SHAFTESBURY 50M TT - Newmarket - 21st July 2019

14th Overall / 1st on Standard
Borage Officialanis!🤷

Hitting Cambridgeshire-Suffolk in the rather high quality Shaftesbury Cup ‘50’ mile TT - solid riding with a 14th overall and just learnt winning the Standard prize (age and gender adjusted)....the time of 1-43-20 also good enough to add to my collection of National Age records and also a North Midlands record....but actually a mediocre speed day reflected in hitting 25 miles in 50min 09secs but taking 53-11 into a fresh headwind on the return, rather unfortunate on what was otherwise a lovely morning.

Adding to the “loveliness” were fields and fields of a gorgeous crop with purple flowers that caught my eye, later being informed this is the aforementioned Borage Officialanis - clearly a commercial crop and apparently used in medicine for various skin complaints.😎

You learn something new every day Few sleeps now until the ‘full fat’ National 25 on Sunday....not sure why I entered, unsure to what is more daunting, being on a pushbike on the A50, or the fact I set off 2nd from last with scratch man, professional, multiple UK record holder and multi champion Marcin Biablocki chasing me, hoping to get a few miles in before I’m caught.....what’s the contact number for Age Concern?

[Second year I've done this, of course only cos its fast...but too friggin early in the morning..I'm sure, I just do not get it together 100% so early - I know I can break 1-40...but but...perhaps at 62 post Covid? ]

NORTH MIDLANDS VTTA CHAMPS - Hatfield - 29th June 2019

2nd Overall & 1st on Standard (N Mids Champion 🏆)

Hot Hot Hot were the conditions for Saturday’s N Mids VTTA Champs (the Cleethorpe Shield), one week exactly after one of my most disappointing performances in the National Vets 50 Champs, 2nd on the podium may sound commendable, but serious self inflicted cock-ups scuppered hope of the Champs jersey....it’s now history so move on, redemption of sorts required...so to tropical Yorkshire....🥵

....sub-consciously raced with extra determination, which can be dangerous - and with 3 miles to go and a combination of heat and fatigue, purgatory kicked in, really felt my speed was slipping away, completely ultra wasted at the chequered flag , but surprised to learn of a personal course PB of 20-32, and just ONE SECOND from victory - one friggin second....still pleased with 2nd though in a quality field and also won the Cleethorpe Shield based on ‘standard’ (age adjusted gubbins)...

Later, I wondered about that “one second” - suddenly remembering the hesitant driver that held me up, as they chose not to pass a slower rider with obvious opportunities, eventually I overtook, I had to - so annoying, but of course it would be unfair to mention the gender - we accept it’s an occupational hazard for us “testers” - y’know swings and roundabouts

Thanks to Gordon Wordsworth and team for organising the event, and to Paul (Heggie) for issuing the results.

Right, if I ever see that bloody woman (or was it an old bloke with a flat cap? )👴

[This was seriously frustrating, 20-32 would win 9/10 races on Hatfield...and I did get really held up..although I know Ian G well, and he's a top guy! Not his fault!!]

VTTA NATIONAL CHAMPS 50M - Nr York - 2nd June 2019

6th Overall & 2nd on Standard (National Silver)

Proved to be the worst race of the season, the whole day was a mitigated disaster....started off finding a flat tub on race bike...Kip (Langsett) did a sterling and rapid job on putting on a new tub, but set off late, forgot skin suit (although had backup in boot) then arrived late, all flustered, forgot gels which are really needed in a 50, but worse was to come....chain dropped off in race, and due to the chain stopper (that did not work) struggled to get chain back on, even with brute panic....😡

So, "worst race of the season, hey?" - finished second in National Championship (based on standard, age adjusted) - well beaten by Andy Jackson, but a poor 6th overall, and at least 2 mins down on expectations....hey ho.....a one off - but that's where I set the bar.....😉

[This was a sickener, from 8am and the flat tub...to losing my chain, forgetting gels....and before and after this race I was flying...what made it worse I felt obliged to await the presentation, but there was a huge delay...just wanted to get home and away from there - but second in a National and having this reaction!! It's in the DNA 😎]


OFFICIAL REPORT

The National 50 Mile championship was held on Saturday 22nd June on the V350/1 course near York. 

The men's championship saw a fine win by Andy Jackson with a plus of 31.50. Second and taking his third medal in three championships was Keith Ainsworth (plus of 30.55). Third and moving up one place from last year to claim a medal was Dave Hargreaves with a plus of 29.25.

The women's championship was won convincingly by Karen Ledger (pictured) with an outstanding plus of 33.00. Debbie Moss took silver with a plus of 26.34 and Liz Ball took the bronze medal with a plus of 20.19.

The tandem gold medal was won by the evergreen pair of Murray Kirton and Dave Stockley.

Best club team went to Team Swift (Steve Loraine, Randle Shenton, and Mark Wolstenholme).

Best group team was Yorkshire (Andy Jackson, Stephen Ayres and Mark Wolstenholme).

Thanks to Mike Williams and his team for organising the championship

BIRDWELL CLUB '5' CHAMPS - Park Springs - 18th June 2019

1st Overall / Sheffrec Club and Birdwell Course Record
Gatecrashing the rarely raced 5 miler, the Birdwell Club Champs - a gratuitous attempt in attempting to break 10 mins (not fast, 5 roundabouts?), the course record and the Sheffrec club record on a rare (for this season) warm and fairly still evening. Smashed the race winning by a margin, finishing in 10-08....breaking the Birdwell club course record and also my own Sheffrec club record - good fun, and a great blast, hitting 380w average 😳🚴‍♀️💨💨

[Really good attack on a '5', although as no officials to have the race, there was a debate on whether to cancel...so I didn't warm up properly....really expect a '5' to hurt very similarly to an 800m in running, but done two now, and I'd say 10's are worse for the pain 🤪]


Report from Paul Heggie on FB:
5 Mile Championships tonight
Nearly didn't run-few helpers. Thanks to
Steve Myatt for timing and Christine Minto for marshalling.
A fast night - new Birdwell course record by
Keith Ainsworth of Sheffrec in 10m 08s beating the old mark of Ben Harvey from 2013 by 11 seconds!!
Cheers
Paul - sub 10 if I’d warmed up more Sheffrec Club Record too...

VTTA '10' TT - E2/10 - Newmarket - 13th June 2019

3rd Overall / 1st on Standard / National Age Record

STOP PRESS: Old Man Disappears Down The A11 In Wind Vortex🌪
Four days later, and I just had to get back on “the horse”.....driving through torrid rain back to Newmarket, fortunately the rain cleared by the start, but the strong winds didn’t....so fast times were in very much in doubt for this 10 miler, strong headwind out and hitting 1/2 way in only 10-52, a new PB (sub 19-11) was surely impossible, and the secondary target, the durable National Age Record was a tall order (19-49) - however, what a return on the rolling course and what fun (in a masochistic sort of way)....in the biggest gear possible (58/11) and often ‘spinning out’, before I knew it, the chequered flag was there....a return in 8mins 36secs @ 34.2mph avg - with an official time of 19-40, giving me 3rd overall and a new National Age Record....🚴‍♀️💨💨

Now this is funny...checking Strava - which is useful for race day metrics, out of interest I checked the all time fastest segment for that return leg....meaningless really of course, ‘segments’ have to be done on the same day (or time) under race conditions to have credence....but hey ho...it looks good....and it made me chuckle....so there I am up there with an ex World best hour record holder and faster than Bialoblocki - have a look! 😝😂

National VTTA 50 Champs on a rural circuit east of York next Saturday....really looking forward, roll on😊

[Not to be taken for granted this performance. the conditions were really awful...the wind was so strong on the outward five miles, that there should have been no chance to average greater than 30mph....50kph...and read on, I repeated it, on the same course in the National 10 on the same course...]

VTTA NATIONAL CHAMPS 25M - Newmarket 9th June 2019

Two visits to the rolling lands of Suffolk and Cambridgeshire in the last week....firstly, the second attempt in my quest for National Vets TT supremacy LOL - the National Vets 25 Champs....very early start, unusually felt garbage by even 10 miles, but this is racing, and there is only one option...persevered, dug even deeper, hurt more and ultimately ‘rescued’ a commendable 50mins 43 secs, not quite 30mph avg....but was it good enough for another champions jersey?

NO! Just 17 seconds in 2nd behind World O50 TT Champ - Kev Tye, an amazing athlete, (a sub 48min ‘25’ man) so no shame; and it materialised that most had a tough morning too, with relatively slow times, perhaps the very early start is not conducive to such onslaught? . Had a great chat with Kevin, and talk about chips off the same block...

[Mmm...sort of confident before...and as it was on the E2..top quality entry, but very early start, just does not work for me...but in fairness was the general consensus...biggest gap Kev Tye got on me in 2019..and it's closing all the time..in fact by the end of the season it was 1-2 😊]

NORTH MIDS CHAMPS - SHEFFREC 25 - Hatfield Woodhouse - 18th May 2019

Mixed result, club champs but also double up with the North Midlands Champs....quality 8 in start list with unreachable three at front...but other places up for grabs, and......I came bloody 8th, even with a PB, Olympian Adam Duggleby broke 50 mins, which is so rare at Hatfield....Sheffrec easily took the regional team prize with Liam, Andy and myself...and was first vet, first age and stuff....but y'know...I want more 💪

[Not one to be remembered, coming 8th, when you know there's really eight fighting for those places...sort of...is a bugger...but a PB on shitty Hatfield...at what age? BUT THAT IS IRRELEVANT 😎]

BIRDWELL WHEELERS 10 - Hatfield Woodhouse - 11th May 2019

2nd Overall / Power PB!
It’s a Sheffrec CC double at the Birdwell ‘10’ at Hatfield Woodhouse - congrats to Liam Bromiley for a convincing victory, followed by yours truly...course PB and power PB for a ‘10’ miler (356w) para mi - beer time 🍻

Significant in 2019, that although I did not break any PBs (except the 5 miler) mainly due to weather conditions, better indication is breaking power averages, which I did on Hatfield twice...finishing with 360w average....💪

[Great performance, no chance against a fit Liam (ex Giant UK Team Cat1 (Elite?) racer) - but he is 20 something LOL ]

WELSH OPEN NATIONAL 25M CHAMPS - Hirwaun - 5th May 2019

14th Overall & 1st on Standard (Welsh National Gold)
WELSH OPEN NATIONAL 25m TT CHAMPIONSHIP
With a combination of an open National Championship and the added attraction of arguably the fastest 25mile TT course in the UK, it’s understandable that in S Wales on Sunday the event was eagerly anticipated and fully subscribed.
However any hope of a plethora of PBs were dashed by the cold conditions and the consensus in the HQ afterwards that we all seem to experience a permanent headwind - how does that happen? 🤔
The times reflected this with the men’s winner, a young pro Tom Ward recording ‘only’ 47-15 and last years ladies all round champion Alice Lethbridge not even breaking 53 minutes.
So in that context my 3rd sub 50min 25mile TT @ 49mins 41secs was commendable and encouraging for the target of a PB, later in the season....the only disappointment was that I hoped for a top 10 finish overall, but just missed out....although it was very tight at that sharp end.
Supplementary bonus was recording another National Age Record and taking home the Welsh National Age medal 🥇
Back to regional basics for the next two weekends on the lovely windswept potholed course at Hatfield Woodhouse, I can’t wait 😎and then a well earned mini break!☀️

[I would've killed for a sub 51mins 3 years ago, and now "knock sub 50min efforts out" for fun, almost, putting 3 mins into the UK's top female time trial lists...and still fvckin moan.....😝]

VTTA NATIONAL 10 CHAMPS - Surrey / Sussex - 28th April 2019

2nd Overall / 1st on Standard (National Champion!)
NATIONAL VTTA 10mile CHAMPIONSHIPS - SUSSEX / SURREY
So, the two previous races on the Lincolnshire Wolds were (inadvertently) perfect preparation albeit without strategy. For some reason assuming a course in Sussex would be flattish, it was rather a surprise when I drove the course the night before to discover it rather gnarly and rolling. ⛰
Suffice to say, it went well – a sub 21 mins that I hoped for would be outstanding, on that course, so seeing 21-07 when I crossed the line was near as damn it and pleasing, and I knew could well be a winning time. 🤔
And so it proved, after a series of close calls in 2018 , at last I won a National VTTA Championship, probably a “10” is the hardest distance for me (with age, endurance ability declines slowest, so the longer the event , relatively, the performance improves) – of course the plan is to now target the longer races later in the season – and hope to collect more Champion jerseys - why not? 😉
An added bonus was the early start which enabled me to drive up to Tooting (through leafy Surrey, and not so leafy sarf London) to hook up with my old mate, Mr Charlett, and hit some celebratory beers, up town. 🍻🥳
Chatting with genuine interest to some marathoners but not daring to mention that I’d earlier only done a piffling 20 minute bike race - I didn’t wish to explain 😎
Welsh Open 25 next on the agenda on “that” fast course…young hitters out though, so top 10 would be nice – with a super fast time…. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Thanks to Kimroy Photography for the action shot, about three miles from the finish, hence the pained look and the presentation photo was, believe it or not the best of about 20 photos 😜

[Long way to drive (although I did plan the Tooting visit and long term Uni pal, Gaston), inadvertently the two Lincolnshire Wolds races were perfect preparation - very confident that if I raced even slightly below par, on 'standards', who could beat me?..and so it proved..but did genuinely think I would win at least a couple more National titles in 2019...but it just did not happen...a divisive world though are 'standards'....with Trikes and aged men, (I have) no chance 🙄]

SLEAFORD WHEELERS 10 - 20th April 2019

2nd Overall - Bl**dy Youngsters!
And the TT season roars (and that was the sound of great personal pain 🤪) into action with two visits to the scenic but challenging Lincolnshire Wolds – a very chilly 🥶 Barton (on Humber) ‘10’ firstly, followed by a sweltering ☀️Sleaford ‘10’ over Easter. 

Those that time trial will probably be aware that early races, no matter how well your training is recording, are friggin ‘orrible, you simply would not continue if it persisted….my expression is that “the body has not woken up yet”…..takes a few races, and something clicks, to make it more comfortable (relatively), smooth, quicker (hopefully) and in control.

Despite these visits to purgatory - the start of the season has been rather promising recording a 5th overall at Barton followed by a frustrating 4 seconds gap, but commendable 2nd place overall at Sleaford.

Bl**dy youngsters 🙄(just look at the podium photo – looks like Dad with his kids 🚸on a day out to Cadburys )

Next stop National Vets (040) 10 mile champs in Sussex…it’s looking good🤔😉💪

BARTON WHEELERS 10 - 13th April 2019

5th Overall / 1st on Standard
And the TT season roars (and that was the sound of great personal pain 🤪) into action with two visits to the scenic but challenging Lincolnshire Wolds – a very chilly 🥶Barton (on Humber) ‘10’ firstly, followed by a sweltering ☀️Sleaford ‘10’ over Easter.
Those that time trial will probably be aware that early races, no matter how well your training is recording, are friggin ‘orrible, you simply would not continue if it persisted….my expression is that “the body has not woken up yet”…..takes a few races, and something clicks, to make it more comfortable (relatively), smooth, quicker (hopefully) and in control.
Despite these visits to purgatory - the start of the season has been rather promising recording a 5th overall at Barton on a great Wolds course, although the 1 mile ascent start (HR pushing 190) was not ideal for a first race of the season....🤪 Pleasing for a kick start...up there at the sharp end 💪

END OF SEASON REPORT 2018

“Reyt”, a very belated end of 2018 season report.

Currently navigating the awards and presentation season, the most recent: thanks to JE James Cycles for continuing to support the North Midlands TT League and for hosting the 2018 awards on Monday night at their Chesterfield store. Particularly very proud to have won the overall individual TT championship for the region, as five years ago the JEJ series is where it all began for me…”having a go” with clip-on bars on my road bike, aspiring to try and get in the first 30 and break an hour for a ‘25’ 

Concluding a rather ‘satisfactory” season (an understatement I know, but that’s me ) – recently collecting a generous display of silverware from various orgs as a consequence of breaking every Sheffrec CC club record from 5 miles to 100; all N Mids records available (improved at age or outright owned) and 8 National Age records. 

Also recording four top 4 overall National Championship placings (3 x VTTA (UK over 40s) & 1 x Open Welsh), wielding some seriously decent times for all distances from 5 to 100miles. Finally, currently awaiting the National (VTTA) placings what are termed the “short BAR” & “3 Distance” - it’s looking hopeful wish they’d hurry up! 

However relief was had after the final race…this “Mr All or Nothing” went rather typically “Ricky Hatton” (Operation Weight-gain - Guinness Method) resulting in a face dive and A&E after 6 weeks in an attempt to ride off a hangover - it gave me the wake up call required to remind me of what I was planning of throwing away, even at my old age ….with a milestone birthday in less than 3 months and (aaaagh!) into my 7th decade (is that easier than saying the actual age, not sure which sounds worse?) – but giving added impetus to get out at least for one more season and set some more even quicker insane times and performances, and as a consequence to set a legacy for ‘that age’….watch this space!

Seriously, thanks to those that have supported me (those again from last year that contributed and continued the progress into 2018, Lord Dan Bigham of Derbados, and John Morgan) but especially my coach Richard Simmonds – the skill of the coach is not particularly exploiting ones DNA by “training hard” but actually training “appropriately”, and Richard has clearly got it spot on....he also predicted correctly what my abilities could achieve a while back (although I surprised him at my 3h-42m 100mile debut time - LOL) – cheers mate! 

Thanks also to Tony W for allowing use of his photos and Alex for all her multitude of tasks in keeping the TT wheels nicely lubricated and in motion

Merry Christmas all and have a super fit 2019 (if that’s your bag)...remember train “appropriately” not necessarily “hard”, of course it may at times be both

SHEFFREC CC

NORTH MIDS VTTA AWARDS