Tameside Race league round 2

This is quite definitely an account of how I took myself apart in this race!

Again it was very fast and furious, right from the start and that was even before I got to the track!!!

I did the usual, come home from work, sort the kids out, have dinner and put them to bed etc.

Then I had to make sure all my kit was in place and my bike in order. Before I knew it, it was already 7.30 and my race was starting at 8.30.

I drove up to the track and got there just in time to see the last few laps of the Cat 2,3,4 race that was on before mine.

I managed to put my bike together, pin on my race number, get all sorted out and then make my way over to the track.

Almost as soon as I got there I then realised I had forgotten to attach my transponder to my bike, so had to rush back to the car to get it and cable tie it on.

Finally I was ready and raring to go. I mixed with a bunch of the other riders all waiting to get onto the track too.

I got talking to one of the chaps that I know from Thursday training and last week racing at the track, Andy Gorton. He managed to come 4th last week and was hoping to do better this week. I knew he is fast but I didn't realise he was that good!

Anyway as we were chatting everyone set off around the track for a few good warm-up laps. I was very aware that having being pressed for time I was needing to get my legs warm so went for the fast cadence at speed approach to get warm. It worked too as I was nicely up and running by the time I had done a few laps.

Start time!

It was a good line-up this week with 33 riders starting (all be not everyone signed on).

Eventually after much conflab the mystery of who had forgotten to sign on was sort out. Quick riders brief, same as last week, then all straining at the leash to go!

GO! GO! GO!

On the whistle blast we all headed out off the line.

This week I managed to get a really good start and going into the first bend I was really near the front of the pack sprinting away in about 5th place.

The big battle into the hairpin forced lots of riders into a very small space and thankfully we all got through it no problem.

I was working very hard and sprinting my eye balls out at this point. I was even finding that I was maintaining position too. WooHoo!!!

This was when I relaxed when I really shouldn't have. As soon as I sat down to get on with the steady work all those behind me took this as weakness and passed me in a savage and brutal pass.

Now I was behind the pace and not able to get back up to the front of the main group. Sergeant Major Matt started screaming "Weakness! I see weakness! Go kill them all NOW!"

The pace was still high and very hard.

I was being dropped from the lead bunch at this point and my body went into shock after such a hard effort over the first 5 or 6 laps.

Now I picked up up on a group that had fallen back too and we started to work together to get back up to the main group. We were making steady progress as we worked together. Working to the front man in a chain gang. Once the front man was feeling tired he would drop to the side and we would all move up one or two places.

This worked for a while but then for some reason we slowed right down and then suddenly all the guys just exploded off not working together at all and burning hard. I was dropped and feeling the pain from working so hard too. Back in the wind on my own now I was trying my best to get back to the group. I felt like I was going nowhere fast at some points.

Lap after lap went by and I heard the inevitable scream of carbon wheels as the lead men came around to lap me.

I pulled over to give them room to pass.

Part of this group (where I had been only 10 minutes earlier) had Andy in it. Not in 4th place however and I could see he was working hard too.

Finally the last lap came in and I was really working my heart out still.

Yes I may have been last in this race this week, but I wasn't going to give up and I was going to finish even if it killed me!

I rolled across the line exhausted but happy. As it turns out I was about 25 seconds faster for the race distance this week (according to my strava).

I came 31st out of 33 starters. Two riders crashed out in the first half of the race (so I am told).

It was a good hard fast race and I enjoyed riding in the pack. Even with the guys grunting like animals and pushing hard it was high adrenaline, aggressive and great fun!

Next week is the last of my 3 races for this month, Hopefully I will be able to improve on my time and position again too.

I am still training hard trying to get my fitness up to a standard that I can compete with the front men. I know I am capable of getting there as I have been bonkers fit before.

This week I have also been out breaking my own personal records, not only on the track but on the ride too and from work as well.

I took a long route to work on Thursday as I also need to think about my endurance still.

Over the next few weeks I will be having a few 100 mile weekend rides, Plus rides over to Doncaster, Sheffield and to meet the wife in York at some point too.

The miles are important and I think that as I push myself on each ride I go out on, the next ride I am stronger and faster. Proof of the pudding with the 25 second gain on the track this week!

I am still enjoying it, all be I do put myself in some real pain some days and make myself suffer on the road. That is part of it in my mind too though as I wouldn't do it if it were easy.

Next week I will be looking at breaking my records I set this week and see how far into Hell I can drive myself!

Happy cycling :)

WooHaa! Tameside League Race Round 1

Tuesday night was the first race of the season.

As you can guess I had been getting prepared for the race pretty well.

My bike was all in order and running silky smooth and I was feeling great.

All ready to Race!

So, feeling a bit nervous I got my racing jersey on and packed my bike and all the bits I needed into the car to head up to Ashton.

My Dad and his wife (Violet) had come over specially to see me in the race and hopefully take a few pictures/video of me on the track too.

I was determined to make a good show of it for the race and turned up well in time for the 7.30 start time that I thought we had. Turns out the start time was 8.30 and I had just turned up over 1 hour early (D'oh!). This did give me plenty of time to get sorted out and make sure I sort of knew what I would be doing.

The races before mine were going still. I managed to see the last few laps of the juniors. Those kids on bikes that look too big for them have an obvious power to weight advantage as they were really shifting around that track. After that the Cat 2/3/4 race that I hope to be able to graduate too. This was a really fast race for some very strong high power racers. As they powered there way past us on the hairpin bend I was watching from, you could almost feel the speed as they went past!

It all became very real as well when two of the riders came into contact and wham! They both hit the deck hard. Two guys out of the race and by the look of it at least one of the bikes was very badly damaged too. Even with the riders injured the race still carried on without them for about 45 minutes in total. That must have been really hard going to cycle at that speed for as long as they did. In all the race was about 40 Laps (40 km or 24 miles) at sprint pace. I could see that my race was going to be hard and very fast!

I went around the block for a quick warm up. Then on my return I noticed other riders from my race making their way onto the track in a very tentative manner.

I made my way onto the track and rode 2 laps at a nice gentle pace. I certainly didn't want to burn my legs out before I had even started. As I approached the half way point of my second lap I could see riders starting to gather at the start line. Starting to get nervous but also very excited I completed my lap and joined the line up in the middle of the third row. All the riders were coming in and then once we had all been counted and checked it was the riders brief.

"Play nice, watch your space, any barging pushing or blatant cheating will result in a one lap penalty. If you are going to get lapped listen for the instruction of the riders approaching and get out of their way."

Now the heart was pumping, adrenaline racing, muscles warmed up and ready to go we could all feel the tension as we strained ready to be let lose.

Then the count, "Ready, 3, 2, 1 GO!"

A flurry of riders clipping in and hitting the gas.

Suddenly from my right Wham!

The chap next to me missed clipping in and smashed straight into me!

"Great! Get off me" Not my exact words but this sudden stop was already losing me time and places and I hadn't even crossed the start line yet.

In seconds I was on and moving.

Strava!

I hit the start button just as I crossed the line.

Already though it felt like I was riding backwards as all those that had a clear run and speed were already going past me.

My blood began to boil and I was swearing at myself desperately trying to get up to speed and hang on to the back of the pack already.

The first few laps were really fast and very crowded.

Going into the bends I was fighting for my line constantly having to duck and weave as riders jostled for position. Getting cut up again I hit the brakes. This was really getting to be hard work and I was losing contact with the group by the second.

Then I realised, I had been dropped out of the back and I was in the worst position ever! (Thankfully I wasn't last though.)

I now had nobody close enough in front of me that I could take advantage of them breaking the air, I would have to do all the work on my own to try and get back to the group, they all had the advantage that the draft of the rider in front would help drag them along. (about 30% easier than what I was having to do). Lap after lap I was giving my all to try and make up some ground. I was trying to sprint out of every corner, pushing myself harder. I could literally feel my heart beating in my head and chest. My legs were feeling like lead and I was cursing myself. I really did think I was last at this point and I was only about 10 laps in.

I turned into the hairpin as fast as I dare to take advantage of the space I had.

The spectators  were shouting "Go  on Mikey!!!". I thought for a second who the hell is Mikey!

Then I realised in actual fact I had a shadow that had been with me since the start.

Right I thought your not taking advantage of me and as I turned out of the hair pin I put on a really hard sprint keeping it going right to the other end of the track taking corners at speeds I didn't think it possible to ride around at.

I was really hurting myself to just make sure I held my place. I would not be last man! I was angry at myself at this point as it was for allowing myself to get dropped. Then worse still.....

"Right Side" came the shout, I was being lapped.

Strangely my Sergeant Major was being totally silent. I think that he just wanted to see how I would do on my own without him. I was dying and getting punished on each lap.

The cost of my sprint hit me hard! A massive stabbing pain as I got cramp down my left calf muscle. I couldn't stop and stretch it off. I just had to press on and just hope that it went enough for me to keep it going. That took two whole laps of agony before I felt numb again.

Finally the lap counter was saying 18, 19 then 20. Only problem was I was a lap behind so when I crossed the line at 20 for me it was 19.

Still 1 lap to go and I was in bits! now the biggest problem was to be finished riders getting in the way.

I was really angry with myself and this actually made my last lap the fastest I did too!

Perhaps that is something I could use next week, however I don't like the idea of ride angry!

A nice gentle cool down lap for me now (and calm down too) as I coasted round

On the cool down lap

By this point I was knackered and slowly made my way to the finish to find out my placing (not that I wanted to know, but I do want to do better next time).

34th out of 37. One rider retired after only a few laps but however I wasn't last so that was a good thing.

Not the best start to the season at all and I certainly wasn't expecting the race to be at such a high pace. Now though I have a marker to go by so I will be able to work my way up.

My Dad and Violet had been taking pictures and video, unfortunately most of the pictures were too dark as the race didn't start until just after sunset.

All done and totally exhausted

Me with my dad
Him looking like some sort of a racing pundit!

Totally knackered I pulled up and paused for a picture. My Dad asking "did I win then?" Erm! no but I did finish.

Lessons learnt from this race:

1. My fitness really needs to be worked on.
2. I really need to work on defending my line and not getting dropped.
3. It is the luck of the draw when heading out at the start.
4. I really need to train more and harder.
5. I did not prepare enough for the race and this was my punishment!

To help the fitness and training aspect of it all I went to training on Thursday night, plus I even went running with the wife on Saturday. I now have in my mind a plan of attack and a better idea of what to do.

I have a feeling it will be a few races before I am finishing with the bunch yet. But I will do my best to hang on by my fingernails as much as I can next week.

It was really exciting stuff and such a rush, even if I did get kicked out of the back of the pack and hung out to dry!

Now my aim is to constantly do better, even eventually win!

I enjoyed it so much I can see why it is addictive too.

Even happier cycling! :)

P.s From the Wife:  You also need to concentrate on your distance cycling as you are doing a 300 miler in august and you don't want to be last then either! I know this is new and exciting, however you've made a commitment to the london to Newcastle 24!

Mud, Steel, Pain and THE WIFE!!!

Last week was the steel part of the above.

Somehow saying Aluminium and carbon wasn't the same. I went to Tameside circuit again that was great fun and did just go from being a nice hard workout doing some chain-gang training into just a full on hell for leather all out race!

Makes me wonder what it is going to be like tomorrow night when |I really am in a hell for leather, tearing your eye balls out race. If anything it will be fun (I wouldn't do it otherwise),

Saturday had a very muddy theme to it all!!!

I took part in the Endurer Dash that her in doors got me roped into doing.

It was actually great fun and we really did get muddy as hell too.
My wife "Lynne" had organised for a team of us to go and run this fun run, literally just for a laugh and because she had never done anything like this before. She is quite new to running and has really taken to it. To say 8 months ago she would struggle to run 3 km constantly and now runs upwards of 10 for a laugh on a Saturday  morning, plus runs during the week with our dog on the roads and through the fields around the local area.

Late last year she did her first ever 10k run and managed to raise loads for the East Cheshire Hospice (the same one I am raising money for), Now she wanted to get into doing something a bit different. Now having a husband that is an ex-soldier must have made her think of something daft like an assault course. Thankfully I do enjoy doing this sort of thing, so with fighting pants on, off we went to the Peaks for the (erhem!) 8km event (more on the erhem later, just have a look at my strava and you will see why)

I really think that the very steep start was the bail of hay that nearly broke Lynne's back, it was an uphill start, then a up and down zig zagg that was made to sort out the field into the speedy snakes and the not so speedy idiots!!! By the top of the first hill Lynne was starting to have second thoughts about this. As the punishing course wound its way up and down the steep slope slowly heading towards the obstacles that lay ahead.

A few little horse jumps over the walls, logs and the occasional hay bail, then it was the huge hay bail mountain to climb up. This was relatively easy after the legs were warmed up, however the descent down the other side was less than graceful, with all four of us crashing down the mangled hay bails on our backsides.

On towards the monkey bars. Thankfully this had a queue so it gave Lynne a bit of time to catch her breath as we were keeping up a good pace and the hills were a bit of a killer. Really doesn't help when your team consists of a mega fit marathon runner(Ryan), an equally fit cyclist (me) and a dad that just doesn't know his limits but likes to explore them without fear (Andy)!

The monkey bars were a bit on the high side, so Lynne was unable to reach them however had a really good go at doing so. Ryan (marathon runner) and myself, had a really good laugh as we raced across the bars just wondering who would crack first! To my surprise we both made it all the way across.

Next came the bit that I am sure Lynne was looking forward too the most and I quite the opposite, the water crossing. Freezing cold neck deep muddy water! Hmm the best way to spend a Saturday morning!

We all jumped in one after the other. When I eventually jumped in a very Jeronimo! kind of fashion (can't remember if I did shout anything) I was instantly hit by the water temperature and felt like someone had taken my lungs and given them a good hard squeeze! I say I can't remember if I shouted anything probably because my brain went into shock at that point and deleted all memory of anything to do with how cold the water was.

On getting out of the water we had a quick rethink about our wedded bliss and thankfully carried on, now sloshing our way up the hill to the next obstacle. Why did I think it was a good idea to wear my boots??? Slosh squelch slosh squelch...

Bit more zig zagging up and down the hills plus a few more horse jumps, then it was onto a traverse wall which in trainers was probably reasonably easy, in boots not so easy! However Lynne being rather well endowed in the boob department was more worried about getting an unwanted nipple piercing at this point. Made me chuckle anyway!!!

Finally we started heading down hill. Now many people would see this as a good thing, however in the Peaks we all know many other things run down hill, Sheep, boulders, poo and water. All of which we were about to start running through.

Some very muddy bogs now had to be crossed. People had already been loosing footwear as well as churning up the bogs into a deep and sloppy mess. We hit them and I decided that wearing my boots was actually a very good idea! Squelching and laughing our heads off at the absurdity of the situation as we went through them we managed to plough on.

By now we were caked in mug up to our wastes and with heavy tiring legs we carried on into the woods to the dark (and very muddy) tunnels.

These were essentially a load of hay bails with a sheet over the top that we had to crawl under. So in a gentlemanly manner, Ladies first...Splat!

Lynne was loving it as she crawler through the tunnels only to find the next stage had yet more crawling Under wire through even deeper and smellier mud! Splat, squelch, giggle!!!

This Endurer thing was really starting to earn it's name as we could see that we were all starting to hurt a bit.

Next it was a log carry for a few hundred meters. Thankfully being a parent this was easy and Lynne was showing that yes she had been training by carrying around a child shaped lump for the past 5 years that certainly doesn't get any lighter.

The hardest thing was keeping your footing as even through an easy wooded area it was starting to get a little sloppy under foot.

Next down into the valley and a muddy watery walk up and down some streams to punish the legs. It was quite comedy as a few chaps in front of us obviously thought that they were near the end so washed some of the mud off arms and legs only to find just around the next corner some more tunnels to crawl though in thick sticky chest high mud to make sure you had a good all over covering.

The descent carried on to the road crossing that was really a very low tunnel under the road with a stream flowing though it. It actually did get so low that you had a crawl again but thankfully it wasn't so muddy, just wet!

We emerged into the wet cold and blinking into the daylight to continue on, thankfully the sun had come out and it was really turning into a very nice day.

Just the two of us continued to plod on now as Ryan and Andy had left us for dust.

Finally with the end in sight we rounded the last few bends slid down a water slide, bi-passed a 6 foot wall (we did both attempt it but it was so muddy that nobody could get over it) then on up the final steep hill to the finish.

The kids both Screamed with joy as Mummy and Daddy came into sight. Giving us a final cheer on to spur us up the last steep hill to the finish! With well earned finishers medals awarded and hugs all round we finished the day and went back to the car to get out of very cold, wet, muddy clothing and into something a bit more comfortable!

So for my Strava as I was carrying my phone all the way around adn it actually survived too! The 8km course was in actual fact 10.6km!!! Not complaining though as that is me covered for my 10k this month.

It really was a great time and we enjoyed "most" of it.

We all decided that we are to come back next year and beat our time. next time "Sergeant Major Matt" may have to come and play too.

Now I am just looking forward to the hardest thing I have been looking forward too for the past few weeks! Tuesday night is RACE night.

30km of high speed torture, pain, adrenaline and excitement! I can't wait.

Training at Tameside circuit

On Thursday night I went up to the Tameside Closed circuit track for a good 1 ½ training session.

Plus as I am going to be racing there this month I thought it best to turn up and at least get a feel for the track before going to race on it.

 

I got there to find that 15 other riders had the same sort of plan. Some seasoned racers and others having their first experience of the track as I was too.

 

It was indeed a very friendly atmosphere with a really good coach to greet us, then stretch our very souls as he nicely had us thrash ourselves at an ever increasing pace and intensity around the circuit.

 

I started by just having a nice relaxed run around to get a feel of the corners and figure out where I could get the power in to get up to racing speed. This was not that easy as I have been cycling to work all week and my legs were not as fresh as they could be!

 

Setting off around the track I was finding my way through the sweeping right and left bends. At one end a nice long sweeping left hander is the top spot for racers to “stack it in” as one of the riders explained to me, whilst at the other end a fast 180 degree hairpin bend proved to be really tight. Going into that two or three abreast would be great fun!

 

So as we all trundled around at a nice easy pace it was starting to get busy. We all finally gathered into a big group and then the fun would begin!

 

To start we made our way around two abreast, winding out way through the bends. Thankfully nobody was really pushing it at this point and even though we were very close to each other no one made contact. Amazing really considering the speed was starting to ramp up as we all started to get warmed up.

 

Then we all stopped for a quick briefing for the session to really begin.

 

We split into 2 groups and started to make our way around again. The idea being the we drafted behind the riders on the left then once you reached the front you peel off to the right and rest for a brief couple of seconds before joining the fast line back on the left. All this was to be at about 60% effort so not to completely kill ourselves over the 20 (or so) minutes this exercise would be carried out over.

 

I joined a group of 5 riders, all looking very capable and off we went.

 

It had started raining at this point and the wind was picking up. The track started to get slippery especially where the grass cutters had left grass on the track (thankfully this was only at 2 points)

 

Straight away I was in the fast line keeping the pace into each of the bends.  As the rider in front peeled to the right I accelerated up to get ahead, really working my legs and getting my heart rate going. I could feel the sweat start to gather on my back as I was wearing my shower proof jacket.

 

I peeled to the right and relaxed.

 

Dropping back I came to the back of the line very quickly. As the last rider to my left passed me and called “Last Man!” when he got to me. He accelerated past and I moved onto his wheel getting the benefit of being behind him. I called “Last Man!” to the rider to my right and before I knew it I was at the front again.

 

Faster and faster we went as the effort we were putting in was ramping up. So much for staying at 60% !!!

 

We headed down the starting straight, into wind as we went. I could feel my legs starting to burn and complain at me. If they could talk at this point they would be screaming “This hurts please stop!”. Harder still we pushed on. The rain started to ease off a bit but the track was now quite wet.

 

On one of the left hand bends I was at the front again. I was pulling away upping the pace to get to the front then as I pulled top my right, I over cooked it a little and with a slight moment of panic I was on the grass! The rider to my left in a piss taking manner shouted “You getting some cycle cross in too mate!”. I was cursing by this point and after my gardening exploits I managed to hop back onto the track before I was ejected out the back of the group.

 

Still working hard and starting to really feel the strain we lost one man off the back. This really didn’t help as it meant that instead of us all sharing the effort 5 ways it would now be four ways.

 

We streamed on lap after lap. The 1km track was starting to feel long even though our lap times were dropping and the pace increasing. I was on the drops by now getting right down to decrease my wind resistance.

Each time we turned into wind it was hurting me to put more effort and power in. I had Sergeant Major Matt laughing with hysterics in my head screaming “KEEP MOVING YOU IDLE MAN!!”. Keeping the pace high we passed the coach to hear the shout of “2 more laps”. The group began to ease off as we got around the first of the two laps. I could see the other three were suffering too, but we were all smiling and just kept it going as best we could.

 

Steadily slowing to a halt by the coach the entire group on the track gathered. All stinking with sweat, with steam rising off hot bodies but all still in high spirits. We were all smiling and ready for the next phase in the endurance pyramid we were working through.

 

“Split into groups of 3 and keep on changing, this will be the hardest exercise and should last about 10 minutes” were the instructions from the coach. I stayed with 2 of the 3 chaps I ended the last exercise with and with a great deal of enthusiasm we set off again. Straight into a 85-90% effort as we accelerated away. The changes were very fast, The rest spite even shorter. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears by this point as we were really working hard. Legs screaming we powered through the bends and down the straights. I was really working at my maximum endurance by now. The miles I had done this week already were starting to tell on my legs. I was finding it harder and harder to get up to the front each time.

 

As we powered our way down the starting straight into wind, I was on the front again. The pace was high, the man next to me not dropping back as I thought he would. My legs were on strike by now and I was starting to get shooting cramps in my left leg too. Not good as this is my still weaker leg after breaking my ankle last year. We rounded the right bend and I dropped to the right to relax a little then as I went to put the power in I found I had nothing left! The pair of riders carried on ahead of me and I was just dropping further and further back. Regardless of how angry I was getting I just couldn’t get my legs to respond with the poser output I so desperately needed.

 

Soon enough I was so far behind my group that I was starting to get passed by others on the track. I was not going to pull up as I would be embarrassed beyond belief if I did. Just to make the best of the worst situation I carried on around to reap the benefit of doing some training rather than bombing out and passing on the chance to get as much track time as I could.

 

Soon enough we were all back at the half way point with the coach happy with everyone’s performance. Cool down time now and we all headed out as a group just spinning our legs to work off the muscle fatigue. It was a nice easy pace with everyone chatting and again we were changing over as we went.

 

Now finished we all pulled up back to the main gate and left happy and smiling, plus a bit damp and very sweaty!

 

In all I recorded just over 30 miles (50 laps). That is twice the race distance I will be doing on the 15^th. I have promised myself to return to the track next week. I imagine that the race will be a proper eye balls out affair! Hard turning and defending your line will be the key. Use of energy and applying the pressure will be the tactics. I can’t wait for thrill of an all-out sprint and just hope to hell that I am in a position to get in and not be dropped.

 

More work to do in the next 10 days to make sure I  am in the best way I could possibly be to compete in the race.

 

Lessons learnt from the session:

 

1.       I am not at peak fitness yet, I know lots of racers use early season races to get this as the stresses of racing are far higher than those of training.

2.       I can corner a lot fast and steeper than I thought I could. I was surprised I managed to stick sometimes even if things did get a bit twitchy at times.

3.       I can push my limits harder than I thought. The more I do this the better I will be by the end of it.

 

I am happy with my bike now and with all the trial and error I have had over the past 2-3 years as I have been working on what was essentially a project has really given me a superb entry level bike that I am more than happy with. It isn’t too light at just under 10kg and the engine could do with some tuning but by god it is fun to ride!

 

So looking forward to the 15^th now (and the training session on the 8^th).

 

Bring on the pain!!!