END OF SEASON REPORT 2022

 Winter was a typical recent Winter, training as per normal to instruction, generally, with enthusiasm for the forthcoming season.  I even contacted Mr Bigham on advice on whether to have a fresh aero session (my only one was 2016) - the response was a categoric definitely, as technique and kit had moved on so fast. I booked a session with WattShop for April.

Started off typically steadily in first three races, and pretty much on target..then had a serious crash in training that hospitalised me, very lucky it was not more serious. Inside 4 weeks I had a race, and even managed silver in the National VTTA 50 Champs in Wales...but something was lost.

I cancelled the Wattshop session, I had no enthusiasm for it...and my attitude was my current setup had got me where I was anyway, with the super fast times under my belt...but deep down, I already considered this could really be my last season.

Later in the season, although I never skipped on training, and put my all into it...there were occasions where my heart was not in it prior...eventually same in racing on warm ups, although again I tried my best in the race. 

In retrospect although my physical state was fine, I think that slight dip in my psychological fortitude, just took the edge off some of my later performance. The power was not quite there - typically doing 350w for a 10 instead of 360, and sub 330w for a 25, when I'd expect high 330s.

But still the final scores on the doors were still pretty good!

Altogether 22 open races:

• Three outright wins
• Nine top 5's
• Nineteen top 10's

National VTTA Championships

• Champion 25 mile
• Champion 30 mile
• Champion Circuit Champs (South)
• Silver 50 miles

National RTTC Championships

• National Age Gold Medal 10 mile

Regional Awards

• North Midlands Open Champion 10 mile
• North Midlands Open Team Champions 10 mile
• North Midlands VTTA Champion 10 mile

Fastest Times 

• 10 miles - 20-17
• 25 miles - 51-01
• 50m miles - 1-45-34

Records 

• North Midlands VTTA 10 Record
• North Midlands VTTA 15 Record
• North Midlands VTTA 25 Record
• North Midlands VTTA 30 Record
• North Midlands VTTA 50 Record

National SPINDATA / RTTC Ranking

• Finished the season on A11 (A to E; 1 to 20) affectively top 11%

Rather modest fastest times, but that was due to circumstance rather than form. I went to Newmarket twice for a decent 10, but both times the elements were against us...as a consequence this was the first year since 2016? that I broke no National Age Records.

By the end of the season, I knew that was the end...a contributing factor was my retirement from work. I simply had too much time and too many other activities I wanted to do...racing and the training required was holding me back, it did not help my mental state either, because I needed that variation and that freedom.

National Ranking at A11 was actually the lowest end of season ranking I've attained since they began (A7 my highest in 2018 / 2019) but standards have definitely increased post COVID with initially no other bike racing and then minimal road racing, so many road boys were switching to TT, so performances not much less if any since 2019...and after all, still top 11% - not bad for an old boy!

At time of writing (November 2022) I have just returned from Mallorca and Andalusia - and there is no return, I'm missing nothing at all about the racing...next chapter!

NATIONAL VTTA 25 CHAMPIONSHIPS - CAMBOURNE - 11th September 2022

 16th OVERALL; 11th VET; 1st STANDARD; NATIONAL VTTA CHAMPION

Last race of the season, and in my mind, last race ever. Recently I'd lost the mojo not just in racing but also in training. Although I never skipped on training, and I always gave it my all in races...physically my performances were not that under par if at all, but my mental state seem to impact the final result. This was a perfect example...really was not interested pre race, and just did not quite make a sub 51mins, but probably only about 30 secs from where I would've been expecting (last year I did 50 dead, but hard to compare conditions).

Pre race assumed Chris McNamara would be the main rival on standard, as it turned out he was 5th male...I scraped the win from Andy Grant by 9 seconds, almost certainly made that up in the last 5 miles!

So, the end of the season, and three more National VTTA Championships, a National RTTC age gold medal and the North Mids CTT Champion...but I knew I'd had enough....one of the main issues was retirement and having too much time on my hands, and pining for other interests....for another posting...so today I won, National Champ! Hooray (although drove to London to stay with Gaston, and didn't have one thought about it)...just drank too much!

Finished season at A11 National ranking - not bad for a 63 year old! And fell to A15 after my crash in April...highest ever A7 in 2018 and 2019 (although standards have increased with Covid and youngsters competing in TTs with no road races).

NORTH MIDLANDS VTTA & CTT CHAMPS 10 ; HATFIELD ; 3rd September 2022

 1st N MIDS VTTA; 1st N MIDS CTT; 1st N MIDS CTT TEAM; 6th OVERALL

My first and last race to organise, and really enjoyed it - quite a lot involved, but if you like organising and  prep everything an asson as, it works well...because of all the N Mids champs I also raced it...they do say you never race at 100% if you also try and organise. Not sure how it affected me, semi decent day...typical Hatfield...352w average is about 10 below and a 21-19 finish, one of my slower times on this course. However enough to win the N Mids VTTA and CTT Champs, and with 1st three in the CTT, pissed the team competition.

Outside the N Mids though I was 6th overall - seem to be just slightly under firing...conducted the presentation too, which was a little embarrassing with all the prizes I won...good day though all round, and great feedback post race.

NATIONAL RTTC 10 CHAMPIONSHIPS - HOWDEN - V714 - 28th August 2022

 52nd OVERALL; 4th STANDARD; 1st AGE GOLD MEDAL

Worst race of the season by a country mile! Predicted to finish 28th based on form and rankings, and I would have been so pleased with that! Although squeezing in the top 25 would have been great! Set off like a train, and power far too high by the turn - basically blew and grovelled back - probably was about 30 secs down for an average ride, but the standard was so high, 30 seconds is a long way in a 10!

Still managed to win the age gold medal, but I just wanted to go home! Impolite to do so before the presentations...John Archibald showed his class by finishing 40n secs clear in a course record of 17-53...like a Hatfield course - amazing ride!

WIGAN WHEELERS 30 - INC NATIONAL 30 TT CHAMPIONSHIPS - LEVENS LANCS - 21st August 2022

 4th OVERALL; 1st STANDARD; 1st NATIONAL VTTA CHAMPIONSHIP

Felt pretty confident that I could win the Championship, considered the amazing Richard Bideau as my main rival, but as he was nos much younger than me, he had to make up 4 mins or so to beat me...also inspired by my old running coach from Liverpool Harriers, Tony Farrell being president, and special guest on the as the President of the National VTTA.

Rode pretty solidly too, on this iconic course at Levens, but unlike the fast 10, we had to go back up the biggish hill three times...still finished in a semi decent time of 64-15, just 11 seconds from 2nd overall in 4th place overall, but only 1m 18s behind Mr Bideaun...so a cracking result! 

Easily won the overall National Championship by nearly 3 mins, and presented to my by Tony which was quite emotional, after all these years. Arranged to meet up at a future date in the Peak District.

Went for a nostalgia drive after around Arnside and Silverdale, where I use to go with my Dad, and had a pint in Silverdale!

Tony Farrell

TICKHILL 10 - HATFIELD - 010/1 - 6th August 2022

 6th OVERALL; 1st STANDARD

Decent day on Hatfield, where there is normally a wind of some sort...rode a decent power output of 357W - but disappointingly only breaking 21mins by one second....really thought I was going much faster, and with a decent power average too....considered using too much tyre pressure on the coarse course.

RUGBY RC 10 - NR RUGBY - K11/10T - 30th July 2022

 5th OVERALL ; 1st STANDARD ; 2nd VET

Never raced this course, has a reputation of quite quick, on a dual carriageway between rugby and coventry, but surprisingly quiet. 30mph plus at the 5 mile turn, but part due to a lengthy downhill to the roundabout (where I was fastest on the day!). But climbing back up it was a slog, not a 2 or 3% climb but significantly more, and then 3 miles still to go at the top. Recovered well, and retained power. Good result.

Won my Commonwealth Games competitor in 19-11 (20-25 para mi). A13 ranking now, moving up!

EAST ANGLIA VTTA 25 - CAMBOURNE - F2A/25 - 24th July 2022

 6th OVERALL; 2nd STANDARD

Currently one of the quicker 25 courses, although compared to the currently inactive alternatives, it is not up to that speed, but not bad....did a 50min dead last season but an unhelpful cross wind - so no help either way really, really made it tough, with a 50min enough to win. Completed the race in just a shade over 51 mins in 6th position, but pipped by Kev Tye on standard.

In addition I felt terrible at the start, with a super dry mouth...really forced the race out...KA 😉

Excellent write up by the cerebral Andy Grant on FB too...

SHAFTESBURY 50 - CAMBRIDGE - 17th July 2022

 9TH OVERALL; 1ST (male) ON STANDARD 

Annually considered one of the top 50m TT races outside the CTT National Champs. Only 2 or 3 years ago, the cutoff for 150 riders was 1h 50m!! This year, there were only approximately 90 entrants, a sign of the demise of time trailing this year. And predicted to be on one of the hottest days in history (it was the following day and then again the day after), I was fortunate for once in going off relatively early (0840)...before the race (with Angela) we had no interest or enthusiasm in racing...but made the start line!

Four circuits, on the first I struggled with motivation but attempted to persevere, and use my depths of psychology to keep going....it did not get any easier, but swearing at myself I was determined not to pack in....power sitting just above 300w - when the target was more like 310w....finished in an acceptable 1-45-34, 9th overall and agin punching above my ranking for the 3rd race running. 👍

Did not have the extreme heat (mid 30s by 2pm) but it defo heated up on the last lap...🥵

Later discovering that in the last 6 miles (the return form the Gibbet roundabout), I was 3rd fastest, and really close to the first two, taking chunks out of those that finished between 3rd and 8th....of course, meaning, I underperformed before and had far too much left!! 🙄

No more 50s though now.....😜

ROSS ON WYE 25 - USK S WALES - 10th July 2022

 8th OVERALL ; 3RD ON STANDARD

An early morning start on what was a gorgeous Summer day, before some really high temperatures. ☀️Hoping for a fast time with a NE light to moderate wind....but again, it was more a "treacle day", 😫 as was the consensus in the HQ after....knowing to try and hot the turn into the wind, as close as possible to 30mph average, and then hope that tail really speeded things up....unfortunately the average speed was well down....and as hard as I could on the return, especially the last 7 miles....it just was not happening....🙄

This was the consensus, as stated above with everyone, except Conrad Moss who recorded a PB and almost broke the course record....a change in conditions (he was 70 mins after me) or simply a remarkable performance, perhaps a little of both! Well done that man!! 💪

I finished on 51-28 8th overall, and beaten by Conrad and Angela C (of course) on standard....

Two pints of cold lager on a sizzling day later next to the River Usk and all was forgotten!! 🍻😜

EAST ANGLIAN VTTA SERIES 10 - NEWMARKET - 6th July 2022

 6TH OVERALL; 1ST ON STANDARD

So some midweek gratutitous time chasing in deepest Cambridgeshire - although I did visit friends fairly nearby too! But not to be, the locals post race, stating that a NNW wind is the worst possible, as head wind out, and no help back (and felt like a headwind at times). Also was very sticky...finished though in 6th place, and beating Richard Oakes for the first time on "standard"....actual time 20-17....so not bad....😜

Interesting on warm up on rollers, there was a rocking on the front end and an associated squeaking 🤷‍♂️....at start of race, I felt that the steering was attempting to go slightly left and right...and at one point sat up....decided it was a cross wind (although for my weight it has to be super strong for that to happen)....anyhow, continued....but later back in Sheffield, discovered that the bolts from the fork were loose attached to the cockpit FFS!!! Could've been a disaster.... 🤯

NATIONAL CLOSED CIRCUIT VTTA CHAMPIONSHIPS - 10M - GOODWOOD MOTOR CIRCUIT - CHICHESTER - 2nd July 2022

 6th OVERALL ; 1ST ON STANDARD (NATIONAL (male) VTTA CHAMPION)

Rather convenient being the home town of Angela. Did not really plan to do this race early season but fitted in well...4 plus laps of the circuit with sweeping bends enabling continuous tuck...some fresh side winds on one bend required some caution. But, at last - seemed to be in control, hurt like...but hit acceptable power (353w 358NP), with almost identical laps, and also for timings..in fact slightly quicker and greater power on last lap. Won the Championship by over 30 seconds, but 6th overall was very pleasing. No bloody jersey nor Champion's cap! 🏆🥇

Angela of course won the women's and overall, even when just returning to some form (hopefully). 

SALFORD CC 25 - CHESHIRE - 25th June 2022

 7TH OVERALL ; 1ST STANDARD; 2nd VET

Bit of a cockup weekend. Plan was for Angela to do the National CTT 50m Champs on Teeside and stay with me, while I hopped across the big 'ill to do this race...but the best laid plans and all that....Angela stayed darn surf, unable to ride...so I popped over and did this again...a rural course, can be busy with traffic...and did get held up twice on the first lap. Good news, although defo not 100% mojo, my 5 mile splits were bizarrely identical at 325w (329 NP) so not bad....finished 7th,  1st on standard and 2nd vet...a tad down on the top 5 I wanted, and am capable of....but progress, and another race done!

Went straight down to that London after, to say with old (and old) Uni best pal, Gaston - main reason for Chilli Peppers gig at the Olympic Stadium...bit of well earned R&R! 🍻

HARWORTH 9.3 - RANSKILL NOTTS - 14th June 2022

 1st OVERALL

Simply needing more races, physical fitness is there, just need that race fitness and the mental strength that will develop. So, back to my favourite mid week "Club 10" in my training vicinity. Smashed out a course PB of 19-50, won too...although not important...power down though on last time, but could be a battery issue....but again felt pretty strong again, and better than Saturday. Small steps....

WITHAM 10 - SLEAFORD LINC - 11th June 2022

 2nd EQUAL OVERALL; FIRST STANDARD

After nearly two hot weeks in Mallorca with Angela, returned to this low key 10, with the boys in the club. Felt like a very first race again, was in pain by half way, and last mile was tortuous....not sure how I finished...however, on returning to the HQ, discovered I was 2nd equal with Mr Guilor, and Stuart (Wells) from the team won...really surprised. And with Tony (Nash) we won the team prize too. However the body has to really get back to race fitness...just tooo painful!