March superstats!

Miles cycled in March 2008: 570.44 [18.4 miles per day]
Trek: 366.98
Condor: 203.46

Total miles cycled in 2008: 1810.66 [19.8 miles per day]
Trek: 1026.66
Condor 784

Total miles cycled since 25 May 2003: 26477 [14.9 miles per day (1773 days)]
GT: 10300
Trek: 15393
Condor: 784

Terrible weather and terrible fatigue meant I didn't cycle for 16 out of 31 days, so each day I actually went out, I averaged 38 miles.

Racing also went pretty well, with two 'top ten' finishes in open TTs, and a 6th place in the WLC 10.

TT miles in Mar 2008: 99.8 miles in 4:17:14 = 23.278mph

(2007: 88 miles in 3:48:00 = 23.157mph, so up 0.121mph on this stage last year - though I was riding different courses this year)

Shotley - Brantham - A137 - Shotley

Bike: Condor
Distance: 24.15 miles
Time: 1 hour 11 minutes 00 seconds
Average speed: 20.3 mph
Maximum speed: 39.5 mph
Odometer (at end): 784.2

Sunshine! It really makes all the difference, this was really enjoyable. Full summer kit (including gloves) today.

A day at the races: photo essay

Today was one of the best time trials I've ridden, despite mechanical issues, but it was mostly special owing to the presence of my sister, Emily, and her boyfriend, Matt. They heroically volunteered to get up early this morning to drive me out to Haverhill, and moreover took pictures of the event so that it should live on in memory.

I've had lifts to and from races before, but nobody has ever quite got into the swing of things like these two. We stopped off to get coffee and energy drink en route, and they seemed to enjoy learning about the strange habits of testers.

Anyway, on with the pictures:

What to unpack first? (NB: unpacking the boot always requires aero helmet, for extra speed and dignity)



The infamous shoe hop:



A compromising position (though Matt seems, at this point, surprisingly happy):



Matt: "He's still bending down... I don't like it!'



Ed: 'Who will pin my number on?'



By this point I'd done my warm up ride and was ready to stretch:



Matt: "Hahaha! Look at the funny men'



I'm either pensive in this picture, or pondering the fact the driver of the white van was wearing a wifebeater at 9.30 on a Sunday morning.



A fellow rider gets going as Emily practices taking action pictures:



Matt, unimpressed with Emily's 'skills' takes over the camera, just in time to capture the eternal thrill of a man on a bike being held up from behind by another man:



And I'm off! Looking either focused or desperately uncomfortable, I can't remember which:



And, 50 or so minutes later, I approach the finish, grovelling in the huge gear I couldn't change out of!



It, erm, took me a while to crawl towards the finish line as Matt and Em cheered on, in worried fashion:



I then turned round and headed back to meet my team, groaning and swearing and trying not to be sick ... that gear was pretty hard :(



We then returned to HQ for tea and cake (the tea ladies sold us a whole cake for £4 which we gave to my mum for her birthday...) and I received £10 which I didn't actually earn (see previous post); Emily perved over some of the other cyclists, Matt got a little sad at this; and we drove home so mum could open her presents.

Haverhill Wheelers Open 20 mile time trial

Bike: Trek
Distance: 20 miles
Time: 50 minutes 47 seconds
Average speed: 23.629mph

Results. (I was 9th, I think, but owing to the 'one rider, one prize' rule, I'm down as 6th for scratch, though a couple of vets were quicker than me - oh, it seems number 48 was quicker than me - he should therefore have been 6th on that list, and I owe him £10 - and another 10th place overall for me? I don't know, my brain is mush, time for a nap before my mum's birthday dinner).

Moreover, after 9.5 miles (at Clare) my rear mech cable snapped, which meant I was stuck in my hardest gear (53x11) for the rest of the (pretty hilly) race. Ouch.

Plomesgate 10 Open TT

Bike: Trek
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 25 minutes 28 seconds
Average speed: 23.560mph

Result: 11th out of 43.

Another pretty good placing - even if my time was pants (this is a slow course, and it was pretty windy today, but even so, I could've gone better).

In any case, I have excuses!

* I haven't been training much recently - I had done 90 miles in the 2 weeks leading up to this race, compared to 381 miles for the first two weeks of the month.

* a few things 'upset' me - I'd had to sharply brake in Ipswich on the 31-mile ride out to the event, this flat spotted my rear tyre right down to the thread. I noticed this a few minutes before I started the race and worried that the tyre would disintegrate ... also my number was only pinned on with three pins and the flapping put me off. And probably cost me hours.

* I'd also forgotten to buy any energy drink before the race, let alone consume it.

* I arrived at the start 20 minutes early and froze during the wait - I'd warmed up plenty coming out from Shotley with rucksack on my back, and didn't fancy burning off any more energy. However, this backfired and my shivering was noted by other riders.

* the course was evil!! It had a lovely section through the forest, but also had some dodgy surfaces and dodgier corners...

* .. a bloody learner driver at the turn... why WHY would you learn to drive on a roundabout being visibly used for a bike race? He went round at 5mph with a lot of expletives coming from directly behind him (where I was). I am ashamed of shouting, but was pretty hyped up. That probably DID cost me some time.

Nonetheless, good to shake off cobwebs, and I've now passed my target mileage for March two days early. Have been extremely demotivated this week, on various levels, and this was just what I needed. Now raring to go for the Haverhill 20, early tomorrow morning. Clocks forward!

targets!

Gah. England need one wicket to beat New Zealand and clinch the series, but they didn't manage to do it before lunch, so am having to stay up past midnight...

Here, therefore, are my targets for this season:

Though I'm not doing anything spectacular, I'm finishing higher up the order than usual, so am positive about what I can achieve this year. I want:

* 21 minutes for a 10 mile TT (i.e. over 27.293mph)

* 55 minutes for a 25 mile TT (i.e. over 26.793mph)

* beat my 50 time (1:59:53) (25.027mph or more)

* under 4:10 for a 100 mile TT (24mph or more)

The first will involve a knocking 42 seconds (or more) off my PB, which should be do-able if I pick the right courses later in the year (I'm going roughly 40 seconds over 10 miles than I was this time last year, so this gives me hope). The second will involve knocking 88 seconds (or more) off my PB which again should be do-able on the right day.

Other targets include getting my PhD done so I can get a real job and buy some decent TT kit so I don't have to always wonder 'what might've been' ... at the moment, I'm de-motivated with my history work though, but that'll come back (I hope...)

***

For reference, here are last year's targets and results - I had a tendency to enter a lot of slow courses, but then do alright on the occasional fast course. I was surprised at my speed improvement in August, this came after doing a lot of long, hard rides in June then resting for a few weeks.

* to keep going til September with at least 20 races under my belt - I achieved this, and rode nearly 40 time trials
* to finish in the top half rather than the third quarter in the BUSA time trials - finished just in the bottom half for the BUSA 10 after a bad day, but a better performance in the BUSA 25 meant I finished top half 'overall'.
* beat 23:30 on a 10: did this a few times,: 23:04, 22:41 and a 22:49. Kept riding the Maidenhead Thicket as practice, but never got faster than a 23:36.
* beat 1:01:00 on a 25: did this a couple of times, a 1:00:41 and a 57:27. Also did a 1:01:48 on the E2/25b and a 1:01:43 on the Amersham Road.

gym bike VI: watts going on

Did 3 turns on the gym bike, progressively easier out of necessity...

1st: 24 minutes, averaging 313 watts (!!), covering 13.39km and burning 447kcal (i.e. one easter egg). Was feeling pretty crappy at the halfway point, and for the last 6 minutes, though I'm pleased I'm pushing myself hard.

2nd: 24 minutes, averaging 259 watts, covering 12.16km and burning 381kcal (i.e. another easter egg).

3rd: 9 minutes, averaging 237 watts, covering 4.56km and burning 133kcal (i.e. the small easter eggs I found inside one of the above easter eggs).

Burning nearly 1000kcal in a morning is impressive, though given I eat a lot, I'm not losing any weight. I'm 80kg which is probably a bit too heavy (though I am tall) - but I can't honestly see where I can lose weight. I'm even keeping my hair short this year!

VC Revolution 24: DNS

Up at 06:30, cold but clear sky - bunged bike in back of car, and mum drove me out to Birch, near Colchester where I was due to ride the VC Revolution 24 mile TT. As we arrived, the snow started coming down. Riders were starting, but I didn't fancy it much (I wouldn't choose to cycle in snow), and I worried if it got worse what the journey home would be like. So we turned round and came straight home, which was sensible because by 10:00 the snow was pretty thick and settled. Had a nap this afternoon and, when I woke up, the snow was all melted! Bizarre times.

Have been fatigued again this weekend, possibly because I've been staying up to listen to the cricket. An entertaining, if not classic, match unfolding between New Zealand and England. One of those catalogues of errors where individual brilliance (Southee, Pietersen, Sidebottom) is allowed to shine through.

High Wycombe CC 10

Bike: Trek
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 19 seconds
Average speed: 24.674mph

Result: 18th out of 77.

Down the M40 to Kingston Bagpuize today, will write more later, for now: usual complaints - including having to endure many hours of trains, a lack of food on said trains etc. etc. Will also have to write a report for the Willesden as four of us braved the terrible weather (the sun was (mostly) out, but that's about all that could be reasonably said ... we got sleeted on in the car park!)

Not a bad day, all said, finished in a good position overall again, and did a reasonably good time for the conditions (super-blowy).

I pushed extra hard (tasting blood in mouth, desire to be sick, oh yes) because I'd done so badly on this course in last year's BUSA 10 - somewhat bizarrely, today I managed to do exactly the same time Louis did on his superb debut ride on that fateful day!

No prize money, but in the prize draw afterwards, I won a pair of cycling sunglasses to add to my collection of awesome eyewear. According to this, they're worth a fair bit.

Again, there will be more later. My 27 hour odyssey to cycle for 24 minutes must be told.

trains, rain, pain

It's a bank holiday this weekend (they probably need it), which means poor weather and massive railway disruption. Therefore I have sensibly entered a 10 mile time trial (yes, only 10) on the other side of London. This will involve nearly 12 hours of travelling and may well be called off if the predicted ice age hits the country. Will report on my adventures tomorrow.

shell to scale

She really is very small, but admittedly she is only 7 months old...

Shotley - Freston Xroads - Holbrook - Stutton - A137 - Tattingstone - Holbrook - Freston Xroads - Shotley

Bike: Condor
Distance: 24.15 miles
Time: 1 hour 20 minutes 28 seconds
Average speed: 18.0 mph
Maximum speed: 33.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 746.2

Guh, I'm not going well at the moment and have a 10-mile TT on Friday ('sleet' and 'high winds' forecast, hurrah!)

Did a few interval type things today, but was generally unfocused and unmotivated. And had a strong headwind blowing in my face for most of it, honest...

Shotley - Wherstead - A137 - Stutton - Freston - Shotley

Bike: Condor
Distance: 23.81 miles
Time: 1 hour 12 minutes 56 seconds
Average speed: 19.6 mph
Maximum speed: 36.5 mph
Odometer (at end): 722.1

No cycling this weekend: instead walked miles with Lidia and John who came to stay on the farm for a couple of days. On Saturday we did a loop across the farm, through the woods, up to the church, along the sea wall, stopping off at the marina and then back through Shotley Gate (accompanied throughout by Sally, who was naughty); followed by an epic trek along the Stour to Erwarton on Sunday, in extremely unfriendly conditions (gale, freezing rain). Ended up, soaked, at the pub I used to work at back in the day, which has changed considerably. Also managed to eat lots! All of this was exhausting and spent much of yesterday evening asleep. Still weary today - so took the day off and will begin PhD work in earnest tomorrow. Went cycling however...

Today was cold and blowy, moreover, my wheels are very out of true - still, have booked the bike in for its courtesy '2 month' service back at Condor next week.

Two things made this ride, a quickish loop round the peninsula, a bit gloomy:

(1) Flooding on the road. One particularly large puddle caused me to put my left foot down into a deep patch, for the rest of the ride this foot slowly froze.

(2) Flying downhill at 35mph on the A137 (with large trucks overtaking me an arm's length away at 60mph) my bike started wobbling violently. I was clinging on for dear life, trying to brake and maintain control (or, at least, point myself in the direction of the soft verge rather than into the path of juggernauts). Figured I'd got a puncture, but no: the quick release on the rear wheel was loose. Really loose. How? Somebody's trying to kill me again! Or they were never tightened properly in the first place.

Shotley - Harkstead - Dedham - Ardleigh - Manningtree - B1070 - Tattingstone - Freston - Shotley

Bike: Condor
Distance: 38.84 miles
Time: 2 hours 09 minutes 52 seconds
Average speed: 17.7 mph
Maximum speed: 34.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 698.3

First ride since the weekend - though the wind has died down, it rained a bit, and was generally grey and foreboding. Not pleasant.

Moreover, I'm knackered. Really fatigued and run down (I look like I've got scurvy, or leprosy). Had to get out today though, as I wanted to turn my legs. But am taking another 3 days off now. Term ends tomorrow, so will have a few well-earned ales.

Hainault Hilly 28.8mile Time Trial

Bike: Trek
Distance: 28.8 miles
Time: 1 hour 19 minutes 24 seconds
Average speed: 21.763 mph

Results.

I was 16th out of 81, which isn't bad at all, given I raced yesterday and had a long trek to get to this race... More later, am in usual state - have done at least 140 miles this weekend, including nearly 50 miles of racing. Guh!

West Suffolk Wheelers Sporting 21 Time Trial

Bike: Trek
Distance: 21 miles
Time: 53 minutes 09 seconds
Average speed: 23.706 mph

Results (thanks Ian!).

I finished 10th out of 57, my first top ten in an open event. Hurrah!

Over 2 minutes quicker than last year, and today was horrible, grey and blighted with 20mph+ gusts.

I personally felt better than the previous three time trials I've ridden this year, however, so I really went for it. Will probably regret this when I'm riding the Hainault Hilly tomorrow morning...

super blurry animals

Yeuch, heading back from the station tonight (having been told off by platform staff for having my rear red light on... must've been a quiet night) I ran something over. First time I've hit something living that isn't human...

Don't know what it was, it was shadowy and grey, and cat/fox shaped. I think I went over it, or it ran into my back wheel. No yelps, so either it died instantly or is hard as nails. Or I imagined it, always a possibility this late at night.

Shotley - Erwarton - Harkstead - Brantham - A137 - Freston crossroads - Ipswich

Bike: Condor
Distance: 22.61 miles
Time: 1 hours 10 minutes 49 seconds
Average speed: 19.1 mph
Maximum speed: 33.0 mph
Odometer (at end): 631.9

Another lap of the peninsula... it was windier than I thought, indicated by halfway average speed of 16.5mph. Was pretty grumpy at that point, but it improved, with a return average speed of 21.7mph. Indeed, wagged a finger at a motorist who overtook me through Woolverstone when I was doing 31.5mph in a 30mph zone.

Got up Freston Hill (with a tailwind) in 1:56.

Shotley - Harkstead - Cattawade - Bentley - Holbrook - Freston Xroads - Shotley

Bike: Condor
Distance: 28.60 miles
Time: 1 hours 31 minutes 10 seconds
Average speed: 18.8 mph
Maximum speed: 32.5 mph
Odometer (at end): 609.2

West London Combine 10 mile TT

Bike: Trek
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 24 minutes 07 seconds
Average speed: 24.879mph

Result: fastest Willesden rider and 6th out of 82.

To air the new Willesden skinsuit, returned to the Maidenhead Thicket: many thanks to Richard for giving me a lift to/from this race - picked up some pastries from the garage en route, this was a good idea because we both finished in the top 10 out of over 80 riders! Richard, scarily, was only 9 seconds behind me and he'd wrecked his legs in the sprint in the previous day's race. I'd better take my training a bit more seriously!

Felt crappy for the first mile or so, but Ron Purdy told me I'd go well if I caught him before the mini-roundabout, so I got some pace up and my legs stopped feeling like jelly. Settled into a nice rhythm and pushed really hard, the headwind not too punishing on the outbound leg.

Very happy with this: 35 seconds quicker than this point last year. Good to see lots of Willesden riders out too - the club also captured fastest and second fastest lady, and the club run also turned up so we also won the cake-eating trophy.

Afterwards, cycled across London for about the millionth time this weekend - had to find Stratford station as Liverpool Street was having nothing to do with trains ... cycling up Stratford interchange was brilliant, a soaring, gentle climb - good to get out of London though. Had a couple of people, including an open-top bus driver get out of their vehicles to shout abuse at me today!

Just over 115 miles for the weekend... once again, very very tired and hungry!

Finchley RT Crits: 3/4 cat race

Willesden CC's new kit has arrived, and was given a baptism at the Finchley crits this afternoon. Around 60-odd riders took part, Willesden fielding a team consisting of Richard Jerome, Jayne Paine and myself. My old club, Cambridge University CC turned up in force and won the event.

From the Willesden, Richard did really well and came 4th, while Jayne won the ladies' prize. I was not riding well, and spent most of the race in the bunch. It was a really jittery event, lots of squealing brakes and shouting, and I felt safest when I was at the front - but didn't spend much time there, because I can't cope very well with changes of pace. Indeed, the jitters were catching and I didn't feel comfortable at all.

In any case, didn't get a placing (again) because on the final lap, there was a bit of carnage just in front of me - the results of which are summarised here - the poor guy most affected was in a right state, very pale and very angry. It wasn't pleasant to see a guy hit the deck at that speed, and then get mown into by another rider. Yeuch.

Best part of the event was cycling back down the Uxbridge Road with Jayne* afterwards - livened up a dull stretch of road :D

* though she had earlier been responsible for christening me 'Mr. Retard', owing to length of time it takes me to affix a rear light :(