Chasing wheels

So Jan Ullrich has announced his retirement:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/feb07/feb26news2

(Incidentally cyclingnews.com is one of the best sources of cycling news out there)

Who now will us amateurs look to for inspiration when we suffer with our "winter weight issues"? This legion of nearly men and battlers who for years have relied on the misfortunes and struggles of Jan to inspire us. We may laugh at his woes but there is something incredibly likeable about the guy.

Frankly I can't bring myself to dislike a pro who ends up getting a ban because he went out clubbing and got some dodgy E cut with speed (amphetamines). Or who genuinely challenged Armstrong's obsessive preparation by sheer force even when not on top of his game.

In particular this is a rider who had the common decency to sit up and wait when Lance Armstrong fell in 2003, knowing that he had done the same when Jan fell in 2001. And not a word of complaint despite it possibly costing him the Tour when Lance surged back past him, nor about the problems he had endured with his team collapsing around him.

Let's not forget this guy won the Tour De France at 23, an age when most riders haven't got much beyond stating it as an ambition, and in doing so wrestled control of the Telekom team from the titleholder - and his nominal team captain - Bjarne Riis. He won the Olympic Road race in 2000 and was a Time Trial World Champion.

So raise a glass to Jan Ullrich, the fat lad who done good.

Posted by Alex on 26 February 2007, 19:02 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks ()

I was hoping to be able to write something along the lines of "Went OK today, didn't quite finish in the points but managed to stay up in the bunch" but sadly, and possibly predictably, it didn't go according to plan.

It started badly enough. As I was leaving the house I noticed my seat post was a bit wobbly on my way to the meet up point. Verdict from others was a faulty post so I'll be off to Cyclefit next weekend to get it replaced. I can't believe I've already broken something on the Merckx. Worse was to come though.

After rolling out to the MOD circuit at Quinetiq in Chertsey in shockingly grim weather (wet, muddy, cold) I was all set and feeling confident that I would be able to turn around a credible performance in conditions that were damp but not terrible. We've been here before so don't be surprised at what happened next...

As it was a beginners' series there were a few laps at the beginning to get everyone used to riding in a group and so that more experienced riders could offer us a few tips to help things go smoothly. Here's Cliff (on the right) and me warming up (picture by Sam W):

And then I punctured, on the penultimate of these laps, which threw me all into a tizz. Luckily Paul had a spare tube and sorted me out so I could get going again when the group came back round. Unfortunately my rush to get going again was to have consequences I should have foreseen.

We lined up for 6 laps of racing and from the off it was fast. The usual folly of some going off really fast and everyone else trying to stay in the wheels and not get dumped off the back. I was hanging on at the back and waiting for the pace to settle after the first couple of sections, knowing that if I could make it to the bump of a hill on the far side I could get back in among the group as the concertina effect took hold. Or more likely cling on for grim death.

Then the back of the bike started to bobble about and bounce. Puncture again.

In my hurry to fix the previous flat I'd missed the flint that had caused it and it had done for the tyre again. Reminder to self: take off gloves and check for sharp objects properly after a puncture. It saves the hassle of ruining your race on the first lap.

I limped back round and grumbled about my rotten fortune. Then I changed the inner tube and dug out the flint which was one of those that is so small you can't see it and it doesn't go through until it's under pressure or gets a bump. Not wanting to waste the effort of having ridden all that way I got back out with the group at the back for the last two laps and even managed a bit of a sprint for the line.

Rode back home suffering like a dog from stiffening up afterwards and probably not eating enough cake. So I had pizza and salad and decided not to make excuses for a rubbish performance. Will be back next Sunday to give it another crack on what is a nice circuit to race on. And because I would like to finish a full race before I lose patience and hope.

Posted by Alex on 25 February 2007, 18:02 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks ()

Yesterday was my birthday: 31 and, in theory, about to enter my racing prime for the Grand Tours. I wish it was the case, sadly nothing is further from reality.

So I took advantage of Rapha's sample sale - which runs until Saturday at Velorution on Great Titchfield St, London, W1 - to buy something I've been after for a while: a Rapha Softshell jacket. At £145 instead of £ 215 on my birthday I couldn't resist. They had plenty of other kit going but I managed to resist splashing out on more kit than I already own. I was tempted by the winter tights but, seeing as we're nearly in March, thought better of it. Which means it's going to be a freezing March no doubt.

I'll try to remember to review it when I've worn it enough to judge. Already at least two friends have commented on how stylish it is so that is top marks in the look category already.

Posted by Alex on 22 February 2007, 23:02 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks ()

My mate Dave sent me this. It's one of the greatest bizarre moments in the history of Le Tour:

Posted by Alex on 21 February 2007, 07:02 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks ()

Unless you are lucky enough to ride your bike professionally or can afford not to have to go to work, fitting in training can prove a real challenge. The more responsibilities you acquire, the harder it becomes to find the time. So, on a sliding scale, it's not as tough for a single chap like myself to find the time as it is for someone who is married with young children.

But, as I occasionally have to work weekends, there are times when I risk missing out on those vital pre-season hours on the bike. So yesterday I hauled myself out of bed and down to training before starting my shift. Turns out I'm starting to feel a bit stronger than last year thanks to the two months I've got under my belt so far. Heck, I can even contemplate making an atempt at sprinting.

I ended up leading a group for the first time, mostly made up of newer riders and those trying to get back to form, apart from Brendan who always seems to be in annoyingly good shape. I'm not sure it serves anyone well to have me trying to lead a through-and-off training drill but it turns out I had plenty enough lung for shouting instructions and pedalling at something between steady and medium.

It would have helped if Brendan hadn't decided we should chase down the mountain biker who came past us, squeaking away. Once we had let him go off and chase we regrouped and managed an fairly disciplined session, although I'm a bit worried that a couple dropped off before the end. We even caught Brendan on the final lap, although he was just pootling and waiting for us.

More importantly I felt like I was riding within myself at a pace I used to struggle with and that I could shift it up a gear when needed without being immediately on my limit. Which is good news for next weekend when there's the beginners' races on Sunday morning (see my previous post on it). Come and have a crack at it. Who knows, we might find ourselves going wheel-to-wheel in a sprint.

Posted by Alex on 18 February 2007, 15:02 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks ()

I'm very much up for this, so I'll be using every wile I can to get a place. There's a huge number from my club who are also up for it and there's talk of trying to get a club entry. Here's some of the key details about the event on Sunday 1st July 2007:

Entries open on 1st March and 5000 riders will have the opportunity to complete the 117mile (187km) route, tracing much of the same route as stage 1 of the 2007 Tour de France.

Jonny Clay, Competition and Events Manager of British Cycling commented: "We are delighted to offer the rare opportunity to ride such an iconic route. It has a mix of climbs, rolling countryside and flat terrain that will appeal to all levels of cyclist. The route is stunning and passes major landmarks, castles, villages and towns along the way."

"There will be transponder chip timing and four feed stations along the fully waymarked and marshalled route. Riders will be able to experience what it’s like to take part in a major tour event, without having to go abroad or get back on their bikes the following morning!"

Sports Tours International will be the Exclusive Sports Travel Partner of the event, offering packages including entries from 1st March. It is anticipated that interest from overseas riders will be high, and Sports Tours will be able to offer tailored accommodation and entry packages through their dedicated sports travel web site.

- Entries will go live on www.everydaycycling.com at 12pm on 1st March.
- Alternatively call Pennine Events on 01695 682020 from the 1st March.
- Entries cost £40 including a £2 voluntary donation to the Geoff Thomas Foundation.
- Transport back to the start is available at a cost of £12.

Posted by Alex on 16 February 2007, 08:02 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks ()

One of the things I've been really focusing on so far this year is my position on the bike. Not just the whole cyclefit experience of dimensions and angles but also the whole area of how I position myself when moving. Yes, a professional fitter can get you right relative to flexibility and various lengths but that is only the starting point. There's a whole bunch of other alignments to think about once you get in motion and it's these I've been working on getting right. This is my deeply unscientific approach which is based on my own experience rather than any coaching manual.

Shoulders
This is the one that I'm finding makes a real difference to how well I go up hills. I've been contrating on keeping them "low", which is to say relaxed and not pulled up and in towards the neck or towards the middle of the chest. Imagine drawing a line across your shoulders along the collarbone and another down your spine. It should form a T rather than a Y shape if you are riding relaxed.

Spine
As I've just mentioned this should form part of a T shape with your shoulders from head on. I think it's important to remember to extend the bottom of the T right down to the base of the spine where it meets the pelvis where you want an equally stable platform to drive the legs from.

That's from head on but with the spine I think it's also important to remember to keep it flat and neutral. If you get the chance to cycle past a mirrored surface it's a good opportunity to check that you aren't hunched over and that there is a nice clean line down the back rather than a curve.

I've been looking for a Youtube clip to illustrate it but I can't seem to find one that really does it. That said I've just wasted an hour or two watching the likes of Robert Millar, Lance Armstrong and so on belting up mountains so not a bad use of my time.

Posted by Alex on 12 February 2007, 11:02 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks ()

Whippy is perhaps my first thought on describing the new bike. Not in the sense of flailing all over the place but in the sense of responsive to the touch and manoeuvrable. Light is the next thing thing that springs to mind: light on the road, light to control and light in the hand.

I have to go by comparison to my 2005 Giant T-Mobile Team Hybrid which feels a lot more sluggish and relaxed a ride. The Merckx is much sharper, both into the corners and when I put the power down out of them. The "sloping" geometry is a lot less so than the Giant's compact shape which gives for a ride where I feel much more connected to the bike rather than somewhere above it.

The SRAM doesn't take long to get used to although I did make the mistake of forgetting to check I had shifted up properly, resulting in me attempting to sprint in 34/12 in the misguided belief I was actually on the big ring. Then again, I do this sort of wrong gear idiocy regularly regardless of what groupset I'm riding. It's clean, it's precise and pretty bloody obvious to use after about five minutes shifting through the range. Once it starts appearing on complete bikes in the shops I reckon it should start to gain some popularity with riders as a genuine alternative to the big two of Campagnolo and Shimano.

Everything else about the set up is just as I want it. The Specialized Toupe saddle took an hour or so to get comfortable on but by the end of the ride I didn't notice the difference from the Specialized Avatar I usually ride. That is possibly the oddest thing about it: that it is set up for me and feels right without me having to think about where I am positioning myself on the bike. So when I do think about it it starts to feel a bit alien to not have any niggles about it.

Posted by Alex on 6 February 2007, 23:02 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks ()

If you've never tried it before, you should do, even if it is just to decide whether or not it's your type of riding. The club I ride with, London Dynamo, is organising a couple of beginners races which offer a perfect opportunity to try it. Here's race secretary Martin Garratt to explain:

The beginners series races are designed for complete novices to get a feel for road racing on a closed circuit. You'll be set off in small groups with an experienced Dynamo (8-10) to begin with to get used to riding in a working group (just like the parkride)

Then, everyone goes off together for a proper bunch race and we get to do the judging as 50 riders cross the line in a flat bunch sprint!

Even though you won't need a BCF license to do the beginners races, I would strongly recommend joining British Cycling at Silver Level or above just to make sure that you are properly insured whilst riding your bike (in and out of competition (you'll need to do this in any case to get a BCF racing license)

Mart

London Dynamo Beginners Races will be at MOD Chertsey:
Sunday 25th Feb 4/3W/4W 10.00am E/1/2/3 H/Cap 11.15am
Sunday 4th March 4/3W/4W 10.00am E/1/2/3 H/Cap 11.15am

Directions to Chertsey: http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/courses/modchertsey.htm

I hope some of you will come and try your hand. I'll look forward to a few of you coming flying past my front wheel as I try to break my "finishing a race" duck this year.

Posted by Alex on 5 February 2007, 12:02 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks ()

Travelling out on the Thursday morning very early. It was the cheapest fare I could get and getting up early seems worth the 20 quid saving. It also means I'll be in Ghent by lunchtime, giving me two full days to explore, relax and get the bike set up for the Saturday.

I'm planning to do a bit of a Tom Simpson trail while I'm in Ghent so if anyone knows any addresses/contacts or locations I should check out then please get in touch.

Posted by Alex on 1 February 2007, 00:02 Digg this | Add to del.icio.us | Reddit | Newsvine | Facebook | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks ()