26th April 2014
RR
Phil raced at the Archer GP at Hillingdon with a full team, team rode well together on a tricky circuit pulling back an earlier break with a lap to go, also getting Tony Gibb near the front and he duly won. Great team effort.
The next days race at Stockbridge was cancelled due to a waterlogged course, shame as it would've been an interesting race, but the organisers made the right call.
TT
I competed in the Hants RC 10 on the P881, felt tired before the race and this showed with a 22:28 which although good compared with previous years was a bit down on my close rivals. a3crg won the team prize and Michael Hutchinson won with a mid 19 !!
Sunday, 27 April 2014
Sunday, 20 April 2014
Good Friday 10
18th April 2014
10 mile TT for me on the P883 (Buriton course), my main aim was to beat my course PB of 23:04 back in 2010, although a breezy day I was able to beat this bringing the time down to 22:19, also managing to beat my main rivals. Really pleased with the performance.
10 mile TT for me on the P883 (Buriton course), my main aim was to beat my course PB of 23:04 back in 2010, although a breezy day I was able to beat this bringing the time down to 22:19, also managing to beat my main rivals. Really pleased with the performance.
Monday, 14 April 2014
Sussex CA 2up
13th April 2014
Myself and Darryl entered this event, the last time we had ridden together in earnest in a 2up was a Chippenham Wheelers event which went very wrong with Darryl making me suffer big-time. In the build-up to this event though are times were very similar, the sun was shining and it promised to be a good ride. The course was tough, rolling and the long-sections through the back lanes were into a head-wind, the tough-section also had to be completed twice. Team leader DCB also turned up with his camera!
The ride went very well and my legs felt very good, we kept together well for the first half but Darryl was beginning to suffer and I started doing longer turns, a few drifts on some of the drags but we kept together and finished in 1:06:45.
This gave us 3rd overall and 1st veterans team and we both came away with 2 nice trophies, really pleased with the result and also loving the new set of legs and lungs, hoping it lasts!
Myself and Darryl entered this event, the last time we had ridden together in earnest in a 2up was a Chippenham Wheelers event which went very wrong with Darryl making me suffer big-time. In the build-up to this event though are times were very similar, the sun was shining and it promised to be a good ride. The course was tough, rolling and the long-sections through the back lanes were into a head-wind, the tough-section also had to be completed twice. Team leader DCB also turned up with his camera!
The ride went very well and my legs felt very good, we kept together well for the first half but Darryl was beginning to suffer and I started doing longer turns, a few drifts on some of the drags but we kept together and finished in 1:06:45.
This gave us 3rd overall and 1st veterans team and we both came away with 2 nice trophies, really pleased with the result and also loving the new set of legs and lungs, hoping it lasts!
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Ronde Van Vlaanderen Cyclo
5th April 2014
Flanders diary
Friday 4th April
Left early to pick Rob up, car was totally packed with 3 blokes and 3 bikes in the car. Got to Folkestone early for Le Shuttle and was put on an earlier train, met Andy & Tom at Folkestone but they were on the later one. Once in Calais, fairly straightforward drive to Brugge. Andy & Tom however ended up driving to Paris and arrived about 2 hours later! Hotel ok, great location but not luxury by any means. Once all sorted just the 3 of us went for a easy spin. Never been beeped at by motorists so many times, turns out that you must use the cycle lanes whenever available. All met up for a pasta meal.
Saturday 5th April 2014
Up early for breakfast and set off for the 2 mile ride to the Stadium to pick up our numbers. We then followed the signs to the official start which became a 4 mile ride. Once there we set off;
First 50/60 miles were mainly urban with cycle lanes, lots of groups but conscious of the time (shuttle bus leaves at 7pm) myself and Phil were constantly on the front keeping the pace up. Joined by a small group of riders where a couple were on TT bikes and the pace quickened. After 70 miles the route became more scenic and then the cobbles and climbs started. The cobbles were relentless and hard work to keep any speed. The climbs were mainly cobbled and a few were very steep namely The Koppenberg, Oude de Kwaremont and the Pattenberg. Towards the end of the ride the climbs came thick and fast and the sight of the last climb (Pattenberg) filled us all with nerves as this was very steep but also relief as we were all very tired, we all made it up apart from Andy we had to walk a bit.
Easy-ish ride to the official finish, stopped for photos and a chat then went into the centre of Oudenaard for a drink, most opted for a beer! After that we then trundled down to the final stop and collected our medals! Caught the shuttle bus back to Oudenaard and then a short ride home in the dark. Finished off the evening with a very nice steak and beer.
Very pleased with the day, the organisation was first class with marshals stopping the traffic at all junctions, feed stations were full to the brim with food & drink. The weather was also perfect, in the rain it would have been a nightmare.
Sunday
The start of the Pro-Race and all the teams assembled in the square right by our hotel, we wandered over and managed to sneak into the VIP area (naughty) where all the teams gathered, excellent to see all the pro's and teams getting ready, the biggest gathering was to see Cancellara. After the riders departed myself and Phil wandered around Brugge and even went up the 366 steps to the top of the Belfry. Went back to the hotel to watch the finish of the Pro-race which Cancellara won - legend!
We then went for a ride out to Blankenberg which is a sea-side town, very flat but it was hard work with a bitch of a head-wind back home. Meal out in the evening in the Market Square, I also took some pics around the canals.
Monday, quick look around the town souvenir shopping and packed up and left around 11:30am.
15:00 - Sat in the car waiting to board in torrential rain, thunder and lightening!!
Race numbers - Me 3369, Phil 3368
Link to the official videos.. just type in the race number.
Video of myself and Phil on the Molenberg
Flanders diary
Friday 4th April
Left early to pick Rob up, car was totally packed with 3 blokes and 3 bikes in the car. Got to Folkestone early for Le Shuttle and was put on an earlier train, met Andy & Tom at Folkestone but they were on the later one. Once in Calais, fairly straightforward drive to Brugge. Andy & Tom however ended up driving to Paris and arrived about 2 hours later! Hotel ok, great location but not luxury by any means. Once all sorted just the 3 of us went for a easy spin. Never been beeped at by motorists so many times, turns out that you must use the cycle lanes whenever available. All met up for a pasta meal.
Saturday 5th April 2014
Up early for breakfast and set off for the 2 mile ride to the Stadium to pick up our numbers. We then followed the signs to the official start which became a 4 mile ride. Once there we set off;
First 50/60 miles were mainly urban with cycle lanes, lots of groups but conscious of the time (shuttle bus leaves at 7pm) myself and Phil were constantly on the front keeping the pace up. Joined by a small group of riders where a couple were on TT bikes and the pace quickened. After 70 miles the route became more scenic and then the cobbles and climbs started. The cobbles were relentless and hard work to keep any speed. The climbs were mainly cobbled and a few were very steep namely The Koppenberg, Oude de Kwaremont and the Pattenberg. Towards the end of the ride the climbs came thick and fast and the sight of the last climb (Pattenberg) filled us all with nerves as this was very steep but also relief as we were all very tired, we all made it up apart from Andy we had to walk a bit.
Easy-ish ride to the official finish, stopped for photos and a chat then went into the centre of Oudenaard for a drink, most opted for a beer! After that we then trundled down to the final stop and collected our medals! Caught the shuttle bus back to Oudenaard and then a short ride home in the dark. Finished off the evening with a very nice steak and beer.
Very pleased with the day, the organisation was first class with marshals stopping the traffic at all junctions, feed stations were full to the brim with food & drink. The weather was also perfect, in the rain it would have been a nightmare.
Sunday
The start of the Pro-Race and all the teams assembled in the square right by our hotel, we wandered over and managed to sneak into the VIP area (naughty) where all the teams gathered, excellent to see all the pro's and teams getting ready, the biggest gathering was to see Cancellara. After the riders departed myself and Phil wandered around Brugge and even went up the 366 steps to the top of the Belfry. Went back to the hotel to watch the finish of the Pro-race which Cancellara won - legend!
We then went for a ride out to Blankenberg which is a sea-side town, very flat but it was hard work with a bitch of a head-wind back home. Meal out in the evening in the Market Square, I also took some pics around the canals.
Monday, quick look around the town souvenir shopping and packed up and left around 11:30am.
15:00 - Sat in the car waiting to board in torrential rain, thunder and lightening!!
Race numbers - Me 3369, Phil 3368
Link to the official videos.. just type in the race number.
Video of myself and Phil on the Molenberg
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