BRECKLAND 50M TT - Near Norwich - 25th Sept 2016

5th Overall
That's it - thank goodness in some respects - the last race in my "comeback" 2016 season - generally actually frustrating what with officialdom and viruses but especially in the latter stages a series of "rescue" performances both on the TT and road bikes - consequently the "palmares" is actually looking very healthy

Which also includes today's Breckland 50m TT - recording a rather surprisingly speedy 1-48-29 in rather fresh autumnal conditions to tumble Sheffrec's and the Group VTTA records. Although I went to hell and back in the last 5 miles, feeling quite delirious at one point

Bit of chill time now, check out that Mallorca place again and some decision making (although the one to pack it all in is really quite ridiculous 🙄) and with an immediate objective of loading some calories on, starting this afto at The Ship Inns anniversary bash in Neepsend followed by a ruby - adios!

Retweeted North Midlands VTTA (@VTTANorthMids):
@Sheffrec_CC's @nagalka Keith Ainsworth achieved a North mids age record and Sheffrec CC record for 50 miles last wknd, with his 1-48.29: https://t.co/cfYI6UANV7

[April 2020: This was my 50mile debut, I think...actually a long way to race flat out...but short enough where you have to keep the pace up, otherwise you will lose time...recall going through hell in the last 10 miles or so...but often in future faster 50's, anything from 36 miles onwards there is so much psychologically challenges....it hurts!!]

AUSTRALIAN MASTERS WORLD RR TRIALS - Lorne Victoria - 11th Sept 2016

6th Overall
Facebook report:
Yes, Bill and Kyle spot on, it was no coincidence being at Lorne for the weekend - tipped off by an Aussie in Perth - the Aussie RR trials for the 2017 UCI World Finals at Albi, France....managed to sneak in a very late entry.

Fantastic 120K course with the first half climbing into the Otway Mountains through the rain forest and then eventually an almost 10km alpine-like descent down onto the Great Ocean Road followed by a 40km rolling attritional finish with the stunning coastal backdrop.

There has to be an incident of course bizarre mechanical forced me to start at the back of the 280 starters, fortunately the immediate 11km of climbing enabled me to work through, catching all but 4 who unfortunately I never saw.

Our peloton size increasing and decreasing as we caught slower younger guys, determined to hang on until the next climb materialised.

Determined to stay in the first 10 or so, out of trouble, this got more tricky of course as the countdown signs to the finish decreased - recognising Phil Anderson (13 TourDeFr) in the bunch (see the photie, the ex pro looks class!) I decided to follow his wheel - he'll know what he's doing!

Tremendous combat going into the last 5km, everyone wants that position - finish up a 1km 4% climb - the plan worked a treat, followed that wheel and hit "Phil" ( we chatted on the warm down back to Lorne ) not 20m from the line, but out of nowhere my Aussie buddy from Perth (who'd been on my wheel) beat me to the line - 2nd in the bunch and 6th overall, 269 finishers - 83miles 3:20 4995ft.

First was the Kiwi who won the World TT in Perth, 2nd in the RR and recently broke the World best hour record for O50.

Much more fun than TT, though - if I was only younger!

So, some redemption - qualification for the 2017 World Finals in France (plenty of sleeps to make a decision) and GB representation again, already.

Oh and the bizarre technical? Friggin brake block slipped out the front wheel - don't know how, can't budge it now.....but got me checking and thinking on those descents, but of course you should not need your brakes!


THE END

UCI WORLD MASTERS CHAMPS - Perth Australia - 1st & 4th Sept 2016

Disqualified & 24th

[April 2020: Little embarrassing to read, but these were the reports of angst from my Perth accommodation!!]

Time Trial 1st September 2016

Well, it's "only a f****** bike race" - TT bike has failed a UCI test - so unless I get quick bike surgery tomorrow, I'm out of the TT race - irrespective lopping 15cm off my bars and shoving my seat back will screw up my position and power. It never occurred to me it would be an issue, but as I say "it's only a ........" - see what nice LBS I can find tomorrow.....

Thanks all, I was really dreading an update, I had to "sleep" on it, of sorts

Firstly, there's no anger, there never was - it was more like detached disbelief - feel better today though post ride of course (and I did find Fremantle!)

And definitely once I return to the UK I do intend to reassess, I don't have recompense at all in mind, nothing will replace that lost opportunity to have at least challenged for that rainbow jersey but I feel some visibility of what occurred and accountability should be pursued.

With that in mind I will seriously consider at least an account of what occurred and sent to Brian Cookson (thanks Julian, but also suggested by someone else by direct email) and certainly I think some exposure in CW - perhaps Chris Sidwells or a recommended colleague may be interested?

There are two elements though, one is the way I was so harshly mistreated personally but also generally the experience with amateurs being confronted by the incredibly inflexible TT regs - 90% fail rate says it all, and clearly the regs have a disregard for safety (see my "test ride" blog above post mods) too.

Even if there was not that first UCI approval on race day, the instructions dispatched by email from the UCI were not definitive, there is no mention of modifications just actual measurements I.e. In my case the seat nose - but the same commissionaire was well aware and even advised (on the first UCI check on the Tuesday ) that my TT bars needed shortening by 10cm - implicitly of course the only way is by use of a hacksaw, is this not also modification? Where's the consistency, the irony is that cutting 1/2 cm off the seat nose to adhere to the 5cm rule has no advantage to performance but 10cm off the bars could do.....but as amateurs how are we to know all the finest detail?

There is actually a little more that I could report from the days experience like the barge with all the bikes was delayed to the island, so all the start times were put back one hour

But the best one other snippet - and all this is true even this....when I was putting air in my Zipp disc wheel this guy leant over and said that the gaffer tape I'd used to cover the hole was not UCI compliant, as it needed the manufacturers logo on it - I said, "you taking the piss mate" anyhow, whilst googling for "modifying seat noses" I came across it - he was bloody right

I'll try my best on Sunday of course, going to be toughest man standing without a doubt - and I've got more input for motivation - the thought of the lovely Louise Jones

Better sort some carbs out for the weekend but finally....for completeness, you've seen the accused seat itself - so here's the little blighter that really caused the fuss, the seat tip! :

G'day

Report on Road Race Championship 4th September

130+ blokes catch 150+ women after 25 miles of first flat 40 (Why TF they set us off behind the women, no disrespect, but this was inevitable - Old = slow? )

Freeway goes from 3 lanes to 2 - mega carnage like you've never seen, I'm right behind but upright - big group up front have gone. Too many on the road, scary and edgy.

Roads become narrow can't get through....hit last 25 miles of mega climbs - first though "Zig-Zag climb is 3m wide - I can't get passed, appears like I'm in the women's race - race is over?

At last space - I decide to do a "Froome" - keep power at threshold and plug away, no panic.....catching groups, encouraging chains...

Second big climb a group come into view - I've got a chain going - eventually we catch them, but it took some effort, must be an intermediary group......Its not, it's the lead group - fvck!

Race is on, but I'm blowing out my ar*e like no time trial, and I seem to be the last one hanging on, I need to recover- a few disappear. Groups shrinking......

Last 4 miles back up Zig-zag - starts with a cruel 10%+ dropped immediately, I'm so wasted.....lose 2 mins on lead bunch....less than it felt - Finish.

Can't complain - surprised I even got back into the race, wrong place wrong time - lack of experience

Btw Paul Miller won, Aussie, ex pro - Giro, Tour etc (apparently)

And first GB finisher for what it's worth...

So that's Perth - I won't miss it, and I won't miss the fvckin UCI - onto the priority and Melbourne, and the lovely Becky, not before some deserved R&R with the other tourists

No more mega threads I promise, well, until the next time!

Hope it's been "entertaining"

There was no follow up! Local Sheffield based magazine pre races