Ride Stats for April

April hasn't been a bad month on the bike - I missed quite a few days at the start as I was out of the country; and because I am racing more now, rather than doing long miles, the mile count has predictably dropped. 

I've had some good results though, recording my first win and taking part in my first Open-Road Race. 

Things are looking good for the start of the season, just hope I can keep it ticking over through the coming exams in the next eight weeks. 

Wednesday Watch: Danny Hart: Hart and Soul Trailer

Danny Hart: Hart and Soul Trailer from Cut Media on Vimeo.
Trailer to a short documentary film on World Downhill MTB Champion Danny Hart. Filmed for Five Ten shoes in 2012. 2 part documentary is availble on Five Ten's YouTube channel.

Thames Velo Spring Road Race - 22nd April - A Good Introduction to Road Racing

Today I took part in my first real road race (rather than closed-circuit racing) - The Thames Velo Spring Road Race in Oxfordshire.
It was an early start and a 6am ferry to make the start for the 3/4/W/J race, but we made it in good time and a full field of 80 riders rolled out onto the fast, reasonably flat course behind the commissaire's  car at 09:30.

The race got off to a fast start, and the average speed stayed up at 24mph for the whole event. Before long we were into winding descents and single-file riding through small villages. Then the course opened out onto wider roads and the pace really lifted. It's quite a new sensation flying along in the peloton with the rolling road closure and the motorbike escorts!

The course had a great mix of road-types and after the wide B-road, we turned into narrower lanes and approached the only really substantial hill on the course, which helped to string the field out and shell a good few riders out the back.
I stuck in the front half of the main pack, not right on the front, but close to it - watching the breakaway attempts and conserving energy. I had made the decision after seeing a few attempts go off the front and then quickly get pulled back, that this race was almost certainly going to end in a sprint, and so a break-away would only be wasted energy (I must be learning!).

I didn't contest the PRIME sprint after the second lap, my positioning wasn't good for it and the legs weren't feeling fantastic so I wanted to save as much as I could for the sprint. Going into the last lap I stuck near the front throughout and watched as we pulled the last few breakaways back.

On the final 2k leading up to the finish I somehow found myself closer to the front than I wanted to be, as in...on the front for a bit and then sitting second-wheel. I tried to move back, but team trains were positioning themselves for the sprint and I wasn't able to find a gap.

The finish has quite a hill, before about 200 meters of flat leading to the line. I pushed too hard on the hill, and despite cresting the summit of the climb in about fifth, it was too far for me to hold out for the remainder of the sprint. I eventually crossed the line in 12th; not quite top ten, but not bad.

It was a fantastic race, loads of fun and I had my parents up there watching me too, which was really nice. In total the course was two and three quarter laps of the circuit, bringing it to 43 miles. I couldn't help but feel that perhaps a longer course would have suited me better and certainly one with more hills to string the peloton out.  Having said that I was very happy with 12th out of 80 riders; no points, but I learnt a huge amount and had a fairly good sprint.

I'm back up at Uni now and I have exams in this term, so my racing will take a bit of a back-seat. However, I'm going to keep working on my power and my sprints and hopefully come back strong for the races I have planned in July and August - can't wait!

Weekend Watch: Morvélo Apparel Videos

Morvélo - Ride Everything from Morvélo Bicycle Apparel on Vimeo.


Morvélo - 100 Miles 100 Shots from Morvélo Bicycle Apparel on Vimeo.
Definitely one of the coolest brands around at the moment - Great Couple of videos from the Morvelo Lads

Portsmouth Track Ray Martin - 18th April - Tactics, Tailwinds and Victory!

The plan for yesterday's race was to sit in the bunch and just get my top eight finish that I needed to move out of 4th Cat...It didn't quite turn out like that. I got the result, but it was a bit more of an exciting race than I expected....

The weather was grim as six members of the Wightlink Race Team travelled over on the ferry for the race. It looked like similar to last week we would have a wet race and be covered head-to-toe with Pompey grit. Turning up at the track the turnout looked like it was down on numbers, but by the time the race started, the full field of 45 riders was filled and it looked set to be another hard race...

I started right at the back, keen to sit-in and conserve energy as a lesson from last week. As attacks started going off the front though, I began to move up. Fifteen minutes in, a group of three riders went off the front and got a good gap; it looked promising, and looked like they might work together, so I bridged across to them and once again found myself in a breakaway!

What was going on, this was not the plan...I was meant to be reserving energy and having a conservative race; instead I was sat in a four-man break with a heart-rate through the roof! Having said that, it seemed to be working! One guy dropped off the back quickly, but then lap after lap we were gaining ground; "15 seconds up", "20 seconds up", "Half a lap up", "Three-quarters of a lap up" were the calls from the spectators. It was working! Perhaps my breakaway dream had finally come true!

But then we hung there, legs pounding and hearts racing; working well together, but not able to bridge that final 1/4 of a lap. I considered going at it alone to try to get round, but it would have taken a mammoth effort, and I wasn't sure if I had it in me when I was already red-lining, and if it didn't work then that would have been it, I would have had nothing left for the finish.

Then we began to be caught...gradually my two companions (and myself) began to tire. One of them dropped off and our chances dropped, we were back at half a lap up, and falling. The headwind was strong on one side of the track and it was taking its toll, it looked like it wasn't going to work. So after a good 15 minutes off the front I turned to the other guy "Good effort mate, but this isn't going to work", and we sat up.

It was so close, tantalisingly close, but it wasn't to be. As I took a drink and let the pack engulf me I cursed a little under my breath; I had done it again, wasted energy on a pointless break, and now I thought the legs would have nothing in them for the sprint.

I decided the only way I was going to be able to do anything for the finish now was to play it very conservative. I sat right back in the pack, watched my heart-rate monitor and made sure that for the next ten minutes it stayed down below 150bpm, in an attempt to keep some energy. I drank almost a whole bottle of energy drink and let the others do the work on the front.

Soon I found Harry Veale's wheel, I knew he would get a good placed finish, as he has done all season so far, so I thought that even if I could just stick with him I should be able to get my 8th place. We were sat quite far back as we went into the last 5 minutes before the 3 lap countdown. I had to admit I was a little worried, but I put my faith in the I-team lead-out train emerging and sat there. Perhaps I had my head down too much, trying to avoid wasting energy, but I barely noticed when with five laps to go a group of three riders went off the front and got half a lap up very quickly. I shouldn't have worried though, because as the pace picked up in the final three laps we pulled them back.

With two laps to go we began to move up... then Harry kicked on the first bend of the last lap. Damn, that lad's got some power! I wasn't sure I could hold his wheel, but I managed to...just. We were flying round the top of the track passing the whole front group as we headed into the final straight. I was out of the saddle, close on Harry's wheel as I clicked down a gear in the hope that I might be able to kick again with the bit of a tailwind on the finishing straight. It worked! The legs seemed to respond to the huge amount of adrenaline flowing through them, and I built up just enough speed to get around Harry and we took the one-two on the line.

So, one hell of a race! Grim weather conditions, a mouthful of Pompey grit, a very nearly successful breakaway, a tactical recovery and A WIN! The first win of the season for myself, and for the Wightlink Race Team.
It feels good to have finally got a result, especially in a race with 3rd Cats as well, it seems that the Easter training has paid off and the legs and mind are finally doing what I want them to do!

Bring on my first proper road race on Sunday up in Oxfordshire!

All photos courtesy of Neil Andrews - Thanks again Neil!

Twice Round The Island - Mk II

Francis, Ben and I at the top of the Col du Tourmalet

Back at the start of the year I did a twice round the Island ride with Francis, one of the lads that I went with on the France and Spain Touring Trip. It was an epic ride, we started just as it was getting light and finished in the dark. 110 miles over the very hilly Randonnée route in six and a half hours.

A few weeks ago I almost jokingly suggested to Ben (the third musketeer on the France and Spain trip) that he should have a go as well. He decided it was a good idea - always one for a challenge! So on Thursday Ben came over to the island on an early boat and after getting the bikes ready we headed off.

The first lap went very smoothly; clear blue skies, dry roads and a good average speed of 17.5mph. By 1pm we were back at home after the first lap, on schedule for a huge lunch of pasta, coffee and cake. As we sat in the warm kitchen though, some very heavy showers passed over, and it was clear that dry roads would not feature in the description of the second lap.

Francis and I racked up 6 century mile days in France

We set off on the second lap around 2pm; after the rain, the temperature had fallen quite a bit and it took until Bembridge, after the first few hills, before were warmed up. But, by the time we got to Seaview the black clouds were brewing and it looked like we weren't going to be able to skirt round them all. Indeed at Smallbrook the black clouds opened and ditched what felt like tonnes of pea sized hailstones onto our bare legs and arms. Not able to deal with the stinging shots of hail we stopped for a bit under a tree, before heading off in trepidation a few minutes later when it got too cold to stand around for any longer.

About two minutes later we had no choice though; Ben punctured and we were forced to stop in a farm entrance as we fixed it, and watched fire engines and ambulances speed past, on their way to (what I found out later to be) a substation and barn that had been hit by the lightning from the storm!

Puncture fixed, we headed on to East Cowes, relieved that after warming up a little we didn't have to wait for the chain-ferry. We skirted round a very nasty looking storm passing up the Solent past Cowes and before long we were heading out towards Yarmouth in some drizzle, but at least not hail!

At the top of the Col D' Aubisque 

Turning the corner at Freshwater Bay it seems like you are on the home straight (although you still have the biggest hills and some 25 miles still to go. I gave Ben a push up the steep hill up from the bay as his rower's legs were beginning to tire from the pretty extreme endurance training. Once over the top it was down onto the Military road and we got a shift on, trying to bring the average speed up after it had dropped during our storm incident earlier. Another push up Blackgang and Ben and I were on the final stretch - eager to get home to a hot shower.

We eventually finished in 6 hours and 35minutes; a little longer than at Christmas, but some different routes had meant we had done a total of 114.5miles, so our average speed was up at 16.4 compared to 16.2 with Frank. It was certainly an epic ride, and went pretty extreme at times, especially through the hailstorms. Ben asked me jokingly as I pushed him up Blackgang on the final lap if he thinks I could do it three times round....um....I'll think about that one! Perhaps not quite yet, but can certainly see myself trying for a sub-6 hour time in the not too distant future, hopefully without the hailstorms and punctures as a side-salad.

Weekend Watch: 'Paris Roubaix 2012 Unfiltered'

Pretty cool video from Specialized about this year's Paris-Roubaix, such an awesome race. I hope to ride the sportive event myself in a few years time.

Pompey Track Ray Martin - 11th April - Should have...Could have...Would have...

Photos Courtesy of Neil Andrews - He takes some great pics!

This Wednesday saw eight Wightlink Race Team riders travel over to Pompey for the Ray Martin Distance League series. It was my first time there, and it turned out to be a bit of a baptism of fire...

Arriving in Portsmouth, black clouds were brewing directly over the Mountbatten Centre track, and as we rode in the gate the first spatters of rain fell....then the heavens opened and hailstorms came pouring down. The Juniors were out doing their race on the track and it didn't look like much fun; in fact their race was cut short as the conditions worsened. Luckily by the start of our race it had stopped raining...just, and after one quick "warm-up" lap (I didn't warm up at all), we were lining up to start.

The pace from-the-off picked up pretty quick, it wasn't long before we were rolling round the track at 25mph or so. I sat in the main pack for the first few laps, then as attacks started going off the front I began to move up, eager not to be caught out if a break-away was to get off the front. I was too eager, that much is clear now, I sat a few back from the front for a lot of laps, and did a fair few pulls in position one too. I should have sat in, should have conserved energy.

After what I guess was about 15 minutes (my bike-computer was rebelling against the weather) I found myself on the front again, and as the pace had dropped very slightly I thought I would give a breakaway a go...I put the hammer down and drew out a gap, before long I had half a lap up. Then that was it, I hung there, heart rate at around 90% max for four or five laps; I wonder looking back on it if I could have managed one more dig, could have got round and made it a whole lap, but I think it was very unlikely, it would have needed some good disruption of the speed in the main chasing pack for it to have worked.

So after five laps I sat up, pretty exhausted. I should have have stayed in the main pack, been sensible and saved myself.

As the race continued I ended up being on the front more than I should have been...again! Perhaps it's nerves, perhaps it's adrenaline, but I seem to be drawn to the front of the pack like a magnet. Anyway, I helped chase down a few breakaway attempts, and before long it was the final five laps and we were all back as one big group as the pace picked up.

When the board went up with three laps to go I was near the front, but not as near as I should have been...for once! (I'm getting this front of the pack thing all wrong!). With two laps to go I was sitting in about seventh. Then in the final lap as the sprinting started I was stuck, boxed in by a few riders above me I was on the inside of the track and had riders sweeping over the top of me as we went into the final bend. I sprinted in the little pack that was holding me in, but at best I think I got 15th or so. I finished feeling like I had more to give, annoyed that I had wasted energy on the breakaway attempt and that I had let myself get boxed in on the sprint.

That's not to say that I didn't enjoy it; despite all that, the rain and the hail it was a fantastic race...one hell of an adrenaline fuelled workout, and I learnt a huge amount. I could have done better, but then I'm still new to this track racing stuff: it's a lot easier tactics in a cross-country race, you just go as fast as you can and effectively end up time-trialling against yourself most of the time.

There is a Pompey track almost every week from now until September though, so I've got plenty of time to practise...bring on next Wednesday!

Custom Wheel Build Project

At the end of 2011, I made the decision to move from trails to tarmac, and race with the Wightlink Race Team for the 2012 season.

Whilst I have a decent specification Planet X frame and groupset as my summer road bike, it was seriously lacking a decent set of wheels. So in January this year I began the search for a good value, light, durable and strong clincher wheelset for around £300. Many suggestions came up; from Prolite, Shimano, Cole and other established brands.

None of them really seemed to fit the bill though. As a pretty skinny endurance rider I'm never going to be a sprinter, but I do all right on the hills; as a result I was looking for something that was light (around 1500 grams) and stiff, but without compromising durability. Basically I was looking for the Dura Ace C24 wheel set for £300; which is something that's just not going to happen as its RRP is £750!

Luckily one of the guys in the Wightlink Team turns out to be a bit of a good wheel-builder; so after a long stream of emails we began to formulate something that could work for my needs.
Here's how it worked out:

• American Classic Hubs Cole C24 rims - 16 Hole Front, 20 Hole Rear (Silver)
• Sapim Aero Blade Spokes (Silver)
• Aluminium Spoke Nipples on Front and Rear Non-drive Side (Anodized Blue Colour)
• Stainless Spoke Nipples on Drive-side for increase spoke tensioning capability 
• Radial Lacing on Front Wheel and Rear Wheel Non-drive side 
• 2 cross Lacing on Rear Wheel Drive Side 
• Planet X Superlight Titanium Skewer Set 
• Schwalbe High Pressure Rim Tape 

The total build including labour came to just under £300.
The total weight (including rim tape) came to 1530grams.



So how do they perform?

• FAST, that was my first reaction, having never had a decent light wheel set I didn't really know what to expect, but these things are awesome! 
• SMOOTH hubs - we spun the front wheel when it was in the Jig and it kept spinning on its own for about five minutes! The rear free-hub has also got a great positive click to it, without being ridiculous; certainly they seem like a top quality hub-set.  
• The Sapim spokes really are the business - they make a great humming noise when powering down a hill at 45mph, but otherwise they silently slice through the air, and the low spoke counts means they look pretty awesome on the bike as well. 
• The rims, despite being fairly cheap (£25 each from Evans Cycles) are strong, stiff and solid. With Cole's reputation in the Cyclocross industry this was to be expected, but they seem great value, comparable to Mavic Open Pros in my opinion.  

Overall, these are an awesome set of wheels, we've had a few problems with the radial lacing on the front wheel, but nothing that a bit of nipple-freeze didn't sort. The wheels are now running super smooth, and seriously stiff for their weight and spoke count - I can certainly sprint on them without getting brake rub.


They look individual, feel great and hopefully are going to make me that bit faster this year. I'm certainly looking forward to the first hilly race to really see if they can make a difference.

N.B. For those that are interested, I use GP4000 tyres on these wheels - they're a great tyre; reasonably priced, durable and fast rolling, with pretty good puncture resistance. You can go lighter, but personally I think it's not worth the puncture risk. I'm also using light weight tubes to save a bit of weight - have a look at Continental Supersonics or Vittoria Ultralights, both seem to be good choices.

Wednesday Watch: Men's Keirin 2012 - Chris Hoy's Victory

Along with an incredible Paris-Roubaix last weekend, which I am still waiting to find my favourite highlights video for, this has to be one of the most impressive bike-race wins in history - an awe-inspiring win from Sir Chris Hoy in the Men's Keirin race in the Melbourne World Champs 2012.