A weekend of racing! Farnham RC 25 and Richmond Park 10.4m TT

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Another weekend of sleeping on my team mate Seb’s spare collapsible bed up in London only meant a few things; Great food, sound company and a damn early start, this time x2, Saturday and Sunday morning. Saturday’s alarm wasn’t too bad actually, 5:50am but when you know that very soon you’ll be busting a gut and going through all sorts of mental conflicts getting up is even tougher than usual! I always wake up with a very brief diagnostic run when sleeping around team mates houses, e.g where am I?, Am I on holiday?, work?!, what day is it? all that in a second almost like when you start up a PC. Then the realisation of it being a race day bleeds through the dissipating mental fog. Right, up and ready………….

Off we went to the H10/8 the Bentley by pass! Hardly a breeze in the air, think it was around 3mph and already the temperature had risen to around 19 degrees C.
Everything in me felt good straight from the line, strong, focused, and confident however the machine under me wasn’t feeling too good! Unbeknown to me at the time (diagnosed by no other than Mr Walkling) the rear mech inner gear cable had worked out of a groove (Sram Red mech) that holds the cable firmly in place to improve shifting qualities. I’m surprised that I could shift at all really, but what kept happening was that everytime I shifted it would skip two sprockets, or be in a gear and suddenly shift to a smaller gear! Not good!!! This really frustrated me as there is nothing you can really do once you’re underway, so I just kept going and did the best I could.
Approaching the second turn things get pretty quick, and the A road turns to a single carriage lane. This is normally no problem, today though a motorcyclist decided to dump his bike causing a line of hazard lit cars (approx 15) to be at a standstill right at this point. The motorcyclist seemed OK as he was up and walking. I used the left verge to filter down then skip in front of a few parked cars. I eventually got back up to speed with gears flicking all over the place! Still felt good and pressed on…

The last leg felt really quick, kept my gear in the 11t as I was ontop of it and didn’t want to continue the pot luck gear selection! Finished in 55:08 which I think put me in the top 10 out of a field of around 90 riders.


Race 2 of 2 The Richmond Park 10.4 mile Time trial held by London Dynamo!

Map of Richmond Park

Map of Richmond Park

I had never visited the park before the race so Seb took me on a recce around the course so I could get a feel of it and have a better idea on how to manage the turns that came in the form of very mini roundabouts, made primarily of cobble stones…and the London Olympic Road race of 2012 took this park on that saw Fabian Cancellara stack it on one of these rabs. In the back of my mind these things were one of my main concerns as you do approach them at some speed. The quick scout of the course was interesting, an understandable speed limit of 20mph forcing everything to a crawl, 32 degree heat, couples and families roaming around aimlessly and “oohs and ahhh’s” coming from people in their cars with arms sticking right out as they simultaneously slam on their brakes infront of unsuspecting cyclists! The resident Dear population seemed pretty frisky too, running across the roads and paths. Pretty hectic stuff to be honest! Then the ride back through Kingston, ugh!

Again, the alarm woke me, 04:15 with a couple of snoozes here and there!

My start time drew closer, and I couldn’t believe how different the park felt. Wild Parakeets flying around seemingly native to the park now, deer calmly stirring into action and only a handful of cyclists slowly milling around (was around 06:30) and no traffic as the Park had been closed to traffic for this race. Also the speed restriction with agreement from the Police was lifted for the duration of the race. Would’ve been interesting if It hadn’t have been! A few quick bursts and sustained efforts to warm up on and I was on the line! 30 second intervals meant the waiting line disolved pretty quickly, and considering yesterday’s race I felt ready to go and primed to push myself hard. The temperature was warming up fast, low/mid 20’s already! My 30 second man of Sigma Sport left the start line looking strong, I had him in my sights for the first half of the race, kept to my pacing strategy (as it’s quite temopting to catch your minute man too soon!) the second half he was behind me. The roundabouts were very tight, and carrying significant speed out of them required some bike handling skills! I managed all without a hitch, even the notorious “Cancellara Corner”

Cancellara Corner Olympic Road Race 2012

Cancellara Corner Olympic Road Race 2012

I started strong and finished strong. I came 5th (00:25:08) out of a initial field of 120 riders from a wide range of London and mostly southern racing teams and clubs. I’m proud to represent the Isle of Wight at these types of events and I always get into conversations with team mates and other riders from other teams and parts of the country that are either still thinking you need a passport to get here, or recall memories from when they visited as a child! 🙂 The Island is always a sound talking point!

It was a surprisingly technical course for a PARK! and the heat took a bit of top edge off of the most I could push however I did the best I could and finished in a position that I didn’t expect to end up in! My team mate Seb Ader was the joint victor of the day, the first time first place had been drawn in the history of the Richmond Park TT !! So, all in all a great day which I am keen to come back to next year with a stronger pair of legs and fitter from the training that I do daily, and better knowledge of the course.

Thankyou London Dynamo and marshalls for putting on a fab morning!

Results: Click Here!

…a3crg Midsummer Nights Dream 25 PB Time and Nationals!!

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Monday evening held the reputable 25 mile time trial held by …a3crg on the course P885/25. It’s a quick course, by no means pan flat, but pace it right and this course will be one of the best you’ll ever race on.

The weather wasn’t PERFECT, not a float evening by any means, and a deceptive crosswind at fast points of the course. However this night was bliss compared to the weather I’ve had to put up with since the beginning of the season! After my usual post work routine (pump the tubs up,stuff some food into bag, double check, and switch on the iPod…grab bike and then I’m off to the ferry!) I was thinking about, and trying to move on from churning over LAST season 25, same date, same course…

Let me enlighten you:

Last seasons encounter with this bad boy was a shambles. I went to the race, was hungry as didn’t fuel up properly at work, and unsettled as i didn’t have my usual rear wheel. It was being repaired (trued). I was assured that the wheel would be there for me when I arrived….You guessed, it wasn’t there. So, I was standing around remaining hopeful that the wheel would make it in time. It didn’t. A few frantic phone calls later I was still non the wiser as to the whereabouts of this damn wheel. 10 mins before I was due to rocket off the line Paddy stepped up to the mark (a great team mate) and lent me his rear wheel as he wasn’t racing. So off I went, sprinted up to the holding pen with an unfamiliar wheel and gear ratio. Didn’t have my Power Tap wither and Paddy’s Garmin didn’t make any sense to me. I raced on feel, nerves, anxiety. I thundered off down the ski slope start, I came off the slip road to join the A3 and began the most frustrating and unsettling 25 I’ve done. Back at the HQ everyone was ‘coo-ing’ at all the PB’s and lightening quick times. I wasn’t, I was seething with my 00:55:19. Not what I had expected, my head was full of dark clouds and ‘why’s’ and ‘how’s’.

What did happen to my wheel?? Well, the chap who was meant to bring it didn’t turn up at all as he didn’t realise the date of the race and double booked…..

Anyway, that was LAST season….

This season, this course, this time was very different. Like I stated earlier, I was sat on the ferry on my way to Portsmouth to catch the train to Liss. I had a vague image of the course in my head, so I knew what certain parts would feel like, where to put in the effort and where to back off. I focused on this and ate a brownie. My bike was tuned up, I felt good. On the train I was stood guard over my machine as soooo many ‘sit up and begs’ where heaved onto the train and so I had to get mine out of the rack to prevent it from being crushed into a fine carbon dust.
Arrived at the HQ in good time, good myself sorted and had a good warmup up and down the ‘Old’ A3. Rolled up to the start line with 3 mins to go, perfect timing. Got chatting to Mr Steve Walkling, I always look forward to chatting with this guy (a strong and valued tester racing for VC ST Raphael), he’s equipped with a meticulous eye for detail, two of them infact…So I always end up picking up tips and always thinking “ohhh yeah why didn’t I think of that…?” Anyway, during this chat I was just routinely checking my number, and realised I’d lost a pin so had a corner flapping about, not aero, not good….and would infuriate me for the 25 miles. Steve promptly unpinned one of his, and gave me his. That’s sportsmanship.

Off the line I rocketed down the start stretch hitting 50mph in the tuck, some see this as suicidal, I saw it as essential, I need every bit of help descending as I’m about as light as a feather….drop a stone, drop a feather…see which one hits the ground first…Everything felt good, all systems seemed to be up and running.

Got onto the A3 and got myself into a decent rhythm. On I went, averaging nearly 30mph. Until the 9th mile. I began to feel pings of cramp in my right hamstring, so every upstroke was just bordering on cramping up. NO WAY was this going to get the better of me. I eased up on the upstroke, hoping it would just sort itself out. Probably lost a fair bit of time thinking about it, and depriving the upstroke but it was the only way. Every up hill section pushed the cramp into the foreground, gritted teeth, think I may’ve shouted at myself a few times…

I mashed the pedals, throwing technique into the wind and just doing what I could. I expected to get back to the results board and accept that this course just is a bogey course for me, and will be another disappointment. I threw everything I could into the last 5 miles, just hammered the bike while keeping everything as smooth as possible. Finished.

Struggled to even get off the bike. Really bizarre that cramp struck so badly, I must’ve given it the beans.

Back at the HQ the results were being radio’d in, mine hadn’t come up yet…I sat, legs angry and waited….
Paddy, receiving the results over the phone gave me a knowing look, the time was going to be good. I looked at the time being entered on to display.
I did it!

A new 25 mile PB!! 00:54:06 thrashing my previous time by well over a minute.

Now, this isn’t just a PB for me, this dispelled the p885/25 as a ‘cursed’ course for me, and in it’s place was my favourite 25 course!

But more importantly than that it seems I have a good enough time to race in the British National 25 mile time trial next season!

So, Seb won with 00:50:12, Charlie rolled across the line with a 00:51:22 and me with 00:54:06. This got us once more the 1st team prize! A great team of three that
almost guarantees a win it seems!

I have a few more 25’s this season so I’ll continue to chip away. The only niggling thought now is this; if I hadn’t of cramped up I’d have got myself a 00:53:?? for certain. Damn! I’ll carry on.

The journey home was terrible though. Some sort of signalling fault on the rail line knocked all the train times right back, so was in danger of missing the last ferry back to the Island (22:15, ridiculous…) I managed to jump from train to train to get back asap. I made it to the harbour with 4 mins to go until the ferry left dock. Just what you want to do after racing and battering yourself on a TT bike….

Bed felt good. The alarm for work the next day went off far too soon….

The results

Midsummer 25 and pb

27 to 55 midsummer nights 25 pb

56 to dns midsummer nights 25 pb

Hampshire RC P881 Open 10 mile TT 27/04/2013

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Me and Jo Rowsell MBE

Me and Jo Rowsell MBE

A great day of racing promoted by Hampshire RC on our teams stomping ground, the P881 (on the A3). The weather was changeable, with a pretty stiff northerly wind and scattered heavy showers. I was off near the back of the field, rolling of at 18:41.

This race was something special,

a legendary start list comprising of Jo Rowsell MBE 2012 track Olympian and World Record holder (If you don’t if you don’t know who this lady is, shame on you! click here to learn) Julia Shaw (Womens National Champ who didn’t start) our Seb Ader who currently is winning everything (and long may it continue!), Stephen Whitewick, the family Yates; Sean, Conall and Christian. Adam Topham as TT great winning the BBAR (Best British All Rounder), Stephen Walkling a big name that wins things…to name some from the top of my head. A real clash of the titans was on the cards.

Well, as soon as I left the HQ to warm up and get to the start the heavens opened, great! Hadn’t rained at all day and just at that moment. It was a heavy shower that left me soaked for the rest of the race! Bloody typical! Anyway at least I got a decent warm up this time around. My niggling injury all patched up, loosened up and relatively pain free, just the range of movement was limited (very painful if I squat past 90 degrees for example) but good to race. Infront of me was Adam Topham who has a published book on the sport of time trialling called “Fly Through The Pain Barrier”. I have never met the chap before but have read his book, which is a valuable resource for any beginner/intermediate/curious racer. I congratulated Tops on his work and thanked him, for his work really has helped many.

Joanna Rowsell rolled off the line 6 minutes before me, so I wouldn’t be seeing her on the course but managed to catch up with the lady after the race. I wouldn’t be seeing Tops either on the course, so I was on the line and focused as I was counted down for the off.

The road was wet, but it felt great to be on the familiar stretch of the A3. This was the first time this season that I was on the course, last season the first time I raced it (in mid May) I managed to roll over the line in 00:22:13, this season I smashed that (in worse physical condition, and worse weather!) in 00:21:55, VERY pleased with this. I came in 17th out of a quality field of 96. Jo beat me by 16 measly seconds and Mr Walkling, super fast guy pipped me by 3 seconds!!. I know where I goofed up, and I know I can do this course alot faster, so watch this space 😉

Going over the flyover on the A3

Going over the flyover on the A3

Once again, the mighty trio that we are (Seb, Charlie and myself) 😉 won the team prize, that’s 5 straight wins this season for …a3crg. Oh and Seb won, again, under a hell of a lot of pressure from “forum talk/chatter” and from other big hitters. Jo won the female category. Hurrah! Our Patrick Brennan actually came in in 21:56, but due to a late start (naughty naughty!!) suffered a huge time penalty on the line, dohhhhhhhh!!!

After the race I had the privilege of chatting for some time with Jo, one of the most down to Earth, genuine and charming professionals I have ever met. A worthy ambassador of our sport and country, I wish Jo all the best for her future races and plans!

(click to enlarge results)

Hampshire RC P881 results 2013

Hampshire RC P881 results 2013

Hampshire RC P881 results 2013

Hampshire RC P881 results 2013

Hampshire RC P881 results 2013

Hampshire RC P881 results 2013

Catford CC Q10/19 Tonbridge

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catford cc Q10/19

catford cc Q10/19

Well I’ve had better days! The weather forecast said warm, we all said liars 0 – 1 degree! A very early start for today’s race, alarm went off at 04:30 and things just didn’t feel right from the off. The antibiotics had done the trick on clearing up the leg infection but had given me horrendous acid reflux, not a nice way to begin the morning. I sympathise with people who get this on a regular basis!! The leg was oozing weird stuff and muscles in dire need of a massage.

The morning was once again flipping freezing 0 – 1 degree, with a dense mist hanging about blocking any kind of sunlight. Due to unforeseen circumstances we were running behind schedule so it made my all important warm up phase extremely minimal, no more than 10 mins…I normally need around 30!

The talk around the start line was mainly of warning…there was a huge smattering of potholes at the foot of the legendary “ski slope” start. I listening to the pointers, “bear to the left, and you should be fine…” So off I went, just…the pusher offer didn’t quite release me on the 0, so I dragged him along with me for a short distance!! On the ski slope, right up to nearly 40mph, bared left, potholes…….CONTACT!!! Saw the potholes, bared left, but that forced me right inbetween the mother of all holes and the gravel hard shoulder/verge….So I clipped the bugger, and because I was absoloutly flying along it triggered off a load of speed wobbles. All seemed ok, I continued.

Past a couple of men before the turn, my minute man, and my 2 minute man…Hit the turn and felt totally blasted. I had woefully screwed up my pacing, I don’t know what I was thinking to be honest, my mind was in a box underneath my bed I think…Recovered on the turn, my damaged leg began protesting at the lack of warm up, and started to feel so seized. I slogged it out to the finish.

I crossed the line and knew there and then before even looking at my computer that I sucked, nothing felt right at all, right from the moment I opened my eyes at 04:30. I was seething going back to the car, actually swearing to myself as I rode back to the HQ.

Anyway, I clocked 00:22:08 coming in 22nd in a field of 85 that should no way should be sniffed at, some real quality riders in there. Time to acknowledge that this was a badly timed race, it came at a bad time for me personally, and with the numerous negative factors lingering I’m glad to put this one behind me and move on, at speed of course!

Results

1 Peter Tadros Ingear-Quickvit Trainsharp Rt 00:19:44
2 Conall Yates Ingear-Quickvit Trainsharp Rt 00:19:45
3 Dr Will Mangar Velorefined Aerosmith Allstars 00:19:49
4 Russell Hampton Raleigh-Gac 00:20:02
5 Robert Moore London Phoenix Cc 00:20:34
6 Richard Gifford Ingear-Quickvit Trainsharp Rt 00:20:49
7 Jonathan D.R. Parker Pmr@Toachim House 00:21:05
7 Henry Farrell Welwyn Wheelers 00:21:06
9 Nick Malins Club 4t-Velo Club(N.Dibble Felt Roofing,Genco,Dk Nolan) 00:21:21
10 Lee Turner La Fuga-Sigma Sport 00:21:25
11 George Farrell Welwyn Wheelers 00:21:30
12 Gary Record West Kent Rc 00:21:34
13 Richard Weatherstone G S Stella 00:21:41
14 Simon Henderson Thanet Rc 00:21:43
15 James Wood Catford Cc/Banks Equipe Racing 00:21:46
16 Chris Wolton Southborough & District Wheelers 00:21:46
17 Keith Brown Vo2 Maximum Rt 00:21:47
18 Neil Harris 7 Oaks Tri Club 00:21:55
19 Matt Kuwertz Southborough & District Wheelers 00:22:04
20 Nick Wilson Rye & District Wheelers 00:22:06
21 Kevin Grimshaw Bigfoot Cc 00:22:07
22 Matt Harris A3crg 00:22:08
23 Andrew Ferry Bigfoot Cc 00:22:09
24 Stephen Campbell Twickenham Cc/Giant/Evans/Baron Grey 00:22:13
25 Ewan Tuohy Catford Cc/ Banks Equipe Racing 00:22:15
26 Shaun Williams Abellio-Sfa Racing Team 00:22:16
27 Craig Russell Barton Club 4t-Velo Club 00:22:24
28 Paul Smith Catford Cc 00:22:33
29 Carl Chapman Gs Invicta-Eye Level Optical/Herbert Cycles 00:22:36
30 Richard Masters Wigmore Cc 00:22:36
31 Andrew Macpherson 4t+ Velo Club 00:22:38
32 Martin Dickenson Deal Tri 00:22:44
33 Sam Bradford Pmr@Toachim House 00:22:45
34 Steve Gooch Rye & District Wheelers 00:22:46
35 Damian Poulter Hounslow & District Wheelers 00:22:46
36 Michael Gore Abellio-Sfa Racing Team 00:22:47
37 Mark Taviner London Phoenix Cc 00:22:53
38 Louise Mason (F) Velorefined Aerosmith Allstars 00:22:55
39 Neil Stanley Sydenham Wheelers 00:22:55
40 Andy Branson Ashford Wheelers 00:22:57
41 Bronwen Ewing(F) Trainsharp Rt 00:22:58
42 Reg Smith Velorefined Aerosmith Allstars 00:22:58
43 Shay Giles Vc Elan Harry Perry Cycles 00:22:59
44 David Lovell Addiscombe Cc 00:23:00
45 Michael Porter 34th Nomads Cc Gem Hygene 00:23:11
46 Dave Warne Old Portlians Cc 00:23:14
47 Ian Neild Abellio-Sfa Racing Team 00:23:20
48 Jason Gould Abellio-Sfa Racing Team 00:23:23
49 Christian Yates East Grinstead Cc 00:23:25
50 Richard Proctor Addiscombe Cc 00:23:27
51 Stewart King Ashford Wheelers 00:23:34
52 Peter Rowe Southborough & District Wheelers 00:23:38
53 Richard Williams Bigfoot Cc 00:23:43
54 Stephen Cavey Catford Cc/Banks Equipe Racing 00:23:44
55 Sam Day Cs Grupetto 00:23:52
56 Martin Foord Abellio-Sfa Racing Team 00:23:54
57 Paul Tunnell Addiscombe Cc 00:23:59
58 Ian Bashford Old Portlians Cc 00:24:03
59 Andrew Robert Green Addiscombe Cc 00:24:04
60 Tony Day Bigfoot Cc 00:24:07
61 Chris Bax Pmr@Toachim House 00:24:10
62 Rob Wood Team Darenth 00:24:13
63 Robert Giles Pm Racing 00:24:20
64 Nigel Smith Southborough & District Wheelers 00:24:21
65 Simon Gibbs Pmr@Toachim House 00:24:21
66 Martin Osman Addiscombe Cc 00:24:27
67 Deborah Percival(F) 34 Nomads Gem Hygiene 00:24:37
68 Cassie Mcgoldrick(F) Pmr@Toachim House 00:24:41
69 Colin Webster Woolwich Cc 00:24:45
70 Rory Hopcraft Abellio-Sfa Racing Team 00:24:50
71 Graham Pettitt Hillingdon Triathletes 00:25:01
72 Chris Cowlard De Laune Cc 00:25:02
73 Jon Hollidge 7 Oaks Tri Club 00:25:18
74 Sean Yates Ingear-Quickvit Trainsharp 00:25:30
75 Robert Graves Gs Avanti 00:25:31
76 Christopher Leach Club Kent Velo Boys 00:25:33
77 Tom Morton Pmr@Toachim House 00:25:40
78 John Mankelow Lewes Wanderers Cc 00:25:58
79 Mike Newman Ashford Wheelers Cc 00:26:15
80 Michael Saadat Southborough & District Wheelers 00:26:22
81 Ian Creasy Wigmore Cc 00:26:27
82 Mark Gidney De Laune Cc 00:26:29
83 Colin Jarman Southborough & District Wheelers 00:27:46
84 Bob Loader Sydenham Wheelers Cc 00:30:38
85 Stephanie Waters(F) San Fairy Ann Cc (Time Includes 5.32 Late Start) 00:48:33

Antelope RT 3-UP Team Time Trial Saturday 13/04/13

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Antelope 3up ttt ,post crash

Antelope 3up ttt ,post crash. Many thanks to Karla Boddy (MG Maxifuel Pro Team) for supplying me with this capture

Well, this race I won’t forget for a very long time as I learned a huge lesson; deciding to throw myself from from a bike going at around 30mph isn’t clever!

More than 90 teams (3-UP consists of 3 team mates riding in formation and take turns at the front “pulling” then peel off to the rear and the next man repeats…) entered this years Antelope 3up TTT that contained some big hitting Pro teams, 2 of which were Team IG Sigma Sport and Magnus Bäcksted’s team MG Maxifuel Pro Cycling. Then there was us, Seb Ader, Charlie Mitchell and me of the mighty …a3crg!

This race attracts a huge field, and APPARENTLY the quality is greater than the National Team Time Trial so is a really good gauge to see where a team stands within the UK.

The race was held up in south Oxford (Chalgrove) 2 laps of a circuit around the area taking in a dual carriageway and b classification roads totalling 50km approximately 32miles, (anyone who knows this area will tell you it gets windy up there as its quite exposed and elevated.) And the forecast prediction for the weather looked TERRIBLE! When I left the Island it had started to rain, on the train it was hammering down. Arrived in Oxford…blowing a southerly gale and pouring with driving rain.

It was gloomy, cold, and possibly the worst conditions any one could (not) ask for, especially to race.

We were off the line at 17:06, so all of us had to monitor and plan what we were to eat and drink before hand, otherwise we’d face dire consequences…We warmed up, all sorted..

17:06 came, we were off! driving rain in our faces, keeping everything in check, we were in formation riding inches away from each others wheel.

6 minutes in…I crashed.

I clipped the middle mans (Charlie) rear wheel, a typical error, and really not surprising since we had the full brunt of the foul weather on us! I slid, my bike slid, my bike stopped in a hedge and I stopped (eventually AFTER sliding a good 5m) on the gravel strewn road. The marshal came to assist but I was already up and hoisting my bike back up and checking it over. It was OK, bars scraped up , rear mech hanger bent in… I wasn’t OK, skinned my right leg a treat and whacked my upper body around a fair bit. Seb and Charlie knew I wasn’t on the back, they came back. I was on the on the bike and clipped in determined not to let the team down, myself down and fold after such a short time.

After Seb’s rallying cries of “Come on! Lets GO GO GO!” WE were off!

We had probably 48kms to go, it wasn’t pretty… every down stroke felt like my right shin was erupting from my knee joint, my elbow was severely bruised and the rear gears weren’t playing ball, skipping over the place at times so had to race with unpredictable shifting.

It was survival.

I hung in there, I gritted my teeth, Seb’s throat was horse from keeping Charlie and I in formation. The team leader.

The home straight was in sight, I threw anything I had left into the bike, the discomfort nearly stopping the build up of power surging from my legs and core…

We finished 8th out of a racing 73 teams

(plenty DNS due to the weather), I finished angry, frustrated…EMBARRASSED. My skinsuit was torn, and was so filthy it looked like the Turin Shroud…Had we not been delayed we could’ve finished 5th at least judging by the speed of the second and final lap.

The next day (Tour of the Lod Valley) I was scheduled to race, and was determined to until the morning, I couldn’t put any pressure on my foot at first. Swollen leg, seized muscles, bruising, sore. I wasn’t to race the Lod. Recovery and rest were paramount.

Antelope 3up TTT Resuts

Antelope 3up TTT Resuts

Antelope 3up TTT Resuts cont...

Antelope 3up TTT Resuts cont…

…a3crg ‘ard rider 10 TT – Team win, yet again!

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'ard riders p886 Overall 5:6 place prize.

‘ard riders p886 Overall 5:6 place prize.

a3crg_logo_main1

Firstly another …a3crg team win spear tipped by the increasingly swift Sebastian Ader (00:22:40), followed by myself (00:25:13), then John Glaysher (00:25:36). Seb’s time really did leave pretty much everyone slack jawed as the course raced was by no means just undulating. It was super hilly…and very cold (-4 when the marshals first arrived, and -1 when I was stood at the start line!!).

'ard riders winning team seb, john (far right) and Matt....Paddy dishing out the winnings.

‘ard riders winning team seb, john (far right) and Matt….Paddy dishing out the winnings.

After cracking a pothole...

After cracking a pothole…

We were however blessed with sunshine, albeit very hazy so failed to add anything in the way of heat just provided pleasant aesthetics which isn’t too handy when trying to get the lungs working correctly and muscles functioning the way they should! The course (P886 Rake – Petersfield – Rake) as mentioned earlier is hilly and draggy, it’s harsh – rough surfaces, un-avoidable potholes and unforgiving in nature. Being a light chap I have to really add some power down the hills to get a decent speed up, think of a feather being dropped from a height, and then think of a stone…I am the feather, bigger chaps are stones. They may struggle up but they descend pretty quickly too 😉 Reversed for lighter riders…It literally hasn’t got a flat section of road, up – down – up – down…

"Hard Rider" ...a3crg 10 P886 over the brow.

“Hard Rider” …a3crg 10 P886 over the brow.

Numbed faced I had a glance at the results board at the HQ – I was dissapointed. a short 25 for a 10 mile TT ?! I saw Seb’s 22 something, my jaw matched every one else’s. I was in conversation with another rider who said (in reply to my digust in my time)

“hey that’s pretty good though, ignore Seb’s, he’s dying to do crazily fast times, and look at the other times…” I did and that took the sting out of my repulsion.

I finished 6th

(well, 5th technically as 4th place was tied)

out of 35 riders

bettering riders who beat me in this race last year. It was a tough morning no denying that, the cold took it’s toll but out of interest I looked at the temperature of last years race, remembering it wasn’t this cold.

This race last year was raced in a pleasant 15-17 degrees C and in the afternoon, this year was a max of 1 degree C and this year I’m 43 seconds faster despite the cold. Things are moving in the right direction.

RESULT

1 Sebastian Ader …a3crg 00:22:40
2 Simon Berogna VC St Raphael 00:24:45
3 Paul Jones Poole Wheelers 00:24:46
4= Chris Birch East Street Cycles.com 00:24:53
4= Philip Peters Peter Hansford Racing 00:24:53
6 Matt Harris …a3crg 00:25:13
7 Stephen Walkling VC St Raphael 00:25:23
8 John Glaysher …a3crg 00:25:36
9 Stuart Martingale Sotonia CC 00:25:50
10 Phil Ember Kingston Wheelers 00:26:05
11 Ollie Mitchell Wyndymilla 00:26:09
12 David Dalton Fareham Wheeler CCs 00:26:26
13 Patrick Brennan …a3crg 00:26:33
14 Andrew Phipps Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA 00:26:34
15 Jerry Bromyard Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA 00:27:21
16 Daniel Edwards Sotonia CC 00:27:41
17 Alan Emmott Fareham Wheeler CCs 00:27:57
18 Lesley-Anne Walkling VC St Raphael 00:28:17
19 Peter Phipps VC Godalming & Haslemere 00:28:28
20 Phillip Chinn Fareham Wheeler CCs 00:28:32
21 Trevor Hillman …a3crg 00:28:34
22 Hamish Walker Hampshire Road Club 00:29:14
23 John Woodburn VC Meudon 00:29:40
24 Mike Boyce …a3crg 00:29:41
25 Jonathan Asbridge Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA 00:29:43
26 Ian Wrightson Charlotteville CC 00:29:52
27 Alistair McKellar Southdown Velo 00:30:22
28 Bug Wrightson Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA 00:30:57
29 Brian Smith North Hampshire RC 00:31:00
30 Matthew Golden …a3crg 00:31:10
31 Simon Craig-McFeely …a3crg 00:31:38
32 Sarah Nisbett …a3crg 00:32:28
33 Ken Rayson …a3crg 00:33:48
34 Barrington Day Fareham Wheeler CCs 00:38:59
35 Adrian Bunting Farnborough & Camberley CC 00:40:57

OnTheWight Report 1 Lap South Wight

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ON THE WIGHT

ON THE WIGHT

One Lap 8.4 mile South Wight Time Trial
On another cold day on Saturday 30th March, 12 riders braved the elements to contest the first of the South Wight Series Time Trials.

This challenging 8.4 mile circular course starts at Bleak Down and runs through Rookley, Chillerton, Chale Green, Appleford and back to Bleak Down.

Once again it was very cold at two Celsius and a driving easterly headwind made it hard going from Chale to the finish.

Winning his second time trial of the season in a row, was Matt Harris (pictured above) of mainland club …ac3rg in the fast time of 21:46. He was followed in by martin Piper in 22:41, then Sean Williams in 23:05, the latter two riders both from Island club Wightlink/Offshore RT.

Full report from OnTheWight on the 1 Lap of the South Wight HERE

Win at the VRCC 1 Lap of the South Wight

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Getting up to speed over Bleak Down

Getting up to speed over Bleak Down.

From the Vectis RCC Facebook group

“1 Lap South Wight Time Trial – Bleak Down lived up to it’s name today – BLEAK! Biting NE wind made for a tough stretch from Chale Green back to the start. Matt Harris continued his winning streak to make it two in a row – can no-one challenge him this year?”

Woke up this morning and felt relatively fresh from the race yesterday, I may put that down to the massive sleep session I had! Actually had a training ride scheduled, so I thought I’d go for a training ride and then race, so that I did! It proved as a good warmup although the warmth generated swiftly left me as I dismounted and signed in!

The south wight lap is one of the more technical courses that the VRCC have to offer, with rough surfaces, sharp corners accompanied with strange road camber and many hills and drags. Throw in a freezing wind and over-cast conditions and you have yourself a proper challenge. I like this course, It’s aggressive you have to keep on the gas all the way around otherwise you lose the flow, and where it’s so short you can lose quite alot of time to the next person if your mind wanders off somewhere to escape the pain emanating from your legs. The descents are quick, heart in mouth due to the potholes and general poor road surfaces, although short they are white knuckle at times, especially coming down into Chale on in the tuck.

Last year by all accounts was alot warmer, 14+ degrees I believe, sunny and comparatively still, I also raced this with fresh legs. Then, I clocked 00:21:55, today with miserable conditions and a previous day of racing in my legs I crossed the line with 00:21:46, encouraging.

1 lap south wight vrcc results