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

National '100' (Yorkshire Cycling Federation)

I sampled the delights of the Holiday inn again this week (with Fiona this time) in Wakefield in preparation for the National '100' Championship the next morning on the V275 course (A168-19 and around x 2 laps)on the edge of the North York Moors South of Middlesborough. So as we snuggled down with a bowl of pasta to watch crap telly the sounds of two weddings and a Silver anniversary reverberated around our hollow room.


Contemplating the off

A relatively late start of 7.30 (No 90) but we still had to be up at 5.30 in the dampness of an unpromising day, there was a noticeable lack of riders from the 130 men & women at the HQ with most opting to get ready elsewhere so me and another chap used the facilities, put my bike together in the drizzle and headed off to the start
The first 60 miles on Dual Carriageway so a chance to ease yourself into the ride I was scheduled for a 3.45 which meant going out hard but as I went through 25 miles in 56 minutes (10m in 22.30) and I had my three minute man just infront.

I was feeling the pace so eased a little after the first lap (30m) but I could not get comfortable on the faster northern journey and un-willing to get entangled in a 'race' with No 87 I just followed along at 1-200 metres. I went through 50m in 1.55.30 so I knew a sub 3.50 ride was out and I took the decision to use the ride as preparation for the 12 hour in a couple of weeks keeping my gears down and cadence at 90 RPM as from 60m we turned onto B roads and a bit more lumpy so a good test for the sort of conditions in the half day event.


Riders return down the A19 to Thirsk

I had a bottle of warm coffee to stave off the cold and the constant waves of showers but nothing too difficult, once on the second circuit I felt more comfortable varying my gears on the climbs to keep my revs constant my body felt better, 75 m came up in 2.54.30 and I knew I could pick the pace up and my No 87 was having a bad time after pulling away initially I quickly caught and passed him with 20m to go. Unfortunately I could not shed him and he turned the last part into a bit of a 'race' which is what I had tried hard to avoid, he pulled up to my shoulder on numerous occasions but did not have the strength to pass when out of my slipstream, I was a bit annoyed with has riding as he undertook me on a couple of occasions as we had to pick our way through the grit strewn and puddle roads (once when Fi was handing me a bottle!) not very good behaviour but he was very young (19) and while I was annoyed with this I had to say to him that what he was doing was very dangerous on roads where it was difficult for cars to pass.

Come in No 87 your time is up!


I managed 58.0 minutes for my last 25m and felt good at the finish, a shame that my concentration ruined by a bit of youthful competition but I did say to him at the end that I thought his behaviour was a danger to himself and left it at that.
My final time 3.52.23 good enough for 13th place and 2nd in my age category - Winner was Stephen Whitick (Utag Yahama) 3.48.45 been a bit of a nemesis all season but I do seem to be getting closer. Winner overall once again in impressive fashion Michael Hutchinson (In Gear) 3.27.26 from defending champion Kevin Dawson (Sportscover) 3.33.25 and in third place 20 year old Triathlete Philip Graves from a club with a good TT'ing pedigree (Clifton CC) 3.37.41 finding top level racing not quite the breeze that he thought it would be! Women's race won by Julia Shaw (Utag) 3.52.12 in a new Competition Record eclipsing the time set by Twickenham rider Jenny Derham in 1996 (3.53.04) somebody said they saw Charlie Burton at the finish and this was the heartland of his wife Beryl's record making (and breaking) roads but of course without all the 'aero' complications, I wonder what he thought of it all?

Dissecting a difficult race





Men's Result Here

Women's Result

Event Report





Hutch hogs the podium once again

Masters Track Championship - Newport

Been trying out my fixed wheel bike in the local Hinckley RCC '10' (check C P under rider history) on the Wolvey course (K41/10) trying out a variety of gears and positions but we have had some lovely evenings so far and a minute up on last year at this time.
Apart from the LVRC Track last November the BC Masters would be my first 'Open' track since 1992 when I fell off the week before the Nationals and broke my collar bone in an ill advised return to the wooden bowl of my past notable victories. At the LVRC I came away with a Gold(Pursuit) and Silver(Points) but although the same events here a step up in quality, some of the same names but a chance to win a National title always a draw for the showmen that take on the Track Circus.
I was with Adrian (and Dan - not competing) of the Shaftsbury CC and he had persuaded me to enter the old arena (we go all the way back to school days)
Riding a fixed on the road not the same as in a bunch on a banked track, the cut and thrust of tactics and sprinting for the line but the one thing that got me almost immediately how nervous I was. I could hear my heart beating out of my chest in the cauldron that is the track centre, I needed to get out for a ride to calm down and compose myself.


Following the GB men

So we trotted out on road bikes for a spin on the flat lands that make up the marsh around Newport Velodrome. We bumped into some of the GB squad doing the same pushed off the track for the weekend by a load of Old Duffers and Hasbeens we tried to recognise them but they all had Sky outfits and impressively tanned calf's, we dare not get too close
Back in the Velodrome all we had on the Saturday was the 15Km scratch race, a one off sprint after 60 laps, in a way I was glad, get some of the nerves out the way before the main event 'The Pursuit' what I'd come here to do, less chance, more of a test of the riders form all alone on the track. A fast pace race, one rider got 3/4 lap before getting pulled back, I attacked with 15 to go taking Ian Greenstreet (Newbury RC) and ex runner Steve Clayton (Litchfield City) Clayton jumped at the bell and I could not come over him my speed blunted by my time trialling but a good effort none the less, in the end I missed the Gold by half a bike length.

15Km Scratch Podium


Sunday was much like the day before, apart from my Pursuit ride in the morning, we still had time for a 20 mile spin and then a build up to the 3000 m pain fest that is individual Pursuiting 3 and 3/4 minutes of acute stress for legs and lungs but only the one ride to get it all out (no time for rounds), winner takes it all. A fault with my rear wheel means I have to use my disc with a heavy (road going) 'tempo' and it hardly matters that I put new bars on the night before and with no chance to get on the track a spin back to the hotel is all that they get by way of preparation. In the event its my pedals that let me down (set at their highest tension) I pull my foot out at the start and It takes an age to get it back in again, I manage a 24 second first lap 3 down on my schedule it is the worst possible beginning, I press on, no going back and get into my rhythm, Adrian tells me I'm "5 down" on my 3.38 I think it will take to get a medal 125 RPM too fast on my 94" gear and I slow at the risk of overcooking it, 110-15 more like it and the laps (12) are disappearing rapidly.

It all goes wrong!


An all out effort in the last Km as my opponent (on the other side of the track) is in view and I make the last lap a fast one as I pass him on the line 3.43.275 the 2nd fastest to date but not enough I fear. In the next heat Clayton and Alistair Taylor (Musselborough RC) go faster 3.41.251 and 3.40.396 and in the final heat Peter Ettles (Forres CC) breaks the European Record 3.33.491 to win and Greenstreet 3.41.050 good enough for 3rd
The disappointment is a bit overwhelming, only 6th, only 2 seconds off a bronze medal and 3 of silver, Ettles the champion in another class but that opening mistake cost me dear.
No time to dwell the Points Race is in a couple of hours 20Km and ten sprints to sort out 16 riders from 16 clubs, this is more my game. We know who to watch and the opening laps are cagey and tense, I put in a bit of an attack I do not have the speed but If I can get in a break I can gain a lap (20 Points) but I need the race to fracture. I get up in a few of the sprints (3 x 2nd) but not enough, the bunch is still together, it is not slow, but it is not tough enough either.
In one of the lulls two riders collide just above me, the inside one takes a tumble the long way down the track, he clips me and my back wheel, my BBAR ambitions (all that training) flash before my eyes but I hold my nerve and I manage not to come down as he takes the two behind me into the acrylic fence at the bottom of the track. Only one thing to do, attack! It's the one rule of track racing
I attack between the sprints to break it up but I am a marked man and my efforts are chased down, on the penultimate sprint I am too tired to contest but Ettles attacks soon after and nobody chases, there is a fatal delay but I attack anyway and get the gap, I hunt him down 30 then 20 and then 10 meters we have half a lap and together we work, its too late to gain a lap so I sprint away to take the final

It takes ages to sort out the result, apparently a rider took a lap (Taylor) he tried it in the Scratch and only got 3/4 before giving up but this time his effort has paid off Clayton (the best sprinter with 3 x 1st) and I get the bronze on count back with the same points as Ettles because I beat him on the final lap
Of the three races nine medals are split between five riders, the same ones getting on the podium, I come away with a Silver and Bronze not bad for such an extended break from the boards, I came here to test the water and found it much to my likening

Report Here
Photos Here (Stylish rostrum picture of me! - Points)

Stop me if you think you've heard this one before

After a bit of a disaster last week, ECCA '100' cancelled because of fog, so an overnight stay in Bedford and getting up at 4.30am all went to waste as riders from all over the country were left frustrated in the Essex village of Fowlmere hall car park with nothing to do but the long drive home. The right decision as visibility was only 100 meters and no event is worth an accident, Ohh! but it was a perfect morning, cool and still (a little close perhaps) but riders have to keep their powder dry for another week and another chance to record a BBAR time, I already have a fair '100' time from the BDCA 2 weeks before and was ready to ride on a 100" fixed so a bit of an experiment as I have the National in 2 weeks and expecting a good ride there.
But my weekend extended to the Monday night as I had the a3crg... '25' on the next evening and I stayed with Alan and did a few laps of Richmond Park at 23mph to get rid of the tension built up earlier in the day.

This was my final 'OldSkool' event on my trusty 'Lloydy' bike but this did not go to plan and left me feeling not a little exasperated the organiser disqualified my ride for not being in the 'OldSkool' field laid out on his start sheet presently the result is in the lap of the gods (Sir Ian Cammish) but for the record I did a time of 55.51 well ahead of the next rider from the promoting club P Brennan 58.13 a time that would have been a PB this time last year. Unfortunately I passed up the opportunity of participating in one of the fastest '25' events of the year with the winner Steve Wakling (Velocity) recording a 30mph+ 49.24 to beat the course record.
I had a miserable 3 hour drive back to Leicester getting home at midnight with a slightly enlarged spleen, Strangeways here we come indeed

Pics Here (Pg. 1-6-7)
Result Here