http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/roa20100716-News--Marvinwatches-com-Classic-RR-0

Cardiff 100 Miles Road Cycling Club – Open 25 mile Time Trial

A gorgeous July Saturday for a time trial in the Welsh Valleys, a test from Usk to Monmouth and back. The wind was pumping though and it was going to be a tough ride, wind on your back out to Monmouth then in your face home. Not expecting to break my personal best for the second week in a row because of the conditions I was still keen to set a good time and try for the win.

I got on the turbo to warm up, Carleen (the ever helpful girlfriend/cycling widow) pinned my number on and I got the heart rate up. 10 minutes to start time, I pop the daft aero hat on and adopt my space age appearance jump on the TT bike and head to the start.
10… 5, 3, 2, 1 Go! Into my rhythm quickly and out onto the A472 I could sense the tailwind, constantly having to dig deep to keep my heart rate up in the 180’s I knew this was fast. Only meaning one thing, the return leg would be hard. Through 12 miles in around 48 minute pace I was feeling good into the turn, over the bridge and back along a rolling unclassified road before hitting the duel carriageway for home. Bang there’s the headwind! This was a grovel I dug in and had to concentrate on pedalling circles. The last 3 miles were dead flat and the wind was really strong but I knew I was going well looking at my watch. Over the slip road it was a full on sprint to the finish line, pushing the 53x 11 as hard as I could. Approaching the line the photographer caught me in a full warface / gurn / grimace, certainly not a smile thanks Alan! Heart rate pumping and lungs and legs on fire, I stopped my timer 51:27.
Back in the club house and a cuppa and some wicked flapjack was enjoyed during the nervous wait for times. A chance to admire Darren Carpenter’s very slick looking Giant Trinity too. The times were in and mine was posted as 51:26, my third fastedst time ever, I was well pleased. It was enough to give me a winning margin of 38 seconds over Ben Anstie (Chippenham Wheelers), with Welsh Time Trialling legend Colin Wallace (Merthyr CC) taking 3rd in 53:12.
Thanks to Bob Jones and all at Cardiff 100 Miles RCC for the event and Alan Jones for the photo (http://digitallphotography.co.uk).

VELOGAMES FANTASY TOUR DE FRANCE 2010

Modbury RR three -James Smith

Bike racing is a confidence game… Look at the way these results pan out.  Clearly you have Marcin Bialoblocki who is leagues better than anyone else in the local area and in fact is ranked as the number one rider in the country.  He does not need confidence; he is able to ride with pure strength.  However there are a number of riders who dwell in the steps below Marcin whose performance has no small amount to do with their current confidence.

My confidence was quite high last night, I had a plan and felt it would be given the chance as long as none of the favourites chased me.  Why? Because then they would instantly chase each other etc.

So as the race rolled out of the town of Modbury on a damp summers evening, I sat right on the back of the lead car waiting for the red flag to be pulled in.  As we started climbing out of Modbury the car pulled away and I attacked.  I looked behind and at first the group chased and I sat up.  I decided to give it another go and this time the bunch just sat and looked at each other. The plan was working so far….

After about half a lap I looked behind and the bunch was no longer in sight no all I could see was Phil Borett Tor 2000 and MDCC’s Andy Hitchens coming across to me.  When they finally did we began to work pretty well together.  Each time up the main climb we knew we had to have a gap otherwise we would go straight out of the back of the bunch as it came past.

2 laps later our two minute gap was almost gone and the bunch was upon us.  I was pretty disappointed but now thought that I had an advantage.  Whereas the bunch would have been attacking each other, I had been riding at tempo for an hour.

As I looked at the bunch to say I was surprised was an understatement.  Everyone was still there, I was expecting a few riders to come across and then go to the finish with these riders.  However the whole group was still sat there and looking at them they all looked pretty fresh.  As Marcin said at the end “no wind, no wind”. 

So although there were a few different attacks and a strange tow from a TOR 2000 rider most of us knew it would be decided on the hill and the finish.  The attack on the hill came pretty quickly and the group dissolved in to about 15 riders chasing for the finish.  I managed to scrape 8th pretty pleased considering how active I had been.

Marcin wins followed by James W and Gary Chambers…..

What have I learnt?  Well whether you attack or not there is no point handing the race to the favourites at least make them work for it.  The large majority of riders last night felt it was necessary to sit on wheels and hang on.  COME ON GUYS!!  At least have a go…..

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On the side line

Thank goodness it’s a late start (1pm race) means not having to drag the kids up too early to show support for the event.  Any one with a teenager must be able to sympathise with me.....they’re not easy to wake at any time!!.

So car all loaded, bike stuff packed, rider prepared, focused and ready for the journey. Getting to the race an hour before the start is a must in our house.