That's a wrap!

I've decided to end my season this week, I think I'm ready for a rest after a long season of racing and training hard.

Last race update 

Last weekend I had a double racing weekend lined up, on the Saturday I went up to Oxford and managed 8th in Beeline RR, a little disappointed with how it panned out, a few mistakes made by myself. However the sunday race was a new experience. A RR in Elstead, Surrey, unfortunately the race had to be neutralized each lap because of a running event that was going through a village we had to pass through. This caused a bit of chaos with lots of cars and runners about, as we didn't have NEG motorbikes in front of the race, lets just say having the lead car to stop on a decent and the whole bunch having to grab the breaks, it makes for some heart in mouth moments, pretty sketchy. After the 2nd/3rd lap the race got abandoned after a parked car pulled out on one of the riders and forced him off the road and crash. If a lead car passes you and a 80 strong field are coming past, I'm pretty sure you shouldn't pull out..

Anyway they decided to switch circuits and after an hour we started again, and lets just say a similar thing happened on a decent,on narrow road, poor vision and with a horse in front.  Race abandoned again. Not how I wanted to end my season, but it is what it is.

So that's another season done. I'm happy with what I've achieved, learnt and how I progressed. I'm also confident in what I can achieve in the future and I've come out the other end of the 2015 season stronger and a much better rider overall. A big thanks has to go to my coach, Mark Dolan from Epic coaching for the help with the training and support this year.

Also a big thank you to my sponsor Pedal potential helping me make this season and all the racing opportunities possible!


Keep your eyes peeled, fingers crossed I'll have some good news in the coming weeks!


Au revoir.

March seems like a long time ago..

John Walker Memorial Road Race - National B

It's a familiar sight by now, cruising up the M4, M5 or whatever the road is called. Slap the postcode into the satnav and we're away. As long as it leads me to the race HQ that's good enough for me. Using brain power to remember specific locations is a lot of effort and unnecessary.

Managed to find the HQ. Quick drive around the course, got lost a few times (standard). Pretty big loop,mainly flat course with a kicker 3/4 way round and a drag up to the finish, last couple hundred Meters flatten out a bit. 

No pros were on the start list pre-race day, but a contingent of Madison, One pro and an NFTO managed to sneak into the race. This made the first few laps war, because like most British races particular national B or lower, there isn't much organisation so everyone wants to get up the road. So let the attacks commence. I got stuck in, sat high and followed the hitters. Spent a lot of time following moves, hiding  and chewing stem. Had a few moments when I dare look back for a split,it was mostly a long line, particularly for the first part of the course. Luckily my bunch skills have improved and I managed to slither myself through gaps to make life easier at the front or to just follow the biggest guy I could find!  Made some short lived moves but nothing serious that stuck. About half way through Leading up to the finish area, a few attacked and I bridged into a grim headwind, disgusting effort. I made it, just. It nearly came back and so the peloton split in the slight crosswind section after we turned left past the finish. So I made the front, thanks legs. However thanks to a inconsiderate driver slowing the race on purpose, all efforts were wasted and it came back. Thanks a lot.

A reasonable break were away in the last few laps, managed too not make it after being too far back thanks to getting a bottle (mistake) didn't help that the guy in front took his bottle like a snail. Thanks for getting in my way, appreciated.

Luckily we got most of the bunch rolling but after a while people weren't doing turns and got disorganized. Wasn't having that, so I got off the front with about 8 or more others and bridged to the front group. I took a bit of stick and sat on a bit, mainly because I wanted a result badly. Also thanks to the organizers for making the race longer that original, so by this point I'd asked every rider for a gel. No one. I needed one. Turns out a bar on the last lap wasn't a good plan (stitch).  

 3/4 a lap left and we were on, I ask around, 5 were off the front. A Madison rider marking moves for his teammate up ahead. 

Followed a move up a short hill, full beans, Nothing stuck. Legs must be good!

Leading to the finish it was attack after attack but after my previous bid I tried to keep at the front, follow a good wheel and use the finishing drag. Fighting for wheels, then 5 or so riders slipped off on the final drag around the outside, riders sat up in front and a rider then shut the door infront of  me. I kicked hard and only managed 16th. Not the result I hoped for, but 15th was an NFTO rider who medaled in the national TT champs, so shows the level.

Few things learnt. Race in the legs. Onto the next one..

Today's race (National B) - 

88 miles 

3 hr 21 min 

26.2 mph average

Number pinning (previous race). Nice socks.

3 1/2 hr Cruisin' to Oxford 

Quick season update/ overview

Over the 2015 season as you can see I've let my blog slip away a little. But I'll do my best to keep you guys updated at regular intervals from now on!

Season 2015 :

Well the year didn't start well for me.  At my scholarship training camp in January I became Ill, it didnt help that one of the other riders was not well and chose to be annoying close to everyone. This put any serious training on hold for a good few weeks. Starting my year a little slow. But I quickly found my feet back racing and got stuck in, although im trying to forget the early months with some grim weather. The highlight must have been being blown off the road,on top of Haytor at the Totnes-vire 2 day race. 

I have raced most weekends in the year. Still learning the trade and what to do during the races, whether it be tactics, saving energy or moving in the bunch more efficiently. Each race Is an opportunity and a chance to learn. Looking back now,I can feel I've come a long way from when I first turned a pedal or even starting 2015, however still many many more lessons to be learned and I look forward to it. 

So altogether this year Ive managed-

3- podiums

10 - top 10

18 - top 20

But still chasing that elusive first win and getting that feeling with the hands in the air. 

Now only a few weeks left of the 2015 season, so the final push. Then it will be a welcomed end of season rest and reflect.

Ham Hill Road race (E/1/2)

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