Race Report - YCF 25 Mile Time Time (V236/1)

So today I found myself pondering the race as I meandered around East Yorkshire on my bike, and realising that despite the fact it was now Wednesday I had not written an update, this time I am 75% full of Leffe... So don't expect too much in terms of spelling and grammer....

This race was a 25mile TT one of the fastest 25mile courses in the country (on a good day), the V236/1 is a dual carriageway course up on the A19 starting just outside Topcliffe.

The goal for me was a fast 25, with Andy Jackson off of SSLL I knew a win was unlikely, so I wanted to get a PB and ideally it be quick enough to get to the national 25 later in the year.  I knew that I stood a reasonable chance of a good time thanks to my early season form over 10's, my big worry was the lack of 25 race craft, I lacked experience and that can be a big part in racing, over a 10 I like to think I am pretty proficient but over 25 not so much....

About an hours drive from home the normal process was undertaken, leave home well in advance be able to drive the course get ready and get a decent warm up.

That all went well, apart from the last bit, my warm-up was lets go with shambolic.  I couldn't decide what to do, for a 10 I like to get to the start raring to go, sweating, heavy breathing - like a s*x pest - the works, but I didn't want to overdo it (I had decided not to take anything on the bike which was a first for the distance), so in between peeing like a dog marking its territory (its a nerves and hydration thing and has got me arrested in the past, public indecency apparently) I basically did nothing other than faff, something Fiona thinks I could make into an art form.

So as it was I arrived at the start line, shivering, cold and shaking like a sh***ing dog, I had already decided that I may not go as well as I had hoped, for the record I was targeting 29mph for the race, that would give me a sub 52min time, which would have been amazing.

Under starters orders, ahead of me lies a slip road onto the dual carriageway and 25 miles of pain and suffering, headwind all the way out, tailwind all the way back.

Less than 10mins in I am already passing people and shouting obscenities at them, its a 2 lap course so there are some riders on their 2nd lap, I pass a Team Swift rider, not thinking anything of it, then after a couple of minutes I look down to see his wheel. Now in TT's that is cheating, it is a non drafting event and if you get overtaken you should drop back, he wasn't doing this, it put me off my stride a bit, I tried applying more pressure to the pedals, but he was able to stick with me, i even tried letting rip an almighty fart but it was to no avail, the twat was still there, the only thing left was to perform a full on sprint, like you would see at the end of a road race, the challenge is that by doing this I would use energy that I needed for my race, but I had no choice, I put in a 200m full power sprint and was able to break the tow.

Then it was back to the the race.... re-compose myself and try to put my lungs back in and get control of my heart rate. Into a headwind this is never easy, the key is to do more into the headwind as you never make it up with a tailwind so I aimed to leave nothing on the road...apart from some vomit at the finish.

By the end of the first lap I had averaged 29mph, I was on target, just.  

Just needed to repeat it on the 2nd lap I would be laughing! Now either the legs or the weather... Im going with weather... just weren't playing ball. Looking at the speed at some points it was worryingly low, but I hoped that I could make it back on the return leg, stronger headwind out, stronger tailwind home.

I turned for the run to home, I gave it all I had, at time holding speeds around 40mph and running out of gears on the 54x11 I run on the TT bike.   

I rolled over line, a bit disappointed, 28.7mph.  Not wanting to sound too much like a kebab but when you have a speed in mind you hope to hit it.  I didn't, so I was a bit miffed.

Still, it was a big PB, some 2min 8secs off my previous best and 4mins off my course PB, that should be enough to get me to the nationals, now I just need some more practice over the distance and if I can a bit more speed and I would be set for a reasonable assault on the race.  

Back at HQ I grab a coffee and a cake and a chat with some of the other competitors, I catch up with Mark Thaxter, one of the blokes i beat over 10, turns out he put 1min15secs into me over 25, although he admits it is his preferred distance, this again is a little frustrating but hardens my resolve, I will get better. 

As it turns out I should have been happier, I pulled a 4th (3rd loser) out of the bag, again I was surprised with the result over 25 I would have been happy with a top 10, as it was a 4th place I was pretty happy.

For now I have a couple of weeks before my next race, another 10, this time on the fast V718 near Hull. Hoping to improve my PB and again be quick enough to get into the nationals.

*My wife may have edited this after a bottle of plonk, I accept no responsibility for the words.

Race Report - YCF 10 Mile TT (O10/1)

Sometimes things happen that you are not expecting, there are days when you just don't feel right, your race doesn't seem to go as you want, you can't put your finger on why but it just doesn't feel great.

For me this was one of those days. The O10/1 is a North / South drag, pretty much flat but with some little rises that when you are on the limit hurt more than you would think, but its my sort of course.  

On this day the weather was not a "float" day (or the best conditions for the course) it was pretty breezy, blowing 16/17mph winds with gusts to c30mph.   It was always going to be a tough day.

In addition I knew that there was 2 guys who I beat last week that would be wanting to right that, and another Simon Beldon of SSLL Racing Team, who for a number of years has been a rider I wanted to be as quick as, he is always at the sharp end, somewhere I wanted to get, with him here I have to be honest I was targeting 2nd place.

The night before I did my "leg activation" session, as per normal my legs felt rubbish and my HR was suppressed, more so than normal.  I try not to read into it too much but it does niggle in the mind.

Saturday morning ritual was the same as always up early and big poopy nappy to deal with, its odd how such things become normal.  Erin is amazing, watching her develop and learn every day is something that I struggle to get my head around development is sooo quick, but there is nothing better than seeing her smile.

While she was napping I got all my things together, sorted the bike out and was pretty much ready to go.

In other news I also have a new skinsuit, its still the same York Cycleworks kit but with a NoPinz aero pocket, this saves the pin holes on the back and is said to give an extra 5 watts (although how much you believe that is open to debate).

Getting to the course I decided to drive it, hoping to see the best lines and look for any pot holes etc that might cause me to end up in a ditch.

While its good to drive the course it did make me a shade later than I would have liked, this meant a bit of a rush to get changed and in particular my Velotoze overshoes on, this stressed me out a bit so when I did get on the bike I was not in the best frame of mind.

I headed out and did my normal warmup routine, again not feeling great, but given this was how I felt the week before I was not too worried, I was just looking for a solid ride.

To the start with about 3 mins to go, take off the long sleeve top and get ready, it was so cold I had leg, base layer and arm warmers. 

Normal countdown routine as well... then away, with a whoping tail wind it was going to be a fast ride out and a painful horrible slog back.

Also, there are things that you notice on a bike that you don't in a car apparently, they had not used a steamroller when laying the tarmac, but instead compacted it like it was a mogul hill, then there was the bits that were like the Somme battlefield the road was horrendous. 

At the turnaround point I had averaged something over 30mph, I needed to maintain as much of this as possible on the slog back, it wasn't as bad as I thought my legs were in tatters no doubt, but I was pleased to be picking off the riders in front and using them as motivation and targets.

Over the line and Garmin stopped, I went to look at my result, 21:02, bummer, its always frustrating to see a time so close to a minute point, but I consoled myself that it might be under given you never stop your stopwatch at the same time that you cross the line, always pedal though the finish, I rolled about cooling down, feeling a little disappointed.

Back at HQ I threw the bike in the car and get changed, heading into HQ I check out the times, I have gone 21:59 (you read that right), which is disappointing, I also note that I have been beaten by at least 2 others that I would normally expect to beat, accepting that I have had a bad ride and there would be no reason for me to stay, I chat to some friends and head off in a grump.

On the way home I am pondering my effort and trying to figure out where it went wrong, then in a moment of, lets say, clarity, I figure out that my average speed was faster than last week, how can I have a slower time?  Thats not possible, have they made a mistake?

Once I pull off the motorway I stop and dig out my Garmin, I am right, I was faster they must have my time wrong.  I panic message a friend who I am hoping will still be there asking her to check my time, Kirsty sends me a message back saying that it had been corrected, and that the final results were just coming in... a few moments later I get this...

It doesn't get any closer than this

Needless to say I was amazed, I was on my way to Tesco to buy nappies and wine... wine is a key part of both training and baby raising as I am sure most parents will attest to, I then got a call from Kirsty, I stopped in the car and we had a brief chat, I had won and by the very smallest of margins, in fact in this game it doesn't get any closer.

It doesn't get any closer than this

To beat Simon was a big surprise, a rider I respect a lot and hoped to get closer to, I never expected to beat him, there may have been some luck in the weather, and no doubt we will race again, in fact we do next weekend.

So what now, I am on holiday next week, in the words of Peppa Pig "we're going on holiday in a camper van"... a steady week in terms of training but when we get back I have my first 25 mile TT of the season, should be interesting!

Race Report - Ravensthorpe CC 10 Mile TT (V910) (1st Place!)

After a couple of weeks off it was time to squeeze myself back into my skinsuit and have a hit out in a race.  This was a return to the course that I started the season at, the V910 which starts in Brotherton. Its not a flat course but with a rolling climb to the turn point its my sort of course (other than flat ones which i like even more).

I had been off the bike the week before with a virus of some sort, then had a week of training and with the race on the Saturday, I had seemed to be coming into some form, the 2 rides I did in the week power seemed up for the efforts which was good to see but you can never be sure if that will translate into race pace. 

The day before I always have a "leg activation" set, this is done on the turbo and is normally a hard effort but very short. something like 10min warm up, 10min efforts, 10min cool down, just to get the legs going, this Friday they felt shocking, heavy and slow, needless to say I was wondering if I had left my actual legs out on the last training ride, not the best start to the race weekend.

Saturday morning consists of everything that you would expect from a professional amateur, up at about 0630 with the little one, she is now 8 months old, and time to change a very stinky and poo filled nappy, such is the rock and roll life... 

The rest of the morning is filled with family time, something I love.

The nerves were kicking in a bit, I am not sure why I am normally pretty mellow before a race but for some reason this time I was anxious, at 1200 I forced a baked potato and beans into me and started to get my bike and kit ready, I was due to start at 1510 which means leaving about 2 hours before the race starts to give me a chance to get sorted when I get there.

I get to HQ pick up my number and then drive to a spot just near the start, quick chat with Ed Nicholson, Pete Nixon and Steve Gore-Brown and it was soon time to get the bike out and think about a warm, not before Steve has had a good feel of my backside pinned my number on, the things you have to ask people to do....

Off for my warm up 25-30 mins efforts, HR seemed suppressed and legs still feeling heavy, but I get on with it, at the end of the day you can only do what you can do.  

Heading to the start I know that today could be quick weather conditions are ideal for the course, a slight cross tail for the way out up the hill, which is also the longest part of the course, the turn point coming at over 5 miles, I have also made some minor adjustments to the bike to try and get a bit more aero, but I have lingering doubt given my legs.

Once again my minute man has not turned up, not a major issue but its nice to have something to chase. Quick chat with the starters and its "30 secs" push off person takes control of the bike allowing me to clip both feet it, "20 secs", rear brake released, "10 secs", "5secs" front brake released, take the pressure on the pedal, "4,3,2,1 Go!!", resisting all the temptation to sprint I make a steady start, not wanting to shock my body into early lactic release, building the speed I am soon at 30pmh and off on another 20mins or so of pain and suffering, why do I do this!! oh, yeah its fun!!

Photo Courtesy of Crag Zadoroznyj

Unlike the first time out I have a great run at all the roundabouts on the way out, hardly having to slow at all, I had a figure in my head for average speed, that was 27mph, if I could do that it would be a new course PB for me and I could leave happy, as it was every time I looked down I was over 27mph, reaching the turn point I had averaged on the mainly up hill section more than 27mph, this was great, or I may not make it back before I blow and roll in barely able to keep forward momentum... in a 10 it could either way.

Oddly it was about the turn point that I was sick for the first time, something that has not happened in a race for a little while, its pretty gross, and trying to breath and not choke is an added technique that I had to remember, people say this is when you know you have tried hard enough, I am not so sure its not like you ride the course dodging the trails of vomit that fellow competitors have left behind.

I was going to go off power, but my wife had talked me out of that, I always go off feel, power is still new to me and there was a risk that I blew myself to pieces and in an open race it wasn't worth it, so I will save my first power race for a club 10, as it turned out she was right to talk me out of it.

On the way back I got caught at one roundabout, after a van came past and despite not needing to stop, decided to pretty much stop, which was not ideal, it may have cost me a handful of seconds but not a lot more.

Photo Courtesy of Graham Durkin RCC

Shortly after the penultimate roundabout there is a small climb, nothing really of note but I gave everything, I didn't want to drop a second, it was after this effort that I was sick again, not ideal but I must have been right on the limit, but oddly I felt good, in fact very good.

I kept looking at the speed, a little bit in disbelief, it kept climbing, I was over 28mph and still felt good, knowing the end was coming I dug deep, just wanting to maintain speeds over 30mph, could I get a sub 21?  That would have been something on that course, even on a good day.

Onto the last part of the course the speed had edged to 28.3mph, there was nothing more I could gain, shouting my number as I crossed the line I knew that was a good time, but if it was good for me others would be as good surely?!

I cooled down and rolled back to my car, I was speaking to some of the chaps back at the cars and was surprised to hear that I was up on them, and by quite a bit, these are normally good markers for me and people that I am often racing against.

Photo Courtesy of Crag Zadoroznyj

I load up my car, and to be honest I was struggling to stand up, my legs were in tatters, I headed off to meet Fiona and the little one for cake and coffee.  Back at HQ I get my official time 21:15, which is pretty good going and nearly a 90 sec course PB, but I am still not convinced it will bag me a win, the results continue to roll in, then the 2 that matter the most Dan Taylor and Mark Thaxter, both considered quick guys and both chaps I have never beaten.... until now.  12 and 16 seconds was the gap back, which over 10miles is a reasonable gap.  I couldn't quite believe it, I got my wife to check, it was correct I had won, this was a first, not only because I had beaten some fast guys that I had never beaten before but it was also my first ever "open" win.

Still it seemed odd, I was not quite sure what to make of it, I collected my prize money (to keep me nicely in profit) and headed for home.

Reflecting on the race and chatting with my coach it has not been easy to get to this point, it does take effort and commitment to achieve these things, but they are within grasp, I am not a special talent, I have an affinity for riding bikes, that much is true, but I am a dad, a husband and a Risk Manager before I am a cyclist, I do it so i can look back with pride, so I can say I have achieved things that I wanted to and when my daughter asks I can inspire her to achieve, but mainly as I enjoy love cycling and competition.

My biggest motivation

I wear York Cycleworks kit (you may have noticed?!), because they are a great bunch of guys, and friends, but I couldn't be doing as well as I am without their support.  Thanks to  my coach Rob and Fraz i have the belief that I can win and I hope that this is the first of many "open" wins this year.

Not wanting to get ahead of myself I need to refocus, another 10 mile TT beckons next weekend a flatter course but very exposed, if its windy its not fast, looking for the win?  That would be nice, but I will settle for a PB.