Appreciate it greatly to be awarded by the Group (regional) VTTA at their recent annual presentation dinner with some cracking silverware - a combination of a specific race win, fast times across the disciplines and subsequent significant housekeeping in their Group records (with reference to National age records) was recognised....
Although this my 3rd full season, was certainly initially a slow burner, progressing to mid season mediocrity- before a July significant performance hike with progression into the last two months beyond even my own expectations.
Already stepping on the appropriate gas for 2018, on the eve of a short (and warmer ) sojourn in Mallorca - confident I can progress yet again next year...
I’ve thanked before those that positively influenced the season, so for the final time big cheers to Dan Bigham, John Morgan, Andrew at Langsett Cycles and coach Richard Simmonds.
Roll on 2018
Already stepping on the appropriate gas for 2018, on the eve of a short (and warmer ) sojourn in Mallorca - confident I can progress yet again next year...
I’ve thanked before those that positively influenced the season, so for the final time big cheers to Dan Bigham, John Morgan, Andrew at Langsett Cycles and coach Richard Simmonds.
Roll on 2018
[April 2020: Interesting season, bought new Trek Concept TT bike, top of the range, and for several races I was going no quicker (at same power output as 2016) but knew in training it felt so much smoother and faster! Lost my mojo, dropped Richard my coach, but just before I met up with Dan Bigham at Derby Velodrome for aero testing - in the "lab" conditions Dan found nearly a 40w increase...which outdoors proved to be about 20w...immediately my performances improved....including the 19-11 '10' and a 50-01 '25' - however the latter was done on a low average wattage, coaching myself it was identified by a pal's coach, John Morgan, that I was doing too many HIIT sessions, and neglecting the basics i.e. losing my base / strength (which showed in the longer races)....John also noticed my high racing cadence, and suggested I drop into the 80's RPM.
This made the second big change (after Dan) - more watts with big gears (and big legs) took me to another level...last few races of the season really set the stall out for 2018....getting so close to certain guys, but beating comfortably certain others....I really did not want the season to end!
Most pleasing performances - both in the second half of September, significantly?
- breaking the hour for the 30mile Leo '30' - and taking a great lump off the National age record and numerous other records, local and regional
- 3rd in the N Mids VTTA 10 just behind two top guys and a significant gap from quality
The-End]