Spring Racing

Spring's about to turn to Summer so time for a blog update!
The early part of Spring was a bit of a disaster.
March 7th 2010 - Surrey League (Festival RC) 2/3Kirdford
Hit a pothole of biblical proportions 13 miles in, chain jumps up and drags front derailleur down, gears sieze up, end of race.
March 14th 2010 - Surrey League (Kingston Wheelers) 2/3 Dunsfold
Two club mates get away in break so I decide to play the role of super domestique and disrupt the chase backs. In the last 2km as the pace in the chasing bunch steps up for the final sprint I've run out of diesel. Goodbye bunch. To make matters worse the race stewards, thinking everyone is in, close up shop on the deviation on the final lap run in and I end up doing another lonely 5km before realising the error of my ways. Last place! Ho hum. Still, some reflected glory as club mate Julian bags the win.
April 3rd 2010 - Whitewebbs CC Spring Circuit Races E123 Hog Hill

3 punctures. End of story. 
April 10th 2010 - Surrey League (Addiscombe CC) 2/3 Bletchingley

Legs are feeling good. I'm forcing the pace and enjoying the steep climb up to the finish line - apart from the potholes. 2 laps to go - dumph, I crunch into one of those potholes, pffttt, front tyre deflates. Neutral service takes a few minutes to arrive but after the wheel change I'm charging behind the service car, 4 inches off the bumper - living the dream! Half a lap later and the bunch is within sight - just need another minute behind the car...but then, up ahead there's a rider on the side of the road with a puncture and that's the end of my assisted chase back and the end of any chance getting back on. 42nd...
April 22nd 2010 - Crystal Palace Summer League 2 E12
The less said about this the better. Caught twice behind a rider who's chain keeps jumping - close the gap. Caught behind Cosmo who crashes nastily on Dead Man's Curve - don't close the gap. Palace is not for me... 
May 2nd 2010 - Surrey League (Bayeux Landscapes) 2/3 Barcombe
An early start for this race - it was raining the night before and it's still raining hard in the morning. The only reason I decide to make my way to the start line is because I'm giving a club mate a lift to the race. Over the following 65 miles to the finish the bastard rain never eases up. It's a real war of attrition. I can barely see with all the grit that's formed a film between the eyes and contact lenses. It feels like I'm carrying an extra 5kg with my kit completely drenched. There are no break aways, just riders dropping off one by one from the back. As the compact bunch makes our way to the uphill finish I get a little boxed in and the legs haven't got to much to give but everyone else is dropping back as well. 9th place. The 10 minute cycle back to the start hut and hot tea/dry clothes is brutal. Everyone that finished the race has that idiotic satisfaction of proving stubborness can overcome sensible decision making.

Still to come - track racing, racing in France and the new bike:D

Imperial Winter Series 2010 - Final Race

The final race of 2010's Imperial Winter Series at Hillingdon. I need to finish in the top 6 to win the 3rd Cat Series title. 4 of us from the club (Jai, Kieron, Mark C and me) had decided to work together and attempt to string out the final sprint to avoid bunching. The best case scenario would be a Paragon sprint train but we didn't expect to pull that off!

It was a chilly day with a fairly strong wind but a good number turned out on the start line. As the flag dropped the race began at a steady pace. 20 or so minutes in a couple of riders went off the front and were soon joined by Tim Benham (sitting 4th overall in the series). At this stage I probably should have relaxed in the middle of the peloton but instead moved near the front to make sure the break wasn't joined by more riders. This meant me chasing down a few attacks and using energy.

30 minutes in we passed the 4ths with Tim still ahead but now only with one other. It looked like we had them pegged so I settled into the bunch and sure enough they were reeled in over the next 2 laps.

A lap later, Tim B's team-mate attacked taking a Wheeler with him. As they rounded the corner to the home straight we were amazed as his bike seemed to slip underneath him. Fortunately he was unharmed and the peloton managed to avoid him and bike.

5 laps to go and with the peloton altogether Dulwich moved towards the front. With 3 to go we were in formation - 4 blue shirts leading the race with the peloton in a line behind us. With one lap to go that was still the case - an amazing effort from the lads. Mark C dropped out as Kieron kept a superb pace then Jai put in a monumental effort to lead out to the last corner. At this point 5 or so riders came round the outside and it was time for me to get out the saddle. Driving up the left hand side I managed to squeeze past two riders but 20 metres from the line there was no room to manouvre and I had to scramble for a few centimetres to nick 5th place.

So victory in the series was just sealed and my 5th place in the final race also took my BC points tally to 42 which means 2nd Cat has been attained. It's been a great winter of racing and thanks must go to Lucy and Doug at Imperial for the organisation. Next year I'll have to lift my game for the E123 series! *gulp*

Imperial Winter Series 2010 3rd Cat Race 12
Place Club Series points
1st w 73 Tristan Natoli AWCycles 3
2nd w 29 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 3 200
3rd w 86 James Dunsbier London Dynamo 3 150
4th w132 Matt O'Callaghan Exiles CC 3 130
5th w 41 Alan Strang Dulwich Paragon 3 120
6th w 40 Tim Benham DHCyclesport.co.uk 3 110
7th w 6 Mark Northover CC Giro 3 100
8th w 53 Alex Turner FVS Tri 3 90
9th w133 Ian Redding TimeRT-TerryWrightCycles 3 80
10th w123 Piers Curle Exciles 3 70
11th w 18 Andrew Harvey Kingston Wheelers 3 60
12th w 91 Ed Rose Progression Fitness 3 50
13th w105 Jeremy Hewitt Kingston Wheelers CC 3 40
14th w102 Phil Adams CC Ashwell 3 30
15th w111 Jacek Reder private member 3 20
16th w117 Chris Grange Hemel Hempstead 3 10
17th w 3 Jon Noton Inverse Racing/Bikefood 3
18th w112 Gordon Kenneway London Dynamo 3
19th w106 Christopher Wright Private Member 3
20th w 39 Dave Ryan Imperial Racing Team 3
21st w 38 Mark Chan Dulwich Paragon 3
22nd w 85 Simon North Hemel Hempstead CC/TORQ 3
23rd w 60 Peter Dixon Willesden CC 3
24th w 93 Jai Watson Dulwich Paragon CC 3
25th w 76 Peter Jones Hillingdon Cycling Club 3
26th w 4 Robin Osborne London Dynamo CC 3
27th w 35 Andy Lack Kingston Wheelers 3
28th w129 Rune Sanbeck Nilsson London Dynamo 3
29th w 63 Wayne Thomas Reading CC 3
30th w122 Richard Rose Progression Fitness 3
31st w 50 Kieron Redmond Dulwich Paragon CC 3
32nd w 98 Mark O'Brien Archer RC 3
33rd w124 Josh Vicino VC Meudon 3
34th w 2 Paul Redman Thames Velo 3
35th w115 Nigel Burns St Ives CC 3
36th w 62 Nick Franzini London Dynamo 3
37th w127 James Stratton London Dynamo CC 3
38th w 75 David Webborn London Dynamo CC 3
39th w 92 Matt Treadwell Twickenam CC 3
40th w114 Peter Bolke DHcyclesport/Colnago 3
41st w126 Rosara Joseph private member 3W

Imperial Winter Series 2010 3rd Cat Series Leaderboard
1st w 41 Alan Strang Dulwich Paragon 960 120 150 100 130 * 130 90 120 120
2nd w 42 William Platt Kingston Wheelers CC 930 110 200 150 130 40 * 100 200
3rd w 40 Tim Benham DHCyclesport.co.uk 830 200 200 200 * 120 110
4th w 31 Steven Jackson Rollapaluza CC 820 200 120 150 150 * 200
5th w 91 Ed Rose Progression Fitness 700 30 * 120 200 100 200 50
6th w 6 Mark Northover CC Giro 650 80 90 80 * 110 110 80 100
7th w 44 Nathan Smith London Phoenix 630 130 120 100 130 * 150
8th w 29 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 600 90 110 110 70 * 20 200
9th w 46 Andy Angwin London Phoenix 470 130 70 120 * 100 50
10th w111 Jacek Reder private member 430 * 130 130 150 20
11th w 53 Alex Turner FVS Tri 360 90 100 * 80 90
12th w 5 Tom Neale Spalding CC 310 100 120 90 *
13th w112 Gordon Kenneway London Dynamo 270 * 120 150
14th w 3 Jon Noton Inverse Racing/Bikefood 260 50 20 80 110 *
15th w102 Phil Adams CC Ashwell 240 * 80 130 30

Hillingdon Winter Series - Race 11

After missing a week's worth of racing; this Saturday was a long wait and racing this week was with a twist. The target was to finish as high as possible BUT not in the top 3 which would have meant promotion to Cat 2 and no way to earn any more points in the 3rd Cat Winter Series.

Before we started the Peloton got a warning about bad handling/inconsiderate cycling - one guy was singled out for repeated bad cycling (last week's race and the one before) - rumours have been circulaiting...(no-one in the pic below!)

After an uneventful start, noted only for it's complete uneventfulness, suddenly 20 minutes in there was real DRAMA! I got a puncture at the top of the back straight (the worst possible place). I drifted to the back running flat but by the second last corner I had to dismount, run up the home straight and see if any one had a spare rear wheel. Fortunately Doug (the organiser) had one (Thanks again!). I flipped the old one out and started putting the new one in and the 3rds rushed past - shit! Tightening the bolts and setting off Le Mans style I had to nail it for a lap and a half to get back on.

That was hard work and at one point I thought it might have been game over. I sat at the back for a couple of laps to regain my composure and then started to move up.

Closing up on the 4ths about three riders bridged the gap but no-one seemed too bothered. So I went to the front to pull the front runners up and we moved passed the 4ths without any issues. Not many people seem to think this is a time to be vigilant?

There was some fairly sketchy riding again - particularly on the home straight when the peloton kept bunching up - fortunately these were low speed encounters.

As the 5 lap warning came up I moved right near the front and managed to get on the right wheels. A Willesden CC rider kept the line drawn out on the second last lap with me tucked in behind. On the last lap I kept behind the first wheel and as the sprint started I tried to judge my finish to allow 3 riders to cross the line ahead. It was quite a tight finish and I almost nailed it to perfection but 2 riders just snuck ahead so 6th it was to be.

So, with one more race to go, I lie second but both Jimbo in first and Steven Jackson in third cannot earn any more points in the third series (having made 2nd Cat). A top 6 finish next week will bring me the Series title! Excited? Yes!
Photos: Gavin Morton

Imperial Winter Series - Race 11
Place Club Series points
1st w 91 Ed Rose Progression Fitness 3 200
2nd w111 Jacek Reder private member 3 150
3rd w138 Eric Degolier Energy Cycles 3
4th w102 Phil Adams CC Ashwell 3 130
5th w139 Jonathan Shubert Verulam CC 3
6th w 41 Alan Strang Dulwich Paragon 3 120
7th w 73 Roland Chuter private member 3 110
8th w132 Matt O'Callaghan Exiles CC 3 100
9th w 93 Jai Watson Dulwich Paragon CC 3 90
10th w114 Paul Derrick BadTri/Fred Baker Cycles 3
11th w126 Tristian Natoli awcycles 3
12th w 6 Mark Northover CC Giro 3 80
13th w120 Jon Pybus awcycles 3 70
14th w 39 Dave Ryan Imperial Racing Team 3 60
15th w133 Ian Redding TimeRT-TerryWrightCycles 3 50
16th w 38 Mark Chan Dulwich Paragon 3 40
17th w 84 Chris Long T.V.S. Sherborne 3 30
18th w129 Neil Macleod lonon dynamo 3
19th w 29 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 3 20
20th w128 Mike Jubb Verulam CC 3
21st w115 Adam Ellis Splading CC 3
22nd w 85 Simon North Hemel Hempstead CC/TORQ 3 10
23rd w122 Declan Higgins Twickenham CC 3J
24th w134 Rupert Beale Onelife-Fuga Racing Team 3J
25th w 43 Phillip Burgess Norwood Paragon CC 3
26th w 60 Peter Dixon Willesden CC 3
27th w124 Adam Tranter Mike Vaughan Cycles 3
28th w 74 Sam Connolley Maldon & District CC 3J
29th w 94 Gareth Welch Dulwich Paragon 3
30th w123 Piers Curle Exciles 3
31st w136 Mike Joseph Colavita USA 3
32nd w 76 Peter Jones Hillingdon Cycling Club 3
33rd w 35 Andy Lack Kingston Wheelers 3
34th w112 Gordon Kenneway London Dynamo 3
35th w 98 Mark O'Brien Archer RC 3
36th w 50 Stuart Stow Twickenham CC 3
37th w125 Gareth Dickenson Farnborough & Camberley CC 3
38th w 97 Andrew Stronge London Dynamo 3
39th w 82 Adam Buckland banjocycles.com/specialized/torq 3
40th w 75 David Webborn London Dynamo CC 3
41st w 62 Nick Franzini London Dynamo 3
42nd w106 Christopher Wright Private Member 3
43rd w119 Adam White Reading CC 3
44th w 77 Paul Stedman Reading CC 3
45th w130 Josh Vicino VC Meudon 3J
46th w135 Nigel Burns St Ives CC 3

Series Standing - Imperial Winter Series 3rd Cat Leader Board
PosTotal Rider Club Race Points 1-11
1st 930 William Platt KW CC 110 200 150 130 40 * 100 200
2nd 840 Alan Strang Dulwich Paragon 120 150 100 130 * 130 90 120
3rd 820 Steven Jackson Rollapaluza CC 200 120 150 150 * 200
4th 720 Tim Benham DHCYCLESPORT.CO.UK 200 200 200 * 120
5th 650 Ed Rose Progression Fitness 30 * 120 200 100 200
6th 630 Nathan Smith London Phoenix 130 120 100 130 * 150
7th 550 Mark Northover CC Giro 80 90 80 * 110 110 80
8th 470 Andy Angwin London Phoenix 130 70 120 * 100 50
9th 410 jacek reder private member * 130 130 150
10th 400 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 90 110 110 70 * 20

Footon - How can you not like them?

Pro Tour teams have in the last season or two suddenly become a lot more PR savvy. Look at Cervelo Test Team's excellent Bartape series of videos or the slick, media revolution at Team Sky. Both provide some interesting glimpses into what goes on backstage in the Pro Cycling - but you're aware that what goes out to the public is a polished version of reality. This is a concept someone at Footon Servetto forgot to take on:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW_lDA7Eaoc&feature=player_embedded#

This is Footon's initiation ceremony for neoPro's. It involves racing round a carpark somewhere in Spain and drinking some high-strength firewater every lap. Perhaps the riders are drinking to forget they've signed to a team with the ugliest kit in the ProTour - who knows. What I do know is I like Footon more now than before.

Hillingdon Winter Series - Race 9

A massive turnout for the 3rds today - almost 50 riders! Positioning was obviously going to be critical in the last 2 laps...unless a break could stick?
A large contingent of Inverse riders drove the pace high from the off - I think they were trying to split the bunch but their tactics were never going to get results. I stayed in the middle of the field for most of the first half then moved up to the top 10. Jimbo and I had discussed making a break but I was sandwiched on the wrong side of the bunch when he made the jump on the back straight. He created a gap of 150m before I sprinted to join him before taking my pull half way up the home straight. Hard work though - the wind was unfriendly. By the back straight we had been joined by another 3 riders then about 3 others but the effort put in wasn't big enough to break the string with the peloton and we were reeled in after another lap. I kept my position in the top 10 on the regroup and soon the 5 laps to go board came up.
Kingston Wheelers played the game well throughout trying to disrupt the peloton whenever they had a man in the break. One of their riders, Jim, went off with two to go but ran out of steam. On the final lap I was in an OK position but found my sprint thwarted by riders going backwards. Impossible to make it through the gaps and ended up with 8th place. So, sitting third in the Winter league with 7 more BC points to play with before my spell in the 3rds comes to an end.

Photos from Lucy@Imperial Race Team

Place Club Series points
1stw 91 Ed Rose Progression Fitness 3 200
2nd w114 Ben Moores Norwood Paragon 3 150
3rd w111 jacek reder private member 3 130
4th w112 Gordon Kenneway London Dynamo 3 120

5th w 6 Mark Northover CC Giro 3 110
6thw 42 William Platt Kingston Wheelers CC 3 100
7th w150 Andrew Elderfield VC Revolution 3
8thw 41 Alan Strang Dulwich Paragon 3 90
9th w102 Phil Adams CC Ashwell 3 80
10th w109 Jon Lewis Charlotteville CC 3 70
11th w 87 Josh Maynard Welwyn Wheelers 3J 60

12th w 18 Andrew Harvey Kingston Wheelers 3 50
13th w 50 Stuart Stow Twickenham CC 3 40
14th w 16 Charlie Pearch Rapha Condor 3 30
15th w 88 Clinton Thomas lonon dynamo 4 20
16th w 55 Andy Edwards Kingston Wheelers CC 3 10
17th w 29 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 3
18th w 33 David Murrell London Phoenix 3
19th w 85 Simon North Hemel Hempstead CC/TORQ 3
20th w 5 Tom Neale Spalding CC 3J
21st w 43 Phillip Burgess Norwood Paragon CC 3

22nd w107 Stephen Hird London Pheonix 3
23rd w106 Christopher Wright Private Member 3
24th w 76 Peter Jones Hillingdon Cycling Club 3
25th w 93 Jai Watson Dulwich Paragon CC 3
26th w113 James Clark Inverse Racing/Bikefood 3
27th w110 Phil Roker Ful-on Tri 3

28th w 35 Andy Lack Kingston Wheelers 3
29th w 36 Tav InverseRacing/BikeFood 3
30th w 75 David Webborn London Dynamo CC 3
31st w 39 Dave Ryan Imperial Racing Team 3
32nd w 63 wayne thomas READING CC 3V
33rd w 60 Peter Dixon Willesden CC 3
34th w 92 Matt Treadwell Twickenham CC 3
35th w 47 Robert Wright Addiscombe CC3
36th w104 Corrine Hall Team Corridori 2Jw
37th w 62 Nick Franzini London Dynamo 3
38th w 81 Maryka Sennema Kingston Wheelers 2w
39th w101 Jason Evans Inverse Racing / Bikefood 3
40th w 64 Leona Kadir Kingston Whrs / SigmaSport 2w
41stw108 Rachel Przybylski Charlotteville CC 2w
42ndw103 james cartridge Inverse Racing 3
43rd ?
44th w 80 Jim Ley Kingston Wheelers 3
45thw 44 Nathan Smith London Phoenix 3
46th w105 Jeremy Hewitt Kingston Wheelers CC 3

Hillingdon Winter Series - Races 7 and 8

Race 7 was fell victim to Britain's mini ice age. About a foot of snow blanketed the Hillingdon track and sub zero temperatures meant it wasn't shifting anywhere fast. Instead I took to the MTB for some snowy rides round Richmond Park - great fun and a good workout.

Race 8

Like Team Sky's thin line between success and failure there's also a fine line between an ordeal and enjoying yourself when it comes to road racing. There was no snow left in London so the race was on. Heavy rain was predicted however so there was a fair bit of umming and ahhing about whether to turn up. It was dry when I set off but half way there the heavens opened and I got drenched. I made a futile attempt to dehydrate my kit under the air dryers but during the race the rain fell hard. Conditions were pretty tough - I was cold, wet and my eyes were puffed up with all the rain and grit flying into them. Nobody made any breaks (other than Jai from Paragons well-timed break for the prime) until Jimbo launched into the ether 20 minutes in. I sprinted to get on his wheel and forged ahead. I pulled for 3/4 of a lap them flicked the elbow for James to take over only to see him sit up! I was gutted - we'd established quite a gap and the 4ths peloton were only just ahead. Didn't feel up to 40 minutes TTing it so I sat up and joined the back of the peloton.
The 5 laps to go board came up so I moved my way forward steadily and with 3 laps to go I was nicely tucked away in the top 10. With 2 laps to go Andy from KW made a break which gave me a great opportunity to move into attack position and then on the final lap Jimbo went on the back straight keeping the line ordered. On the final curve I was able to sneak in right behind a couple of riders who started their sprints early before launching myself 200m from the line. 5 of us were in full sprint - 15m from the line I was just ahead but by the line I was just pipped into 3rd.
Post race I bought two teas but ended up loosing half of each to the cold shakes - I was that cold. 7 points, 9 away from 2nd Cat. Still think I could give it more in the sprint but that's a reassuring thing. So in the end just the right side of the ordeal/enjoyment line.

(Photos from London Cycle Sport and Lucy Collins)

Place Club Series points
1st w 31 Steven Jackson Rollapaluza CC 3 200
2ndw 44 Nathan Smith London Phoenix 3 150
3rd w 41 Alan Strang Dulwich Paragon 3 130
4th w 91 Ed Rose Progression Fitness 3 120
5th w 6 Mark Northover CC Giro 3 110

6th w 46 Andy Angwin London Phoenix 3 100
7th w 17 Calum MacLean Edinburgh RC 3 90
8th w 87 Josh Maynard Welwyn Wheelers 3J 80
9th w 60 Peter Dixon Willesden CC 3 70

10th w 77 Paul Stedman Reading CC 3 60
11th w 55 Andy Edwards Kingston Wheelers CC 3 50
12th w 63 wayne thomas Reading CC 3V 40
13th w 97 Andrew Stronge London Dynamo 3 30
14th w 86 James Dunsbier London Dynamo 3 20

15th w 10 Gregg James Behind The Bike Shed 3 10
16th w 85 Simon North Hemel Hempstead CC/TORQ 3

17th w 2 Paul Redman Thames Velo 3
18th w 93 Jai Watson Dulwich Paragon CC 3
19th ? Aragon bike
20th w 76 Peter Jones Hillingdon Cycling Club 3
21st w 29 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC 3
22nd w 92 Matt Treadwell Twickenham CC 3
23rd w 94 Gareth Welch Dulwich Paragon 3
24th w 43 Phillip Burgess Norwood Paragon CC 3
25th w 42 William Platt Kingston Wheelers CC 3
26th w 4 Robin Osborne London Dynamo CC 3

Hillingdon Winter Series - Races 5 and 6

Racing on the January 1st - crazy right? Yep, that's what my friends all thought when I left the boozer sometime between 1 and 2am when the drinks were flowing. It was a 50:50 decision but some how the urge to race overcame my desire for another Laphraoig. Maybe I need help.
Race morning, hangover, no time for prep or even porridge - Bran flakes instead. Cold and chilly at Hillingdon but a good turnout of T-Totalers and the race obsessives. Tim Benham was on the start line so he was the man to watch. I spent most of the race near the front or at the front and jumped on to all the promising breakaways. Really enjoyed the race today. Ended in a bunch sprint - I was in a great position again but just drifted off the front 3 to end 4th. Tim Benham won.

Imperial Winter Series - Race 6
Perhaps a degree warmer than yesterday and a massive turnout for the thirds. Started racing near the front again. Even pulled a breakaway with 2 others round an entire lap only to see the peloton close down on us all too easily. I think I'll need to go into the red to make a break stick rather than hoping for an amicable split from the pack next time. Decided to move to the back to see who was there and spent the rest of the race in the shadows until the last few laps. I was badly positioned on the second last corner so sprinted to move to the front. Loads of shouts alerting to my move - think I'm a marked man. Unfortunately I made a shocking decision to ease up to find a wheel before the final charge rather than just going for the line. Soon found myself surrounded and blocked in. No points, not even series points! 16th - meh.