NOTTS & E MIDLANDS 50M - 15th May 2021 - Newark

 13th OVERALL 1st on STANDARD

After "retiring" again post 2020, I line up again, although in fairness this was the closest I've got to packing it in. On Christmas Day, living in Mallorca,  there was barely a 1% chance of racing (if the situation remained the same) - alas it did not 💔, but even in January there was only a 50/50 chance...in the interim before New Year, I badly struggled up Sa Calobra with barely a 290w average 20 mins with a HR of 196....some reflection of fitness, but there were some other more influential mitigation reasons 🍺🍷🚬 - it was a wake up call....

In the New Year I started introducing "appropriate" sessions occasionally, such as Fartlek (a running methodology really, but adapted on the bike, by basically hitting any and every incline HARD, and low Z2 in between for approx 2 hours non stop - really tough but masochistically enjoyable), solid upper tempo rides (2-3 hours), longer low Z2 rides (3-5) and in poor weather, tempo => sweet spot => threshold pyramid sessions on my turbo (1 hour!). - trying to create that balance through the zones and getting away from cafe rides - introducing "variation"! How many cafe tootles can one person do? 😂- as well as continuing decent social (cafe 😝) rides. 

In late March I contacted my man Richard to discuss a possible race season but more importantly what state was I in, was it worth it?: his response was promising, I was pretty strong but lacking balance, but with 8 weeks work it should not be problem. After 4 weeks we had an appraisal - Richard jokingly suggested I needed drug testing (it's not the first time that has been suggested btw... a compliment of course, and in cycling  a badge of honour (well, that's actually getting "juiced up, and then write a book"!)😜💪...back to clean me, I'd created a new 20 min average wattage best, and indicators such as "drift" on longer rides were really encouraging....but of course it all "means nothing unless there's a number on yer back!" 😉

So...the first race....back to where I won the National Vets 25 last race....better conditions on this day, with some great times but for me, 80 seconds down on where I was in October (51-47 vs 50-20), with a number of guys beating me this time, and others too close just behind...but no worries! My power (342w) was slightly better than last October, and HR solid too....just hoping (as per every year) it takes approx 4 races for the stars to align...especially the positioning and all those aero implications with getting back on the bike. So, not overly concerned - I would be if it were the 6th race. As a bonus absolutely smashed the Standard competition by over a minute...possible to return here in early June, be good to compare, but unlikely to have such good weather conditions (relatively, it was bloody freezing though!).

Three broke 48 mins - Adam Duggleby and two youngsters, and pal Darren Yarwood had an amazing 49-38...so it was a fairly quick day...come on Ainsworth, speed up!! 😜

 END OF SEASON REPORT - 2020

Well, what a year 2020 was? 🙄 Travelling out to Mallorca for my regular 6 week training block at the end of February, to a 'rescue flight' and lockdown in the UK. Fortuneatly by the nature of TT, there was a chance that some racing may commence...and so it did, in July...but with necessary restrictions impacting the normal social side in the HQs, and 'clip in' on the bike at the start...aaagh!

Still, managed 11 races, with the following highlights:

• Won National VTTA 50mile Champs by over 1 minute
• Won National VTTA 15mile Champs by over 1 minute
• Won National VTTA 25 mile outright (although rather bizarrely only 2nd on standard 🙄)
• Won National VTTA Short Distance BAR
• Won bronze at National VTTA 10m Champs
• Broke National Age 25m record, with yet another near sub 50 minutes
• Three additional top 5's in open races (over 30 in three years now)
• Broke my power average bests for both 10m (360+) and 25m (340+)

So, considering that at one point there was unlikely to be any races, managing eventually eleven races quite rescued the season...rather an understatement 😊

NATIONAL VTTA 25M CHAMPIONSHIPS - Newark - 17th October 2020

FIRST OVERALL!! 🏆💪 (but 2nd on Standard 😳🙄😳)

Finally, in this crazy year, the last race of the season, the rescheduled National Vets 25M TT Champs near Newark....arguably saving my best race (if not ever) to last...placing a huge fly in my annual “not sure if I’ll race a another season” tedious discussion (as close friends also annually roll their eyes, shut their ears 

and ignore me 😝)- in fairness I was planning a slow route to my daughters wedding in NZ for February, where anything to do with a bike could well have been less than secondary  - that is of course on hold for the moment   🍺🕺

Anyhow the race, pleasantly shocked to cross the line in a rather speedy (48kph) 50mins20secs on which is only a moderately quick course, returning to the HQ to discover I was the winner outright 🥇....and as a bonus broke the National Age record. Was rather stunned for a short while.

 
Slightly tarnished by actually being only second in the official Championship which is awarded by adjusted age weighting, losing to the mercurial 90 year old Ron Hallam by well over 2 minutes....well done Ron 🙄

Also well done to Angela Carpenter for winning the ladies Championship and overall....a regular dominating occurrence 👏
Thanks to the organisers for persevering and rescheduling after the original postponement, and also to #ianchapmanphotography capturing my pain in the very last 1/2 mile of the race.

To all those that race, have a great Winter and let’s hope we can return to an improved world next year....such madness at the moment, I can feel Mallorca beckoning - adios! 👍

FOOTNOTE: (Above from FB)....cracking performance, but surprised at the time when crossed the line, these last few races really got into a "defeat pain" mindset, with confidence I can keep a very high output but be confident no matter what I won't lose much time or blow out. Really proud prior to be given the scratch number of 120 - not the first time, but never before in a National championship....and produced the goods! Beer and burger after with Katie in the Wisewood Inn to celebrate today and the end of the season.

Full results Velo UK

SEACROFT WHEELERS 10 - Selby - 11th October 2020

 4th OVERALL

Due to the National Vets 25 getting pushed back to the 17th October, the season has been unfortunately extended, difficult when psychologically one had geared up for the grand finale on the 3rd! With great hesitation decided to await that National, but also found this fairly local '10' to fill the gap!

Arriving on a stunning Autumnal day, so cold and sunny but with a stiff (16mph) very cold NW wind...mainly a cross wind on an exposed course on quite busy single carriageways (2 miles of which was on the main Selby York A19 road), Arriving with little enthusiasm, especially with the cold, but once warmed up and away....really smashed it with an average of 360w - and actually hitting 360+ w on the return 5 miles.

Getting 4th overall and smashed the standard placings....really pleased, illustrates my mental capacity on a day when I was not really that enthused! Good prep and shows still in top form for next weeks National. 💪

NATIONAL VTTA '15' CHAMPIONSHIPS - North Shropshire - 20th September 2020

NATIONAL CHAMPION!

North of Shewsbury on the A53, out and back to Tern Hill roundabout, semi sporting but very smooth...brisk head wind on way out, and more ascent on way out especially first part....rode super efficiently (for once) with 5 mile splits of 352W (NP) exactly....best I could do, thought probably enough to beat Matt Bottrill on standard, and it was! As Matt unfortunately DNSd....won by over a minute on standard and 6th on actual in 31-50. First on actual was Mark Holton (unknown to me but ex National RTTC Champion and from Lytham St Annes!) in 30-30 (2nd on standard). Well chuffed to get my 3rd National Champions jersey! 🏆💪

Q&A From the VTTA Quarterly Magazine - September 2020

NATIONAL VTTA 10M CHAMPIONSHIPS - Newbury - 12th September 2020

 3rd in Championship; 12th Overall

Gnarly, twisty course with regular gradient changes led to difficulty in maintaining rhythm and form, but same for all I guess...gave it my all anyway, and was in the deep red a good 2-3 miles out....but will beaten by the amazing Richard Oakes (aged 51) who broke 20 mins and was very close to the course record of Michael Hutchison (from victory in the CTT National in 2009, when Hutch was at his peak)....30 secs off Richard with standard, and pushed into 3rd spot by a trike (🙄😡) - on the podium again so cannot complain.🥉

See official report below.

COMMON LANE OCCASIONALS 10 TT - Hatfield Woodhouse - 5th September 2020

 5th Overall

Covid has had an interesting impact on cycle racing....the main event survivor is TT (time trialling) as by it’s nature there is “social distancing” (riders are set off at one minute intervals and “drafting” a fellow rider is not permitted). A few common sense tweaks around signing in and out have been introduced, and Oh Noooooo, the worst, on the start line competitors have to “clip in” themselves (normally a ‘pusher off’ holds you in position, pre clipped in)....out of 6 races, I’ve clipped in pretty much first time in 5, in one I had about 4 stabs before success....vital seconds especially in a short race! Nightmare!! 😫

We all miss certain things of course, the biggie being the HQ, with the post race drinks and cake, and social discourse, from enthusing to your pals about your new course PB whilst simultaneously ignoring your team mate blame a tractor for his relative underperformance (secretly chuffed that you beat him for the first time, result sheets don’t lie, you tell yourself 😝)....awaiting the results board to be completed, with typically an informal presentation to close the show....such an important part of the racing experience...none of that now, and results only posted online, between one and four days hence (in my experience)....although a recent development are “live results”, initially introduced by the Newbury club and the forward thinking Rachael Elliott - one for the future? 🤔

Irrespective many TT races have been cancelled, the initial official Covid list of instruction was perhaps off putting, for the sake of a few months, and anyway, “it’ll soon be March when everything is back to normal so we can wait then....” so we thought a few months back.....

Also, with fewer events and practically no road racing, the quality and quantity of the entrants in those TT races has rather escalated. I’ve been fortunate enough to typically target top 5 places pre Covid, but have had to be a little more flexible in recent events, when the start line includes occasional pros wanting to test their fitness levels, and a number of startlingly talented under 23 years olds (the sport certainly appears healthy) role out too....great to see!

So, last Saturday. The Common Lane Occasionals 10M TT at the most unappealing Hatfield Woodhouse course (there is a tentative promise from the council that they will resurface it one day, didn’t say what year though!)....and who roles up?

We only got a Dame and a pro.....yes, Dame Sarah Storey made the journey to experience the potholes and sunken drains of South Yorkshire, and of course, she only broke the Lady’s course record just shading under 22 mins....how good does she look on that bike! 😳

And the son of a friend of mine (I did message Mervyn, and instruct him to tell his son to “bugger off” and stay in his neck of the woods, when I saw the startsheet )......yep Simon Wilson, a member of the amazing Bigham mavericks, and fresh from his 3rd place in the (full fat) National 10 Champs last weekend....Simon was targeting Connor Swifts (who is now racing the Tour de France, who would’ve thought: from Donny to Paris!) recent course record but missed out by 3 seconds, so the record stays in Yorkshire, bloody Lancastrians, get back (I’m one btw) ! 😎

Great to have these guys participate, raises the profile of course and brings TT to the forefront of the domestic racing calendar, if only temporarily, but who knows what the "normal" will be in 2021?!

And finally, for completeness, this old boy, well, yes! Personally chuffed, solid ride again, form hitting the spot, just in time for a series of National vets Championships....another sub 21min performance and 5th place overall.....

Thanks of course to Pete Laud and his CLO team for organising the event.👏

And also many thanks to Chris Lawrence for all photos below, and particularly allowing me to use the photos of Sarah and Simon. 👍📸

RUTLAND 10 & N MIDS VTTA CHAMPS - Hatfield - 30th August 2020

5th Overall ; 1st Vet ; 1st N Mids VTTA Championship

The Rutland TT 10 and N Mids Championship....lovely Hatfield Woodhouse!
So it’s still August, and the temperature was showing a disbelieving 11C but diminished even further by a really stiff northerly breeze 🥶 ....I warmed up by placing my rollers on the leeward side of the car with every layer on I could find, including an old thick smelly fleece that I found next to the spare tyre! Michelin Boy 😎
Anyhow...the cold soon forgotten, as I bounced inefficiently vertically over the potholes and sunken drains on the outward section at over 30mph on this contentious course with the tailwind...but struggling to maintain 27mph into the Arctic blast on return, but really pleased to sneak under 21 mins at the finish, a great time on any day on that course....reflected in 5th overall, 1st vet and thus retained the North Mids VTTA Championship....🏆
Won by rising star Oliver Peckover followed by top Iron Man Phillip Graves 👏- illustrious company.
Thanks to the Rutland guys for putting on the show and especially Gordon W 👍
Loving the potholes so much at Hatfield, next race, yep Hatfield, Common Lane 10, this Saturday....probably 😉

(Note: Mr Briggs (ex pro) was on a road bike 😎)

ECCA VTTA '10' - E2/10 - Newmarket - 22nd August 2020

 7th Overall; 3rd on Standard 😳

Planned for fast time and target the 19-51 National Age record. however the day before the winds were super strong, and also forecast for race day too....sat in kitchen at breakie time and hesitated, but it looked like the winds had slightly abated to risk the journey...

Decided (for the first time) to risk a 2.5 hour drive on race day (although stopped and walked for 10 mins twice, and did a roller 20 min spin on arrival)...

Anyhow what a mistake! Wind was supposed to be 19mph with gusts of 30...but friggin L, probably the worst wind conditions I've ever raced in....first mile could not get above 19mph, really lost it for a short time in my head, and felt like packing...perservered, but not convinced I put everything into the outward with a very modest power average (similar to my 25 the week before!)...but hammered it with the tailwind as hard as I could....finished on 21-34 - with three breaking 21 mins. 

"Only" third on standard too (again in a 10) although Kev Tye was one of them, respect! Wake up call though for the forthcoming VTTA National 10....but two more Hatfield 10's before then, should wake me up for this distance!

SHERWOOD 25 - A25/34 - Newark-upon-Trent - 15th August 2020

12th overall ; 3rd Vet; 1st on Standard

For a moment I even considered that Father Time was catching up with me, after 3 rather under par race performances, although picking up the National Vets TT 50 title during those was more than a bonus, but no, last Saturday, the 4th race, and “the legs have returned” (I should’ve known really, it happens every year)....the Sherwood 25 miler TT on the A46 SW of Newark...recording a useful 51mins 45secs on a moderately quick course but with a challenging 12 miles of significant headwind on the return....giving 12th overall and 3rd Vet (O40) and even a PB power average for a 25 (342w) - typical of these “Covid Times”, attracting a huge field with top quality as there is no road racing, won by rising star Joshua Giddings who is still a Junior, born 2003!
Big appreciation to the Sherwood CC guys for putting the event on, and so well organised

Interesting year for TT - limited races, and no road racing. The events are getting oversubscribed with some top heavy fields, comprising aspiring youngsters and a smattering of pro racers. Tough to get in the top 10, never mind top 5!

TICKHILL 10 - Hatfield Woodhouse - 8th August 2020

 17th Overall; 3rd on Standard

First '10' and 3rd race of season, reflected in a pretty poor performance. Hurt also from a long way out....but gave it my all....always sub 21 last year in 3 races, but only 21-20 today. Not to worry, one in the bag...will get better...got two more Hatfield races (so hopefully will see an improvement) with the Rutland 10, and the Common Lane 10. 

Won by Connor Swift (just before being chosen to ride the Tour de France) in 19-09!