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Wednesday, 12 August 2009
NEW BIKE!
My new bike has finally arrived, during my week off I spend a bit of time to build it up but there are some new bits to buy like one of those under bottom bracket brakes that I've never seen before
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Record breaking week (for the SWRC)
Seems it has been a record breaking week for the SWRC members, with Tom's efforts in the WLCA '50' we also have Ruth Hutton smashing the Women's '10' record last Saturday (1st Aug) in the Charlotteville CC event on the A31 - Bently Bypass (H10/8), her time of 23.00 (26.087 mph Av.) knocking almost 30 seconds off her own record set 10 years ago, she took the women's prize, event was won by Stephen Whitwick (Utag Yahama) 20.08.
I followed this up on Saturday with a reduction of the '50' time in the BDCA event on the A 50 between Etwall and Uttoxeter, officials and riders were left in a quandary as there were cones out for inspection on the upper part of the course so the event was changed to two laps of the '25' course instead of going all the way to Blyth Bridge.
A one hour delay made for some anxious moments as the inspection crews were vague about how long they would be on the course but we eventually got away in what were ideal conditions (for this summer) light wind and a bit of heat. After my miserable ride in the Pennine event last week I was more recovered and less travelled this week and my ride reflected this although I was still short of some top end power and I can only put this down to tiredness and having spent more time than usual on track preparation but with that out the way I was free to indulge my 56 chain ring a bit more.
It was harder out to the turn so I saved a bit for the second lap posting 53.30 for my first '25' mile lap after getting caught in a slow moving convoy which meant riding up the centre of the dual carriageway for 5 miles.
My second lap was slightly slower at 54.30 but a total time of 1:48:04 (27.76 mph Av.) reduces the record by 35 seconds and gives me a current BBAR time of 25.71 mph for the '50' '100' and 12 hour (which is a new record in itself)
Julia Shaw (Utag Yahama) broke the Women's Competition record for '50' miles with 1:46:49 beating Jill Reames time from 1997, Event was won by current BBAR Nik Bowdler (Farnb & Camb Whs.) just outside 30 mph Av. with 1:40:01 seems like Ruth Nik and myself could do with a bit of finishing practice to get those last few seconds off!
N.B. This may be the last ride on my beloved 'Sigma' frame, the old bike (as it were) she was third hand when I accuired her from Ex club member Steve Gowar as a road bike but after a season on the road she has done me proud and all my rides of note have been done in her company. I have come to the end of the line as I feel she cannot take the battering I put her through week after week. I have my first all carbon frame.
I followed this up on Saturday with a reduction of the '50' time in the BDCA event on the A 50 between Etwall and Uttoxeter, officials and riders were left in a quandary as there were cones out for inspection on the upper part of the course so the event was changed to two laps of the '25' course instead of going all the way to Blyth Bridge.
A one hour delay made for some anxious moments as the inspection crews were vague about how long they would be on the course but we eventually got away in what were ideal conditions (for this summer) light wind and a bit of heat. After my miserable ride in the Pennine event last week I was more recovered and less travelled this week and my ride reflected this although I was still short of some top end power and I can only put this down to tiredness and having spent more time than usual on track preparation but with that out the way I was free to indulge my 56 chain ring a bit more.
It was harder out to the turn so I saved a bit for the second lap posting 53.30 for my first '25' mile lap after getting caught in a slow moving convoy which meant riding up the centre of the dual carriageway for 5 miles.
My second lap was slightly slower at 54.30 but a total time of 1:48:04 (27.76 mph Av.) reduces the record by 35 seconds and gives me a current BBAR time of 25.71 mph for the '50' '100' and 12 hour (which is a new record in itself)
Julia Shaw (Utag Yahama) broke the Women's Competition record for '50' miles with 1:46:49 beating Jill Reames time from 1997, Event was won by current BBAR Nik Bowdler (Farnb & Camb Whs.) just outside 30 mph Av. with 1:40:01 seems like Ruth Nik and myself could do with a bit of finishing practice to get those last few seconds off!
N.B. This may be the last ride on my beloved 'Sigma' frame, the old bike (as it were) she was third hand when I accuired her from Ex club member Steve Gowar as a road bike but after a season on the road she has done me proud and all my rides of note have been done in her company. I have come to the end of the line as I feel she cannot take the battering I put her through week after week. I have my first all carbon frame.
Thursday, 6 August 2009
European Masters Track - Quantitive easing
3Km Pursuit :- Two days later after Points race success I had a chance to redeem my problematic British Masters ride in the individual pursuit, a hiccup at the start meant a disappointing 6th place so here I would be paying particular attention to every detail, I was riding the same bike I finished the Elmet 12 (the spare) kitted out with a 97" gear (up from 94" at Newport)
The European Championship run with a qualifying round and the top two ride for the Gold and the next two ride for the Bronze, I was against Steve Clayton in my round with two heats remaining I needed to be the fastest for the chance to be in the top four. The start went without a hitch and I settled into my ride, the first kilometer is just a waiting process but as you enter the half way your legs tighten and the result of keeping the revs per minute at 110 begins to make the pressure inside your head build up as your back arches to support the force of your legs through an arc of ever increasing pain. By the time you are in the last few laps the burning pain is only held at bay by the memory of all those sessions on the turbo that push you to the point of collapse.
I had glanced across the track and saw I had my opponent at a couple of seconds but was unable to 'lift it' any more on the final laps as my legs were blocked by the sudden and increasing pain so my effort finishes on the gun but I had no more to give. My time a PB 3:41:751 I'd snuck in ahead of French rider Sylvan Abadie 3:41:838 from the previous heat and I could only afford to be beaten by three of the final four. Both the British Champion Peter Ettles and Alistair Taylor (2nd at Newport) were faster with 3:35:786 and 3:40:702 respectively so it would be the Bronze ride off if I beat one of the final heat, World Champion Claus Christiansen came home 2nd fastest 3:37:906 but Ian Greenstreet (3rd at Newport) could only manage 7th so I had another chance to get a medal.
The final was in the evening so I went back to the flat where I was staying (Thanks Kelda!) to do some stretching and have a sleep, all the while coughing and re-living my ride thinking how I could improve the second needed to beat my opponent. Track racing is a series of races done on fitness but also pent-up and nerve jangling energy, I was able to ride the Points race with luck and skill but here in the physical desert that is pursuiting, nowhere to hide, the bleached effort of a pursuit is not mental it is just the physical sensation of effort stripped away so that it burns until your body is a husk, building yourself up for another effort is the skill, push away the pain and the doubt, encourage your mind to think that it wasn't so bad, settle in for another voyage to the surface of the sun.
It comes around soon enough, I'm up in the trap with the countdown from 10 seconds, 3, 2, 1, GO another safe start, already I feel better with the blank wood of the track passing under my wheels, the black line pulling me forward and my breathing dominating my senses. It is close, I do not have anybody 'walking the line' so I do not know if I am up or down, it is close, I glance across I know we are close. For the final laps I am able to pick up the pace, my rev counter is not working so I just go for it, as much as my body will take, the bell for the final lap ring together, still too close to call, right to the line with a lunge at the line and the guns go off together. I almost come a cropper as I go over the foam blocks into the banking but it is over and my body relaxes a bit, its all over
When the result shows I am not crushed, I had no more to give, I ride over and congratulate the Alistair the winner, he had gone a second slower but crucially I had not gone faster. A mere 27:1000th of a second had split our efforts, not more than a foot in it at the end after a joust at 35mph with the track stopping us from coming together. The positions from last year were reversed in the ride off for Gold, Ettles the Champion in a new European record time (3:35:483) and although Christensen had pushed the Scottish rider he faded in the last kilometer to finish just under two seconds behind
Victory ceremony for the Pursuit
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I felt I'd made some amends for my ride at Newport and 4th place is the worst place to finish but I had Gold under my pillow and that makes failure a bit easier to swallow. I missed the final days racing where I could have ridden the Brain Cossavella scratch race on the Saturday in favour of heading out the next morning at 4.30am in search of a fast Pennine CC '50' on the Yorkshire Dishforth course. A promising day blew up into a bit of a storm and I rode like a 'bag of spanners' to finish just inside two hours, event was won by Joel Wainman (Team Swift) who I'd narrowly beaten in the Elmet a mere seven days before, I suppose something had to give I was a bit of a physical wreck in the race and the tough conditions just served to expose my frailty with no inner power to 'boss' the tough conditions. Track racing on top of the mental stress of the 12 Hr. I was in need of a break.
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The European Championship run with a qualifying round and the top two ride for the Gold and the next two ride for the Bronze, I was against Steve Clayton in my round with two heats remaining I needed to be the fastest for the chance to be in the top four. The start went without a hitch and I settled into my ride, the first kilometer is just a waiting process but as you enter the half way your legs tighten and the result of keeping the revs per minute at 110 begins to make the pressure inside your head build up as your back arches to support the force of your legs through an arc of ever increasing pain. By the time you are in the last few laps the burning pain is only held at bay by the memory of all those sessions on the turbo that push you to the point of collapse.
I had glanced across the track and saw I had my opponent at a couple of seconds but was unable to 'lift it' any more on the final laps as my legs were blocked by the sudden and increasing pain so my effort finishes on the gun but I had no more to give. My time a PB 3:41:751 I'd snuck in ahead of French rider Sylvan Abadie 3:41:838 from the previous heat and I could only afford to be beaten by three of the final four. Both the British Champion Peter Ettles and Alistair Taylor (2nd at Newport) were faster with 3:35:786 and 3:40:702 respectively so it would be the Bronze ride off if I beat one of the final heat, World Champion Claus Christiansen came home 2nd fastest 3:37:906 but Ian Greenstreet (3rd at Newport) could only manage 7th so I had another chance to get a medal.
The final was in the evening so I went back to the flat where I was staying (Thanks Kelda!) to do some stretching and have a sleep, all the while coughing and re-living my ride thinking how I could improve the second needed to beat my opponent. Track racing is a series of races done on fitness but also pent-up and nerve jangling energy, I was able to ride the Points race with luck and skill but here in the physical desert that is pursuiting, nowhere to hide, the bleached effort of a pursuit is not mental it is just the physical sensation of effort stripped away so that it burns until your body is a husk, building yourself up for another effort is the skill, push away the pain and the doubt, encourage your mind to think that it wasn't so bad, settle in for another voyage to the surface of the sun.
It comes around soon enough, I'm up in the trap with the countdown from 10 seconds, 3, 2, 1, GO another safe start, already I feel better with the blank wood of the track passing under my wheels, the black line pulling me forward and my breathing dominating my senses. It is close, I do not have anybody 'walking the line' so I do not know if I am up or down, it is close, I glance across I know we are close. For the final laps I am able to pick up the pace, my rev counter is not working so I just go for it, as much as my body will take, the bell for the final lap ring together, still too close to call, right to the line with a lunge at the line and the guns go off together. I almost come a cropper as I go over the foam blocks into the banking but it is over and my body relaxes a bit, its all over
When the result shows I am not crushed, I had no more to give, I ride over and congratulate the Alistair the winner, he had gone a second slower but crucially I had not gone faster. A mere 27:1000th of a second had split our efforts, not more than a foot in it at the end after a joust at 35mph with the track stopping us from coming together. The positions from last year were reversed in the ride off for Gold, Ettles the Champion in a new European record time (3:35:483) and although Christensen had pushed the Scottish rider he faded in the last kilometer to finish just under two seconds behind
Victory ceremony for the Pursuit
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I felt I'd made some amends for my ride at Newport and 4th place is the worst place to finish but I had Gold under my pillow and that makes failure a bit easier to swallow. I missed the final days racing where I could have ridden the Brain Cossavella scratch race on the Saturday in favour of heading out the next morning at 4.30am in search of a fast Pennine CC '50' on the Yorkshire Dishforth course. A promising day blew up into a bit of a storm and I rode like a 'bag of spanners' to finish just inside two hours, event was won by Joel Wainman (Team Swift) who I'd narrowly beaten in the Elmet a mere seven days before, I suppose something had to give I was a bit of a physical wreck in the race and the tough conditions just served to expose my frailty with no inner power to 'boss' the tough conditions. Track racing on top of the mental stress of the 12 Hr. I was in need of a break.
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Wednesday, 5 August 2009
European Masters Track - Gold standard
Points Race :- Almost three days to the minute at 7.00pm after I'd finished the Elmet 12 Hr. I lined up for the Euro Masters (45-49) 20Km Points race final on the Manchester track, my first competitive race on the Velodrome where I had watched so many of Britain's finest triumphs over the past few years. I'd only got to the track and hour before after being stuck in commuting traffic and the signing on sheet was ripped from under my pen, I was the last to sign in and as I rushed off to accreditation I enquired "When are we racing?" to which the alarming reply "You're up first" so I had only 50 minutes to put bike together (and spares) get changed and have a warm up, after having barely an hour on the bike since bringing my battered body to a standstill in Yorkshire.
Most of the riders I knew from the British Masters but there was a handful of unknowns from other countries, the usual track cycling nations France, Italy and Denmark. I sat out the first couple of sprints to let my legs get used to the speed and the cadence of the group, Sylvan Abadie (Fr.) was very strong winning the first sprint and attacking several times, Stephen Clayton (GB) won the second with Abadie 2nd and I felt I had no option but to go for a lap so I attacked immediately and got a good quarter then half a lap but with no company I had no option but to continue on my own. I took the next points but my legs were in no shape to continue the attack even though I was almost in the same straight as the bunch, a group of four got off the front of the bunch and I was in with them when they caught me but eventually we all came back together for the sprint.
Clayton (3rd) and Abadie (4th) were in the points and leading the race with 9 and 11 respectively so I went on the attack again taking Ian Greenstreet (GB) and the Danish World Pursuit Champion Claus Christensen with me, I won the sprint but had to sit out the next won by the British Pursuit Champion Peter Ettles (GB) blowing a bit but with 10 Pt's in 3rd place. Attack again the only option this time after Trevor Burke (GB) and I had to go for the sprint from 2 laps out to stop Christensen catching me on the line, I was now leading with 15 Pt's one ahead of the French rider so I only had to beat him in the finale to take the win, I tracked him for the last 10 laps and then attacked with a lap to go and lead out the sprint, fading Ettles and Clayton came past and I had the title, there was a bit of confusion (as with all points races) Clayton would have beaten me if he had won the final sprint as we would have had the same total and in this case the position in the final sprint is the clincher but with 17 Pt's a clear 2 Point margin over the Litchfield man and Abadie a point further back in 3rd
The Champion and his 'iron' (carbon wheels mind!)
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There was a whirlwind of victory ceremony with jersey and medal, girls and flowers (do I kiss two or three times?) with national anthem and flags and "Yes Mr. President a good race?" and a lap of honour to 'We are the Champions' (get a bit sick of this one after a few days - I'll be bound) and then a sit down blinking into the first day of being a European Champion. Lots of people came up to congratulate me, I wandered out into the daylight of the early evening from the artificial light of the track center stunned and a little dazed
As a little note to the evening, I was waiting for the victory ceremony with the two other riders, we propped our bikes against the acrylic fence ready for the lap of honour, we exchanged pleasantries and looked at the bikes two identical (but differently branded - 'Planet X' & 'Bernard Hinault') carbon bikes and mine in the middle a 30 year old 'Roberts' iron and in that Gallic manner Sylvan rolled his eyes and nodded his head in a way that pleased me almost as much as the win.
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Monday, 27 July 2009
Elmet CRC 12 - Storming ride and stage win
A week of frustration and illness was turned to a hard earned personnel best & club record in the Elmet CRC 12 Hour Time Trial at the weekend, missing last weeks races because of a head cold was probably a blessing in disguise as they were plagued with fiercely windy conditions and I was able to rest up from the travel and stress of competition for this weeks event which I had targeted for a big mileage for my BBAR challenge.The event consisted of two laps 30 and 14 miles around covered numerous times in the flat lands just South East of York. This is the first time I repeated a 12 Hour course but I reasoned that in an event where so much can go wrong the more predictable the conditions and the more 'knowns' the better
Calm before the Storm
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Fiona enjoyed her weekend of rest, it's as hard work for the helpers, early mornings forign beds, driving and food to be prepared and delivered without a hitch. But we are a good team, Adrian had taken a day off from his holiday in the Lakes to treck across country and repete his sterling efforts of last year when the conditions and unfolding events served to frustrate and hamper our efforts. We stayed Adrian's mum Jean in York and she regaled us with drug testing stories as she was a BC Commissar but now works for UK sport anti doping agency. Un-beknown to me she had been at the recent National '50' where she had been fulfilling professional duties on the Ladies event although she did say she would have to state a conflict of interest If I was called (No chance then!) I had an almost peaceful night although there are always too many variables in your head to call it restful, the alarm at 5.00am announces the day which will take all the resources of mental & physical strength you can muster.
The HQ in Melbourn was in the middle of the two loops and there was an easy and friendly air about the place as the early starters got away in the still morning that promised much. Rain was forecast so I put a good layer of leg (& arm) rub just in case. I was called to the line before I had a chance to get my gloves on so spent the first minute fiddling with 'Velcro' and getting my computer started, so much to do so little time
Paul Holdsworth in close attendance
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I was 'given the off' at 6.58am two minutes in front of 'last man' Carl Ruebotham (Team Swift) and I wondered how long? it would take him to catch me, so I set off at a brisk pace no need to hang around. Although I have only ridden three 12 Hrs. before I was looking for the best performance which I hoped would garner a reward of a big mileage so tardiness was not an option, on the first two big laps I was able to re-familiarise myself with the course, its various bends and road surface the same as two years before when I covered these roads between half a dozen and ten times, In a Time trial you often only pass once or twice but I wanted the comfort that comes from familiarity, there were too many things that could happen and go wrong so give me 'boring predictability, all I wanted to focus on was to ride my bike as far as possible. No distraction, just get 'In the Zone' you and the pedals, revolutions that will be my mantra for the day, the progress of the credit crunch and war zone and Paris Hilton would just have to wait for a day while I committed myself to the road and leaving a microscopic trail of rubber on this surface this would be my testament.
I went through the first 100 miles in 4:06:00 (59:30/1:02:00/1:02:30/1:2:00) and caught Paul Holdsworth (Houndslow & Dist) for 3 min at 80m but he was shadowing me as he did last year but I was determined not to let this be a bad omen and put me off. The wind got up after an hour of grace and there was a long section on the big circuit into the wind which was going to be the crucial battle ground of the day, if I let the wind dominate my ride I would suffer so I reasoned to make this the one section where I would not let my form alter and I hunkered down to make myself as aero as possible and did not get out the saddle or ease up until it was over
We had already been on the small circuit for 3 laps after 55m and this was a bit more sheltered and I had a bit of solid food to supplement the Carbohydrate drink and gels but your appetite gets suppressed and it was difficult getting the mouthful of chocolate spread and hot cross bun down the crucifixion metaphor not lost on me here, the banana went down more easily. It started to rain, showers, enough to wet the roads and make them greasy, I did a bit of cyclo cross on one corner where I misjudged the road surface and my speed but when the rain stopped after an hour and dried up I jettisoned my crash hat as my ears had gone numb and the fast part out of the way I would have to take my chances in a spill or accident!
Getting from 100 to 200 miles is the crucial mental trick that you have to perform to finish a 12 Hr. a wise man once said that to do a good 'Twelve' "The ability to race over the second half", there are many ways to approach the event, pace yourself throughout the ride or start fast and hang on, this is the most common approach with many events doing the first 100 miles on Dual Carriageway roads before turning onto circuits but here on mainly B roads a 'Third way'. I chose this event because there is a price to pay in 'speed drop' from DC to slower roads that can see your Average speed go into free fall and this can demoralise, but I chose this event which I had broken the Club Record 2 years ago and I think it suits my style of riding, you still have to go out hard and post a good marker but so long as you maintain your 'form' then the MPH speed slips away at an easy and (psychological) manageable rate. Many packed at this point as the wind was relentless and the half way point not yet reached, you break the laps down into smaller target sections, you concentrate on your pedal revs (90 to this point and 85 overall) and your pedalling, keeping your style smooth, every ounce of effort saved here will be needed in the final miles. Carl caught me at 125m and I was surprised it had taken so long but he only drew out another 30 seconds on the next 30m lap and I reasoned this must be correct, I was able to use Carl's speed to break myself away from Holdsworth's orbit and then just after 150m I caught Andy Jackson (Pedalsport) for 10m another of my rivals and I knew I was doing well.
Of course you know when you cannot break the elastic bond that keeps two competitors in the same orbit because the helpers cars keep passing and re-passing you in an effort to keep in contact with their rider, and this is the only contact you have on a circuit course as you never see (or get a time check) apart from what your helpers tell you and when you have 12 hours to fill and all those questions to ask you never have enough information and you feel you are in a desert (or a coma) unable to communicate with the outside world and all these questions. Andy Jackson's helper gave me a sponge of cooling water infused with cologne and as I cleared the salt from my face I considered the tardiness of my own helpers 170 m and not a sponge in sight, thank you Mr Jackson's helper
Shouted instruction "How about a sponge"
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200 miles came up in 8:29 (1:03:30/1:06:15/1:06:00/1:8:45) and I knew I had 3 1/2 Hrs. to go as far as my condition would allow, I was only averaging 22.5mph at this stage and I knew I needed to sustain 23mph to reach the major milestone of 280m, a much wished for lull in the wind was greeted with another bout of stormy weather followed by rain. Andy Jackson re-passed me and I clung to his momentum but I could not raise my game even .2mph that was necessary, I let him go reasoning that even at that speed he would only take 6 or 7 minutes to the finish. All the corners were tricky now and the ragged surface and the rumble strips on the A 1079 were bone jarring and my right foot which had been hurting for 80m was now numb (and still is as I type this)
The weather and the event close in
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With an hour to go the rain which had been a constant drizzle became a downpour and I was getting a 'graunching' from my rear wheel, my freewheel would not do so freely as one of the bearings disintegrated so I was literally on a 'fixed' or risk my chain wrapping around if I stopped pedalling. Adrian & Fiona were close by at this stage so I asked for a bike change which went smoothly but in all the excitement I needed to relive myself but I had no option but to do it as I rode along in the rain, I thought I might get an update on how Cav and the boys were doing in Paris not quite the glamour of the Tour
I only had 40 minutes to go, enough for one final lap of the finishing circuit, bike felt so different after being 11 hours on the 'Sigma' it was just a case of survival, I was getting hungry and ate my final gel and another hot cross bun, damp from the rain it had been inside my skin suit for the best part of 100 miles, how's that for an instant meal Jamie, even Hugh Fernley might find this a bit too adventurous for his pallate. My final 75m (1:07:15/1:08:00/1:10:00) and 4 min 30 seconds to run out with 276.50 miles just over a nine mile improvement, Ruebotham was the winner with 285.08 and Barry Charlton (Lyme RC) 281.61 2nd Myself 3rd just ahead of the 'pack'
The pain and the pleasure of finishing (on the spare)
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I was the third last to finish just before 7.00pm, handily by the timekeeper outside the HQ, I gave him a wave through the fogged up window in appreciation of his effort and token response to all those helpers who had been out all day to see the race pass off successfully. The HQ looked like a refugee camp with an assortment of riders in blankets and helpers in all weather gear. I was soon shaking with the cold, for the last hour I had only just generated enough heat in my body to stave off the cold in the wet conditions. There was congratulations from those I knew and those that had seen me on the road, at times it felt like a lonely road and a long way, sure you can go further (or slow down less) but I hadn't been beaten by the conditions today and as the result began to sink in I knew I had won my stage of the Tour
Calm before the Storm
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Fiona enjoyed her weekend of rest, it's as hard work for the helpers, early mornings forign beds, driving and food to be prepared and delivered without a hitch. But we are a good team, Adrian had taken a day off from his holiday in the Lakes to treck across country and repete his sterling efforts of last year when the conditions and unfolding events served to frustrate and hamper our efforts. We stayed Adrian's mum Jean in York and she regaled us with drug testing stories as she was a BC Commissar but now works for UK sport anti doping agency. Un-beknown to me she had been at the recent National '50' where she had been fulfilling professional duties on the Ladies event although she did say she would have to state a conflict of interest If I was called (No chance then!) I had an almost peaceful night although there are always too many variables in your head to call it restful, the alarm at 5.00am announces the day which will take all the resources of mental & physical strength you can muster.
The HQ in Melbourn was in the middle of the two loops and there was an easy and friendly air about the place as the early starters got away in the still morning that promised much. Rain was forecast so I put a good layer of leg (& arm) rub just in case. I was called to the line before I had a chance to get my gloves on so spent the first minute fiddling with 'Velcro' and getting my computer started, so much to do so little time
Paul Holdsworth in close attendance
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I was 'given the off' at 6.58am two minutes in front of 'last man' Carl Ruebotham (Team Swift) and I wondered how long? it would take him to catch me, so I set off at a brisk pace no need to hang around. Although I have only ridden three 12 Hrs. before I was looking for the best performance which I hoped would garner a reward of a big mileage so tardiness was not an option, on the first two big laps I was able to re-familiarise myself with the course, its various bends and road surface the same as two years before when I covered these roads between half a dozen and ten times, In a Time trial you often only pass once or twice but I wanted the comfort that comes from familiarity, there were too many things that could happen and go wrong so give me 'boring predictability, all I wanted to focus on was to ride my bike as far as possible. No distraction, just get 'In the Zone' you and the pedals, revolutions that will be my mantra for the day, the progress of the credit crunch and war zone and Paris Hilton would just have to wait for a day while I committed myself to the road and leaving a microscopic trail of rubber on this surface this would be my testament.
I went through the first 100 miles in 4:06:00 (59:30/1:02:00/1:02:30/1:2:00) and caught Paul Holdsworth (Houndslow & Dist) for 3 min at 80m but he was shadowing me as he did last year but I was determined not to let this be a bad omen and put me off. The wind got up after an hour of grace and there was a long section on the big circuit into the wind which was going to be the crucial battle ground of the day, if I let the wind dominate my ride I would suffer so I reasoned to make this the one section where I would not let my form alter and I hunkered down to make myself as aero as possible and did not get out the saddle or ease up until it was over
We had already been on the small circuit for 3 laps after 55m and this was a bit more sheltered and I had a bit of solid food to supplement the Carbohydrate drink and gels but your appetite gets suppressed and it was difficult getting the mouthful of chocolate spread and hot cross bun down the crucifixion metaphor not lost on me here, the banana went down more easily. It started to rain, showers, enough to wet the roads and make them greasy, I did a bit of cyclo cross on one corner where I misjudged the road surface and my speed but when the rain stopped after an hour and dried up I jettisoned my crash hat as my ears had gone numb and the fast part out of the way I would have to take my chances in a spill or accident!
Getting from 100 to 200 miles is the crucial mental trick that you have to perform to finish a 12 Hr. a wise man once said that to do a good 'Twelve' "The ability to race over the second half", there are many ways to approach the event, pace yourself throughout the ride or start fast and hang on, this is the most common approach with many events doing the first 100 miles on Dual Carriageway roads before turning onto circuits but here on mainly B roads a 'Third way'. I chose this event because there is a price to pay in 'speed drop' from DC to slower roads that can see your Average speed go into free fall and this can demoralise, but I chose this event which I had broken the Club Record 2 years ago and I think it suits my style of riding, you still have to go out hard and post a good marker but so long as you maintain your 'form' then the MPH speed slips away at an easy and (psychological) manageable rate. Many packed at this point as the wind was relentless and the half way point not yet reached, you break the laps down into smaller target sections, you concentrate on your pedal revs (90 to this point and 85 overall) and your pedalling, keeping your style smooth, every ounce of effort saved here will be needed in the final miles. Carl caught me at 125m and I was surprised it had taken so long but he only drew out another 30 seconds on the next 30m lap and I reasoned this must be correct, I was able to use Carl's speed to break myself away from Holdsworth's orbit and then just after 150m I caught Andy Jackson (Pedalsport) for 10m another of my rivals and I knew I was doing well.
Of course you know when you cannot break the elastic bond that keeps two competitors in the same orbit because the helpers cars keep passing and re-passing you in an effort to keep in contact with their rider, and this is the only contact you have on a circuit course as you never see (or get a time check) apart from what your helpers tell you and when you have 12 hours to fill and all those questions to ask you never have enough information and you feel you are in a desert (or a coma) unable to communicate with the outside world and all these questions. Andy Jackson's helper gave me a sponge of cooling water infused with cologne and as I cleared the salt from my face I considered the tardiness of my own helpers 170 m and not a sponge in sight, thank you Mr Jackson's helper
Shouted instruction "How about a sponge"
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200 miles came up in 8:29 (1:03:30/1:06:15/1:06:00/1:8:45) and I knew I had 3 1/2 Hrs. to go as far as my condition would allow, I was only averaging 22.5mph at this stage and I knew I needed to sustain 23mph to reach the major milestone of 280m, a much wished for lull in the wind was greeted with another bout of stormy weather followed by rain. Andy Jackson re-passed me and I clung to his momentum but I could not raise my game even .2mph that was necessary, I let him go reasoning that even at that speed he would only take 6 or 7 minutes to the finish. All the corners were tricky now and the ragged surface and the rumble strips on the A 1079 were bone jarring and my right foot which had been hurting for 80m was now numb (and still is as I type this)
The weather and the event close in
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With an hour to go the rain which had been a constant drizzle became a downpour and I was getting a 'graunching' from my rear wheel, my freewheel would not do so freely as one of the bearings disintegrated so I was literally on a 'fixed' or risk my chain wrapping around if I stopped pedalling. Adrian & Fiona were close by at this stage so I asked for a bike change which went smoothly but in all the excitement I needed to relive myself but I had no option but to do it as I rode along in the rain, I thought I might get an update on how Cav and the boys were doing in Paris not quite the glamour of the Tour
I only had 40 minutes to go, enough for one final lap of the finishing circuit, bike felt so different after being 11 hours on the 'Sigma' it was just a case of survival, I was getting hungry and ate my final gel and another hot cross bun, damp from the rain it had been inside my skin suit for the best part of 100 miles, how's that for an instant meal Jamie, even Hugh Fernley might find this a bit too adventurous for his pallate. My final 75m (1:07:15/1:08:00/1:10:00) and 4 min 30 seconds to run out with 276.50 miles just over a nine mile improvement, Ruebotham was the winner with 285.08 and Barry Charlton (Lyme RC) 281.61 2nd Myself 3rd just ahead of the 'pack'
The pain and the pleasure of finishing (on the spare)
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I was the third last to finish just before 7.00pm, handily by the timekeeper outside the HQ, I gave him a wave through the fogged up window in appreciation of his effort and token response to all those helpers who had been out all day to see the race pass off successfully. The HQ looked like a refugee camp with an assortment of riders in blankets and helpers in all weather gear. I was soon shaking with the cold, for the last hour I had only just generated enough heat in my body to stave off the cold in the wet conditions. There was congratulations from those I knew and those that had seen me on the road, at times it felt like a lonely road and a long way, sure you can go further (or slow down less) but I hadn't been beaten by the conditions today and as the result began to sink in I knew I had won my stage of the Tour
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