Time keeping and bike racing

This months article is all about timing, and funnily enough is very appropriate. Probikekit have just obtained another sponsor, however, this sponsor is a bit special, it’s a Swiss watch manufacturer called Marvin who are some 160 years old and manufacture luxury time pieces. The website address is www.marvinwatches.com if you are interested.

1 July 2010, leaving work and the weather was shocking...! Thinking I have to go tonight, all I need is that 1 point to get that 3rd Cat. Plus it was my turn to do the driving!
So putting the bike on the back of the car and making my way over to collect Sir James, running rather late might I add - with calls constantly to remind me that I’m late.
Arriving a Ilton, Merryfield and the weather being a little kinder than it was in Plymouth. A strong wind but more importantly a dry circuit...! So signed on, kit ready and even had time for a warm up this week. Straight away James giving me a brief with regards the weather and where to work and attack... ‘Say that again James!’  ‘Attack, attack into the head wind?’ My god, I’m going to blow and be swept up by the 1st corner...!

Ok, brief given... and the race is off. 1st lap pretty settled, in the first 5 all the way around, and passing the line for the second lap. As we come into the headwind, one rider just cruises past me as he starts to take a sip from his bottle, as I look under my arm and notice a small gap of about 10m or so... Ok this is it lol, let’s see if it is the right thing to do! Hands on the drops, and I nail it... as hard as I could for as long as I could... Didn’t ease off and didn’t look around.  Realising there is a rider on my back wheel; look around and there is a huge gap! Get in Smithy has broke away... Actually working pretty well with this other rider, managing to hold a gap for a further 3 laps. Looking back, noticing a small group of 4 catching us, should I say me. The other rider was strong and I was dropping off him, I managed to swing into the back of the four and composing myself got back into a routine. All worked really well together and swept up the leading rider within minutes. OK, 6 of us now and it was a fantastic feeling as we had the bell ringing at us as we crossed the line for the last lap. Points Mr Smith, yes just ride safe and sound and I got a 3rd cat licence bagged!
Last lap, the riders started to be a little lazy in taking a turn or working for the group. One rider broke away, with me feeling actually tip top chased him down immediately and actually continued to go on as the finishing line was just up ahead. My god... 1- pointer no way!!! C’mon Smithy being chased down by point hungry 4th cats... and yep caught... bugger. However, all was not lost, kept my effort levels up high to bag 2nd place, yep that’s 8 points and that will do me nicely.
Looking back, what great advice. Barking mad I thought to start, but did it ever pay off.
So finally made 3rd cat in 3 races, quite chuffed with that. Next step, Ilton on the 15 July as a 3rd Cat, I have a sneaky feeling it’s going to be a different story.

This months article is all about timing, and funnily enough is very appropriate. Probikekit have just obtained another sponsor, however, this sponsor is a bit special, it’s a Swiss watch manufacturer called Marvin who are some 160 years old and manufacture luxury time pieces. The website address is www.marviniwatches.com if you are interested.

We are working with Marvin at road testing one of their automatic sports bias watches (the mechanical M108 if you look on the website) for suitability, durability and accurate timekeeping for recreational bike riding. Marvin don’t currently have a specifically built sports watch model, so it’s a good opportunity for these watches to be tested for suitability and to obviously give exposure to the brand in the UK.

I must admit that the watch I have been given is a gem, if you look on the website it is the charcoal version, generally called a phantom watch, given the blacked out nature of the dial and numerical indices. These types of watches are all the rage and massively in fashion at the moment, this watch is a lovely looking watch.

Just to give you a brief description of the watch, it retails at around £600, is in fact a reasonable price for this quality of watch, its has a good quality automatic mechanical movement which can be seen through the back case of the watch, it has a rubber band which has a butterfly clasp which fits like a glove for sports activities, even I was surprised how well it fits and doesn’t shake about in the wrist. The watch is stainless steel PVD black coated with Sapphire glass crystal, which is virtually impossible to scratch. The watch is water resistant, so no problems on a rainy day, the numerics are easily readable when riding, even though the watch is stainless steel it doesn’t feel heavy on the wrist so doesn’t give any problems when riding.

As expected, the watch has performed very well during testing, it has kept accuracy (which is the key factor in an automatic watch being used for sporty activities) and has been very durable, not suffering from marks or abrasions in day to day training. I love this watch, and am very proud to be a sponsor for the manufacturer. The brand also have a brand ambassador in the name of Sebastian Loeb, who is currently leading the 2010 World Rally Championships!

Oh, if you fancied one of these beautiful time pieces, unfortunately you can not get hold of them in the UK yet, they are that exclusive! If you drop me a mail, I may be able to sort something out for you.