Felt Colbornes Team

Ok, its wednesday, my legs feel good, just on that limit of cracking from some heavy attacks later that evening in the final Elemore. So, at what point does agreeing to take a guest rider spot at Thursday evenings Rollapaluza Urban Hill Climb up Swains Lane on Highgate Hill make sense…..nope, it doesn’t, I just can’t say no!

After saying yes, Justin and I made the trip up to Highgate for some leg breaking fun. 1km average 20% gradient, whats all the fuss about?!

I rolled out forth from last at 8:26pm, I span my rear wheel out of the blocks, so much so I had to adjust my front breaks back to centre, I’d like to think this lost me 5, 10 seconds, but the truth of it, maybe 2 max. Anyway, at about 120 rpm I pushed up the first half reaching the final kick to the top, legs did not like this! My cadence must have been more around 60 on the top section, just as the crowds increased. I tried to dig in for the line but rolled over instead. Ouch! I couldn’t stand up, not alone breath. How can something so simple be so painful! The joys of my first hill climb. 1min 44 sec. 11th overall.

Justin powered up with style in a cracking time of 1min 34.7sec raising question to his hatred of climbs…..closet climber I say! 4th overall

Heading solo for the Yorkshire hills, I made my way up to Goole late Saturday evening after the fun of a friends wedding reception to load up on carbs….in the manner of cake!

After a lovely Premier Inn breakfast I raced over to Beverly for the 10am start. Rain and cloud inspired a great taste for racing….home…. This was due to be a tough one. As we crossed the line for the end of neutralised, the attacks started hard and fast. I hung in for the painful digs. As the break went, I held back, not knowing if I could go now and last the distance. So, I hung back.

Hard into the race i felt good, pushing on with Yanto Baker to try and close the gap to the break away group. The gap came down, but with no help from others it was soon a dead house. though TV coverage was a definite pay back bonus.

I rolled in with tired legs and happy to finish in 41st.

Friday, more racing, this time in Wales…..which was nice!

With an best of the crop for all of the Pro Continental Teams, this was set to be a speed freaks dream. Justin, Tim, Lee and Myself made the trip to battle it out with the best. 8pm kick off, all warmed up the first couple of laps where very civilised, then the big guns rolled through……BANG!

With a tight fast course that had a deadly little hairpin turn that felt like a stop start it was hard! We all hung in, one by one dropping the wheels like many others. I hung in until 40 mins until the front group just edged away 4 or 5 bikes lengths and for all I could give I could only hold that gap and not bring it back for the next 6 laps…..then BANG!

For what it is worth, it was bloody good fun! we all finished off with Fish and Chips and a long drive home……which was nice.

British Cycling Report

Racing in a late summers evening in any UK town centre is a great feeling, Guildford though, has a great edge about it. The Crowds and the riders have an epic event to encourage an atmosphere of a Belgium classic!

Justin, Lee, Tim and Myself Ricardo el mince alot made our way down for the 8pm Elite race, with Pete playing Team managed, suited and booted and Gary chief arse kicker and wheel man, the team presence was intense!

As the race kicked off up the cobbled high street into a long sweeping left down into a tight left up a narrow back street with pave then a tight left on to the cobbles and climbing for your life, all in 1.4km! ouch! I rolled through on the front pushing the first few laps before wanting to settle in for a rest….nope, no resting in this one. Hanging on for dear life as the pace went up. Wouter (Sigma sport) pushed in hard about 20 mins in and I went out the back, thankfully, so did most people, Wouter then went on to lap the field, legend and machine! Lee was our only man that stayed within fight distance of the main pack, I came off the rear and with the last 15 mins puncture the from tub, a quick wheel swap saw me back in the race with Lee and I tried to help and push on to get him back in contention. By the end of the race my legs felt great…..to late!

Zipp 303’s are an amazing wheelset! Justin and Myself road the event on these and the are compliant, responsive and so fast out of the corners. Not to mention, bomb proof!

Results

1 Wouter SYBRANDY (Sigma Sport/Specialized) E
2 Jody CRAWFORTH (Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott/GSI) E
3 Phill SYKES (Sigma Sport/Specialized) E

12 Lee SMITH (Felt-Colbornes RT) E

20 Richard MARDLE (Felt-Colbornes RT) 1
21 Tim ELVERSON (Felt-Colbornes RT) E

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!

Bank Holiday Weekend and in true tradition, rain! Though, fortunately just on Good Friday.

Wet, Cold and a large field lined up for Good Friday event. 72km around the Classic Motor racing circuit in the wet, seemed fairly easy, but from the gun it was an ice rink adventure, every corner should have been sidelined by Judges ready to score style and execution.

Into the race it was soon obvious that no one was going to ride away in the weather conditions, it didn’t mean we couldn’t try, well, it was better than riding someones power shower wheel.

Once the Cold had really set in you could see Justin and John where looking really happy and wishing for this short race to be over so they could tuck into some mini Eggs…. Sprinting for the line, Justin came in 5th with a pro style lead out from John.

British Cycling Report – http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/roa/EventReports2009/20090411_castle_combe_easter.asp

Full support and cheers from the office guys at Saddleback was much appreciated.