(Why do I do these early season races again?) Last Sunday morning was my second race of the season – Banbury Star CC 23 mile hard rider event. The course was undulating with a sharp 16% twisty climb in the middle. On the way out, you descend the rather tricky descent and on the way […]

Last Saturday, was the first race of the season. – A hilly 10.2 mile TT organised by Andover Wheelers. The course was shortened slightly due to some hedge trimming.  The hedge cutter was one of the few vehicles on the road. It was a very quite course in terms of traffic which was nice. It […]

At the top of the hill – Dave Clarke left, Dan Fleeman right It was the last race of the season at the weekend. A three – four minute climb on Pea Royd Lane, Stocksbridge. The hill was pretty steep all the way up, with a nasty turn half way up. Like all National Championships […]

Top of Climb from Jubilee Tower – gives great views over Morecambe Bay After the wind of the previous day, conditions were much better, and a  light tailwind from the sea was very welcome after yesterdays headwind torture. It was a longer climb than previous day, about 1.75 miles of varying gradient, total height gain […]

Despite the first signs of autumn colour, this weekend was, a ‘float weekend’ – A day when weather conditions are perfect for cycling (no wind, right temperature 15-20 degrees) leading to fast times and personal bests all round. My race on the Bentley course was interrupted by roadworks so the course was changed to a […]

I don’t know whether I could be a cyclist in Scotland, where it has rained every day for the past two months (article at Independent) I don’t mind a bit of raining, but, I think every day during summer would get pretty tedious. After a lousy summer, we’re having a pretty good September and this […]

Racing along the A1 Great North Road Legend has it that the infamous highwayman, Dick Turpin, escaped from London to York in 15 hours up the Great North Road. The 409 mile road has been in existence for many years – dating back to the Roman times when they built their roads nice and straight. […]

Last Saturday, I was racing in a Rudy Project time trial series near Worcester. The course was 33 miles with one fairly substantial hill. It makes a nice change from racing up and down dual carriageways, though on these country roads there is always the occupational hazard of getting stuck behind a slow moving tractor […]

Today was a hilly 15.4 mile time trial organised by A5 Rangers. My time was 36.49. The second place rider finished in 36.50. so I won by a second. – Now I know why I shaved my legs 2 hours before the start of the race When you win a race by a second, it […]