The Ras na mBan hasn't even started yet..

After a busy day at work yesterday, driving the 5 hours alone to Fishguard did not appeal. I didn’t want to go, stressing about whether or not I was good enough, whether or not I would enjoy myself, what the accommodation would be like…
I (sort of) manned up and got on with the drive. After an extremely dull 5 hours I arrived at Fishguard at 12.10am – early for the time I was due to meet Karen and Steve from GB Cycles. They were delayed as they had to go back for Karen’s passport, so with the time being fairly tight I was asked to be standing outside the car with my bike ready to put on the bike rack for 1.20am. So at 1.18am I was stood in a cold, dark, empty, eerie car park with my beautiful Parlee Z5 Sli. At 1.30am I was still stood there. I called Karen and she had put the wrong postcode in the satnav! They were 40miles away – with only 30 minutes to go until boarding closed. The ETA was now 2.35am and they were probably going to run out of petrol. Shit. There was no way they were going to make the ferry.
Reluctantly under Karen’s instructions I went to see the lady on the Stena Line desk (thinking that there was absolutely nothing we could do about the situation) and emptied my contents of the car in their office so that IF they arrived in time, I could load their car up quickly. They were really very, very helpful and to my disbelief allowed us to board despite being so late. To save time I even rode my bike onto the ferry rather than strap it onto the car roof – felt a bit weird sprinting along a ferry dock at half two in the morning.  

As it happens, I am already having a great time with the GB Cycles team. Line up for the Ras is:

Iona Sewell
Karen Poole
Sandra McKay
Michelle Forster (London Phoenix rider also guesting for GB Cycles)
And me

After lunch where the waiter hilariously dropped both our drinks AND food all over the floor, we all went out for a little spin this afternoon just to get the travelling out of our legs and Michelle’s front mech fell off into her chain jamming it so she couldn’t pedal. We took it in turns to push her the 8km back to the hotel, where we still haven’t found a fix to the problem yet… Fingers crossed she can start tomorrow for the first stage.

The Ras na mBan (women’s tour of Ireland) consists of 6 stages over 5 days. The first will be tomorrow at 5pm and is 65km ‘rolling’ circuit based around Ennis - http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2153061. For race updates follow @rasnamban and for a start list click here.

Thank-you Activ Cycles

I’m pleased to announce that I will continue to be supported by Activ Cycles (an independent bike shop based in Corbridge, Northumberland) for the 2013 season in addition to the Champion Systems/Maxgear team.

The guys at Activ Cycles really helped me out through 2012 in lending me equipment to race with and encouraging me to believe in myself. I had a difficult start to the year after breaking my collarbone in 2011 and was at a point where I was ready to give it up. They persuaded me to travel up to train with them a couple of times in Northumberland and the Lakes and reminded me what I enjoy about riding my bike. They’re brilliant fun, although trying to follow them downhill is not so much fun – nutters!

Thanks very much guys, really looking forward to the rest of 2013! Please follow them @activcycles or like them on facebook.

London Bike Show Rapha Elite Women’s Indoor London Nocturne

Outline of the course www.londonnocturne.com

I love doing things that are a little bit different, so when I heard about the UK’s first indoor criterium – the Rapha Elite Women’s Criterium at the ExCel - I had to have a go. The race was only 25minutes + 5 laps, so I figured that track league speed, combined with long base miles would suffice in off season.

The day before we were due to travel the forecast was for heavy snow, so it was touch and go whether we would be able to get there. I had taken the day off work and didn’t fancy spending it sat at home not racing, so went for it!

The conditions on the M6 were interesting. The outer lane not in use as it was covered in an inch or so of snow, but the traffic was quiet and there wasn’t much snow south of Birmingham.  We arrived in plenty of time to have a look around the bike show.

Watching the 2^nd cat race and fixed bike race (yes that’s with no gears or brakes) before ours was interesting to say the least. There were a number of crashes and anyone who came off on ‘the paint’ was losing a LOT of skin!





Me cornering - obviously to fast for Towse

Rider briefing - mostly telling us not to run over their
feet!

I made sure I got a place on the front row on the start line – I couldn’t mess it up after coming all this way. The whistle went and I got swamped. I had the worst imaginable start ending up in the back quarter of the field after lap 1. Not the start I was aiming for..
It took 4-5 laps of riding as hard as I could and negotiating passing riders in the corners to bridge to what was left of the bunch – all of 3 riders! I sat in to recover and realised Clemence Copie was away, so made an effort to get her back with the others, but I was already suffering from having to chase back on. I looked over at the clock, expecting us to be half way in  and it only showed 5 minutes! The course was quite twisty and technical in places, although the corners were painted with a red paint with grit in it to make the corners more grippy which worked well (as long as you kept it upright). The only issue was coming onto and off the painted areas – cornering too early or too late would mean sliding out on the concrete - in the first few laps of the race I nearly decked it a fair number of times!        

In the closing stages of the race my legs were buckling but I just about managed to stay with the other 3 riders finishing in 5^th. The race was a bit of a shock to the system, but saying its off season I’m pretty pleased with my result!

1	Clemence Copie	High Wycombe Cycling Club	28:26
2	Alice Barnes	23C Orbea	+33
3	Louise Mahe	Team MuleBarGirl	ST
4	Alexie Shaw	Les Filles Racing Team	ST
5	Nicola Soden	Champion System/Maxgear	ST

Click here for full results

The National Hill Climb Championships 2012 – The Rake

Pain!! velouk.net

I earmarked The Rake as a key target this season relatively early on, as it was on a short, steep climb – something I knew would suit me.

The increasingly good results I’d had over the previous two months really gave me the confidence I needed entering hill climb season. I managed 2 wins and 4 podiums in the hill climbs and wins in the track leagues leading up to the Nationals at the Ramsbottom Rake. In the hill climbs, I was never too far off the winning times, so position didn’t worry me. I was just focused on the Rake. I visited it on numerous occasions learning how best to ride it, how much effort to put in and what gears to use. I also did a lot of turbo intervals and reduced my weekly ride time to barely 5 hours a week, eat healthily (no cakes, no drinking). I picked up some super-light Vue des Alpes Light SuperSport Edco Carbon Wheels and stripped the bike down as far as possible. The most seriously I’ve ever prepared for an event.

I arrived on the morning of the climb early, pre rode it to test how slippery the surface was (it was pouring it down). I stayed in the car to keep warm until I needed to warm up. Preparation was spot on. I got to the start line with 3 minutes to go – plenty of time but not enough time to get cold. The timekeeper counted down – 30 seconds, 10 seconds, 5 seconds… paused. I thought I heard go, I didn’t. I tried to go but the starter pulled back. I was off balance leaving the start, and ploughed straight into the barrier – couldn’t avoid it – and both feet came out of the pedals. I tried to get them back in, but couldn’t. Shit. I almost cried, but thought sod it; I’ve trained so hard for this so I’ll damn well ride as hard as I can. I did. As I reached the steep section the legs started to scream, but I pushed on. The atmosphere was immense – the noise practically carried you to the top. I don’t think I’ve ever ridden so hard in my life. I reached the top of the section of 1 in 4 and could barely turn my legs. Still, I whack

Me, trying to go fast up Rawsons Rake - Ed Rollason Photography

ed the gears up and ‘sprinted’ as hard as I could for the line (although was probably actually going about 10mph). I almost rode into some poor bloke stood at the finish line, then collapsed at the finish with no colour in my face, unable to stand and talking utter gibberish. I had raced as hard as I could. Done everything I could. I finished in a time of 3:36 – only good enough for 6th woman. Third place finished in 3:23. Make of that what you will, maybe I lost out on a medal, maybe I didn’t.. It certainly gives me the confidence that I would have been well up there.

Just over a year ago, sat nursing a broken collarbone, with no outstanding results to note, I never thought I would be saying that I believed I could have medalled in a National Championship. Remembering where I was then, makes me realise even 6th isn’t so bad at all! Either way, I’m not giving up!

Top 20's, 10's second cat and Track Nationals

Me and Mel after a muddy crit in Buith Wells

I’ve been meaning to write a blog for quite some time, although it has been put to once side as I have been totally absorbed in my preparation for the National Hill Climb Championships.

I started performing better after a break in racing around June, after a few DNF’s, with a top 15 at Naseby – providing the boost in confidence I needed. A couple of weeks later, I travelled to Wales with Mel and her family to the Auchterloine Memorial stage race in Wales, which consisted of a time trial, rather muddy criterium and road race. I was dreading the crit, as it was round the Welsh Royal show ground, it was raining hard and there was a lot of mud and standing water. Once I got racing I absolutely loved it – probably the most fun race I’ve done all year! The main field was quickly whittled down to about 15 riders. After a crash split the main group, I found myself in the second group but recognising the other riders weaknesses managed to break away from them finishing 11th – my best result yet.
The second day I almost got dropped on a steep descent on the first lap (didn’t make that mistake twice). I went for a long one with 1km to go, but it wasn’t to be and finished mid bunch. With consistent results I finished 8th on the GC! Absolutely brilliant circuits to race on – will definitely be going back next year.

Following this I raced some crits at Tameside, getting a top ten in one of the mens races and also at Darley Moor Women’s Team Series. I would have liked to be in the break at Darley Moor but guest team mate Jo Smith got there first! I worked to control the bunch to allow them to get away, as Jo is a top class sprinter and I knew she wouldn’t let us down and she didn’t, finishing a close 2nd to none other than Lucy Garner soon to be double Junior World Road Race Champion! I look forward to having Jo guest for us again in the future!

I also made some progress in city centre criteriums at the Newport Nocturne, despite starting at the back due to being gridded base on category I was still in the main bunch on the final lap (containing about 25/60 starters) – something which I have never done before.

Not long after I also earned my 2nd Cat licence – a move up 2 categories in one year!

Track nationals were next on the list. I’d never competed in the National Track Championships before, so I was just riding for experience (aiming to peak for the hill climb rather than the track nationals). I didn’t have any problems keeping up whatsoever, although rode rather conservatively. Wish I had done a bit more in the points race, but came 10th in the scratch race which concluded in a sprint finish – total surprise, as I’m not the best of sprinters. All good progress ready for the hill climbs...

Back on the bike!

National Crit Champs, Sheffield

I’ve had a tough couple of months. More responsibility at work has been difficult – a very welcome change, although change is always challenging. Stressing about getting jobs finished off and tiredness from travelling long distances for bike races was starting to take its toll and my head just hasn’t been in it. So I decided to take a few weeks off racing. Expensive decision to make, as about £90 of races had already been paid for, but it needed to be done.

I did as much or as little as I felt like for those few weeks – riding Madison SQT’s at Manchester Velodrome and the Manchester to Blackpool ‘Sportive’. I also started doing the Buxton TT’s, which I have actually started to enjoy…there may be a tester in there somewhere yet. Maybe not.
What I’ve certainly learned is how to balance racing with work and I’ll perhaps be less quick just to enter a women’s event just because they put one on in future!
Since I’ve been back racing, I’ve actually been doing much better with a couple of top 20’s in the last couple of weeks. I came 13th at Naseby (one of my favourite courses), although spoiled somewhat by running an E/1/2 men’s race at the same time causing us to stop with just 3 miles to go. I also came 20th(I think) In the National Crit Champs in Sheffield, although only the top 19 were recorded. The course was fantastic, as the city centre crits always are with fast corners and a cobbled climb!

This weekend I took some more time out for myself and travelled up to Northumberland and the Lakes for the weekend to ride with the Kyklos team. I got to try various Edco wheels, deep sections on the first day and some lighter ‘Albula’ Competition wheels on the second day. With Kirkstone Pass on the route for day two I was grateful for the lighter wheels with ceramic braking surface (fantastic in the wet so I'm told), although NOT the 39 25 gear ratio. Everyone else was on compacts, triples or had a 29 (MARK!!). The weekend was brilliant fun, Eve and I enjoyed giving the boys a challenge and the scenery was awesome – in particular the Langdale Valley which looks like something from Jurassic Park! I can’t wait to go back!

Bit of a bling 'club' ride - pretty
much everyone on deep section Edcos.

A few races under the belt

After not having a hugely successful  start to the season, I’m pleased to say I’ve finished some road races, in the bunch with cranks and knees intact!
 

Oxford - 'The Corner'

It started with the first round of the Tour Series in Oxford. We travelled down in the morning to have a cycle round the city. It was the hottest day of the year so far, so brilliantly timed. We had a little cycle round, a look at the old university buildings and a picnic whilst watching the kids race, right by the tightest corner of the circuit – entertaining to say the least. Hayley arrived and we went to put on our lovely speedsuits and sign on. The Johnsons Health Tech Series Crits are always really exciting - the atmosphere with the large crowds and the tightly cornered city centre circuits, often cobbled are always great fun. I had absolutely no expectations as I had been ill in the run up to the race (and to be honest was still ill on the day), but I was there to have a good time – especially with the sun out!

Me and Hayley at the start line in
Oxford

We rolled up to the start line, somewhere near the back (doh) although by the time we had rolled forward it wasn’t too far from the front. We started the couple laps behind the bike and the girls were taking it cautiously round the set of triple hairpins, which were in a Y shape and each one got tighter. When the motorbike pulled away the race went BANG. The pace went right up and I got a little swamped on the first few corners. I managed to work my way up to the first chase group, where we tried to catch the main group in front. We were working well together, although eventually the illness caught up and I found myself struggling out of the final hairpin each time until I slowly lost contact with the group. I got lapped on the final lap, despite my best efforts to keep ahead. However, despite being ill this was still an achievement on the previous year when I had been lapped several times.  Hayley had done really well too and we’d both had a great time, although were so hot we went straight to find a shop and decided to buy a two litre bottle of water each! Our ‘race mechanics’ had wandered off so to get them back had to resort to stuffing them down the skinsuits – not a good look!

The next race on the calendar was the National Road Race Series Hillingdon GP. The weather was still glorious, although far too hot for a road race but I did have my bling Edco deep sections!! All the girls seemed pleased the race had been shortened by 10laps due to a big crash in the ¾ race earlier on. In the earlier stages of the race I managed to keep quite far forward, although when the decisive break went I found myself too far back to react. Unfortunately all the big teams were represented in the break so it was pretty much impossible to organise a constant chase. I decided to wait for the sprint finish as chasing was useless. I was on a good wheel until 2 to go when I got squeezed out and ended up at the back with no way through. I rolled in near the back of the bunch for 42^nd.

My next race in Banbury was practically the opposite of Hillingdon. It was around 14 degrees and pouring it down and I arrived to discover there was a 1 mile, 14% climb – good job I brought the light wheels!
Despite the poor weather, I was really up for the race as the course looked like it was going to be one of the most interesting I’d raced. It was 3 laps of a circuit that went up a ‘’Knowle’’ called Edge Hill. The climb is usually the sort my other half enjoys dragging me up, so I’d had plenty of practice! The race stayed pretty neutral until we started the climb. As expected, the race splintered.  I was a bit too far back, passing riders just to keep up the pace with the riders at the front, but they were too far away. I ended up in a chase group working hard with them to regain contact with the lead group on the run up to the climb for the second time. Unfortunately I’d spent a little too much energy to be able to hang on to the leaders and was dropped again. There were a group of four of us working together – two of which had been in the break at Hillingdon the previous week. The 4 became 10 as two groups merged towards the end of the race. The finish line was right at the top of a steep kick – just my kind of finish! I came 2^nd in our group, pipped by Louise Mahe who had finished 3^rd and won the sprint prize at Hillingdon. I was happy with my sprint, although slightly gutted I couldn’t have been up there on the main climb to be able to really see what I can do. Lessons to be learned, roll on Capernwray this weekend………..