Despite a late start due to knee injury, 2011 was been a very good season with 20 wins out of 31 races.
New PB’s personal bests:
- 10 miles 20.09 to 20.07 – only minor improvement. I didn’t ride any really fast 10s when my form (and position) were great.
- 25 miles 52.47 to 49.33 – First 30mph ride. Although my 50.49 on local flat course was in many ways more satisfying than the artificially fast 25 on the Welsh course.
- 50 miles 1.52 to 1.49
- 10th in British Time Trial Championships.
- 5th National Hill Climb Championship
Five new course records
A disappointment was not to be doing the national 10, 25, 50 and 100. A knee injury meant I didn’t start racing until May, and on that form I didn’t want to enter the National Championships.
- Saintbury Hill Climb 1.2 miles – 5.52 – 25/09/2011
- Guise Edge Hill climb 0.8 miles – 3.25 – 1/10/2011
- N20/8 (Old, Northampton) – 20.8 miles – 46.28 – 4/06/2011
- Burrington Combe 1.8 miles – 6.51 – 16/10/2011
2011 Technology
The big thing for 2011 was visiting a wind tunnel, which really made a significant improvement to my time trials. This is probably the best investment I’ve made for getting faster. It gave a better return than buying a new carbon fibre time trial frame
The disappointment in technology was possibly choosing wrong bike for National Hill Climb.
2012 Technology
My hill climb bike weighs 6.7Kg. It’s good, but definitely it can be a lot lighter. My target is 5.7Kg! I have a long Christmas wish list for expensive carbon fibre components. I hope up in Lapland, Santa and his elves can make a pair of lightweight wheels for less than 1Kg.
Targets for 2012
Ride National 25, 50 and 100. If things go well, I’d like to ride the national 50 and national 100. I’m not sure about the national 25 as it is in Teeside. But, if my form is good I may make the journey. I’d like to target the top 10 in national 50 and national 100. (the only time I’ve done the national 50 I came 88th, I’d be disappointed if I didn’t improve on this..) Unfortunately I can’t ride the National 10 because I’m promoting our club event on the same day.
An 18 minute for a 10 mile time trial. Despite many attempts, I still haven’t done a magic 19 for a 10 mile time trial. (though I have done a 30mph ride for a 25! But, I reckon there is a chance for squeezing into the 18s, at least if I make journey to Yorkshire for that fast V course.
50 Mile Time Trials.
I only did one 50 mile time trial in 2011. But, in 2012, I’d like to do quite a few more. They are really good fun (if you have the training for them).
Also, I came 4th in the National 100 in 2005. (on a very hilly course). I’d love to try and repeat that.
Hill Climbs
After winning 10 races out of 11. It’s no surprise that the big target will be to get a medal in the national championship. I think it will be quite a challenge on the Rake. There are potentially many really good specialists who will be riding. But, if I could continue to make progress, who knows?
I’d actually like to do as many hill climbs as possible. I think there is scope for more course records. I’ll be praying for a tailwind on Nick o’ Pendle. It would be really something to break a record set by Chris Boardman in a national championship.
I’d be interested to know what your Targets are for 2012?
| Race | Distance | Time | Av Sp | Position | Notes | |
| 01/05 | Shap HC – Kent Valley | 9.1 | 28.27 | 19.2 | 1st | link |
| 13/05 | H10/181 | 10.00 | 21.15 | 28.2 | 5th | |
| 01/06 | H10/10 – VTTA | 10.00 | 22.18 | 27.0 | 1st | |
| 04/06 | N20.8 Northants | 20.8 | 46.28 | 26.8 | 1st | CR – link |
| 05/06 | H10/181 – Oxf City | 10.00 | 21.18 | 28.1 | 7th | |
| 18/06 | F20/10 – Century RC | 10.00 | 20.07 | 29.8 | 1st | PB |
| 24/06 | H10/181 – Newbury RC | 10.00 | 20.25 | 29.4 | 1st = | |
| 25/06 | F13/25 – Hemel Hempstead | 25.00 | 54.00 | 27.8 | 1st | |
| 02/07 | Clifton CC | 13.00 | 29.28 | 26.4 | 1st | report |
| 03/07 | Otley CC | 25.00 | 54.54 | 27.3 | 1st | |
| 16/07 | H10/8 – Hemel Hempstead | 10.00 | 20.13 | 29.6 | 1st | cPB |
| 17/07 | H50/1 – West London C.A | 50.00 | 1.49.36 | 26.8 | 2nd | PB – report |
| 23/07 | H10/17 – Oxonian CC | 10.00 | 20.14 | 29.6 | 1st | Report |
| 30/07 | H25/8 Charlotteville CC | 25.00 | 50.46 | 29.5 | 1st | PB |
| 31/07 | U47/b – Swindon RC | 10.00 | 20.28 | 29.3 | 4th | Report |
| 06/08 | K22/16 Rudy Project | 26.50 | 59.25 | 26.8 | 5th | |
| 12/08 | NC10/3 Kettering CC | 10.00 | 21.55 | 26.7 | 1st | |
| 13/08 | R25/3L Methyr Tydfill | 25.00 | 49.33 | 30.3 | 6th | PB |
| 3/09 | BTTC | 29.00 | 1.04. | 27.5 | 10th | Report |
| 11/09 | Long Hill (Buxton CC) | 4.44 (HC) | 13.49 | 1st | ||
| 24/09 | West London CA | 10.00 | 21.17 | 28.1 | 3rd | cPB – Link |
| 25/09 | Saintbury (Warwickshire RC) | 1.2 | 5.52 | 1st | CR | |
| 25/09 | Dovers Hill | 0.8 | 4.03 | 1st | ||
| 01/10 | Guise Edge (Otley CC) | 0.7 | 3.25 | 1st | CR | |
| 01/10 | Norwood Edge | 1.2 | 4.46 | 1st | Report | |
| 02/10 | Jubilee Tower (Lancaster RC) | 1.7 | 7.38 | 1st | ||
| 15/10 | Westclose Hill | 1.1 | 5.28 | 1st | Report | |
| 16/10 | Burrington Combe | 1.8 | 6.51 | 1st | CR – Report | |
| 23/10 | Nick ‘O Pendle | 0.8 | 3.34 | 1st | Report | |
| 30/10 | NATIONAL Hill Climb | 4.44 | 13.02 | 5th | Report |
1st Place in Open Time Trials
- 2011 – 20 / 31
- 2010 – 13 / 37
- 2009 – 6 /25
- 2008 – 1 / 7
- 2007 - 4 / 10
- 2006 - 1 / 11
- 2005 – 8 / 27
- 2004 – 0/9
- 1997 – 0/1
- 1992 0/1
- 1991 0/2
Placings
- 1st Place = 20
- 2nd Place = 1
- 3rd Place = 1
- 4th Place = 1
- 5th Place = 3
- Total = 30 races
Related
That’s a great race record.
I would like to keep riding my own clubs evening time trials and improve on last years times.
I want to improve my 25 time on the course we use for these events.
I also want to ride another 50 next year, I find them quite hard but as my brother said they are good value for money – about £7 for 2 hours + of pain.
Organise more club events and attract younger riders.
I think you could improve your times by investing in a better fitting skinsuit and a shorter pair of socks and good fitting oversocks for time trialing.
I would be interested in your views on Garmins as a training aid. I have just bought the Garmin Edge 200(as a Christmas present)
Keep up the blog – great reading.
sheldon – it’s really hard to get a decent fitting skinsuit when you are 6ft 1 and weigh under 70kg
Even harder when you’re 6ft 3 and weigh under 61Kg!
Don’t even think about getting armwarmers to fit!
i think my race weight by the time of the national came down to 66kg.
armwarmers slip off, leg warmers slide down, skinsuits flap in the wind…
- sub 20, sub 52, sub 1.55, sub 4hr
- ride the national 10, 25 (maybe, as above, teeside is a long way) and BTTC
- sub 1.05 for a 30 (club record)
- go for broke on the rake
- sub 7.30 on burrington
- top ten at Beacon Mountain TT
- do a few more mega-hillies.
Drop 20kgs,
Fit my tight riding clothes again,
Sportives!
Interesting read tevjan! Unlucky not to medal at the Nat Champs!! Thanks for a great blog!
Been a cycling fan for a few years but only started properly myself in September. Havn’t done any TT/HC/racing before so my goals are to
1) Not finish last in my first TT
2) Improve my TT pb twice over the summer
3) Get some (any) BC points in a race!
cheers, Fred. Good luck for next season.