Bring it on........................

Going back to review the tail end of the season, it seems like a long time ago to the National '10' but the day after I had an unusual occurrence a TT win! I rode the Coalville Whs 2 up (one rider a Vet - that's me) on the BH with Kelvin Southan (MG Decor) and we trounced the somewhat limited field due the the torrential rain on the tricky Gryffydam course (18.64m) used for last years CTT circuit Champs going over a minute faster than I did solo 45:44. Second place went to 'Roadmen' Jon Knapp/Andy Eagers (Derby Mercury) and Robert Stephenson/Neil Taylor of the promoting club who tied on 47:11

A day out at the BDCA

I did another wet Tuesday evening '10' (third in three days!) before lining up for the BDCA '100' on the following Saturday, this is a season target as a qualifying event for the VTTA BAR. At least I have a '100' under my belt (4:08:25 in the Anfield) but I was hoping to go considerably faster here on the smooth tarmac of the A50. I had felt a bit under the weather (all that rain) but I think with the big events you are able to stave off a few niggles but this is the start of an important few weeks as my recent block of training brings something to the speed game I hope to set a few PB's and even a Club record in the next month. Only hope my grumbled don't develop and I crash and burn, such is the fine line between pushing your body to the limit and not over it.

 I had a massage the day before as a treat, but it was probably a mistake not to do a ride or have it the day before as I could feel it in my legs all through the race and while it felt like the onset of cramp none materialised at all. I usually expect a few twinges in the last  ten miles as to push your legs into the red but I held back a bit and did not go as hard over the first half as I possible could have. 1:51:56 for the first '50' was still good. There was a North wind so it was pretty cold and several riders suffered from the cold in the second half, where your body generates less heat through the reduced effort and once the core temperature drops so does performance

Adam Topham (High Wycombe) the reigning BAR and in need of a good time as the BAR elect Richard Bideau (Pendle Forest) had broken the Competition Record for the distance a month before (3:18:54 - that's 30.1659 mph Av.!) he started 5 minutes behind me and came past at 23 miles going lickety-spit I get around on only the two (500ml) bottles of carb mix and two caffeine gels so I carry a third of water for extra weight and Fiona does give me a half bottle of coffee which does both jobs with 25m to go
I did relatively the same ride as last year 3:46:53 and only a minute off my PB, the difference was the number of riders going faster, I dropped from 17th this year to 24th, a ride like that 5-6 years ago would have garnered a top ten (even a top 6 in a BBAR event) Lots more younger riders in the event and some amazing times, The wheels came off Topham's effort in the second half but he still recorded 3:22:40 but he was beaten by the National Champion Charles Taylor (S Pennine) 3:21:31 the second and third fastest 100's of all time. Joe Skipper a 27 year old Tri Professional came in third 3:33:41

N & EM VTTA '25' Bert Christian Memorial - 54:03

I had a week to recover before the Stone Whs '25' a long time favourite at the end of the season traversing the same roads as the '100' it descends the 'Concrete Mountain' at the far end giving some of the fastest splits that get riders excited until the prospect of the ascent and if your effort is badly paced then a lot of pain to go with a dismal time. I try and keep it steady at the start but 9:26 is still well over 30mph so 8:50 is only slightly off 34mph and 10:07 through the turn without getting too out of breath, it looks to good to be true. And it is 11:50 looks pedestrian by comparison as you come into the Westerly wind but still only just outside 30mph for 20m. The CM is too long even to max out on, it goes up in stages and you have to go in and out of the red like intervals, not great for Old'uns 12:13 is the straw that broke the camels back and I finish with 52:28, fastest of the year by nearly two minutes and good enough for 13th in a classy field as the pure speed-men wilt on the hard return. Alex Royal (Army CU) wins in 48:17 but he is the only 30mph rider Lee Suthard (Weaver Valley) 50:33 and wile old fox Jon Surtees (Swift) 50:51
I had a dilemma a week later, to improve my '25' or my '50' time, Sat was an afternoon event on a new fast course in potentially warm (Indian summer again) but having done a 52 in the Stone Whs could I go better? I also could improve my relatively slow '50' more than a few minutes off my PB, last year I broke the CR in the Manchester event on the A50 (Again! ) But the Wheelers finally decided to stop promoting this end of season Classic as there are 'issues' with promoting so far away from their base. Events need fast (& safe) coursed to be popular but sometimes getting the support is difficult and another late season banker relatively close is replaced with an overnight stop for (potentially cold) Sunday early Breckland over at Attleborough on the A11.

In the end I do both, It's sunny and hot alright but just too windy again to better my 52 but I do my second fastest of the year 54:03, all my time was lost in the first half and I was playing catch-up in the second as I head for 7th. Ian Guilor (Mapperley CC) 51:42 wins it from Ian Dalton (Cherry Valley) 52:03 and Adam Coffey (Alford Whs) 52:06 close behind in third. Ron Hallam (S Pennine) sets an age Std. record for 85 years 1 :03:23 that's a +23:32 needless to say he won from 60 years young Geoff Platts (MG decor) who could still bash out a 52:57 for forth overall but still not be within five minutes of Ron on Std.

'Big' Ron Hallam (S Pennine) 1:03:23 at 85

 The next morning I am up at 4am staying with the Hopkins in Kings Lynn to lessen the travel and Peter who has been away from racing this season will be my 'second' and hand me a bottle If I need it. As it turns out its very cold, only made better by the lack of wind. this is what we used to call a 'float' but its too cold to get going  and while I give it everything from the gun and I get the better of the wind which rises
 later I can only go through 25m in 54:14. Adam Topham has another chance to retain his slipping BBAR crown having failed last week in the Yorkshire RC event to overtake Bideau by .009mph with an amazing 1:38:10 (the fastest of the year) here he was again with another tilt, he sure was going down fighting. In the end he went back another two minutes 1:40:08 but still a 30mph ride on a cold morning. I was one of the early starters and my 12th place 1:49:48 was my fastest of the year by a handful of seconds. Peter Harrison (GS Henly) and Ian Holbrook (Stone Whs) also looking to improve their top 10 BBAR places with 1:44:20 and 1:45:06 respectively

The Mercia '30' is my final TT of the year and a few days before the World Masters Track, I've been off the bike for a week with a bad head-cold so my 'taper' for the Masters has started early but all the work is done and I just need to recover from my malade and the Mercia event on my favourite A50 will give me an indication if I am over the worst. I have done three evening Track League meetings at the new Derby Velodrome in preparation for the Masters so I'm hoping a bit of track speed will rub off on my TT'ing (but more of TL later in the year) I've not ridden a '30' for a couple of seasons, a bit of a curates egg of an event but today there are two! The Leo is a traditional Record breaking event on the A14 at Newmarket and this year it has been revised and much is expected but just too far to go when you need to be resting up. I set the Club Record here before and I will need to go close to my season '25' time to beat it.

This has the benefit at least of being mid afternoon and its mild and windless, I try and keep a lid on my 'good legs' gears down a bit so I hit all the tough sections hard and the 'dog leg' to Doveridge which give us the extra five miles is a tough section with a bad road surface. We get a brief rest bite coming back to the A50 as the wind seems tougher than expected but on the A50 trans-versing the Midlands the direction is crucial and the direct Westerly today is blowing down the gully of a road making life and faster speed difficult. 33 minutes to 15 miles is not auspicious 27mph but then things begin to turn and so does my speed. I come back at a few seconds over 30mph and break the Club record by seven seconds 1:03:16 10th place. Steve Irwin (N Lanc RC) is the winner 57:46 and the only 30mph all the way (31.1598 mph actually) followed by local Baz Charlton (lyme RC) 1:00:22 and Paul Flemming another half minute back in third 1:00:52

There were more spectacular results in the Leo event, Stuart Birnie the long distance specialist who I'd put over five minutes into last week in the Breckland 1:00:47 and ten riders inside the 'hour'. Winner Matt Smith (Velocity) 56:49 thirty years ago that would have been a good result for a '25' The topping on the cake , my good friend Rachael Elliott (Newbury RC) broke Competition Record for the distance 1:03:29 beating the 1999 time of Jill Reams by a minute and a half, a sound beating! o7ò


BDCA 100 Result here

Stone Whs 25 Result here

Breckland 50 Result here

Mercia 30 Result here

Leo 30 Result here

Don't Panic! - BDCA 100

I have a one time opportunity for a hundred this year, it's the BDCA on my local course near Uttoxeter, it's also the last chance for any aspiring BBAR riders to make an improvement so the field which is limited to ninety riders is stuffed with fast riders wanting to make a difference to their season

Indigestion at the start

As its my one and only '100' I have to take a cautious approach to the effort and I have to get around to qualify a ride for my VTTA (Vets) BAR, the weather has been looking good all week and come the day its cool and light wind from the North which will make a cross wind most of the time, good for this course. It begins to rain as Fiona and i drive to the HQ at Etwall, Fi is my helper for the day and as one of the more experienced ones has numerous other WAGS to help with their duties of handing up bottles and 'hollering' from the sidelines. Fi does not come to many races these days but the course here has a dog leg off the 
main road which makes an excellent staging post for support where she can see me 5-6 times in the race and have access to nice toilets and a McFlurry from the facilities on the main road.

Steady on the way out (10m)

I get under way at one o'clock and after a few more spots of rain it turns into a glorious day with even some sunshine later in the race, difficult to know what to eat for a mid day effort, breakfast was hours ago and I need to keep eating up to the race as with a four hour effort you can easy run out of energy. Riders these days sustain themselves on almost a liquid diet albeit with carbohydrate added and gels on top, you might get a fancy for a banana but with times ever faster you are on the road for less and its a balancing act. I have half a sausage sandwich, BIG mistake!
I trundle out along the A50, I have a schedule for 3:52 a time I have not achieved for a couple of seasons so I need to get up the far end (25m) in 57 minutes (that's over 26mph Av.) to get to half way inside 1:54 so no hanging around. I have Ian Greenstreet (Newbury RC) 4 minutes behind to keep an eye on, we race track and TT's together, he beats me in the shorter ones but in recent years he's started beating me at the longer distances, we are the same age and been racing since the 70's, we go back a long way! I can feel that sandwich working its way back up! Thankfully I have to drink plenty in the first hour to get ahead with my liquid feeding and after a while the sausage admits defeat and retreats to my stomach. Sometimes you have to have to train your constitution as well as your legs

At the Blythe Bridge turn Ian is only 10-15 seconds up and my legs feel good, 25 miles come up soon after (55:40) unfortunately my tyres feels a bit soft, Its one of those things that I cannot tell if its the front or the back or both! but it feels a bit suspect. I carry on to the dog leg to Rocester, Fi will give me a bottle on the way back, I should have told her to get a wheel but I have been flying down the mountain at break neck speed (40mph) and It still feels OK, however going around the small Rocester roundabout I can tell it will not last, in fact it almost bottoms out. Ian is only another 15 seconds up so I have to get to the car without an impact puncture. There's lots of cars all of a sudden and handling the bike is tricky on the narrow aero bars and a softening tyre, I have to go up a gritty channel the inside of a long row of cars. Please don't puncture! I see Fiona and divert to the car, the spares are pumped up and I grab a bottle as well, I loose maybe a minute or more but my heart is racing and I need to get back on the course, I pass a couple of riders I have passed already and I have to stop myself panicking and going too hard, its only 40 miles gone and the hardest part to come.

Pete with the bottle, me with the flat (35m)

In the haste to get a wheel my computer is now not registering so I only have the daytime and heart rate, I go through 50 miles and Ian is now less than two minutes behind (1:50:05 - but I don't know this) I am more composed and its the second lap so I know what I am up against and I just press on. Back up at the far turn Ian is only 20 seconds behind, either I have slowed or he has chased me down, I use my HR to make sure my effort on the mountain has been progressive and not too feeble but still I have to stick with my race as Ian powers past seemingly going several miles per hour faster. Ian's best is not inside 3:50 and he has caught me for at least 2 maybe 3 minutes at 75 miles I seem to be on schedhule. I pick up going down the mountain as I know that the hardest part of the race is over, I have taken a couple of gels and I have another to get me to the finish, I have two bottles and I drain them both before the Rocester roundabout, Ian is about 40 seconds up but I still feel good and I take a final bottle of water from Fiona.
Now getting back on the A50 I see a rider in front, my vision is a bit blurry but he has unusual white overshoes like Ian, another couple of miles and every uphill I gain a good deal, as I approach I see it is Ian, overcooked it catching me and now paying the price in a bad way, I pass him but he passes me back and we get into a bit of a race. I don't want to get into a race situation I just need to finish,

Fiona shows how to hand up a bottle in style (85m)

It's a shame as I feel good but the onus is on the caught rider to drop back in these situations. This is an important race and there are observers out to see that the racing is fair and above board, already this year one of my counting events has had a 'pacing' inquest which delays the result while the whole thing is investigated. I drop back 20 seconds and just bring my race home, I hope I have a good enough time to improve my Vets Standard and my clock suggests I'm ten minutes inside my four hours but sometimes these things are out if your watch does not tarry with the timekeepers, it can be minutes out.
The first indication that things might be better than expected is that Ian says he has taken 10 minutes off his PB 3:41:34 , so that makes me close to my PB four and a half minutes down even with a delay. 3:46:13 is less than 20 seconds off a PB set six years ago, I never thought I would attain that sort of result on a diet of ninety minute rides and hardly any long distance racing. Its over 26.5 mph all the way, I have given myself a week to write about this as I was a bit depressed at going so close I got it a bit out of proportion what a good ride I had done. With all racing seconds are the battle and when you give them away cheaply its hard to take when you have done all the work but don't have the result, I had a better result than I planned or hoped for but. Still not satisfied? What's wrong with me?

'Baz' Charlton on his way to 25mph ride (with Fiona)

Mind you when I look at the other times coming in it is evident that it is a super fast day BBAR elect Adam Topham (High Wycombe) 3:26:44 is the third fastest of all time and there are a slew of PB's to match. Best of all was Barry (Baz) Charlton (Swinnerton Cycles) breaking competition record on a trike, and being the first rider inside four hours, a little harsh on Dave Keene who set the record in 1996 with 4:00:01 but Barry's 3:58:19 almost gives him the set with '10', '25', '30' & 12 Hr. only Glen Longland's 50 mile eludes him and that may be how it stays as he announced that the trike had been sold and he'd bought himself a new Giant 'Trinity'

I have to be satisfied with having a near nine minute improvement in my VTTA plus to 1:12:30 which should boost my 3 distance if I can improve my '50' in a couple of weeks on the same course o7ò

Pictures - Martin Purser/Fiona



BDCA result VeloUK

Burton & District Cycling Ass '100' - Heat is on

I've had an exciting few weeks as most riders are bringing their season to a close with late season races that feel a bit 'After the Lord Mayor's show' but I still have the World Masters in early October so I need to be ramping up my intensity to get the best out of my fitness. While my overall training is well down on previous years I still seem to have the condition to do some amazing rides, better than when I was doing the BAR when I might have been overtired, I leaned from last year If I do less training then It has to be top quality and then more rest. I rest every other day so my training/racing is only three or four days a week and my monthly total has not topped 900 miles all season (compared to 1500m in other years)

BDCA - Not the easiest (Pic by Flybike) o7ò

So how would I fair over one hundred miles? I'd done a couple of long rides in the two weeks previous but my ride would depend on careful pacing, I need a '100' time to improve on my VTTA BAR (7th 2012) last year I blew it on a windy Northern day I made a good start and went to pieces. This time on local roads the BDCA '100' on the A50, it was cancelled last year due to a RTA (motorbike not a bike!) and there were many disappointed riders who lost out and I did not get a chance to correct my Yorkshire error. This year only one chance, all or nothing, I suppose last year I thought I had a second bite at the cherry but this year I don't have that luxury.

61 year old  Ken Platts (Cambridge CC) on his Lotus (7th)

It was a windy day again and I had to make a slow start not to repeat my error when my eagerness let me down. I make the first quarter (most of it into the wind) 59 minutes, there is a good crowd out and Fiona is out to assist and enjoys a bit of roadside banter with the other helpers on the dog leg to Doveridge which thankfully is fairly neutral in the cross wind. There's plenty of interest as its the final British Best All Rounder counting '100' and a ride off between defending Champion Adam Topham (High Wycombe) and 2011 Nik Bowdler (PedalRevoloution) I take another bottle and its pretty much all I need to the finish. I have to temper my cool start with a bit of speed on the return and get to half distance in 1:53:56 so I have a second lap and a second time up to Blythe Bridge where the wind is stealing my time as it blows directly down the highway leaving no place to hide.

Joel Wainman (SWIFT) 3rd

It takes me 1:05 to do the next 25 miles as I grind out my ride but as I get to the final turn inside 3 hours I know I will pick up on the way back and beat 4 hours which at the start of the day was my target. I can feel my legs go a bit wobbly with the lack of endurance training and Andy Jackson (Swift) who has only caught me three of the five minutes he started behind me to this point reels in the reminder in the last 15 miles to catch me on the line. 3:54:11 a few years ago that would have been a disappointment but with lack of training miles and tough conditions its a great result. Local rider Charles Taylor (South

Andy Jackson (SWIFT)

Pennine) shows the National stars what can be done with local knowledge and on a set of favoured Shamals wins the even with an amazing 3:35:39 Bowdler 2nd 3:36:06 and Topham 3:40:20 for 4th but he still leads the BBAR and it will all come down to the final event of the season the Manchester Whs. '50' on these very roads (starting Blythe Br. end) on the 28th Sept I will be riding that one as well, final preparation for the Masters. o7ò

Result here

Pics here (By Flybike)

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)

BDCA 100

Funny how things turn out, I felt for sure that all I had to do was a reasonable ride in the final '100' of the year to confirm my position in the top 12 of the BBAR this year, the top 7 places are well out of reach above 27mph which must be a record and would have got you a top three place in most other years. The next three places all above 26.5mph and also out of reach for us mortals who have the final three places to fight for and the next 5 places covered by 0.04mph that's about 5 seconds in a 10 mile time trial

I had a consistent week of training, and felt good, tight calf muscles were sorted with a bit of stretching and I was good to go except late on Friday night I began to feel queasy and had a bit of indigestion but I was able to sleep fairly well maybe in the excitement I had got a bit tense but that what come with pressure and I did not feel it was unusual. In the morning I had breakfast in a bit of a sweat but I just went out for 30 minutes and did my stretching as normal and physically felt OK, my stomach was a bit bloated but I managed to put away a bit of pasta at midday as the first riders set off out onto the A50

Two identical laps from Etwall to Bylth Bridge and back along the Dual Carriageway with a dog leg to Doveridge where the JCB headquarters are situated, the wind had blown up from the South so it was pretty much a cross wind but harder on the way out as there was more uphill and the dreaded 'Concrete Mountain'. There was a bit of a plan to pace myself for the first outward leg and not go overboard I did not need a PB just inside 3:50 well within my capabilities, 100 miles a long way but I'm not going to get any fitter and I rated my chances of coping with any conditions baring in mind my recent form and plenty of experience

55:30 for the first 25 miles was good work as it was hard but I did not let my concentration slip even on the hardest sections but my HR would not go up to its normal 159/160 and hung around the 156 which could mean I was not overextending myself but every time I tried to go up there my body resisted. Coming back was easier but the dog leg was the hardest as we came back into a block headwind and  my second 25 of 56:02 so that's 1:51:38 to half way which was good and well  inside my target and on course for a PB

The second lap begins I had to have another gel (my second) and Fi had handed me a bottle at 35 miles, I had been using bigger gears (for me) so my style did not feel fluid so there was a drop in the speed back on the main road and I was not feeling very comfortable with the effort. Jeff Jones (Chippenhan & Didt) the BBAR elect caught me for 9 min at 60 miles super smooth and aero he is doing what is needed but I was having problems. Why can't I? I was expecting a bit of a slowdown but I just could not match this as I watched his flashing light disappear in the distance, I was catching riders myself but more slowly and with a laboured effort. I needed another gel to get me to the finish, my supplies gone too early Fi gave me one and I held it in reserve

It's always best to ride your own race and here I was beginning to feel that the ride was getting away from me I had a second time up the 'hill' to the far turn felt like it would make a difference but once around I still had nearly 30 miles to go (not 70 done!) even the downhill seemed an effort when It had been such an effort to climb you feel it should give back its power easily but in reality you have to toil to harvest the speed from the gradient and the wind all the time pulling at your side. 1:01:11 was a sudden shock for the third 25 and the ride was slipping away

The Doveridge section was a miserable experience,  you relish the hard times when you are going well, welcome them even, when there is nothing there they drag, Fi gave me a final bottle of water I feel disembodied as I look down at my legs, I drift away from myself and have to pull myself back down to carry on the effort and the pain

Derek Parkinson (Cleverly RC) catches me for 19 min with 10 to go and going strongly and cheers me , he is pounding  where I can only poke at the pedals, I see a couple of riders ahead that I have been closing in on and try to use them as bait for my effort, I am closing in on the final miles and there is effort and no effort, pain and no pain, tears of effort and tears of frustration closing in but not making the kill. I pass one Fiona at the side of the road cheering with Sean Childs urging me on, I have effort but it will not be urgent it will only subside at the finish

When I cross the line the twinges of cramp only for the final miles slip back into the water with the pain and I come up for air and breath properly, not the urgent breathing of a distorted mouth  but shallow breathing of late sunshine and a warm breeze, 3:52:20 the numbers stare back at me, not a disaster nothing really. After that good start I let it slip away, Was it the sickness? I felt sick in the race but my body was good, until I needed more. Was it the conditions? Did I underestimate them? When you look at the times of the other riders I feel a little bit more uncomfortable, I went out to race and got caught by the pace

Only '50' mile time trials remain to affect position in the season long BBAR, only 0.04mph between myself in 15th place and Antony Stapleton in 11th and  means riders only need fractions of minutes to move up a place, Mark Arnold only needs a single second improvement to move up a place and I only need 30 seconds to make the top 12

BDCA Result here

Current BBAR standing

BBAR times and '50'  times needed for improvement

2 x 100 = ~

Easy as 123 - Getting ready for the worst of it

Things go from bad to well not worse but lets say underwhelming, last week I had the National Championship '100' on the A168 on my favourite course from Dishforth up onto the North Yorkshire Moors at Northallerton X 3 circuits, an afternoon (going into evening) event so no getting up early for riders and helpers (Fi likes this one as well) we have all day to get ready and get up there for my 3 O'clock start time.

At the Southern end sunshine, in the distance rainstorms

My back is playing up but it does not seem to affect my riding so some gentle stretching in the morning on top of a moderate week pointed to a good race for me and the other 150 riders in the Team Swift promotion, it is a bit breezy but the curved course along its 17 mile length can be deceptive and as we have a downwind start it's all to play for, I have 'Mr Chainring' Nik Bowdler (Farnborough & Camberley) two minutes behind so my 21:45 first 10 miles looks OK but my legs not so fluid and when I start the ascent up to the turn Nik catches me and my legs do not feel like they want to pick up the challenge. Turning into the wind always a bit of a shock but you have to meet it head on with a bit more concentrate effort and of course suffering, strangely my legs feel better making more effort but progress is hard won and the time taken is making me doubt my ability. 24:18 is not a good return for all that investment and the balance of certainty that there will be a profitable outcome, doubt creeps in like a serpent, silent and deadly, you put all thoughts to the back of your mind and continue for 24:18 but coming directly into the wind at the home turn and my speed is blunted still by the creep up the slip road where we are met by 850 riders in the Ripon Triathlon all going around the same roundabout from the other direction, it's a right old kerfuffle, luckily most know the way to go. I have another chance at the downwind section to halfway but my legs are like iron (and not in a good way) after the hard pull and it seems speed has been the casualty of my overexposure to the cost of the race 24:28 its not enough to sustain such an investment and over the next few miles my race plan goes the way of the wind and the rain that has been lashing the far turn, when I get up the top its strangely calm as it often is after a storm with huge puddles in the road although I have seen none of it and barely a drop of water has fallen on me. Fiona is there is the roadside and having passed the 50 mile point in 1:59:40 I pull up and stop DNF its not many times I have had to utter that and it sounds as bad as it feels but the though of going on is worse, there are always times in a long race when you could stop but you don't let it become a reality because you know that dealing with the consequences is tougher and less certain.

Derek Parkinson fills his bottle on the move

 We go and cheer the riders for the remains of the event in the sun at the other end of the course, struggling to take bottles on the slip road into the wind (feeding only allowed off the main road), eventual 6th Derek Parkinson (Cleverly RC) even fills his 'onboard' bottle as he goes along in a bizarre act of It's a Knockout proportion. Kevin Tye nearly coming to grief as he almost comes to a standstill and making a meal of his ride as well. Michael Hutchinson (In gear) runs out the Champion for the sixth time 3:24:45 even though he went off course because he missed the turn in the rain and had to run back up the slip road, he matches Kevin Dawson (Sportscover) for wins but Dawson 3:35:43 after winning the team RAAM in a near record time a few weeks back only good enough for 4th the Utag pair of BBAR champion Julian Jenkinson and Stephen Whitwick 3:32:41 and 3:33:28 respectively


A week later and I have the North Middlesex & Herts CA '100' on the F1/100 on the A1 at Tempsford, a pre race '25' on the Saturday was a wash out cancelled before a rider had gone to the line with constant rain all morning so I had the opportunity to watch the Tour stage in the afternoon at my 'digs' for the weekend in Bedford. I went for a ride around part of the 'New' course I won this event a couple of seasons ago and the course has had numerous incarnations over the years of this one of the most famous courses but the event has to be off the Main A1 by 9 O'clock which presents a problem for a '100' and we always have to use the side roads for the finale.

Come the morning 6.15 start windy but thankfully no rain, we trek up and down between Buckden and Biggleswade six times and then off along the new dual carriageway A421 and back along the lanes through Gt Barford to the Black Cat roundabout, this part was directly into the wind and we did it twice and my sagging legs were overcooked by now. All hope of a sub four hour ride went out the window after a distinctly average 1:58:19 at half way but after being in the same position last week I have to dig deep to avoid the same outcome, I don't want to become a serial stopper I do stop at 80 miles a stop to pick up a bottle which did not help my cause but when you are un-supported it's necessary,  I was annoyed to see that another rider (presumably) had helped himself to half my spare bottle, this has only happened once before when they took the whole lot! I know riders get desperate for a drink in a race but this is beyond the pale as it does not take any effort to leave a spare bottle on the roadside (protected from the traffic spray) especially in multi lap courses like this one, I left another on the finishing circuit but had no need of it as it was not hot and I barely got through 2L and a gel every 25m

With 10m to go the eventual winner Jeff Jones (Chippenham & Dist) came flying past (as he had done through the whole field) like a hot knife through butter, his eventual 3:39:43 amazing for the day and almost 20 minutes faster than the next man Paul Gamlin (Avonlea RT) 3:58:11 with Dave Johnson (VC 10) 3:58:29 only just behind, I came in 5th 4:03:15 after a race long battle with Tim Davis (Icknield) my 2 minute man. SWRC had another rider in the event Matthew Eckford but I only saw this at the result board, so his 4:30:37 (2:13:27) commendable on this difficult day, I must have caught him at some point, I hope I gave him a shout.

Un-assisted in the NM&H '100' (Pic - David Jones)

Making a meal of it

It's been an interesting month, after my premature false start to the year I could tell I would need to reassess my physical condition and my fitness if I was to carry on racing and get something out of the season. I went to my doctor and had a series of blood tests to reject any medical reason for my breathing  problems as I had already diagnosed tiredness or over training syndrome but I hoped if I caught it early I could arrest my intermittent form.

I took a complete week off racing, a difficult decision when you know the opposition have started earlier and getting stronger by the week, I ride pretty much every day but I looked at it as taking a holiday for a week which I have done without my bike over the past couple of seasons. Doctors (& the internet) are undecided as to the best remedy for over training but we had a good chat about how it affects the body, like most athletes i recon I know myself pretty well but it's still difficult making a balanced prognosis and sticking to what is best as a remedy.  Rest is recommended although there is a debate as to how active that should be, like most situations it depends on the person and how deep the problem, I hoped I'd caught it early and it could be arrested with some restand then progressive recovery. I started with three days complete rest, difficult when you ride every day, then I I took the middle route and just did a couple of little rides but nothing stressful and did stretching every other day and had a full massage on the Saturday instead of a race. I'd decided to make good use of my time and do some DIY plumbing at the house which turned a bit stressful (as always!) and probably negated the good of the massage but a change as they say is as good as a rest, just try to avoid B & Q on a weekend
I then had a week to build up to the Bank Holiday but work was worse than normal so I just rode to work and did one midweek session on 81" fixed, not that impressive but riding a single speed always puts a smile on my face and that was good. I'd already entered a tough double for the BH weekend, as an appetiser the Manchester Whs '50' on the Sat and the main course the Anfield '100' on the Monday, in the past I have only ridden the Anfield as its my first long event of the year and requires special preparation as it can be hard on the Shropshire roads and the weather has been non too kind in the few times I've ridden it , I planned this a few months back before my dip in form to supplement my lack of hard racing,  the Saturday like most of May was very windy so I resolved to ride the shorter and if it went badly give the Anfield a miss

Moody hills in the Dee Valley

I tried not to put too much pressure on myself, no pre race ride only more stretching and with a downhill/downwind start no need for a warm up either I would feel my way back into racing. As an aperitif the outward leg was powerful stuff, I clocked 48mph down the A50 past the JCB factory at Doveridge and got to the turn just 10 seconds over 30mph, so much for the warm up! the h'ordeuvres would be 22 miles of suet pastry not a crisp vol au vent, now I cannot pretend that it was pretty or stylish and when the 'concrete mountain' arrested my speed below 15mph I did relent with the thought of what was to come two days later but I feel I did myself justice and there was no sign of the breathing difficulty I had a couple of weeks before. There were some super fast times despite the conditions, Julian Jenkinson (UTAG) ran out winner in 1:43:15 so god only knows what time he got to half way, I came back at a sedate 23.3mph to record 1:54:21 happy that I would survive the Anfield but just hope for less windy conditions

Telford's cast iron aquaduc

After another breezy de-stressing ride in the lanes around Oswestry on the Sunday past the 'clanging' stage ot Ozfest and a walk in the hills with my hosts Mick & Barbara almost blown off the tops, I also had a close look at Telfords Aquaduct  of 1790 but with my hands on the iron rail at 80 feet up above the River Dee. As it panned out Monday was calm as a millpond but the predicted rain was already falling as the first riders were set off on the Anfield '100' that has been run since 1889, the temperature at 8 degrees was more worrying and I should have put on proper overshoes but I went for the pretty (and ineffective) covers

The first two hours were not too bad completed in under two hours, my saddle came loose at 40 miles and I had to stop to fix it after riding for several miles with it clenched between my buttocks not daring to get out the saddle, this would not have been so bad if I had not needed to re fix the saddle an inch further forward than usual compounded by my bars coming loose as well on the rough wet roads where you could not see a good line to ride. So after 3 or 4 minutes with my saddle forward and bars tipped up I continued which gave me a somewhat cramped position for the rest of the race. As the second half progressed and my ability to generate enough power to ride and keep warm I began to suffer mainly with the cold and my final ten miles I was the slowest. Back at the HQ riders were close to hypothermia white and shivering and some were to be out for over five hours, the winner Andy Bason still felt the cold but only needed 3:41:07 for a new course record as the expected challenge from Andy Wilkinson fizzled out at 65 miles and he climbed off with a bad back and the cold.

New compact position - photographs © Simon J Evans

My final time 4:11:14 with 4 minutes delay was not too bad, good enough for 6th on the day I was pleased with the way I performed and more than pleased with my two events, several who rode on the Sat packed but I felt pretty solid and my decision not to go all out in the '50' paid off. I could plan my next few weeks training and racing with a bit more certainty although my fragile fitness would need to be nursed along until I felt more robust. Back in the Doctors on Tuesday morning I was candid as to the type of rest I'd taken over the holiday weekend but he gave me a clean bill of health and the Nurse syringed one of my ears although I thought I'd had enough of that yesterday.

Anfield '100' - Rational thought in an emperical world

I'd done a 21:04 in the midweek Leicester RC '10' on the local Rothley (A6) bypass just North of Leicester for 2nd place, not a bad effort on a cold blustery evening with spitting rain but this was supposed to be a recovery week with lowest mileage of the year so far (181 miles) That included 40 miles at Mallory Park the next evening and with the Elite boys doing their stuff in the City center crit series it was left to those that remain (only 27) to make a race of it, this is always harder than following a race being made by somebody else as you have to make sure you don't overdo it on the front and end up going out the back if the speed goes up when you come off the front, I was caught in no man's land with 5 to go 20 metres off the back but managed to squeeze back on and finished in the (back of the) bunch
The 'resting' was extended to the Saturday when I DNS'ed the Beacon '10' on the Saturday giving myself the full weekend off as I have the Anfield BC '100' on the Bank Holiday and want to get through it with as much dignity as possible as its a bit of a sporting course with a reputation for catching out the unwary but I need a bit of a challenge at this time of year to bring on my fitness honed with quite a bit of speed but still lacking the depth necessary to feel comfortable over the longer distances. I ridden it a couple of years ago in very windy conditions but the event has such a long history and is the definition of a classic (first run 1889) with a good atmosphere and has drawn me back for a second crack at the course based at Shawbury to Terne Hill and Prees Heath and a circuit covered four times.
I was off No 90 ten minutes in front of scratch man Andy Bason (Team Pedal Rev) and as he had only beaten me by 21 seconds in last weeks National '10' I figured I would hold him off for the duration. It was quite a good morning cool and windless (compared to the day before when it had blown a gale) when I pressed the pedals for the first revolution of the race at 7.30, the first leg out to Prees Heath was harder than I anticipated and the first 10 miles came up in 24 minutes (25mph) and then the first 25 miles in 58:30 somewhat down on what I had planned. I took a gel as I went onto the circuit and decided that I would take it easy to half way and then see if I could pick it up from there as the promised hot weather was nowhere to be seen.
Fifty miles came up in 1:59:30 and it had been a bit of a struggle, It's difficult to express what goes through your mind at quarter distance (ie three quarters to go!) and you feel ....well.... not up to par, sure you think about stopping for a moment....and then again for another moment.... but you've driven over a hundred miles to get here and got up at 5.00 somebody had come out to help (Thank's Mick) your position feels a bit different.... too much weight on my arms.... visor steaming up and other annoying factors, forgot to put some cream in my shorts....so they'll be hell to pay for the rest of the week in the saddle! Just then Andrew Allan (New Brighton CC) my 5 minute man comes past, he is doing a good ride and it makes my heart sink a bit he is using a big gear but then Andy Bason comes past 30 seconds later and my heart sinks a bit more.....Oh god!.... I've still got nearly fifty miles to go.
The three of us ride in a line 5 seconds apart after Bason takes a bottle which holds him up a bit, Allan as all over his bike looking over his shoulder (at me?) and looking very uncomfortable on the uphill sections. I go past him on an incline close up on Bason and settle a bit, Allen comes past just the once but I can see his distress and he looks like he is ready to 'blow' Bason goes away into the wind but still in sight and I re-pass Allan and leave him, put my head down and concentrate on the rough roads up to the Esplay roundabout on the A53. (Allen climbs off at 75 miles DNF) 75 miles comes up just outside three hours and in my minds eye I have the finish in sight, my legs are still suffering and cramping up when I push too hard but I've taken a bottle at the feed station (1 x 500ml + 2 x 750ml at the start) as my helper is AWOL but I don't need anything else, another couple of gels at 50 & 75 miles but it's still overcast and I haven't over extended myself. A man gives me time checks "30 seconds up on No 80" Neill Skellern (Congleton CC) and "You can get 2nd" with a lap to go. I can't push any more, these roads have sapped my strength and I cross the line in 4:02:20
Bason has done 3:44:12 a second faster than last time I rode, I have gone nearly 10 minutes faster for 3rd place David Shepherd (GS Stella) has come in 2nd (after a long wait) with 4:00:58 Allan has a word with me at the finish "I started too fast" he's young (only 27) and will get plenty more chances to tame this his local classic (3rd last year) I walk away but when you make it to the end you know its an empirical victory with experience the winner on the day.

Andt Bason (Left) and Andy Wilkinson (2009 Winner)


Anfield BC Here

It's National Time!

This year I decided to ride all the National Time Trial distances, starting with the 10 mile on the 23rd May. Only 91st fastest entry could I manage to improve on my overall place of 68th last year? Not the fastest course (K33/10) at Salfords Priors in Warwickshire but should be a fine test for defending champion Michael Hutchinson (in gear) but last years silver Andy Tennant back again and Olympic medalists Steve Burke and Ed Clancy (all Motorpoint) also feature

Stratford CC Website
Start Sheet

Then the 25 mile promoted in Yorkshire on the 5th June - I managed to make it at 52nd fastest entry and never having ridden the Blue Ribband of the Time Trialling season before (rode the Junior version in 1979 won by Darryl Webster) should be a good event the Boroughbridge venue of some classic events in the past. With 219 entries for the 150 places and controversially Alex Dowsett (7th World Under 23 TT 2009) has had his entry returned after he had no qualifying time (after initially but ilegally being given a wild card entry by the CTT)

Yorkshire Velo Website
List of riders

The 50 mile is the most local to the South Western RC in the South at Petersfield, it is a tried and tested fast course, starts at Hillbrow and does two laps between Buriton and the Bramshott on the A3. At the present time I'm the 7th fastest man in the field (how low can I go?) entries close on the 25th May and the SWRC hope to field a strong team

Details of the a3crg... event
Entries (so far)