Chasing wheels

I've acquired a reputation it seems. Word has got round as I was recognised as "that blogger" when I stuck my head round the door of the hut with the photofinish equipment to see where I had finished last night at Hillingdon.

I might have mentioned that I didn't think I was in the points which is what probably gave the game away. I was right in my assessment: I finished 23rd or so.

Good thing was that I didn't really feel like I had gone too early or used up all my sprint when I crossed the line. OK, maybe I should have felt a bit more spent at the line but it felt much better than going too early and blowing myself out. I was still coming through people towards the line even if a couple of those were sitting up which felt good. Now I just need to find a way to get in the points.

Yes there was the statutory early dig when, after a couple of laps of waiting to see what happened, I bridged up to the guy who went from the gun on a lone break. My legs felt good but I think I went a bit hard getting across to him which left me with that metallic taste of blood in my mouth. That in turn led to a sticky throat that wouldn't shift for the rest of the race and which turned into a nasty sounding rattly cough by the time I got home.

Some will say that I should have just taken let the bunch gradually bring him back but where's the fun in that? It's a Tuesday night "training" race to most people but I always see it as a chance to have a go and test myself a bit. As I've said before "where's the fun in sitting in for an hour then playing the bunch sprint lottery?" I enjoyed it far more having a go then toughing it out and trying to recover a bit for a few laps than not pushing myself.

Now I'm looking forward to recovering a bit in time for Saturday's race down at Chertsey, a circuit I like and which I feel pretty comfortable on. Yes, it can be a bit nervy and a break rarely gets away but I know where I need to be and when I need to be there. It's in the first 15-20 places coming off the final bend on to the straight and tucked in looking for someone's wheel to take coming into the last 500 metres to lead me out.

It's one thing to talk about it, now I really want to start scoring results. It's my second full season of racing and I really want to get out of this run of not improving my results.

Posted by Alex on 7 May 2008, 19:05 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks ()

I've been dreaming for a while now of a new frame to replace the Merckx. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore the Merckx as a basic racing bike but part of me desires a really expensive flashy bike.

I was reading a tech article on cyclingnews.com about New road goodies from SRAM which has got me thinking about it again.

The upgrades to Rival detailed make me think that I should consider saving up over the winter for a new groupset. I've got the current version on both the Merckx and my Dolan cyclocross bike and really love it but adjustable reach and trim and so on just make it that bit more appealing.

I've been thinking about the Cervelo R3 as a frame or really saving up and getting a Serotta Legend made up for me in London Dynamo colours like Paul Callinan's. There's always the uber-flash Ottrott option as seen on the Cyclefit site:

Serotta Custom Bikes

However, I have a few criteria in my head that keep on coming before issues such as cost and fit and whether I even have space for such things:

• It shall be white
• It will have a classic/shallow drop bar
• It shall be a classic geometry with no slope on the top tube
• It shall not be flashy or over complicated visually

Posted by Alex on 29 April 2008, 17:04 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks ()

Due to the frustrating nature of my shifts I couldn't race this Tuesday, nor are there any weekend races to be had nearby this weekend or last. Which means I've been limited to a bit of training to keep my fitness up.

I hate training rides. I find it mentally boring and get annoyed at how much time it consumes. So I've taken to doing 30 to 60 minute rides in and around Central London to liven it up and give me the bonus of fast moving traffic (where available) to keep me on my toes. Mostly this consists of riding from Acton over to Islington to my girlfriend's place. On a good day it's 35 minutes, on a bad one more like 50. This consists of a couple of uphill lumps and plenty of fast flat and false flats.

The first lump is up Holland Park Avenue, which is nothing to write about in your guide to the great climbs of Europe but it's long enough to charge up hard when the lights are in your favour. Call it a long interval if you will. On a good day I can crest the top breathing hard but with my legs still not quite at their limit, on an average one I run out of puff just as I can see the end in sight.

From there's it's fast, fast, fast from Notting Hill through to Kings Cross via Marylebone Road and Euston Road. I like to treat this stretch as a bit of a burn up and a mini time trial and confidence builder for riding in among fast-moving traffic and in close proximity to things.

Then there's the one I can't crack: Pentonville Road. So far I've tried going steady, I've tried hammering it, I've tried going slow. None of them gets me to the top without tying up. Consistently I get as far as the lights at Rodney Street before the burning sensation kicks in and I start to tie up. Halfway to the lights at Amwell/Penton Street the lights start to dim and I'm struggling. By the time I reach the lights I'm clinging on and just trying to roll over the top.

Is it just the case that I'm never going to get over there without hurting like hell? I wish it wasn't but things haven't improved in the last month, so I'm starting to lose faith that they will. Man, I wish I could climb, or at least ride hills with the belief and ability to get over them ratehr than fade halfway up.

Posted by Alex on 23 April 2008, 17:04 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks ()

To be honest there isn't one and I really couldn't have cared less last night as I was freezing my paws off in the 4th Cat race. A hill might have been good, it might have meant a respite from the windchill and broken things up a bit. Perhaps I should try and race at Crystal Palace more often.

As per the well established formula I didn't score a point and tootled over the line well back having sat up after trying to go the long way round the long bend before the final sprint. I'll get it right one week and go flying up that last 200 metres to a win.

Throat is feeling a bit sore which is probably down to the cold but my legs don't feel at all bad. I rode pretty well apart form the last bit where I tried to go for a long one on the last lap. It never works.

Still, first week of Hillingdon and I actually feel like I might get out of the 4th Cats this year if I can screw my head on right and get over my fear of the bunch sprint.

Posted by Alex on 16 April 2008, 14:04 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks ()

Instead of trying to explain them I instead refer you to a really good article on them on the highly recommended Belgium Knee Warmers blog entitled The Monuments which explains the significance of the five races.

Posted by Alex on 9 April 2008, 20:04 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks ()