Photos to come.

A Weekend at Manchester Velodrome

Just as the April showers hit hard, I managed to get myself invited, much thanks owed to John Powell, to a training camp at Manchester Velodrome with the Scottish Junior team and School games team (much like the Youth Olympics). This saw me being carted up to Manchester for two days of track work, and mock racing.

Day one started with the group being told that we would focus on running the races that most of the riders would be riding at the school games the following week, and then feeding back to us. The races included: The keirin, team sprint, scratch, points and elimination races, all of which were run several times. After a 30min chain-gang style warm up the races began; I was up first in the keirin, in which I placed a very pleasing 2nd, then after some words from the many coaches I was up again in the scratch, a simple 30 lap, first over the line wins, race. After eyeing up the competition rather too quickly, I went for a long one. For anyone considering track racing trying to lap the school games team 3 laps in to a 30 lap race is not clever or a good idea at all……… anyway after being reeled in after a few laps off the front I settled in to the pack only to try it on again 15 laps later, it was looking good until I was again caught 1 lap from the finish, I finally finished a solid 4th.

After bunking with two Scottish juniors over night, I was up nice and early and outside the velodrome for 7:20am in the rain. After another warm up the training began with the junior points race (juniors are above youths 16-18), and due to my performance the day before I was riding this one. Now as we all know one of our national treasures is Sir Chris Hoy, who is Scottish. So when you ride with, and race against the Junior Scottish team it’s not hard to see how he got to his current level, these guys are good, as a result I finished slap bang in the middle of the group.
I will leave out the two last races as this is already a long post. So for anyone who has ever put off trying riding track I urge you to book a taster session and give it a go.

Matt Punctured on the first attempt.

Ofcourse.. there is a Strava Segment

The racing began with the 4th category event, my second race of the season. With a group of fairly strong looking riders, i was doubting my options of a good placing, i set off with the idea of keeping myself high in the field.

As the race progressed a lap in, i decided to pick up the pace, got on the front and began pulling the group and testing the opposition, as i did, the field began separating dramatically! within 20 minutes of racing we had begun lapping riders and still powering on.

After decimating the field our small group crossed the line with the ringing of a bell, 5 laps to go! Riders began attack instantly, i worked my way slowly to front again and began handing out the pain, not until the sprint did i have anyone attack me with succesion.

With my consistant pace-making, my legs were not responding well come the last lap, as i entered the final corner i knew id have to work hard to hold a wheel when people began sprinting. Leaving the corner, i began sprinting, all out, but this was expecting from the riders that sat behind me, with them holding my wheel, my legs blew 50 metres from the line, easily enough for everyone to pass me, leaving me in 6th place overall.

Another race, another lesson, with congratulation from my fellow racers for ensuring a top ten finish for them, i jumped on the turbo to warm down and reflect on conquering one of my racing goals this year, a top ten! one down, many to go!

Big thanks to Brighton Mitre for running a great event, i thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next in the series!

KlickChick Photos

The 2012 edition details are as follow..
Southdowns Randonnees. Organised by Andy Hall
May 20th DA 160, 100, 80 & 50km rides starting from Ringmer Scout Hut.
Start times are 8.30, 9.00, 9.30 and 10.00am respectively. Entry fee £3.00

Further details from Andy Hall, 37 Mill Mead, Ringmer, East Sussex, BN8 5JG
Please note – Entries close 13th May – NO ENTRY ON LINE

Entry form is at the bottom of the ESCTC newsletter HERE.

Unfortunately for us, it is the same day that we are racing the criterium at the Eastbourne Cycle Festival

Instead the three of us went for an easy spin in the lanes around Lewes. 35miles and one coffee stop later George and i decided to make the most of the sudden sunshine and go for a blast around Beachy Head.
I say blast, i actually mean an epic battle with some strange wind. For some reason, the wind over Beachy Head and around Eastbourne doesn’t seem to go in one direction. Just whips around where ever it fancies.

Anyway.. we made it to Birling Gap in a slightly drier state than when we started. Photo opportunity and more coffee later we headed back towards Seaford.

Even though i have been doing more and more riding this year than ever before, and while my hill climbing abilities have improved. George can still have me over the climbs. The one advantage of weighing 82kg as opposed to George at 52kg… i can descend far quicker!

Matt is pictured here with his Kinesis T2 training bike. Equipped with 105 and a spice of Dura-ace.

To celebrate another great month of constant cycling. FutureCycles of Lewes are going to host a party to end all parties.

Cycling, Crisps, Cake and Opptional Beer

Join us from 5pm on Friars Walk for a small gathering of like cycled people.

At 6pm we will make a small social ride to the bottom end of Keere Street in Lewes. As April is traditionally the season of cobbled classics, we decided why not add to that with our own monument of local cycling.

An Urban Cobbled Hill Climb
At only 140meters long, it isn’t the distance that will trouble avid riders or the average 11% gradient but the gruelling lumps and bumps along the way.

George and I will be doing the time keeping.
Prizes will be on offer for not only the fastest, but also the slowest.

Spin to win?
Mash to thrash?

Thanks to Brighton Mitre CC for putting on a great event, all the marshalls keeping the runners and the dogs off the circuit.
Even more thanks to John Powell, ASL360 team manager. He superbly put together a great team launch.
More on ASL360 the main title sponsors can be found here.. ASL360. They are a Lewes based company that designs and produces intelligent camera systems for use on cars, busses and HGVs. The aim is to get ride of the notorious blind spot and save lives by doing so.

More soon!

Brompton World Championship

Back for the fifth time at Blenheim, the Brompton World Championship has retained its midday slot. With nine national championships taking place across the world, this year is set to be the most international event yet. Despite its glittering alumni, including the likes of four-time Vuelta a Espa­ña winner Roberto Herras, and national time trial champions Julia Shaw and Michael Hutchinson, the race doesn’t take itself too seriously, however, there is a strict dress code and prizes for best-dressed; the rules state that “participants must wear a suit jacket, collared shirt and tie. Shorts and three-quarter length trousers may be worn if preferred but sports attire will not be tolerated.”