Yesterday rode the SE champs on the tenterdon circuit... A race that I would really like to win one day.
Sadly yesterday was never gonna be that day! In the past two months since the Girvan I have only done one race (the Lincoln GP - which I didn't finish) and haven't done any long 0r hard training sessions.
When Andy Betts jumped off the front on the first time up the hill i was in a good place to go with it so jumped across to him and was last man into a group of 7 or 8 riders and started rolling through to help keep it away. At least this would give me a good workout and with give Sigma a presence up there at the front of the race.
We were keeping a good but not super fast pace, but each time up the hill I could feel my legs getting progressively weaker. After about 80k the race favourites including team mate Gary Dodd, Steve Calland and Chris McNamara bridged across. As they were about to get across Andy Betts made a nice move going off the front with Darren Barclay. This allowed me to rest my already knackered legs in the shelter of now enlarged group.
When it started attacking again I was long wasted having been cramping up the hill the previous 2 laps and did my best to cover a few moves but each time I did this was getting dropped afterwards and having to chase on - Joy!
Eventually after not too long the race went ahead without me with the group splitting with the strongest riders on the day getting away, no searing attacks just legs behind that were too tired to respond.
Was pretty wasted by the time I eventually crossed the line, took me more than 30 minutes to cycle back to the HQ at which time the medals had already been given out.
Taking some positives... Whilst the knees aren't painfree yet the rest of the body hurts almost as much today and im confident that my body is strong enough that I can slowly start to ramp up the training load again.
Think ill take some good fitness away from that race... Was a good workout for sure and was at the front of the race for around 110k which isn't bad considering the little training I have done in the past 2 months.
Further positives are that I have been really disciplined and motivated on the diet front just now and keeping a diary to help get the body fat % down and keep it there.
Also beautiful and sunny here in the UK at the minute and can feel the tan coming along nicely.
Well all being well I will be off to Ryedale this weekend looking forward to take a good kicking... Can't wait!
Monday 1 June 2009
Wednesday 22 April 2009
Not much to update with
Been another few months with little postive to report with regards to cycling for me unfortunately.
Came back from my Majorcan training camp with a niggly knee injury that has persisted and left me stretching more often than cycling. Although I have raced a few times I haven't really ever felt at 100%.
So far season reads:
Training camps: Really flying!
Severn Bridge Road Race: Rode this one after having flu all week and being confined to the bed - couldn't do anything all day! Was probably in the back group when stupidly rode hard up the hill with a lap to go and then found myself in a small group! Not what I had wanted not enough shelter to hide behind!
Bikeline - Cancelled halfway through 1st stage, had only managed top 30 for the prologue, and on the training ride the next day we did instead of the race felt so empty and fed up, spent all day practising hanging onto the team car!
Tour of the Reservoir - Missed a 20 man break! Back feeling sore after doing too much in training the week before. However actually not going too awful in this one but taught a lesson about riding in the wrong place in the bunch.
Thames Velo Road Race - Cramped and dropped from bunch! Not exactly sure what happened
Girvan - Blew up completely in the crit with 2 laps to go and nearly got lapped. Went ok in the last stage though - climbed ok and got in the 2nd group on the road on a race that split to bits after a big crash mid race.
Not exactly going to plan so far!
On the other hand... The premier calender series is definately a lot stronger this year than last. It is noticeable how much better the teams are, particularly those with full time riders. As a team the Halfords riders are seriously quick on the flat and when they go to the front in a cross I know that its only seconds away before i'll be perched right on the nose of the saddle, and giving it everything to try and hold the wheel in front.
It's also slowly sinking in just how important positioning is, and this is even more true when you aren't going well - last year I had a tendency to ride last wheel too often and then have to ride across gaps when the guy in front of me popped. This year find myself near the back and I am too often struggling to get across those gaps!
Well might as well go stretch now... Hopefully a few more weeks and i'll be fit and healthy again, and back to the fitness I had before the training camps.
Came back from my Majorcan training camp with a niggly knee injury that has persisted and left me stretching more often than cycling. Although I have raced a few times I haven't really ever felt at 100%.
So far season reads:
Training camps: Really flying!
Severn Bridge Road Race: Rode this one after having flu all week and being confined to the bed - couldn't do anything all day! Was probably in the back group when stupidly rode hard up the hill with a lap to go and then found myself in a small group! Not what I had wanted not enough shelter to hide behind!
Bikeline - Cancelled halfway through 1st stage, had only managed top 30 for the prologue, and on the training ride the next day we did instead of the race felt so empty and fed up, spent all day practising hanging onto the team car!
Tour of the Reservoir - Missed a 20 man break! Back feeling sore after doing too much in training the week before. However actually not going too awful in this one but taught a lesson about riding in the wrong place in the bunch.
Thames Velo Road Race - Cramped and dropped from bunch! Not exactly sure what happened
Girvan - Blew up completely in the crit with 2 laps to go and nearly got lapped. Went ok in the last stage though - climbed ok and got in the 2nd group on the road on a race that split to bits after a big crash mid race.
Not exactly going to plan so far!
On the other hand... The premier calender series is definately a lot stronger this year than last. It is noticeable how much better the teams are, particularly those with full time riders. As a team the Halfords riders are seriously quick on the flat and when they go to the front in a cross I know that its only seconds away before i'll be perched right on the nose of the saddle, and giving it everything to try and hold the wheel in front.
It's also slowly sinking in just how important positioning is, and this is even more true when you aren't going well - last year I had a tendency to ride last wheel too often and then have to ride across gaps when the guy in front of me popped. This year find myself near the back and I am too often struggling to get across those gaps!
Well might as well go stretch now... Hopefully a few more weeks and i'll be fit and healthy again, and back to the fitness I had before the training camps.
Sunday 25 January 2009
Weekend in the country
Just back from a thoroughly enjoyable weekend staying with fellow Wheeler Stewie Martin at his new house in the country.
Me, Steve, Dan and Shawn all drove out to the country to stay with at the Martins place in Ardingly, Sussex. Beautiful Tudor house, and some great cycling country right on his doorstep, lucky man. Couple of rides which were shortened from the original plan due to rather a lot of rain leaving some big puddles / floods to get round. Whilst short the rides definately weren't easy with me and 1st cat Steve (who has his own website / blog @ http://www.theroadcyclist.com/) racing each other up the hills in particular with the race up the Ditchling Beacon going all the way to the wire!
Next weekend and North Wales, praying for improvement in the weather, although regardless reckon it'll be a good laugh and looking forward to seeing the rest of the team again.
Me, Steve, Dan and Shawn all drove out to the country to stay with at the Martins place in Ardingly, Sussex. Beautiful Tudor house, and some great cycling country right on his doorstep, lucky man. Couple of rides which were shortened from the original plan due to rather a lot of rain leaving some big puddles / floods to get round. Whilst short the rides definately weren't easy with me and 1st cat Steve (who has his own website / blog @ http://www.theroadcyclist.com/) racing each other up the hills in particular with the race up the Ditchling Beacon going all the way to the wire!
Next weekend and North Wales, praying for improvement in the weather, although regardless reckon it'll be a good laugh and looking forward to seeing the rest of the team again.
Sunday 11 January 2009
2009
First post in a very long time!
Had been feeling pretty down about cycling after spending September through to December with my chronic hip injury not really improving, as everytime I tried to up my training I would be punished with my body breaking down and putting me in pain.
Finally had a bit of a breakthrough around xmas, helped by a visit to Sigmsport for a bikefitting with Lee, which not only sorted out my position on the bike, but also renewed my motivation to do the exercises and stretches that I need to do to help me hip get better.
So now mid January, hip problem improving, and am now finally starting to get stuck into training for proper. As expected not really all that fit now, but I am confident that come my first race in March I should be going well.
Got some stuff to look forward though in the next few months, a 3 day training weekend in north wales at the end of January and then another one in Majorca in mid-february. Means I wont be racing til later than last year, when I was really up for the winter series but come the first weekend of March hope to be able to get stuck into racing and hopefully going well.
Last couple of weeks have been really cold, but forecast for the next week looks a little milder albeit predicted to be pretty wet. Can't win with the weather this year, really has been a rubbish winter. Just keeping my fingers crossed that itll be ok for the weekend in North Wales!
Had been feeling pretty down about cycling after spending September through to December with my chronic hip injury not really improving, as everytime I tried to up my training I would be punished with my body breaking down and putting me in pain.
Finally had a bit of a breakthrough around xmas, helped by a visit to Sigmsport for a bikefitting with Lee, which not only sorted out my position on the bike, but also renewed my motivation to do the exercises and stretches that I need to do to help me hip get better.
So now mid January, hip problem improving, and am now finally starting to get stuck into training for proper. As expected not really all that fit now, but I am confident that come my first race in March I should be going well.
Got some stuff to look forward though in the next few months, a 3 day training weekend in north wales at the end of January and then another one in Majorca in mid-february. Means I wont be racing til later than last year, when I was really up for the winter series but come the first weekend of March hope to be able to get stuck into racing and hopefully going well.
Last couple of weeks have been really cold, but forecast for the next week looks a little milder albeit predicted to be pretty wet. Can't win with the weather this year, really has been a rubbish winter. Just keeping my fingers crossed that itll be ok for the weekend in North Wales!
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