Since the last post!

A lot has happened since my last post, so I'll start with the eastern circuit champs at ixworth crits.

I felt alright leading up to ixworth crits, i had always enjoyed the race there. It was a super short circuit with a few tight bends. I started and after about 5 minutes of racing i got a really tight and painful chest, and fluid in my mouth. I was riding terrible and got dropped almost instantly. Theres nothing to really write about from this race as it was just me riding round for 20 minutes. I think i just wasn't used to that sort of intensity from the gun as i hadn't ridden anything like it for over 4 months and it took its toll. I should have warmed up properly i guess.

Suffering

North Weald.

A couple of nights later was the first TLI road race at north weald airfield. I race in with the 1/2/3/4 cat adults. I really surprised myself as i stayed in from the start despite Alex Dowsett of Team Sky being there to blow us all up. I made constant attacks with others and on my own and felt really good! I finished safely in the bunch this week.

The week after this, i rode again, and instead of attacking all the time, i sat in and only attacked towards the end. I got caught, but finished 9th in the bunch sprint despite being boxed. I was really pleased with this and came back the next week looking for a better result.

The north weald race a week ago (24th may) was a good race despite not a great result, i learnt a lot from it! This week i attacked mid way through the race and built a decent gap. I got caught towards the end but still sat in the bunch until the finish. A friend of mine offered to help me get up to the finish and i sat on his wheel until two riders went with about 600m to go. I jumped on their wheels and being a bunch sprint novice, i went with about 400m to the line. I built a gap for sure, but got caught after 200m and finished midway in the bunch. I need to learn to time my sprints better, and i think i could be in with a decent result.

On the front at north weald.

Thetford Eastern MTB Series.

I raced the second Eastern MTB series round a couple of weeks ago at Thetford Forest, norfolk. I enjoyed the course and felt strong. I set off in the lead from the gun despite strong competition from Liam Cowell of Arctic Premier and managed to hold him off for the win. This win has helped me gain selection for the UK School games where i will represent the Eastern England team.

Brixton Cycles Beastway Series 2011.

On Wednesday nights i have been racing the beastway series at hog hill in redbridge. I enjoy these races as they are fun but also brilliant training. I won the first round of the series with a decent enough lead to play around with the cameras!

The second week of Beastway, i had strong competition from Josh Parkin and Liam Cowell of Arctic Premier. I set off from the start in 3 after not being able to get my foot into the pedals but i soon got onto Liam's wheel. I went around him to second place but could not shake him so dropped back and rested, planning to go again. However my bike had other plans, the chainset locked up for an unknown reason and took me a good few minutes to get it back and running again. Even though it was not a BC event, this is still a personal defeat finishing 4th.

John Mullineaux of www.londoncyclesport.com gave me a helmet camera to do a lap of the course which you can see here (click).

You can see a report which features me here (click).

Ride with friends.

Yesterday (28th May) i went for a ride with a few friends including Billy-Joe Whenman of Whyte Bikes UK. This was just for fun, and i really enjoyed it, especially talking to Dean who gave me some useful tips! 

There is not much to report on, apart from the death toll from the ride being 1 bunny rabbit who unfortunately did not look before crossing...

Talking to Dean.

Me and Billy.

Thanks for reading, after a long time without a blog!

Ciao

new E-Mail

Hi, i have a new e-mail address for all cycling related queries and talk.

seandunlearacing@hotmail.co.uk

Ciao,
Sean

Dalby, BSCA Nat champs and LVYCC road race.

So, 3 race have past since my last post, and only one ride that i would call successful.

 Dalby was the first. We arrived on the Saturday for the sunday race. This year on the warm up i had ridden (Very slowly) both obstacles on the course; 'Worry Gill' and 'Medusa's Drop'. I think this is the hardest course of the BMBS series, and it deserves to be seeing as a world cup is hosted here. It features really technical singletrack that keeps you on your toes and two long steep climbs unique to this venue. I was gridded on the third row which is alright, seeing as im a first year. from the gun, the panic set in and i had trouble getting my foot into the pedal. I quickly got onto the wheel of Will Cheaney who brought me into around 15-20th place going into the single track. We had been in the single track around 300 meters and i was in a great position when whilst navigating a tight right corner my front wheel slipped and i crashed- Hard. I had a lay down until i was sure enough dead last, i had cut up my right knee but it was my left elbow that was the problem, i was unable to put much pressure on it at all when climbing or descending which is the least helpful thing to be dealing with on a testing course like Dalby.

War wounds.

I was pretty tempted to pack in but i think 40 minutes of pain was the least i could do for my dad who had driven for 4 hours just after coming off night work.

Needless to say i wasnt in a great position but after taking a TORQ Gel with caffeine i had the energy to chase down two places to finish with my pride intact. It was a great weekend and thanks very much to Mrs Whenman for attending to my wounds! And the sausage sandwiches...

The weekend after was the BCSA national XC championships at Wilmington school, Kent. It was a fast course with no let up and featured a exciting drop followed by steps which would test abilities. The griding was completely wrong though, i was on the second row whilst baggy short cambelback riders where on the front row. Keen to make up places i went from the gun and found myself in 6th place with a Jersey rider. I was going well and felt really strong until the worst stitch Ive ever had hit me (probably induced by the can of coke i had earlier) and he dropped me.

With about a lap to go i caught him back and it was down to the sprint. I have got a decent sprint so i felt confident that i could take it. about 25 metres from the line however, i pulled my foot out of the pedal and he rode past. I was furious and it was so annoying after having to chase him back. Thanks Billy Whenman and Roger Barker for handing the bottles up!

Finally on bank holiday monday i competed on my third road race of 2011. This was my first race on a road bike in a few years, here is this seasons motor...

Orbea Opal (Thanks to Orbea UK rep James Whatling!)

So i started the race expecting to be dropped second time up the Hoggenberg as per usual, but this week was different. it was like every watt of power i put into the pedals transformed into forward motion. I think the bike had a huge part to play as it was super light and super stiff. But also i think my mentality helped. I stayed with the lead group for the entire race. It was a really fun race as well, i had a couple of digs off the front just for fun. I have to say my friend in the U14's Joe Fry had a tremendous ride, catching and passing the under 16 field only to be caught and dropped in the closing laps. But, this was a circuit race and it is hard to write about it as it was the same every lap (another reason why i love cross- it exciting!). So i finished the uphill sprint in 7th place which i am extremely pleased with.

Some photos by Dawn Fry (Joes mum).

Next off is Ixworth crits on monday where i am looking to go well.

Thanks again to Trev, Jane, Ewan and James at Ciclos Uno for kitting me out, Billy Whenman and family for looking after us and being great company, and finally James Whatling!