Jersey - Worlds St Hellier Criterium

Well that's the last race done.
However, as I cycled in to St Hellier before the race as it was flat, I picked up a flat! All my tools were in the car! So everyone rallied round and helped fix my flat in plenty of time for the race.
At the start I positioned myself at the back so as to make my still wobbly starts easier. However, a fellow club member fell off twice when starting and I dare not go for fear of running her over or landing on top of her. So a poor start now saw me working hard in catch up mode. Tight corners and hard acceleration saw me catch the pack and then hang on for a while to John C. When a Belgium? Rider came past us I decided to make a break on the hill, thinking there must only be a couple of minutes left. Wrong. It was more like 10 out of the 30 minutes left. Too early by far. I pedalled my guts out so not to fall back into their clutches. As the riding was pretty intense I could hear the encouraging calls but not always pin point it's source. Sometimes I could pick faces out in the crowd, but not often. Plenty of support saw me hold the place and even out sprint GB, who was about to lap me again, to the line.
So I finished 16 out of 24 I think. I saw some provisional results for overall positions, but I'll post the final results when I have them confirmed. No, I wasn't last!
My thoughts at the moment are all a bit, how shall I say it, random. However, I can definately sum a few things up.
Jersey B&B: Ocean Walk - Definately use again. Everything good.
BHPC Club support for a newby(ish) racer: Can't fault it.
My bike: Good & Fast with limitations. Could do with a better one.
Engine (me): Needs more HP? Although I have learnt, by watching and mimicing, from Heather and John how to ride long races. Thanks for showing me without really knowing it. Next goal/target person has been set for me by BH, and I accept that challange. No names, but watch out because I'm coming for you!!
Jersey World Championship: Well organised, well run by two fabulous members, Keith & Sherri. Well done you two. I entered every race event, even the ones at crack of sparrows, and was classified in them all, even the two hour race as I had covered enough laps to be a couple of places off the bottom. The problems I had, breaking the frame, puncture etc make finishing the event even more pleasing.
So would I do another world championship...

Without a doubt, YES. (just not today because I am completely cream crackered.)
Signing off now until next sunday at Castle Combe, MBG

Jersey - Worlds 200m Flying sprint

Another 5:45am alarm to make the sprint start at 7am.
Using the beach road again with a 1km run up the idea is to hit the start of a marked 200m course at maximum speed and maintain it until the finish flag. Easier said than done! Most sprint too early (I almost did but realised and slowed again). At my speed, hit it at 200m (thanks Barney) and keep going even when it hurts. So sporting a really bad headache, thats what I did. Max gear and over spinning saw me at 24.5mph on my speedo, and I think I kept it all the way through as I was focusing hard on the finish line. Bike was running well.
After it was over, cycle back to the car and back for breakfast. Satisfied with the mornings work in a gusting crosswind which had the streamliners working harder.
Town centre, and last race later.
MBG

Jersey -Worlds. Broken bike fixed

I have to say that Jersey hospitality and Island life in general have saved the day and tomorrows racing.
Keith and Sherri introduced me to Malcolm who tried really hard to find me a welder, but couldn't manage it, but thanks for trying. A fellow racer then remarked that Gav, who I had been talking to just prior to the race and was still circulating for the next hour, built his own bikes and knew a man who did his welding. Sure enough he did. We went to see Chris during the fast race who did the business. Not neat because of the proximity of meltable bike bits, but functional. So the biggest thanks have to go to Chris & Gav, true gentlemen.
So my bike looks even less pretty now, but I think I prefer battle scarred!
More tomorrow. Laters MBG

Jersey - Worlds

Unless we can find a welder my weekends racing is done.
I kept missing gears in the 2 hour race and by the end of hour one it was so bad I looked down / forward to see the bottom bracket moving side to side. Not good. It was either stop immediately or have the whole front end come adrift! It was that bad. If I hadn't seen it I would probably been pitched off at the sharp hill. That would have been bad.
Uncharacteristically for me I threw my helmet on the ground in a fit of peak (spelling?) I am gutted.
I was feeling good and going well, I had my pace sorted and I wasn't at the back either.
Results so far:
37/41 on the hill climb
39/48 in the time trial
I'm still gutted but I haven't yet given up hope. Watch this space...

Jersey Worlds - Time trial

Up bright? And early this morning for the time trial. Down at the start for 6:30 only to find that I had forgotton my heart rate monitor. No time to get it as I was first off at 7:00. JFDI.
Downhill from the start push to 24mph before spinning out. 150 cranks worked well for the hill climb so I left them on for today. Along the flat at 20 - 22 mph with a tail wind. I was conserving energy a bit for the climbing turn at the end. As it was raining I had worn my Heli Hansen waterproof jacket, a little warm maybe but I hate getting wet and cold!
Up the triangular hill route, where I was overtaken by two faster guys, the marshalls were doing a good job stopping the traffic so we can just ride. Downhill with a few whoops of joy thrown in, brake for the bottom corner as it was wet and a bit tight! Then back along the flat into the head wind. 13mph going back as I was knackered! Big Verns took a long time to arrive and I was overtaken by a few more people. Up the hill to the finish!
There is plenty of support here from the other competitors from all the nations, it really is a great atmosphere.
I'm penning this over breakfast at the B&B, it's the first time I feel I really deserved a full cooked breakfast!! Next event at 10:30 at the sports centre, sprints followed by a two hour race. Looking forward to it, just wish the sun would come out.
Laters, MBG

Jersey Worlds - Hill Climb Done

Well, that's probably the hardest race over with.. Maybe.
I'd like to say that Sherri and Keith are making this realy easy in terms of who, where and when. So big up to them.
It's an early start for me tomorrow. Up at 6 for a 7 am start line in the 15km time trial, number 100. I'm also riding under a flag of convenience, Alderney. It adds another name to the list of participating states/countries. Then hope to be back for breakfast. Small wheel and 150 cranks were OK for the hill climb but at 22-23mph the front wheel shimmy is wicked. So it's big wheel time tomorrow. Now off to find some food for enough energy tomorrow. Laters, MBG

Jersey -Hill Climb

Arrived in Jersey. Straight to B&B. Straight to hill climb.
150 cranks, 16" front wheel. Nervous, HELL YES!

Shrewsbury Race Picture

This is the first picture of me to surface from Shrewsbury race. Thanks to Jeff James for letting me have a copy. There were plenty of people taking pictures at the hairpin, so there should be more to follow.

Next report from Jersey I think.
Laters
MBG

Shrewsbury - Results

Time trial 1 laps
26th out of 33 (79%) Again! with an average speed of 18.6mph.
Slow Race: 11th out of 20 (55%), but looking at the results I think I should be 12th due to one of my sparing partners not being credited properly with all his laps, so that would be 60%. Average 17.3mph. Winners average 20.3 mph, not so far off in my book. More fitness required (It was bleedin hot though).
I know I'm improving. If I can just keep up my pace for 40 minutes I'll be up there. I find it slightly amusing that some people are aiming to keep with me now rather than the other way round. I'm looking forward to riding more with Jeff and Adam as a bit of team work will see us all move up the table.
Jersey for the worlds next. Leaving on Friday. Wish me luck, I'm going to need it.
Laters
MBG

Shrewsbury - Fast race

Fast race (the one I'm not in yet) was unfortunately red flagged when one of our members took a hard tumble. First aid was quickly on hand, but Andy needed taking to hospital by ambulance. Everyone seemed pretty subdued after that. Speedy recovery Andy.
MBG

Shrewsbury - Slow race

Slow race just finished. 40 minutes plus one lap.
I averaged about 17.5 mph. Up to the 20 minute mark we had a 4 man pelleton going which was fantastic. However, my fitness started to show and I dropped off the back on the hill. Later on I caught up one of the 4 and shamlessly shadowed him for the last few laps. Overtaking him on the bell I pulled away. We had been going substantially slower though. I'm looking forward to linking up in a four or more pellaton on a velodrome, we'll be flying!
Roll on the results and Jersey.
Laters, MBG

Shrewsbury TT

Time trial done. Unofficial one lap 18mph. clockwise
40 minute race plus one lap next. Anticlockwise.
Laters, MBG

Shrewsbury

Unlike Fowlmead, today is hot and dry, clear blue sky. Getting ready to sign on. Have decided to go for middle crank length (150) and both 26" wheels. I'll let you know later how it's gone.
MBG

Worlds 2010 - Jersey

Well it's Shrewsbury this Sunday. It's going to be hot with the chance of some showers I think, so should be more enjoyable than Fowlmead. However, with only 1 week to go before the 2010 World Championship in Jersey the event timetable is just out. My Ferry docks on the 28th May at 16:55 so I should have time to get to my digs before driving to the hill climb!

EVENT TIMETABLE
28th May Hill Climb 18:30
29th May 15km Time Trial 07:00
29th May 50m Drag 10:30
29th May 2 Hour Race - 1 12:00
29th May 2 Hour Race - 2 14:30
30th May 200m Sprint 06:45
30th May 30m Criterium - 1 12:00
30th May 30m Criterium - 2 15:00

I'm starting to think that I am very slightly barmy to have signed up. No change there then, some would say! ;-)

Next post from Shrewsbury with a more reliable e mail service (hopefully).
1 lap time trial and a 40 minute + 1 lap race.
Flatter track should suit me better.

Laters, MBG

Fowlmead results

Time trial 3 laps
26th out of 33 (79%) with an average speed of 18.5mph.
Race #1 2 laps (100% last place) DNF in my book.
Race #2 I didn't enter. And reading some of the comments about puddles of standing water on the track I'm really glad I didn't.
Not a great performance, but that's racing.
Shrewsbury in 3 weeks. Looking forward to it.
Laters
MBG

Fowlmead 1 & 2

Well...
A pretty disastrous weekend for me.
Raining heavily on Saturday morning, right after I thought we might just get away with it. Hmm. So after the rain had died down a little we all lined up for a 3 lap time trial on the top circuit. I was so cold I was shivering quite badly. I got off to a reasonable start overtaking two other riders who had started 1 minute and 2 minutes ahead of me (so I wasn't going to be last). Lap one was quick, lap two was slower (and heavier rain, what was I thinking!!) lap 3 slower still. I was overtaken by some of the quicker guys/girls, but at least I had finished.
Lunch followed, then line up for the slow race on the bottom circuit (larger round). First time I had been on the lower circuit as it had been raining lots so I didn't fancy warming up on the track. Bad start once I eventually had clipped in, so I was already off the back of the pack. I busted a gut catching and passing a couple until I reached the long drag hill (I had seen it, just not registered how long it was). As usual my hill pace was not great and I lost ground. Second lap of the 30 minute plus one lap race I was absolutely gone. I think it was a combination of feeling really cold, too many layers to try to keep warm and the psychology of riding in the conditions. It just wasn't enjoyable (it never is but this was masochistic) so I decided to DNF this one. I worked out later that I should also have gone for the 150mm crank option on the bike which may have helped me. If only I had done a warm up lap I might have realised.
Sunday race (Fowlmead 2) looked equally bad weather so I bugged out at 11am and headed home.
Shrewsbury next, which I think is flat. I'll let you know.
laters
MBG

Trackside at Fowlmead, Kent

Just waiting to sign on and get my timing box. Ready for 2 days racing? Maybe...
Laters
MBG