Again another mix of TTs and Crit results this week. Good to see participation remains high despite the wet and windy weather we've had recently. I am told summer is just around the corner.
Although the results were previously reported we've added in Stasia's race reports, as she says "A jam packed schedule!" .
Anastasia Bowler Fri 14th Jul Dudley GP
A wet town centre crit is risky business! I managed to get myself in the chase group behind a break of 10, a really great position for myself at the National circuit series. But sadly with 6 laps to go a girl crashed in front of me, and just like that the group was gone. 5 laps solo and caught at the line by the second chase group behind me. Looking forward to the final round of the circuit series!
Anastasia Bowler Sun 16th Jul Lancaster GP
A very hilly course, so not really one to play to my strengths. Unfortunately my right hood came loose, and I was unable to pull on my bars up the hills. I made it around in a small group off the back until we got pulled with a lap and a half to go. Not a great weekend of racing, but luckily I had an evening summer cx race to look forward to, in the hope of raising my spirits, which it did!
Dawn Donaldson St Ives CC Club TT Weds 19th Jul 27.14 - course PB
Pat Ellerbeck N7/10 Thurs 20th Jul 21.30 - on TT bike
Anastasia Bowler MK Bowl Weds 19th Jul Central League CX 1st Woman
First woman and 35/102 overall! A dry and hilly crit around MK bowl meant for it being fast and tough! A mass start with the men was something different for me, and being gridded at the back meant a lot of weaving through the field. Glad to have made it through and had some fun competition with the guys around me! (and then she rode the Ashman).
ECCA Championships E2/10 Sat 22nd Jul Nic Pillinger 7th 20.18; Pat Ellerbeck 21st 22.13; Frances Lammyman 29th 24.44 (1st Lady)
Report by Francis Lammyman...
The soggiest of days. The forecast didn't lie, it was wet, windy and disgusting. There weren't many people around at HQ, and those who were racing were hiding in their cars until warm up time.
Standing on the startline in the rain were a few hardy marshals in high vis jackets and umbrellas.The few people ahead of me on the start sheet weren't racing so the marshals didn't spring to action when I arrived. I foolishly assumed there wasn't a "holder upper" so I picked an easier gear so I could push off on my own. In the last 10 seconds I agreed to have my bike held up, this is something I've been trying to get better at, ask George and Flo from Thursday night TT's!
I set off and my shoe flung out of the pedal, I probably had some grit in the cleat and hadn't noticed. I clipped back in (not so smoothly) and noticed my Garmin had thrown up a route error. I normally use the course route to pace myself to each turn, and to reassure me which exit I need to take if in doubt. Thankfully I had checked out the course ahead of the race, and it was a pretty simple one! But that didn't stop me questioning the first slip road and the roundabout exit. Mostly just adrenaline and nerves getting the better of me.
The way out felt like a cross headwind. It was hard work, and as the road was quite open there were definitely gusts causing me to wobble several times. I find it really hard to focus on putting the power down after a wheel wobble, but I tried my best. The rain was dripping down my face and blurring my visor. I couldn't wait to be done. Only 10 miles I told myself! I knew the return leg would be mostly tailwind which always helps.
I'd not done this course before but I'd heard the A11 can get quite busy. This was probably the busiest dual carriageway TT I've ever done, and I wasn't a fan. Every few seconds there was a car passing me. Thankfully they all gave me enough room when overtaking, but a few drivers beeped me which is always horrible, especially when you're already a bit wobbly.
I got round the roundabout and I was on the finishing stretch (~5 miles). I could feel the tailwind and barely noticed the cross wind this time. I gave it everything I could. I made up a lot of time and I could see my average speed creeping up. For what was a bit of a disappointing ride to begin with became much more hopeful. I crossed the line with a fairly good average speed, all things considered. Not the time I was looking for, but I was just SO happy to be done.
I headed back to my car to my nice cosy dry robe (alternative brands are available!) Best. Thing. Ever. I had a mug of hot chocolate and watched the rest of the results come in on the board at HQ. Over half of the field didn't turn up to race today because of the conditions. There were only 11 women on the start line, and only 5 raced today. Of those 5, I was the only one in an ECCA affiliated club, so I automatically won the women's prize. Not taking affiliation into account, I would have ranked 3rd, there were two extremely strong women riding today who were miles ahead of the rest of us - kudos!
So overall it was an experience, and one to remember. Abysmal conditions and there weren't many of us who toughed it out. So although it doesn't feel like a justified win for me, and it wasn't my best time, I am proud to say I did it. Fingers crossed the next one is dry?
East Anglian VTTA F2A/25 Sun 23rd Jul Sam McDonald 4th 49.12; Nic Pillinger 8th 50.54; Mark Greenhow 34th 56.07; Pat Ellerbeck (Road Bike) 43rd 58.06; Dawn Donaldson 81st 66.51
Condors Road Race League Men's Race Sun 23rd Jul - Shaun Jarvis 19th (first road race)
Report by Shaun Jarvis...
The Cowley Road Condors Road Race was my first. The race was 80km (8 laps) of a fairly flat, undulating course.
I didn't have much expectation going into the race; the main aim was to stay with the group and not get swept up by the broom wagon!
The first two laps were extremely high paced. I managed to stay within the top 10 riders to allow more fluidity in the corners and avoid burning matches to catch-up.
Half way into the race a 2-man break sped off down the road. Unfortunately, one of the guys down the road had 3-4 team mates in the main group and so the remainder of the race involved fighting them to keep the pace up and try and chase the break....this is where I burnt too many matches sitting on the front and pulling.
I managed to hold my own at the front of the main group. There was some tussling for position on the final 2 laps including a large rear end lift for me going downhill when someone behind clipped my wheel, that keeps you awake!
Final lap, the pace slowed, until the ramp up in speed and sprint to the line. My legs were well and truly finished before the sprint arrived and I was spat from about 9th wheel to finish 19th.
Absolutely amazing experience, now to enter another!
Stats of the race:
Distance: 90km (Inc. Neutralised Zone)
Time: 2:16:42
Avg. Speed: 39.6kph
Max. Speed: 71.8kph
Normalised Power: 274w
Max. Power: 986w
Condors Road Race League Women's Race Sun 23rd Jul - Anastasia Bowler 4th
Race report by Anastasia - I came 4th on Sunday at the Condors RR, as part of the Oxford Road Race League. I raced at the Oxfordshire Road Race League, in the Condors RR. 60km on a relatively flat and windy course meant that the few attempted breaks were reeled back in quite quickly. In the last few km a solo break went, but I was at the back of the group and didn't even realise until she was 100m up the road, and she eventually won with a small gap. I was unfortunately at the back of the pack coming up to the last right hand turn onto the finishing straight, but took a fast wide line around a fair few riders on the corner, and then sprinted myself to 4th overall and 3rd in the bunch. Disappointed to miss the podium by one place, but it's looking promising for future races!
Race Report from Nic Pillinger covering his events - A double header for me this weekend, with both races impacted by the extreme weather! Saturday was a wet and wild outing on the E2/10. A last minute wheel switch messed up my warm up (thanks to a puncture picked up on my Friday evening shakeout ride that was happy to seal in the garage but not on the road), but I battled out into the wind and sailed home for an adequate 20:18 (7th place overall, 4th ECCA).Sunday was a bit better, despite still having some pre-match wheel issues. A 50:54 on the F2a/25 for 8th overall. Again the two out legs were made tough by a stiff westerly, which also meant some new PBs on the way back to Madingley. Still, it felt like a turned corner - looking forward to another few months of racing.
And finally - Race Report from Pat Ellerbeck covering his events - Decided time to do some Time trialling ready for world championships, Thursday favourable conditions on N7/10 for a 21.30. Another 10 on Saturday on a wet and windy E2/10 resulting in a 22:13, both on my TT bike so pleased with those times, highlight of the weekend a 58.08 on F2a/25 on my road bike, which gave me the second fastest road bike, but fastest age adjusted time 50.13. So I won the money. A couple more TTs then off to Scotland.