Met up with Steve Golla and Wouter Sybrandy today in Amersham and rode around the Chilterns, although as commented by Wouter I wasn't exactly taking in the beautiful views as I spent most of the time looking at my cycle computer checking my power.
Rode up a few hills including the infamous Whiteleaf which I did a bit of an effort up getting to the top in about 4 mins 30 seconds.
Luckily had a nice tailwind to help me back home as otherwise i might not have made it.
Hardest ride i've done since July, off to ireland this evening to spend new years over there with the girlfriend and her family. Im terrible though have spent the afternoon packing up my bike so I can get in a few hours of cycling in the mourne mountains whilst im over there.
Sunday 30 December 2007
Saturday 29 December 2007
29th December - Hillingdon again
A windy day greeted the 40 or so riders who turned up for today's installment of the Imperial Winter Series.
Me and Steve were both riding again and both of us made the decisive break of 7 riders. With most of the break working well maintaining a 20 second or so gap to the bunch. As the race was nearing the finish I was aware of better sprinters in the group (well would be hard for them not be bettter than myself) so I put in a few attacks to try and break things up. However was well marked and I lost out in the final sprint for the line. Paul Pickup (BC private member) took the win, and Steve sprinting to 2nd place. I lost out narrowly to Chris Moores (Norwood Paragon) on the line to end up in 4th.
Todays ride saw me using my newest piece of kit, some new Speedplay zero pedals. After only fitting them to my bike yesterday afternoon was a little worried about how I would go with them, but they were fantastic. The manufacturers claims of better cornering are well founded as I found myself able to take the chicane tighter and also still pedal around without grounding out once, which is something i've been doing a fair bit recently at hillingdon with my old pedals.
Me and Steve were both riding again and both of us made the decisive break of 7 riders. With most of the break working well maintaining a 20 second or so gap to the bunch. As the race was nearing the finish I was aware of better sprinters in the group (well would be hard for them not be bettter than myself) so I put in a few attacks to try and break things up. However was well marked and I lost out in the final sprint for the line. Paul Pickup (BC private member) took the win, and Steve sprinting to 2nd place. I lost out narrowly to Chris Moores (Norwood Paragon) on the line to end up in 4th.
Todays ride saw me using my newest piece of kit, some new Speedplay zero pedals. After only fitting them to my bike yesterday afternoon was a little worried about how I would go with them, but they were fantastic. The manufacturers claims of better cornering are well founded as I found myself able to take the chicane tighter and also still pedal around without grounding out once, which is something i've been doing a fair bit recently at hillingdon with my old pedals.
Wednesday 26 December 2007
Boxing day @ Hillingdon
After consuming rather a lot of food (particularly chocolate, mince pies and christmas cake) yesterday thought i'd head down to hillingdon and burn off a few calories.
I was taking it pretty easy for the first half of the race, watching while my Sigma team mate, Steve Golla was riding aggressively and making what was the most promising move of the early race in a break of 4 although they never got more than a hundred metres away from the pack.
With around 2/3 of the race covered, gaps were starting to appear, probably as a result of people starting to feel the effects of too mince pies and brandy. The race then split into two with a group of around 10 with both myself and steve in it, and the rest of the usual suspects.
I was just going through hard enough so the pack didn't come back, but was wary of doing too much with other people in the group sitting on or doing very little. With just under 4 laps to ride I saw a little opportunity and attacked . Thanks to some great team work from Steve blocking in the break I managed to hold a good gap from the rest of the break to the finish and could ease down as I crossed the line alone to claim my second win of the series.
Report on Londoncyclesport website
I was taking it pretty easy for the first half of the race, watching while my Sigma team mate, Steve Golla was riding aggressively and making what was the most promising move of the early race in a break of 4 although they never got more than a hundred metres away from the pack.
With around 2/3 of the race covered, gaps were starting to appear, probably as a result of people starting to feel the effects of too mince pies and brandy. The race then split into two with a group of around 10 with both myself and steve in it, and the rest of the usual suspects.
I was just going through hard enough so the pack didn't come back, but was wary of doing too much with other people in the group sitting on or doing very little. With just under 4 laps to ride I saw a little opportunity and attacked . Thanks to some great team work from Steve blocking in the break I managed to hold a good gap from the rest of the break to the finish and could ease down as I crossed the line alone to claim my second win of the series.
Report on Londoncyclesport website
Sunday 23 December 2007
Racing with Power...
I raced again at hillingdon, another good result for the team as Steve Golla stormed to a fine 2nd place showing his ability in the sprint as well as being able to line the field out mid race.
No wind at all this weekend, and every move was well marked until with one lap to go Steve attacked coming through the finish and dragged about 4 away with him. I did what I usually do in a bunch sprint by turning myself into a slow moving obstacle luckily all were able to avoid me and get to the finish safely.
Below are a couple of screenshots showing my power data from the race:
The first 5 or so minutes (Sitting in the bunch)
The last 2 kms:
No wind at all this weekend, and every move was well marked until with one lap to go Steve attacked coming through the finish and dragged about 4 away with him. I did what I usually do in a bunch sprint by turning myself into a slow moving obstacle luckily all were able to avoid me and get to the finish safely.
Below are a couple of screenshots showing my power data from the race:
The first 5 or so minutes (Sitting in the bunch)
The last 2 kms:
Monday 17 December 2007
Training with power....
Well exciting day as I've got myself a powertap wheel thanks to the guys at Sigma Sport and Mastercard.
This will undoubtably add another level to the geek factor of my cycling obsession.
Just have to remember to look at the road as well as my little yellow computer.
Ride home saw an average of 270 watts to get me home in 20.5 minutes, more data to be got tomorrow when I go for my first training ride using my new gadget.
This will undoubtably add another level to the geek factor of my cycling obsession.
Just have to remember to look at the road as well as my little yellow computer.
Ride home saw an average of 270 watts to get me home in 20.5 minutes, more data to be got tomorrow when I go for my first training ride using my new gadget.
Sunday 16 December 2007
2008 Season starts early...
The 2007 season for me finished at the end of october at the final round of the SE series at the top of Leith hill.
Most of October was spent off the bike and included a weeks holiday to Sardinia with my fiancee, Leon.
November saw me start my training for the 2008 season with a plan to start racing late January / Early February.
However, as December starts the weather turns foul and the appeal of long slow rides quickly wanes, so its off to Hillingdon in time for week two of the Imperial Winter series, riding in the colours of my new team for 2008, Sigma Sport.
Saturday 8/12/07 - Very windy and wet day which saw the race splitting early and me up front with new team mate Steve Golla for company in a group of 8. Feeling pretty strong and tried my luck a few times to ride away but was hard going alone down the straight into the wind and was brought back. End up with no legs for the sprint and roll across the finish line in 5th Place, with Steve going one better in 4th.
(Report on BC website)
Saturday 15/12/07 - Race 3 of the Imperial Winter Series with Sigma team mate Steve Golla again in attendance and riding strongly throughout but choosing not to contest the sprint. I rode a couple of hard laps in the middle of the race where I got a few seconds on the bunch and tried to make it stick, but the bunch stayed close, so nothing came of it and was looking like it might finish in a bunch sprint. However, 4 laps to go and whilst riding in 4th wheel someone behind left a little gap entering the straight so I attacked hard and buried myself for the next lap and then had a look around to see that the pack out of sight. Now committed I had to try and hold that till the finish which was pretty painful but after my hard lap I found myself with a 30 second or so lead over the bunch and it turned out this was enough of a head start so I even got to smile a bit and ease down as I crossed the line, did not dare to take my hands off the bars and celebrate lest I fall and break something, first win of the 2008 season, hope i've not peaked too early >< (Report on BC Website)
Sunday 16/12/07 - Bentley 10 mile TT and my final race in the colours of what is now my 2nd claim club Kingston Wheelers. Legs feeling a little jaded after yesterdays efforts and despite borrowing a super "bling" bike from friend and fellow Wheeler, Lawrence, could only manage a low 22 minute ride about 30 seconds behind the winner. Lots of cakes eaten in the HQ afterwards to ease the pain, the flapjack was particularly good! Back to back racing days this early in the season was probably a bit much, but had this one booked up for a few weeks before I'd decided to start racing at the Winter Series.
Below: me riding the Bentley TT on Lawrence's bike
Most of October was spent off the bike and included a weeks holiday to Sardinia with my fiancee, Leon.
November saw me start my training for the 2008 season with a plan to start racing late January / Early February.
However, as December starts the weather turns foul and the appeal of long slow rides quickly wanes, so its off to Hillingdon in time for week two of the Imperial Winter series, riding in the colours of my new team for 2008, Sigma Sport.
Saturday 8/12/07 - Very windy and wet day which saw the race splitting early and me up front with new team mate Steve Golla for company in a group of 8. Feeling pretty strong and tried my luck a few times to ride away but was hard going alone down the straight into the wind and was brought back. End up with no legs for the sprint and roll across the finish line in 5th Place, with Steve going one better in 4th.
(Report on BC website)
Saturday 15/12/07 - Race 3 of the Imperial Winter Series with Sigma team mate Steve Golla again in attendance and riding strongly throughout but choosing not to contest the sprint. I rode a couple of hard laps in the middle of the race where I got a few seconds on the bunch and tried to make it stick, but the bunch stayed close, so nothing came of it and was looking like it might finish in a bunch sprint. However, 4 laps to go and whilst riding in 4th wheel someone behind left a little gap entering the straight so I attacked hard and buried myself for the next lap and then had a look around to see that the pack out of sight. Now committed I had to try and hold that till the finish which was pretty painful but after my hard lap I found myself with a 30 second or so lead over the bunch and it turned out this was enough of a head start so I even got to smile a bit and ease down as I crossed the line, did not dare to take my hands off the bars and celebrate lest I fall and break something, first win of the 2008 season, hope i've not peaked too early >< (Report on BC Website)
Sunday 16/12/07 - Bentley 10 mile TT and my final race in the colours of what is now my 2nd claim club Kingston Wheelers. Legs feeling a little jaded after yesterdays efforts and despite borrowing a super "bling" bike from friend and fellow Wheeler, Lawrence, could only manage a low 22 minute ride about 30 seconds behind the winner. Lots of cakes eaten in the HQ afterwards to ease the pain, the flapjack was particularly good! Back to back racing days this early in the season was probably a bit much, but had this one booked up for a few weeks before I'd decided to start racing at the Winter Series.
Below: me riding the Bentley TT on Lawrence's bike
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