Felt Colbornes Team

The weekend of the 26-27^th June was a quite one with the National Elite Road Race Championships taking place on the Sunday.  I could not justify entering as being in full work with travelling commitments and having my own social life the hours you need to put in to ride well in a hilly 180km race are impossible.

Instead I lined up for the summer Ditcham Park hill climb.  After taking the win last year and the hill record I was looking for a sub 7 minute ride just to better myself.  Unforaty and too my horror another flattish 1km had been added to the bottom of the climb.  I gave it my all though and managed to catch my minute man (my dad) with the 1^st km, I was greeted with lots of swearing.  I don’t think he was trying hard enough.   I pushed on right to the end to take the win by almost 1 minute.

My biggest win of the season occurred on Sunday though at the local village fait, with a 10 meter course and a rusty shopping bike all the normal rules of the racing we know were thrown out and the slowest would win.  Track standing was banned after I held one for 1 minute.  After a restart I managed to make my way around the 10 meter course in a nice and slow 2 minutes.  If only all races where that easy.

I left you last time after winning at Portsmouth.  I lined up with Justin and Pete for 80km around the Goodwood race track. From the start the race was on with Pete getting in a break for a few laps.  Justin then went on a suicide mission with another rider gaining around 20 seconds on the bunch.  I stayed near the front with Pete keeping an eye on anyone trying to get across.  With around 7 laps to go I noticed a bunch of friends had come to abuse ( I mean cheer me on) so I needed to do a good ride to stop any jokes about leg shaving on nights out in the next few weeks.  On the back straight with just over 4 laps to go Justin was caught so I attacked straight away as hard as I could.   Lucky for me I took two strong riders with me who shared the work load well.  With 1 lap to go I knew I had a podium but I wanted the win.  Coming into the finish straight I was on the front and slowed right down so I could jump the other guys.  This worked and I took my 2^nd win of the week.  Justin took the bunch sprint for 4^th and Pete came in just on his wheel in 5^th.

Its official! James Taylor is a Legend!

At the 2010 National Masters Track Championships at Newport, S.Wales, James took on the best in the country to claim the National Title and jersey!

More to follow

Eelmore Cycle Kingdom crits round 12 with the usual suspects, plus some star riders paying us a visit.  Wouter Sybrandy Sigma Sport and Jamie Newall Corley Cycles both raced the recent Tour Series televised on ITV4 so were more than prepared following 10 rounds of city centre circuit races in June against the UK’s top teams.  Felt-Colbornes lined up with The King Hoy, Elv, Dernie Wager, Fist, Lee Dog, Richie diesel and Jnr Wager.

Hillingdon circuits the night before had proved to be a frustrating race with both Richie Diesel and myself making the winning break in the final 5 laps only for me to be switched in the sprint.  It ended with a solid 3rd for Richie, having led it out with 500m to go and a poor 5th place for me plus a ripped Castelli aero overshoe and a scuffed Sidi BLING shoe….at least I didn’t hit the deck

Back to Eelmore……From the gun it was the usual fast attacking pace with a few small groups getting a gap only to be pulled back by the teams not represented.  The pace was super fast and we quickly lapped the 3/4 race.  A strong head wind up the finishing straight meant lone attacks were short lived and eventually the race began to split.  Into the last 10 minutes and a group of 7 riders had escaped with a 10 second gap, Wouter Sybrandy Sigma Sport, Anders Cycle kingdom, Dave Creagan VC Meudon and then The King Hoy, Elv, Fist and Richie diesel representing Felt-Colbornes.  The chase behind was led by Jamie and the Zappi boys.  As the gap closed Paul Pickup Cycle kingdom jumped across taking Lee Dog and me in tow.  We now had all but my brother in the front group.  A lap later and John was across bridging the gap into the head wind alone!!  The group behind continued to chase as we hit the 5 laps to go board so we tried to keep the pace high and avoid a mass sprint.  A few hesitations slowed the group so I hit the front to bring the pace up again.  As I rounded the top corner I looked back to see I had a gap and decided to nail it and go for another long one.  Bell lap and a good gap BUT Wouter and the Zappi boys were going to chase and that they did down the back straight.  I came out the bottom turn and gave it everything still about 5 seconds gap to sit up and savour the moment GOOD TIMES!!!  another WIN was mine with Juzzy 2nd and Fist 3rd making it another Felt-Colbornes filled podium.

RESULTS

1 Pete Wager Felt-Colbornes Racing Team 1
2 Justin Hoy Felt-Colbornes Racing Team E
3 Tom Smith Felt-Colbornes Racing Team E

As always the race tactics at Eelmore are simple Attack, Attack, Attack, WIN!  Round 11 proved to be a hard day for all with a reasonable head wind up the finishing straight threatening to split the bunch at any point.  An early move took Ricardo ‘Diesel’ Mardle and John ‘Dernie’ Wager up the road with the Cycle Kingdom Motor bike, Paul Pickup.  A super strong trio!!  A flurry of attacks from the Zappi boys and some strong work by Dave C of VC Meudon kept the bunch in contact.  Elv policing anything that attempted to bridge and me, Jnr, keeping the pace reasonable between attacks.  After 45 minutes of racing we were all back together and the attacks continued with Lee Dog, Fist, Elv and The King Hoy all getting stuck in.

I decided to have a little dig and formed a gap taking with me Neil Cooper of AW.  We worked for a couple of laps before Neil dropped off as I drilled it into the head wind.  So with another 5 minutes and 5 laps to go I found myself solo off the front……as the laps ticked by the gap hovered at about 10-15 seconds BUT I had FELT power on my side and the boyz covered every chase and slowed the pace whenever possible.  Bell lap and I was willing the bike forward seeing the group getting closer.  Into the hone straight and the head wind but there was still a gap and good enough to give FELT-COLBORNES another sweet win with the boyz stomping home with 2nd, 3rd and 4th.

E/1/2/3
Position Name Club Cat
1 Pete Wager Felt-Colbornes Racing Team 1
2 Richard Mardle Felt-Colbornes Racing Team 1
3 Tim Elverson Felt-Colbornes Racing Team E
4 Justin Hoy Felt-Colbornes Racing Team E
8 Tom Smith Felt-Colbornes Racing Team E

Saturday evening saw the Smithfield nocturne event, supported by HTC and Rapha. The line up and atmosphere in the old market square in london had such a reputation for a great evening, that I couldn’t miss this one. The past week my legs have been feeling great and I wanted to perform.

The line up for this event was a tail of the best of British, Rapha had a strong team along with Endura Racing, Motorpoint and guest riders such as Alex Dowset and Matt Goss from HTC Columbia (Giro Stage winner 2010)(though not British)…..so, walk in the park then!

I spent saturday on the sofa as the perfect build up, wash my Weapon (thats my Felt AR1!!!!) and felt rather chilled about the whole event….possibly too chilled!

An hour before the event started, i started pulling on my kit and getting warmed up. Like many of these events, you always bump into someone you havent seen in a while and this seemed to happen as I tried to warm up…..long story short, “would the riders please make their way to the line” and no real warm up! great, some fake stretches and go….

Ok, not great, these guys shot off the line, hanging on for grime life, 5 laps in the elastic went and off the back I went…..mmm, warm up hey! I continued to ride, trying to find my legs and slowly got faster and faster, not much use at this stage, but nice to know that maybe I did stand a chance…..maybe, at hanging on! 5 laps to go and the lapped riders are pulled (me) and you then sit back and watch the punishment the full time guys are dishing out. I do miss full time bike riding and events like this make me think about all the pleasure you get in those short events for all the long sacrifices you make, its truly worth everything! Time to pull my finger out!

Unfinished business! The Nocturne is a series, two more events, one in Edinburgh and the other in Blackpool. I’m heading to Blackpool for another go, this time by the book!

http://www.nocturneseries.com

Having raced at Hillingdon the day before and managed a dissapointing 4th place AGAIN,  I decided to get in another race for the weekend with the SERRL National B 1, 2 and 3 Cat race held on the rolling Biddenden circuit just outside Ashford in Kent.  Approx 50 riders lined up for the 100km race over 4.5 laps.  A bit of sunshine and a slight breeze but no thankfully no rain.  In full aero Castelli clober, AR1 with the Zipps primed I was ready!  Oh and the new Sidi BLING hidden under the overshoes……

Team Toachim sent a rider up the road from the gun but I resisted the temptation and kept an eye on the other teams hoping the 6 strong Sigma sport team would try and bridge or at least chase.  A few lone riders tried to get across but every move was chased down.  I had a few digs to test the legs and the lungs having finally recovered from my chest infection.  Needless to say everyone wanted to chase me down but not work with me.  I can only think it’s the sight of the AR1 and Zipps purring along…  With 2 laps to go a group of 8 had formed with about 15 seconds so I was content to watch and wait.  Sigma had no riders in the move so expected they would start to chase, and they did but the gap was growing as no one else would help

Bell lap and the group were still away with about 40 seconds no one willing to commit to a real chase so I kept near the front waiting to make a move.  Sigma got a rider across with another Toachim so I knew it was now or never.  Coming up to the next ‘kicker’ with about 5km to go I followed another lone attack and we got a gap but also another Toachim rider latched on for the ride.  I nailed it for about 500m and looked back at the gap and the bunch had sat up.  Perfect.  We pushed on and bridged the gap after some equal turns but dragging a 3rd Toachim rider into the break.  Looking back there was no sign of a chase so I decided to sit on the back of the group and recover.

Into the last 1km and the Toachim boys took up the pace and coverd any attacks so I prepared for a sprint.  Slight downhill then kick up to the finish.  At the top of the downhill I nailed it full gas in the 11……line approaching I glanced back and the rest of the group were a few bike lengths back so sat up arms in the air…first win of the season and first EVER road race win proudly done for Felt-Colbornes……GOOD TIMES!!  Jnr is almost back on form )

Saddleback and two of the Felt Colbornes race team travelled over to Italy for the annual Castelli 24hr race in the quiet mountain town of Feltre.

Sunny shine, Bike Racing and Italy, whats not to like! 24hrs, team of 12, get on with it!

The event in photos, more text to follow

Also a link to one of our Guests video diary: http://www.youtube.com/user/PBKBlog#p/a/u/0/OxvDM7HoTeQ

Our Guest Rich Lands blog page: http://sprintingforsigns.posterous.com/castelli-24-hour-a-weekend-fun-fest

Saturday wasn’t the most inspiring day to be out on the bike, rain, dark grey cloud, it felt like winter! Still, one way to motivate yourself to get out on the bike, go racing!

Rapha Condor are supporting a series of racing at the Hoghill cycle circuit, a circuit I haven’t raced on previously and one I would love to take a GoKart around! Thankfully the rain held off just as the race started I choose to hide away in the pack just for the first half of the race while I got a feel for the circuit….well, until lap 3 at least, then I picked up the pace and rolled off the front taking Lewis Atkins (Orbea ForGoodNessShakes) with me, seeing the gap grow I pushed on to open something to last the distance. Lewis sat in for the ride and after a few tests, I left it until the final climb for the line to kick and take the first win of the season.

Hopefully the finish of all things destructive as luck makes a change for the better…..fingers crossed!

1 Richard Mardle Felt Colbornes 1.00.23.0
2 Lewis Atkins Orbea ForGoodNessShakes
3 Robert King AW Cycles 1.01.03.9

Lee, Pete, Tim, Duncan and Myself raced the Kings of Wessex Road Race on sunday, 86miles of rolling hills in Somerton, Somerset. With £250 up for the win we thought we would ride to a plan of letting riders go on the first of 4 laps and then making the split after half distance, and sure enough Tim and Myself managed to make the front group from a counter attack. Once we were clear we just played our cards right and splitting the group, Tim forced a group away with 15miles togo only for it to come back 5miles later. I then clipped off the front with Blake Pond, together we rode across a gap to Andy Rivett and we quickly pulled out 30 seconds over the group behind.

I knew if I got to the top of the last climb with these guys I would win for sure, so going up the last climb I had my best poker face on! That was a good bluff because I was cramping quite bad, they didn’t try to attack and instead rode fast towards the finish with me in the wheels. Sure enough I saw the finish line ahead and let rip!! The win was ours! followed by Tim in 8th place we had a great race.

Bringing home £250 for the win lead to Mrs Hoy planning a spending trip, so much for a recovery ride after a hard day of 86 miles in the saddle, Bank “Holiday” Monday lead to 5 Hours of Ikea!

That wrapped up May with 8 victories for the Felt-Colbornes RT boys.

Bring on June!!