May has been an odd month for training and racing. The month kicked off with a trip down to Maldon to ride my first ever 25 miler. It was an overcast day with a little wind on the E21/25a course. A course made famous by Alex Dowsett, who now retired from the World Tour, happened to turn up with his Dad to ride the TT on his road bike.
I have met Alex before in the Blue Egg Café and he came to my school to do a talk on his charity Little Bleeders. He is a brilliant guy and always willing to take the time to chat and share his experience. This is massively appreciated but also it shows him as a great role model of how to behave to younger athletes. As it was, I rolled out on the TT bike and was pleased to break the hour with a 57:05. Alex unfortunately punctured at the halfway point. 2nd overall was a good result for me and so I headed home for Coronation celebrations, happy with a good morning’s work.
Then onto Cadence Road Race, but before that my first outing of the year at Gosling Stadium, home of Welwyn Wheelers Track League. I love Friday night Track League, so does Dad. He says it is archaic, reminding him of a simpler time. A time when life slows down, even as the bikes speed up! I guess for me this is like the Village Cricket that I occasionally play.
Village Cricket for me is simple, there is no real pressure and everyone there, young to old are just there to have fun. Everyone gets a go. Although there is always the want to win, the result pales into insignificance and the joy of the stories of big hits, missed catches and joyous googlies takes over. It is just simple, good honest fun.
Track League is the same, we turn up to race, but in-between we sit and chat, talk gears, aero, dodgy race moves and general nonsense and then when back on track we race hard. A mix of races from scratch races to block handicaps, points to keirins behind the 2 stroke Derny, the height of technology at the track!
Looking at the history of Gosling Stadium in Welwyn Garden City, it was built in 1957. Training and racing would take place and weekly parties would ride from as far as Harlow to Welwyn to train and compete. At that time the Gosling track had one of the steepest bankings in the country at 30 degrees although it was one of the largest at 460 metres. It was not as old though as Preston Park Velodrome in Brighton, where I rode a Youth omnium, this was built in 1877 by the British Army and stands at a length of 579 m; or as short as Calshot Velodrome, the old Earls Court six day track that is only 142 m, I rode this as part of my National School Racing and the only time I have ridden a track clockwise!
Gosling is a tarmac track and has the fun of being a bit bumpy and windy on the back straight. None of the luxuries of my home training venue at the Olympic Velodrome in Stratford. But it has a charm of its own and the most wonderful cake hut.
4 races a night always finishing with the 10 mile scratch, just to open the legs. Night one for me brought a win and three second places, as well as my Bike Sponsor Highway Cycles bringing me down a brand new Trek Émonda Road bike. Thanks guys and thanks for braving the cold to stop and watch the racing.
Onto Cadence and a trip to Cardiff, the recon went well but then downhill from there. Unfortunately stomach problems through the night meant that an early trip for Dad to come and pick me up from the hotel at 6:30 am! I had, had no sleep and didn’t feel that being in this state in the Peloton was safe for me or anyone else. Disappointed I travelled home and slept at last.
Then back to training, lately I have found a chain gang local to my house. What a blast. It was great to be able to ride out with some super strong riders and have a little kick to the town sign at the end. Another victory in the bag!!
Then back to Welwyn for more Friday night fun, thankfully it had warmed up and I was able to race without arms and leg warmers. 3 more races and a bit more competition for the evening, again great chat in between races and more superb cake put me in a great position to race the 10 miler. After 19 of the 36 laps, Joel was bored so he clipped off the front, I followed and off we went in a 2up TT, the bunch could not get organised and we held the group off till 100m to go. Joel led the back straight head wind with one to go and I glanced over my shoulder, I knew I couldn’t hang about so with 200 to go I kicked. Rolling through the line I had managed to hold off the flying Callum with Joel rolling through in 3rd. A cracking race.
On to Sunday and a local race, Athlon Road Race at East Hanningfield. A 9km lap of the roads of the Eastern Region. Although considering the state of the roads it could well have been the cobbles of Roubaix. In the village hall we watched the ‘horror movie’ that was the pot holes and then we readied to go. An 80 strong peloton rolled out for 11 laps. A prime lap with 5 to go saw Callum get his revenge and I came through for second. A small break of 3 had got away with 2 laps to go, another 3 had gone in pursuit and so that left me in the bunch. With 1km left and a left hander, I divebombed into the corner and moved from 30th in the bunch to 3rd. I opened up with 250 to go and took the bunch sprint registering a 7th overall.
Next up Track League and then up to Yorkshire for the Yorkshire Classic. As ever a few thanks. Thanks to Highway Cycles for their support and the new bike. Thanks to Newdales for their ongoing support and last-minute saves. Massive thanks to Knight Frank who have just come on board as a new sponsor, check them out at https://www.knightfrank.co.uk Thanks to Dad for picking me up and all the ongoing support. Also big thanks to John, Joel and James at Track League for making it so friendly and fun. Cheers guys!
Gilbank Racing 