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

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

Stone Wheelers '25' - Life's a Drag

Another week another trip to the A50, this time starting at the Blythe Bridge end and literally dropping down past Uttoxeter and then back. This is always a race of two half's, one super fast and one super tough, tough physically as you have to fight the course and usually the conditions and mentally as you see your dream ride ebb away. Its always the way so a lack of wind was a welcome sign that I might be spared the superlative and only be reduced merely tough.

It's a drag - 52:02  (Photo - Chris Lees)  o7ò

I've been paying a bit more attention to my position after looking at my 'double' photo posted a few weeks back, allot has been made about wind tunnel testing and how much (or not!) the top riders pay attention to what benefit it has on performance. Matt Bottrill claims not to have achieved any more power output for his recent improved times but being sponsored by a wind tunnel lab (drag2zero) seems to be having its benefits.
I decided to make a start by dropping my bars an inch as I'd put it up for my last 12Hr and got used to a less aggressive position and then did 20 minutes on the rollers as even with a fast start its a cold day and a bit of warmth in the muscles always nice

My first split 9:48 as I try and resist the temptation to start too fast but 8:51 (33.8 Av.) is more realistic and I know how Hutch feels as he scorches along on the flat all the time 10:06 including a tricky double roundabout at the turn that I had driven on my way through just to check my line and the road surface, I was glad to see Sir Brad concur for his TOB time trial at Knowlsley

Spot the difference 2009 o7ò

32 Av. mph to the turn is not quite competition record speed but you would think its a good position to be and 10:39 for the next five miles still put me fifteen seconds inside a 50 minute ride. But that last five miles are the hardest I will ever race, I have taken 14 minutes to polish them off, on this occasion its 12:19 still well over 24mph but it does not matter how you cut your cloth all I can salvage is 52:02 minutes my third fastest of all time and a course PB and I should be pleased but this course always leaves you unsatisfied with all that promise its never going to feel comfortable. Good enough for 10th overall, a couple from Manchester Wheeler's Simon Bridge and Scott Burns take first and second and that man Charles Taylor the only other rider inside fifty minutes. o7ò

Result Here

Photo Here (Chris Lees)