Swift '100' -

Since the aborted 12 hour I'd been suffering from a different type of crisis, not a crisis of form or fitness, No! I was pretty sure I had the condition to do a good ride but that of anxiety. A feeling of inadequacy stemming from things outside my control, you can try and control as many of the factors within your control but what do you do when that's not enough? Back pain, headache, listless and unable to sleep, that's no way to prepare for a performance that's going to define a season
I rode the Nottingham Clarion '25' the intervening week a respectable 57:36 for 4th place on 'B' roads on the Vale of Belvoir, then a broken chain in the midweek '10' on 'fixed' well at least some of my bad luck is disposable but it's still annoying.

So to the Team Swift '100' pretty much the whole of my season was going to rest on this one ride, an overestimation I know but 3:54 my best so far would not get me a place in the BBAR top 10, with the way things are looking, with faster times 'across the board' in '50' '100' and 12Hrs. I would be outside with comparable speed to last year so I had to pull a decent ride to get my campaign back on track. It would be almost unbearable to ride another 12 hr. with nothing at stake, push yourself to the brink once more with no chance to make the grade when you know you are up against real riders with real times in the bank, it's no wonder I'm anxious

The Swift event up in N Yorkshire on the A168 between Disforth and Northallerton (turn) x 3 laps always a good one for me and has provided me with my seasons best the past three years, a good field Hutch (going for Comp record?) almost better than the National. I'm not off until 3.00pm so almost a day to while away (nerves) with all the riding done only the racing to do now, I'd been out in the morning for a customary stroll and got soaked before 2 miles so came home and called it quits.
A bit much wind than everybody would like, the weather these past couple of weeks has been changeable to terrible (ask anybody on a 'staycation' holiday) but to ride a 100 mile time trial at top speed in it another matter. Rain I can deal with, wind well that's why we produce such good sailors, because there's way too much of it on this island we call home, get on with the race, a bottle of fluid and a gel with coffee, bang it all in and see what transpires. It's a fast opening leg so the five mile ride to the start at Rainton Lane enough to be getting on with although there are riders in the lay by going 'nuts' on turbo's! 20:24 for the first 10m the first warning that it's going to be hard the other way but I'm not here to shirk a bit of pain and some grovelling it's a 'hundred' after all, you don't ride these and get off thinking "Nice day to be out on the bike" you race the whole way these days and all that 'aero' gimmickry ameliorates the wind (or that's the theory) the pain was always there - riders love it!

Coming back into the wind does not feel too bad, keep aero but keep relaxed and concentrate only on the next bit of road, then the next bit, the next and so on, don't panic. I have to do this three times so do not blow it on the first lap, keep something in reserve for the next time that will be crucial. At 50 miles I'm 1:51:17 but have done two downwind to one upwind and the second half will be the reverse so not to get too excited. Fi gives me my first bottle, its not a hot day, I will not need much more than this. I catch my four minute man Peter Greenwood (Clayton Velo) and he hangs around a bit too long, I cannot afford to alter my pacing to shed him but a couple of hard efforts on little rises as the second hard lap finishes sees him off. I have a Gel at the end of each lap as a present, use every trick at your disposal, whatever gets you to the end.

Riders are packing, Hutch is gone as he has no need for a slow agonising ride, the pain is relative but I would have liked to see what I do against him, seventeen others along with the fourteen DNS's for this excellent promotion, bit of a pity but when you have a sub 3:50 (3:45 some!) on the books not starting can be easy, stopping once you are into the race more of a battle but those little voices in your head that start as soon as the knot of pain in your chest and legs begins to slowly 'garrote' your senses

I need to be at 80m in three hours to give me 46 minutes for the final twenty, it's looking a possibility, all my splits whether into/with or split with the wind have been 22:30 - 23:00 (26.4mph Av.) as it is I'm bang on but the last climb up onto the moors they call the Cleveland Hills although wind assisted are interminable and provide me with my only split outside 'evens' 24:32 and puts me back, I see current BBAR Nik Bowdler (5 min man) and make him only 2:30 up with 13m to go, Fi gives me hot coffee it goes down a treat. The finish is into the wind (wouldn't you know it) and my legs are pretty much empty, I lever along my bike over every rise past finishing riders, nobody has caught me today, unusual to think that but I cross the line in 3:47:39 that last bit always goes on forever.

I lay down in the lay by (is that why they are called that?) I've never had to work that hard before, back pain and a headache in the correct context! Shows how much it means/how much I want it after a while I can sit up, Fiona is looking on a bit distressed, it's not good for her to see me in this condition, it makes it all look too serious and not just a sport we do for a bit of fun but I've done it and I've got the time to go with it, 4th again on the day (with all the dropouts!) but a credible performance maybe things are looking up!

Nott's Cl. Result

Team Swift '100' Result

BBAR Latest

Excercise in suffering - Breckland '12'

After a decent seasons best in the Pennine '50' up on the A168/19 (Boroughbridge Dishforth - Knayton x 2) 1:50:38 I could feel my 'form' beginning to return, I suffered a bit in the last ten miles but I'd only got off the track at 10.30pm Friday so the early Sunday event just a bit too soon after two strenuous track events.
I had a week to recover before the seasons most difficult challenge the 12 Hour, I'd chosen the Breckland event in Norfolk purely for the fast roads and the chance to go for a big mileage as over 200 miles are on the A11 between Thetford forest and Browick just West of Norwich. I ignored the bad time I'd had here just a few weeks back in the National '100' and put faith in my preparation and race strategy, the week before had been almost total rest apart from a 'middling' 22 minute '10' on the Tuesday to test out the spare bike.
The team (Fiona, Adrian & I) met at the 'cruddy' Travelodge at Barton Mills where we would rest our heads for a few short hours before the early start, we still had time for a picnic with wine and a fresh brew on the idyllic banks of the River Lark with swarms of dragonfly and a couple of dwarf deer for company.



4.30am is an ungodly hour to think about racing but with rain as well the omens were not good, of course it had been showery all week but at least the wind seemed to have abated so we set off for the HQ at Scoulton in the dark. There's always a flurry of extra things to get ready for the 'half day' race, bike and spare, frame numbers, I cannot remember the last time I fitted one of these but at least we have 'zip' ties these days and not the old plastic covered wire that used to catch your leg, then we have to move it behind the saddle as it fouls the larger 750ml bottle in the reduced modern frame.

On the line - In the rain (Photo KLCC)

Feeding strategy is simple, only one bottle "So don't let me go dry, whatever!" but with a good team I can relie on we have done this 2 or 3 times now and I have confidence. Food is rolls with banana and Chocolate spread or Ham & chicken for later I go to the line with only gels and a energy bar I plan to take in mouthfuls from the first hour so that my system is always working and does not get supressed. It's only spitting but I have to be careful on the road as the first 10 miles on 'B' roads with potholes and a set of lights, gratings and white lines all there to trap the unwary and put an early spanner in the well oiled machine of performance, of course I don't need that. After working perfectly my computer fails to start at the beginning so I have to stop after half a mile and adjust my sensors, then the sensors clash for 5 miles until I cannot stand it any longer, I toy with the dilemma of doing this on the move but in the wet just a slip and I'm over or take a finger off in the front wheel, but I just cannot have the magnet 'ping' for twelve hours, it would send me mad, or break the spoke or sensor, or both the frustration is boiling my brain and I want to get on with the race, so I stop again! two stops in the first 10 mile, probably just a minute but it feels like disaster, it feels like failure is stalking me.

Dreamtime

I get out onto the quite roads of the A11 it's light and the rain is worse but not bad, I have passed 3 or 4 riders already, I settle myself down, calm myself, try and get thing going in my favour. There is little traffic, but a car is up an embankment and the driver being attended by the police. Was a rider involved? Keep going at a steady pace, I'm at an hour for 25m, the field do a loop of the whole DC course to 53 miles but then we cut short at Eccles road underpass and do a shorter 20m loop which means we will see each other (and helpers) more often. It is here on this communal spot to both circiuts that most helpers have gathered, 50m in 2 hours dead and I take a bottle, 75m slightly slower in 3:01:42 but the wind is getting up and it's harder going East and the splits will be uneven all day so I don't need to worry that I'm a bit inconsistent. 100m in 4:04:09 two minutes up on last year but I'm three minutes up on Brian Phillips (E Grinstead) and eight on Nicholas Engilsh (Reading CC) my 5 and 10 minute men, Phillips catches English ahead of me but then begins to fade, English one of the most improved riders of the year riding to a power meter is keeping his pace very even but has gone remarkably slow at the start and will hope to pick us off one at a time. Dave Green (RAF) the man with the best distance is my 5 minute man behind me and I have not been aware of him but suddenly he is an extra 5 or more minutes down and I am in the lead. Ian Sutton (San Fairy Ann) my 15 min man is very strong but drops away after 120m. We have a 20m haul into the wind as we change circuits at 135 miles and I have to concentrate to keep it together but I'm managing 1:02:30 for my splits, I catch Phillips during this phase and we acknowledge each other cheery but short, neither of us in any doubt that we are not here to chat but to suffer, every rider suffers, for his speed and to defie the race, the race is not broken yet and we must suffer a bit more that the race will come to heel and be broken but not yet, closer to the end. English pulls back a little every lap but then has to stop (comfort break!) and looses it all, Sutton I am about to catch at 175m when he too has to stop and next time I see him he is another 5 min down.

The traffic has got up allot, mostly cars going to 'car booters' or the Snetterton race circuit but once we move onto the Borowick loop it seems to ease of, and then in the distance the sound of sirens and the screech of police cars, could be anything but deep down you know it affects you, as I reach the Eccles road turn I see flashing lights and a rider in the road, I go around the turn a mere half a mile up the road none of the helpers seem aware what is going on, I take a bottle and back out onto the A11, I pass the several cars and a helecopter is low overhead and lands in a fields adjacent to the incident, I'm almost blown sideways and the hay from the newly harvested field is all around me, as I pass away from the scene I get down to my riding. 200m comes up in 8:18:10 a whole 12 minutes faster than last year! I've done so well over the middle section, I'm still above 24mph and a quick calculation in my head tells me I only need to keep 22mph for the remainder to make the magical 280 miles maybe even more. 200 miles is a watershed, more than two thirds gone and 3:40 to do the remainder, it's lifts me into the wind. Still allot to do but after my early faltering miles it feels like relief. When I get to the far turn a marshall steps into the road and waves his arms, I carry onto the overhead bridge, more marshall's in orange coats "Race is cancelled" and some helpers confirm it is all over. I literally turn the air blue with my language as it sinks in, the ride of my life has just come to an abrupt halt, and a lady helper puts her arm around me instinctively she knows what to do I know it's over, then I have to apologise, we all know it's over.

The 'Grindstone' (Photo KLCC)

I have a 10 mile trudge back to the helpers, the A11 is closed to all traffic but the rider is gone, everybody is in a state of panic and confusion but the over whelming sound in my head is silence "Who was the rider?" "Is he OK?" It wasn't supposed to be over and yet we are sitting, standing resting our weary bodies on our bikes gradually as the late afternoon sun dries the sweat on our skin into scales of salt I have to peel off my skin suit and remove my number in an acknowledgement that we will not be going on. We pack away and go back to the HQ, there is a bit of discussion but we don't know very much, the rider is young Will Dorsett and local from the North Norfolk Whs. he's been taken Norfolk & Norwich hospital, tea and cakes are plentifully and free but they stick in out throat, we would pay twice for the chance to finish what we have started, no rider climbs off without regret and bitter is the taste when over eight hours of toil is against the 'grindstone'

Adrian, Fiona & I are the last to leave the HQ (even the organiser had locked up and gone) I felt like waiting until 6.35 when I was due to finish and I would wake up and it would have all been a dream. But by that time we were on our way back to Leicester in silence, lost in our thoughts for the day and the injured rider. We all take risks to race on the public roads, to a non cyclist like Fiona it seems like madness to share with cars and worst lorries but we all do it and we do it because we have a desire to go fast, statistics put DC roads at no more dangerous than 'A' or 'B' roads it is the circumstances and the individuals that create the danger not the roads themselves. We all use the highways in the (calculated) knowledge that to enjoy our sport, indeed ride a bicycle then we need to be allowed to make the choice about the places and circumstances but protected from the individuals who would make it a foolhardy choice.
Young Will was battered by a car that got too close and was lucky, he has a broken arm/wrist and required surgery on his knee and took a beating from his collision & fall but looks to be pulling through, others have not (& will not) be as lucky and we all must be aware that it is a danger we all face.

Accident report here

Fool's Gold - 'Madchester'

Euro Masters Track

The British masters track had been a bit of a disaster with my self inflicted accident I just about scraped through without any permanent damage but looked forward to these races after a holiday but only a few days on from riding in the Pyrenees to 3 Km pursuit on the Thursday a bit of a challenge. Unfortunately I was pitched against Tim Lawson (SIS) the winner of the British title in the qualifying round and had to suffer the ignominy of being caught while doing a PP of 3:38 (good enough for 6th place) but then being disqualified for not dropping back twenty meters, the same thing happened last year with Tim who can put in a 1:9 first kilo but finishes with a 1:14, me I'm starting with a 1:14 so out of the reckoning and don't even get to keep my time unsatisfactory all around.
Pursuit:- Ettles - Lawson - Burke

The 20Km points race a different challenge altogether, we were the only age group to need heats to qualify for the final, only a couple to be eliminated from each 10Km heat and with only four sprints there was some panicky moments (Clayton) but all those that qualified scored at least a point. With numerous closely matched riders it was always going to be a 'burn up' and a terrific race, I sat out the first couple of sprints always fiercely contested, with a lull in the pace I then took my chance to get away, Ian Greenstreet (Newbury RC) always a rider with similar ambition was soon with me and we worked for the next 8 laps where I took the 5 points and we kept going with Trevor Burke (Finchley RC) and Peter Ettles (Sandy Wallace) getting up to us in time for the next sprint where I took another couple of points. I was blowing and sat out the next sprint and was just pipped half a wheel by Ettles for a point on the next sprint taken by Steve Clayton (Planet X) who also took the next from a group including a German Michael Blasczyk, Ettles and Greenstreet which put them all in contention for the medals but the race was very close and I knew a few more points or a win would get me in the medals, Working my way up through the field on the penultimate sprint was nigh on impossible as the sprints were being contested from 3-4 laps out and the pace made it difficult to move up let alone get in the top 4 places for points. After the sprint I took my chance to break away, I held a quarter of a lap and Blasczyk made it across to me and we stayed away to the bell where I jumped him for the win, unfortunately a French rider Jaques Suire exploded out the bunch and caught me a bike length from the line reducing my 5 points to 3 and I missed the silver medal my 10 points only good enough for 4th. Ettles taking the Gold with 14 Pts. from Blasczyk and Clayton both with 11 Pts. Blasczyk getting the verdict by virtue of his higher final placing.

Result tells the facts but not the story

After the race I apologised to William Fotheringham (Halesowen C & AC) who I'd (accidentally) ridden over at the British Masters, he looked a bit battered. I felt good that I had tried my best and put up a good defence of my title, in the light of recent events a single point at half way and the final charge for the line would have made me second, together they'd have won it for me but that's racing and it's always good to be in a closely contested race. Everybody who had been in the final knew that it had been a race worth winning.

Bordeaux time trial - Revisited #3

After my premature retreat from the Pyrenees I was able to see the Tour slightly more leisurely and up close in Bordeaux for the Time Trial on the penultimate day, I had first seen the Tour here in 1973 while on a family holiday and it must have made a big impression on me.



I don't remember too much about the stage finish which was mobbed and as a young boy was probably too foreign and strange won by Walter Godefroot (Bel) but the next days time trial won by Jaoquim Agostinho (Por) in the same Orange 'Bic' jersey as the eventual winner Luis Ocana with all the accompanying motorbikes and car horns I can remember as something of a spectacular. Each car had the riders name on Merckx, Poulidor and Zoetemelk all strange and fascinating in the heat of the French countryside (through the environs of an out of town exhibition complex if memory serves me right) , Barry Hoban was to win the penultimate stage at Versalles and had won a stage at Angles-sur-Mer and Michael Wright had won the previous stage at Aubagne so there was a buzz about the British interest in the race as there had been this year with the Team Sky involvement in the le Grande Bouche for the first time and Bradley Wiggins as a potential winner.

Le Garaint

Of course by this time the British hope had been tailed off of shown his place after his fantastic 4th last year he was now a marked rider even though he had a team built around him. Lance Armstrong had also been found wanting (for luck if not pace) and was well down.
We saw the middle order through the streets of Bordeaux and then went to the Tour 'village' where we were able to see the riders preparing for their race, Geraint Thomas was warming up on a 'turbo' as the mechanics got his bike ready and we saw him go to the gate and start down the ramp to eventual 10th place, a rider for the future I feel after his excellent ride in the first week when he came within an ace of wearing the yellow jersey

Le Sky


Fiona and I set off out of town to watch the riders through the vineyards (Medoc) on the way to Pauillac along the Gironde river, along with what it seems like the European nation of cycling family with a few Americans and Aussies thrown in for good measure on the flat tarmac and the heat of the mid day, We just missed Lance and Brad but caught the last twenty and the sight and sound took me back to those events in the early 70's that impressed me and made me want to race a bike. When it was all over the crowd who twenty minutes earlier had been taking in the sights of the tour and shouting their respective favourites on to the finish simply melted away and the road was left barren and open never to see the like again.

Le Start


Fi and I made a brew of tea at in the forest and sat in the shade after being in the heat for an hour but some had been here since early this morning and even with the parasols and lunch boxes you need some staminer to follow the Tour never mind ride it as I'd found out over the past week supporting your rider is a serious and time consuming activity all be it a free event it still takes a big effort.

Le Maillot Blanc


The supporters truly love the race and believe in the riders so with all the activity that has tarnished the event in recent years this year has been one of the most exciting (and clean - to date) giving hope for the future of the sport, youngsters have to dream big dreams and there's nothing bigger than 'Le Tour'

Le Maillot Jaune

Le Tour (de France) #2

The day after the National '100' we were off to France for two weeks holiday and I felt I needed a rest to take stock of my season but of course I took my bike and planned to do a bit of riding in the second week to watch the Tour in the Pyrenees. While there I had a ride over to see Dave and Penny Wright at their Gite 35 miles away, there was time for a dip in the pool before heading back as the next day I was heading South. I planned to take minimum 'basic' camping gear and ride down to Pau and then on to Hautes-Pyrenees to see the riders on the Tourmalet which was to be crossed twice (both ways) in its 100th year of use.

Gironde Gite(s) Dave & Penny

As I left St Astier at 3pm to make my way to Pau on the edge of the Pyreneeian range and the stage finish for the next day, the tarmac was melting under my wheels as I headed from the wine growing region of Duras in the Lot-et-Garonne through the forested flat land of Gascony where Armagnac is made. I kept up a good pace (17pmh) but the heat did not abate until after 8 O'clock and I made 90 miles before I stopped an hour later when I bedded down in my 'bivvy' bag 30 from my destination, After a night of watching shooting stars I awoke for a breakfast of porridge and apricots (soaked overnight) and set off for Pau as the heat began to build again. I reached the barriered streets of Pau and after going under the 1Km to go inflatable and a brief coffee I set out along the reverse of the course to see if I could get to the top of the Col d'Aubisque final climb of the day, that also included the Peyresoured, Tourmalet and the Soulor, if I hadn't stopped for a coffee I'd probably have made it but the roads closed and it was a definite "Ferme" from the Gendarmes and I could only make it to Laruns the town at the base of the climb.


Johan Museeuw (nice man)

I had the consolation of riding the 30Km to get there with the Belgian Ex-World Champion and multi single day classic winner Johan Museeuw who was riding out to a 'Meet and Greet' along the course. At first I was just sitting on his wheel not knowing who he was, to be fair he did not try to drop the 'tourist' he was in an immaculate 'Museeuw' bike with jersey and shorts to match but every Tom Dick & Johan can get that sort of gear these days so I just followed along with my heavily panniered bike. He took a few calls (i-phone) I was forced to pass him (shucks!) and we struck up a conversation " Are you working on the race?" "No not really, I'm a sort of writer" " A journalist?" "No I'm writing a book, you might know who I am" (modestly)" Bloody Hell! You're not a writer you're an Ex-World Champion (surprised!)" He still had an impressive physique (shaved legs) with a deep scar down his left calf (racing accident), he did genuinely seem modest about his career I suggested that he get some (world) championship bands on his jersey and I had to let him go as the roads got steeper as we got to closer to the mountains as I did not want to be seen to be trying too hard to keep up.

Tour in town

After the race had been through I mounted my bike and began the 16Km climb to the top of the Col d'Aubisque, it took nearly 2 hours (with a few stops) and mostly in bottom gear (39 x 26) especially the 13% bits. As I began to climb the rain began to spot and the cloud rolled in to cover the mountain, It was fairly pleasant and kept me cool but the riders descending from watching the days events were having to take care on the bends and dodge all the traffic that had been on the mountain. I stopped at the ski station at Gourette for some water and the visibility was only 30 meters, on the top it was less, a Spanish rider and I took photo's of each other infront of the pinnacle, he headed back I headed on to the Solour, as I descended the cloud cleared a bit and I had views across the valley to the Asson decent to Pau.

d'Aubisque summit

The roads were lined with SUV's, every flat & not so flat space taken, I stopped in the Cafe at the Solour summit had a chat to some of the campers, some had done the Etap a few days before and were tanned/burned by their experience but I had to decide where to stay the night, the top very exposed although there were a few tents I was worried if it was as cold as the night before at this altitude I would be in trouble, I had my cape on and there was just some drizzle. I decided to descend and find some cover in the trees as rain was predicted so as I passed the hundreds and hundreds of vehicles here for the duration, I dropped down and found myself a secluded spot on a bend with a river to wash & cook, the grass had been trampled by the days events so I marked out a pitch under a tree and settled down with pasta & soup with sweets & Madelaine's courtesy of the caravan.
As I settled down to sleep thunder and lightning began and I was glad not to be on the top, but as the night went on and the rain got worse I was huddled in my bivvy with just an opening for my face and a worst storm developed in which it was impossible to get much sleep although I managed to keep fairly dry and warm in my sack.
The morning came with drizzle and a fog of low cloud, I cooked breakfast and packed my wet gear away descending to the town of Argles-Gazost (where the drink pastis is made) on the way I caught Nick ? (Archer RC) also with panniers on a camping holiday in the region. We went for a coffee to discuss the potential for the day, It was obvious to me that the weather was here to stay and with all my gear wet and no way to dry out a return was the only option, Nick was going over the Col du Tourmalet & Aspin (it had been closed to traffic for three days now!) to get away from the Tour which had completely overrun the region and the slopes of the Tourmalet were like some cycling Glastonbury at 2000 meters and I decided it was better to beat a retreat and watch it on the TV. This is what I did, I took the 15Km cycle path along the old railway to Lourdes and then on to Tarbes by lunchtime I took off some of my wet gear on the way although the weather did not improve much all day. I had marked out a nice route along the Baise river from Mirande and thet is what I stuck to, my phone had given up the ghost in the night and even a passage through Lourdes could not resurrect it so I had to resort to a payphone to get Fi to make the journey to meet me in the Gascony forest as I clocked up 120 miles by 7 O'clock and I was ready to climb off but at least I'd done a few miles for the 12 Hr. in a few weeks time


Expedition over