It's been a while since my last post, been very busy with exams at college, but they are thankfully all done now, until the summer.
Just to update, on the 15th January I went to Hillingdon again and tried an early breakaway, legs just died... Got dropped... Got lapped... Got dropped again. Oh dear.
Anyway onto this weekend now!! Yesterday I headed down to Ludgershall for their cat 3/4 circuit race on a 0.8 mile closed circuit, slightly less technical than Hillingdon, with a more oval shape and a small chicane down the back straight. I was racing with a team-mate yesterday and we didn't really have time to discuss a race plan so we just got on with it! Race started slowly with the first 2 laps at ~20mph, but it soon sped up as breaks started going off the front, however none could maintain a gap and the race seemed destined to end in a bunch sprint. The race was 40 mins + 2 laps and as we got the signal for 2 laps to go everyone seemed to want to get to the front, and it has to be said that some riders do need to learn how to ride within a group, as there was a lot of contact, and a few people were getting very annoyed! We got the bell for the final lap with everyone still together, and I was sitting in the middle of the bunch, I needed to find a better position so I moved out and rode up the side of the peloton, found myself a wheel to sit about 4 back from the front. Going into the final bend, a small group of 5 gained about 20 metres on the rest of us, and stayed away for the top 5 positions, I had found myself pushed wide on the final bend and was lucky to stay up after clipping a pedal going round sharply, but as I kicked for the line I found myself leading the sprint, but I lost my legs in the final 50m and 2 more riders came past. Results haven't been posted yet but I was (I think) 8th.
Overall I was pleased with my ride and I had felt strong, but I just had a bad position going into the final bend, I think I need to work on finishing tactics, nevermind! Live and learn.
In the evening I had the Didcot Phoenix Presentation Night, picked up a couple of trophies and spent the evening speaking to the guest of honour, ex-club member John Paul. John is currently on the Olympic Development Program as a track sprinter, a very talented athlete and it was great to have a chat with him. Had a good night and thoroughly enjoyed it.
This morning was just a ride with a couple of team-mates, I ended up doing just under 80 miles and we averaged 17.9mph, so a good workout, and a nice sunny day along a route I hadn't ridden before. Overall a good weekend!
Ciao.
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Imperial Winter Series @ Hillingdon - 8th January
Today was my first 3rd cat race, and having arrived over an hour and a half early, I had a lot of time to think about the pending race. Warm up was slightly belated due to a few youth races on the circuit, I was surprised at how fast some of the really young riders were going!! Very good to see!!
The race started at a very brisk pace with plenty of riders trying their luck off the front, I tried to follow one of them, but as with all others before, we soon got caught by the fast moving peloton. After about half an hour of the race, we actually lapped the 4th cats and things got slightly hectic as they did not seem to let us go past, eventually however they did drop back and we continued on at an high pace. Another breakaway attempt was launched off the front, and to many peoples surprise, the small group of 3 riders actually formed a subtantial gap on the bunch, and as far as i'm aware, stayed away till the finish. A great ride by those guys, well done.
Back in the bunch though people were still jostling for position and with 2 laps to go I moved to the outside and found a gap on about 6th wheel. I held this position until the start of the final uphill straight to the finish. At this point I moved to the right of the man in front of me and started to move up, so I had a gap in which to sprint. However soon after I had moved, another brainless rider tried to come around me and there simply wasn't room, so he knocked into shoulder, sending me flying in to the rider alongside me. My front wheel locked onto his rear wheel for a second or two, until it detached again, I somehow managed to stay upright and stop myself flying over the grass verge. I stopped and saw that I had snapped a spoke on my wheel, and bent a few more, taking the wheel completely out of true. This however was in a better state than the guys wheel who I had collided with... The spokes had completely come apart from the wheel hub, and his rear mech was destroyed... luckily his frame was unharmed, except for some minor markings. Overall, it could have been a whole lot worse, but amazingly we did all stay upright. I understand that another crash happened just before the line, and a rider had to go to hospital, so I hope he is well and wish him a speedy recovery.
Hopefully next week will be slightly more successful...
Ciao.
The race started at a very brisk pace with plenty of riders trying their luck off the front, I tried to follow one of them, but as with all others before, we soon got caught by the fast moving peloton. After about half an hour of the race, we actually lapped the 4th cats and things got slightly hectic as they did not seem to let us go past, eventually however they did drop back and we continued on at an high pace. Another breakaway attempt was launched off the front, and to many peoples surprise, the small group of 3 riders actually formed a subtantial gap on the bunch, and as far as i'm aware, stayed away till the finish. A great ride by those guys, well done.
Back in the bunch though people were still jostling for position and with 2 laps to go I moved to the outside and found a gap on about 6th wheel. I held this position until the start of the final uphill straight to the finish. At this point I moved to the right of the man in front of me and started to move up, so I had a gap in which to sprint. However soon after I had moved, another brainless rider tried to come around me and there simply wasn't room, so he knocked into shoulder, sending me flying in to the rider alongside me. My front wheel locked onto his rear wheel for a second or two, until it detached again, I somehow managed to stay upright and stop myself flying over the grass verge. I stopped and saw that I had snapped a spoke on my wheel, and bent a few more, taking the wheel completely out of true. This however was in a better state than the guys wheel who I had collided with... The spokes had completely come apart from the wheel hub, and his rear mech was destroyed... luckily his frame was unharmed, except for some minor markings. Overall, it could have been a whole lot worse, but amazingly we did all stay upright. I understand that another crash happened just before the line, and a rider had to go to hospital, so I hope he is well and wish him a speedy recovery.
Hopefully next week will be slightly more successful...
Ciao.
Saturday, 1 January 2011
Imperial Winter Series @ Hillingdon - 1st January
Happy New Year!!
This morning saw the New Years Day winter series race at Hillingdon, having been off the bike for the best part of three weeks, and training mainly on the gym bike, I wasn't expecting great things!!
I arrived unusually early so had plenty of time to get everything sorted and gave myself a good half hour to warm up around the circuit. At 11 o'clock we started the race.
A rider from Inverse RT immediately launched himself off the front and gained a small gap, but he only managed to stay away for 3 laps before the peloton reeled him back in. A few riders tried to attack, including myself, but all these attempts were futile as the bunch closed down any breakaways before they could threaten.
I moved up into 2nd position as we saw the 5 lap signal and followed an Inverse RT rider who kept the pace high all the way into the final straight and as another rider came past i caught on to his wheel and followed him up the climb, i got round him with about 100 yds to go, but almost immediately got swallowed up by 6 riders as my legs just ran out of energy, I held on for 7th place.
Overall I was a bit disappointed with my finish today, perhaps it was due to an interrupted training schedule in the last 3 weeks, maybe I used too much energy in my earlier breakaway attempt. Either way I now have over 10 BC points so I am now a 3rd cat rider!! Very happy.
Until Next time!
Ciao.
This morning saw the New Years Day winter series race at Hillingdon, having been off the bike for the best part of three weeks, and training mainly on the gym bike, I wasn't expecting great things!!
I arrived unusually early so had plenty of time to get everything sorted and gave myself a good half hour to warm up around the circuit. At 11 o'clock we started the race.
A rider from Inverse RT immediately launched himself off the front and gained a small gap, but he only managed to stay away for 3 laps before the peloton reeled him back in. A few riders tried to attack, including myself, but all these attempts were futile as the bunch closed down any breakaways before they could threaten.
I moved up into 2nd position as we saw the 5 lap signal and followed an Inverse RT rider who kept the pace high all the way into the final straight and as another rider came past i caught on to his wheel and followed him up the climb, i got round him with about 100 yds to go, but almost immediately got swallowed up by 6 riders as my legs just ran out of energy, I held on for 7th place.
Overall I was a bit disappointed with my finish today, perhaps it was due to an interrupted training schedule in the last 3 weeks, maybe I used too much energy in my earlier breakaway attempt. Either way I now have over 10 BC points so I am now a 3rd cat rider!! Very happy.
Until Next time!
Ciao.
Sunday, 26 December 2010
Mistletoe & Wine...
Merry Christmas bloggers!
Hope everyone had a great christmas, and wishing you all the best for the new year.
My training has been on and off in the last 2 weeks due to a few things, weather, christmas, work and college mainly! However I have discovered the joys of my local gym! The spinning bike is almost exactly the same as the turbo, but I find myself more motivated seeing others working out aswell, and can remain concentrated for longer. The result being that in the last week before christmas I did 4 sessions of an hour on the spinning bike, just to start to bring a pattern back to my winter training schedule. I've also decided to give weight training a go! 4x25 reps @ 80kg after each spin session is a good follow up and tough on the legs, hopefully this will give me a 'kick' in the sprints next season!
Anyway, wishing everyone a happy new year and best wishes for 2011!!
Ciao.
Hope everyone had a great christmas, and wishing you all the best for the new year.
My training has been on and off in the last 2 weeks due to a few things, weather, christmas, work and college mainly! However I have discovered the joys of my local gym! The spinning bike is almost exactly the same as the turbo, but I find myself more motivated seeing others working out aswell, and can remain concentrated for longer. The result being that in the last week before christmas I did 4 sessions of an hour on the spinning bike, just to start to bring a pattern back to my winter training schedule. I've also decided to give weight training a go! 4x25 reps @ 80kg after each spin session is a good follow up and tough on the legs, hopefully this will give me a 'kick' in the sprints next season!
Anyway, wishing everyone a happy new year and best wishes for 2011!!
Ciao.
Saturday, 18 December 2010
Imperial Winter Series @ Hillingdon - 18th December
Nevertheless the training will continue and hopefully I can go for the win next time!
Ciao.
Saturday, 11 December 2010
Imperial Winter Series @ Hillingdon - 11th December
Today was my first ever bunch race and my main aim was to get round in one piece and finish in the main bunch.
I managed to get 6-7 laps in for a warm-up andat 1 o'clock we all lined up on the start line, the 3rd cats went off around a minute before us (4th cat race). We set off and immediately the pace was set quite high and after about 1 lap someone tried to launch themself off the front, but didn't last more than 2 laps. I took the front twice and tried to keep the pace high, but for most of the time I stayed in the bunch. As we got the signal for 3 laps to go I positioned myself behind the guy at the front of the bunch and stayed there all the way onto the final straight of the final lap. What we had failed to notice was that we had rapidly gained on the 3rd cats and actually caught them halfway up the climb on the home straight! This led to a very confusing sprint finish! I jumped off the front with about 200 metres to go and had to weave left and right through 3rd cat riders (negotiating a grass patch to get past one rider), and finally pushed one last time, unfortunately I saw #21, through a sea of 3rd cats, on the opposite side of the track about a bike length in front of, so I crossed the line in 2nd place.
Overall, very happy with my first circuit race and very much looking forward to the next one!! Also a quick thanks to Imperial Racing Team for running the race very smoothly!
Ciao.
I managed to get 6-7 laps in for a warm-up andat 1 o'clock we all lined up on the start line, the 3rd cats went off around a minute before us (4th cat race). We set off and immediately the pace was set quite high and after about 1 lap someone tried to launch themself off the front, but didn't last more than 2 laps. I took the front twice and tried to keep the pace high, but for most of the time I stayed in the bunch. As we got the signal for 3 laps to go I positioned myself behind the guy at the front of the bunch and stayed there all the way onto the final straight of the final lap. What we had failed to notice was that we had rapidly gained on the 3rd cats and actually caught them halfway up the climb on the home straight! This led to a very confusing sprint finish! I jumped off the front with about 200 metres to go and had to weave left and right through 3rd cat riders (negotiating a grass patch to get past one rider), and finally pushed one last time, unfortunately I saw #21, through a sea of 3rd cats, on the opposite side of the track about a bike length in front of, so I crossed the line in 2nd place.
Overall, very happy with my first circuit race and very much looking forward to the next one!! Also a quick thanks to Imperial Racing Team for running the race very smoothly!
Ciao.
Introduction, 2010, & 2011 goals
I'm Henry and I ride my bike for Team Zappi, recently moved from my old club Didcot Phoenix so I can race with more juniors, and do more road racing aswell as time trials. Started riding competitively at the start of 2009 and have loved it since.
To give you a view of my 2010 season I will just summarise it briefly.
In the 2010 season I was purely a time-triallist, and competed at both the National 10 & 25 mile championships. My best time for a 10 mile tt was 22.36 and my best 25 mile time was 58.21, a junior record for my old club Didcot Phoenix.
2011 Goals
Over the winter I am going to be training extremely hard in order to achieve my goals for 2011.
I will keep you posted.
Ciao!
To give you a view of my 2010 season I will just summarise it briefly.
In the 2010 season I was purely a time-triallist, and competed at both the National 10 & 25 mile championships. My best time for a 10 mile tt was 22.36 and my best 25 mile time was 58.21, a junior record for my old club Didcot Phoenix.
2011 Goals
- Top 20 at National 10 and 25 mile time trials
- Top 15 at British Time Trial Championships
- Compete in road races and win at least one during the 2011 season
- Complete at least one stage race
Over the winter I am going to be training extremely hard in order to achieve my goals for 2011.
I will keep you posted.
Ciao!
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