2011 Goals

Well... it’s been a while... in fact, I'm not sure 20 months off the bike can be described as 'a while' even.  It’s been an Eternity.

How much has changed since the summer of 2009 other than the growing amount of dust on my impulsively bought collection of bikes I wonder.  For the Mitre, as far as I can gather from their excellent new blog http://www.mitreracing.co.uk, they have gone a long, long way since I departed after crashing out of racing, and cycling in general at Hove Park in July 2009.  The membership has swelled, new seasoned riders have added to the depth of experience and the club has a new team racing focus.  It’s this new approach detailed here http://www.mitreracing.co.uk/about/ that has been a contributing factor in getting me off my arse.

I made some errors in 2009.  After all the hard work training in Feb/Mar/Apr and a huge amount of support from the club, I reached a period of peak fitness around mid-June, culminating in gaining my 3^rd cat license.  The biggest mistake of the year was trying to drag that peak out like an elastic band.  The excitement and adrenaline of racing in one of those peak periods is like a drug, you can’t race enough, 2 races in the week and one at the weekend would be common.

After being committed and focused for the 4 months previous, all the hard work on the turbo intervals, fitness tests and early morning rides, when it came to the culmination of that I stopped thinking and just kept racing.  As I started to lose the edge after many races instead of acknowledging this and easing into a transition period of recovery I just kept at it.   Crashing at Thruxton in June should have been my signal to start a recovery period, but stupid bloody mindedness and the looming Devil Ride sportive a week later kept me going.

My usually uncommon egotistical competitiveness for this particular event got me a Gold time, but also resulted in another crash at the finish after a gruelling ride, still carrying the injuries from Thruxton.  A week later the same ego saw me enter into the June edition of Hove Park, eager to race in front of my Mum and Meg.  In the warm up I was barely able to get my heart rate up and losing concentration crashed taking the wrong line into a sharp corner thereby undoing all the healing progress from the Thruxton crash.  Stupidly, I raced anyway in what’s a hard race on a good day, lapped and dejected eventually packed after another serious crash involving another rider from Southdown Velo (who made a full recovery and completed the season).

I didn’t get on my Trek again that year and didn’t even update my training log with the result of the Devil Ride, let alone the abortive attempt at Hove Park.  Reading back through those entries the weeks after Thruxton its seems so obvious I needed a break.  But why did I carry on to self-destruction and ultimately complete abandonment of cycling?  Until this weekend the Trek has been sat in my room gathering dust, exactly as it was after the crash in 2009 with the brake levers bent and bar tape ripped up.  In 2010 I rode twice, other than a pootle to the comic shop on the Masi, once in Berlin for the Velothon in May and once in June for the Naked Bike Ride.  What a season!

Realistically I can’t get back into training, or even riding (I know that’s stupid) without trying to confront why this happened. I can’t turn up at the club again and expect the same support on and off the bike and then just bugger off again.

Anyway, looking forwards.  Only Forward.

Goals for 2011:  If I’m fit enough to race in support of others towards their goals then that will be a bonus.  But for now no more talk, just Ride my Bike, get fit, eat and live well...

Map My Ride

Just signed up for MapMyRide.com - best site I've seen so far for this kind of thing, but there's still huge room for improvement especially in the speed and reliability of the interface...

Anyway, connect to me there... my username is substanceg

Also: anyone know the maximum length of route where it'll still calculate a profile? It's struggling a bit with my old Munich->Siena 800km tour :-)

5/7 Omega Thruxton Circuits

A large field lined up at Thruxton today of approx 80 riders, saw plenty of now familiar faces in the bunch. Decided to sit in for the first few laps then get up to the front if I was feeling ok.

First lap was comfortable with a few short lived attacks being made. With strong winds the bunch was stringing out considerably making it hard to react to any dangerous moves up front. 3 laps in I worked up to the front 10 and sat in where I could be closer to the action. A couple more attacks were made by riders in 2's and 3's but nothing stuck in the wind. I could see a move about to made by a group of strong riders as they worked their way to the front, waiting for the optimum time to launch off the front.

As expected the decisive move was made coming into the chicane before the finish, where the bunch slows down as people get closed out in tight corners. 2 guys launched out of the chicane closely followed by a rider that was in the break with me at Dunsfold and the week before at Goodwood. I jumped on his wheel and with the help of a tailwind we'd opened up a nice gap and started working together in smooth through-and-off.

After 2 laps of work in our quartet, one rider started to miss turns and soon after was followed by another. We continued to work in 2-up fashion into the wind and I was beginning to tire just as we were joined by a sizable group of 10 riders who'd bridged across. Our smooth breakaway was now chaotic, with riders sitting in, others opening gaps, others coming through too fast and dangling off the front. This larger group was now yo-yoing round the circuit and collectively we were losing our lead.

A few attempts were made to reintroduce some order but without any luck. I'd worked too hard once we'd been joined and should have recovered from the previous lap or so of hard work. With the yo-yoing and gap closing I was soon at the back and starting to suffer with another of the my original break companions. With 4 laps to go we were eventually dropped and I sat up and waited for the bunch. Having recovered whilst pootling on my own I sped up and dropped into the front 10 as the bunch steamed past. Necked a gel and a good mouthful of drink and waited for a move to hopefully take me back across to the break.

This was short lived as coming into the chicane a guy next to me in the bunch lost control, looked like someone had touched his wheel or bars, and he slewed into my front wheel. Hitting me seemed to keep him upright, but unfortunately in the process it caused me to slam into the track hard on my left hand side. I slid briefly and rolled hoping to avoid anyone behind riding into me. I managed to, but my bike spiralling didn't, bringing down an i-Team CC rider who landed hard and broke his collar bone.

For a minute or so I sat on the track watching the bunch disappear round chicane and my bike twisted up in front of me. Left leg, shoulder, hip and arm were all grazed and cut but nothing serious. My right knee had been hit by the chap behinds bike and was starting to swell nicely, along with a golf ball size purple bump to the left of my abodomen. Viv stopped and helped me up. The support car was soon to the scene as attended to the guy with worse injuries before cleaning up my cuts. The crash had split the bunch apart, creating 3 groups by the end scattered by the wind. For a first crash it wasn't too bad, no major damage and the bike was ok. Just need to replace the brake hoods, get some new bar tape and get the front wheel trued up.

This week I'd planned on Dunsfold, Portsmouth and the SL handicap on Thursday but I think I'll do better by taking it easy and having a recovery week. Its the Devil Ride next Sunday and I'm hoping my aches and pains will have worn off by then. Might do the handicap on Thursday to see how I'm going.

2/7 Surrey League Handicap Series #10 (Kitsmead Lane)

Arrived at Kitsmead Lane and surveyed what was a strong looking field of riders signing on and warming up. Wasn't feeling that focused after a shit day at work and other stuff going on. Whilst signing on I spotted Dan Lloyd chatting to some other riders, looked like he'd been out training. A few minutes later I saw him pinning on a number. Christ.

The circuit was flat and fast, with a long straight following the M3 followed by a left hand off a roundabout, a long straight descent, hard left turn and then two short kicks before the finish line. Tonights race was 30 miles and 10 laps of the circuit.

Ladies went off first, followed a few mins later by the 4ths and again shortly after by the 3rds as usual. In the 3rds we soon got a chase organised and started rolling through. Was feeling great at this point, heart rate sticking below 155 and riding smooth. After 3 laps we started to pick up people dropped from the first group, then a couple of laps later we caught the 4ths. On the 6th lap the E/1/2 group streamed past and after some shouting we managed to jump on.

Riding with Dan Lloyd in the train was awesome. He could have obviously ridden us all into the ground and disappeared up the road but he kept rolling through and occasionally dropping back to give people who were losing a wheel a push back into the group. About 30 of us kept together on the last 4 laps to the finish at a blistering pace. The race had started proper since being joined by the fast guys but I was still feeling ok.

Last lap and I made a few efforts to keep up in the front 10 knowing that once we hit the hard left turn into Kitsmead Lane that positioning there would select the final 10. I was in about 7th spot coming into the lane and swung out wide to get a good line through the corner. Inexperience got the better of me again, as opening up a gap on my left let a number of people through putting me into 12th coming out of the bend. Behind me someone lost their wheel on the corner and hit the tarmac bringing someone else down with them.

This seperated our group and held up those coming into the corner behind. I could see a top 10 slipping by and gave it full gas on the first rise only to have nothing left for the second one, losing another couple of places and crossing the line in 14th. Another chance for points missed, though on an occasion where I thought I'd be lucky to survive in the bunch. Was a great race and made all the better for riding in the company of a continental pro.

Next race is Thruxton Sunday, Dunsfold Tuesday then Portsmouth Wednesday (when the Zipps arrive...!!)

1 Daniele Santoni Pearson Cycles 1 1.08.54
2 Alexandre Guimaraes Private Member E
3 David Creeggan VC Meudon 1
4 Gary Dodd Sigma Sport RT EV
5 Steven Saunders Kingston Wheelers 1
6 Jonathan Lewis Charlotteville CC 3
7 Daniel Lloyd Cervelo E
8 Michael Staines Team Corridori 3V
9 Stephen Broomfield Addiscombe CC 3V
10 David Farmer Cycleworks.co.uk 3
11 Mark Spindler Twickenham CC 3
12 Darren Franklin VC Meudon 3
13 Jamie Shirlaw Liverpool Century J
14 Alan Buttler Brighton Mitre 3

30/6 Dunsfold Park Series #11

Tonights scratchicap race was predicably tough, especially in the heat with little wind. There was also a good turn out of E/1/2s so it was going to be a fast evening. It was the closest so far I've had a chance of a top 10, though on this occasion lack of experience let me down a couple of times. Along with Nick, Rob and Nathan I set off with the 3rds and within a lap we'd caught the 4ths. We positioned ourselves at the front of the bunch to pre-empt the increase in pace with the arrival of the E/1/2s.

3rd lap in coming down the back straight a small group of E/1's attacked together. My aim for this race had been to get into a breakaway so I lept after them. Behind me were 3 others, all strong riders. Once we'd regrouped and started working to get away I realised the quality in this small group. 2 elite guys who'd ridden the National Championships at the weekend, a 1st cat chap who was leading the series and 3 super strong 3rd cats. Shortly after Driss and Nathan bridged over to us. For a lap I was on my limit trying to keep up with this group who were putting minutes into the bunch.

Trying to do my bit I found myself doing through-and-off with guys I'd been watching in Abergavenny 2 days earlier, I could hardly believe I was there. Looking at my heart rate I knew it would be tough to maintain this level of excertion in a group this strong and I made my first mistake of the evening and lost the wheel I was following. It just needed one more big effort to keep it and I'd have had a great chance of a top 10 as this group were never seen again by the bunch.

About 2 minutes later the bunch caught up with me and I slotted in behind Nick Sky. I'd recovered soon after and the rest of the race was spent trying to get away again. Nick and I attempted 4 or 5 times without success, until the last lap where I made another mistake. Rob had moved up to the front and was going to lead me out on the last lap for the remaining points. I'd not realised there were still placings on offer, so when another suicidal attack was made coming into the bell lap I followed. Obviously we were both caught within a minute or so and I lost my position, merging back into the bunch on the outside. Coming into the final lap I'd lost Rob and was fighting for position on my own on the outside of the bunch.

I crossed the line with the bunch narrowly missing out on a crash with a guy who stacked it sprinting out for 50th position. Afterwards Rob had a chat with me saying I should have stuck to his wheel on the last lap as attacks that late in the race never come to anything. A tough lesson learnt and a great oppourtunity missed for points at Dunsfold. Nathan came in 5th after surviving the breakaway (though the bunch nearly caught them on the last lap) and Driss unfortunately punctured. On the plus side I'd achieved my aim of making a breakaway, although for only a short time it was awesome riding with guys at that level.

23/6 Dunsfold Park Series #10

Great conditions again at Dunsfold tonight, perfect blue skies and a little wind. If difference to normal the wind was in your face on the start/finish line. I took in a couple of laps to get warmed up ready for the start. I'd imagined a tough race tonight as most of the Mitre were competing in the inter-club 10 TT over at Steyning. Thankfullly I wasn't alone and 4 Mitres lined up on the start line.

Tonight was a handicap race with longer split times between the groups. Women off first, followed a few minutes later by the 4ths, then us in the 3rds, and finally a small but strong group of E/1/2's. The more experienced 3rd's in our group got us organised on the chase from the start line. 2 lines through-and-off and no let up until we'd caught the 4ths. 30 or so of us worked together in this fashion with a few getting a free ride at the back. Within 5 laps we'd caught the 4ths, ourselves being caught a lap later by the E/1/2's.

The organised chase for the first 20-30 minutes of the race was perfect warmup for the action in the second half. As the E/1's started to attack each other the race pace increased and being close to the front I'd managed to keep up with the quick changes in speed. Coming round the top for the 8th lap prime, one of the Wildside 1st cat riders came alongside Nick and myself saying that they were going to attack just before the prime and they wanted one of us to come along. I didn't need asking twice and approaching the prime sprint along with group of 5 E/1's we attacked off the front of the bunch. I must have picked up some prime points in the process as we opened up a tasty gap from the bunch.

Unfortunately our move was nulified by a quick organisation of the bunch and half a lap later it was altogether. Coming into the final lap it was obvious tonights episode was going to be decided in another mass gallop for the line. I'd positioned myself in the front 15 of the bunch but started to get boxed in coming up to the final bend before the finish. I spotted Thatch moving up and tried to follow but the gap closed up behind him as he powered off towards the finish in 10th place. I came a second later about 25th, my best result at Dunsfold so far. The other Mitre chaps all finished in the top 25, a good night all round.

Škoda Velothon Berlin 2009

Race report!



Came in place 4000 something. Time: 3h36m (120km/75miles). Considering I'd done the very minimum of training i.e. a couple of spins with MEAT and Siôn many weeks ago, I'm well pleased with the result. The road bike was on its first outing this year and it (she?) performed beautifully, shifting under load no problems, trusty handling, not a sound as we sped along. The main massive difference was riding in bunches almost all the way, I'd seriously underestimated the energy saving this brings you. I was lucky to grab on to a group of 10-15 riders who were riding together and just eating up the road ahead of them, when I was in that bunch no-one overtook us, we just devoured the slower riders, it was awesome. I took a short turn at the front and it was a fantastic feeling to be pulling along this rolling train. I was spent after a minute or two of this and the next riders took over at a crazy pace which I thought I'd never be able to keep up, but by the time I'd drifted to the back of the bunch, I could keep up again under the protection of the slipstream.

In the last 5km or so, my breath started running out, reminiscent of when I had circulation collapse many years ago in the alps, but I hung on to the finish line and at least I know I couldn't have given more. Managed to stay on the bike and not pass out and finished ok, so actually pretty well paced all in all.

The race was superbly well organised. Loads and loads of marshalls, good-natured spectators cheering us along almost all the way. Unfortunately, I did see the aftermath of a couple of crashes: cyclists with bleeding bodies being stretchered into ambulances. I read afterwards that there were 54 first-aid cases, of which 17 cases needed to go to hospital. Considering there were 12300 participants, that's not too bad, really...

The race was won in a mass sprint with a time of 2h46m. Erik Zabel strolled in 2 seconds after the winner.

It was a really great race and I'd definitely do it again. A couple of areas I know I can improve - apart from actually doing some training - are: switch from mountain bike to the racer a few weeks early to get used to the body position. The Trek fits me like a glove, but the handlebars are way lower than the Klein and a few miles into the race my neck really started aching and still hurts a day later! And, the main one which would've saved me 5 minutes or more was the constant need to pee when I'm on the bike. I don't know what it is, but I'm thirsty and drink about a bottle every 45-60 minutes or so, but it just goes straight through me and I needed to stop and pee twice in 3 and a half hours, which is a waste of good racing time. So any suggestions/tips/bizarre contraptions greatly appreciated...

See you in Berlin next time?