT'ing) was not likely to ratify the BDCA '50' times in which I'd done my PB a few weeks ago so the hunt was on for those riders who were relieing on it for their seasons best.
Before that the Manchester Whs. '25' on the local'ish A50 (Stoke end) and with another windy day blowing up a storm the prospect of fast times only at the expense of back breaking effort. Sure enough despite a mile into the wind at the start I went through ten miles in 18.22 or 33 mph, at least I now know that top gear at 100 RPM is 40 mph - So this is what it feels like to be Michael Hutchinson! The far end of the A50 is known to the TT'ing community as 'The concrete hill' and so as you approach the last part it takes on the spectre of the Alp d'Huez as I pound my way up at a speed obliterated by the sweat coursing off my chin as my nose touches close to the computer on my bars.
My final time of 53:28 good enough for 13th place on the day sandwiched between a couple of good juniors Alex Royal and Jack Green, but Barry Charlton of the local Lyme RC a clear winner with 51:00.
A rest day on Sunday but still a journey down to S. London as the ...a3crg is early next morning, so I recourse to do a few laps of Richmond Park in the late afternoon with a few hardy souls on bikes and the deer grazing close to the road in light traffic. The wind dominated and I barely manage 'Evens' as I try to manage recovery from the day before with preparation for the event ahead, in the end I just do a gradual increase every lap but nothing spectacular and retire to do a bit of stretching as I find this almost as good.
Travelling over the Hogs Back in early morning mist the event is not certain to take place, the organiser is out on the course (with his metaphorical finger in the air) and the full field (+ reserves) on tenterhooks as we hope the rising wind will shift the fog but not spoil the day which looks promising. We get the go ahead and each rider proceeds to the line, the decent of Hillbrow makes for an exhilarating start and we hope this gift will not take a penalty in kind.
I go well all through the first lap (25m) so my preparation has done the trick and I feel good, I pull well on the undulating roads using my big gears over the crest with ease. My time at half way is 54 minutes dead a little disappointing for how well I feel but if my second half is just as good then my seasonal dilemma will be much reduced, the wind is holding fast and I can get on with the race and not battle the elements.
I think I pay the price for early exuberance in the second half as my style becomes laboured and I cannot hold my speed, I do the best I can with dwindling resources and have to dig deep on the last climb to the Ham Barn interchange, the last 6 miles is less of a problem and I cross the finish 1:16 slower in the second half for a final time of 1:49:16. It is a good effort on a day that sees some spectacular rides, none more so than the winner Steve Dennis (East Grinstead CC) 1:40:50 to put minutes between himself and a classy field of riders. My ride is good enough for 14th on the day 3 seconds ahead of Andy Jackson (Pedalsport) and 15 seconds ahead of Paul Holdsworth (Houndslow & Dist CC), this leaves the three of us 9th 10th and 11th in the BBAR we have been having a private battle all season for that top 10 spot and It has been nip and tuck in the last few weeks as seconds make the difference between our final miles per hour tally.

Result ..a3crg '50'

Pics Here

SWIFT '100' - To the End

Shakespeare knew a thing or two about performance "Stiffen the sinews" said Henry V in his speech at Agincourt made famous by Lawrence Olivier in the 'Cry God for Harry, England, and Saint George!' and I felt under siege at the weekend as I tried to improve my BBAR average in the Team Swift '100' on the A168/A19 up near Dishforth . I've been feeling off colour on the bike and Fiona and I travelled in hope rather than expectation up the M1 as the wind blew, I was also anxious as I had a new bike and 100 miles a long way on an as yet un-tested position (23 minute '10' on Tues night!).
The last fast '100' of the year usually in September but brought forward to get a better field but many of the fast men stay away as they have ridden the National/Breckland 12 last week and not liking the look of the day, a long way to travel for a pasting and I was thinking how slow would I have to go in the first half to justify packing if I'm taking a good hiding out on the roads over the exposed North Yorkshire Moors? Fi has come to support my ride and while I don't like to DNF at all to do so when we have come all this way (leave at 11.30am back home for 11.00pm) a bitter pill to swallow.
A five mile ride to the start from the HQ in Ripon where the race (of the horse variety) have made for extra traffic and delays, the wind from the SW makes for an easy start so I will use the first 17 mile leg of this 3 lap course to give me an easy(ier) beginning to four hours of effort on the edge of madness. Bike feels OK I have two 20mm spacers under the stem and it still feels a bit low at the front, all that weight on your arms, could make for an uncomfortable time but for now I just try and get in 'the zone'
I have a caffeine gel early at 15m before I turn into the wind to numb the sensation as 'the zone' is a bit elusive and I am anticipating a battle, I use my 50 (inner) instead of the 56 but feels a bit on the low side and not as bad as I anticipated, saddle is a bit wrong angle and I figit to get the most comfortable position, front or back? saddle (a Flite - I use the same one off the 'Sigma' for luck) a bit on the long side now I have such an upright position and bangs on the back of my legs out the saddle (in the most back position!). My arms and back register the minute differences to the previous position I've used for 3 seasons, a twinge of recognition for the body when the legs are what get you through the race, but so far no harmony
Fi is at the far turn and then back at the Dishforth turn (34m) and offers a bottle but I've drunk 500ml before the start and carry 750ml and its not such a hot day so refuse, I have the second downwind section to the halfway point, its not been so bad
and I went through 25m in 57:15 and push onto the far Northallerton turn 1:54:45 making the 2nd 25m 57:30. A PB is out the question and improving my BBAR (3:47:55) unlikely as I always go slower in the second half but I decide not to stop as I'm not suffering and the wind is dropping and my bad patch is over, a bad patch can be mental or physical but usually a bit of both as you struggle to focus and 'the zone' is like the Bermuda triangle everybody's heard about it but can you find it when you need to? I had a second caffeine gel at 55m, some riders eat these like sweets "I had six gels before half way!" apart from being an expensive way to get around an event I try and make them do a bit more work than just a funny taste in the mouth. (have you tasted 'Powerbar' lime - Eucchh!) Fi gives me 500ml of warm coffee as I get rid of my glass's but a mix up with hands means I take the bottle from Fi (on the left) with my right hand! I only have the one bottle cage now so have to down it while negotiating two roundabouts and allot goes down my front and over the bike, a baptism of sorts for my new bike

Grrrrrr!

Beginning to pick up a bit and at the end of my second lap my average speed has gone up from just over 26mph to 26.3mph and something very strange is happening, I begin to go better on the downwind leg but almost no wind now at 6 o'clock so no great benefit, I begin to go much better and my body is well into the race as I become one with my bike, it sounds like a cliche but this is my form returning in the middle of a race, I pound the tarmac eating it up at an alarming rate, the climb up from Thirsk which I'd done at 20-22mph the previous two times I cruise up at 25mph I feel amazing as I press the pedals into orbit
I have not kept track of what the opposition are doing but at the final turn with 12m to go I find myself about level with Andy Jackson (Pedalsport) 15m in front and we are usually close in the result, triathlete Philip Graves (Clifton CC) the eventual winner has caught him for 10m but this has not been my usual type of ride so all I can do is make the finish at the best speed. I usually get cramp here as the speed and the big gears combine to play havoc with the thousands of muscle fibres twitching to do their best under the pressure of the ultimate effort as you urge the maximum out of your limbs but no cramp here and I've long forgotten about my arms and back.
The remains of the race a bit of a blur but the finish just after the Topcliffe services so visible from a long way out and I'd long since stopped looking at my computer except to see that I was travelling at well over 30mph most of the way. I stopped the clock at 3:46:20 a mere 25 seconds off a PB although I did not know that yet, I had done the second 50 miles in 1:51:34 a negative split by over 3 minutes making nearly a mile per hour difference in the two half's, as I sit here typing this it almost seems impossible as I know how my race plan pans out and this makes for very unusual reading

New Bike - Baptism of fire (& coffee)

Graves the winner 3:33:56 from Nik Bowdler (Farn & Camb CC) 3:39:29 and Barry Charlton (Lyme RC) 3:41:27 Andy Jackson pipped me for 6th by 39 seconds, it was dark by the time we set off for home.

NEW BIKE!

My new bike has finally arrived, during my week off I spend a bit of time to build it up but there are some new bits to buy like one of those under bottom bracket brakes that I've never seen before

Record breaking week (for the SWRC)

Seems it has been a record breaking week for the SWRC members, with Tom's efforts in the WLCA '50' we also have Ruth Hutton smashing the Women's '10' record last Saturday (1st Aug) in the Charlotteville CC event on the A31 - Bently Bypass (H10/8), her time of 23.00 (26.087 mph Av.) knocking almost 30 seconds off her own record set 10 years ago, she took the women's prize, event was won by Stephen Whitwick (Utag Yahama) 20.08.
I followed this up on Saturday with a reduction of the '50' time in the BDCA event on the A 50 between Etwall and Uttoxeter, officials and riders were left in a quandary as there were cones out for inspection on the upper part of the course so the event was changed to two laps of the '25' course instead of going all the way to Blyth Bridge.
A one hour delay made for some anxious moments as the inspection crews were vague about how long they would be on the course but we eventually got away in what were ideal conditions (for this summer) light wind and a bit of heat. After my miserable ride in the Pennine event last week I was more recovered and less travelled this week and my ride reflected this although I was still short of some top end power and I can only put this down to tiredness and having spent more time than usual on track preparation but with that out the way I was free to indulge my 56 chain ring a bit more.
It was harder out to the turn so I saved a bit for the second lap posting 53.30 for my first '25' mile lap after getting caught in a slow moving convoy which meant riding up the centre of the dual carriageway for 5 miles.
My second lap was slightly slower at 54.30 but a total time of 1:48:04 (27.76 mph Av.) reduces the record by 35 seconds and gives me a current BBAR time of 25.71 mph for the '50' '100' and 12 hour (which is a new record in itself)
Julia Shaw (Utag Yahama) broke the Women's Competition record for '50' miles with 1:46:49 beating Jill Reames time from 1997, Event was won by current BBAR Nik Bowdler (Farnb & Camb Whs.) just outside 30 mph Av. with 1:40:01 seems like Ruth Nik and myself could do with a bit of finishing practice to get those last few seconds off!
N.B. This may be the last ride on my beloved 'Sigma' frame, the old bike (as it were) she was third hand when I accuired her from Ex club member Steve Gowar as a road bike but after a season on the road she has done me proud and all my rides of note have been done in her company. I have come to the end of the line as I feel she cannot take the battering I put her through week after week. I have my first all carbon frame.

European Masters Track - Quantitive easing

3Km Pursuit :- Two days later after Points race success I had a chance to redeem my problematic British Masters ride in the individual pursuit, a hiccup at the start meant a disappointing 6th place so here I would be paying particular attention to every detail, I was riding the same bike I finished the Elmet 12 (the spare) kitted out with a 97" gear (up from 94" at Newport)
The European Championship run with a qualifying round and the top two ride for the Gold and the next two ride for the Bronze, I was against Steve Clayton in my round with two heats remaining I needed to be the fastest for the chance to be in the top four. The start went without a hitch and I settled into my ride, the first kilometer is just a waiting process but as you enter the half way your legs tighten and the result of keeping the revs per minute at 110 begins to make the pressure inside your head build up as your back arches to support the force of your legs through an arc of ever increasing pain. By the time you are in the last few laps the burning pain is only held at bay by the memory of all those sessions on the turbo that push you to the point of collapse.
I had glanced across the track and saw I had my opponent at a couple of seconds but was unable to 'lift it' any more on the final laps as my legs were blocked by the sudden and increasing pain so my effort finishes on the gun but I had no more to give. My time a PB 3:41:751 I'd snuck in ahead of French rider Sylvan Abadie 3:41:838 from the previous heat and I could only afford to be beaten by three of the final four. Both the British Champion Peter Ettles and Alistair Taylor (2nd at Newport) were faster with 3:35:786 and 3:40:702 respectively so it would be the Bronze ride off if I beat one of the final heat, World Champion Claus Christiansen came home 2nd fastest 3:37:906 but Ian Greenstreet (3rd at Newport) could only manage 7th so I had another chance to get a medal.
The final was in the evening so I went back to the flat where I was staying (Thanks Kelda!) to do some stretching and have a sleep, all the while coughing and re-living my ride thinking how I could improve the second needed to beat my opponent. Track racing is a series of races done on fitness but also pent-up and nerve jangling energy, I was able to ride the Points race with luck and skill but here in the physical desert that is pursuiting, nowhere to hide, the bleached effort of a pursuit is not mental it is just the physical sensation of effort stripped away so that it burns until your body is a husk, building yourself up for another effort is the skill, push away the pain and the doubt, encourage your mind to think that it wasn't so bad, settle in for another voyage to the surface of the sun.
It comes around soon enough, I'm up in the trap with the countdown from 10 seconds, 3, 2, 1, GO another safe start, already I feel better with the blank wood of the track passing under my wheels, the black line pulling me forward and my breathing dominating my senses. It is close, I do not have anybody 'walking the line' so I do not know if I am up or down, it is close, I glance across I know we are close. For the final laps I am able to pick up the pace, my rev counter is not working so I just go for it, as much as my body will take, the bell for the final lap ring together, still too close to call, right to the line with a lunge at the line and the guns go off together. I almost come a cropper as I go over the foam blocks into the banking but it is over and my body relaxes a bit, its all over
When the result shows I am not crushed, I had no more to give, I ride over and congratulate the Alistair the winner, he had gone a second slower but crucially I had not gone faster. A mere 27:1000th of a second had split our efforts, not more than a foot in it at the end after a joust at 35mph with the track stopping us from coming together. The positions from last year were reversed in the ride off for Gold, Ettles the Champion in a new European record time (3:35:483) and although Christensen had pushed the Scottish rider he faded in the last kilometer to finish just under two seconds behind
Victory ceremony for the Pursuit

I felt I'd made some amends for my ride at Newport and 4th place is the worst place to finish but I had Gold under my pillow and that makes failure a bit easier to swallow. I missed the final days racing where I could have ridden the Brain Cossavella scratch race on the Saturday in favour of heading out the next morning at 4.30am in search of a fast Pennine CC '50' on the Yorkshire Dishforth course. A promising day blew up into a bit of a storm and I rode like a 'bag of spanners' to finish just inside two hours, event was won by Joel Wainman (Team Swift) who I'd narrowly beaten in the Elmet a mere seven days before, I suppose something had to give I was a bit of a physical wreck in the race and the tough conditions just served to expose my frailty with no inner power to 'boss' the tough conditions. Track racing on top of the mental stress of the 12 Hr. I was in need of a break.

European Masters Track - Gold standard

Points Race :- Almost three days to the minute at 7.00pm after I'd finished the Elmet 12 Hr. I lined up for the Euro Masters (45-49) 20Km Points race final on the Manchester track, my first competitive race on the Velodrome where I had watched so many of Britain's finest triumphs over the past few years. I'd only got to the track and hour before after being stuck in commuting traffic and the signing on sheet was ripped from under my pen, I was the last to sign in and as I rushed off to accreditation I enquired "When are we racing?" to which the alarming reply "You're up first" so I had only 50 minutes to put bike together (and spares) get changed and have a warm up, after having barely an hour on the bike since bringing my battered body to a standstill in Yorkshire.
Most of the riders I knew from the British Masters but there was a handful of unknowns from other countries, the usual track cycling nations France, Italy and Denmark. I sat out the first couple of sprints to let my legs get used to the speed and the cadence of the group, Sylvan Abadie (Fr.) was very strong winning the first sprint and attacking several times, Stephen Clayton (GB) won the second with Abadie 2nd and I felt I had no option but to go for a lap so I attacked immediately and got a good quarter then half a lap but with no company I had no option but to continue on my own. I took the next points but my legs were in no shape to continue the attack even though I was almost in the same straight as the bunch, a group of four got off the front of the bunch and I was in with them when they caught me but eventually we all came back together for the sprint.
Clayton (3rd) and Abadie (4th) were in the points and leading the race with 9 and 11 respectively so I went on the attack again taking Ian Greenstreet (GB) and the Danish World Pursuit Champion Claus Christensen with me, I won the sprint but had to sit out the next won by the British Pursuit Champion Peter Ettles (GB) blowing a bit but with 10 Pt's in 3rd place. Attack again the only option this time after Trevor Burke (GB) and I had to go for the sprint from 2 laps out to stop Christensen catching me on the line, I was now leading with 15 Pt's one ahead of the French rider so I only had to beat him in the finale to take the win, I tracked him for the last 10 laps and then attacked with a lap to go and lead out the sprint, fading Ettles and Clayton came past and I had the title, there was a bit of confusion (as with all points races) Clayton would have beaten me if he had won the final sprint as we would have had the same total and in this case the position in the final sprint is the clincher but with 17 Pt's a clear 2 Point margin over the Litchfield man and Abadie a point further back in 3rd

The Champion and his 'iron' (carbon wheels mind!)

There was a whirlwind of victory ceremony with jersey and medal, girls and flowers (do I kiss two or three times?) with national anthem and flags and "Yes Mr. President a good race?" and a lap of honour to 'We are the Champions' (get a bit sick of this one after a few days - I'll be bound) and then a sit down blinking into the first day of being a European Champion. Lots of people came up to congratulate me, I wandered out into the daylight of the early evening from the artificial light of the track center stunned and a little dazed
As a little note to the evening, I was waiting for the victory ceremony with the two other riders, we propped our bikes against the acrylic fence ready for the lap of honour, we exchanged pleasantries and looked at the bikes two identical (but differently branded - 'Planet X' & 'Bernard Hinault') carbon bikes and mine in the middle a 30 year old 'Roberts' iron and in that Gallic manner Sylvan rolled his eyes and nodded his head in a way that pleased me almost as much as the win.

Elmet CRC 12 - Storming ride and stage win

A week of frustration and illness was turned to a hard earned personnel best & club record in the Elmet CRC 12 Hour Time Trial at the weekend, missing last weeks races because of a head cold was probably a blessing in disguise as they were plagued with fiercely windy conditions and I was able to rest up from the travel and stress of competition for this weeks event which I had targeted for a big mileage for my BBAR challenge.The event consisted of two laps 30 and 14 miles around covered numerous times in the flat lands just South East of York. This is the first time I repeated a 12 Hour course but I reasoned that in an event where so much can go wrong the more predictable the conditions and the more 'knowns' the better

Calm before the Storm


Fiona enjoyed her weekend of rest, it's as hard work for the helpers, early mornings forign beds, driving and food to be prepared and delivered without a hitch. But we are a good team, Adrian had taken a day off from his holiday in the Lakes to treck across country and repete his sterling efforts of last year when the conditions and unfolding events served to frustrate and hamper our efforts. We stayed Adrian's mum Jean in York and she regaled us with drug testing stories as she was a BC Commissar but now works for UK sport anti doping agency. Un-beknown to me she had been at the recent National '50' where she had been fulfilling professional duties on the Ladies event although she did say she would have to state a conflict of interest If I was called (No chance then!) I had an almost peaceful night although there are always too many variables in your head to call it restful, the alarm at 5.00am announces the day which will take all the resources of mental & physical strength you can muster.
The HQ in Melbourn was in the middle of the two loops and there was an easy and friendly air about the place as the early starters got away in the still morning that promised much. Rain was forecast so I put a good layer of leg (& arm) rub just in case. I was called to the line before I had a chance to get my gloves on so spent the first minute fiddling with 'Velcro' and getting my computer started, so much to do so little time

Paul Holdsworth in close attendance

I was 'given the off' at 6.58am two minutes in front of 'last man' Carl Ruebotham (Team Swift) and I wondered how long? it would take him to catch me, so I set off at a brisk pace no need to hang around. Although I have only ridden three 12 Hrs. before I was looking for the best performance which I hoped would garner a reward of a big mileage so tardiness was not an option, on the first two big laps I was able to re-familiarise myself with the course, its various bends and road surface the same as two years before when I covered these roads between half a dozen and ten times, In a Time trial you often only pass once or twice but I wanted the comfort that comes from familiarity, there were too many things that could happen and go wrong so give me 'boring predictability, all I wanted to focus on was to ride my bike as far as possible. No distraction, just get 'In the Zone' you and the pedals, revolutions that will be my mantra for the day, the progress of the credit crunch and war zone and Paris Hilton would just have to wait for a day while I committed myself to the road and leaving a microscopic trail of rubber on this surface this would be my testament.
I went through the first 100 miles in 4:06:00 (59:30/1:02:00/1:02:30/1:2:00) and caught Paul Holdsworth (Houndslow & Dist) for 3 min at 80m but he was shadowing me as he did last year but I was determined not to let this be a bad omen and put me off. The wind got up after an hour of grace and there was a long section on the big circuit into the wind which was going to be the crucial battle ground of the day, if I let the wind dominate my ride I would suffer so I reasoned to make this the one section where I would not let my form alter and I hunkered down to make myself as aero as possible and did not get out the saddle or ease up until it was over

We had already been on the small circuit for 3 laps after 55m and this was a bit more sheltered and I had a bit of solid food to supplement the Carbohydrate drink and gels but your appetite gets suppressed and it was difficult getting the mouthful of chocolate spread and hot cross bun down the crucifixion metaphor not lost on me here, the banana went down more easily. It started to rain, showers, enough to wet the roads and make them greasy, I did a bit of cyclo cross on one corner where I misjudged the road surface and my speed but when the rain stopped after an hour and dried up I jettisoned my crash hat as my ears had gone numb and the fast part out of the way I would have to take my chances in a spill or accident!

Getting from 100 to 200 miles is the crucial mental trick that you have to perform to finish a 12 Hr. a wise man once said that to do a good 'Twelve' "The ability to race over the second half", there are many ways to approach the event, pace yourself throughout the ride or start fast and hang on, this is the most common approach with many events doing the first 100 miles on Dual Carriageway roads before turning onto circuits but here on mainly B roads a 'Third way'. I chose this event because there is a price to pay in 'speed drop' from DC to slower roads that can see your Average speed go into free fall and this can demoralise, but I chose this event which I had broken the Club Record 2 years ago and I think it suits my style of riding, you still have to go out hard and post a good marker but so long as you maintain your 'form' then the MPH speed slips away at an easy and (psychological) manageable rate. Many packed at this point as the wind was relentless and the half way point not yet reached, you break the laps down into smaller target sections, you concentrate on your pedal revs (90 to this point and 85 overall) and your pedalling, keeping your style smooth, every ounce of effort saved here will be needed in the final miles. Carl caught me at 125m and I was surprised it had taken so long but he only drew out another 30 seconds on the next 30m lap and I reasoned this must be correct, I was able to use Carl's speed to break myself away from Holdsworth's orbit and then just after 150m I caught Andy Jackson (Pedalsport) for 10m another of my rivals and I knew I was doing well.

Of course you know when you cannot break the elastic bond that keeps two competitors in the same orbit because the helpers cars keep passing and re-passing you in an effort to keep in contact with their rider, and this is the only contact you have on a circuit course as you never see (or get a time check) apart from what your helpers tell you and when you have 12 hours to fill and all those questions to ask you never have enough information and you feel you are in a desert (or a coma) unable to communicate with the outside world and all these questions. Andy Jackson's helper gave me a sponge of cooling water infused with cologne and as I cleared the salt from my face I considered the tardiness of my own helpers 170 m and not a sponge in sight, thank you Mr Jackson's helper

Shouted instruction "How about a sponge"


200 miles came up in 8:29 (1:03:30/1:06:15/1:06:00/1:8:45) and I knew I had 3 1/2 Hrs. to go as far as my condition would allow, I was only averaging 22.5mph at this stage and I knew I needed to sustain 23mph to reach the major milestone of 280m, a much wished for lull in the wind was greeted with another bout of stormy weather followed by rain. Andy Jackson re-passed me and I clung to his momentum but I could not raise my game even .2mph that was necessary, I let him go reasoning that even at that speed he would only take 6 or 7 minutes to the finish. All the corners were tricky now and the ragged surface and the rumble strips on the A 1079 were bone jarring and my right foot which had been hurting for 80m was now numb (and still is as I type this)

The weather and the event close in

With an hour to go the rain which had been a constant drizzle became a downpour and I was getting a 'graunching' from my rear wheel, my freewheel would not do so freely as one of the bearings disintegrated so I was literally on a 'fixed' or risk my chain wrapping around if I stopped pedalling. Adrian & Fiona were close by at this stage so I asked for a bike change which went smoothly but in all the excitement I needed to relive myself but I had no option but to do it as I rode along in the rain, I thought I might get an update on how Cav and the boys were doing in Paris not quite the glamour of the Tour
I only had 40 minutes to go, enough for one final lap of the finishing circuit, bike felt so different after being 11 hours on the 'Sigma' it was just a case of survival, I was getting hungry and ate my final gel and another hot cross bun, damp from the rain it had been inside my skin suit for the best part of 100 miles, how's that for an instant meal Jamie, even Hugh Fernley might find this a bit too adventurous for his pallate. My final 75m (1:07:15/1:08:00/1:10:00) and 4 min 30 seconds to run out with 276.50 miles just over a nine mile improvement, Ruebotham was the winner with 285.08 and Barry Charlton (Lyme RC) 281.61 2nd Myself 3rd just ahead of the 'pack'

The pain and the pleasure of finishing (on the spare)

I was the third last to finish just before 7.00pm, handily by the timekeeper outside the HQ, I gave him a wave through the fogged up window in appreciation of his effort and token response to all those helpers who had been out all day to see the race pass off successfully. The HQ looked like a refugee camp with an assortment of riders in blankets and helpers in all weather gear. I was soon shaking with the cold, for the last hour I had only just generated enough heat in my body to stave off the cold in the wet conditions. There was congratulations from those I knew and those that had seen me on the road, at times it felt like a lonely road and a long way, sure you can go further (or slow down less) but I hadn't been beaten by the conditions today and as the result began to sink in I knew I had won my stage of the Tour