Draggy Strip - National 10 Mile

My second claim club the Hinckley CRC were promoting the National Championship '10'  TT on the local Wolvey course near Lutterworth. It would provide a contrast to last years event on the Uber fast V718 along the Humber estuary. I set a PB in coming 83rd with 19:58, this year it was on a course I have ridden over sixty times but never got inside 22 minutes (best 22:01 in 2011 & 22:05 in 2009) a difference in speed of nearly 3mph Av. and while the Wolvey course does not look on paper that slow a couple of drags and a 'draggy' road surface along with almost zero traffic makes it a true test for the 'Testers' art of power and pacing

'Warming up' in the rain

In the meantime I'd improved my PB in the '10' by a single second on the 'V' in July and in a full dress rehearsal I'd done 22:02 in the Tuesday evening before the race, I usually ride a 92-94" fixed on an evening hoping to attain 100 rpm but Here I'd put my gear up to 100" so only a modest 90 rpm but I tried it on gears and not a great deal of difference so I opted for the fixed on the day. I had a good chance of winning my age category being the second fastest, but there was a clutch more C's (50-55) just behind me there could be no slacking

There may be no traffic on this road but there was plenty of farmers driving combines and tractors up and down the lane in the week before the event, it was harvesting after a hot few weeks the men and machines work around the clock to get the job done so when I rode around the course the day before there was plenty of action. As I arrived marshals were sweeping up wheat over spill on one of the junctions but then just on queue the heavens opened as we were all warming up at the HQ and what looked like a potential clash of interest for the road space disappeared as all the workers disappeared unable to do any more.

21:57 on my fixed (2nd 'D' 50-54)

So a warm-up in the rain (I was to ride three events on consecutive days, all in the rain!) on the rollers with everybody doing likewise, some under gazebos more prepared but on summers like these I seem to have done it a lot more than normal. The field laid out in order of fastest so my 62 made me 88th fastest in the field of 150, , my minute man only a second slower but I planned to catch him! Almost all the riders fastest times have been done on the 'V' but here on the lowly ranked K41/10 there would be a democratisation of conditions and times. I went to the start. it was pleasantly warm and still, I'd taken my visor off on this course you need to see the road surface and in the rain it's just a distraction.

Rain did not stop the action

I went as hard as I dare in the conditions but lost a few seconds at the turn with a car taking my line so I just had to take it slow and safe, my HR showed 156, almost a record for these days and only 154 on the way back but my average 150 so as good as I could have hoped. I was closing in on my man all the way, I could see the Oxford rider in his orange kit getting closer but in the end I was 3 seconds shy of the catch. The last mile is the fastest and gears would have helped but I still hit over 35mph as pushed myself all the way. In the end a new course PB 21:57 almost exactly two minutes slower than last year. Things were looking up in the age awards he fastest in my age group Ian Greenstreet had a puncture after a couple of miles and that threw the competition wide open

Bottrill's final National

The rain eased a bit for the final ten 'The favorites' but the roads were still wet and the conditions much the same for everybody. James Boyman (Farnham RC) was top of the leader board from a lowly No 90 (60th fastest) 20:01 from monster big Josh Williams (Revolution Racing) the coming man at 23 years who had placed 4th in the '25' just after him at No 91 with 20:08. Nobody could dislodge him until 7th from the end Richard Bussell (RST Sport) 19:36, only four races to his name this year but a 18:17 on the 'V' and a ten year old bike put together for £1000 to take on the best in the country. Ryan Perry (Langdale) the winner of the National '25' went out but did not come back, unshipping his chain at the turn and then flinging his machine into the hedge. The final three, local Matt Clinton (Mike Vaughn) who rides the Tuesday evenings on a regular basis and does 'low' twenty rides came within five seconds 19:41 but he was up against the man riding his final National after a couple of years dominating the TT scene and the defending holder and final man. Matt Bottrill (drag2zero) As last year it was close all the way but Matt could not dislodge the leader, his time 19:45 only good enough for third, only four riders inside twenty minutes (last year 85!) and the winner a few seconds inside two minutes faster than the winning time in 2014 17:40 so all things considered true to the course that had managed to tame the favourites and let some new talent into the fray.

Winning my age was not to be I missed out by 13 seconds, I did however improve my place in the country to 81st perhaps if Ryan had not flung his bike it may have made for different result o7ò


CTT Result

Velo UK Report

Alan Kitchen Photos

Winners £1000 bike

Leicester Win! - Stone Whs '25' - British Circuit Champs

Fastest of the year 51:45

I have a rest day after the '100' and I have done five sessions in five days coming up to a double header, the last ride was a 'recovery' to scout Sundays course for the RTTC National Circuit Championships up in the Charnwood Forest but by the time I've ridden there and back to work and done a lap of the course it's nearly 50 miles so not the best preparation for what I hope will be my fastest '25' of the year. The Stone Wheelers event a bit of a Curates Egg of a race on the reverse direction of the speedy Etwall course but over the years it has produces some speedy times despite finishing up the Concrete Mountain. Weather is looking favourable with the unusual East wind blowing us back the best conditions for this event

I have asked for an 'early' to facilitate as much recover as possible, some riders do it (apparently) to get more favourable conditions if they have local knowledge about the weather or say like today when Leicester now back in the Premiership are playing Stoke a mere bus ride away up the A50! And they think there will be lots of coaches returning from the match at a certain time

Andy Jackson's Falco

The race goes well, Its a bit harder going out than anticipated 10:25 and 9:32 put me level with my recent PB '10' time but the turn is slow here with two roundabouts and a drag back up to the main road 10:31 but once back onto the DC its fast 10:15 and I'm level with my best but It cannot sustain that pace and even though I average over 27mph up the Mountain I am left with 51:45. There are some cracking times though and I wonder where the winner Simon Wilson (Wheelbase) put 4 minutes into me! 47:43 just ahead of Andy Jackson (Swift) 47:43 and Richard Bideau (Pendle Forest) 48:32 all break the old course record, The latter his first open '25' but then he did 18:35 in his first event! the Charity '10' on the V718

As i returned from the event I was passed by two dozen buses with Leicester scarves in the window, first win of the season

Can't miss it!

I have second thoughts about Sundays ride and put 53-44 on my bike as the course is just too hard for a 50 inner and the fast sections not long enough to get the benefit out of a 'Dinner Plate'. HQ is Bardon and I find a quite corner of the car park to do 20 minutes on the rollers, legs feel remarkably good considering the pounding they took in the last five miles yesterday but that's improved fitness as well. As I ride up to the start I bump into my old friend Andrew, he has taken a few hours off to ride out and support me, I'm in a bit of a pre-race frame of mind so I hope he does not think I'm rude, its difficult to be easy going and race ready at the same time Fiona knows well enough to leave me alone in the hours (and days) coming up to a big event but I've had a good result yesterday so I can afford to have a bit of a chat. The start is one of the highest points in this part of the country and you have a panoramic view of the National Forest (most of its oak cut down to make the Tudor fleet but Abraham Derbys' smelting process took its toll of this area and its now has several large quarry's now the mining at nearby Coalville has ceased)

Waiting for the Off

The course has an uphill start (inner ring!) but then drops for the next few miles and my speed is over 40mph I dare not look down at my computer above that on aero bars as the road surface not the best. A left turn and the course is 'Rolling' I should have done my practise lap at nearer race pace as its difficult to get my tempo right over all these obstacles and the final part is up a steep hill and I'm in too big a gear and its not so smooth for all the spectators who have gathered here. There are a few cheers of "Go on Colin" well it is my local event, I didn't realise I was so well known. The second lap I get better, smaller gears, attacking the slopes and over the top, my legs feel OK but I think my HR is down as I lack that extra bit of power to smooth out the effort and get the best out of myself, it's all preparation and practise so no matter how well you focus performance suffers
In the end my time is about what I'd expect so after yesterday that's a bonus, I'm second in my 50-54 age group behind Kevin Tye (Velorefiners) who has won this six years in a row (and World age related TT Champ last year) so its to be expected, Michael Hutchinson, now 40! is the fastest of the Veterans and second Overall 43:17 Best on standard is 63 year old Chris Scawn (Plymouth Corinthian) 46:14 (+12:56) I'm 14th overall and 13th on standard
Fastest is 'Man of the Season' Matt Bottrill (drag2zero) racing on virtually local roads 41:50, a tie for 3rd place between Dave Crawley (Wrexham) and Brett Harwood (Terry Wright) and 4th Russell Hampon (Athlon Sport) only a second back so almost a three way! o7ò



Stone Wheelers 25 Result

RTTC British Circuit Champs Result

National '10' - Post Haste

After a big build up the day came and I trundled off to South Cave on the A63 near Hull, I gave myself plenty of time so I could ride around the course, not something I usually do when I know the course but I never felt that I'd got the return leg right and lost too much time by not making my effort count. I took notice of the slight rises in the course and the  exposed sections where I was likely to loose time and I gave myself a point to aim for knowing when I would need to go into the red and for how long, I also had to test out the acute corner as you swing off the DC and onto finish straight only used here to make the event more spectator friendly and handy for the HQ at the local Rugby club.

The open expanses of the A68

I felt I'd done enough of a warm up so just got my bike and myself into race mode, Michael Hutchinson was adjacent to me doing much the same, It's good to come to these sort of events just to see how all the top riders prepare and there is allot of good natured talk but also a tension in the air as there has been allot of build up with regard to the time that will win the Championship as this is the fastest event on the acknowledged fastest course in the country. The slowest of the 150 riders is a mid 21 minute man, the women's and Juniors event having been contested at Alcester the previous day.

'10' Champion Matt Bottrill (Pics - Nick Hanson)
Second fastest of all time 17:40 (33.962mph Av.)

I gave myself plenty of time to get to the start, it was warm with a bit of wind from the North East and as usual a fast start, I watched a few riders through the 'hairpin' as the first thirty were coming home, many were in too big a gear for the sharp turn and several were hindered by traffic and had difficulty getting going again loosing all their momentum. so I made a note to gear down 'Criterium' style when I approached.

19:57 style (30.075 mph Av.)

I sat on the handy bench by the timekeeper in the warm afternoon sun, I'd taken my bottle cage off so nothing to drink, my mouth was dry but I get a drink from a helper. Peter Read from the promoting club Team Swift and the author of the the authoritative guide to training for time-trialling 'The Black Book' was pushing off as usual, he knows allot of the riders and always knows your form, we have a little banter before I turn my gaze to the road ahead. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 GO! And I'm on my way, I've ridden the National '10' twice before on the Old Bath Road (Newbury RC) in 2009 22:05 for 68th place, on the other occasion 2010 when it was on the A46 in Warwick (Stratford CC) i did 21:32 for 78th place. on both occasions Michael Hutchinson was the winner (18:37 & 19:34 respectively) he has a tremendous track record in this event only having been beaten by Stuart Dangerfield (three times 2001,2003 & 2004) and Sir Bradley in 2011 since his run began in 2000.

2nd Mullen 17:42 - Best aero

I push off and join the slip road and soon I am on the dual carriageway that will be my 'track' for the next twenty minutes, I get up to speed or what feels on the verge of uncomfortable and sustain this until I it feels good and then I go up through the gears, there is very little fluctuation in the road, it drops and climbs maybe 5-10 meters to the turn and I just hold it there.

Dr Hutch 3rd 17:53

Then we get to the turn, and its a bit of a climb, the slowest part of the course and you have to negotiate a bridge and two small roundabouts on either side of the carriageway, its all pretty tight but I have no holdups, there does not seem to be a lot of traffic but as I go down the slip to the main road again I can feel the effort of the change in pace and getting up to speed in my legs.

Andy Jackson (Swift) on his 'Blade' bike  5th 18:02

There is a bridge and a garage the five mile point and I go through in 9:35 (31.3mph Av.) but I don't check just concerntrate on my ride. Now the return is going to be harder to pace, my legs are doing OK its my heart and lungs where there seems to be an issue, My facility to go 'into the red' does seem to have waned in the last few years, maybe because I do less intervals or road racing type efforts but my top end seems to have disappeared, where I could go above 160 BPM today it will only reach 154, my average is still about the same 150 but that window of effort seems to be closing with every passing year

Finish straight

I push as close to my limit as my breathing will allow, I have to retain some awareness of the traffic and the junction that will approach and I don't want to mess it up. The traditional course finishes in the DC. I make sure there are no other cars and take the widest approach but still i go into the chevrons (and dirt) exiting the corner and you need to avoid an island in the middle of the road which affords protection from oncoming traffic. I am soon up to speed again on the bumpy side road to the chequered flag and the timekeeper, its 1.3 miles further on but the two minutes go on forever and I've nothing left for anything like a sprint as I'm already doing over thirty miles per hour, my second half 10:23 (28.89 mph Av.)
I have the satisfaction that I have improved my best time 19:57 is my first ride over 30mph in an out and home time trial, I'm still short of the club record but that will have to wait for another day, today I have to be satisfied with a Personal Best and (eventually) being 83rd place overall.

Hutch gracious in defeat.....Just!

The amount of fast time are breathtaking and the result makes for exhausting reading, four riders on 19:00 (13.6mph Av. faster than my half way!) and they are not in the top 25! Professional Russell Hampton (Athlon Sport) with 17:58 putting him sixth fastest of all time but not good enough for a medal here, only 4th place! Hutchinson 17:42 has the Bronze, it's not his fastest ever and he is gracious in defeat, another young Pro twenty year old Ryan Mullen (An-Post) the Irish Road & TT champion is pipped to the title by a mere two seconds. Champion and self styled 'Fastest Postman in the Country' Is Matt Bottrill (drag2zero) with the second fastest of all time (after Dowsett's 17:20) is  with 17:40 to go with the '25' and '50' titles. He's using a 58 chainring for the first time as if to up the stakes and the drag2zero team also set a National and Competition Record on the day taking the record from the promoting clubs riders who set it earlier in the season. It seeme there have been many more fast rides this year. Is it the weather? Is it the more wide use of Power Meters?But its the fastest win in the fastest Championships of all time 86 riders inside twenty minutes (including me!) o7ò



Full Result Here (Velo UK)

CTT report

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