Dave Nichols Racing Blog

New Years Musings

2014-01-02T00:01:00.000+00:00

It’s been a pretty long time since I wrote a blog, and at risk of succumbing to the new year/new start cliché, it seemed an apt opportunity for a self-indulging account of the past 8 months, and a view to the next few.

The last time I wrote back in April I was awaiting the results from an MRI scan and preparing for the race season with my new team at 23c-Focus. Whilst the scan ruled out any disc issues, there were no obvious related causes either. The inevitable physio safety net of core training was offered as the NHS solution to treat the problem they didn’t know existed. “Well it won’t do any harm, will it”. Seems legit.

In fairness, I’d seeked private help with Scott at Benfleet Physiotherapy, one which I thoroughly recommend, and after a series of tests was informed I had the worst core stability of any athlete they had ever seen, and not far from that of a middle aged woman. It seems 5 years of the Sleep. Eat. Cycle. Repeat. lifestyle did my body no favours; it wouldn't be far from the truth to say the furthest I’d walked in that period was from my bed to my bike. Who’d have thought it?

Disappointingly to myself and the team, I didn't start a single race last season. After 11 months off the bike and endless, mind-numbingly boring core exercises, I had made frustratingly little progress, other than my 1RM bench press. The gym monkey in me was beating it’s way out and cutting away at my soul every time I attended the gym. I’m not proud to say, we (housemate and fellow ‘former’ cyclist Mikey) even did shoulder day. Once.

However, my friend, bike fitter and “the (second) best cyclist in Loughborough” Sandy King, provided a ground-breaking breakthrough after a sweaty evening of questionable hand placement. Make of that what you will. It transpired that during the pedal action and subsequently emerged throughout life, I’ve been under-activating and completely under-reliant on my gluets, I suspect in favour of the smaller rotational and stabilising muscles deeper in the hip and hence suffering issues relating to my piriformis muscle, sacro-illiac joint and sciatic nerve. No quantity of core training was going to overcome the loss of stability with an essentially unused gluet. That’s just science.

Anyway, to cut an already long story short, the gluet activation work seems to be doing the trick, for now. I’m back on the bike, and back over-training.

Some of us will never learn. Watch this space.

A New Focus?

2013-04-11T19:50:00.000+01:00

The bike racing season is well under way by now and I’d love to be updating my blog with self-promoting accounts of good sensations and beautiful races. A few months ago, I signed for British based squad 23c-Foucus, a team I’ve regularly encountered over the past few years, also being based in the South-East. The team will be riding the premier calendar series, the top domestic national A & B events, and have secured guest appearances in the televised tour series: the perfect setting to exhibit my reverse-break away tekkers’ to the world.

It’s a racing strategy which has been all but enhanced through recent injury. I’m currently side-lined waiting for results of an MRI scan on my back, having not taken to the start line for a single road race so far this year. For now, all I can do envisage my Cancellaraesq strength, and if I tell everyone it enough, they may just believe it.

For now the focus is getting a diagnosis, fixing the problem, and getting in shape for races later in the year. I’m in good hands being treated by EIS sport medics at Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham. Any hospital with free coffee in the waiting room gets my approval; I’ll take free coffee over good health care any day. At least the governments got its priorities right on that account.

My one saving grace is a final year dissertation deadline a week away, so at least my time isn’t filled with day-time TV and hangovers. Not yet anyway. I’ve also been accepted onto a masters degree in exercise physiology next year, so will be blessing Lufbra with my presence into 2014 and beyond. Lock up your daughters.

That new Focus? Well, it’s sitting in my garage, for the time being at least, anyway.

To follow the progress of the team you can check out the facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/Twenty3cFocus?fref=ts

My fridge is warmer than my house. It's time for a winter update.

2012-11-24T15:39:00.001+00:00

Having just bailed on a ride, accepting that apparently I cannot part the Red sea, or even that little flooded bit between Loughborough and Stanford, I’ve found myself procrastinating in the ‘should be on the turbo by now’ realm, and decided to write a blog update instead. I’ll turbo later. I Promise.

Last time around, I had just moved out to Belgium to begin my season, whilst everyone else was just winding down for the end of theirs. However, given that I could count the number of races I’d done last season with the fingers on my hands and the number of wins with the fingers on my feet, I was pretty focused on doing some serious racing and avoiding the lure of nights out in Gent with “the lads”. I spent most of my time racing with house “mate” Llewellyn Kinch, and Josh Cunningham and Matt Pilkington who lived just down the road in Zottegem proper. The racing was epic, I think the most time between races was 2 or 3 days off, and we often doubled up on the weekends. Just for primes. Days off consisted of getting woken up by Kinch because he was bored and spinning to the iconic towns of Geraardsbergen, Oudenarde, and others for coffees. We watched films at night and occasionally cracked out the Flemish board games. We were pretty damn cool. And we were certainly living the dream.

The results were ok. Sometimes I got in the break, sometimes I won the sprint for 65th, and once I didn’t even finish. But it was OK. I had 4 weeks to race, and trying to build race form having been injured and racing next to nothing all year was always going to be ambitious in less than a month. Here we go:

Date	Event	Cat	distance	position
2/10	Jef Schils Memoiral	Nat A	150km	10
6/10	Koeklare	UCI 1.12B	120km	11
8/10	Berlare	UCI 1.2b	115km	65
9/10	OpHasselt	UCI 1.12B	120km	21
15/10	Sleidinge	UCI. 1.12	112km	26
16/10	Haaltart	UCI 1.12B	108km	Puncture mid race
18/10	Niewekerke-Aalst	UCI 1.12B	120km	34
23/10	Merelbeke	UCI 1.12B	110km	19
26/10	Langemark	UCI 1.12	75km	12

I sneaked in a couple of top 20’s. But nothing more. My favourite race was the final one, an evening crit in Langemark. It was the day I left Belgium, so my dad arrived early so we could get to the race before catching the ferry home. The parcours was a 1.5km twisty lap, with a few hundred metre section of cobbles down to the finish line. What started as a nice evening turned into the mother of all storms, and of the 70 starters, only 19 finished. It was brutal and horrible, but I loved it. That’s the type of racing I live for.

Term started back in Loughborough in October. Given the lack of a road season, I’ve partially returned to my roots in cross racing this winter. I came 3^rd in Baldock, behind the super talented Hugo Robinson and Jack Clarkson, and two 5^th places in the Notts and Derby league since. There was a 30something in there as well after a crash and puncture on the opening lap. That’s just cross racing though. The efforts paid off as I successfully defended my BUCS cyclo-cross title last weekend in Durham. I’m not one to dwell on my victories (we won the team prize as well), but my friend Chris has written a blog all about it, so I’ll leave this one to him:

http://bikeminded.wordpress.com/2012/11/19/cyclocross-or-the-story-of-how-iwrestledabearonce/

What he fails to mention is that when it come to cross the best rider always wins. Obviously. It’s just the result I needed to live off for the next year. Back to back BUCS champ. That’s got to be worth something, right?

We also had the BUCS hill climb at the end of October where I finished a frustrating 4^th, half a second behind 2^nd place! Importantly I beat my brother Andy by 2 seconds, who spent the last 3 months telling me of his inevitable victory. Nob. Chris sums it up again beautifully here:

http://bikeminded.wordpress.com/2012/10/29/bucs-hill-climb-annual-agony-day/

I now realise I’m just hi-jacking another blog, and need some time to invent more reasons for not winning. And anyhow my postponed meeting in the pain chamber is drawing close. Still, with the imminent hurricane, an afternoon staring at a blank wall in a cold garage seems pretty appealing right now.

The summer of 2012

2012-09-07T00:03:00.000+01:00

I’ve moved back out to Belgium today, feeling that post-race buzz – (although it’s probably just the standard caffeine OD) and decided it was time to write a blog – so very self-indulgent, but then I’m not one to blow my own trumpet.

I guess you’re probably not wondering what I’ve been doing all summer since my last blog post. Well, not a lot really. Winter training went relatively well this year. In fact I wasn’t burnt out by the time March arrived, and my numbers were looking pretty good, 10% up at 20minCP since the end of last season. Nice.

However, too much time spent in the gym and too much ambition with an alan key resulted in my handlebars snapping during a recovery ride in March. Rolling along the floor with an inch separating your face from the grey stuff at 40mph isn’t much fun. The result was a snapped collarbone, but I guess I’m lucky that it could have been so much worse. To be fair, entering the hospital as I left was a guy who’d been stabbed in the face. As you do. It was Leicester, if you’re wondering.

Because I’m always right about everything, I ignored all advice and continued with all the training I’d already planned to do, but switched to the turbo rather than the road, just to be on the safe side. I’m an idiot. Resting is for winners.

So it took much longer to recover than it should have, and 4 weeks later I fell on my left shoulder and re-broke it. Earlier in the day I’d ridden the BUCS 3-up time trial with Sandy King and Jonno Pybus. I think we were 4^th on the day, but racing after 4 weeks was again such a weak decision.

Eventually, I remembered that even God rested one day a week to admire his work, so it was probably ok to rest. I like to ease myself back into racing so decided to enter the Lincoln GP to test myself out. This was the first premier calendar race I’ve ever ridden, having based myself in Belgium since turning senior. It was brutal. The first 2 laps up the infamous Michealgate climb were beyond ridiculous, and pretty much destroyed the race. I stuck in, and eventually finished 39^th from the 160 odd starters I think. Considering I was riding with no team mates against 90% of the field who are full-time riders/unemployed but think they have a job, I was pretty happy with it!

Next, attention turned to the big BUCS weekend, Loughborough’s very own criterium and the following day BUCS road race. In preparation, the club had organised a weekend in the lake district. I’d never ridden there before but it was incredible, even if I ended up riding 10km down a MTB trail because my Garmin told me to. The views are just spectacular, akin to that of the deep Ardennes. But the climbs are one step further. If you get the chance to ride the passes of Wrynose and Hardnott, I recommend you take it. They’re savage.

Onto the crit. It didn’t really work out how it should have. Sandy got away early by himself and built a decent lead. All I had to do was mark the moves and have a free ride to the front. However, an ill-timed wheel change meant I missed the attack go, and set about chasing the gap solo for the duration of the race. The ‘campus crit’ is one of the toughest circuits I’ve ridden, and chasing 3 riders solo for an hour was one of the hardest rides I’ve ever had to do! I caught the group with 2 laps remaining and sat and waited for the sprint. However, a crash on the final corner caused by some ambitious line choices (you know who you are) ended the race prematurely. Sandy went down hard, and I just managed to avoid the carnage, but could only roll over the line in second. Sad face. I really paid for that effort in the road race the following day. Although I got into the break, adopting similar tactics to last years event, I committed too much gambling on it sticking. It didn’t and I rolled over the line exhausted in something like 13^th. It wasn’t the weekend of results I was looking for.

I carried on racing on/off to the races I could get to. Not driving is a ball ache. It went something like this:

2 Sep	Jef Schils Memorial Road Race(E/1/2)	Road	National A	10
5 Aug	Prijs Maurice Blomme - Oostnieuwkerke (Wijk De Most) 1-12B Elite-U23 Open Omloop(Elite/U23)	Road	Foreign National	8
2 Aug	Hog Hill Summer Series 13(E/1/2/3)	Closed Circuit	National B	3
29 Jul	GP Cafe Sportwereld - Zandvoorde Oostend 1-12B Elite-U23 Open Omloop(Elite/U23)	Road	Foreign National	47
26 Jul	Hog Hill Summer Series 12(E/1/2/3)	Closed Circuit	National B	7
10 Jun	British Universities & Colleges Sport MTB XC Championships(BUCS Championship XC Male)	MTB XC	MTB Regional B	3
4 Jun	Peterborough CC/Baxter & King Construction Road Race(E/1/2/3)	Road	National B	7

Draw your own conclusions. I’m running out of battery/motivation. Or just look at the nice pictures.

Anyhow, even I’m getting bored of my own voice. Today I moved back to Belgium to finish off/start the season, which wouldn’t be possible without the generous assistance of the Dave Rayner Fund. The fund makes a big difference to young riders trying their hand on continent, and you can check it out on here http://www.daveraynerfund.com/ . Today I raced in Koekelare and came 11^th. I was pretty tired from the last minute packing, early start, and travelling so the sensations were not great, but I still got away and won the sprint from a small group. Standard. I’m back racing with Van Eyck for the next month until uni starts back up on the 1^st October, so I’m going to race every day until I’m a crippled mess on the floor. Some people never learn.

Oh and I’m sitting on a first from my second year at uni. Happy face. It’s not all about the bike kids. Try hard at school.

Ciao.

Because writing a blog is more interesting than learning the biochemical characteristics of skeletal muscle.

2012-01-23T22:29:00.001+00:00

The last time I posted on here was over 4 months ago now, and as I sit in the library (libraries are for winners) cramming 12 weeks’ worth of lecture notes into my head for impending exams, now seems as good a time as any to break my unnoticed silence and share the latest on-goings of my life with the world.

Heading briefly back to wrap up the end of the last season and to cut a long story short, I returned to Belgium after the Jef Schils Memorial race, got my arse handed to me for a few more races, and decided to end my season earlier than expected in mid-September. I was tired, underover-trained, de-trained, demotivated, demoralized. Sometimes, you just have to stop.

After a ‘generous’ ’transition’ season, and a magical plus 6 kilogram effort later, I got back to (s)training; with the occasional lectures thrown in just to mix things up a bit. Admittedly, whilst 10 hours of lectures a week isn’t even part time, I maintain a sport science degree is a lot harder than the people who don’t do it, make it out to be. We don’t just play football. Occasionally we dance.

The biggest change for this year is the fruition of the Loughborough Student Cycling Club Performance Squad. The student squad set-up is like no other, exploiting the cutting-edge approach to sport that Loughborough University is renowned for. The team is supported by exercise physiologist Dave Bailey of I-Performance, and nutritionist Barry Murray of OptimumNutrition4Sport to deliver cutting edge training and nutrition plans for the team, with the aims of putting Loughborough University not only on the BUCS but also national cycling map.

I will now be racing back on home soil for LSCC, facing an uncertain future in the left hand lane and reaching out to the unfamiliar scene of premier calendars. If I survive the wrath of self-elevated commissaries, I’ll then head back to Belgium, supported by the Dave Rayner Fund, for 3 months racing in the summer with Van Eyck Sport. Sounds like a plan Stan.

I’ve done couple of cross races this winter, the highlight being taking gold at BUCS, but it’s probably time to stop procrastinating now and get back to work. I’m sure I can find the time for a self-glorification blog soon though…

The two key biochemical characteristics of skeletal muscle are the oxidative capacity and the type of ATPase isoform. If you were wondering.

Fame At Last...

2011-09-11T19:44:00.000+01:00

Jef Schils Memorial: 3rd

2011-09-09T21:14:00.003+01:00

Photo from Steven Sebborn

Following on from a dramatic victory in the previous days 3 frame, near 1 and a half hour “epic” pool match against Hamish Haynes, I departed for England with high hopes a continuation of winning form. With the alarm set for 5 Saturday morning, I arrived home at midday and prepared for the following days 140km Jef Schils Memorial with an hour spin out, a mandatory trip to Chelmer Cycles, and another hard fought victory at Fifa (taking my tally to 2 in 2 days)

Unlike the usual pleasantries of a 5 o clock breakfast for the standard British start at 9, the race was to follow a continental feel with a much welcomed 2pm start time. The undulating lap near Colchester was to be fought out over 7 laps of 19.8km with an accompanying sprint competition with points for the first 3 riders across the line each lap to liven up the action.

Photo from Steven Sebborn

After a 7 kilometre neutralised section, the racing got underway, and it was not long before the ominous dark skies turned to heavy rain, hailstorms and then some. With strong winds, the race stayed fairly together for the first 2 laps with the occasional group gaining a handful of seconds before being dragged back into the peloton on the exposed headwind sections of the course. On the third lap, I pushed on at the front, distancing the peloton and was shortly joined by Flavio Zappi off the front. Working together, we built up a 30, then 40 second gap, reeling in the sprint points as an added bonus for our efforts. After 2 laps out front, the tough conditions started to take their toll and as the gap dropped, we were joined by 3 more riders: Andy Lyons, Mike Wragg and Jake Hales bridging the gap. With a few kilometres to complete the lap, I started to take an interest in the sprint competition, and the 5 of us just did enough to make the line before being reeled back into the bunch. I again took the maximum points, taking my tally up to 8.

Back in the relative comfort of the peloton, I kept watchful but few riders could break the elastic. With 2 riders already ahead, I rolled through the line to take the remaining point on the final lap to secure the overall sprint competition win. Out of no-where on the final lap, a small change in pace in what was left of the originally 70 strong field left 14 of us out front, and with the gap growing instantly it was clear this would decide the race. Despite a few speculate efforts, the group rolled in together for a sprint. Not feeling all too sharp, I was too far back and had to settle for 3^rd, the race being won by Jason White with Joeri Bueken in second, the pair easily distancing the rest in the kick for the line.

With the race over, quick shower and prize presentation complete, it was straight back in the car and back to Belgium, arriving here in Kumtich at 2.30 in the morning! It was a long weekend, but well worth the visit. Hopefully I can build on that form for the final few weeks of the season.

Note to self: Having taken bottles with my right hand for the past 2 years, the connection of brain to tell left hand when to grip proved somewhat of a difficulty! 4 bottles slapped onto the ground and on such a long lap, that’s a race ending mistake on a hot day! In a weird paradox, I’m almost glad it was cold and wet… Almost.

Empty August

2011-08-30T20:32:00.000+01:00

Right, I’m going to start again from here. The reason for my lack of blog posts recently is due being very little to blog about. It’s very easy to write when things are going well but scribbling down notes on my lack of form and lack of results is never that appealing. I’ve had a real problem this year with consistency, my form comes and goes unpredictably, and it’s got to that time in the season where I’m starting to get tired and the motivation is waning. I’m having a bit of a rest week now after racing what felt like every other day since Vlaams-Brabant and its starting to catch up with me. Hopefully I can clear some fatigue and hit the last 4 weeks of the season in some sort of shape. I’m heading back to England this weekend for the Jef Schils Memorial , and then to Belgium until I head back to Loughborough in early October.

New Wheels from Fuerte Bici

2011-08-30T19:26:00.001+01:00

With my Zipp 404’s breaking every time I put them in the bike (2 rims cracked, 2 spokes, faulty hub and a complete rebuild later – of course all my fault according to Zipp) I decided it was time for a set of wheels that I can actually use. Admiring their toughness at the winter cyclo-cross circuit, I was fortunate enough to gain some sponsorship from Ben Nicholson at Fuete Bici, and opted for a pair of 38mm tubular carbons. I’ve been using these on the rough Belgian roads for a few weeks now and cannot fault them. As well as being super light (at just 1251g for the pair!), they are also stupidly strong (having withstood a bunny hop/rear wheel/curb/blowout incident), the likes of which would have undoubtedly caused the Zipp fibres to have parted company. Again.

So what I’m saying is, if you want a wheel that’s light, strong and looks the buisness then I absolutely recommend these. At £425 for 38’s they are the best value for money wheels going, making my Zipps (retailing at over 4 times that price!) completely redundant.

Link: http://www.fuertebici.com/

On a side note, if anyone does want a pair of wheels they can spend more time fixing than riding, my effectively brand new 404's are begging to be sold...

Lazy blogging, report From Vlaams-Brabant

2011-08-23T21:57:00.001+01:00

It’s been 3 weeks since my last blog, a little bit of lost motivation creeping in perhaps? Anyway, I don’t remember too much from the last few races, so rather than waffle my way through vague descriptions, here’s my latest blog through the medium of photography:

The team for the 5 day Ronde Van Vlaams Brabant (L – R): Me, Kevin Crabbe, Dom Schils, Matti Stiens, Dieter Uyttersprot, Dieter Verbeek.

Stage 1: Wilsele 145km, 3 X 34.5 + 5 X 8.5 km.

The race stayed mainly together throughout, with few break away attempts gaining more than a few seconds. The elastic eventually snapped on the with 2 of the finishing circuits to go while I was sitting back expecting a bunch sprint. The group instantly gained one-and –a-half minutes. The winner of the overall would come from that group and with team mate Matti making the cut and finishing 5^th, it was all to play for on day 2.

Stage 2: Boutersem 172km, 7 X 24.5km laps. With the GC already taking shape, the race was a lot more controlled, but a group did manage to jump clear mid-way through. With Matti puncturing from the break, the team rode to the front to chase the gap down. By the end a 2 minute gap was back to just 20 seconds after a long day pulling turns on the front.

Stage 3: Rotselar 11.6km time trial.

In true British style, we headed out along a dead straight road for 5.8km, turned around, and rode back again. Despite not feeling so good, I came in a respectable 25^th place, from the near 200 starters, and I was boosted up the GC to a top 30 position.

Stage 4: Betekom 145km, 4X 26.6 + 3 x 12.8

Feeling better as the race went on, I went attacking today, and moved off front a couple of times. With a pan flat parcours, and teams willing to control the race, staying out front was tough work and sure enough a bunch kick decided the race. Early on I’d suffered a seat post dropping, and rear puncture. Plenty of practise chasing behind the car!

Stage 5: Liedekirke 155km 3 x 24.4 + 5 X 15.3

Couple of climbs on todays parcours including the cobbled Puttenberg to be climbed every lap of the race. Despite the difficult race, the peleton stayed almost intact, as the leading teams fought to ensure a bunch kick. I tried a couple of times over the climbs, but unable to move clear was content to wait for the bunch kick. With plenty of crashes through the final bends, I came in top 20.

I finished the race 27^th on GC, and second of my team. I can take a lot from the race though: doing my fair share of riding at the front of the peleton, a decent time trial and throwing in a few attacks of my own for the week. Despite the good form gained from the race, taking on another Beker Van Belgie interclub in Zillebeke the following Wednesday proved too much, as my quest to recover in time was thwarted by the relentltess climbs of the Belgian Walloon! A big DNF. I think perhaps 7 big races, nearly 1000km of racing in 10 days was a little ambitious...

Keep tuned in, more to follow soon!

Mémorial Henri Garnier - Falmagne-Dinant

2011-08-02T20:46:00.002+01:00

I’ve been fairly quiet on the blogging front recently, but that’s not to say the racing has gone the same way. With a pretty busy racing schedule over the last 2 weeks, and intermittent internet available, I’ve got a back log of blogs on the way!

On the 24th I got my first experience of a Beker Van Belgie Interclub, usually reserved for the Belgian riders as foreigners can’t score points toward the team standings. And we all know what points make. The race was located deep in the Ardennes, towards the French border and that region only means one thing: hills. And lots of them.

Fortunately, the race was neutralised for the immediate ascent from the start line, although Belgian being Belgians were still racing from the gun, fighting wheel for wheel to hold a good position at the front of the peloton. I stayed within the top third of the field, always pushing to stay forward with the first King of Mountains prime occurring at kilometre 6. At the high speeds of the peloton, we cruised over the short summit, and instantly descended through a tight, twisty tree lined descent at some speed. With the race singled out, all I could do was hold position, while attempting to move up at any opportunity before hitting the first major climb of the day. Although never particularly steep, the climb was long, and badly positioned I was fighting the bike and closing gaps to avoid missing out on a split. As always the speed picked up on the false flat section as the climb plateau, and this was where the real damage was done.

Groups of riders peeled off the front, as riders dropped wheels due to the accelerations into the fierce cross winds. I’ve had plenty of practice riding in the gutter in kermis races but this is another step up and very quickly 30 or so riders had gapped what remained of the peloton. They instantly moved clear, and approaching the line for the first time, had already amassed a huge 4 minute advantage. With 4 laps of the finishing circuit to complete, and 2 GPM (hill primes) a lap, as well as the constantly rolling terrain, it was still very much race on within the peloton. Feeling strong, I stayed toward the front of the group, and pressing on over the climbs looking to move into a good working chase group. With 2 laps to go, I eventually broke clear in a group of 14 after attacking hard on the shallower yet longer climb of the circuit, but with the leaders now some 8 minutes ahead, I was clear we were only racing each other.

With no-one really willing to chase too hard, I found myself doing a lot of work in the group, and even found myself in a 2-up style effort for a few kilometres after ‘accidently’ dropping the group! It was not long until the peloton reared its head from behind, as so few riders were willing to set the pace, and with that came a reaction from 5 of the stronger riders. I quickly bridged up to them and finally we started some real riding, catching a few of the dropped riders from the lead groups. On the final sprint to the line, one rider jumped the group using the footpath, and despite my chase, couldn’t quite catch him on the line, finishing 30^th from the 198 starters.

Summary: Good ride, but you can’t win a race unless you’re in the lead group. Need to make that jump into the front splits. I’m working on it!

Following with two easy days, on the Wednesday began the first of five stages of the Ronde van Vlaams-Brabant. Blog to follow.

So Close Yet So Far

2011-07-21T22:47:00.001+01:00

Arriving back in Belgium from a week in the Alps on Sunday, (blog coming soon) today I headed to Lebbeke for an under-23 kermis. Having taken the last few days easy to recover, I headed to the race feeling fresh, and ready to race. The 50 riders who signed on for the race were greeted on the start line by a distant yet ominously loud rumble of thunder - the sound of air frantically rushing from tyres was a clear sign of things to come.

With the wind picking up and the sky darkening, the pace around the twisty, narrow circuit was fast, as riders tried to break clear early from the peloton. However, nothing was sticking, and I decided to wait a little in the protection of the wheels before playing my hand. After an hour of racing, I felt ok, not spectacular, perhaps missing the race pace, but able to stay comfortable near the front of the race. However, as the rain started to fall I started to feel stronger and stronger. These are the type of conditions I revel in and coupled with the incredibly cautious Belgian style cornering in the wet, I moved to the front and put the pedal down, easily moving off the front almost at will! Getting a little excited, I even had a quick dash for a mid race prime which turned into flat out sprint to the line with one other enthusiastic rider. I won.

Eventually I got away in a 14 man break, and we quickly distanced ourselves from what was left of the peloton. However, as always with a group this size, a few decided to sit on and with 2 laps left, I decided to attack to see if I could shake off a few of the parasites. To my surprise no-one came with me, and I made the choice to push on, now completely committed to racing to the line. Into the final lap, and one rider bridged up to me. We held a 15seconds gap and pressed hard for the final 5 kilometres.

However, with impeccable timing the puncture fairy reared its ugly head just as I entered a tight corner - before I knew it I was eating tarmac. As it went, the rider I accompanied soloed to the line, holding off the chase. Make of that what you will.

Looking ahead, I’ll be riding the Memorial Henri Garnier Beker Van Belgie on Sunday, and I’m assured it’s going to be a hilly one! Then the 5 day tour of Vlaams-Brabant where I hope to pull a big ride out!

Final thought: if you think you can win, then you might win. If you think you can lose, you will lose.

10th in Herenhout

2011-07-06T23:48:00.003+01:00

Heading north into the Limburg, it’s almost a given that the race will be a stereotypical Belgian affair - flat and fast. In fact, I could have easily written this blog before the race had even started: a large field, a fast average speed, and a stunningly boring parcours. It’s possible even triathletes could have successfully negotiated their way around without crashing. Well, perhaps. One hundred and thirty six riders signed on for another 6pm start to face a 110 kilometre cadence work out.

Predictably the early pace was high, as riders constantly pinged off the front in futile attempts to break clear, and although a few gaps were opened, there was never any danger of moves going clear, the pace in peloton sitting over 45kph. With very little wind, and an easy going circuit, I decided the best option was to sit in, save my energy, and get some well needed speed back into the legs.

As often happened last year in these types of races, a winning move goes clear within the final lap as riders start to look at each other and save themselves for the bunch sprint. 130up gallops to the line not exactly being my forte, this was exactly my plan – to wait until the final lap and try to jump clear from there.

In all honesty, nothing really happened until then and so as we hit the bell lap it was now or never for my planned and sole attack of the race. Spurred on by some true classics of Belgian radio - ‘Busteds’ moronic expedition to the year 3000 sickeningly stuck in my head - I went clear with 8 similarly minded riders, and battled on toward the line, holding a slight but definite gap over the charging peloton.

However, with 500metres to go the gap was shut and a bunch sprint was on to decide the winner, with the fast moving, and fellow Brit, Dan McLay taking another victory, while I rolled in to round out the top ten.

I’ll take that result. These fast, flat races are not my type of terrain, but I raced with my head, stuck to my plan and it very nearly paid off. That’s it on the racing front for a bit, as I head off to the Alps on Friday morning for a week of pain and suffering in the stunning mountain passes. Back to racing on the 17^th once I’ve killed all the speed from my legs and over-trained myself into the ground.

On a side note, consuming copious amounts of caffeine in evening races is useful during the event but not especially conducive to a good nights sleep after, hence the lateness of this blog appearing. I'd like to also suggest here, that anyone who voluntarily listens to Busted or equivalent needs to be shot. And their family. And friends if they have any. Get out of my head, and let me sleep.

3rd in Zwalm-Rozebeke!

2011-07-05T21:02:00.000+01:00

On Sunday, I headed west to Zwalm for a hilly 104kilometre kermis. The 56 starters were to face 13 laps of the figure of 8 style circuit, with constant climbs and tricky descents to master; each lap consisting of a gradually steepening 2 kilometre climb, before a fast descent into a 90 degree corner (providing many crashes on the opening lap). The course then rose again before two tricky cobbled corners and into a fast switching descent, with patches of gravel thrown in just for good measure, before beginning the ascent to complete the lap. With a stiff wind blowing across the relentless circuit, it soon became apparent this was a race of attrition, and sure enough the peloton began splitting after only a few laps over the top of the climb.

Each lap I rode hard over the false-flat summit to stay at the business end of the peloton, and soon enough I found myself out front with 7 other riders for company. By the half way point, there were 3 early escapees ahead, my group of 6 and behind the remains of the peloton. Crucially I was joined by three Omega Pharma Lotto-Davo riders, whom had the interests of their team mate ahead, and so added nothing to the chase. With 2 laps to go, and feeling strong I attacked out of the group on the climb, and set about closing the gap to the leaders with 20kilomtres to go alone.

Into the bell lap, I had distanced the break, and quickly caught and passed the third placed rider, who by now seemed to be going backwards rather than forwards after a long day out front. Pushing on, I could see the rider in second over the climb, but never had enough to quite close the gap. Really working on my limit, the line couldn’t come soon enough but I had done enough for third. It’s a really satisfying result, and a real confidence booster– I hope that elusive win this year is not far away now!

Back in Belgium: Oplinter Kermis

2011-07-04T22:53:00.001+01:00

Closed roads, passive smoking with commissaires and more prize-money for winning than it costs to enter. Yep, I was back in Belgium, and the real bulk of my season had begun. With exams finished last Friday, I headed to Kumtich for the Sunday, highly motivated for the racing ahead but it was not until Thursday for my first test back on the Belgian roads.

The race was an evening one, in Oplinter, just a few kilometres down the road from here. With about 100 riders signing on we departed for 117 kilometres of undulating roads at the later time of 6pm. Content to sit back in the peloton to find my race legs again, I was quickly offered a rude awakening. This is kermis racing, and “to sit back in the peloton” isn’t really much of an option. It was not long before we were singled out and groups of riders disappeared up the road, and although many were futile efforts, soon enough a large group of some 22 riders broke the pelotons elastic.

They quickly built up a good lead of a minute, and feeling stronger than anticipated, I offered a hand in joining the chase effort before throwing in a couple of attacks of my own. With 4 laps remaining I managed to sneak clear in a group of 5 on the main rise of the circuit, and settling into a good rhythm we set about closing the gap to the leaders. As we pushed on, the front group came back into sight, and slowly but surely we were making up lost ground. However, we were quickly running out of laps and as the bell rang, we were still down 20 seconds, and noticeably slowing, feeling the effects of the tough roads and strong winds. As the gap stretched out again, we capitulated, conceding the chase was over. Comfortably clear of the peloton, we all began to look at each other and prepared for the sprint, a slight uphill long head wind drag. With no-one willing to take it on we crawled toward the finish, and opening up the sprint from 200metres out I kicked hard and held it to the line, taking the sprint and 23^rd on the night.

It’s a solid start, and it was good to see where I stood after so little racing over the past few months. It was a result I could build on and yesterday reaped the rewards already after a 3^rd place finish in Zwalm-Rozebeke, full report to follow soon.

Summer Update

2011-06-17T16:51:00.000+01:00

I’m currently in the middle of exams, so what better way to procrastinate than an overly-long and long-overdue blog entry. Last time I posted here was way back in May. There’s not been a lot of racing going on, but here it goes anyway:

Having missed the ferry due to 2 hour traffic delays in Belgium, the original plan of driving straight back to Loughborough was put on hold and so I was homeward bound back to Chelmsford, a rare destination for me these days. Departing for Loughborough the following evening, I took the opportunity for a quick spin on one of my old training routes, a pleasant change from the bumpy Belgian concrete I’d been on for the last month (if you’ve ever ridden in Belgium, you’ll know exactly what I mean...) Finding time for a quick coffee stop with a certain Mr Dowsett (a guy I have huge respect for, having attended school and watched progress right through the pro ranks), it was soon time to return to Loughborough.

Next race on the agenda was the BUCS road race championships, a home race for me as it is organised by the student club here, and one I wanted to get a result in. With a small field of 50 or so riders, and 15 having bought day licences, it wasn’t really a day to hide in the peloton. The course is tough, after a short neutralised section, it heads to Belvoir Castle with strong tailwind, before cutting back to Harby with a relentless block head wind before the centrepiece climb up to the finish line, unhelpfully having just been resurfaced and left with deep gravel to negotiate!

Jokingly, I attacked as soon as the flag went down, and in almost comedy fashion the entire peloton sat up and watched 5 riders disappear instantly down the road. Knowing 3 of the riders, Wojciech Szlachta, Tom Durno and Joe Skipper, and an Oxford representative we worked hard to push the gap out, realising that this could, almost accidentally, be the winning move. Distancing the peloton, we took the climb steady each lap, pushed on to take maximal advantage of the tail wind and setting a good tempo into the headwind section. I was quickly reminded of why British racing is so terrible, as no sooner had an old man doing his weekly shop swung across the road in front of us, than a tractor blocked the entire road as he searched for the entrance to he’s farm. This could only happen in British racing. As time gaps came and went, we started to lose riders, and the tough conditions took their toll. With two laps to go, it was just me and Wojciech left out front, with a 25 rider peloton chasing at 2-3 minutes. Leaving everything on the road, 150 kilometres later, and 3 riders chasing at a minute, I had to finally relent to the fierce tempo on the final climb, as Wojciech took a fantastic and well earned victory. I was still very happy with second place, and hats off to him - the strongest guy on the day won!

Give or take the weekly local 10, my next race was the campus crits, superbly organised again by LSCC. It’s not often you get to race past your front door, and I was very motivated for a result here. However, that was about as good as it got, my heart rate went through the roof on the climb and never came down again on the descent. 20 minutes in, and that was that, I crawled home disappointed, my confidence taking a big knock. I pretty much came to realise that I had got my training wrong. Without a big lecture on periodisation etc. etc. etc. I hadn’t trained for the specific short sharp race efforts since returning from Belgium. I could ride in a 150km break away, but a hilly crit? Not a chance. The last few weeks I’ve cut the volume, increased the intensity and I’m feeling a lot before for it.

Last weekend, myself and training partner Mike Thelwell made the trip into the peak district last weekend for a short 90km but potentially hilly (it was hilly. Very hilly) E/1/2 near Buxton. Despite a 7 minute warm-up, (it being a lot further away than we had imagined) and a shaky start, I came on strong in the second half and solo’d across a minute and a half gap to a group of 8 riders, with 1 leader a few trillion miles out front. Predictably just as I bridged the gap on the climb (bole hill) with 1 lap to go, the group split in 2. I recovered over the climb, and set about chasing the 3 who had jumped clear. Dragging 3 others with me, 2 of whom seemed to think they shouldn’t work because they had been in the break and were a bit tired... We never caught the group and so raced on for 5^th, with me easily winning the tough hill sprint to the line, that was my kind of finish!

So there we have it, I’ve been racing a few local crits at Mallory and Darley Moor and some evening 10’s, but they’re only really training. I have slightly higher ambitions than to win the Thursday night world championships. Although apparently team Raleigh don’t.

I’ve set up a Twitter account so follow me @davetherave1991 (I didn’t choose the name!) for some shorter updates on my life. It’s back to Belgium on the 26^th, so expect some more updates from the continent soon.

Close, but no cigar: 2nd in Harchies

2011-05-02T17:15:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I made the long West-bound journey to Harchies, into the Walloon and approaching the French border. Another sunny day greeted us for 19 laps of the “6.2” kilometer circuit. After a warm up recce around the flat, exposed and very windy lap the race got underway at 3 o clock, with 85 riders signing on.

Instantly the race exploded into life, even by Belgian standards, led by team mate Dom Schils, as riders attacked through the twisty town to make the head of the race before the first cross-wind section. With the peloton strung out across the road, and gaps opening I worked hard to remain at the fore. As we hit the 2 kilometre long straight head wind section, the pace was relaxed and the peloton reformed. This did however; serve to set an attacking precedent for the race.

After the start and feeling strong, I adopted a distinctly amateurish, albeit confidently fool-proof plan of going with every attack until one eventually stuck. It was very much a case of riding with my legs rather than my head, but I was feeling strong and seeking a reward for my efforts. Eventually, after about an hour and a half, the elastic snapped and a group of 14 went clear riding hard into the strong cross winds. With a couple of laps ‘through and off’, the motorbike marshal arrived and revealed a time gap of 35 seconds to the peloton. Realising this was not enough, and indeed well in sight on the long straight sections, we pressed on until the lead slowly extended from seconds into minutes as the beaten peloton surrendered behind. For the 14 of us however, it was race on, which invariably meant the shelter available at the rear of the group became a whole lot more appealing to the weaker/lazier riders, not willing to contribute to the pace setting.

At the 100km mark, and the gap uncatchable, a few speculative attacks went, but I was content to stay with the main group and save my energy in the fierce wind. With only 2 riders ever distancing themselves, and only gaining 5-10 seconds a time, there was little risk of them staying away - only digging themselves into a hole 20metres up the road. Managing to miss the lap board on apparently every lap, I’d guessed from my Garmin at around 2 laps to go. Noticing the lap counter next time through, I was a little bemused at seeing still 5 laps remaining – the billed 117km race clearly somewhat underestimated (I had 137km at the finish line!). For the final 40 kilometres then, I had no gels and no food, my only hopes of a beautiful victory resting on the firm shoulders of 2 bottles of warm coke.

As we approached the final lap, being decisive was going to be key. In a couple of races last year I’d gambled sitting in the wheels and relying on others to close gaps to those attacking in the closing kilometres, saving my effort for the sprint. However, this always allows groups of 3-4 to ride off and no-one willing to give chase, as I recalled from Tielt-Winge last year. I was confident of waiting for the sprint, a headwind straight drag up to the line played into my strengths and I was prepared to place myself in the leading group at all times, even if that meant offering a free lift to riders in my wheel. With no-one giving half a wheel, it ultimately came down to a 14 up finale. Poorly positioned and caught in the middle of the group as it swelled across the road around the final bend, I was left floundering in 7^th – 8^th wheel as the sprint took off. Finding a gap on the right hand side of the road I got my head down and unleashed my bid for glory, passing all but one rider at the line. It’s frustrating - with another 5 metres I had the race won, but encouraging knowing I had the strength, if lacking the tactical nous, to get that win. But it’s coming.

Quite predictably, just as I get into some good form, my 4 week Easter tenure in Belgium has to come to a halt, as I return to Loughborough for the final term with exams looming. Ah well, at least I can use it over the next few weeks on the club chaingang, local 10’s and mid-week crits around Mallory. Who wants to race in Belgium anyway...?

I’ll upload the podium pictures when/if I find any! And here it is:

Al Murison: livin' the dream..

2011-04-29T21:46:00.000+01:00

"Basically first I decided to ride to the race, but had to ride my tub on the back wheel, which of course I then punctured on the the way there. Get to the race, 2 minutes before the start find a spare wheel but its the sh!ttest thing I've ever ridden. The race was disgustingly hard, and my roommates got dropped. I thought I was on for a good result, except punctured my front wheel with half a lap to go, in the process nearly killing myself and half the bunch. By the time i get back to the start line, my roommates WITH my spare tub have ridden off home. Plus I still have my punctured tub. Have to walk to the train station, except when i get there theres not a train for 2 hours and then eventually get a lift back with a randomer who thought I was Dan Patten and I couldn't be arsed to correct him. A bad bad day."

Chin up son.

GP Affligem Interclub

2011-04-27T16:18:00.000+01:00

On Sunday I raced in the GP Affligem a 160km interclub around many of the notorious sections of the Tour of Flanders, including an alternative route up the ‘Muur’ and straight onto and up the Bosberg. Of note here is a certain E Merckx who won the race in 64 and 65. We were to face a 100km opening lap before four times around a fifteen kilometre undulating finishing circuit. I had a good feeling during my 20minute spin out on the rollers in the morning, and started the race confidently, although it wasn’t long before I was found myself drifting toward the back of the 200 strong peloton. However, with the ‘Muur’ approaching I moved toward the front and indeed had my 15 seconds of fame (actually 1.5 seconds) leading the peloton toward the rapidly approaching ‘berg’.

Hitting the foot of the climb, I was well positioned and held my form over the steep ascent. With just 5km separating this and the Bosberg, the peloton was singled out as chaos arose in the splintering field. Summiting the Bosberg, I felt strong but with over 100km of racing left, perhaps not brave enough to attack into what turned out to be the 11 strong race winning break. With riders ahead and the peloton massively reduced in size, we cruised around the remainder of the large opening lap, almost the calm before the imminent storm of the finishing circuits. The 15km lap featured a couple of long drags, and the main short sharp climb 1km from the finish line. I knew I was having a good day and always felt as though I could jump into a break. After a couple of attempts, I got away with 30 km remaining with one other rider, and bridged to form a chase group of 20 or so. With the pace lifted by well represented teams, Bianchi with 4 of their 6 riders in the break, we soon distanced ourselves from the peloton, but with the leaders still out of sight, it quickly disintegrated into a free-for-all fight to the line rather than a collective chase effort. Knowing a top 20 position at least was possible, I kept pushing on but each time I found myself back in the group, as riders seemed unwilling to attack out of it and join me, preferring to keep the group together.

As we approached the final few kilometres, a couple of speculative attacks went but to no avail and we faced a 20 up sprint for 20^th place. I stayed in 5^th wheel up the final climb, knowing the false flat to the finish would be too far for an attack on the climb itself. Initiating my sprint, I instantly got the jump but paid the price for my earlier efforts falling 5metres short with one rider piping me on the line!

Nevertheless I am very pleased with the result. It’s only 21^st- 20 people still beat me, but to put it in perspective in the same race last year I lasted 40km before blowing up on the Muur and spending the next 20km grabbing onto the team car until I was pulled out... It’s a huge step up, and is a welcome result. I had good sensations throughout and it’s given me the real boost of confidence I needed, and hopefully a good sign of things to come.

Bever

2011-04-20T22:29:00.003+01:00

It’s always difficult coming to that ‘next race’ after dropping out of the previous one and my confidence had taken quite a beating. However, spirits were raised once the ever professional Al Murison, a team mate of mine at Glendene, appeared on the scene 20 minutes before the start: “Have you got a track pump? And cable ties?... And anyone to hand you drinks”. Nice Al, nice.

Today’s race was a return to Bever, the same race as last years edition , with some 250 riders starting the mid-week affair.

After an unexplained 15 minute delay the race got underway at 3.45 and it was not long before the obligatory crashes occurred in a peloton of this size after the early panic of 250 riders aiming for the top 20 wheels before the main climb of the circuit. Starting slowly, I twice found myself caught behind unexplainable crashes which split the peloton, both occurring at exactly the same place on the wide, smooth, open road... Similarly to last year’s edition, the complete road closures synonymous with Belgian racing were poorly instrumented and seemingly every corner we were greeted by newly parked busses, tractors. And crashes. I knew we had travelled West, but didn’t realise we’d made it back to England already.

As the race progressed - while avoiding various scraps of carbon- I felt surprisingly strong, a vast improvement on how I have felt so far this month, and held a good position at the business end of the race, even offering my hand in a couple of attacks although with no repayment for my efforts. A couple of breaks did manage to gain ground, although the fast speeds generated by the charging peloton put most attacks on hold. Into the final lap and a 4 or 5 man group had just done enough to fight it out for the win. With a downhill finish, I backed off a little in the sprint, 150 riders diverting off course into a separate finishing straight isn’t exactly my forte - coming in 41^st place.

It’s a vast improvement, and a much needed one. GP Affligem this Sunday should be a good test of that statement. A couple of times up the Muur and Bosberg will certainly tell me all I need to know about my form.

Not going to plan.

2011-04-18T11:15:00.001+01:00

It’s only a short blog this, but there’s very little to write about...

I knew it was never going to be easy coming to Belgium in April with no racing under my belt, but after all my hard work during the winter I’d hoped for more than this. Hoeilaart went ok last weekend, 21^st of 198 starters with only 60 finishing but sitting in and having a dig for the final few laps to finish outside the top 20 isn’t exactly my style – but it’s all I can do for now, and even that was an impossibility after an embarrassing 45minute stint in Heers yesterday before the rear of the peloton disappeared up the road.

To top things off, in 2 races I’ve managed to crack another Zipp rim – these seem to break just by putting them into the bike: I’ve had the rear rebuilt after spokes randomly snapped, front and rear rim cracked and rear hub rebuilt, has anyone else had problems with the 404 tubular?

Return to Belgium

2011-04-09T17:58:00.001+01:00

With perhaps a slightly ambitious turn-around time and a race thrown in for good measure, it’s fair to say I had a fairly hectic weekend planned. However, I’ve only 4 weeks break now until starting the final term in the beginning of May, and am determined to make the most of it. I’m planning 2-3 races a week and it started last Sunday.

With term finishing last Friday, I arrived back in Chelmsford Saturday morning, and it was straight to the Chelmer Cycles workshop for a ‘surprise’ visit to prepare my Cannondale SuperSix for the next 4 weeks of Belgian kermising. With a complete service to do, tools were put down my bike was worked on all afternoon and into the evening to get it ready for the 5.30 departure the following morning. These guys are legends. I’d like to suggest there are few bike shops around who would refuse to put tools down and work well past closing time to complete the job. What I’m saying is, if you want your bike built (and built with anal precision), then pay Chelmer Cycles a visit.

After a late night, early morning and plenty of travelling, racing was perhaps a little ambitious on Sunday, my thought process being that my first race was never going to be great - it never is - so why not get it over with? 50 minutes later, it was. My second season in Belgium had begun. And I knew it.

With the next race not until yesterday, I re-convened after the long winter with Hamish Haynes - http://www.hamish-haynes.com/ - for a good training week, including a near 7 hour epic in the Ardennes, with over 3000m height gain. A realistic ride for the Alps! Who said Belgium was flat...?

Yesterday I raced in Heist op den Berg, a 110km evening race on a totally flat circuit, blessed solely with 3 corners, good road surfaces and not even the slightest breeze to contend with. 208 riders took to the start on what promised to be a fast race – and hopefully a chance to get some speed back into my legs after an elongated winter period. The plan was just to sit in, get some race kilometres in and see how it played out. Half way through the race and 25 riders hovering a minute or more up the road, I moved toward the front and tested myself with a few efforts. With 5 of the 20 laps to go I attacked into a 12 man chase group and quickly distanced ourselves from the peloton, but had left it too late to bridge to the leaders. After the longest sprint in bike racing history – 3 of us side by side for 800metres?! – I finished 28^th overall. The result being irrelevant, I had good feelings during the race and felt I was riding well in-side myself during the chase effort; all good signs for a hilly one tomorrow in Hoeilaart.

OptimumNutrition?

2011-04-06T22:58:00.007+01:00

When a small* Irishman told me eating Weetabix with my skimmed milk in the morning was bad, and that his diet consisted of over 50% fat, I feared the sport nutritionist we were meant to be seeing had cancelled and a bald* Gillian Mckeith had stepped in as a last minute replacement.

How wrong I was.

After an eye-opening seminar from Barry Murray of OptimumNutrition4Sport, I am now working with him to get the most from my diet. Barry provides leading-edge, expert sport nutrition and has revolutionised the way I see food and its potential for performance gains. I couldn’t possibly do Barry justice in explaining his approach to nutrition but the staple pasta and low fat diet has gone, replaced by good fats and low GI carbs. Controversial? Perhaps, but a visit to Barry’s website, and facebook page may just open your eyes too.

“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.” La Rochefoucauld

*Barry assures me he is "5'9' and 'light' on top"

BUCS “XC”

2011-03-18T20:26:00.005+00:00

The BUCS mountain bike weekend kicked off last Friday (11^th April) with the downhill practice and the optional £30 “accommodation package” welcoming happy campers to a muddy field for the next 3 days. Having gained selection for the Loughborough elite team alongside Harry Penn, Henry Sleight and Jon Pybus, (based on last week’s efforts at the Gorrick event), I skipped camping and arrived in Moelfre Sunday morning to witness scenes of fear and apprehension among the scores of XC riders who had already pre-ridden the circuit: it soon became apparent it was the sort of course that could only have been devised by a drunk downhiller, high on the fumes of his own front tyre.

The Garmin elevation map...

Starting at the bottom of the circuit, we ploughed through an off-camber muddy section before hitting the punishing ‘uplift’ climb - the route downhillers are driven up to reach their respective start line. The first section of the loose climb, saturated with loose rocks, hitting a meagre 15% before bearing right onto a gruelling 25% gradient, peaking at 35% before relaxing back into the relative comfort of a 20% slope to reach the peak. With an average speed of three-and-a-half mph, and height gain of nearly 200m, the 22-32 sprocket was fully engaged for the duration of the climb, with the entirety of the sport race and majority of ‘elites’ walking the fiercest grades. With the climb over you hit (literally hit), the downhill course. The twisty, rutted, rock-ridden, descent (the Garmin recording up to -40%!) providing much entertainment for the heckling downhillers. After a couple of drops, you emerged at the so called ‘carnage corner’ – the centre-piece no description could possibly do justice to:

BUCS 2011 X.C Carnage! from Joe Bowman on Vimeo.

After this we passed through a long off-camber straight before a fast run back to the arena to start Mount Moelfre again. For 6 laps...

Summiting the climb for the opening lap, I sat inside the top 10, and proceeded to pass fallen riders, while simultaneously being passed by the more technically able among us. With the field strung out and the laps passing, I continued to hover around the top 10, with any time gained on the climb, more than lost on the descent.

On lap 4 however, disaster struck, as taking a new found line out of carnage corner, I landed too heavily on my back wheel off the drop and instantly blew out the tube. Without any spares (in hindsight a bit of an oversight), I cautiously rode and ran back to the arena (much to the disappointment of heckling downhillers, who by now were throwing banana peels and water onto the easiest/least hard lines). Searching for a tube and a pump –eventually settling for a mini-frame pump after 2 attempts with the world’s most useless track pumps- I rejoined the circuit a lap down to complete the race, while managing to spectacularly launch myself over the handlebars after an inspired line choice. Eventually, I crossed the line in 30something place.

However, the weekend still brought in a good haul for LSUCC, with Jessie Roberts winning the women’s elite race and the elite men’s team gaining 3^rd overall (despite mechanical troubles for Jon, while both me and Henry were visited by the puncture fairy). Earlier in the day the purple and white jerseys of Loughborough dominated the sport race with Chris Irlam winning and Chris Reeves second, bringing in team Gold, while Christina Wiejak won the women’s sport event.

But please BUCS, can we have an XC race next year?

The end of winter...

2011-03-11T19:52:00.001+00:00

The last blog I wrote ended along the lines of to race cross or not to race cross? Well I did. A bit.

With the inclement weather which seemed to last several years, I was forced off the roads and into the definitely legal trails located around Loughborough - the classic ‘3 peaks’ route providing perhaps one of the weirdest experiences I have ever had on a bike. Having been assured “don’t worry he won’t bite you”, I was bitten by the world’s smallest dog, and proceeded only to disrupt a band of medieval knights parading around the woods, fully clad in chain mail and wielding oversized axes. Make of that what you will.

With all the extra practice, and returning home for the Christmas holiday, I decided to enter the national champs, and use the following 4 weeks to give me a focus to develop some racing fitness to progress the winter schedule. With 5 races lined up, I took the opportunity to take part in a study being run by Mark Walker to analyse performance in cross racing. With data collected across 3 races and the offer of a power tap and edge 500 for a few months, I took up the trial and committed myself to riding a ‘sort of’ cross season:

I debuted at a snowy Broome Heath, a circuit I have enjoyed successive victories on over the past 3 years. Perhaps a little ambitious, I led out the pack and riding up the notorious sand bank, gained a small lead over the opening laps. However, the lack of race practice, and top end fitness missing from this winters training, due to my focus on the forthcoming road season showed as I was joined and then left behind by the leaders. Finding myself in 5^th place, I recovered from the earlier efforts to nearly move up to 3^rd by the beginning of the final lap, when an ill-timed puncture thwarted my chances – eventually finishing back in 5^th.

I then moved onto the following weeks London league event in Footscray. The less sad the better about this one. We’ll call it a ‘training race’.

A week later, I turned my attention to the XRT/Elmy Cycles Supacross, held at Foxhall. With category A ranking, and riders looking for points in an attempt to move up the national champs starting grid, a large contingent of top riders entered the race. Starting from the second row on the grid, I missed the decisive split half way around the opening lap – a mixture of short sharp climbs, run ups, tight single-track descents and an exposed grassy loop. Racing for 7^th position, having spent almost the entire race in the company of my brother and Shaun Aldous, I crashed, bent the mech hanger, put the rear mech through a spoke, snapped the chain and spectacularly wrapped it around the hub a couple of times before coming to a inevitable stop. This prompted a run, then jog, then walk, around to the finish.

The national champs arrived, and under no pressure to perform (an almost welcome feeling after the past 3 winters concentrating on this race), I pulled out a good ride on to 10^th position, riding the muddy circuit equipped with only 1 bike while the leaders swapped to a clean bike every half a lap! Starting from the back of the grid, all I could do was play a chasing game and gradually moved through the field. Getting up to 5^thwas as good as it got, and after a series of bike handing errors – I fell off a lot – completed the final laps alone.

Three weeks later, I made the long trek up to Durham as the sole representative of Loughborough for the “British Universities and Colleges Sport” (BUCS) cross championships. Leading the race out from the gun I pulled out a few seconds advantage over the opening laps of the mainly flat and wide circuit, that I can only imagine was designed for the “I’ve never ridden off road but I’ll give BUCS cross a crack” style of rider, although the flight of steps and ridiculously steep and muddy run up did provide some challenges along the way. Having been caught by my brother leading another rider up to my wheel, it was he’s turn to attack and returning the favour I offered another tow back up to Andy’s wheel, unknowingly offering a free ride to the BUCS road race champion of 2 years ago. He then attacked, and dropped us both. From then on we worked together in minimising the gap, but could never quite get close enough to the leader and eventual winner. Racing for second, I took control into the steps, and jumped clear on the run in to the line for the silver medal, ending just 11 seconds down. Andy and his Cambridge team mates with some consolation taking the team gold.

With one more race to go to complete the testing for the study, I returned home the following Saturday for a VO2 max and other testing at the University of Kent, before ending my ‘season’ with the Danbury team race. The race format meant each competitor from the team would be starting 30 seconds apart with their wave of riders. Andy set of first, with me in pursuit, and having nearly caught him after 1 lap, he pushed on to eventually win the race ahead of Shaun Aldous. I finished the race in 3^rd, with our final scoring rider, Richard Dunnett in 5^th, all winning our own races to take the team victory. And with that the cross season was over for another year!

Next up was the small matter of my first semester exams which I’m glad/relieved to announce went well, given the somewhat underwhelming ratio of training to revision hours. A 75% average across 5 modules is a good place to be with second term exams commencing in May/June. It’s a shame first year doesn’t count, mind.

Off the back of exams, we (me and my roommate, Jay Bowtell) decided it was time for a training camp in Mallorca, booked flights headed out for a week of sun, mountains and coffees. The camp provided a welcome relief from the rain and cold weather over the winter. The Bowtell villa, located in Pollenca, provided the perfect base for training: head west down the coast for 5 km and straight into mountain ranges, including the testing Sa Calobra climb. Although generally shallower and shorter than the Alpine climbs I have ridden, the ascents were tough and provided ample terrain for a hard days riding. Head south or east however, and the smooth roads offer the opportunity for some speed training on the flat. Although a great training week, I felt the overpower effects of over-training by the end of the week, and having returned took a short rest period to recover and reap the benefits.

So we are now 4 weeks into the second semester, and 3 weeks away from returning to Belgium for the month long Easter break. I’ll be riding BUCS XC mountain biking this Sunday, after a victory in the Gorrick Sport 'team selection' race last weekend.

If you read this far, thanks, I’ll try to keep it a bit shorter and a bit more updated from now.