YORKSHIRE VTTA 10M TT - S Cave V718 - 22nd July 2017

5th Overall & 3rd on Standard - records galore
STOP PRESS - VTTA 10m S Cave - National Age Record 19-11 - 19-11 Boom!! Stage 1 though....@Langsettrt @Sheffrec_CC @7HillsCC

Strangely, even though it was such a keynote time for me at the time, I have no reports on the day?

[April 2020: Still two years later this is my PB, although my power increased by over 20w since, main reason being that the use of this course was suspended by the authorities...fastest course in the UK for a '10'...power output in this was 334w (typical in 2017) but by 2020 was knocking out near 360w efforts for the same distance]

BARNSLEY ROAD CLUB 10 - Park Springs - 12th July 2017

2nd Overall

Boom! Best race this season possibly…..21-17 (on a good night) but just 25 secs behind Dan Taylor who posted that he achieved his best ever power output for a 10…..


[April 2020:This needs explanation....after the National '50', which was the last of a series of underwhelming results on my new super fast bike, I went to Mallorca for a break. On a group ride met an old Uni pal of Dan Bigham...who told me that he was an aero scientist and based in Derby. and he conducted aero testing at the new velodrome...I contacted Dan on my return, and after a couple of sessions with Dan and Jonny Wale - and with subtle changes to my bike, in the velodrome gained nearly 40 watts...this race was the first test outdoors, followed by my 19-11 on the V718...my season and the following years changed, although there was a another piece to the jigsaw still to come....] 😉

RTTC NATIONAL 50M CHAMPS - Yarm N Yorks - 25th June 2017

43rd Overall & 2nd in Age (National silver)
Still not firing on this new bike, but last race prior to a Mallorca visit, the "full fat" National champs...2nd in age giving me the National silver medal, but Chris Ledger deservedly getting the better....only my 3rd? '50' this, and started off probably too steady...knocked out a 1-52 though, which at this time was ok..

In this year, Dan Bigham (and we are getting very close to his impact on me 😉) cleaned up in all the National Champs...top guy, and amazing athlete 👍

[April 2020: Of course the following year I raced 1-42 for a '50', and my minute man in this was a top vet called Keith Murray, he caught me very early....significant that in 2019 I beat him on actual in the National Vets '15' mile champs....]

FUSION CC 10M TT - Hatfield Woodhouse - 17th June 2017

8th Overall
Tried negative splits, possibly too slow first 1/4 - but good result - 8th but 5 secs from 5th

[April 2020: interesting that is a "good result" by 2020 at age 60, I raced three times on the Hatfield course, in typical weather, and broke 21 mins on each occasion]

LANCASTER 10M TT - Levens N Lancs - 10th June 2017

13th Overall & 3rd on Standard & 1st O50
Fancied doing this course as it was in my neck of the woods from growing up in Blackpool (the junior school used to visit Levens Hall, famous for its topiary) also combined with staying over with Pete S in Blackpool after the race and a few beers.

As for the race, a traditional fast course but not with an onshore wind from the Kent estuary....had been playing around with caffeine tablets because of an article in CW....to no affect, so decided to take a handful (600mg) in this race...well, felt bloody odd before the race (overly sweaty) and after the finish line was in a mess over the handle bars...after this I never took anything (the other experiment was beetroot juice shots..all bollix!) unless in a longer race, and needed energy in those....performance wise was average too, although got some cash for 1st O50.

TOUR OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE - "WORLD TRIALS" - 3rd & 4th June 2017

3rd in TT & 13th in Road Race (GF)
A weekend in (fairly sunny Peterborough) for what's becoming a staple on the cycling calendar - the Tour of Cambridgeshire incorporating the UK trials for the World finals, this year in Albi, France.....UCI driven, so whether you have a cynical eye (like me) or not it's not going anywhere.....boasting the largest TT event in the world (riders set off at 20 sec intervals) and on the 2nd day the tens of thousands in the Gran Fondo format from pure race groups to leisure sportive riders.....

The TT (or Chrono) as they call it, is on completely closed roads - 16miles of mainly lanes and villages, quite technical and attritional, a cracking course - recording a time significantly faster than last year (when I was 3rd) and seeing that I'd beaten my two contemporaries that have kept me off the top podium in several National level events, for 5 mins I was as proud as a peacock, thinking I'd won - then discovered there were 4 others in front of me - so 5th with mixed feeling - but more personal progress on a slow starting season (he checks his numbers )....and a piece of tin for being a GB qualifier

The GF was rather secondary for me - so beer, wine and pasta prep was in order on the Sat night - lining up by 1100 the following morning....this GF format is affectively a full on race in every sense (a group of us tried like hell in the first hour to get away, unsuccessfully) - main difference being there are several other race groups on the road too (youngest set off first) - regularly catching fairly sizeable groups did get occasionally "messy" - and friggin annoying ("show respect!!") - anyhow entered the last 10km in a approx 30 strong peloton, aggressively getting myself into the first 5 hitting the last 400m, feeling strong - went for glory, far too early, rush of blood, schoolboy error - jelly legs and still 30m from the line - died badly to 13th.....3hr:17m for the 80 miles, what a waste! All good fun

Qualified for GB for both events in Albi - but doubtful I'll be going.....back to basics this weekend - probably somewhere up and down a dual carriageway

Finally for my trusty mechanic Mr Kippax think I've found that chainring to take me to the next level (see pics)

[April 2020: Got quire cyclical about this UCI ToC event...quite clearly money making, piss easy to get a "Great Britain" shirt....pretty meaningless, but would be super kudos to get on the podium at World's - but after my Perth experience, really cannot be fussed getting my TT bike modified to UCI standards...]

MAPPERLEY CC 10M TT - Newark Notts - 27th May 2017

14th Overall & 3rd on Standard
A fairly new dual carriageway from Newark to Loughborough, in theory a fast course, but not today! It was so windy there were diehard testers refusing to race....

However, same for everyone or is it?! All top 'normal' National level guys were above 20 mins, but rumour spread that someone had done an 18-30 - couldn't be, impossible in those conditions....but it was true, my first (and not last) encounter with Dan Bigham, the aero king! Amazing ride...

As for me....still struggling for what I expect on the new Trek....very frustrating....

SHEFFREC CC 10M TT - Hatfield Woodhouse - 13th May 2017

7th Overall / 2nd on Standard / 1st O50
Written retrospectively, cannot recall too much about this...and "my club" 25m, although racing for Langsett Cycles this season - still nothing special, the metamorphism is getting closer though!

For the record knocking out 318 watts for this (typically 330 for a 10m)...but watch this space!

VTTA NATIONAL 15M CHAMPS - S Cave V728 - 30th April 2017

16th Overall & 11th on Standard
Super windy on the V718 course but for a '15' miler (V728) - just not happening on this new bike..persevering because just know more will come from it and me!!

LVRC NATIONAL TT CHAMPS - Napton Warwickshire - 23rd April 2017

17th Overall & 2nd in Age (National Silver)

Silver yet again in the National Masters TT champs (LVRC flavour) - that elusive gold! Got to be pleased as not fully firing, but heck, what a killer of a course!

Also the course at Napton became a super hilly course, not really a TT course...never to return!

Had done this race previously, after this though I steered away from LRVC Nationals....I guess due to getting the level where I did not "do" Age based races....just how it became...

BIRDWELL WHEELERS '7' - Hatfield Woodhouse - 8th April 2017

13th Overall
First in this seasons regional rivalry in the JE James Tt Series....was too be a 10 miler, but last minute roadworks scuppered the regular course...and rescued with a back lane 7 miler!

Did not race too well, probably too reserved...on new bike with watts as follows Avg watts 327 / 332 NP

[April 2020 - really struggled on my new bike, felt faster in training but no faster in racing than my PX...something was obviously not right?]

[Rape seed photo: some great race photos with yellow backgrounds were taken and issued, except one rider, me!! So, from a more recent training ride in similar area, to illustrate!)

YORKSHIRE CYCLING FED TT SERIES - Hemsworth - 2nd April 2017

10th Overall & 1st on Standard
So this Luddite spends a small fortune on a top of the range Trek TT bike and on the eve of the opening race of the season cannot work out how to adjust the friggin (integrated) brake system (see you Tuesday Kippy) - so wheel out the trusty old Planet X, and finish a pleasing overall 10th at the Hemsworth YCF 10 - a hillyish course that was quite brutal for an opener, the offset being the amazing release of endorphins combined with my purposefully devised "post race playlist" on the drive home (quite often being more enjoyable than the race itself )

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