What a week!

Last week was perhaps the best week I've had a on a bike - ever!!
After the learning curve of Perth, and a couple of weeks of training I felt ready to tackle the next event in the CDNW Women's Road Race league. The race on 21st April was always going to be something bit special for me as it's organised by Manchester Wheelers, and the closest to home of the league. I had offered to help with the general organisation which did mean I was there at the crack of dawn before the mens race in the morning, but maybe that was a good thing - made sure I was fully awake!

Getting warmed up - Photo Ed Rollason

The women's race was taking place in the afternoon and the forecast was for the rain to start about lunchtime - as predicted it started to fall shortly before we rolled out - but contrary to predictions it stopped and didn't turn into a monsoon - result.
I'd been pretty psyched for this race and was determined to do a better job of getting up near the front for a lot more of the race. Starting at the back for the neutralised zone wasn't exactly the best way to kick that resolution off! But I managed to work my way through the field and was up to the front on the first incline. Somehow a lap or so later I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and a small breakaway of 5 riders got clear - bugger! A few of us tried to work on the front to close the gap and we got closer at which point I decided I'd make a big effort and try and bridge across. This was something that Andy and I had been talking about only a few days earlier and it felt good to give it a try. I pedalled hard and was a bit disappointed no-one came with me. I got closer and closer and almost within sniffing distance - but I just couldn't make it across - the road changed direction, wind and downhills appeared and I knew the game was up, so I sat up and waited to be reabsorbed into the group.
The group wasn't working well together and a couple of laps later the gap had gone up to over a 1.5minutes, game over. This then meant that by the penultimate lap we were all thinking of a sprint finish for the minor places, the pace went right out of the group  until the final ascent of the short sharp lump about 2/3 of the way around the loop. I attacked the climb with gusto and found myself off the front with one of the Maxgear girls - we put our heads down and tried to keep away, but I wasn't strong enough and after about 1km we got caught. So it really was going to be down to the sprint. Now, I know I can have a good turn of speed on occasion but I was worried I'd used up too much energy earlier in the race. I also knew that the wheel I needed to follow was that of the other Maxgear girl in the group, so I made damn sure that's the wheel I was on and I got towed at top speed towards the line. She kicked sooner than I was ready and I didn't manage to stay on her wheel, but I did give it my best shot and lead home the rest of the group for a 7th place. Soooooo chuffed!
The winner overall was Annie Simpson - good ride!

Looking like I'm wining - but actually 7th - Photo Ed Rollason

I'll let you into a secret now, at the start of the season I'd set myself the goal of getting a top 10 in the league so I was really excited to manage it having had no real idea whether it was possible. Looks like I'll have to try and get more than 1 now!
What my 7th place also meant was that I earned myself 10 points and that took me up above the magic 2nd Category line - new licence please! Photos thanks to Ed Rollason
All in all it was a great day, loved the race, was really proud to be involved with running the event - we had so many people who came and helped out and the most amazing array of yummy cakes too - thanks mostly to my Mum - thanks Mum!!


Barely had the dust settled on the weekend and then next event was upon me - my first outing with the TLI races. The Dave Astles Memorial Series based out at Lower Withington. I'd had the race sees recommended by lots of the Wheelers so I'd gotten myself signed up and Tuesday was the day. As a women we raced in the 3rd race - it's all split up by age-group. This was the oldest category of riders but to be honest I was still a bit worried it would be super quick and I'd be left hanging onto the back by the skin of my teeth! As it turned out this wasn't quite how it turned out! I actually found myself being one of the stronger riders in the group, and spent the entire race around the front of the group, chasing down people trying to breakaway, having the odd dig myself, taking at least my share of turns on the front yet still having to work really hard to stay on some wheels. All in all I absolutely loved the process of racing - felt like I was really part of the sharp end of the racing rather than being there and surviving. As we came into the last half of the final lap, there was 1 guy who'd sneaked off up the road, another chap attacked off the front and I decided to go with him, taking along a young lad for company. The 3 of us got clear and we all worked hard to make sure we stayed away from the group, the older guy made his intentions clear, if we stayed away he wouldn't contest the sprint - which left me to deal with the youth! As we came towards the finish I found myself on lead out duty, I upped the pace, clicked up a couple of gears and just kept going, I was poised to get out of the saddle and really bury myself, but after several checks over my shoulder it became clear that the youth wasn't or couldn't respond - blooming crikey I was second!!! And as it turns out, that second place in the race earned me the 1st prize in the category - my very first prize money and an envelope with 1st written on it - super psyched!

Getting warmed up with Lizzie

The very next day I was off again and this time over to the Litherland League with Lizzie - a closed circuit after the previous 2 road races.  The previous week had been my first visit over there and it had been WINDY - so windy that I was mostly riding at about 45 degrees. Not a fun race and I'd had a bad start behind the wrong person, tried to sprint out of the saddle to rejoin the group and nearly been blown off. So I was determined I was going to put in a better showing this time.  These races re run 4th Cats + women - so similar to the ones I did at Tameside last year and struggled so hard to get to the point where I could stay with the bunch. This year I think I must be stronger, I stayed in the bunch, moved around not staying at the back and only after a slight swamping on the last lap and getting leaned on coming through the chicane section did I end up near the back of the bunch coming towards the last turn around the hairpin. Not ideal as the finish line is about 200m after, but I decided not to panic and stayed close up on the wheel in front to get dragged out of the corner and then I sprinted for all I was worth - weaving up through the field and coming a very close 7th. I have to say I was quite pleased with that - getting me some more points and "man" points at that.

Somehow I don't think the next week will live up to the same standard - I think that somewhere along the line everything aligned perfectly - but I can hope for another week soon.

City of Perth GP

Andy helpfully marked up my bottles!

There were 2 events on this last weekend - firstly I got older and secondly it was the first round of the Women's National Road Race Series - the big ones!
The event took place in/near Perth and was a 2 day, 3 stage race. Lizzie, Heather Nicky and I took our team soigneurs along in the shape of Andy and Fred and they were an absolute godsend! We'd decided to head up a day early which meant we'd be more relaxed, have chance to get a ride around the road race course and generally put ourselves in a better position to ride as well as we could. The National sereis is the premier series of events for the women so is always going to attract the big teams and top flight riders, we had a small hope that with this round being quite a long way north some of the southern ladies might not turn up, and true to form there were some notable teams and riders absent. This did not, however mean that it was going to be an easy race!
The event was run out of a private boarding school just south of Perth, I suspect the fees for one term are similar to my entire years earnings.......on-site swimming pool, extensive grounds, photos of the winning dressage team etc, etc. The womens event was being run alongside the Youth Tour races, so there were a lot of riders, quite a few parents and helpers and a stack of bikes and cycling kit worth literally hundreds of thousands of pounds.
The whole experience felt a little bit like a school trip, with us all having our own little rooms on corridors in the accommodation blocks, people wandering around in towels on the way too and from showers - that was when we eventually found them - they were the doors with nothing written on them - obviously!

Heading out to check out the course - Team Biketreks!

So Friday dawned chilly, but clear and perfect to go and check out the road race circuit - at just over 4 miles round, it had an amazing fast downhill, flat bit, a windy bit and then a stepped climb through the trees - interspersed with some poor road surface, and one particular corner quickly named "gravelly corner". Andy and Fred took it upon themselves to take a yardbrush and shovel to gravelly corner later that evening to keep us all safe. Actually a nice circuit and one that meant it was likely that the bunch would end up split all over the road - which it did!

I might not be racing in a Manchester Wheelers jersey - but still got them with me!

The road race started at 9am and it was still pretty cold but the forecast was good and we were bathed in spring sunshine by the finish. We set off on the downhill section and it took some nerve to keep off the brakes and pushing on with riders all around, I managed to stay vaguey in contact and in the back third of the group up to the first ascent of the climb - but then disaster struck in the middle of the bunch there was a crash - bike in the air, girls on the ground, much shouting and a bit of swearing ensued. I managed to nip round the left side without having to unclip, but a bit delayed. The front of the bunch pressed on and the field split apart - I joined up with a couple of other girls and we chased hard but couldn't make it back to the group. The rest of the race was spent, with various people, chasing some down and joining up with them, then a few joining us, and then splitting apart again in various combinations. I think on the whole I did alright, I didn't get lapped by the main field and had to ride the full 10 lap distance and I made damn sure that by the finish I was in front of the girl I was with. I think I could have dug a bit harder and stayed with some of the other girls at one point but it's really difficult to measure the effort and still have enough left to finish the race.
So Stage 1 done and dusted - 37th place. (Heather 40, Nicky 43 and Lizzie 45)

Time Trial

Stage 2 was a really short time trial in the grounds of the school. 1.5km of torture! Starting up a steep, gravelly and rough hill before weaving through some of the buildings, shooting out onto the main drive. Up the drive 180 deggree turn round a cone, back along the drive, a couple of random loops and through the finish - all liberally sprinkled with speed bumps. Not the sort of course where high speeds are going to be reached, but it was kind of fun! And it was actually really good for loosening the legs off from the road race - 35th place (Nicky 40, Heather 41, Lizzie 42)

Stage 3 on Sunday morning was a city centre criterium race, around the streets of Perth (0.6m loop). It was like being at one of the Halfords Tour Series, all barriers and tapes to stop people from wandering onto the circuit, even a few spectators who braved the damp, drizzly and cold conditions. After a good nights sleep and with nothing to lose I'd decided I was just going to give it everything I had for this race and duly lined up as close to the front of the peleton as possible. A slight error in gear selection later (and Andy yelling at me to get in the 'big ring') I found myself although off the back of the main bunch, not all that far behind and having a good battle with a lot of the other girls. Somewhat reminiscent of the Rhyl race in the rain, my hardiness came into play and although it was cold, and wet I just got into the race and loved every minute of it! We finished completely covered in mud-splatter, soaked through and as soon as you stopped absolutely freezing cold...... but were quickly herded into the van, changed and with a steaming mug of hot ribena in hand. Andy even cleaned our faces for us in true soigneur style - damp towel and no mercy!
Heather had unfortunately succumbed to frozen hands and not managed to finish, but Lizzie after having a tough time in the road race finished with a big smile on her face, and Nicky somehow managed to battle her way round the race despite having zero fat to keep her warm.
32nd place (Lizzie 36th, Nicky 39th)

General classification results: 34th Me, Lizzie 38th and Nicky 39th

So did we expect to go there and be on the podium - erm.....NO! Did we go there and expect to learn a whole lot, yes! Did I find it hard - yes. Were there moments when I wondered what on earth I was doing - oh yes. But I still absolutely loved it!!
It was amazing to ride with the best girls and see what they do, get an idea of how we all compare and what we need to improve on. There is a world of difference but I'm still inspired to try and get just a bit closer each time and do as well as I can, and at the same time keep the rest of the team positive and enjoying the ride.
So finally THANK YOU Andy and Fred for looking after our every need, keeping us safe and on the road.

Warm up and warm down school - looking pro with our matching hats!

Onwards and upwards.

Not sure where the time is going at the moment, I'm sure I meant to blog again in between the last post and now, but anyway here it is the next update in the continuing cycling saga!

Here we are - the jerseys have arrived!

Since the last post I've had a few more races, another edition at Rhyl, which turned out to be the best of the lot - stayed with the bunch for the ENTIRE race! Right up to the sprint finish which was slightly hampered by some guy crashing on the final corner and almost causing a pile up. Another 2nd place, and a bonus haul of points as the race organiser upgraded the race to a higher category!

The following day was round 2 of the CDNW Women's series at Nateby/Piling - it was a bit of a damp start to the day but an afternoon kick off was ideal. 4 of the women’s squad were riding, Nicky, Lizzie, Heather and myself. Our race was over 4 laps of the course and we set off at a good speed. I have to admit I was suffering a bit on the first lap, but not Lizzie who was off the front with the eventual winner of the race, looking strong. In fact, she was looking strong throughout staying usually close to the front. The laps counted down and with a slight interlude due to a horse-box which essentially neutralised the race for a couple of kilometers, the pace was generally high, with many attacks going off the front from most of the teams, but always being brought back. As we approached the end of lap 3 and the bell, I started to feel stronger and moved up nearer the front, Lizzie attacked off the front and I went along with her. Of course, being team jersey-ed up was a slight disadvantage here and we were soon pulled back. I dropped back for a while with Lizzie, Heather and Nicky taking up spaces at the front of the group. After a brief rest I headed back up to the front and after a slightly wayward move from one of the other riders ended up on the front and decided I might as well have a dig!

Inevitably I got brought back and decided I’d stay tucked in and try and get in a good position for the finish. Coming into the final straight I moved back up to the front and just as I reached it Jo Street from Manchester Wheelers attacked – perfect, I jumped straight on her wheel and dug in. It’s a long straight to the line and as the 200m banner came into view the peleton began to swamp past. I dug in again and continued to accelerate passing a good few people as I got closer to the line, which I then totally misjudged and got squeezed out into 11th place – damn!



Following this race I had a brief moment of coming out of climbing retirement! The winter conditions in North Wales were "in" and Cascade the classic icefall in the Llanberis Pass was rumoured to be in condition (the Oracle aka Tim Neill - had spoken!). Now there are 3 classic ice routes in N.Wales, Cascade, Central Ice Fall and The Devil's Appendix - a couple of years ago Andy and I had ticked off Central and Appendix so I really couldn't pass up the opportunity to finish off the trilogy. It was a chilly day but amazing blue skies to look at from the shade of the crag! We had a quite a wait for the only other team to get out of the way - it's not a good idea climbing underneath folk when they are showering lumps of ice down. But after some hanging around we finally got on the route - all I can say is that my arms are not what they used to be - I am so weak! I got pumped out of my mind in about 10 seconds and proceeded to squeak and wail and grunt my way up the rest of the first pitch, repeated the performance on the next pitch and managed to look slightly more competent on the top-out pitch - it was very short and considerably easier!
Luckily I was then due to work for the next few days so that was the end of my ice climbing renaissance.



I'm going to end this post here and start a new one for the next installment - The City of Perth Grand Prix!