Amis Velo Supacross

So, since my last update I've made a start with my training, dealt with more university application 'stuff' and have realised A2s levels are a big step up from AS levels; I know I was told but HOW MUCH WORK!?  That'll teach me to take just essay subjects.... Next up is deciding what my focus for the coming season will be - decisions, decisions!

And in advance, sorry for any spelling/grammatical errors.  I've just written a 2000 word essay and the head isn't there anymore!

Anyway, yeah Hilly Fields Supacross (Complete with Belgium-esque name) is about as local as race gets for me, around 3 or 4 miles away from my house and I do occasionally ride in Hilly Fields.  The race was organised by Amis Velo - a great effort if you consider there are only 8 of them, so chapaeu to them! They also managed to put together a fun course!

Leading up to race, I was feeling tired, legs heavy and just generally not great.   It probably didn't help that I had a solid few days of training prior to the race, but I wasn't on the back row!  Obviously the second the whistle blew all the proverbial [naughty word] goes out of the window and you just ride as hard as you possibly can, and you know what, I didn't feel too bad - that top end speed wasn't quite there but the rest of me was and I seemed to riding fairly well and moved up the field pretty quickly.  I reached an equilibrium after about 30 minutes and battled with the same two riders till the end (one got away, the other didn't).  I managed 3rd in the juniors and 19th overall, and suffered for it - believe me I can still feel it in my legs!  For reference I managed to average 188bpm for just over an hour, or 94% of my MHR!

Up the steps!  Thanks to Fergus Muir for the photo.

I was pretty happy with the result and I was even more pleased with the 'supporters club' which grew in size as the race went on (or at least it felt like it) started by my friends/work colleagues from Cycle Revolution. I think simple things like riding things like taking an alternative line to utilize the 'bunny hop' and the foot out and side ways cornering technique were appreciated (I aim to please. No really, I do!) and more importantly made it more fun! Don't worry guys, commically over-size ginger wigs are on the way!

So yeah, I nearly impressed myself and feel as if I'm getting used to this cross stuff! Lastly, thanks to Amis Velo, Ben Paton for patiently teaching the specifics and to anyone who gives up their time to run these events.

 
Race data:  http://app.strava.com/rides/25004359

Oh and don't forget to follow me on twitter! @ozza_e

My First Foray into 'Cross

Ok, so I had heard things about cyclocross... not many good things, I was told: it was going to hurt, you won't be able to ride a cross bike well and you'll probably not make it to the end of your first cross race.. but I still got my 'cross bike (which I broke the first time I rode it) and decided to give some racing ago, after one technique session.

Cyclocross take one!

Rd2 of the Eastern Cross league, at Springfield park saw my first ever cyclocross race - I was gridded on the back row and was feeling optimistic, despite the pan flat course with 3 dismounts!

After the gun went I knew it was necessary to move up quickly, so I set about doing so and made good progress, until I got tangled with another rider... and I lost a considerable amount of places.  So, I get back in the pedals and start picking off riders one by one, trying not to embarrass myself on the dismounts.  Which I got right once and made four places in the process, only to leave the bike in a massive gear and lose all the places bake when remounting!  Amateur, I know...  It was nice to turn the pedals in anger for the first time after my prolonged 'brake' from cycling, over-rested is a term I would use!

Yup, that hurt! I did finish though.

Whilst my finishing position wasn't so great - the fact that I made up 50 places on my starting position certainly makes it sound better!

Race data:  http://app.strava.com/activities/22155685

Cyclocross take two!

A trip to Hog Hill for the Hoggenberg 'cross saw my second cross race, again an Eastern League race.  This course had a couple of small climbs, had far more singletrack, a very interesting spiral and only one dismount!  I was quite looking forward to this, the course was far more fun than the previous weekend but I was feeling tired after doing a series of fitness tests the previous day.  

Yet, as always the courses that are fun to ride, aren't so great to race on, you really needed to be on the front from the gun to place well in this race, guess where I was again?  Yep, the back row.  So, off we went up the Hoggenberg and then into the spiral, I made up a few places before getting caught in bottle-neck.. but I kept plodding along like a trooper and having to stretch by back every time I hit a straight, probably due to the insanely bumpy course, which didn't help much at all!  I decided to back off a bit towards the end as any hope of a good position was well out of the window - but I decided to have a bit of fun, attempting to add some style to the jump half way round the circuit (whoever it was taking the pictures - if you got a decent one please contact me!).  This was one of those races where the bell couldn't come any sonner - and I was glad when the leader lapped me - it meant one last lap!

I made up around 30 places on my starting position and finished mid-pack again.  Whilst there were fewer riders, this was definitely a stronger field, with a few london based riders present.

This is how you carry the bike, right?

Race data: http://app.strava.com/activities/22792096

So, what do I think of 'cross?  Did I enjoy it?  Yeah- in kind of perverse way.  Will I be doing it again?  Definitely, it'll make me stronger... 

Most of all I learnt you need to be able to do 3 things to be strong at 'Cross:

-Be a punchy and powerful rider 

-Be able to ride a 'cross bike well + be good at low speed cornering

-Be able to do the 'cross specific stuff

These three things I am unequivocally not able to do!  Cyclocross is everything I'm weak at, which why I feel I should be keep doing it!  I'm convinced it'll make me far stronger on the mountain bike - particularly on the flatter courses.

My next race will be the local Amis Velo Supacross in Colchester.  Next week marks my return to training with plenty of 'strength and conditioning', now that I've finally sorted all the UCAS stuff!

Thanks for reading!