Monday 22 June 2009
Hillingdon VETS: 17.06.09
Sometimes you ain't got it. Tonight I didn't have it. The circuit was windy and generally that means you need to stay alert. I got caught dozing like a few others and found myself part of a second group. On the drag up to the finished I jumped hard to get across to the front group. Dave Gaylor (Kenton RC) came across with me. The break of 15-20 or so were in touching distance but my legs quit on me and despite a brave effort Dave couldn't get us across. I pulled out of the race rather shamefully and took my sorry butt home!
Wednesday 17 June 2009
Dragon Ride: 14.06.09
The Dragon Ride has to be one of the best run sportives in the UK. Steph entered us for the event back in early spring. I hadn't really trained specifically for it but on the back of mainly crits and a few road races I still expected to do quite well. On the day the weather was glorious and all participants were in buoyant mood.
Steph opted for the Medium Fondo (80 mile version) and I jumped in for the Grand Fondo (118miles, I believe). Unlike some I didn't manage to hook up with any fast groups so its was essentially one long time trial. I pretty much rode the whole thing at tempo and never really had to dig too deep. At the 20 mile point I decided to really give it some but disaster struck - I broke my chain. After a 20 minute wait a very nice chap who I'm met the evening before stopped and repaired the chain. His handy work was then checked out by neutral service vehicle and after another 10 minutes I was on my way. I finished rather disappointedly in just over 7 hours and was pleased to find that Steph had arrived finishing in roughly the same time... A truly great day out and a sportive that may not be the toughest but deserves its great reputation :-)
Steph opted for the Medium Fondo (80 mile version) and I jumped in for the Grand Fondo (118miles, I believe). Unlike some I didn't manage to hook up with any fast groups so its was essentially one long time trial. I pretty much rode the whole thing at tempo and never really had to dig too deep. At the 20 mile point I decided to really give it some but disaster struck - I broke my chain. After a 20 minute wait a very nice chap who I'm met the evening before stopped and repaired the chain. His handy work was then checked out by neutral service vehicle and after another 10 minutes I was on my way. I finished rather disappointedly in just over 7 hours and was pleased to find that Steph had arrived finishing in roughly the same time... A truly great day out and a sportive that may not be the toughest but deserves its great reputation :-)
Saturday 13 June 2009
Spotlight on...John Camden
Who do you race for?
Addiscombe CC
How long have you been racing?
This is my third unglorious year of racing.
What type of races do you do?
Only 10 mile TTs - the thought of doing anything longer fills me with absolute and complete horror!!!
Where do you race?
So far I've only done the ACC events (superbly organised and marshalled!!)- the North Holmwood and Bletchingley courses - but I'm planning on doing something a bit more adventerous this year.
Briefly describe a typical training session -
Training sessions??!! You've got to be joking! At the moment I'm riding a minimum 110 kms every weekend - I mix it up, ride as hard as I can for 5/10 kms - slow it down and go again. I nearly always ride with my son Sam - we have an unofficlal KoM race up every climb we hit - he wins. I supplement 'doing it for real' with a couple of 50/60 minute sessions on the turbo trainer each week. Put on the music - loud - and start sweating!!
What are your Goals for this year?
Goals - there's only really one when it comes to racing TTs - got to beat my PB! Having said that thinking about it I do have another - I want to break the age standard for a 10. I was seconds out last year - should do it this as the older I get the easier the standard gets!!
Have you got any training Tips?
Training Tips? - well, yes - this works for me - on the turbo do a 10 mile time trial once a week really hard and try to beat your time. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose - it's 'fun' - but overall I've got faster and faster.
What have been your best races so far?
Best race - no doubt, the President's 10 last September. Last race of the season and in a way everything had been building up to it. Just everything went right. I warmed up properly - rode the course before hand - used my head: didn't go off too hard, too early and reeled in the riders in front of me. All those painful hours on the turbo seemed to pay off. I just felt so good. I knew I'd ridden well but forgot to start my bike computer so didn't know how well. I couldn't believe it when the times were posted. I absolutely mashed my PB by an incredible 1 minute 40 !!! ...and got third place on HC to boot.
Addiscombe CC
How long have you been racing?
This is my third unglorious year of racing.
What type of races do you do?
Only 10 mile TTs - the thought of doing anything longer fills me with absolute and complete horror!!!
Where do you race?
So far I've only done the ACC events (superbly organised and marshalled!!)- the North Holmwood and Bletchingley courses - but I'm planning on doing something a bit more adventerous this year.
Briefly describe a typical training session -
Training sessions??!! You've got to be joking! At the moment I'm riding a minimum 110 kms every weekend - I mix it up, ride as hard as I can for 5/10 kms - slow it down and go again. I nearly always ride with my son Sam - we have an unofficlal KoM race up every climb we hit - he wins. I supplement 'doing it for real' with a couple of 50/60 minute sessions on the turbo trainer each week. Put on the music - loud - and start sweating!!
What are your Goals for this year?
Goals - there's only really one when it comes to racing TTs - got to beat my PB! Having said that thinking about it I do have another - I want to break the age standard for a 10. I was seconds out last year - should do it this as the older I get the easier the standard gets!!
Have you got any training Tips?
Training Tips? - well, yes - this works for me - on the turbo do a 10 mile time trial once a week really hard and try to beat your time. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose - it's 'fun' - but overall I've got faster and faster.
What have been your best races so far?
Best race - no doubt, the President's 10 last September. Last race of the season and in a way everything had been building up to it. Just everything went right. I warmed up properly - rode the course before hand - used my head: didn't go off too hard, too early and reeled in the riders in front of me. All those painful hours on the turbo seemed to pay off. I just felt so good. I knew I'd ridden well but forgot to start my bike computer so didn't know how well. I couldn't believe it when the times were posted. I absolutely mashed my PB by an incredible 1 minute 40 !!! ...and got third place on HC to boot.
Thursday 11 June 2009
Hog Hill:LVRC
'You're only as good as your last race' apparently so perhaps thats what drives the phenomenal Russell Downing. Whether or not its a truism I definitley felt the need to put last Saturday's 2009 Nocturne adventure to bed. The choice at yesterday evening's Hog Hill Summer Series was 7.15pm race with the E12's or 6pm race with the VETS.. Hmmm... my chances of being truly competitive in the E12's were slim and racing with the OBG's (Oldie But Goodies) cuts me a little slack and I get the chance to ride in my own space. At the front ;-)
Just after six o'clock and we got away (a handicapped race where the CD VETS were given a 1 minute gap) riding the circuit the opposite way around which meant freewheeling down the Hoggernberg rather honking up it. The pace was comfortable and I quickly found myself in the front 3 places. For a while I shadowed this chap from Team Quest thinking he was Colin Roshier. Er... no wrong bike, wrong man. It stayed quite steady for the first few laps with nothing but a few leg warming surges going on at the front. Mostly Craig from Cyclos Uno, a fella from Eagle RT, myself and a couple of others shared wind buffetting duties. The climb (which is normally the descent) was better for me and didn't require that leg sapping 'power stomping' synonymous with the H climb
Soon the pace ramped up for a preem and which was comfortably taken by Craig. I decided to take advantage of the lull in pace. It wasn't exactly a match burning dig, just an aerodynamic tuck with a surge, but a lap later I was on my J's. I probably had 10 seconds so I pressed on and wondered if anyone would come across. 3 laps later and I was still Billy No Mates. At the top of the climb people were shouting encouragement and I think someone said I had 20 seconds. By lap 5 a chase had begun and my pace had eased a touch. After 6 laps away an Eagle man bridged across with Edgar (1st cat, Finchley RT) and we had just a lap to suss each other out before the group were on to us. The lap board went up ten minutes later and the chase was on to reel in the CD cats which included Eastway Sprint King (Rapha's Dominic Gabellini).
I burnt a couple of matches attacking in an effort to get across to the CD group alone. At the bell lap fatigue caught up with me and despite getting across on the climb the 'all systems shut down now' message finally arrived at my legs. So thats what they did. Its cool, see you at Palace.
Just after six o'clock and we got away (a handicapped race where the CD VETS were given a 1 minute gap) riding the circuit the opposite way around which meant freewheeling down the Hoggernberg rather honking up it. The pace was comfortable and I quickly found myself in the front 3 places. For a while I shadowed this chap from Team Quest thinking he was Colin Roshier. Er... no wrong bike, wrong man. It stayed quite steady for the first few laps with nothing but a few leg warming surges going on at the front. Mostly Craig from Cyclos Uno, a fella from Eagle RT, myself and a couple of others shared wind buffetting duties. The climb (which is normally the descent) was better for me and didn't require that leg sapping 'power stomping' synonymous with the H climb
Soon the pace ramped up for a preem and which was comfortably taken by Craig. I decided to take advantage of the lull in pace. It wasn't exactly a match burning dig, just an aerodynamic tuck with a surge, but a lap later I was on my J's. I probably had 10 seconds so I pressed on and wondered if anyone would come across. 3 laps later and I was still Billy No Mates. At the top of the climb people were shouting encouragement and I think someone said I had 20 seconds. By lap 5 a chase had begun and my pace had eased a touch. After 6 laps away an Eagle man bridged across with Edgar (1st cat, Finchley RT) and we had just a lap to suss each other out before the group were on to us. The lap board went up ten minutes later and the chase was on to reel in the CD cats which included Eastway Sprint King (Rapha's Dominic Gabellini).
I burnt a couple of matches attacking in an effort to get across to the CD group alone. At the bell lap fatigue caught up with me and despite getting across on the climb the 'all systems shut down now' message finally arrived at my legs. So thats what they did. Its cool, see you at Palace.
Wednesday 10 June 2009
Smithfield Nocturne: 2,3,4
Apologies if you've been wondering why it took me so long to write this latest report...occasionally I get pissed off, disappointed, demoralised and a little down with this competitive amateur cycling stuff. The Nocturne was actually pencilled in as a race I'd like to do well in. Last year I was 18th so top 10 would've been a good improvement...When you've committed yourself to writing a blog essentially about your cycling and training exploits... well that is indeed what you should do. So belatedly here we go. OK so I'm sure you've been on londoncyclesport and you've seen the video footage and plenty of pictures of the event. It's a fantastic event; and in fact bar the TDF coming to London this is the perfect cycling spectacle - a perfect intro for those poor folk who have never seen a bike.
Myself and Sylvain "Racerboy" Garde (Addiscombe CC) didn't have a true plan although I did think the words "breakaway and leadout". The important thing would be to be near the front. Sylv has been in great form this season so a definite podium spot could be on the cards. I think the main guys to watch were going to be Cameron Austin (London Dynamo) and Chaz Hollosi (Gemini BC) and of course a few others. A 45 minute warm up around the circuit went well and I observed what the best lines to take were from Sylv and the super motivated Stuart Spies (London Dynamo). In short, it was a perfect crit circuit - a flat 1k loop with a couple of sharpish turns and some slightly uneven bits of tarmac. There were spectators all around the course, with lots of bars restaurants and plenty of bike bling and Rapha gear for sale. And lastly there was a very excitable race commentator. Cool!
After the warm up we left the circuit for around twenty minutes and returned after a preliminary stage of the folding bike race. Now last year I made a mistake and did too many warm up laps and took to the start line right at the back of the field. So this year I completed the final warm up lap and started the race at the back of the field. AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I couldn't beleive it, what a bozo! If it was a Road Race or Hillingdon it wouldn't have been a problem but like at Palace and on any circuit with acute angles your starting place in the bunch would be critical. I stopped crying and leaned against the starting barrier at the back and clipped both feet in. I looked at Dermot (Finchley RT) who also made the same mistake and collectively we bowed our heads. Slyv very sensibly was a wheel back from the front row surrounded by an Army of Dynamos.
Away we went and my sprint to the first hairpin bend was rendered null and void as millions 'swamped' around the first turn bend. Out of the turn I tried sprinting past people which interestingly enough was what everyone else was trying to do. The gap from the Dynamo led front group was already telling (I could see them just completing the the straight section)whilst we emerged from the slight drag and snaky turn. All we needed now was a crash to give those speedy boys in blue a few more seconds.
On the most 'comfortable' hairpin on the circuit heading back to the start line - it happened! Three bodies and bikes were spread out like discarded toys in front of us. We "braked, swerved, bobbed, weaved, changed down, then back up" and resuming race pace. The spilt was now clear as we blasted back past the start line and down the descent. Surely no one would crash again - that would be silly! Down he went two bikes in front of me. My knee joint winced with pain as I hammered from track stand speed back up to full sprint endeavouring to catch those taking advantage of another riders misfortune.
It was a little encouraging on lap 3 and 4 as worked our proverbial off to pick off stragglers and those being tailed off from the front group. Visually most of the race was a blur I could hear people shouting "come on Toks", "go Addiscombe" but couldn't see anything but back wheels, tarmac and bright Lycra. If I was coming along it wasn't quick enough and despite the pedal stomping, tongue hanging, air gulping it wasn't enough. After 6-7 laps it was clear our group of 10-12 would be just be a support race within THE support race. So there we were: two Brixton Cycles guys, a Junior - Jake Butler from In Gear, my friend Chris Baldwin from Eagle RT, Dermot and a few others. Chris worked as hard as he could and from time to time dragged himself clear but the gap was too much to make up and his efforts were being compromised by his tentativeness on the bends.
It was a very hard race and I like to believe our efforts matched those of the front group. So what if the real drama was being played out 600 metres further up the circuit. Someone wisely kept shouting "move up Toks". Was this even something I was capable of? In desperate perhaps foolhardy move I gave it the big un. My hope was that my dig would take myself and Chris who was on the front, away from the group... no chance mate!.
The Lactate Gods refused to allow my thigh muscles to contract at a higher speed so after a lap on the front I got back on the wheels. Things did eased up a touch although but not enough to take a drink. With a few laps to go I could see the successful two man Dynamo-Gemini break ahead of the front group. After 40 mins the laps board showed 5 laps, and thankfully these quickly passed quickly. Those that had sat on sprinted things out at for the finish. My race had been over from start really. Oh well...Sylv brought honor to South London's most famous Cycling Club and place a creditable 4th :-)
Myself and Sylvain "Racerboy" Garde (Addiscombe CC) didn't have a true plan although I did think the words "breakaway and leadout". The important thing would be to be near the front. Sylv has been in great form this season so a definite podium spot could be on the cards. I think the main guys to watch were going to be Cameron Austin (London Dynamo) and Chaz Hollosi (Gemini BC) and of course a few others. A 45 minute warm up around the circuit went well and I observed what the best lines to take were from Sylv and the super motivated Stuart Spies (London Dynamo). In short, it was a perfect crit circuit - a flat 1k loop with a couple of sharpish turns and some slightly uneven bits of tarmac. There were spectators all around the course, with lots of bars restaurants and plenty of bike bling and Rapha gear for sale. And lastly there was a very excitable race commentator. Cool!
After the warm up we left the circuit for around twenty minutes and returned after a preliminary stage of the folding bike race. Now last year I made a mistake and did too many warm up laps and took to the start line right at the back of the field. So this year I completed the final warm up lap and started the race at the back of the field. AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I couldn't beleive it, what a bozo! If it was a Road Race or Hillingdon it wouldn't have been a problem but like at Palace and on any circuit with acute angles your starting place in the bunch would be critical. I stopped crying and leaned against the starting barrier at the back and clipped both feet in. I looked at Dermot (Finchley RT) who also made the same mistake and collectively we bowed our heads. Slyv very sensibly was a wheel back from the front row surrounded by an Army of Dynamos.
Away we went and my sprint to the first hairpin bend was rendered null and void as millions 'swamped' around the first turn bend. Out of the turn I tried sprinting past people which interestingly enough was what everyone else was trying to do. The gap from the Dynamo led front group was already telling (I could see them just completing the the straight section)whilst we emerged from the slight drag and snaky turn. All we needed now was a crash to give those speedy boys in blue a few more seconds.
On the most 'comfortable' hairpin on the circuit heading back to the start line - it happened! Three bodies and bikes were spread out like discarded toys in front of us. We "braked, swerved, bobbed, weaved, changed down, then back up" and resuming race pace. The spilt was now clear as we blasted back past the start line and down the descent. Surely no one would crash again - that would be silly! Down he went two bikes in front of me. My knee joint winced with pain as I hammered from track stand speed back up to full sprint endeavouring to catch those taking advantage of another riders misfortune.
It was a little encouraging on lap 3 and 4 as worked our proverbial off to pick off stragglers and those being tailed off from the front group. Visually most of the race was a blur I could hear people shouting "come on Toks", "go Addiscombe" but couldn't see anything but back wheels, tarmac and bright Lycra. If I was coming along it wasn't quick enough and despite the pedal stomping, tongue hanging, air gulping it wasn't enough. After 6-7 laps it was clear our group of 10-12 would be just be a support race within THE support race. So there we were: two Brixton Cycles guys, a Junior - Jake Butler from In Gear, my friend Chris Baldwin from Eagle RT, Dermot and a few others. Chris worked as hard as he could and from time to time dragged himself clear but the gap was too much to make up and his efforts were being compromised by his tentativeness on the bends.
It was a very hard race and I like to believe our efforts matched those of the front group. So what if the real drama was being played out 600 metres further up the circuit. Someone wisely kept shouting "move up Toks". Was this even something I was capable of? In desperate perhaps foolhardy move I gave it the big un. My hope was that my dig would take myself and Chris who was on the front, away from the group... no chance mate!.
The Lactate Gods refused to allow my thigh muscles to contract at a higher speed so after a lap on the front I got back on the wheels. Things did eased up a touch although but not enough to take a drink. With a few laps to go I could see the successful two man Dynamo-Gemini break ahead of the front group. After 40 mins the laps board showed 5 laps, and thankfully these quickly passed quickly. Those that had sat on sprinted things out at for the finish. My race had been over from start really. Oh well...Sylv brought honor to South London's most famous Cycling Club and place a creditable 4th :-)
Wednesday 3 June 2009
Palace...Arrrggghhhh! 2
I love Palace, No I hate Palace;
I love Palace, No I hate Palace
I love Palace, No I hate Palace
I love Palace, No I hate Palace
I love Palace, No I hate Palace
It might have been 4 laps or 5 laps who cares. If Warrick Spence (Cycle Fit) wants to do anaerobic threshold efforts at the head of the bunch who am to argue. The collateral damage at the back of the bunch should not be his concern.
I love Palace, No I hate Palace
I love Palace, No I hate Palace
I love Palace, No I hate Palace
I love Palace, No I hate Palace
It might have been 4 laps or 5 laps who cares. If Warrick Spence (Cycle Fit) wants to do anaerobic threshold efforts at the head of the bunch who am to argue. The collateral damage at the back of the bunch should not be his concern.
Tuesday 2 June 2009
LVRC Championships
The League Of Veteran cyclists had their Criterium Championships at Hog Hill last Sunday (31.05.09). I haven't done any LVRC races this year so it was both an opportunity to race close to home and further hone my circuit/crit racing skills. My fitness levels dictate that I'm no longer a caged wolf limited by a lack of aerobic fitness and doomed to simply bunch finishes. Nope! I've got that little edge now which means I can go in search of breakaways. The race was over an hour and 5 laps - with both A's(40-44), my group, and B's (45-49)racing at the same time
On your marks get set... the race pretty much got going from the gun and within the first few laps two guys had a 35 second gap. A 3rd guy bridged across and that was kinda it. Now this was clearly not part of my plan...the break went a little to early. Erm... Sir I wasn't ready can we start again please?... Yeah if only...so with just 30 minutes gone in this 1 hour crit the three podium spots had been assured to the breakawy group. Nobody was gonna close down a minute. With about 5/6 laps to go and nothing to loose I gave it all the power I had on the Hoggerberg and bridged across to a guy who had around 15 seconds on the bunch. I also had Huw Watkins from London Dynamo on my wheel and the three of us soon started working. However there was a problem1
A break from the B's was just ahead of us but couldn't pull away. We had been given strict instructions not to mix with each other at the beginning of the race and to ensure this the commissionaire told us to let the B's get a gap. Unfortunately the bloody B's weren't riding quickly enough and it resulted in our break eventually being force to relinquish its 20 second gap. So yes we were caught two laps later. SHIT!!!!I was bloody annoyed and on the penultimate lap went for a Bradley Wiggins style pursuit effort, but again I was told to let the four man B group break ride away which they clearly couldn't do. I then rolled around with my group on the last lap slightly dejected didn't even contest the bunch sprint. It later transpired that one guy from our group had ridden past the B group rather wait. He got Fourth place. Next time I'll do that. Ya live and continue to learn. God bless the risk takers ;-)
On your marks get set... the race pretty much got going from the gun and within the first few laps two guys had a 35 second gap. A 3rd guy bridged across and that was kinda it. Now this was clearly not part of my plan...the break went a little to early. Erm... Sir I wasn't ready can we start again please?... Yeah if only...so with just 30 minutes gone in this 1 hour crit the three podium spots had been assured to the breakawy group. Nobody was gonna close down a minute. With about 5/6 laps to go and nothing to loose I gave it all the power I had on the Hoggerberg and bridged across to a guy who had around 15 seconds on the bunch. I also had Huw Watkins from London Dynamo on my wheel and the three of us soon started working. However there was a problem1
A break from the B's was just ahead of us but couldn't pull away. We had been given strict instructions not to mix with each other at the beginning of the race and to ensure this the commissionaire told us to let the B's get a gap. Unfortunately the bloody B's weren't riding quickly enough and it resulted in our break eventually being force to relinquish its 20 second gap. So yes we were caught two laps later. SHIT!!!!I was bloody annoyed and on the penultimate lap went for a Bradley Wiggins style pursuit effort, but again I was told to let the four man B group break ride away which they clearly couldn't do. I then rolled around with my group on the last lap slightly dejected didn't even contest the bunch sprint. It later transpired that one guy from our group had ridden past the B group rather wait. He got Fourth place. Next time I'll do that. Ya live and continue to learn. God bless the risk takers ;-)
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