Phil and I in the Pro/Am Mercian Asphalts Madison at Wolverhampton Track in the summer of 1982. We went on to get 5th in the National that year
This is my second winter of riding the Derby Track League. We are lucky to have a Veteran's TL promoted under the LVRC banner and the brainchild of Ex Pro/International Track rider Rob Muzo. It's only every other week and I can fit in normal Derby Tuesday Track League once a month as well
Easy does it - Martin Perrett and myself do the Pas de Deux
Rob has also hatched a plan to run a Madison League over the summer and a National Championships in the autumn. So in an effort to improve standards and make the venture as safe as possible he has been running practice sessions for riders to get up to speed with the technique.
I had not done a modern 'hand sling' change before these sessions although I had ridden quite a few competitive Madison's and even been 5th in the National Champs with brother Phil. In those days hand slings were not allowed (only on the 6 day circuit as they were considered too dangerous) one had to stuff something into a pocket in your shorts that the other rider grabbed and flung you into the race (one of dads best 'Spongex' decorators sponges did the trick)
Perry Bradley (SFA now South Pennine) and myself
reunite for a bit of Madison training on our track 'Irons'
We have to find a partner for the series and I have Martin Perrett of the Headnor Clarion a good track man in his day, today we spend an inordinate amount of time chasing the pack at TL while his son Will makes hay at the front, there's just no respect form the youngsters these days. I also do a bit of practice with Perry Bradley an Ex San Fairy Ann ('Fairies' to those that share their club) but now living in Leicester after thirty more years apart we raced as Schoolboys and Juniors before falling by the wayside. Literally in Perry's case as he seems to have returned back from every foreign racing adventure after some time in a hospital!
Perry and myself sprint it out for a Schoolboys win at Crystal Palace in 1977
I resurrect my 'Retired' steel Roberts for the sessions, with full taped bars for the experiment, I still have doubts about participation and leave the new bike in the rack expecting a bit of high jinx. Martin has a matching steel Rourke so we cut a fine pair as the Old-school pair but there is plenty of interest from those with little or no track experience let alone Madison and we escape mostly unscathed and our skill level increases with every session. I think I'm looking forward to the racing o7o7ò
Will Perrett Madison footage of training at Derby Velodrome Myself and Martin Perrett In the blue Masters jerseys (On the Derny from five minute's)
I was determined not to rush into the season without a few base miles and it was hard work doing a long ride at the weekend and racing midweek. Then I had to transition into a bit of racing without a break and I was feeling a bit jaded so I didn't rush into things just a few short 'Tests' mostly on fixed and my first Road Race for a few seasons, The 'Fleche Waltonne' on local roads always a good race, exposed and often cold. Andy Hicks had come up as it was the first of the Percy Stallard series of races so a good quality field in all the races and everybody keen in the cold morning air (sods law beautiful sunshine the day before)
Andy on the E-F-G
Eventual winner Roy Chamberlain (Corley) and runner-up Richard Edwards (CC Luton) went up the road after a few early skirmishes and a small group of seven formed behind, when they were 20 seconds up the road a couple went after them and I got across on my own. Unfortunately one of our number refused to work but everything looked fine as we closed in on the chase group and just as we got to Walton hill the 'passenger' decided to attack us leaving us dumbfounded and breathless. He could not make it on his own so came back to us and we gave him a bollocking but we chased on regardless even though we were now somewhat distanced from the chase group and not putting so much into the chase and I got cramp on the last lap and I remembered why I'd not done a RR for a while We trailed in at the finish ahead of the bunch (myself 12th) Andy won his G category race to set him up for the season I had a series of short local TT's just to blow away the cobwebs before getting my season proper up and running. The Beacon Hilly '39' is one of the CTT 'Classic' Series, I'm not riding them all but I like to ride one or two a season to get a feel for the riders I'm up against in the National TT events. Always keenly contested and on hard or hilly courses so not really my thing but it fits into my training program. I was shocked to find it was nine years since I'd last ridden, the first year was in the pouring rain and I ran off the road at one point and could not get inside two hours, the next year I used my road bike and was caught by the eventual winner Gethin Butler going up one of the climbs on his aero's (in the saddle!) Now I never raced against him in his prime but he was impressive even in this brief reunion, as a boy I remember seeing Gethin sitting with his sister Alison swinging his legs on his grandads cycle shop counter (Allin Cycles) while his parents went shopping in nearby Croydon but that was back in the 70's
Views are lovely through Elgar country
Back to this year, I'd been down to ride my local VTTA 25 the day before but in their wisdom the organiser of the Beacon had put me off last so a bit more pressure to do a good ride. I 'scratched' from the 25 and made a special target of this event, I was on my TT bike and thinking I could win my age group and maybe get on the podium
Podium Ambition 1-2
Fiona made me aero arm number holders for Xmas, today was my first opportunity to use them, I'd forgotten how hard the start was (always beware of the starting line where they put a brick behind your back wheel!) it was fairly early and briefly chilly but a shock to the system. I took it a bit easy on the first rolling section to 15m and kept a reasonable 25mph, you pass the HQ again and head out on the hilly part of the course. I had fitted a 53/44 for the purpose as I'm usually a 56/50 The climbs are long and draggy and I just about managed but I could have done with a 39 inner on the 17% Ankerdine which is eight miles from the finish and I'd dropped my bottle on a decent a few miles back so I just had to press on and make the best In the end I was 5th 1:48:36 (21.8mph Av.) a six minute improvement on my best and good enough to win the 50-55 and second on Standard +2:12 Mark Turnbull (TORQ) was fastest 1:40:30 and leading the series from Mark Holbrook (Stone Whs) 1:43:49
Winner Phil Graves is expected to go to the Olympics with the Brownlee's
Clair Rose lived up to her sponsors name (Podium Ambition) won the ladies 1:43:32 from her team mate Dame Sarah Storey 1:48:24 and the Men's won by (injured) Triathlete Phil Graves (Clifton) 1:32:35 now seemingly a full time bike rider and only 6 seconds off Matt Bottrill's course record. National '10' and Hill Climb Champion Richard Bussell (Aerocoach) was 2nd 1:35:13 with Matt Clinton (MV Cycles) also a Hill Climb Champion 1:35:16 just behind more suited to the courseo7ò
SWRC In the money 50-55 Winner and 2nd on Standard
A bit late to do a review of last year but it's been languishing in my drafts waiting for a few of the Best all Rounder results. It was my 11th full season of racing, I've been racing longer as a Veteran than I did as a Schoolboy/Junior and Senior in the 70's and into the 80's.
With the opening of the Derby indoor Velodrome I had the opportunity to race through the winter for the first time, its was a new adventure trying to sustain my fitness in the winter months. It all started well as I had the form from the World Masters to carry me through to Xmas but then a long break (Velodrome a Multi use venue so used for the Panto!) and this meant many hours beavering away on the turbo to sustain a bit of fitness for the New Season mid January and not putting weight on (always my weakness)
Devil and Panto Season - He's behind you!
When we did reconvene it was not as bad as I anticipated although as the ten weeks progressed I could feel my age as the youngsters got to grips with early season training camps and I hung onto their coat tails. I managed a decent few placings before Xmas but after results were thin on the ground and I had to be content with thin pickings as the eager youngsters trashed my old legs and poor recovery
Derby 'A' - 2015 Result
On the whole its been good, after a frantic few weeks and a fair few crashes as riders got used to racing (many had only just passed their accreditation and never raced before) things calmed down a bit as the message that it was 'Track League' and nothing much at stake but plenty to lose.
The standard of racing has been very high with four groups
A - Experienced
B - Less fit and riders moving up from
C - New to Track and
D - The only Women's TL in the country.
Riders just had to find there level (which was largely self determined) and there was a bit of swapping around as the most oversubscribed (B's) had some searching for a ride and a reserves policy was brought in. I had trouble getting a ride in the A's some weeks as riders had 'block booked' entry at the start of the season and the FCFS policy worked against riders who could only enter a week or two in advance. I'm sure these things will be sorted out in advance.
Charlotte Parnham Winner Sam Westwell and Julie Scales
I rode in the A's and had to compete with riders a third my age, these are the future stars and are fast and fearless so I tried not to get too involved in the mass finishes. I resolved to clip off with a few to go or stick with the leaders as the race disintegrated and get my points through attrition rather than mixing it in the sprints. I was largely successful in as the evenings went on and I was able to read the racing and pick my opportunity
So the organisers and volunteer helpers who had never been involved with TR before got used to the format and jobs necessary to get through 16 races an evening, It was always a pretty late finish (10pm). Some of the final races were commuted if accidents took up time or the 'whips' did not rule with a rod of iron (carbon these days) And after all the chat and the analysis I was usually the last out the building (getting my bag locked in on the final evening!)
Just a round-up of the TT season, I had my region VTTA dinner and PP in January and won the Local Nottingham & East Midlands BAR for the 4th time in a row also taking 11th in the National BAR (down from 7th the last three years) but I also took the local Hermes '100' and the Joe Bains '30' for the first time for my Club Record 1:03:16
We were mourning the recent passing of Joe Summerlin who had done so much work in the region (and nationally) on the VTTA, BC and CTT front including drug testing. It was Joe who always handed you over to the testers who turned up on spec and did not know the riders and Joe made it his job to know everybody. On this issue there was much musing as three riders were caught and banned for various drug related incidents during the season so even on the domestic level (whatever the rights or the reasons) riders are still doping and still being caught
National VTTA 3 Distance BAR 11th
The only other highlights 12th National VTTA '25' on the Uber fast R25/13 in S Wales where the fifty percent of the field that started got drenched 54:15 and 15th in the National VTTA '50' on the A3 Liphook course nr Petersfield 1:49:56
VTTA Nat '50' - Winners
The only CTT National I rode was the National '10'
on my local Wolvey course, going back two minutes on the previous year (like everybody else) I was 81st (up two places) overall but 2nd in the 50-55 age group missing the win by 14 seconds o7ò
The next day we have the Points Race so the same thing again, heats in the morning and finals later that evening. Even with the attrition of the previous day there were still enough riders for heats, one rider with a very black eye and a fair bit of skin lost in the Siberian wars! But only twelve to go through and with only three sprints (30 laps) only twelve lots of points available (5, 3, 2 & 1) so in theory one point enough to go through, unless riders got a lap (unlikely). In reality some riders would get more than one so it was possible to go through with zero if you were well up in the final sprint, this was still beyond the current British National Champion who went out without a point but I gleaned a single in the first sprint so I could afford to take it easy while the others sprinted and sweated it out (to be fair one of the S African riders did get a lap on his own!)
Points Final - Half way
The final would be an altogether different affair and require different tactics, I like to wait until the second half but its only a twenty minute race and with only six sprints (60 laps) these days its a game of Poker how long you leave it. Two sprint places (if one of those is a win) enough to get you a medal these days and with such a good field riders unlikely to gain a lap. Those first few sprints are always ferocious but the British rider Blair Buss (Swift) getting away from the gun and takes the first sprint so that means reduced points for all that effort but its the first three from the Scratch race Faris, Baxter and Rice in the frame for the rest of the points.
Unsurprisingly its Peter Ettles the fourth placed rider from the Scratch taking the second sprint from the other Argentinian Pereyra and that man Baxter again with previous World Scratch Race Champion Peter Toth (CAN) edged out for the single. I had a go at splitting the field before the previous sprint but with a rider away its not possible so I use my timing and I manage to clip off the front and overhaul him keeping the bunch at bay (2:55:00) to take the third sprint, five points on the board and second at half distance behind Peter Ettles who has scored in the second and the third behind me (8 Pt's.) Toth is also there again picking up two points this time but two consecutive efforts like that for so little return is almost too much to recover from and he does not score for the rest of the race. Buss who took the first sprint by staying away has gone straight out the back and lost a lap (eventually DNF) its 5 points that will not count in the overall so even less points needed to get a medal. For the next sprint an Argentinian and an Italians are away with Ian Greenstreet in the middle picking up three, the other Italian Dardi picking up the one remaining.
I could afford to gain my composure in the bunch but top road-man Mike Twelves (MI Racing) riding his first Masters goes away solo to win the next sprint just from Baxter and the Faris the first two in the Scratch close on his tail. The top six all separated by three points so it would all come down to the final sprint, the other Pereyra & Ettles leading with eight Twelves, Baxter and myself on five, Faris third in the middle with six.
Breakaway with Ian Greenstreet
50-54 Points race - Result
I attack at the first opportunity (3:02:50) while the others are still blowing, slipping between two riders to shake off any company, only Greenstreet gets up to me and I have to make a big effort to get on. We have a decent lead and press our advantage with six laps to go. Unfortunately we were the victim of a bit of teamwork from the Italians who kept the pace high and although Ian and I work well together we do not get the lead we need. We were caught with a lap and a half to go, its the first time I've been the victim of this type of partisan riding and the culprits were docked their points in the result but the 'leadout' not only took us out of the sprint but helped Faris and Baxter to first and second in the final sprint and in the overall result. Peter Ettles held onto the Bronze by virtue of being well up in the final sprint and Pereyra dropped from first to fourth so the biggest looser When you analyze the points scoring its the same riders in the points as were up there in the Scratch Race, The same Gold and Silver Medalists (as last year and the year before when I was Champion in the Scratch and Silver in the Points) It leaves very little but scraps for the others in the race My five points still good enough for Fifth place to go with my Silver and two Fourth places in the last four years but I was in the mix right up to the end was so close to taking a medal
The Points Podium Baxter (AUS) Faris (ARG) and Ettles (GBR)
Team GB1
We had a days break and then the Team Pursuit on the Saturday the final day of the Championships. I'd had to purchase a GB skin-suit for the performance so we all 'matched'. It was a little on the snug side! But then I guess a 'speedsuit' does what it says "On the can" It kept everything in place and a little unforgiving but I don't think I'll be using it for a '100' TT any time soon
Not being able to come up with a suitable name, some don't want it to be humorous or a pun and others not wanting it to be to serious or Po faced like 'The Apprentice' we settled on the hopeful and catchy GB1, it made us sound like a record speed attempt but at least we got in early and did not have to be GB2. Three Kilometres that's twelve laps of the track, only three efforts each on the front and then hang on in between.
The Team - Ian, Peter, Nigel and myself (and a nice bike)
We are a team who have all won medals at the World level (Two Gold, a Silver and five Bronze between us) so plenty of fire power, what we have not done is practice enough, not short of experience and speed but what you need for the TP is technique. We had sorted our order at the practise sessions and had Ian the slower of our more experienced riders going 'Man One' as he was the steady option as managing the start and the transition to speed the crucial thing you can only do under race conditions, Peter took the second part here with me third and Nigel tucking in at the back. The ride went as well as could be expected, we had Rachael (new '30' Competition Record holder) at track-side calling our numbers. We had no problems with the changes or splitting up, I think this being the last event of the week we were all pretty tired. Nigel did two turns and swung away leaving the three of us to finish, I did the final two lap stint as its negledgible if a change on the last 3/4 lap is worth doing as the front rider has to swing out on the final banking to let the other two inside and we finished nicely
We were half a second a lap off the pace to qualify with 4:31 for the ride-off (only four) and had to settle for 6th. Not bad for a team of all 50+ riders giving away quite a few years to the other teams. Baxter (AUS) and Tim Lawson (GB) the only 50+ riders in the teams that qualify. We have to look on it as good practise for two years time when we will all be in the 55-64 group for the TP. We were a little deflated as we did think we had a chance but like many of the other events the competition gets tougher every year and this time age and practice against us but we looked good and feel that we will go faster in the future
In the finals it went to form with the Welsh squad just holding on for
the Bronze and in the final the Champions for the last two years the USA
made it a triple crown with another World Record time (to go with
breaking it in the morning) The Aussies had to be content with the
Silver but they went inside the previous WR as well.........o7ò o7ò o7ò o7ò.......
10 mile Result
For the final event of the week there is the Brian Cossavella 10 mile, (Brian to organiser of the Masters for 10 years until his untimely death at 54) a race open to all competing during the week, Its always a good race and with the full age range from 35+ always a test for us in the upper reaches and I was the only 50+ finisher last two years in 13th and 11th place albeit a lap down. This year I try and do better. Amazingly fast from the gun to the sound of Rolling Stones music in the background (Brian's choice!) riders are already getting shelled out the back. I hang in there and at half distance the race splits apart and I manage to stay in the front half. By the time I get to the end I have no effort left for a sprint which goes to Matt Glanville (AUS) from Martin Van Wyk (RSA) and John Mc Clelland (GBR) I roll over in 8th place one behind Baxter (AUS) the only two 50+ finishers o7ò
Cossavella Winner with the Director of the Masters Ian Emmerson
A nice innovation this year the organisers (BC) had most of the
racing put on the UCI You Tube channel), I have put links below and
approx. time
I thought I'd come up with the perfect solution to avoiding the dreaded lurgy in the run up to the World Masters, I'd work from home away from all the germs and risks of cross infection, the house in need of attention so why not kill two birds with one stone and re-paint the house as part of my preparation. I was careful to not overdo it on rest days (Mon & Fri) so light duties only, nothing above ground level.
2KM Pursuit Heat Result
This year I'd been asked by some other riders to be part of the Team Pursuit discipline, age groups are blocked together 35-44, 45-54, 55-64 and >65. two of our number are the Bronze from last year but we are all 53 and above now so it will be tough to qualify against those nearly 10 years younger. In the normal five year age groups you can feel the competitive edge drift away as you progress and with tight competition and always a stream of young talent results are more difficult the older you get until you graduate to a new age group. This is my forth year on the 50+ so I'm expecting it to be tough, the riders that took the titles last year were new-by riders like I was the year before
I have not ridden a TP since 1983 the All London Title and the SWRC were the winners! Alan, Phil and myself, our fourth man on holiday so we rode as a three, myself doing full laps (on Herne Hill!) we beat the De Laune and the Old Kent. Alan was at University so not very fit, we gave him my best wheels (Campag 28 spoke shod with silk tyres) I'd won the Individual Pursuit earlier in the meeting. Equipment a bit different these days, bigger gears, faster speeds, on a banked track (I'd ridden a TP at Leicester) but not on aero bars it was all pretty daunting
We had a get together for a weekend in Leicester, utilising the new Derby track. It went pretty well, we did some flying 2Km with changes at race speed (16.5 second laps) and some starts, hard on your legs, cant do more than a couple in a session. Then we did a day at Newport, the day after a Derby Track League meeting, two days in succession in what I kindly describe as 'Petrie dishes' of germs, and of course the day after I come down with a head cold, all my good work to avoid picking up a bug and 10 days before it's all come to nothing
GOLD - Monthier (FR)
I have a few days off the bike, all the heavy work is done so just the taper to complete, it's started a few days early, hopefully this will clear up before my first event the Individual Pursuit. I'm hoping the TP practice and TL will have benefited my performances. IP not my best discipline but It gets you into the swing of it all, get used to the pressure of competing at this level. The feeling of going out for a final (heats even worse!) is quite exquisite, almost unbearable during the time you are there, and then so soon it is over and you need to be doing it all over again. The only drug sanctioned at this level, adrenaline!
BRONZE - Wiffin (GB)
I do my usual preparation for the IP and I go two seconds faster than last year, only 2/10th off my best but such is the competition I drop from last years 9th to 15th this. Can there really be that much competition? Last years Champion Scot Peter Ettles (Sandy Wallace) does not it into the top four! So does not qualify to ride for a medal. The winner is French Ex Pro Pascal Monthier from the Italian Luciano Pasquini but as last year Mark Wiffin manages to move up from fourth qualifier to take the Bronze from evergreen Italian Roberto Dardi
Next up the Scratch race, we have no rest this year, three events in three days, heats in the morning and finals in the evening. I have done three day training/racing sessions all though the season to prepare for this, What you cannot prepare for is the sheer psychical stress of it all. The Scratch race always the most nervy and fractious, heats are only 15 laps, not enough time to have a sort out, always skittish and dangerous. I'm in the second heat so watch the pattern of the first, whatever happens ours will always be different, It pays to pay attention, only twelve to go through. We have all three Argentinians in our heat, they always come to race, but they leave a trail in their wake, everybody need to be careful
Three to go in the Scratch - Argy Bargy on the inside
Our race is twitchy and fraught, just a continuous series of involuntary lurches as Ian Greenstreet (GB) tries to get things moving but there are too many good riders and you have to be confident you can sprint it out or pack up and go home. Coming up the final sprint I feel a rider try to push me to get out of the pack, I'm concentrating on my race and stay put. On the final lap there are three incidents that split the pack, I'm in front of the first as a rider (Argentinian) hits the deck, there is the sound of metal and carbon as well behind me then in the final banking a South African rider on the inside also comes a cropper, I have to swerve up the banking lifting myself over the incident I pull my foot out the cleat in the heat of the maneuver, I manage to hold onto the bike and cross the line in 11th place, a near thing for both crash and qualification, if there had not been so many incidents I'm sure others would have got past me and I would not have made it
Scratch Race
The final in the evening, we are the last race so 10pm, I always go into the Scratch race with an open mind, its not my preferred event and I don't think one rider can influence the outcome, you have to get your position right and keep your powder dry for the final strike as there is unlikely to be a chance for a second. Its been a good few years in our event since anybody has got away in the final during the race it all happens in the last five laps. Daniel Casper (USA) won the 45-49 yesterday with a well timed break with six to go, a perfect move after a tough race where the British riders made all the running but slipped up in the finale. Would I be so lucky? Our race is shorter 30 laps, they go past at a rapid rate,Ian Greenstreet has a go early on (again!) with the IP silver Pasquini and Dardi gets up to them but it all comes back together as last years silver medalist Blasczyk (Ger) and Toth (Can) get across. There is no more concerted attempts to get away and its lining up for a big sprint. I have kept well out of the way up the back watching the moves but with five to go I follow Toth up the inside (3:36:20) as I sense he will attack but the bunch comes down on us and we have to kick back hard. This effort takes me to the front, not the place I need to be but as my dad always said 'In the last five laps you just keep going forward until you hit the front' the back of the bunch is not where the race is.
Mike Rice - Bronze
As we enter three to go I am perfectly placed at the front, all the main players are there, the speed is high and the riders 'wall to wall' so going over the top not much of an option. Crossing the line I am in a dangerous squeeze with riders coming at me from above and below and I touch riders on both sides but manage to hold it and not hit the deck. I have to get out of my 'box' and in doing so loose my place at the top table but it was just too dangerous. As i extricate myself I see that it is an Argentinian rider coming up the inside on the Cote d' Azure (3:37:32) that has caused the squeeze in getting to the front up the inside, he goes on to follow Dardi's attack from two out with a lap to go and win the race by a long way (3:38:25) I come behind the inital scrum in 8th place but lost my place when it just got too risky with riders crowding the front caused by the mass of riders crowding the front.
Scratch race - Result
I go to make an official complaint to the judges about the 'Argy' riding up on the blue, they say they are looking at the video, its outside the last lap so I don't hold out hope that they will find anything but they inform me it was this rider who 'manhandled' me in the morning heat (and got an official warning for it on the result!) The result stands Gustavo Faris (ARG) the winner from Geoff Baxter (AUS) and De Laune Michael Rice third closing fast but just mistimed his effort. Last years Champion Blasczyk has crashed on the final bend in the melee, He was foregoing the Points and had booked the track for an hour the next day (£750) to attack the Masters Hour Record so I guess that will be off! I have to say its the most dangerous and perilous days racing I've ever been involved in. I feel a bit disconsolate with my effort and the fact that I backed off at the crucial time, all I can console myself with is that I survived to race in my favorite and best event tomorrow o7ò
50-54 Scratch Podium - Baxter (AUS) Faris (ARG) and Michael
A nice innovation this year the organisers (BC) had most of the racing put on the UCI YouTube channel), I have put links below and approx. times
