National '100' (Yorkshire Cycling Federation)

I sampled the delights of the Holiday inn again this week (with Fiona this time) in Wakefield in preparation for the National '100' Championship the next morning on the V275 course (A168-19 and around x 2 laps)on the edge of the North York Moors South of Middlesborough. So as we snuggled down with a bowl of pasta to watch crap telly the sounds of two weddings and a Silver anniversary reverberated around our hollow room.


Contemplating the off

A relatively late start of 7.30 (No 90) but we still had to be up at 5.30 in the dampness of an unpromising day, there was a noticeable lack of riders from the 130 men & women at the HQ with most opting to get ready elsewhere so me and another chap used the facilities, put my bike together in the drizzle and headed off to the start
The first 60 miles on Dual Carriageway so a chance to ease yourself into the ride I was scheduled for a 3.45 which meant going out hard but as I went through 25 miles in 56 minutes (10m in 22.30) and I had my three minute man just infront.

I was feeling the pace so eased a little after the first lap (30m) but I could not get comfortable on the faster northern journey and un-willing to get entangled in a 'race' with No 87 I just followed along at 1-200 metres. I went through 50m in 1.55.30 so I knew a sub 3.50 ride was out and I took the decision to use the ride as preparation for the 12 hour in a couple of weeks keeping my gears down and cadence at 90 RPM as from 60m we turned onto B roads and a bit more lumpy so a good test for the sort of conditions in the half day event.


Riders return down the A19 to Thirsk

I had a bottle of warm coffee to stave off the cold and the constant waves of showers but nothing too difficult, once on the second circuit I felt more comfortable varying my gears on the climbs to keep my revs constant my body felt better, 75 m came up in 2.54.30 and I knew I could pick the pace up and my No 87 was having a bad time after pulling away initially I quickly caught and passed him with 20m to go. Unfortunately I could not shed him and he turned the last part into a bit of a 'race' which is what I had tried hard to avoid, he pulled up to my shoulder on numerous occasions but did not have the strength to pass when out of my slipstream, I was a bit annoyed with has riding as he undertook me on a couple of occasions as we had to pick our way through the grit strewn and puddle roads (once when Fi was handing me a bottle!) not very good behaviour but he was very young (19) and while I was annoyed with this I had to say to him that what he was doing was very dangerous on roads where it was difficult for cars to pass.

Come in No 87 your time is up!


I managed 58.0 minutes for my last 25m and felt good at the finish, a shame that my concentration ruined by a bit of youthful competition but I did say to him at the end that I thought his behaviour was a danger to himself and left it at that.
My final time 3.52.23 good enough for 13th place and 2nd in my age category - Winner was Stephen Whitick (Utag Yahama) 3.48.45 been a bit of a nemesis all season but I do seem to be getting closer. Winner overall once again in impressive fashion Michael Hutchinson (In Gear) 3.27.26 from defending champion Kevin Dawson (Sportscover) 3.33.25 and in third place 20 year old Triathlete Philip Graves from a club with a good TT'ing pedigree (Clifton CC) 3.37.41 finding top level racing not quite the breeze that he thought it would be! Women's race won by Julia Shaw (Utag) 3.52.12 in a new Competition Record eclipsing the time set by Twickenham rider Jenny Derham in 1996 (3.53.04) somebody said they saw Charlie Burton at the finish and this was the heartland of his wife Beryl's record making (and breaking) roads but of course without all the 'aero' complications, I wonder what he thought of it all?

Dissecting a difficult race





Men's Result Here

Women's Result

Event Report





Hutch hogs the podium once again

Masters Track Championship - Newport

Been trying out my fixed wheel bike in the local Hinckley RCC '10' (check C P under rider history) on the Wolvey course (K41/10) trying out a variety of gears and positions but we have had some lovely evenings so far and a minute up on last year at this time.
Apart from the LVRC Track last November the BC Masters would be my first 'Open' track since 1992 when I fell off the week before the Nationals and broke my collar bone in an ill advised return to the wooden bowl of my past notable victories. At the LVRC I came away with a Gold(Pursuit) and Silver(Points) but although the same events here a step up in quality, some of the same names but a chance to win a National title always a draw for the showmen that take on the Track Circus.
I was with Adrian (and Dan - not competing) of the Shaftsbury CC and he had persuaded me to enter the old arena (we go all the way back to school days)
Riding a fixed on the road not the same as in a bunch on a banked track, the cut and thrust of tactics and sprinting for the line but the one thing that got me almost immediately how nervous I was. I could hear my heart beating out of my chest in the cauldron that is the track centre, I needed to get out for a ride to calm down and compose myself.


Following the GB men

So we trotted out on road bikes for a spin on the flat lands that make up the marsh around Newport Velodrome. We bumped into some of the GB squad doing the same pushed off the track for the weekend by a load of Old Duffers and Hasbeens we tried to recognise them but they all had Sky outfits and impressively tanned calf's, we dare not get too close
Back in the Velodrome all we had on the Saturday was the 15Km scratch race, a one off sprint after 60 laps, in a way I was glad, get some of the nerves out the way before the main event 'The Pursuit' what I'd come here to do, less chance, more of a test of the riders form all alone on the track. A fast pace race, one rider got 3/4 lap before getting pulled back, I attacked with 15 to go taking Ian Greenstreet (Newbury RC) and ex runner Steve Clayton (Litchfield City) Clayton jumped at the bell and I could not come over him my speed blunted by my time trialling but a good effort none the less, in the end I missed the Gold by half a bike length.

15Km Scratch Podium


Sunday was much like the day before, apart from my Pursuit ride in the morning, we still had time for a 20 mile spin and then a build up to the 3000 m pain fest that is individual Pursuiting 3 and 3/4 minutes of acute stress for legs and lungs but only the one ride to get it all out (no time for rounds), winner takes it all. A fault with my rear wheel means I have to use my disc with a heavy (road going) 'tempo' and it hardly matters that I put new bars on the night before and with no chance to get on the track a spin back to the hotel is all that they get by way of preparation. In the event its my pedals that let me down (set at their highest tension) I pull my foot out at the start and It takes an age to get it back in again, I manage a 24 second first lap 3 down on my schedule it is the worst possible beginning, I press on, no going back and get into my rhythm, Adrian tells me I'm "5 down" on my 3.38 I think it will take to get a medal 125 RPM too fast on my 94" gear and I slow at the risk of overcooking it, 110-15 more like it and the laps (12) are disappearing rapidly.

It all goes wrong!


An all out effort in the last Km as my opponent (on the other side of the track) is in view and I make the last lap a fast one as I pass him on the line 3.43.275 the 2nd fastest to date but not enough I fear. In the next heat Clayton and Alistair Taylor (Musselborough RC) go faster 3.41.251 and 3.40.396 and in the final heat Peter Ettles (Forres CC) breaks the European Record 3.33.491 to win and Greenstreet 3.41.050 good enough for 3rd
The disappointment is a bit overwhelming, only 6th, only 2 seconds off a bronze medal and 3 of silver, Ettles the champion in another class but that opening mistake cost me dear.
No time to dwell the Points Race is in a couple of hours 20Km and ten sprints to sort out 16 riders from 16 clubs, this is more my game. We know who to watch and the opening laps are cagey and tense, I put in a bit of an attack I do not have the speed but If I can get in a break I can gain a lap (20 Points) but I need the race to fracture. I get up in a few of the sprints (3 x 2nd) but not enough, the bunch is still together, it is not slow, but it is not tough enough either.
In one of the lulls two riders collide just above me, the inside one takes a tumble the long way down the track, he clips me and my back wheel, my BBAR ambitions (all that training) flash before my eyes but I hold my nerve and I manage not to come down as he takes the two behind me into the acrylic fence at the bottom of the track. Only one thing to do, attack! It's the one rule of track racing
I attack between the sprints to break it up but I am a marked man and my efforts are chased down, on the penultimate sprint I am too tired to contest but Ettles attacks soon after and nobody chases, there is a fatal delay but I attack anyway and get the gap, I hunt him down 30 then 20 and then 10 meters we have half a lap and together we work, its too late to gain a lap so I sprint away to take the final

It takes ages to sort out the result, apparently a rider took a lap (Taylor) he tried it in the Scratch and only got 3/4 before giving up but this time his effort has paid off Clayton (the best sprinter with 3 x 1st) and I get the bronze on count back with the same points as Ettles because I beat him on the final lap
Of the three races nine medals are split between five riders, the same ones getting on the podium, I come away with a Silver and Bronze not bad for such an extended break from the boards, I came here to test the water and found it much to my likening

Report Here
Photos Here (Stylish rostrum picture of me! - Points)

Stop me if you think you've heard this one before

After a bit of a disaster last week, ECCA '100' cancelled because of fog, so an overnight stay in Bedford and getting up at 4.30am all went to waste as riders from all over the country were left frustrated in the Essex village of Fowlmere hall car park with nothing to do but the long drive home. The right decision as visibility was only 100 meters and no event is worth an accident, Ohh! but it was a perfect morning, cool and still (a little close perhaps) but riders have to keep their powder dry for another week and another chance to record a BBAR time, I already have a fair '100' time from the BDCA 2 weeks before and was ready to ride on a 100" fixed so a bit of an experiment as I have the National in 2 weeks and expecting a good ride there.
But my weekend extended to the Monday night as I had the a3crg... '25' on the next evening and I stayed with Alan and did a few laps of Richmond Park at 23mph to get rid of the tension built up earlier in the day.

This was my final 'OldSkool' event on my trusty 'Lloydy' bike but this did not go to plan and left me feeling not a little exasperated the organiser disqualified my ride for not being in the 'OldSkool' field laid out on his start sheet presently the result is in the lap of the gods (Sir Ian Cammish) but for the record I did a time of 55.51 well ahead of the next rider from the promoting club P Brennan 58.13 a time that would have been a PB this time last year. Unfortunately I passed up the opportunity of participating in one of the fastest '25' events of the year with the winner Steve Wakling (Velocity) recording a 30mph+ 49.24 to beat the course record.
I had a miserable 3 hour drive back to Leicester getting home at midnight with a slightly enlarged spleen, Strangeways here we come indeed

Pics Here (Pg. 1-6-7)
Result Here

Banking Crisis - National '50'

National Fancy Dress Mechanic - 1st Prize

Jon - Ready for the off - note the matching Gel

Jon Thomas and I had a pretty torrid time at the weekend in the Nat '50' held over three windswept laps of the South Manchester course near Holmes Chapel. Moved from the Uber fast A50 some of the speed gloss had been lost but the organisers had done a good job to re-locate the 190 rider (150 men & 40 women) field to another location albeit two hours later in the day.
Jon & I were over an hour apart so we just had to get on with our own preparation, I chose to do my usual 'Spin and Stretch' in the morning while Jon prefers 40 minutes on the Turbo to build up a head of steam. The women were well into their race when I went out on the course to do a bit of pre-race warmup, I gave Jon a cheer as he went past on the Old A50 with a surface like a ploughed field you had to move around to find the best line and 2 or 3 blind corners all to the frisson of danger but the event was well marshalled and there were no incidents although I saw plenty of riders with a line of cars on their tail as there were precious few places to pass. I went to the timekeeper a minute behind Andy Jackson (Pedalsport) a mere youngster at 33 but he only beat me by 2 minutes in last weeks '100' so I had a good target to chase but also Steven Whitewick (UTAG Yahama) a minute behind one of the fastest in my age group so I was a hare as well as a hound.
Mick Ward who I'd been to stay with last week in Shropshire was here again today, with a personal interest, he was the National '50' champion 50 years ago (and the last winner on a 'fixed' before gears became ubiquitous (until Obree) a sprightly 75 years he was my mentor for the day although so much has chanced from when he was racing it's always good to have a steady influence on a big day. To be honest if had needed to do a storming ride I would not have raced twice in the week but I too have my aim on other events and in the light of its changed venue this race had just become another 'training' ride at the end of a hard week, it was touch and go if my legs had recovered (from Thursday)
As soon as I began I knew the truth that they had not and I was in for a bit of a battering as Mick had said on his reconnaissance "I cannot tell which way the wind is blowing, it all seems hard" my reply was "No problem Mick wind is not a problem in these days of 'Aero'" less of a problem yes but when your legs fail you that can be a problem. I tried to make it work, settle into a pattern, as fast as my legs would stand but there was no getting away from the truth, I'd left my effort on the tarmac at Mallory Park. Now my only task to finish the race, because of the laps there was lots of overlapping, Mark Holton (Shorter RT) 1.49.13 (eventual 6th) caught and passed me on his 2nd and then young team mate Adam Duggleby (my 2MM) going just as smooth and only slightly slower 1.52.18 I pressed on to half way just over the 58 minute mark with a sinking heart, Whitewick had come and gone and I felt no stomach for the fight, I caught riders on their final lap, I envy them, I know I will be slower then as well. As it begins to rain, but then does not the wind on the verge of stormy blew the trees and Jodrell Bank telescope in the vertical position (a sure sign) less it acts like a sail (apparently), you notice too much when the race does not have your attention.

With so many riders on the course, I thought I would catch (or be caught more!) but from half way I only caught one and it was a long and lonely lap to the finish, I will fight another day and to be fair I was not too perturbed by my result as I feel I have turned the corner 7 days before when I had the stomach and the legs, today I only had the appetite for a fight and once that was sated I was happy to finish bent but unbroken. Jon on the other hand had a much more difficult time, plagued with cramp almost from the off he thinks a combination of disrupted preparation and flying too and fro across the Atlantic played havoc with his physical state and its hard not to disagree, as the saying goes "Fail to prepare, prepare to fail" but when out of your control a bitter pill to swallow, his eventual time 2.09.06 not a ride he will want to remember.
I managed an hour for the second half 1.58.16 for 51st place, 6th in my age group which was won by local man and course record holder (until today) Chas McCulloch (Shorter again!) 1.47.10 for a magnificent 3rd overall a mere 2 seconds behind Matt Bottrill (I-Ride RT - formerly De Rosa RT) and my tip for the day on a course more suited to the road man than the pure time traillist. However it was a purest who won the day, once again and champion (& for the 10th time in a row) Michael Hutchinson (In Gear) 1.43.18 an astounding ride on a sporting course, a negative split after 52.05 for the first half and a last 10 miles in 19.17
We gathered for the presentation at the HQ away from the stormy weather, most riders had a story to tell of racing on the lanes of Cheshire, Fiona and Mick met early starter McCulloch on the course (very nice man!) who told of a heart fibrillation attack which saw his pulse over 300 which makes his medal all the more remarkable. The prizes were presented by a youthful Barry Hoban Champion in 1961 a mere 48 years I think Mick was hard done by! Womens race won by Julia Shaw (Utag Yahama) 1.54.40 who like Hutchinson makes a clean sweep of the '10','25' & '50' titles
Mick & Hutch discuss pacing and the jacket of his book



I had a chat with Hutch (flogging his sailing book) about race pacing but more impressed with meeting Jonny Helms of the promoting club (Warrington RC) and Cycling cartoonist for 67 years, Mick was my drawing teacher from Leicester Poly (25 years ago) apparently I was the first person he spoke to in his 'New job' the result will stand but the stories make the day


Podium McCulloch 3rd - Champ Hutch - Hoban (1961 Winner) - Bottrill 2nd

Mallory Park #9 (Tues & Thurs) Re-visited

This week a double helping of criterium action on the open expanse of Mallory Park motor racing circuit, used for the 1970 World Champ's so been graced by some noted cycling talent including current BC coaching supremo Doug Dailey, that was my first visit to Leicester when Edward Heath had just been voted in as Prime Minister and Brazil defeats Italy 4-0 in the World Cup Final


On the Tuesday 3/4/L/J always a big field (50 this week) and I'm always one of the last to sign on although I only work six miles away, I always ride up so no need for a warm up but tonight a lovely warm evening and I won two weeks ago so I get a few annoyed looks as I dash up last thing and get my number.
Race follows a similar pattern each week as those there to race make a break for it and those that follow the wheels in the indolent bunch weaves and wallows after them in fits and starts, I usually try and get in the break as I get a steady ride for my TT legs won't stand all that stop & start action and I'm usually after a bit of midweek rest bite action away from training on my own.


Down from a 2nd cat last year so I have the option of Tues or Thurs which suits as the latter is usually too hard a race close to the weekend and I can pick and choose how hard I make the racing for myself, on this occasion after a good race at the w/e I feel up for a bit more and I'm off the front with a couple of others ?? (Ashfield RC) and Paul Wain (MI Racing), after 10 laps we are pulled back and Richard Wittaker (Derby Mer.) goes again and quickly gets 30 seconds with Wain I do not have a bottle but Fiona arrives just in the nick of time to hand one up with 10 to go, I have tried to stimulate the bunch into chasing but in the end have to take off with Ex Pro Richard Birkin (Ashfield RC) and 'old stager' Jeff Jones (Websters) who knows how to follow the race and get in the 'moves' but not got it in his legs to make it all the way and we shed him otherwise we are going too slow to close the gap. We gradually make our way up to the leading duo with 2 laps left, I feel strong but Wain is also looking good and so it proves in the finishing sprint I have him on my wheel as I lead out the sprint and he comes past me in the sprint and I have to settle for 2nd. Should I have gone for a long one?


On the Thurs a different matter all together, E/1/2/3 and a smaller field (Only 20) but plenty of quality and the Big Guns (Pro's) riding the City Centre Series so I can hang on as the pace tends to be fast/very fast and my poor old legs give up. Again a few skirmishes lead to me being away with another Ashfield RC rider Liam Hallam and we work well in the Windy/Blustery conditions a couple get up to us and we are all pulled back, then Phil Howell(Boneshaker), Lewis Cowley (Plan B) and Matt Jennings (Cyclebargains) make a break and have over 30 seconds as the bunch fights itself and I try and hang on, again Owain Lovell (Ashfield RC) goes and we make a working partnership again, two others Matt Jennings (Cyclebargains) & Llwellyn Byrne (SIS) and we are a smooth working quartet and I feel happy away from the schizophrenic bunch. We pull up to the trio and the bunch is half a lap down as we enter the last 10 laps, with six to go the attacks start and I can manage one or two but get tailed off after doing a large percentage of the work (to get up to the front and that's what I'm here for & how I like it!) with 5 to go, a lone rider David Brown (??) catches me and I hang on to the bell but loose it last time up the hill and come in on my own in 8th but best 3rd cat rider. A very hard evenings work and the sweat has been pouring off my peak all night but my legs felt good and didn't give out until the end so I know I'm on top form for the National 50 on Saturday

Tuesday result here
Thursday result here

8th but happy (1st Third Cat)