If you've followed my previous blogs you'll be aware that I've struggled with some running injuries lately. Unfortunately this means I can't race a Triathlon until I'm all fixed up. So, not being one to put hard work and good fitness to waste, I entered a couple of bike races.
Having always loved cycling, and being a relatively strong cyclist compared to other Triathletes, this seemed like the logical thing to do. Providing you don't crash, they're a great way to have some fun and get some decent training in at the same time.
The first race I did was a local Category 3/4 road race league. Due to my lack of experience road racing, Ollie, a fellow High Wycombe CC club mate, was to be my domestique/helper/coach/adviser. The race was 35 miles round a flat loop that was ~15 mile cycle from Uni and was scheduled to start at 7:00PM. Having been optimistic with our timings, we were forced to race to get to sign on in time, so Ollie sat on the front and motored us to race HQ, arriving just in time. I felt surprisingly comfortable and relaxed during the race, staying at the front chasing breaks and making breaks whenever an opportunity arose. Unfortunately nothing stuck and it was inevitably going to end in a bunch sprint. I found myself on the front with 500m to go which was not ideal, I bided my time waiting for someone to open their sprint so I could follow their wheel. At about 250m to go, someone opened the taps and I latched onto their wheel, once I'd gathered enough speed I went to overtake but unfortunately the line came 10 metres to early. Still, 2nd place is not too shabby at my first attempt.
Having always loved cycling, and being a relatively strong cyclist compared to other Triathletes, this seemed like the logical thing to do. Providing you don't crash, they're a great way to have some fun and get some decent training in at the same time.
The first race I did was a local Category 3/4 road race league. Due to my lack of experience road racing, Ollie, a fellow High Wycombe CC club mate, was to be my domestique/helper/coach/adviser. The race was 35 miles round a flat loop that was ~15 mile cycle from Uni and was scheduled to start at 7:00PM. Having been optimistic with our timings, we were forced to race to get to sign on in time, so Ollie sat on the front and motored us to race HQ, arriving just in time. I felt surprisingly comfortable and relaxed during the race, staying at the front chasing breaks and making breaks whenever an opportunity arose. Unfortunately nothing stuck and it was inevitably going to end in a bunch sprint. I found myself on the front with 500m to go which was not ideal, I bided my time waiting for someone to open their sprint so I could follow their wheel. At about 250m to go, someone opened the taps and I latched onto their wheel, once I'd gathered enough speed I went to overtake but unfortunately the line came 10 metres to early. Still, 2nd place is not too shabby at my first attempt.
RED/BLACK HELMET = ME, GREEN HELMET= OLLIE
The next race on the calendar was Banbury Star Road Race, part of the central road race league. This race was longer, more competitive and a more challenging parcours. It took in 3 laps of a 15 mile circuit, each time with an ascent of edge hill, a punchy climb, with pitches nearing 20%. Ollie and Sam were also racing so it was set to be a fun day. We knew the race would go to pieces on the climb, especially with the added incentive of a King of the Mountains prize and hence we ensured we were well positioned at the foot of the hill. On the first ascent, a break of 6 escaped, including Ollie and I, but we were reeled back in as fresh legs still existed in the main bunch. The next lap and next ascent was an identical story, the same 6 got away over the top of the climb and we were slowly brought back in by a chasing peloton. Once on the final lap, I didn't want to miss a race winning break so I stayed right at the front of our significantly reduced bunch. We had just turned the corner before alp d'edge hill when Sam came alongside me and shouted 'OLLIE PUNCTURED!'. Shit. He was out of the race. We proceeded to race up the climb and 6 guys, myself included, had a gap on the bunch over the top. No doubt Ollie would have made this selection and challenged in the final if it weren't for his untimely puncture. We continued to push on and the gap to the bunch was growing, evidently they were some tired legs behind and they could not get organised to chase us down. The final mile composed of a tight left corner on a descent followed by a slight incline and then a 'wall', flattening off 20 metres before the line. I was leading our group coming into the left hander, taking it fast, I made a little gap between me and the other breakaway riders, so I thought I may aswell give a long range attack a crack. I laid down some power and as the road slowly pitches up I began to sprint. The road continued to increase in gradient and my power began to wain. I hit the final kick up to the line and I blew up. I was immediately passed by 4 of the other riders and I crawled across the line in 5th place. Sam, Ollie's brother and a Junior, came in 16th beating some quality riders in the process.
Whilst I'd prefer to be getting results in Triathlon, some road racing is a refreshing change and something I hope to maintain in the future.
Whilst I'd prefer to be getting results in Triathlon, some road racing is a refreshing change and something I hope to maintain in the future.
PHOTO CREDIT: RICHARD BRAIN @RGBPlumbing
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