SHAFTESBURY TROPHY - 50M - Newmarket - 19th July 2020

At last, 2020 starts!! 🎉🥳🍾

Covid-19 could not destroy the rather prestigious Shaftesbury ‘50’m TT in Cambridgeshire / Suffolk, but the bloody British weather tried its best, a window of torrential rain was forecast and at just the wrong time on Sunday very early morning, however fortunately those wonderful Shaftesbury CC boys declared it fit to race, and although it was very wet, it was never hazardous. ☔️

So, the first race of 2020, so good to have that ‘number on your back’, it’s not just the race it’s the build up, prep, how the training has gone?, of course the race itself, and then mulling over the result sheets, and where could it have gone better!

For starters it will do, a 1-44-27, my 3rd quickest ever, just under 29mph average - with a tidy 51 mins for the 2nd 25m...was looking for slightly quicker, but for the first rusty race, I shouldn’t complain, much 😉....good enough for 20th overall, 6th vet (O40) but pipped by 1 second to the vets ‘standard’ top podium prize (age and gender adjusted) by the impressive Anna Turvey...also improved the N Mids Vets record, but missed the National Age record by 52 seconds...

Amazing time btw by Adam Wild, especially in those conditions....possibly 2nd fastest UK time ever I believe? A name for the future at that rate 🥇

Bigger fish though next week, the rescheduled National Vets 50m TT Champs at Newark - all being well, I’m certainly in the mix with just the ‘oldies’ (O40s)  👴

Must thank the Shaftesbury club for endeavouring to persevere with the event, fighting not just the Covid constraints  but as mentioned the weather....their social distancing strategy was perfect but illustrated how simple yet affective it can be....adhering to all the rules, as did the competitors... So well done guys 👏

END OF SEASON REPORT 2019

[April 2020: 2019 was a year of much consolidation but clear evidence of even more progress, in my 60th year! How right Pete Read (RIP) was, when he said it could take 6-7 years to reach a peak! 

Evidence: As far as PBs go I only broke my best at 5 miles...which was always quite a soft target, unfortunately my efforts at 10, 25 and 50 were all on inclement weather days....especially the two attempts on the "E2" at 10's...but:

• Broke 20 mins twice on the E2 but in super windy conditions 
• Broke sub 50 mins three times for a 25 on two different courses - becoming standard, and very close to a 4th on a 3rd course - becoming the 'norm' to exceed 30mph (near 50kph) 
• Never broke 21 mins on my local potholed Hatfield course previously, I not only broke 21 mins on each of my three attempts (with a best of 20-31) but improved my 10 mile power average to just under 360 watts (from high 340s)
• Generally knocking out consistently good performances and regularly finishing in the top few in races all over the UK including National Welsh Champs and National VTTA Champs, as well as regional races
• Won National Age Gold medals in 'full fat' both for the 10m and 25m - in the former also faster than 2 age cats below and 6th Vet (O40) - and the latter finishing 28th overall
• 4th in Welsh National 50M Champs (again..third year running!)
• Broke 4 x National Age Records and equalled a 5th
• 20 open races - 12 top '5's

Hard to pick most pleasing performances, such was the consistency...one criticism, I got too many "seconds" both regionally and even at National VTTA level, although I won the National VTTA 10m in only the third race of the season - really thought I would go on to take at least a couple more but three subsequent 2nd's was frustrating. 

The question is, will I continue to progress, there must be a plateau first...this could go on for a while! 

The-End]

WELSH OPEN NATIONAL 50M CHAMPS - Abergavenny - 29th Sept 2019 - last race of the 2019 season 🙌🎉

4th Overall * 1st on Standard (Welsh National Gold)

Well, what a weekend….what awful weather, for a major sporting event, and especially for a major Championship (a dig at the World Champs in Yorkshire where the weather was awful). 🌧 💨 

Yes, the Welsh National 50 Mile TT Championships from Abergavenny 😎 – with a continuous deluge throughout the night, a little concerned that parking my car near the banks of the local river at the normally gorgeous Ross-on-Wye wasn’t the best idea….fortunately although swollen, the river was intact and so was my car the following morning!

Beneficially for the race, the deluge had been replaced by ‘only’ sporadic showers, but the wind was rather blustery to say the least, with copious amounts of surface water.

This was my season’s final race on a near 6 month season, I suspected finishing on a ‘50’ miler could be a challenge…and so it proved, holding the expected target power for 35 miles, but physically deteriorated badly thereafter, with of course (and those that race will know) a bigger psychological battle to then try and minimise any losses – somehow in the main I succeeded, by fvck it was most unpleasant, somehow recording only 16 secs slower on my second lap…with a finishing time of 1-47-22, bang on 28mph average.

Annoyingly in 4th position overall – narrowly missing the podium, but as a usual bonus won the Vets “standard” gold (age adjusted) National medal.

Driving north, I eventually caught up the previous night’s deluge, apparently this affected some other minor Championship held much further north, but loads apparently dropped out of that one, lesser types…I never knew? 😉😜

Back home, immediately on to Operation “Weight-Gain” starting with a few pints 🍻 of the tremendous Abbeydale Brewery’s “Deception” (as a “recovery” drink of course) together with the largest burger on the menu – all thoughts of racing at last fast subsiding…

Looking forward to some scheduled R&R now in the near future…from gigging in Nottingham (the musical and comic legend John Otway) to a “beer and walking” weekend in the Brecon Beacons…and already made a return to some mountain biking, after a five year hiatus...where I can only get better, and surely it has to be less muddy! 😎

 — in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.

[Referring to this being the last race of the season, so happy to allow weight to gain, after controlling my 78ish-kg race weight and to recoup some social activities!]

LEO 30M TT - Newmarket - 21st September 2019

10th Overall & 3rd Vet (O40) & National Age Record

So perhaps a lovely afternoon for sitting in the garden but when there’s a stiff SE wind on a NE / SW course it means a near permanent bloody cross wind, the cyclists enemy! 😡
And so it was near Newmarket at the annual semi-legendary Leo 30m TT, considered THE classic closing TT event of the season - a rarely raced distance, and on a normally quick course, attracts the gratuitously time chasing “hitters”, including me 😎

Targeting a sub hour time and a top ten place, worked my rocks off into mainly a headwind to half way (average speed 30.3mph) looking forward to speedy tailwind return.... it didn’t happen 😳 if anything it was harder coming back, especially the last 5 miles 🤪, but just managing to keep above 30mph average in 59mins53secs....and 10th place overall (3rd vet O40), so ✅ the objectives....

As a secondary bonus lopped over 2 mins off the National Age Record...

However somewhat paling into insignificance when compared to the amazing Rachael Elliott and Ian Greenstreet that broke the mixed tandem (affectively) National Record in 56mins 54secs (that’s 31.6 mph average!) - super, well done guys 🏆👏

One weekend to go🍻🍔

[Crackin race and time this considering the cross wind conditions]



 


 
 

JEJ JAMES NORTH MIDS SERIES - CLA 10 TT - Hatfield - 14th Sept 2019

2nd Overall - Season Runner-Up N Mids JE James Series
So into the last race of the season for regional bragging rights, the JE James sponsored TT Series finally came to a conclusion on the infamous Hatfield Woodhouse 10 course courtesy of Pete Laud and the Common Lane Occasionals.

The podium spot pre race was delicately balanced, for me to retain my Championship trophy from 2018 - ‘all’ I had to do was WIN! And also season long time leader Nick Latimer of Rutland had to finish worse than 4th....super times for all at the sharp end in tough conditions on a slow course, it was for me ‘close but no cigar’....learning that I’d beaten the pre race favourite Billy Jarish gave me short term confidence until finding out I’d been pipped by another rider....and irrespective Nick had secured 4th spot.

So, well done Nick, thoroughly deserved - the 2019 Champ after a few previous close calls, and 2nd for me 🥈

Socialising post race with traditional tea and cakes - I commented to Paul Armstrong that my season was littered with seconds in open races and now 2nd in this.....walking away, he quite wittily retorted “I’ll have to buy you a bridesmaid dress”. 🤣

I’ll have the one (dress of course) in the middle if you don’t mind Paul (that got you reading )

[so close to recapturing my 2018 title, but did not target, and only did the 5 max as required, so could not dismiss my worst performances, actually "let down" by my own club's 25, in 8th place!]

VTTA NATIONAL CHAMPS 15M - Catterick N Yorks - 8th Sept 2019

2nd Overall & 2nd on Standard (National Silver)
“Nationals” coming thick and fast, this time without the youngsters, unless one counts 40 somethings Great new course (15 miler) on smooth tarmac, between Catterick and Bedale, Norf Yaaawksha, on a gorgeous Autumn morning - but attritional with numerous climbs....proving perfect for me with 2nd place overall in 31-28 and equalling the National Age Record...just 18 secs behind race winner Steve Ayres and 5 secs ahead of 3rd place Keith Murray.

On a slight downside, the actual National Championship jersey is awarded based on age weighting...pre race I had no expectation in closing the 12m30sec ish gap advantage the amazing 89 year old Ron Hallam (YES, 89 ) had on me, and so it proved, although I got within 8 seconds....the boy must have a dedicated wardrobe for his yearly collection. Well done that man. 🏆🙌

Celebrations commenced with a couple of Yorkshire Blondes meeting my pal Dave at nearby Scorton-on-Swale, delectable I must say, and heck they went down well - and still the sun shone

[if honest, annoyed at the HQ, one of my best performances of the season...to beat the likes of Keith Murray (at my age) and so close to winning the race overall, and also there was a 'swell' of "you deserve it" in the HQ and carpark, and to learn I still did not win the National was very disappointing. Did not stay for the presentation, but genuinely was meeting a pal for a beer who had arrived early...so had an excuse...😎😡]

RTTC NATIONAL 10 TT - Newmarket - 31st August 2019

40th Overall / 6th Vet )O40) / 1st Age Cat (National Gold)

Pleased to have collected another National award, this time at the RTTC National 10m TT Champs....managed to sneak under 20mins @ 19-57 in challenging windy conditions (27mph avg out, 34+ back),good enough not only for my age cat but faster than the two categories younger, also 6th Vet (O40) and a commendable 40th overall.

Such were the conditions for the senior men that only four riders broke 19mins with the surprise winner being Charlie Quarterman, a pro rider for Trek-Segafredo (and dare I say 40 years my junior ) followed by pre race favourites Chris Fennell and Adam Duggleby.

Great banter in the HQ post race - particularly good to catch up with occasional Mallorca cycle training partner Roland....and hey!, Tony Cork, get that bloody A14 sorted, if it wasn’t for my ‘smart’ Google Maps I probably would have missed the start. 😱

Next week, leaving the youngsters to their own, with another National Championships up at Teeside...this time the VTTA flavour, veterans and the rarely raced 15miler 👍

[Actually a top performance, the wind was awful going out - and worse for later starters...but had some real quality behind me on actual times, but to win National age medal but also be faster than 2 age groups below and 6th overall was for an old git, top bombing 🚴‍♂️💨💨]

RTTC NATIONAL 25 TT CHAMPS - Etwall - 25th August 2019

28th Overall / 1st Age (National Gold) / 6th Vet (O40)
“Full Fat National RTTC 25miles Champs “ - very early start on the controversial A50, def do less well early on...felt hard going out to the turn....Another sub 50mins, bizarrely harder outward with tailwind, rescued the sub 50 mins on return....and for someone who “doesn’t do ‘age’ gubbins” - I’ll take a National medal and 28th overall #bonus 😜


[strange race, very early, and a very quiet road...felt rubbish early on...but really rescued the race in the return second half...and on a crap day, still exceeded 30mph and broke 50 mins, again...shows where I set the bar...even at 60 😜]

REALTEAM 25 TT - Hirwaun S Wales - 18th Aug 2019

4th Overall & 2nd Vet - National Age Record
An unforgiving autumnal weather forecast was not conducive to the super fast times that is the major selling point of the “R25” 25 mile TT course in S Wales.....but of course it’s still a friggin race, and as 2 of my last 3 races had been cancelled due to adverse weather.....I decided “come on weather, let’s be ‘avin you (in my best Delia voice ).....and race the best I could, come what may....and unfortunately (really only) for the very last starters (I was scratch man) the forecast was bang on....

However managed to “knock out” another sub 50mins 25 miler - rescued by a 33+mph average 10mile return with the tailwind - recording 49mins 34secs, annoyingly just three seconds off the podium but some bonus points for breaking my own National Age and Regional Group records - so a fairly happy return home.......👍

Anyhow much more interesting that this time trialling gubbins....really do enjoy visiting this neck of the woods....and on this occasion decided to take a steady cross country route back over the Brecon Beacons into Herefordshire and the Black Mountains, and across to Worcester....very nice indeed, an area I surprisingly have no experience of, so into my bucket list they go, for the day I hang my cleats up, pack work in and get that converted VW Transporter, MTB on the rack and walking boots for the ready...not too sure how long that will be though, I suppose when I start to slow down on the TT machine

[Wrote the above quite dismissively, but yet again, break 50 mins, and it was not a great climate day..that 48mins last year was no fluke, and on the right day, is in danger 💪]

RUTLAND 10 - JEJ N MIDS SERIES - Hatfield - 3rd August 2019

5th Overall

Another race at Hatfield in the JEJ N Mids series, always want to do well in the Rutland races....real quality top end, and it was looking good for quite a while, being top of the leaderboard, but slowly slipped down as some of the latter riders recorded their times (the weather conditions clearly changed ) - although young startled Hayden Allen was on a different planet, very few have broken 20 mins on the potholed challenged course....5th overall (Spindata had predicted 3rd) was fine and first on standard but only 2nd vet (over 40)....solid stuff 

[always want to do well on the Rutland races, of course it is a Sheffrec vs Rutland thang, I guess....can't do anymore than full blast irrespective, and looked promising for a while...but still, not bad ]

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? ]