2012 Review of the Year

And so we get to the end of the year, relax and take things easy, well I've already hit the deck to make up for not having had a spill this year, a slow motion 'sack of spuds' landing that saw me come off the looser to the tarmac as that big o'l floor came up and hit me in the face! Trying to perform a forward roll I banged my head and shoulder in the manoeuvre but my thumb that I think I dislocated hurt the most and has taken the longest to recover

Ouch!

Considering I did not start racing until the beginning of June I still managed 32 events compared to 45 the past two seasons but only 660 miles of racing compared to the 1500-2000 of recent years gives a better indication of the reduced nature of my racing programme. Out went most of the long distance stuff with only one 100 finished and so no BBAR for the first time in 6 years, my training had a similarly curtailed look with a mere 4200 miles covered in the first 6 months, mostly rides to work and not a ride over 100 miles until late March.
My provisional plan for the season was to ride all my races on a fixed wheel, I don't think I missed much early on as the weather was fowl and my first event Nottingham Clarion '50' like an early season event in terrible conditions and I though my 'year of fixed'  would go out there and then but the conditions were just too dangerous for single speed. From here though I was (mostly) on my pursuit bike, and I tinkered with the gear from the mid 90's to 102".and managing a respectable 1:53 in the Finsbury '50' by the middle of the month
What with changes to the VTTA 'Standards' (the first time since their inception in 1946) to allow the younger Vets to be more competitive in taking Standard awards on open events and having reached my 50's I now passed over into another age group for age related racing on the road and track. The focus of my season would not come until the end of my season I still had the British Masters Championships at Newport at the end of June and my results on limited condition were impressive 2nd (Pursuit) 3rd (Points Race) and 4th (Scratch race) were evidence that I was already more competitive now although I was beaten in all three events by another 'graduate' from my old pre fifty group the Ex Pro Footballer Trevor Burke but I was slightly vexed to learn that he had not passed the age of consent  but was racing as a quirk of the UCI rule that allows riders to race in 'The season of their birth' with the events that were to come later in the year another reason to wonder at the logic of our governing body.

UCI and a Pork Pie

With a bit of speed in my legs I banged out two short 53 minute '25's in quick succession racing mainly locally but we are blessed with some of the fastest in the country I was trying to keep my travelling away to a minimum to keep Fiona happy! On what I can only describe as the best day I have raced on for quite some time I rode one of the events of the season outside a championship, the Shaftsbury '50' provided me with a new personnel best  and a club record 1:47:40, only 12 seconds off my previous best but on 106" fixed. I was almost certain I would have gone faster on gears but I made it a rule only to take one bike to an event to stop me from vacillating. However after riding to London at 20.12mph average as my tribute to the start of the Olympics and packing in a few miles watching the opening road events I took a further 1:27 off my '50' record on my local A50 based event, my 1:46:13 was done on gears this time and my twelfth breaking of this club record all told, the first time 16 August 1981 (2:01:46) at 19 years of age
I was not expecting to do any personnel bests this year with the way my programme was laid out, I was still planning to have a crack at Roger Hammond's '10' record but I only rode two open events at this distance and came up 17 seconds slower than my best and more than half a minute off the record. This ride was also on gears so maybe I should have stuck to my principals for once, this was the day when Michael Hutchinson broke the competition record so I cannot say I did not have the right day and he has been trying to break Bradley Wiggins record for a few seasons now and took 12 seconds off the record set in 2006. I seem to find myself more than 2:30  behind competition record, I was only 2 minutes behind the last time I rode on the day competition record was broken by Dave Lloyd 5 September 1981
My season came to a close with my major objective to get on the podium at the World Masters Track at Manchester in October,  I'd come a close with 4th the previous day in the 15Km Points race  but I then managed a bronze medal in my last event the 10Km Scratch race, so as I came to a slow standstill after the event knowing I had achieved my target but also that my season ended there, I was best European finisher in both races.
Even though I only just scraped a full compliment of distances for the VTTA National three distance BAR (25,50,100) I was placed 7th in the country (up from 40th)and topped my Notts & East Midlands group, this is against the changes to the 'Standards' that have shaken the standings up a bit but 78 year old Derek Hodkins was one place behind me while a 41 year old made 4th place and it was won by the impressive 60 year old Phil Greenwood (Clayton Velo) so with such a spread of ages in the top flight it seems like after all the arguments they were set about right

WORLD MASTERS TRACK - Big cat diary

WORLD MASTERS - Manchester - Scratch  Race

So to the Scratch race, we did have over thirty sign on for this, so with only 24 riders allowed on the track some would be unlucky, I kept my gear the same which in retrospect was a mistake, these guys may be over fifty but when they have to move themselves for a 'one time only deal' they sure get a shift on! Only 5Km (20 laps) to wait everything was going to plan following Poppelwell high up the track to keep out the bother down the bottom, fine at 30mph maybe even fine at 35mph but in a sprint for the line above the Madison line when you loose your wheel and I was in a drag race to the line, the Argentinian Zoric and Trevor Burke at the front under geared and at the back only myself to blame if I did not make the cut?

Line out - 10Km Scratch race

There were allot of black looks in the pen from Phil fellow competitor Adrian (Shaftsbury RC) who had just seen his own qualifying go up in smoke when ten riders in groups of two and three gained a lap leaving him short in 14th place. Umm Ah! long wait for the result (photo) 11th place phew! Get that gear put up now!

Peter Toth (CAN) - Double Gold (Pic - Steve Walton)

The final a completely different race of course, for some qualifying is the final a chance to say "I was there" but for those with more ambition a plan even, the final is an opportunity, a blank canvas something to be moulded (or played) a bike is the instrument, my 33 year old 'Roberts' with a pedigree in British and European races was ready to take me through that kaleidoscope of faith and fear that is the simple Scratch race, double the distance for a final we had just watched Dave Rowe WORLD MASTERS TRACK - Big cat diary  carried off on a 'gurney' in the 65-69 Points race the first man I ever saw win a bike race at Herne Hill in 1968 (I was six) the magic dust sprinkled that day made me a 'trackie' not a sprinter like Dave but the eternal loop,  Dave would be back broken neck or not!

Crossing the line third - Behind the Canadian

The preceding race the 45-49 was also 'broken race' (or at least split) four riders go from the gun and lap the field inside 5 laps, its all over (but for the four) a race with nowhere to go but around the boards the others will never finish, always a lap too short. Americans David Klipper is the Champion, Italian Luca Agostino Salvedeo the Silver and British rider David Brinton Bronze
So we take to the track, riders are twitchy, I cruise around on the wheels, this gear (96") feels big! It is big! too big for my weak leg! Get a grip! Nobody is getting the slightest chance to get away, this could be a problem for me as a big sprint finish not my forte, I watch the other riders make their play, the bunch toy with them like a big cat with a sweeping tail, dropping on them with sharp claws feeding out a bit of freedom and then pouncing and killing the move but not dead just wounded, save the kill until later until we've had our fun!

Faithful Roberts 'iron' gets me throug

This continues throughout the early laps of the race. The bunch elongates as the pressure goes on and I have to pay close attention but it's still 20 laps out, too far to make a break, suicidal! Manchester rider Jerry Cross has another attack, he's gone before and its a weak move, the bunch hardly take up the chase but I sense that there is an opportunity. Ten laps out its a long way but this race is going nowhere for me, I drop back a bit we are all high on the track, cats like to sit high up and observe their territory, comfortable and knowing. I have to make my move and now is the time, think too much and you will not do it. A clean break that is all I need and then for the bunch to hesitate, you can risk making a slower move, taking somebody with you, share the risk and the limelight but in the end its full power and nobody is getting my wheel, the bunch less likely to chase a solo.

Podium - It's nice!

Its eight to go on the line so I just wind it up and launch myself underneath, it's always all or nothing, the gear feels big almost as big as I used in the Pursuit, It's going to be my second pursuit of the week after all! My head is down and I just go as hard as I can, the next time I'm aware of anything I catch sight of the bunch on the other side of the track, Wah! I'm going to take a lap! The cat is asleep, I can do this, all sorts of things go through your head but the main one "I'm gonna be World Champion!"  Then the pain begins to build, from the bottom of your toes to your waste, this is going to be painful, Oh! yes there is a price to pay, nothing I can do, just keep going lap after lap 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 the pain is bad so you slow down thinking the pain will go away but surprise surprise it doesn't.  I am totally unaware of what else is happening, there is quite a bit of noise as the crowd get behind me willing me on, I feel their excitement, I'm in limbo

With a lap and a half to go a rider goes past Toth? In his distinctive silver helmet, bugger! No way I can get on his back wheel and then a half lap later another Le Beau? Where does that leave me? Bronze? I can still raise a sprint, I'm unaware of anybody else but when they come you do not feel it, now I am the prey and the talons are out. I cross the line still thinking I might be passed but I've kept a good pace to the end  Gerard O'Connell (AUS) who was with the Canadians comes a distant fourth unable to hold the speed of the other two who are in another league So my 'direct' attacking play for Gold yields a Bronze but I'll take that, my first step on the World podium and place up from yesterday I just went from too far out and let them back into it  but If i had delayed the opportunity would have gone. It's thin pickings for the Brits again Apperly in 10th, I'd like to think they did not chase but the Canadians working as a pair as good as they are almost unbeatable but at least I tried

WORLD MASTERS TRACK - "It's showtime folks"

WORLD MASTERS - Manchester - 15Km Points Race

News of that once great cycling champions fall from grace, it was only getting worse by the day, all these allegations against Jimmy Saville were only tempered by the back pages full of the pantomime events that surround that once iconic charity fundraiser Lance Armstrong allegations that his great plate spinning act was finally falling down around his ears. With cycling so much in the news these days we thought for all the right reasons but apparently we were wrong! Rumours that Lance was thinking of making a comeback in the Masters abound but was otherwise engages on some pre-publicity event that may involve a lifetime ban or even a stretch in prison where I'm sure he will find all the drugs he needs (or wants) to be champion of his world.

Bunch racing at it's best 15Km Points Race 50-54

Lance Arm Strong his name is like a call to war, the definition of a fighter, and what a fight it has been, if only it had been a fair fight we might feel good about how we believed (wanted to believe) in a man who could take on the things that us mere mortals hope to avoid or at least beat with the help of others. A one man war machine against the world and its pain. Taking that pain for us? And now we find its all been a Hollywood plot with rickety scenery and bad acting, shocker!

Toth leads by two laps - still a bit to do for SWRC

Back to the racing, Day 2, for me or just plain Thursday for everybody else, not enough riders (26) sign on for heats so its everybody straight through to the final and no nasty heat for us Hooray! But I got to watch some of the best racing of the week in the 45-49 heats as riders lapped the field one after another clocking up the points (10pts. for a lap) in the highest scoring 40 lap race I'd ever seen and riders needed at least 10 points to qualify, and to think last year you only requires a single point, thank Lance I'm out of that group. Our final comes around soon enough that evening after a day watching the rain fall and fall. So its a bit of a warm up (I'd been on the track that morning) and with only 60 laps (six sprints) all to play for, I sit out the first sprint as only on 92" gear and its always 'mental' fast! Vincent Zoric (ARG) is fastest out the gate from Londoner (Hackney BC) Kier Apperley and the Vladimir Zyryanov from Siberia (bet they have a nice track!)

Round the outside

After this it gets a bit confusing but I think we are played the old one...two by defending champion Le Beau and his Canadian team mate Peter Toth who went away and gained a lap with Burke the British champion  but Burke pulled out soon after as did the American Don Langly who won the next sprint as I picked up my first points in second, the Russian third and another American David Gulick the single. While I was getting my breath back Toth went again! this time with the Russian and Ralph Carter (London Dynamo) who had beaten me in the British Champ's but he could not hold the pace  while the others gained a lap.

Ralph Carter (Dr) 5th (Pic - Steve Walton)

While I was floundering getting a single point on the scoreboard but the race was well stretched by this point and I thought I was nowhere, so many riders had gone away that I was out of the reckoning. I made a big effort for the final sprint and only lost out to Le Beau so I was surprised when I came off the track to be told I was 4th! With two of the strongest riders pulling out and the likes of Poppelwell and Christensen not scoring a single point, even though they were very animated in the race. To be fair all the medallists were all at least a lap up and I never even thought it was possible for me to go with any of the moves but it just goes to show that maybe I was not giving myself a chance its the closest I've come to a medal and now maybe I think I can win

The British riders do better in the 45-49 age group Nick Abraham and Nick Noble taking  the Silver and Bronze from that man Kenny Williams again!  But it's a dam close race with the result only decided on the final sprint after the Italian Enrico Grimaldi penalised two laps for a 'non mechanical' timeout when leading the race at half way.

WORLD MASTERS TRACK - ( War on drugs!)

WORLD MASTERS - Manchester - 2Km Pursuit

After a shorter season (started racing in June) than of late the World Masters my ultimate target for the year, It's been good to get a couple of Time Trial PB's under my belt in the past months to know that I have decent fitness but the track such a different discipline, Do I have the 'form' to win a World Title? It's my first year in the 50-54 age group so in theory my best chance to win but I have at least Trevor Burke (Finsbury RT) to contend with the triple British champion and fifty other riders from 14 nations to contend with. I've done a diet of Turbo and Interval work to compensate for not having any track time but to be honest I do not know where I am as my other racing seems to be suffering and I have no Power in my normal racing and put in a series of poor or lack lustre performances in the weeks coming up to the Championships.

Waiting for the off - 2Km Pursuit

This year the events I've entered Pursuit, 15Km Points race and 10Km scratch race compressed into three days so there will be no let up from the pressure that accompanies heats and finals, warming up, and diet over the programme of being prepared and focused to race. First up the 2Km Pursuit down a kilometre from last year and only eight laps of the velodrome, I was second to Burke in the Nationals with a 2:28 and I feel I can improve with more rounded fitness and Adrian's lent me his disc front wheel. I have put my gear up an inch as well to 55 x 14 (97") as I figure with the race over quicker I'm not going to run out of 'puff'

First Lap

I've had a niggardly hamstring these past few weeks so I have been limited in my starting practise, I can feel it after a couple of efforts so I have to be content with being stylistically efficient if not powerfully correct, I take Emma Trott as my model, she hardly ever seems to be putting an effort in when starting, just a serene look of composure when all i can feel is grunting and a gnashing of teeth! I have a bit of a scare on my warm up when my rim splits and explodes with a BANG! The riders and officials around me think its another starting pistol but the only upshot I have to use a tri spoke (and 6oz tyre!) for the rest of the week which gives my winter bike a 'sporty' look to go with the mudguards (well it is Manchester!) and rack.

Last Lap

Brother Phil is here to 'walk the line' and add support but mostly its down to the individual so I'm up on the starting gate against Gonzalez (COL) I've been up on the track with the 'disc' and there is a definite difference to a conventional wheel, the need to steer the bike now, it won't just go around the banking on its own like I'm used to. Out of the gate I crash a few foam blocks but 22.701 for the first lap and over half a second up on my opponent, it's difficult to know how the race went in retrospect as it was over so quickly At the kilometre I was 1:15:171 as opposed to a long 1:14 last year and giving the foam blocks a bit of a beating as I 'threepenny bit' my way around the banking's walloping one onto the sprinters line, I bet Rubiel over the other side was wondering what was going on and how I was staying in front of him. I ended with my usual flourish for 2:27.192 over five seconds up on the Colombian and the fastest to date. I had gone nearly a second and a half faster than earlier in the year and the next two heats provided nothing faster but I feel I need to be inside 2:25 to get in the last four to contest the medals
Burke also went over a second faster than his National time 2:23.066 it was only good enough for third fastest, Michael Popplewell (AUS) was fastest with 2:20.311 only marginally faster than Stephane Le Beau (CAN) 2:20.485. Clause Christiansen (DEN) was fourth 2:24.044. I could warm down knowing I would not have to ride again that evening but get ready for the next days Points race. In the ride off Burke took the Bronze with a similar time while the Dane went backwards the result of two recent crashes and not having the form to back up his morning effort. In the Gold and Silver ride there was a reversal with Le Beau going faster and the Australian so we had a Commonwealth 1-2-3 and I ended up in 8th place and second Brit once again.

Warm down (with Tim Mulrooney - USA)

While we were having our own ding dong battle I had to take note of what was happening to my old pals in the 45-49 group, I was billeted at the track next to the USA pen and got talking to last years champion Daniel Casper who was a bit worried about the riders coming up from below but was here to enjoy himself and enjoy the camaraderie and the racing as were most of us.  One of his countryman Kenny Williams was fresh into the group and making everybody a bit uncomfortable for returning from a 2 year drugs ban He proceeded to win this age group taking the wind out of the sails of many who might train a bit harder if they thought there was a level playing field for Masters like there is in the post Lance era (should that be Cera?) There was much muttering but little we can do but 'Play up! Play up! and Play the Game!' More Here

Results Here

Picking up the 'Poop'

After the thrill of the Olympics I settle into my preparation for the World Masters Track in October, I've done a few miles to and from London to watch the Road Racing and Time Trial on home soil, not a stones throw from the home of the SWRC. Our one and only place to place club record the Portsmouth and back and here were the worlds best plying their trade along the very same, knowledge of the back lanes came in useful if you wanted to take in the race at several places but the crowds were so big that you were better to stay in one well appointed place (Thanks Phil!)and watch the race on a big screen as I did with Alan at Headley Common and Bradley did us proud and Froome confirmed what we knew after the Tour, we have the best TT'ers in the World and Britain and Cycling in particular could bathe in the glow of their efforts if not the sun which came out for the Games and gave us a summer of sport to remember.

I had some distinctly average performances myself, an off colour ride in the Bedfordshire Roads CC '25' on my 106" fixed, I struggled to 56:55 on the undulating roads of the lower A1 to Baldock but then had the best evening of the year in the Hinckley CRC '10' and recorded a 22:40 for 2nd on my 93" for a 100 RPM effort. The next weekend's Swift '100' would end badly for us all as one of our number involved in a collision and killed while competing, the event was cancelled even though I'd already finished in 4:01:11 every rider on the road that day felt like our world so newly bathed in glory was but a black hole. The rider 75 year old Lenny Grayson from the promoting club had recovered from serious illness to race again and had beaten numerous Veterans records was my minute man and I gave him a word of encouragement as I passed early in my ride but he was destined not to finish his final race and our own time trial frozen on that day out of respect for a life taken before its time doing the thing he loved more than all other, it leaves us all with the real sensation that we risk everything

The next weekend was the Swift 'Charity' '10' inspired by Lenny's recovery from cancer, all proceeded to Marie Curie and I have ridden it the last three seasons in the hope of a fast time on this the famed V718 "The fastest course in the UK" but so far this event (well 3 events) with nearly 300 riders from across the country come to try their luck.

SWIFT Charity '10' - 20:33

I'd been throwing up a couple of days before with a bug that left me a little bit out of sorts and not looking forward to the 2 Hr. drive for a gut wrenching effort but in the end my second fastest time 20:33 (29.0 mph) for 61st place on the day!! Michael Hutchinson broke competition record with 17:45 12 seconds off Bradley Wiggins record so the day proved to be a good one all around as it was announced that the event will become known as the Lenny Grason memorial and a fitting tribute to a rider who enjoyed his sport and that was a positive feeling to bring away from a great day of sport with many other personnel bests I rode the Coalville Wheelers 2 Up with Mark White (Scicon), he had won the Team 'tag' Tri National Champs the day before so a little bit jaded but we managed our fastest on this 'lumpy' course 58:33 and the fastest 'mixed' team.

I had a dilemma a week later with clashing events, with the cancellation of the Swift and the ECCA the final '100' of the year the BDCA had taken on another level of importance as the weather hit season was coming to a close. As if to emphasise the important of the day itself I'd chosen not to ride the British Time Trial Champs (BTTC) on the Sunday

Many riders had BBAR aspirations riding on the BDCA, Andy Wilkinson (Port Sunlight) needed to finish inside 3:40 to break the BBAR mph speed record and numerous other riders found them self's needing a time just to qualify. I was riding to get a 'Short' BBAR of '25, '50' & '100' I was feeling in good shape after overcoming my bug.

Unfortunatly I never got to turn a pedal (or is it crank?) in anger at the BDCA for with my front wheel literally on the line word came through that the A50 had been closed by the Police because of a fatal motorcycle accident, the rider who mis-judged a corner had been spotted in a ditch by a lorry driver, (apparently he had been there some time). The event was cancelled with half the riders on the road (so no re-start or re-schedule) and all the pre talk of records and rides came to a premature halt, I had to go out in the evening to get the stress (and cafeen) out of my body but It looked like I would ride the BTTC after all.

The next day where being new to the 50-54 age group I had a good chance of a medal. Kevin Tye having seemingly already sewn up the top spot in the week by winning the World title in Austria! but not to worry the local course in the Vale of Belvoir was not to my style with a swingeing climb and I had done no preparation work for it. In the event It all felt 'After the Lord Mayors Show' as I came up 7th on the Sunday with Tye taking the title as predicted.


Bedford Roads '25'

SWIFT (Charity) '10'

BTTC - Masters E (50-54)

CLUB RECORD (1:46:13) - Olympic Dreams

The British Olympic cyclists were sweeping all before them and I was getting into the spirit with a second breaking of the Club '50' record in the space of a fortnight, a shade under 90 seconds off what I'd done in the Shaftsbury but this was a different sort of ride, the third time I'd broken the record in this event the BDCA on my 'local' fast course on the A50 between Etwall & Blythe Bridge I'd ridden back from London on the Thurs (80m) Fiona picked me up from Northampton so I didn't have to do it all and I took it easy (18.5mph) but it was still a long ride close to the event on Saturday afternoon. The day forecast showers (again) and I plumped for gears for the first time this season since the opener as I figured the 'Concrete Mountain' would blunt any chance of taking advantage of the course and conditions which were blustery I downed several coffee's after being abstemious as usual and I was off to the timekeeper (Joe Summerlin) resplendent in his Olympic 'Gamesmaker'jacket making us feel part of the amazing sport we have witnessed so far. I looked up at the ominous heavens and removed my visor, not raining yet but it was 'how long' now not 'what if' I've been starting more cautiously because of using a fixed, it takes a bit of time to get into your ride and I carried over to gears, I've also turned off my computer notifications but with the rain I soon forget about my splits and just concentrate on my performance. Looking at my splits in retrospect my first (five mile) split was the only one outside 11 minutes 11:10 apart from the dog leg to Doveridge which knocks you for six after descending the Mountain at top speed. 10:33 as I get into my stride and then 10:19 as I battle with the conditions and the rolling roads, a couple of tricky roundabouts and then 10:54 as we ascend to the high point but still keeping my form. Around the Blythe Bridge roundabout at the far turn, I was about level with Neil Skellern (Team Swift) my 5 minute man but still not caught my minute man which is a bit unusual. The return is slightly harder but the rain storms have killed the wind a bit and it's only tough for the couple of exposed miles at the top of the 'Mountain' 10:42, and then descending is 9:57 my only +30mph split Then I catch my minute man at 35m and he promptly re-passes me on the dog leg as I have a bad patch but I decide not to get involved and ride my race,11:14 past the JCB factory I was only 20 seconds down on Skellern Its pouring with rain again and I try to keep out the grit, I have already seen a couple of 'walkers' and its a rare occasion when I do not have a spare since I lost one (with inhalator) and I feel lucky! Once back on the A50 I re-pass my man but he goes passed again but I'm not going that bad 10:33 and I decide (again) not to race and he goes out to 10 seconds. Coming to the penultimate 5 miles 10:12 and then I re-pass my man again and push for the line, I'd long since stopped looking at my time but the final split 10:32 I knew it would be good but again I'm not expecting to do personnel bests when not concentrating on the distance events, all my effort has been around preparing for the track in October and you would think I would have done my best times when I was doing longer distances in preparation for the BBAR but perhaps there is something to say for doing less and more recovery time as I feel great! The several riders that rode the Shaftsbury have gone back one or two minutes but I have done my biggest improvement for four years so surprised as the conditions not the best but my legs are, which bodes well and I can build on that.

Full Result Here

CLUB RECORD (1:47:40) - 'Fixed wheel fever'

Shaftsbury '50'  - Always out the saddle (Pic Dave Jones)

I had a double header at the weekend in the East of the country, the first challenge the Shaftsbury CC '50' on the Newmarket bypass (A14-A11)and around, a quality field assembled and looking like perfect conditions, light wind and the first heat of the summer. I was off early and I too almost missed my start but made it with a minute to spare once again on my 56 x 14 (106") fixed, Fiona was out to help and popped up all over the course but I was pretty focused and did the ride unaided on a single bottle and one gel at half distance. Taking things a bit easy this year I had no anticipation of breaking any records so It was as much a surprise to me that I took 12 seconds off my own personnel best (& a club record) for the seventh time in 5 years, I don't know the last senior rider to break a club record on a fixed but probably in the 50's when it was the only option. My friend Mick Ward the last rider to win a Championship on a fixed (Obree excepted) in the late 50's (on an 88" or possibly a 90") then along came gears and the 'Roadmen' took over Hoban, Woodburn and Simpson, the old ways were left behind

My dad was keen on us riding fixed and we used to as Schoolboys and Juniors, Steve Gowar broke the Junior '10' record on 88" in 1979. On the national stage Chris Boardman used fixed to great effect breaking the '25' record on 110" in his preparation for the hour record and of course Graham Obree broke all his records on a fixed but even that was surpassed on this day by Scott Povey (drag2zero) who managed 1:38:54 on 112" gear and he was only 3rd! the winner with the second fastest '50' of all time Andy Wilkinson (Port Sunlight Whs) 1:36:31 from Adam Topham (High Wycombe) 1:38:05. Team PedalRevoloution Mr's Bason/Bowdler and Arnold beat comp record for a team to add to their record in the '100'. 'Wilco' using his customary 'Mountain bike' frame with triple but he told me he borrowed a 56 chainring for the occasion - first time he ever used one

First Club Record on a fixed for over 30 years

I'd taken it easy at the start only 11:01 for the first 5 miles but a string of near 30mph splits (10:19/10:10/10:24/) and with the bone jarring turn now resurfaced my slowest split of 11:11 put me at 53:04 for half distance. It was harder on the way back but with me barely outside 11 minutes for the remainder and a 10:41 final I thought I would be outside the record but to my supprise my computer was in error and the time keepers chequered board came along at 49.5 miles so I was inside, I could hardley believe it

On the Sunday there was a 50th anniversary invitation event on the A1 promoted by the Verulam CC, I of course was in the accompanying event not studded with current and past stars so while I could not hope to compete withTeam Sky's Alex Dowsett I could at least say I raced against him. 

On the Sunday morning I wasn't rudely awakened by my alarm so when I took a look at 6.45 I was already an hour late and only an hour until I was due in front of the timekeeper, not helped by going to the wrong HQ and the right HQ being a couple of miles further from the start than anticipated. For my shame I had to pass a rider (sorry No 59!) who was racing on my way to the start but I made it nonetheless albeit unprepared and in no state to race.
The A1 at Bedford is made for a fixed wheel and on a summer morning with light wind should be a joy, my legs beg to differ, with less miles (and fitness) in them their ability to make an effort two days running is suspect and after a supreme effort the day before they were not willing to double up on their pain,
Yes that gear felt OK yesterday but today it felt immense and unwieldy

Now recovered from his injury earlier in the season but still not on form enough to get in the Olympic team Dowsett ran out the winner of the invitation by a whopping 2 minutes 47:31 to Matt Bottril's (drag2zero) creditable 49:33 with Andy Wilkinson just under another two 51:17. The supporting event won by Lee Turner (La Fuega) myself ringing up 14th with 57:04

  Verulam '25' - Out the saddle again (Pic Dave Jones)

Shaftsbury Resuly Here 

Verulam CC Result Here

Verulam Invitation Here 

Vive la (Tour de) France!

 While we are gearing up for the Olympics (that we 'stole' from our near neighbours) and our 'boys' on the Skytrain were over there showing the French how to win bike races I was inducting a French lad to what Britain has to offer. I was going to introduce Quentin a son of a friend who is a National standard Rower into the fellowship of the wheel, he does quite a bit of bike riding as part of his training so I put one of mine together for him. He lives in the middle of Paris so a trip on the Seine more simple than getting out on the bike and with an interest in going to Ox bridge rowing is a better bet than biking but I thought I might have a go at turning his head.

For a rower Quentin looked good on the bike

As soon as he arrived on the Saturday he saw the bike (my old TT bike) and he wanted to get out straight away but as I was racing that evening I was less keen, my pleas that "One should not train on the day you travel" as your resistance to illness is lowered by going through Airports and such like and we had arranged other delights was met with a stony face. So I agreed to ride out to the friends for lunch where we had arranged for him to meet some other youngsters of his age (and maybe he might like to do something with them) he was less than impressed with an invitation to a party (from a girl!) that night as the temptation of alcohol held no sway but he did polish off quite a bit of Gillian's excellent buffet and we headed home (on the bike)
We rode back from Nottingham's National Water Sports Centre after lunch when it had got too cold watching the rowers ply their fitness in the National Championships. I took Quentin the hilliest route I knew (actually pretty difficult in Leicester) but the wind more than made up for it and we had a ding dong 'bit & bit' along the A46 to finish and I managed to drop him a couple of times but generally he stuck to me like a limpet

It wasn't all training

Monday Is my rest day but no rest for Quentin so as the rain lashed down outside I stuck him on the turbo, put the music up extra loud and set him going. and hour later he emerged saying it was "Hard but a bit boring" I could not have put it better myself

That boy could eat!

The Tuesday evening '10' was my first race of the year when I didn't get rained on, I'd put Quentin up for the event as well so he could see how we produce Tour de France champions - CTT style. I put him off a minute in front of myself but he almost missed his start and I had no time to give him a final briefing on time trialling etiquette, still we blazed off into the breezy evening sun for a bit of 'hare and hounds'

5...4...3...2...1...GO

It took me until 4 miles to catch him but I must have gone to sleep after that as I only dropped him another minute for the rest of the race, 23:12 & 25:16 respectively a decent ride  for a first timer on a 'strange' bike, he beat both the other youth riders and myself only 8th not the best but I had kept dry and made another convert to the time trial scene as we had our cup of tea and cake at the finish

Taking a break from British summer time

On our final day we got a proper soaking on the ride to work, we even had to stop under a garage awning to get out of the worst but it was short lived and the rest of the ride was damp and humid in our capes

Well we tried to do our best to introduce Quentin to the best that Leicester had to offer, we did manage to get some Fish & Chips down him among the flapjack and bananas but the three offers to go out with youngsters of his own age (even one to the gym) all drew a blank, it seems the allure of ordinary life holds no desire for our young charge. All he wants to do is train Train TRAIN! I'll have to have a word with his mum about that we don't want it being too one sided in Rio

Youth and experience (not necessarily in that order)

Mid summer MADNESS!

Restricting myself to one local event at the weekend makes for such tough choices, should I go for speed or something more exotic like a 15 mile or a Veteran 2Up? Of course speed usually wins out as my mantra for 'Fixed Only' always adds a frisson of interest to the event, I've ridden many of these courses & events before but almost never on single speed, on the rare occasion that I have plumped for fixed over gears it's usually 10 miles where I want to have a real 'Shake up' and that's during the evening 10 where nothing much at stake but a nasty cough for a day or two. But this year I've done nothing less than 25 miles (well better value for money and I've got to get the miles in somewhere) I got my chance to ride an evening 10 with the Hinckley CRC at Wolvey just South of Leicester as Tuesday looked like a promising day with sun & light wind for a change so I put my 93" gear on but by the time I got there it was drizzling (the watchword for a normal Leicester summer) so I had to make the best of it. Only 19 riders (instead of the usual 45-50) so I do not have time for my usual warm up (I'm always last!) and 10 minutes on the rollers is it. Its a blast up the the Magna distribution Park at Lutterworth and back trying not to upend on the roundabout for a reasonable 22:56 a minute down on the fastest - Andrew Green (Lutterworth RT)
What I neglected to mention was I'd ridden the Belper RC '25' the previous Sunday with a slightly increased gear of 106.5" to a fixed PB 53:14 on the A50 at Etwall, again it looked good all day and then just before my allotted start the heavens opened as is the way with this record breaking summer the event was deluged with the wet stuff. I did not enough time to remove visor so I spent the duration of the race making like a windscreen wiper with a finger (both inside and out as the warm conditions made for condensation as well) I saw a couple of riders dismount 'DNF' but the day was good and my 10:50/10:44/11:02/10:21/10:33 attest to the day and my performance as I neg split the race which saw me caught with 2 miles to go and then overtake and finish 3 seconds in front of my minute man again the worst part was trying to keep upright on the nine roundabouts. Winner was Matt Sinclair (Lutterworth RT) with his first inside 50 minute ride 49:28 after many years of trying so he was made up

North Notts Olympic '25' - 28.01mph (pic by 'Bombmeister')

So a week later I have an evening event on the A1 at Newark the North Nottingham Olympic CC '25' (in this Olympic year its refreshing to see somebody not taking advantage of their name to promote something or maybe Locog came down on them and threatened legal action, who knows?)  I'd ridden fixed on this course before 53:33 in the VTTA National Champs 2010 but only on 100.6" so a couple of inches on the gear will do to erase the memory of forgetting my 'chammy  balm'  that day! Anyway new '100' Champion Matt Bottrill off number 10 (probably got Olympic tickets to deliver as he's a postie so asked for an 'earlie') was home almost before the event had begun with a blistering 48:05, so who's for second place? There were menacing clouds crossing the skies and I had to do my 'roller' warm up under an awning at the HQ (Carlton on Trent) but I was never touched by a drop of the wet stuff until the final mile of my ride down to Long Bennington and back.
For my efforts I got another 'fixed' PB by a second (but they all count), it felt like a better ride without the streaming water I was able to concentrate a bit better and my splits 10:33/10:34/11:15/10:44/10:03 only spoiled by the turn which is interminably rough and prolonged as the speedy A1 lies a few feet away while one bounces over the lumpy tarmac of the Old A1 (from mid last century) that mid-race nightmare led to a lapse in concentration until I was back on track with a flying 30mph finish. Tony Nash (Scunthorpe Poly) won the Vets prize with his 50:58 after doing a 21 minute '10' that afternoon but mores to the point he beat me by over two minutes when only beating me by 15 seconds last weekend, maybe I need to be racing more?

Matt Bottrill (Drag2Zero) - Now that's what I call 'speedy' 31.21 mph

As I came away I said my farewells to the five cooling towers of the High Marnham power station on the nearby river Trent that have stood there for 50 years and become a regular feature for everybody that comes this way like a beacon of the Midlands. Because we have a young French rower Quentin staying with us and as we came this way on Sunday to the National Water Sports Centre at Ratcliffe on Trent (to see the National Rowing Finals)  they were no longer on the skyline having been blown up at 10 that morning. And to think I had to go and complain about the builders at the end of our road for taking a scaffold down at 7.30 that very morning  - They got all JT about my industrial language, almost spoiled my weekend

Masters of the Universe

A terrible week at work compounded by bad weather meant I'd only done 30 miles on the bike up to the Friday and even a ride before I set off  for the British Masters Track Championships was thwarted by the rain and wind so I arrived at Newport 11pm somewhat unprepared. The previous weekend had almost been as bad and I rode the Walsall RC '25' on Etwall and then a more local  Hinckley CRC '25' in the wind and then wind and rain to undistinguished 57:12 and 1:01:06 respectively on my 94" fixed that was supposed to prepare me for the challenge of racing on the boards at high speed.

Silver,  Bronze and  4th - Almost a set

I could not face the 500m first thing on Saturday morning and sat it out thinking that the 10Km Scratch race would get me in the mood for racing, I went out for a 20 mile spin late morning to ease my legs off but it was still blowing a gale outside our little Velodrome bubble but I could not face being inside with dozens of other riders and opted for the lanes around the stadium which were quite and flat.
The Scratch race in my new 50-54 age group was a fairly tame affair. with only twenty riders and fairly tactical, although (Ex Old Ports) Phil Watkins and Mick Davis (Loughborough) made a valiant attempt to get away the bunch kept them in sight and nullified the move with 3Km to go, a new name to me but he had won the Sprint the previous day Ralph Carter (London Dynamo) and Jeff Baird (G S Metro) had a go but it came apart under the pressure of the finish with only Carter off the front doing a strong ride for a 'Sprinter'. Trevor Burke (Finchley RT) went after him, I was a bit slow off the mark and he had 20 meters on me but I made my way over the top of all the other riders at the bell in an effort not to become trapped on the inside and led out the sprint with 500m Silver medallist Ivor Ried (Clacknacuddin CC) a black clad shadow on my wheel and despite my best efforts he pipped me by less than half a wheel, Trevor had an even closer winning margin (Photo) over Carter on the line.

2Km Pursuit

I was pretty pleased with my effort, a bit of inattention and leading out Ried for the last 3 laps cost me a medal but as my coach (and father) used to say, in the last 3 laps only go past people, let them sort their own race out. I had a disturbed night probably the result of too much excitement and stimulation, coffee and red wine not helping. The 2Km Pursuit the next morning was an event I'd never won a medal at so with the reduced distance and no specific preparation to speak of I was in the dark as to how I would compare.
The judges rated me for a medal as I was in the penultimate heat against Carter but in the home straight so third seed, I only had a 95" gear on as getting away the key and so it proved, my 'lineman' had me up but Carter came back and was up with 3 to go, I put in my customary strong finish from 3 laps out, I was level with 2 to go and pulled out a second to record 2:28.745 to Carters 2:29.619, the final heat was an easy win for Burke 2:25.040 and as his opponent Davis could only manage 6th fastest and no other rider had beaten my time I had the Silver and my first Pursuiting National medal.

There was a long wait until the Points race in the evening so I went out for another 20 mile ride at lunch and those Pursuits surely take it out of your legs. There were only 15 riders for the final 15Km event, sixty laps and six sprints to decide a winner, I always sit out the first as they are always too hectic but I may have to revise this as there is little enough to get your teeth into. I went away with Davis after Baird and we made a trio but the speed was not enough and even though I won the next sprint easily we were pulled back, Burke took my 'softening up' to his advantage and went for a lap and nobody could go with him, he was the class rider of the weekend in our group and this effort to lap the field in less than ten laps netted him his third title of the Championships. I attacked allot to make sure there was no chance for others to recover and even though I only missed getting points at one other sprint I was pipped for the Silver by one point by Carter, I think as Burke had the lap he did not contest the remaining sprints that vigorously and that made it difficult for me to contain Carter even though I got up for 2nd place in the final sprint (with one away) and him out of contention but I had my second podium spot for the weekend.

15Km Points race

Full Masters Results here

PM 25 (A11) + AM 50 (A1) x 102 = 169.5

VTTA '25' - Four-went-ways (All Pics - David Jones)

A double header that I did last year on the same two courses with pretty much the same results with the added plus that I rode a 'Fixed' in both evens and still in the first flush of racing so not near my racing fitness yet, with the British Masters track at the end of the month time is short to get thoes muscles prepared so a bit o' back to back racing the best solution to winkle out some of the dormant form that might be useful on the boards. I'd been doing some work in London so a stay over in NE London and a brief morning ride was all that I managed as a build up but its good to do things differently and preparation can't always be ideal so better to put yourself under a bit of discomfort in preparation so you can be prepared for all eventualities. I was one of the later starters in the VTTA Championship '25' I thought the wind of the past few days would blow itself out but not soon enough for the Saturday afternoon on the Newmarket bypass. I chose (54 x 14) 102" gear as I have decided to make every event a 'fixed' one (where possible) but there was no doubt it was going to be an uneven ride but nothing I can do about it as I've only got the one bike, sometimes you can have too much choice and live too much in the comfort zone

Perfect Day (with gilet) - Finsbury '50' (A1)

A fixed wheel is a lovely sensation for racing when you can get the momentum of your ride to carry you along from one section of the course to another like a demented hamster in a wheel but when faced with a full on head wind it becomes a bit of a grind just to survive, that unfortunately was what I was faced with on the outbound leg along the A14/11 DC course, I dare not look at my computer which found itself set on 3.1 miles so somewhat better than the previous week but even my addled brain could not work out the splits so all I can say was I was 30:36 to the 12.5m turn (24.50mph) so looking forward to some reward.
And lovely it was, 30mph all the way and my 85 RPM transformed into a 110 RPM rhapsody of sporting performance and syncopated perfection, well maybe not that exquisite but it felt pretty good to me, not enough time to recoup my losses but 55:56 (28th) a damn fine time for the conditions. Of course my time pales into the shade of my minute man Kevin Tye (Datateam Allstars!) who won the event with a staggering 49:54 he took 4 minutes out of me on the outward leg and 2 on the return (What a boy!) The main difference being that he actually won the Championship (on Standard) as well. Although defending champion 75 year old Derek Stewart (Deeside Thistle) was 2nd under the new 'Standards'  so with a good rage of ages represented in the top 10 it looks like the team that put the new tables together (Research + Calculus + Fibonacci) had done a creditable job
I bumped into Jonathon now in Epsom colours and allot of other riders wanting to know what I'd been up to and had I been training in Mexico and had weight loss surgery at the same time? A mystery to me as I'm exactly the same weight and it must be seeing me in civvy's that put them off and more than one person was heard to mention "Where were my 'baggy' shorts?" and with "Some onions I'd be mistaken for a Frenchman"

Finsbury '50' - Hard going up some of them slopes

Getting up at 4.30 for a race can be laced with fear and trepidation but when faced with such a beautiful morning, as I was on the next day, makes you forget that you have tired legs. The Finsbury is a long standing fixture of the racing season and a good field from these parts despite the National & VTTA '25' the day before, a spin on the rollers to ease the legs into race condition and I'm off up & down the A1 from Sandy in the South to Buckden in the North via the Black Cat roundabout. I took it steady over the first 10 miles easing up to jettison my gilet that I forgot to remove at the start, getting down to business I'd caught everybody in front of me just after the first 25m lap (56:36), I could have done with dropping my gear a couple of inches as I was pedalling just that little bit too slow (90 RPM) for me to feel comfortable but at least it was pretty even all the way around as the flags stayed asleep on their poles and the roads damp with the early dew hummed under my silky tyres. I could see quite a few riders going well but I just had to ride my race to its conclusion and I could feel twinges of cramp over the last 10 miles so I did not push too hard as I could feel the previous days efforts all over, a racing performance is total immersion and no part of the rider escapes inspection by the course
1:53:34 was a great time and dare I say it was easy, I always try my hardest but the conditions are a gift and when you get a perfect present of a morning it seems churlish not to be grateful for not having to wish your life away, so take it for what it is and be happy for those that got up at the ungodly hour and made the best of their reward. Lots of PB's and good times so I'm not fretting being down the result a bit. Steve Berry (Team Swift) wins it with 1:42:59

VTTA '25' Result Here

Finsbury '50'  Result Here

Wet Wet Wet

Notts Cl '50' (Detail) - Photo Michael Butler at Inform Images

Nottingham Clarion '50'

With not so much as an evening '10' in my legs I decided to enter a few events as I have the National Masters Track at Newport at the end of the month and the need for a bit of speed to go with my slow but steady miles thus far this year, I'd not topped 200 miles in a week until mid May when I rode to and back from London one (long) weekend but I had managed 30 miles every other day to work and kept my weight down with a diet of less carb's and soup so I was just hovering around 14 st and twitching for a bit of racing action (but nothing hilly)
To be fair the weather has not been the best but when it suddenly heated up mid May everybody was able to strip off a layer and get excited but with the long Diamond Jubilee weekend approaching the temperature took a nosedive and on Sunday morning I awoke to 7 degrees and torrential rain. Not one to put thing off! The only concession I made was to not ride fixed which I had made a rule to do at every opportunity this year and this being a pan flat course on B roads round the Vale of Belvoir would have been an excellent place to start but the conditions and the access to only one break to go with the one gear made me think better of it.
21 DNS and 4 DNF from a field of 44 tells its own story! The first man I bumped into was scratch man and last years winner Matt Sinclair "I've got too light a tyre on the front" (only brought the one) I ventured thinking of the rutted and pot holed roads I'd just rattled down in the car to the HQ at Plungar even got a mention on the Start sheet so maybe I should have payed more attention. "I've got two 6oz tyres on" says he, now Matt's a similar build to me (On the hefty side! used to be a footballer - I bet he wasn't a winger) "Your gonna puncture" says I and sure enough he did after 3 miles of starting effort into the wind and a wet walk home. I took a spare (as I mostly do - being a bit Old skool) as a precaution against worn shoe plates.
With no idea of what to expect of my fitness but you don't just loose it, Do you? Fifty miles is a long way to race but with a circular course covered 2 1/2 times at least I would only ever be 4 or 5 miles from the HQ but to prevent the ignominy of packing I decided an start easy , the aforementioned West wind made sure of that but a circular course well broken up the wind and soon I was on the A52 and speeding wind behind to Bingham, the one thing I could do nothing about was the water, spray from the passing cars wetter than those revellers on the Thames up to their ankles on bilge water. I pressed on trying to keep my RPM at a hundred more to keep warm than anything else, memories of last years Anfield '100' when riders were almost in a state of hypothermia at the end (year ago tomorrow), I caught a few riders Cambridge & Fenland Clarion (well it was the official Clarion Champs) but my computer was still set for my last race and that was............. a 3Km pursuit so not only was my watch in KILOMETERS but it was bleeping ever single sodding one of the buggers to the end! EIGHTY of the bleeders.........really annoying! As I tried to work out the Km/miles conversion in my head (it's always good to have something to occupy your mind when in a state of concentration)
My back and shoulders began to feel a bit under pressure after ten miles and for a bit I thought this was going to be a long two hours but then I had to make a bit more effort as I came into the wind and I forgot about the pain in my back as the pain in my legs got more persistent but pulling into the wind to complete the first lap was OK, low gears, getting my feet around, over some blasted rumble strips (that we had to cover three times Grrrrrrrrrr!) Why do they need to put them out here in the middle of nowhere? On a perfectly straight road, I suppose we have to be thankful that the powers that be have not decided to put LIGHTS! like they have on so many other courses Grrrrrrrr! Take a bit of drink, staying hydrated in the rain, it all seems so surreal but if I don't then I know that cramp and fatigue will be not far behind, I'd used isotonic, the stuff for long hot days in the saddle, knocked it up the night before, what was I thinking?
Only a lap to do now, I pass a man (for the second time) on a bike loaded up with carrier bags of rubbish going the other way with a long straggly beard and about three coats on! heading to Grantham in the pouring rain, I think to myself 'In forty minutes this will be over and I can go back to my normal dry life' but what will he do? I feel sorry for him and want to shout encouragement but It would just be lost in the traffic noise and the rain, I hope he has somewhere dry to stay, but I think he probably hasn't.

First event of the Season (pic Michael Butler - Inform-Images)

Last lap and the photographer gets me going up the only rise on the course, I try and look effortless and poetic but I probably grimace too much, once more into the wind, legs not as sprightly now, computer annoying, speed bumps annoying, rain annoying but I'm really quite enjoying it, I'm doing an OK ride, my speed is over 41Kmh so that means 25mph and not slowing, I take a look over my shoulder, Scott Walker (MG Decor) not caught me for 5 min and nowhere in sight, maybe he punctured? Third time down the A52, glorious finish, the tramp has gone, I was sad to miss him, maybe he found somewhere dry? 1:57:56 a good ride 4th place and first Vet 50+  Walker wins it with1:54:05

Full Result

Alternative Good Friday