May13

Bob Whitear RR

by joshracer on May 13th, 2012 at 9:49 am
Posted In: Cycling, Cycling, Racing

I had to get up so early for this race. At 4:30 no one should have to get up. Dad was of the same opinion. But off we went to the race in Great Yarmouth. We set off from the HQ at 8:30 and as typical of a E123 race the attacks came thick and fast.
Eventually after a dozen or so failed attempts a group of 7 pulled away to around a minute. It was the start of an eighty mile race so I was not panicking too much. But as time went by and we passed the halfway mark our bunch was around 3 minutes down.
Fortunately things started to turn in our favour as the break began to tire and the reasonably flat course allowed a large group (13 of us) to get away from the peleton. All throughout the race gaps needed to be crossed to small groups and I found myself always working with the same rider. He was a reliable, strong rider from CCAshwell. Both he and I made it across to the chasing group and settled into a nice pattern of working and resting. Things began to speed up and before we knew it the front group was in sight. They saw us and began to ride hard but fortunately I was alert to the situation and stormed across the gap with a rider from Metaltek-Scott. Coming into the final lap we bridged to them and then it was a matter of hanging on to the sprint.

I was feeling quite good coming into it but knew that I would have to position myself well as the downhill start to the sprint did not suit my limited junior gearing. I did just this and out of 20 (the chasing group just made contact in the last 2 miles) I came fifth. A good result that gets me a lot of national points.

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May12

E2/10 10 mile TT

by joshracer on May 12th, 2012 at 11:48 am
Posted In: Cycling

Another fast ten course! This time on the A11. I was feeling good at the start of this race but there were a lot of fast people around. Setting off with the wind I was quickly up to speed and rolling over the slightly undulating course. The crosswind made hard work of the way out but it was even harder after the turn as somehow there was a head wind. I managed a 22:12 which seems like a fast time (16 second off pb) but it puts me at almost halfway down the field. There was an 18:49 on the board when we left. Henry recorded a 21:04 winning the middle markers.
I felt like I was putting everything into the ride but it turns out I wasn’t fast ebough. The bike was perfect but the rider let it down.

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May07

Ixworth Crits Win!!!

by joshracer on May 7th, 2012 at 1:35 pm
Posted In: Cycling, Cycling, Racing

The first race was a short 20 minute blast around Ixworth town centre. Each year I look forward to this race with its tight corners and Junior only racing. Not having any adults in our first race means that we can be assured of fast and safe racing.

Unfortunately coming into the final section of the race George fell in a crash leaving just Alex and i to finish it off. The lead group of 7 of us had powered away from the rest of the riders and came into the finishing straight at incredible speed. The sprint was disrupted as we caught a lapped group on the line and Alex crossed the line in third with me bringing up the rear in 7th.

As a result of this Alex progressed to the Invitation A race whilst I had to settle for the B race. I had a good feeling in my legs and I was active immediately. Attacking to get off the front I knew that I had riders (Ryan, Sean and George) holding the pack back. I took both the primes (£15 each) and then soloed to victory. The sharp accelerations and tight corners do not usually suit a rider as big as me but I loved the race and will be going back again.

My younger brother Daniel put in a valiant effort to come in fourth. The video below is a mix of all the different races involving welwyn riders.

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May05

Andy Morrison Mem RR

by joshracer on May 5th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
Posted In: Cycling, Cycling, Racing

The Andy Morrison road race is run on a small and fast course near Cranfield University. I did this race last year and it was very hot. Today it was 2 degrees centigrade when we arrived. A bit different.

Around 70 riders started the race and the break attempts just kept on coming as we rolled into the first of 18 laps. A particualrly committed rider from London Dynamo went away by himself but did not gain any more than 20 seconds on the bunch. Then around halfway through the race I attacked up the headwind hill section of the 2 mile lap. The gap seemed small enough to cross and it would have been a good move if the two riders who went with me had worked smoothly. Unfortunately for me the rider from High Wycombe decided it would be best for him to jump across alone. In a splendid tactical racing move he waited for me to swing off and then attacked over the top. He made the break and they ploughed on whilst I drifted back to the bunch.

The break won by 50 seconds (a large margin on todays course) and I sprinted in at around 13th. I am not sure if this is in the points or prizes region but I sincerely hope so.

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Apr29

Gruelling Training weekend

by joshracer on April 29th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Posted In: Cycling, Cycling, Training

This saturday we set out in the pouring rain to start off our training weekend. We managed 105 miles including hill repeats up Offley hill. We all got back safe and sound with none of us really up to doing anything at all for a few more days.

But fortunately we had another ride to do today. A rather short (compared to the day before) 45 mile ride, again in the rain. As a team we bonded well with decent through and off maintained throughout. I really enjoyed the weekend but I am hoping for sun as soon as possible.

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