Winter?

Winter you say? what rain, what flooding? Cold fingers, freezing toes, thing of the past!

I've been super lucky to get away early, before the season begins. This means I get to concentrate on training, resting and getting myself prepared for a big and exciting season ahead with EC Cartucho.

Training over the winter has been going well, a few issues here and there, losing some training days but overall some solid prep for the season done already. I'm currently down south in a nice village called Turre (Nr Mojacar) at the minute. I plan on heading up to Madrid at the end of the month. Starting it all off with team training rides and the team presentation on the first weekend - Looking forward to meeting everyone and getting settled in for the season ahead!

Time really does fly! My first season abroad is just around the corner. Not long now and I'll be pinning numbers on before you know it..

I love good food too much.

Market Day - Best day of the week.

Pancakes and fruit at an Asian buffet - Oh yes.

2016 Team Announcement - EC Cartucho.es

I can finally announce that  I will be riding for the Spanish Elite/U23 Team EC Cartucho.es (formerly EC Magro) for the 2016 season! 

They have an exciting calendar lined up, consisting of races throughout Spain and into Portugal. It will feature all the  Copa de Espana races (Spanish cup), also other single day and stage races across Spain/Portugal and maybe a few races abroad. 

I'm really looking forward to taking the step up with team. I can't wait to get started and also to be living in Spain throughout the year, its going to be an exciting experience.

I Just want to say thank you to Pedal Potential for supporting me throughout last season and also to Epic Coaching , without the support and coaching, this move wouldn't have been possible. 

Now some hard winter preparation lies ahead, then bring on 2016!

Oh I remember..

After nearly a months break, which consisted of only riding a few times a week and at a pretty steady pace, I've slowly started to get back into training again. I think my legs forgot how to push on the pedals though, they didn't like the first session of tempo efforts that they saw or even the threshold test to setup my training zones. Bit grim, but they'll come round.


However,  I'm feeling refreshed and ready to get into the swing of things again! Getting into a good routine of eating, training and resting well.

In order to improve myself and step up winter preparations this year compared to last, I've added another member to my 'Team' Im working with Matt Luxton, who is helping me in the gym with my strength and mobility this winter. Ultimately strengthening my body, so I'll be stronger, more efficient and solid on the bike.


So yes, that means I'm gonna look like this in no time..

Stacked.

Well..
not quite.

It may only be just the start, but the next 3/4 months of hard work will build the foundations for my success during the 2016 season. I'm looking forward to getting stuck in!

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)

Don't forget to follow me on social media! You can find my links to Twitter, Facebook and  Instagram on the homepage

 

Training camp

       

A few months ago, I applied for a scholarship program and I am very happy to hear successful news! In the second week of January I will be heading off to Southern Spain for a weeks training camp. The camp will be run by Cycle sierra Nevada and as the name states, we will be cruising up and around the Sierra Nevada mountains. Checking out some of climbs the pros suffered up in the Vuelta Espana, pretty sure these climbs will make the local Cornish hills look tiny! climbing legs will be found!

I will be training with a group of other talented selected riders, who will be mainly Irish, but with also a Dane and a fellow English guy. Looking forward to getting out there exploring the mountains and meeting new riders. Counting the days down, to my first proper training camp, cant wait. 

Check out the link- Vuelta stage 10 2013

Pedal potential

I am happy to announce that throughout 2015 I will be supported by Pedal potential. I am very grateful to have gained support towards achieving my future goals and to be one of their supported athletes. 

I hope to repay back their support with some great results next season, watch this space.

www.pedalpotential.co.uk  

Done and dusted

First block of training done!
Its not even November yet but a step closer to toeing the start line again in February.

Stats from the past few weeks:

Time - 48 hrs 3 mins
783 miles covered
51,619 ft climbed

It was good to get back in the saddle and start laying down the foundations for a successful 2015 and building on from the past season. Fitting in the hours around working is an issue, but I want to focus on cycling, one day I hope to do this full time. Some people may laugh at that, but as they say, hard work pays off. Even people at the top of the tree, in any aspect of life had to start at the bottom. This winter is about building the engine and base fitness my body will need for the demands of the racing. The length of the races will range from 65 miles up to 100 miles. I will also aim for a few short stages races along the way, but focusing mainly on the one day races.

During the past few weeks, I think I only managed to get drowned on a few rides (winning).
Looking forward to a nice easy week with a couple of cafe rides including, then its onto the next one!
Lets hope it stays dry for the next few months!.. Would be nice ayy.
If someone fancies going to Spain in luxury for the winter, to train or to just look around and sunbathe. Lets share a place to save the moneys and do this. Get in touch! (Im serious, message me if you're interested!)...

A Cornish winter

After my first full cycling season I took a well earned 3/4 week break. Thanks to my coach (Mark Dolan) for setting the plans all year and to my dad for saving my legs and driving me to races all year, hero.

I learnt a lot about racing and myself throughout the year, with many mistakes made along the way. I didn't get all the results I expected of myself, but for my first proper season, its a good stepping stone for the future.The Main thing I did learn though is that I  bloody love racing my bike. 

With 2015 looming and big goals in mind, I'm ready to make my mark and take it up a level and so winter training has already begun. Ready the diving gloves and rain cape for the next good few months.