Moving from Fife to London and going from unemployed to employed I expected to ride my bike a lot less. As it turns out the complete opposite is true.
I had already started a much more time efficient but intensive training regime in 2011 which although involving a significant amount of time on the turbo had resulted in a big improvement to my fitness. This has continued in 2012 and so my training time, apart from the odd weekend ride being slightly shorter, is about the same.
The major difference is commuting. I now commute to work by bicycle around 3 times a week. Currently this takes me around 30 minutes each way. Changing office next week this will increase to around 45 minutes but I imagine I will be no less inclined to get on the bike. I have come to love cycle commuting. My other options are the bus (taking over an hour) or the train and tube (taking around 45 minutes). Neither of these is very pleasant - lots of people, travel sickness (my new nemesis) and the only reason I bother at all is because I cannot cycle every day and not overtrain. If I wasn't a racer I probably would commute every day by bike.
I could now bore you stupid with the vexations of buses, taxis and cars, lack of showers and bike parking at the office (thankfully it is much better at the new one) and cycle commuting doesn't really save time, because you have to change and shower etc. on top of the riding time. But that bit of time at the beginning and end of the day where it is just me, the bike and my thoughts along with awe inspiring views down the River Thames is really rather life affirming.
Thursday, 16 February 2012
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Cross-ness
Probably bad form to do a cyclo-cross season round up without havin written about a single race, but I think I've got some pretty good excuses. Moved house in October and started a new job which involves exams (at this point in time I have done 5 out of 16) so it's been busy! Fully settled into our small but perfectly formed flat, with nothing to do at work at the moment I have now run out excuses not to get up-to-date on the race blog front (plus I have discovered a way around the internet blog restrictions whilst at work!).
My first cyclo-cross race of the 2011-12 season was the 3 peaks race in Yorkshire. I previously wrote about our training for this and probably how on my last attempt I took 6 hours and vowed never to do it again. Given the terrain where we were living in Scotland I felt I had a much better chance at being able to survive this year and put some effort into getting used to carrying the cross bike on my shoulder up steep climbs. This did help me a lot, there was nothing in the event in 2011 that I found horrendous, but it turns out I am still just too slow at walking/running to have any chance at being in the top women's group. Add to this a face plant onto a rock slab on the descent of Whernside, and a slipped gear cable (which I should have stopped to fix in hindsight) and you end up with a disappointing race time and position. This is officially not an event for the girl who hated sport at school because all sport involved running!!
Not long after this I moved myself down to London to start my new job and try to find a flat for Chris and I to live in. Fortunately my facial bruising cleared just before I arrived at work and they as yet have no idea how nutty I am! My next cyclo-cross race was the Knog Muddy Hell event organised by Rollapaluza at Herne Hill. Despite the fact that I was sleeping on people's sofas and only riding my bike to and from college across central London I just had to give this one a try. It has become and iconic event combining night-time racing and fancy dress. I cobbled together a Where's Wally outfit from Save the Children in Greenwich, dug out my slightly rubbish commuting lights and lined up to race. It was great fun (although I am still convinced the up ramp of the bridge that was installed should have been less steep) and it turns out Where's Wally is a good fancy dress! I think my hectic life caught up with me however and I decided to stop racing with a bit of asthma niggle.
Herne Hill turns out to have been my race venue of choice however (it helps that we now live a short cycle ride away). Since the end of October I have raced there twice more once for a London League race and once for the New Year's Day Madison in a team with Chris. The league race was muddy fun and was enhanced by my winning the women's event. Chris and I dragged Paul Davis of SIP Events fame along as well which always leads to lots of giggling. Again there was a great atmosphere and the organisers - ViCious Velo gave everyone wrapped Christmas presents as prizes. Great prizes at that. I now wear my warm cycling cap all the time.
The New Year's Day Madison has to be the best event yet. It was a bit of a last minute decision to race and Chris and I decided to go out and do a couple of hours on the road beforehand - just to warm up. We freewheeled down the hill to the velodrome again and tried to work out how exactly this madison thing was going to work. It sounded complicated but John M manages to make everyone act sensibly so there were really no issues. I somehow slashed my leg on a bramble riding around the course so the photos make me look like a right chopper with blood streaming down my leg! We had a few hilarious change overs one of which is captured on video.
So thats my cross season, over for another year. Next season I am going to do the whole series (I say this every year!).
My first cyclo-cross race of the 2011-12 season was the 3 peaks race in Yorkshire. I previously wrote about our training for this and probably how on my last attempt I took 6 hours and vowed never to do it again. Given the terrain where we were living in Scotland I felt I had a much better chance at being able to survive this year and put some effort into getting used to carrying the cross bike on my shoulder up steep climbs. This did help me a lot, there was nothing in the event in 2011 that I found horrendous, but it turns out I am still just too slow at walking/running to have any chance at being in the top women's group. Add to this a face plant onto a rock slab on the descent of Whernside, and a slipped gear cable (which I should have stopped to fix in hindsight) and you end up with a disappointing race time and position. This is officially not an event for the girl who hated sport at school because all sport involved running!!
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| Rather bad self portrait! |
Herne Hill turns out to have been my race venue of choice however (it helps that we now live a short cycle ride away). Since the end of October I have raced there twice more once for a London League race and once for the New Year's Day Madison in a team with Chris. The league race was muddy fun and was enhanced by my winning the women's event. Chris and I dragged Paul Davis of SIP Events fame along as well which always leads to lots of giggling. Again there was a great atmosphere and the organisers - ViCious Velo gave everyone wrapped Christmas presents as prizes. Great prizes at that. I now wear my warm cycling cap all the time.
The New Year's Day Madison has to be the best event yet. It was a bit of a last minute decision to race and Chris and I decided to go out and do a couple of hours on the road beforehand - just to warm up. We freewheeled down the hill to the velodrome again and tried to work out how exactly this madison thing was going to work. It sounded complicated but John M manages to make everyone act sensibly so there were really no issues. I somehow slashed my leg on a bramble riding around the course so the photos make me look like a right chopper with blood streaming down my leg! We had a few hilarious change overs one of which is captured on video.
So thats my cross season, over for another year. Next season I am going to do the whole series (I say this every year!).
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| Some dodgy madison skills on display |
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| As usual - 'race face' |
Friday, 9 September 2011
Scottish Champs
Last time Chris and I were at Drumlanrig Castle in the Scottish borders we were towed to and from the venue after my car of the time gave up the ghost. We spent the Sunday night camping in the field below the castle accompanied only by the race organisers and some friendly sheep. Both of us had really enjoyed racing the course though and that race inspired me to move up a category to Expert after a solid win in Sport. So in some ways we hoped this second visit to the spectacularly scenic castle would mirror the first but in others definitely not!
Venturing out of the tent on the morning of the race I was greeted by damp air and grey skies. But in Scotland you can never predict the weather and as we packed up the tent and ate our breakfast the sun started to burn though. At the castle the sky was looking even more promising and we quickly headed out to check out the course. It was very similar to the course we raced a few years ago. There were 3 major climbs which although hard provided much needed respite from the rough, rocky and rooty descents which characterise the Drumlanrig course. I was pleased to see a tricky rooty drop on a corner back in again and was reminded of the lesson in problem solving I was given at that point previously by South African, Hilana Marais. The course was generally quite technical and I hoped that this might give me the edge over a couple of road riders who were on the start list.
Heading off up the fireroad on the gun I settled in at around 4th or 5th wheel. I didn't want to go too soon as it was going to be a long race. Hannah Ferguson had a great start and shot up the trail like a bottle rocket. With my more diesel nature I plugged away and gradually worked through the field. Towards the top of the first climb there were a group of three or four of us following her. We all slid around in the mud a bit, and then as we hit the next fireroad section Eileen Roe (Team Leslie) and Jane Barr (Velocity 44) got in front and managed to pull out a little gap on me, and I pushed on from those behind. For most of the rest of the first lap and the next I could see all of them up ahead and at one point even thought I was closing down. However, both girls were so strong and had obviously been working really hard on their MTB riding and I didn't get back to them. I was pleased to be so close behind such classy riders and to go away with a bronze medal.
Congratulations also go out to Hannah Ferguson who rode a really gutsy race and took the Junior prize and also to Lee Craigie, who although not racing the Scottish Champs did awesomely in the World Championships in Champery. Shame she couldn't be at Drumlanrig to show us all how to do it!
As always thanks to Chris for the mega support and AW Cycles, Giant and High5 (finally sorted my cramp problems by racing with High5 Zero).
Venturing out of the tent on the morning of the race I was greeted by damp air and grey skies. But in Scotland you can never predict the weather and as we packed up the tent and ate our breakfast the sun started to burn though. At the castle the sky was looking even more promising and we quickly headed out to check out the course. It was very similar to the course we raced a few years ago. There were 3 major climbs which although hard provided much needed respite from the rough, rocky and rooty descents which characterise the Drumlanrig course. I was pleased to see a tricky rooty drop on a corner back in again and was reminded of the lesson in problem solving I was given at that point previously by South African, Hilana Marais. The course was generally quite technical and I hoped that this might give me the edge over a couple of road riders who were on the start list.
Heading off up the fireroad on the gun I settled in at around 4th or 5th wheel. I didn't want to go too soon as it was going to be a long race. Hannah Ferguson had a great start and shot up the trail like a bottle rocket. With my more diesel nature I plugged away and gradually worked through the field. Towards the top of the first climb there were a group of three or four of us following her. We all slid around in the mud a bit, and then as we hit the next fireroad section Eileen Roe (Team Leslie) and Jane Barr (Velocity 44) got in front and managed to pull out a little gap on me, and I pushed on from those behind. For most of the rest of the first lap and the next I could see all of them up ahead and at one point even thought I was closing down. However, both girls were so strong and had obviously been working really hard on their MTB riding and I didn't get back to them. I was pleased to be so close behind such classy riders and to go away with a bronze medal.
Congratulations also go out to Hannah Ferguson who rode a really gutsy race and took the Junior prize and also to Lee Craigie, who although not racing the Scottish Champs did awesomely in the World Championships in Champery. Shame she couldn't be at Drumlanrig to show us all how to do it!
As always thanks to Chris for the mega support and AW Cycles, Giant and High5 (finally sorted my cramp problems by racing with High5 Zero).
Sunday, 7 August 2011
SXC Round 5 - Perth
Having recently received the news that we have to move back down south to live in London, Chris and I are trying to make the most of our remaining time in Scotland. First on the list - a very hilly mtb race just over an hour from home! This, the final round of the Scottish XC series in Perth was also a must attend for me because I was leading the series and from our calculations only needed to score a second place behind Lee Craigie to win it.
The course was a real toughie with a munro's worth of climbing every 2 laps (or so I was told), along with lots of mud and roots and some steep, loose descents. In fact there was a real mixture of trail conditions as the previous day's sun had dried out the top of the course but the trails under cover were still very soggy. The only thing I really did not like was the slightly downhill start, since I am not very good at close fast racing - the next thing to work on!
When we lined up at 11 for our start I noticed that Lee was not racing (turns out she was in Holland preparing for the European MTB champs by racing a few road races) however the Ulster cycling team was over en masse and Ciara MacManus and Irish elite racer was in attendance so the pace was still going to be high at the front. When we did set off, my nerves about the speed and number of riders meant that I was overtaken by quite a few of the youth, junior and masters riders and had to run the start of the first techincal climb. I made up a few places once the climb opened up and going into the series of steep descents was back on the wheel of second placed rider in the elite/expert race Morven Brown (Dales Cycles). I overtook her at the start of the next, and biggest climb but made a mistake, overshifting into my spokes and lost the place again. After sorting that out and getting going again I slowly pulled back onto Morven's wheel again and decided to sit in an recover rather than going for another overtake. It was a good wheel to follow and I'm not sure I was any faster through the muddy rooty section of the bottom of the course.
Coming into the start finish I got out of the saddle and had a bit of a dig. I was pleased to gain a few metres pretty easily and when I hit the climb again I was able to increase this advantage. I knew I could not make any more mistakes though so tried to be smooth for the rest of the second lap and then the rest of the race. I finished the race the same position as I did lap 2 - second, a few minutes down on first and similarly ahead of Morven in third place. The last two laps are somewhat of a blur, a battle between my body and the hills. At the time I felt like the hills had won, but it seems to have pushed me on again in fitness and mental strength. So... with another lovely slate trophy on the (imaginary) mantlepiece it's back to training with one eye on the Scottish Champs at Drumlanrig in September and the other on the 3 peaks cyclo-cross. Time for some running/walking up steep hills with a bike on my back!
The course was a real toughie with a munro's worth of climbing every 2 laps (or so I was told), along with lots of mud and roots and some steep, loose descents. In fact there was a real mixture of trail conditions as the previous day's sun had dried out the top of the course but the trails under cover were still very soggy. The only thing I really did not like was the slightly downhill start, since I am not very good at close fast racing - the next thing to work on!
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| Nice view (shame I was racing too hard to notice it!) |
When we lined up at 11 for our start I noticed that Lee was not racing (turns out she was in Holland preparing for the European MTB champs by racing a few road races) however the Ulster cycling team was over en masse and Ciara MacManus and Irish elite racer was in attendance so the pace was still going to be high at the front. When we did set off, my nerves about the speed and number of riders meant that I was overtaken by quite a few of the youth, junior and masters riders and had to run the start of the first techincal climb. I made up a few places once the climb opened up and going into the series of steep descents was back on the wheel of second placed rider in the elite/expert race Morven Brown (Dales Cycles). I overtook her at the start of the next, and biggest climb but made a mistake, overshifting into my spokes and lost the place again. After sorting that out and getting going again I slowly pulled back onto Morven's wheel again and decided to sit in an recover rather than going for another overtake. It was a good wheel to follow and I'm not sure I was any faster through the muddy rooty section of the bottom of the course.
Coming into the start finish I got out of the saddle and had a bit of a dig. I was pleased to gain a few metres pretty easily and when I hit the climb again I was able to increase this advantage. I knew I could not make any more mistakes though so tried to be smooth for the rest of the second lap and then the rest of the race. I finished the race the same position as I did lap 2 - second, a few minutes down on first and similarly ahead of Morven in third place. The last two laps are somewhat of a blur, a battle between my body and the hills. At the time I felt like the hills had won, but it seems to have pushed me on again in fitness and mental strength. So... with another lovely slate trophy on the (imaginary) mantlepiece it's back to training with one eye on the Scottish Champs at Drumlanrig in September and the other on the 3 peaks cyclo-cross. Time for some running/walking up steep hills with a bike on my back!
Monday, 25 July 2011
Perthshire Hills
Recently we've been shown some amazing long routes in Perthshire. The first was an MTB ride with Marty Steele around beinn a ghlo. The weather, scenery and company were stunning.
Then this weekend Chris and I gate-crashed the Moulin 200. A 200km road ride from the Pitlochry area. In just over 7 hours (by far the longest I've ever been out on a bike) we cycled 181km, climbed 2100m and in my case got sunburned arms. Thanks to the boys from VC Moulin for having us along.
Then this weekend Chris and I gate-crashed the Moulin 200. A 200km road ride from the Pitlochry area. In just over 7 hours (by far the longest I've ever been out on a bike) we cycled 181km, climbed 2100m and in my case got sunburned arms. Thanks to the boys from VC Moulin for having us along.
MTB XC National Championships 2011 - Aske, Richmond Yorkshire
Last year I was 9th in the National Champs - my best ever result. I was disappointed though because after a puncture on the first lap, I simply rode round and finished. I was lapped, I wasn't really 'racing' and I think I muct have been the last finisher. This year I finished 10th - but the race could not have been more different.
The National Championships rightly seems to attract a wider range of racers than the National Series races, This year it seemed to be even more extreme than normal. All the non-UK citizens who usually race our National Series were off racing their National Champs but there were also a handfull of riders who race abroad/ primarily on the road/ primarily cyclo-cross. The field definitely seemed stacked than the last two times I have finished a National Champs (in 2008 and 2010). Notable additions were the Scott Contessa riders Nicky Harris and Gabby Day both international cyclo-crossers and Catherine Williamson international road racer. There are also two riders who have moved up from Masters this year. There were also a couple of riders who I had never heard of or seen before - a great thing for the sport!
The course had been talked up as a bit of a disappointment, but on arrival on the Saturday we headed out to check it out and were pleasantly surprised. I had an eventful pre-ride, falling on the first technical descent and the sliding down the next muddy one on my bum. The climbs inbetween these techy bits were also pretty brutal so by the time we made it to the second part of the lap which was twisty, muddy and rooty singletrack I was actually quite relieved. The Giant Anthem was perfect, climbing like a dream (those Fife hill reps have helped us set up perfectly) and floating over all the nasty little roots! Liking adverse conditions Chris and I silently prayed for more rain overnight and the heavens obligingly helped us out.
Not racing until 2.30pm Chris and I had an unusually relaxed morning. Our only activity apart from eating and drinking was to switch up for a mud tyre each on our front wheels. Come race time I lined up on the 3rd row and managed to get onto the right hand side which we had earlier identified as less risky and rutted. Now I just had to fulfill each of my aims:
1. Not to get lapped
2. To pace the race well
3. To be in the front group at the start
4. To ride smoothly
As the gun went I succeeded in just making the front group - hurrah one aim met. I didn't want to break number 2 though so set my own pace up the first climb letting a few girls pass me. Successfully navigating my way around the lap twice and I was already working well on aim number 4. At this point I came across Anna Buick riding well in 3rd in the U23 race so decided to tow her up a long drag into the wind at the back of the course and make sure she could recover and maintain a good position. At the end I was really proud to have helped her a bit towards getting her excellent bronze medal.
Leaving Anna to her successes I continued to gain positions until the last lap, when the heavens opened again. It was like riding in many small muddy streams and I could hardly see. In was so insanely wet it was hilarious! I was fighting cramp by this point, but pushed away from Ruth Owen-Evans who I could see behind me. When finally crossed the line in 10th place, just under two hours after the start, I could not have been more exhausted or pleased with myself.
Thanks to Jo and Mel for bottling for us as we were both racing at the same time and well done to the AW boys - 11th, 14th, 15th and 36th in the men's race.
The National Championships rightly seems to attract a wider range of racers than the National Series races, This year it seemed to be even more extreme than normal. All the non-UK citizens who usually race our National Series were off racing their National Champs but there were also a handfull of riders who race abroad/ primarily on the road/ primarily cyclo-cross. The field definitely seemed stacked than the last two times I have finished a National Champs (in 2008 and 2010). Notable additions were the Scott Contessa riders Nicky Harris and Gabby Day both international cyclo-crossers and Catherine Williamson international road racer. There are also two riders who have moved up from Masters this year. There were also a couple of riders who I had never heard of or seen before - a great thing for the sport!
The course had been talked up as a bit of a disappointment, but on arrival on the Saturday we headed out to check it out and were pleasantly surprised. I had an eventful pre-ride, falling on the first technical descent and the sliding down the next muddy one on my bum. The climbs inbetween these techy bits were also pretty brutal so by the time we made it to the second part of the lap which was twisty, muddy and rooty singletrack I was actually quite relieved. The Giant Anthem was perfect, climbing like a dream (those Fife hill reps have helped us set up perfectly) and floating over all the nasty little roots! Liking adverse conditions Chris and I silently prayed for more rain overnight and the heavens obligingly helped us out.
Not racing until 2.30pm Chris and I had an unusually relaxed morning. Our only activity apart from eating and drinking was to switch up for a mud tyre each on our front wheels. Come race time I lined up on the 3rd row and managed to get onto the right hand side which we had earlier identified as less risky and rutted. Now I just had to fulfill each of my aims:
1. Not to get lapped
2. To pace the race well
3. To be in the front group at the start
4. To ride smoothly
As the gun went I succeeded in just making the front group - hurrah one aim met. I didn't want to break number 2 though so set my own pace up the first climb letting a few girls pass me. Successfully navigating my way around the lap twice and I was already working well on aim number 4. At this point I came across Anna Buick riding well in 3rd in the U23 race so decided to tow her up a long drag into the wind at the back of the course and make sure she could recover and maintain a good position. At the end I was really proud to have helped her a bit towards getting her excellent bronze medal.
Leaving Anna to her successes I continued to gain positions until the last lap, when the heavens opened again. It was like riding in many small muddy streams and I could hardly see. In was so insanely wet it was hilarious! I was fighting cramp by this point, but pushed away from Ruth Owen-Evans who I could see behind me. When finally crossed the line in 10th place, just under two hours after the start, I could not have been more exhausted or pleased with myself.
Thanks to Jo and Mel for bottling for us as we were both racing at the same time and well done to the AW boys - 11th, 14th, 15th and 36th in the men's race.
Mountain Mayhem
A concerted assault on Mountain Mayhem saw the AW Cycles team of myself, Simon Ernest, Tim Dunford and Steve James take 3rd Elite Mixed team. Chris was amazing as a pit crew, washing bikes and keeping us all going. So much so that he fell asleep mid sentence in the car on the way home! I'd like to thank the boys for all their hard work. We even made the front page of singletrackworld.com - you know you have made it when....
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