Felt Racing (UK) Team Site

The new strengthened Felt racing team from 2009 is for 2010 the Felt-Colbornes Race Team. With five new riders and two new sponsors the team is ready for 2010. Joining the team as a headline sponsor is www.colbornes.co.uk the Audi, VW and Skoda dealerships in Guildford, Basingstoke, Camberley, Walton and Woking. They have stepped in as the main financial backing and vehicle sponsor making more us competitive with the full time teams in the Premier and Tour Series events. Also www.tigercomms.com the global leaders in call management technology have boosted the financial help. As well as continued support from www.roadwheel.co.uk tyres and exhausts great deals in Fleet Hants.
With the more help from Saddleback ltd the distributor of Felt, SRAM, Zipp, Castelli and Vredestein. We are able to add an additional seven riders including the 2006 National Circuit Champion James Taylor, and brothers Matthew and Richard Kipling, Tom Smith, Ian Legg, Peter Wager and Garry Clark.
The key part of the team is we all get on well, and all having fulltime jobs whilst not full time professionals, the superb past results and strong team spirit means that the Felt-Colbornes Race Team expect to be competitive with the UK’s best and aim to cause a few upsets along the way.
At the end of February we are planning a training camp in Gran Canaria to prepare for our season starting off at the Severn Bridge RR on the 7th of March as this is sponsored by Saddleback. Full list of riders below please come say hello during the season and have a look at our cool team bike

Justin Hoy (Team Manager)
Tim Elverson
John Wager
Lee Smith
Richard Mardle
James Taylor (former PCA rider)
Tom Smith (AW Cycles)
Ian Legg (Owen Cycles)
Matthew Kipling (Team Kenesis)
Richard Kipling (MTS Cycle sport)
Peter Wager (VC Meudon)
Garry Clark (Banjo Cycles)

Saturday the 15th saw the coming together of the Big Dog’s of Cycling. Magnus Backstead,  Yanto Barker and the Big Dog Himself….Me! For the Brighton Big Dog Mountain bike race.

Pairing up with the local Caravan expert of the Cycling world, Paul Hopkins of BMV Leisure….plug… We competed in the 6hr Pair. The course was excellent, great climbing, amazing single track and dry! With an MTB Jumble from Retro bike, cakes and propercoffee the event was a true mountain bike festival with a great atmosphere.

The Race! Paul started and came through in 2ndplace not far down off 1st. We pushed on with one lap on, one lap off for the duration, taking the lead on lap two and building on it. We finished 1st and just missed out on clocking up another lap come the finish….a great day out. We cleaned up, packed up and got some chicken from the Barbecue before the prize presentation. A great effort for the ceremony, podium girls, goodie bags and sparkly stuff, you had to make the most of it! Also over the course of the day, I picked up the prize for thr fastest lap and received a very nice model sterling engine which has kept the office amused this week and the kettle on permanent tea duty! 

So, rosette in hand, I am now the official “Big Dog” of Brighton….. Life’s complete.

Will deffinatly return next year: http://www.brightonbigdog.com/

With the speed in which times seems to tick of late, it feels like I’ve been racing and living at 100mph… Where do I start!

The 27th of June, a sunny Saturday morning, in a peaceful part of the new forest, bliss… Then the gun went! Round four of the national Mountain bike series was a go…. Seven laps of the fast, dry course entertained. With a total of 5 SIS smart gels my rocket fueled performance stunned even me! Pushing to the line and finishing 6th, a great result! UCI points and cash to boot!

It’s all about preparation…apparently! The Toucham House Grand Prix road race on the 2ndof August was on the back of an already long weekend of training….in vino consumption! Justin, John, Lee and myself traveled down to Canterbury looking to contend for the £1000 1st place prize. With a pot like that though, so had most of the other “Big Guns” of the UK scene. The Race was punchy from the start, with a great rolling course wand only two little climbs, the laps felt as if the course had more negative flat that up. Perfect! We had some guys in all the breaks, while I sat comfortable in the bunch trying to shake the hang over and eating most of my energy products, well, Haribo. Into the last 20 miles I started to feel fruity and made my way to the front of the pack, just in time to make it into a break, the break! working hard we opened some healthy time into the pack, with the help of the remain (Just Justin, the others felt tired and pulled out!) felt boys covering, the break held! Coming to the line my legs broken, cramp was due any moment, turning left into the finishing climb it struck me down. I pulled myself up over the climb to the finish holding 11th…out of an eleven man break….nice. Then off to Starbucks!

Sunday was the National Master’s Road Race Champs on the Owslebury Nr Winchester. Myself, Tim, John and Warren were out to see how we could go. with the race splitting after 30miles of the 88mile race Me, Tim and Warren all made the front group along with all the other main contenders. Danny Axford was very strong on the climbs of his local course and with 14 miles to go attacked and gapped us quickly getting 30seconds gap with the Corley guys looking at me and me looking at them he soon had 2 miniutes, on the last lap Chris McNamara (Corley Cycles) attacked I jumpped across and we stayed away to the finish. lucky for me Chris can’t sprint so I took 2nd and a Silver Medal, after my 3rd last year.

Tim and Warren unfortunaly had problems Tim punctured and Warren suffered with cramp. Tim came in 7th and John who did the job of slowing the bunch got 10th in the 35-39 age group.

Also last week I won my 13th race of the year at Dunsfold.
Looking forward to the rest of the season now!

With our mid week World Champs suspended for the next 3 weeks we’re having to look further afield for places to conquer. Justin winning on Monday at Upavon, the 4th Felt win in a row there now, the pressure was on.

A quick browse on the British Cycling site and I’d found my target, an hour plus 5 laps round the MK Bowl. The last time I rode this a couple of years ago I had a really hard time so I bided my time until the last few laps when i started cranking up the pressure. Into the last lap and the chase to the lone leader stalled as no one wanted to close the last 100m. As everyone looked around I took my chance and hit the afterburners, catching and then dropping the lone leader to come in well clear of the field.

I’ve not got any pictures from last night but thought I’d include one taken a couple of weeks ago at Thruxton. It’s an ideal place to use the wheels from my Felt DA although the deep rumble makes a surprise attack a bit tricky.

Last Friday saw the 4th and final round of the highly successful circuit race series at Cheltenham Racecourse. Organised by VC Montpellier and generously sponsored by Leisure Lakes, the events have been well organised and supported. With live commentary, drinks and a BBQ, the enthusiastic spectators were kept well entertained.

After finishing 2nd twice, and third in the first race of the series I was totally determined to try and get onto the top step of the podium. The same rider, Perry Bowater had won all three rounds so far, so I decided my aim for the night was to make this race the hardest 1hr bike race his skinny legs had ever experienced. After the neutralised first lap (behind JC in his quality black cab) I put the hammer down almost immediately, hoping to break free and get the first prime. Coming up to the prime line after a lap and a half in the lead, guess who nipped past me to take the prime on the line…. This was war!

Shortly after this a leading break of around 9 riders established at the front of the race. A few riders tried their luck at escaping, and I attempted a few escapes myself, but nothing was staying away from the leading group. The obvious thing in this race, regardless of who rode of the front, I had a permanent annoying shadow in the shape of Perry Bowater. I think he just wanted to follow me around all night, and nip past whenever a prime was available. The angry adrenaline must have helped me in the middle part of this race, as I took 3 primes in a row, winning some cash, and a nice pair of Specialized shades (thanks Leisure Lakes).

With 2laps to go a rider from Echelon Spuik put in a great attack to ride clear of the break. The others in the lead group didn’t seem too keen to chase, so it was down to my team mate Dave and myself to close the gap with half a lap to go. Dave led me into the final climb, and I accelerated with everything I had, going for the line. 10metres from the line a rider levelled with me, and just edged ahead by half a wheel to take the win……Perry Bowater again! That’s racing I guess, but the kid isn’t exactly on my Christmas card list….

As you can see from the photo, close racing for the crowd to witness…..Dave also took third, so two Felt riders on the podium for the second week in a row!

The night wrapped up with the podium presentation and prize giving. It was great to collect a few primes, shades, and enough money for a nice Indian takeaway on the way home. The award of the overall prize however was quite embarrassing to witness. Phil Landry of Leisure Lakes had generously sponsored this series with an overall prize of a 2009 Specialized Allez road bike. As Phil wheeled to bike towards the podium, Perry Bowater seemed reluctant to hold his fantastic prize, let alone muster the strength to pick it up. With the local press there to capture the moment and give Leisure Lakes the press coverage they deserve, the boy could at least have smiled.

 Maybe I had tired him out after all…… 

Despite not quite managing to win a round, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Leisure Lakes series, and hope it resumes next year. I’ll have to practice my sprinting over the winter! Thanks to Phil at Leisure Lakes, and all the boys at VC Montpellier for putting on/supporting a great series.

Friday night saw the penultimate round (3) of the Leisure Lakes Bikes Circuit Series at the Cheltenham racecourse. As ever, a large and enthusiastic crowd had gathered for an evening of top class cycle racing at the prestigious venue. The racing was fast, at speeds over 30mph and the cash sprints (primes) throughout the event quickly split the race apart. 

David, Richard and Duncan turned up in force to assist Duncan for the series win as points thus far meant series standings where tight to say the least! Duncan locked in with rising star Perry Bowater. 

Richard proved invaluable right from the start. After only five minutes of racing, he put in a strong attack on the ascent to the finish area. The remaining peloton, which numbered 40 riders in total, watched each other nervously as Richard quickly established a good lead but the gap produced was closed once Richard sat up when he lost one of his glasses lenses. This strong move off the front forced Bowater to chase, Jamieson, of course, marked this move!

Duncan then attacked taking Perry with him, the two worked together to open a large gap while the remain riders moves where marked by Richard and David. Three quarters into the racing and Richard attacked off the front to make the break to Perry and Duncan, picking up a last minute prime for his efforts. Now there where three!

Behind, the remaining peloton started to fragment as the chasers attempted to bridge the gap. Oliver Graham (Arctic Premier), Simon Burgess (Severn RC) and Adrian Bird (Team Echelon-Spiuk) were all aggressive attackers on the tough hill to the finish. David Curtis-Whitfield played a great marshalling role on the front of the peloton in order to make sure that his teammates, who were now leading, were not caught. Incidentally, the hill had been nicknamed by the commentator as ‘Landry Hill’ after Phil Landry, manager of Leisure Lakes, who’s shop sponsor’s the race series.

With only one lap remaining, Richard started to pushing the pace to lead the Duncan to the line, moving into the finish line hill, Richard swung out to give Duncan the clear path. At this point Perry took a cleaner line gaining a few meters which Duncan pushed hard to close. All the way to the line it was open, Perry taking the win by a few inches! Teammate Richard took third.

Race 3 – Cheltenham Racecourse
1 Perry Bowater (CC Giro)
2 Duncan Jamieson (Felt Racing)
3 Richard Mardle (Felt Racing)
4 Oliver Graham (Arctic Premier)
5 Simon Burgess (Severn RC)
6 David Curtis-Whitfield (Felt Racing)
7 Adrian Bird (Team Echelon-Spiuk)
8 Ewan McDonald (Epic Cycles-Viner RT)
9 Daniel Bill (Team Echelon-Spiuk)
10 Mark Williams (Python Racing)

Senior Result:

 With the new Felt DA’s finally arriving in the country I’ve manged to get around to doing a few time trials. Setting up before the National 10 was fun with the bike arriving on the wednesday before and then being stripped and rebuilt with the awesome SRAM Red groupset.

I managed just warm up prior to the Nationals with a 21:57 in a local club event. A bit more “adjusting” to get the seat further back to try and get close to my position from last  and I was ready.

On the day I didn’t really find a good rythm and recorded a relatively slow 22:02 nearly 2 1/2 minutes behind the winner, Michael Hutchinson.

The National 25 took place a couple of weeks later and was to be my first 25 since last August. I cruised round with a leisurely 55:35 in fairly windy conditions.

Hopefully with a few more time trials in the coming weeks and a laid back seatpost instead of the “triathlon” seatpost supplied I’ll be able to finally clock a 19 minute 10 this year.

On Wednesday 10th June I travelled to Winchcombe for the first round of the popular Cotswold League Road Race Series. The first round last month had been cancelled due to flooding, and the weather was doing its best to ruin the Winchcombe race also. Conditions were filthy, especially the section of road outside a farm where the road was a nice shade of brown. I was half expecting to be reaching for the Immodium on Thursday morning…….

Back to the race. Split into 3 groups for a pursuit style of racing, 7 of us set off in the scratch group with 4laps of around 8miles to catch the others. Driving rain and spray from the wheels made the going pretty cold and grim. Castelli kit was great though, especially the windproof baselayer which kept me warm without the need for bulky clothing. The groups all came together towards the end of the 3rd lap and the race was on. 2 riders clipped off the front on the long drag up to the finish line and by the top of the climb 5 of us had escaped to form a break with 8miles remaining.

The last lap I started to feel good for the first time all race. Being in the break and riding hard helped to keep the legs warm. Tried to drink some High 5 energy drink to dilute the tasty road spray. 5 of us arrived at the bottom of the last climb and Ian Alexander attacked and rode away steadily at a good tempo. With two VCM riders in the break I tried to be patient and stay in the wheels. It looked as though Ian was on his was to a win however……

Wayne Coombes decided to accelerate in pursuit of Ian and I jumped onto his wheel. We caught Ian and with the finish in sight I went for the line. My legs were starting to buckle and Grant Bayton manage to edge ahead by half a bike length by the line. 2nd place in a reasonably strong field however, things are on the up! With a limited amount of racing in my legs this year I’m sure the best form is yet to come.

Maybe I’ll find out in a couple of hours time, as heading to the VCM Circuit Race Series at Cheltenham Racecourse….

After a long day Saturday racing and dying many times over in the round three of the National Cross Country series, Sunday held the event I had my eyes set on. The National Marathon Championships!

With the best weekends weather we’ve seen all year, the sun shin soaked course at the legendary South Wales Margam Park was dry, fast and HOT!

The gun went at 10am and lap one went quickly with a group of 15 riders pushing on completing the first lap in 59 minutes. This course was all about climbing! We had four laps to cover and I knew that the race would come down to who paced well and drank well. Lap two and three went quickly lapping again at 59mins and 1hr 01min, everything happened on lap four. Oli pushing the pace hard at the end of lap three and squeezed out the remaining guys holding on including myself, cramp and burn had become the new battle. Holding onto my pace I swept in to take 6th place.

100KM Champs Male
1 Oli Beckingsale Giant – 4 laps in 03:48:05
2 Paul Oldham Hope Factory Racing – 4 laps in 03:53:16
3 Ian Bibby Team Halfords – 4 laps in 03:58:17
4 Jonathan Pugh Clee Cycles Kcnc High 5 – 4 laps in 04:01:40
5 Ross Creber – 4 laps in 04:02:20
6 Richard Mardle Felt Racing – 4 laps in 04:11:42

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/mtb/EventReports2009/20090531_british_marathon_champs.asp