It's been a few months since I last blogged, I guess it's because I've been too busy doing anything but ride my bike!!! I spent the whole of October without even turning the pedals once... instead I punished my liver with a bottle of wine every other night and learnt how to walk in rather high heels.
A few people have asked why I've not written anything lately, so now I've got laryngitis and lost my voice completely this is another way for me to communicate with everyone - it's either this, or those I work with will get me on talking overdrive when my voice returns! So to those that read this... here it is!
I started a new job this October, and my daily commute changed from 15mins a day to 2-3hrs a day, depending on how I travel. Good job the jobs a good job! I decided its a good idea to ride to work 3 days a week... it's 30miles, hilly and country roads... and yes I've already slipped on ice! I bought myself a MTB so I can still get to work when (and if) it snows... weather forecast so far says we're having a mild winter - wahey! I'm still riding at the weekends, so currently getting about 12hrs of riding in a week; without feeling like I'm having to fit training in around work thanks to my commute.
The only thing about starting a new job in October, is you haven't quite got to know everyone by the time the Christmas party comes around... and there's the question - to drink, or stay sober. I did drink... like a fish. And ended up dancing with some guy that showed far too much interest which ended with me being rescued by a rather lovely girl I work with. Staying sober at the next outing.
I'm really into Christmas, and protective of my advent calender like you wouldn't believe... but this year I've given half of my advent calender chocolate to my nephew in deals with him to get him to behave... good job he doesn't realise I have two calenders, otherwise he'd have eaten all of it. My sister gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Monday 5th December, and to make it easier for her and the father to get baby settled in we're looking after Joshua... what is it with wanting "colour book" and "gok-lat" (chocolate) at 2/3/4am? I'm rather sleep deprived, and munching through half a pack of pro-plus every day just to get by.
This December/January I'm being treated to a tattoo that I've wanted for almost 5 years as a gift from my parents and James... it's going to be fairly large, and I'm sure I'll put up pictures when it's done! It's difficult trying to find someone you trust enough to put ink permanently on your body... but then again, my other tattoo says "live for the moment" so I'm booking in with a guy based in Newbury!
And finally - the doors and windows are now fitted to the extension... so no more freezing cold house!!! My bikes have moved into the new room and they're quite settled in... it's only time before they're evicted though.
I think that's enough for one post :)
Saturday 10 December 2011
Monday 12 September 2011
The Ardeche
Sorry for the long blog... I've had time on my hands!!!
We had a 2day drive in the mini bus from London to the race involving a planned stay at Julies' house in Metz... followed by a last minute dinner at my grandparents and staying over at my Uncles' place in Pont St Espirit. The drive down was so much more relaxed than the trip to Czech, actually sleeping was a luxury!
Day one: The prologue TT was in Vallon Pont d'Arc, a place I've been so many times as a canoeist doing the Ardeche river. We rode from the accommodation to recce the course, paced by the team car to speed up the trip. Rene (following a British satnav) realised at the last minute we were about to go the wrong way up a one-way street and stopped... I didn't! Crashing 3hrs before the prologue wasn't the best race prep... but my ego took the biggest bashing - I did it in front of the busiest bar in the town... and go a loud cheer every time I rode past! Needless to say, I sucked at the TT... I can't really blame my sore arm/bruised back... I think it was my fitness.
Day two: Stage 1 road race was 114kms of fairly flat road... there was a few lumps to get over but the race averaged 44kmh - a real leg stinger! I was positioned very well at the 5k to go, but there were a few girls who seemed to value their lives less than I do so I ended up dropping back and following the line. Sadly a gap had opened in front which I didn't see so I ended up with an 11sec time gap on the leader.
Day three: Stage 2 TT was 3km around Vals les Bains - 1.5km up, 1.5km down - the decent was very fast with some hard corners to navigate... Rene asked me to take it more steady so I wasn't dead for the road race... I still tried but came in the bottom of the results. Looking at the results a bit more carefully I realised this was the hardest race of my life - Emma Pooley, Lucy Martin, Lizzie Armitstead, Julie Krasniak to name just a few amazing women riders where here... so coming in last, but not too far off, made me feel better. Stage 3 road race was in the afternoon and with a few climbs it was tough, I was dropped up the mountain climb and ended up riding with a group that didn't seem interested in riding hard so lost a lot of time on the bunch.
Day four: Stage 4 road race - 129km in 32deg heat and the first 30km was climbing. Brutal. Attacks from the gun, including our team mate Julie Krasniak who managed to get away at 20km all the way til the finish. I got dropped after about 50km, and after 80km found a motorbike pushing me to make me catch a group of girls in front - never gone so fast in my life! The final 30km was "descending" - yeah, as an average gradient but there was still climbing to be done!!!
Day five: Stage 5 road race - 120km in 34deg heat and I was dropped after 25mins, I was really suffering - looking around I was again with the girls who I'd been with the day before, and one by one they were stopping and getting off. I pushed on as long as I could but when you have the broom wagon tail gating you after just 30kms its very hard to keep pushing... I ended up being picked up and felt like crap. When the other girls finished we packed up as fast as possible - the pool would be open for 1hr of swimming if we got back in time! Diving down slides head first in my pants and t-shirt and watching 7ft tall Rene get air on the slides was just what I needed!!!
Day 6: Stage 6 road race for the rest of my team, Penny, Sarah and Julie - I joined in with handing up bottles. Watching the race it was just as hard as the other stages, especially with the miles they'd already covered and in that heat. At the finish we all jumped in the town fountain... Garmin Cervelo girls watched us front crawl around the statue...but decided to jump into the river instead.
So I had my moping around moments... felt really rubbish about my fitness and all. A hug from DS Rene, a talk with our physio Jody and soignee Gaby really brightened my world - I was racing the womens' version of the Tour de France. One of the hardest womens' races in the world. I've got a lot to work on to keep up with them girls, but I'm not a million training miles away from them. Bring on winter training... my motivation is back! :)
So now I've discovered I'm just 33 points shy of my 1st cat race licence... after 6yrs as a 2nd cat I think its time to go trophy hunting and do some local races to get it!!! Watch this space :)
Sunday 21 August 2011
Bad luck... good luck.
After the epic journey and things going wrong the other weekend I was feeling pretty much like most of the bad luck was coming my way. **sad face**
Looking back now I feel a bit silly, because the race that I ended up being so gutted about missing ended up with a nasty crash 750m from the finish line. 3 out of 4 of my team mates came down with the 4th, Ang, diving into a nearby hedge to avoid the carnage and got back on to get a top 10 finish. I'm now thinking that this Laguna (which I hated so much on Sunday) breaking down on me was actually a blessing in disguise. They do say that everything happens for a reason...
For Essex Giro I took my reliable Volvo. What a difference it makes driving in an automatic through London!!! Traffic felt so stress free, and it felt like the car was driving itself. Perfect! Of course, it didn't break down :) The Essex Giro has 3 stages; on Saturday a TT of 3 laps around Hog Hill then a road race of 25 laps (of Hog Hill) then on Sunday a second road race of 5 laps of ~20km (hilly). I felt pants in the TT, usually my strongest event I just felt like a slug stuck to the course... luckily my time wasn't too bad, but it sucks to feel rubbish.
In the road race I sat in for the first 10 laps, watching who was trying to get away. Lucy Garner went up the road... followed by Anna Fischer.I realised this would be strong so I moved forward, with the intention of winding up the pace to drag them back - but I looked round and I was 100m off the front of the bunch, they just let me ride off. I dug deep and made that gap bigger and rode like I was doing the TT I should have done in the morning. Couldn't believe my luck that the bunch had let me sneak off the front! After a few laps alone, I was joined by Rachel Bamford then by Lucy Garner, the 3 of us worked hard to increase our gap on the bunch. Lucy won the sprint for 2nd and I took 3rd. Best ride I've ever done!
Or so I thought... I managed to sneak off the front again in Sundays' road race, I went with Lowri Bunn at the start of the 3rd lap, straight after the climb. The pair of us worked so well together that it felt like a 2up TT. After one lap together we had a 3min lead on the bunch, but unfortunately we were stopped at the top of the climb - the main bunch had been caught by the mens' race. Gino was adamant that a rule was being broken making us stop - a National A race, and the break away was more than 1min from the bunch. This now meant that the bunch knew how far away we were. When we got going again, I was in agony - the sudden stop just wrecked my legs. Lowri was amazing, did most of the work on the front until I felt good again. We got the gap up to 4mins, but on the final lap the bunch must have upped their game as the gap fell to 2mins... Anna regained the lead to take the overall win for the race. Lowri won the stage, and I was very pleased with 2nd - I took 2nd place overall... and this was my new best ever ride :)
I managed to sprain my wrist doing... um... well I don't really know, I just know it started really hurting and ended up having to go to the doctors. Splint on, painkillers and rest... not great when this is my last week of hard training before Ardeche comes round! So its bad luck-good luck-bad luck... hopefully this means some more good luck coming my way.
Darley Moor next, Ardeche and then finally National Track Championships. Soon I can put my feet up for a few weeks and chill out before the winter training commences!
Looking back now I feel a bit silly, because the race that I ended up being so gutted about missing ended up with a nasty crash 750m from the finish line. 3 out of 4 of my team mates came down with the 4th, Ang, diving into a nearby hedge to avoid the carnage and got back on to get a top 10 finish. I'm now thinking that this Laguna (which I hated so much on Sunday) breaking down on me was actually a blessing in disguise. They do say that everything happens for a reason...
For Essex Giro I took my reliable Volvo. What a difference it makes driving in an automatic through London!!! Traffic felt so stress free, and it felt like the car was driving itself. Perfect! Of course, it didn't break down :) The Essex Giro has 3 stages; on Saturday a TT of 3 laps around Hog Hill then a road race of 25 laps (of Hog Hill) then on Sunday a second road race of 5 laps of ~20km (hilly). I felt pants in the TT, usually my strongest event I just felt like a slug stuck to the course... luckily my time wasn't too bad, but it sucks to feel rubbish.
In the road race I sat in for the first 10 laps, watching who was trying to get away. Lucy Garner went up the road... followed by Anna Fischer.I realised this would be strong so I moved forward, with the intention of winding up the pace to drag them back - but I looked round and I was 100m off the front of the bunch, they just let me ride off. I dug deep and made that gap bigger and rode like I was doing the TT I should have done in the morning. Couldn't believe my luck that the bunch had let me sneak off the front! After a few laps alone, I was joined by Rachel Bamford then by Lucy Garner, the 3 of us worked hard to increase our gap on the bunch. Lucy won the sprint for 2nd and I took 3rd. Best ride I've ever done!
Or so I thought... I managed to sneak off the front again in Sundays' road race, I went with Lowri Bunn at the start of the 3rd lap, straight after the climb. The pair of us worked so well together that it felt like a 2up TT. After one lap together we had a 3min lead on the bunch, but unfortunately we were stopped at the top of the climb - the main bunch had been caught by the mens' race. Gino was adamant that a rule was being broken making us stop - a National A race, and the break away was more than 1min from the bunch. This now meant that the bunch knew how far away we were. When we got going again, I was in agony - the sudden stop just wrecked my legs. Lowri was amazing, did most of the work on the front until I felt good again. We got the gap up to 4mins, but on the final lap the bunch must have upped their game as the gap fell to 2mins... Anna regained the lead to take the overall win for the race. Lowri won the stage, and I was very pleased with 2nd - I took 2nd place overall... and this was my new best ever ride :)
I managed to sprain my wrist doing... um... well I don't really know, I just know it started really hurting and ended up having to go to the doctors. Splint on, painkillers and rest... not great when this is my last week of hard training before Ardeche comes round! So its bad luck-good luck-bad luck... hopefully this means some more good luck coming my way.
Darley Moor next, Ardeche and then finally National Track Championships. Soon I can put my feet up for a few weeks and chill out before the winter training commences!
Sunday 31 July 2011
The day I wrote off my parents' car.
SatNav ETA’s are there to be beaten aren’t they? So when you watch the minutes dropping off it makes you feel pretty good… but then when things get in your way and slow you down – like drivers doing 25 in a 30 zone… (OK, that’s just me being irrational) or people driving along at 30 in a 60 zone (that’s worth getting ratty about)… it just makes the journey feel a bit more stressful.
I did this journey alone, probably for the best with my awful karaoke style singing along to the radio… and yes it does get worse when I lose reception to the radio and it goes quiet… I seem to get more out of tune – must be bad if I can tell my own singing is awful.
Here I am blogging from the roadside… I’ve left Kara’s beautiful Welsh home (and my gosh is she one heck of an awesome hostess, cannot thank her enough for making us feel so welcome) I’ve driven a few hours down the road towards today’s race in Abergavenny and my car has broken down…. So thought I’d make a start on my next blog! Going back in time… here’s what happened for my weekend away.
I broke my race bike during last week – snapped the already lose frame mount for the bottle cage out – but thankfully a great friend of mine, Marty, came to the rescue with a lovely little carbon Blue bike for me to use – what a hero! Sadly that’s where my luck runs out… I managed to leave my wallet in the Volvo I share with my other half, and he drove said Volvo to Yorkshire on Friday leaving me with no money, no cards, no ID… nothing. Nightmare.
Mum came to my rescue, loaning me her Laguna with a full tank of petrol and some cash to tide me over the weekend… one of them “so you shall go to the ball” moments… but to the bike race… you get me.
After an epic 5hr journey from Reading to Tywyn on Saturday which included being parked up on the m42 for 30mins while a car that was on fire was dragged away… something in the engine bay going bang in my car and power dropping off (but still driving)… then getting to mid Wales and driving along country roads being stuck behind a learner – that sucks… then getting stuck behind a tractor – can my drive get any slower? Yes. I then got stuck behind some sheep being walked to the next field… which took 20mins. It was getting a bit touch and go if I would make it to the race on time.
I arrived in Tywyn with 45mins before the race was due to start, I ended up pratting around losing this and that by putting things down and got in a bit of a panic… I had no warm up aside from riding around the circuit twice at a steady pace behind the commissaires car. The race started, and it took me 10laps out of the 30lap race just to get warmed up and my legs to feel less dead from the drive… God did I miss Jody and his physio skills today! When I started feeling better I started attacking, and got away 4 times off the front – annoyingly I kept being brought back. I got away with another rider with 2.5laps to go, but we were brought back with 1 lap to go… I was still in a fairly good position so contested the sprint, and came out with 8th. My team mates Gaby and Hannah got 4th and 7TH respectively. Curley contested each of the sprint primes and came away with 3rd both times, only to find out she was sprinting for points and not cash… I think she was a bit gutted :p
So, back to were I am right now... the Laguna limped its way over the mountains, went down to 1st gear at times. I figured it was a big ask of the car so didn't dwell too much... but driving along the twisty roads it suddenly lost all power - I tried as hard I could to get it towards the turn off ahead, and away from the blind bend that it cut out on... but it didn't make it that far, and died just short of another blind bend. The car behind me narrowly missed driving into me as they hadn't seen me until they were basically upon me, I closed my eyes and hoped :( I got out the car and ran over to the junction... only to watch as another car overtook the Laguna as 5 motorbikes came round the other blind bend rather fast. I had to turn away, and the sound of screeching brakes set me off crying. I was so thankful to see a police officer turn up, he helped to slow the traffic down and put up some warning signs. phew. It only took 30mins for Greenflag to get to me, but they couldn't get the car going so they arranged for another truck to drive me back to Reading.
I was sat in a small Welsh layby, just outside of Builth Wells writing this blog awaiting a second recovery truck to tow me back to Reading, he turned up within 15mins - even faster! I do hope he’s a nice guy as its going to be one heck of a long journey home!
In the recovery truck we drove through Abergavenny – the location of today’s race… that I missed. Gutted. On the upside he was a really nice guy so the conversation was great for the journey home!
Arriving home my (engineer) dad looked over the car… and after a few tests of bits and poking around and unscrewing things he came to the conclusion the engine had “dropped a valve” and that it’s a write off. I was shocked at how well they handled this situation… me borrowing their car for a weekend and returning it on a flatbed truck written off. Ooops. Well, as I’ve eaten so much food in preparation for today’s race I guess it’s only right that I go out and ride my bike.
Until next time!
Saturday 30 July 2011
Weight, bad losers and road trips
So I weighed myself when I returned from Czech - I figured that as I'd just done (most of) a stage race and had been sick a number of times that I would be at my lightest. Nope. I put on 2kgs... how is that fair? The first week back home involved getting to bed as early as possible and eating as little junk food as possible - I had to lose that extra weight. Hello celery, my old friend.
And coming back from Czech I've realised I need to get stronger - how was I to find a climb like I rode up in Czech around Reading?! The morning core stability sessions resumed where they left off earlier in the year, and I've now made plans to start getting on the rollers or going running before breakfast every other day - kicks off the metabolism, or so I've heard. I've found some tough looking climbs around my area... but may need to do over-geared hill repeats up them to get the desired effect! Damn its going to hurt!
So, I haven't done much racing this month - I did the Reading GP track race, but didn't do so amazing. I screwed up the derny race and got in a bad mood... which meant I wasn't in the best frame of mind for all the other races - I should have just gone home, what a sour loser! Today (Saturday) I'm off to Wales, for Tywyn crit and Abergavenny WTS on Sunday... and the whole team is staying over in our super kind team-mate Kara Chesworth's home :) she must be mad! Onwards with packing the car and the road trip!
For now, ciao!
And coming back from Czech I've realised I need to get stronger - how was I to find a climb like I rode up in Czech around Reading?! The morning core stability sessions resumed where they left off earlier in the year, and I've now made plans to start getting on the rollers or going running before breakfast every other day - kicks off the metabolism, or so I've heard. I've found some tough looking climbs around my area... but may need to do over-geared hill repeats up them to get the desired effect! Damn its going to hurt!
So, I haven't done much racing this month - I did the Reading GP track race, but didn't do so amazing. I screwed up the derny race and got in a bad mood... which meant I wasn't in the best frame of mind for all the other races - I should have just gone home, what a sour loser! Today (Saturday) I'm off to Wales, for Tywyn crit and Abergavenny WTS on Sunday... and the whole team is staying over in our super kind team-mate Kara Chesworth's home :) she must be mad! Onwards with packing the car and the road trip!
For now, ciao!
Monday 11 July 2011
Bike racing, epic road trips and food poisoning.
Apologies in advance... I go off in tangents... this could be a long, random, read.
What a few months it's been - the very first womens' Tour Series event, hosted by Johnsons Health Tech kicked off this summer. Peterborough, Stoke on Trent, Oldham and finally Woking all within the space of a month. To add to that there was the Smithfield Nocturne held in June. Now I work full time... so I had to book off annual leave for the Tuesday or Thursday it was that the race was held, then drive back to Reading in the evening ready to go to work the next day. By the end of it I was exhausted - from the travelling! The racing was fantastic, what a platform for womens' bike racing to take off from; the atmosphere, the courses, being on TV - amazing. Bring on 2012's rounds, rumour has it there will be 10 of them!
Then came the national women's road race championships, another epic drive up to Newcastle - or not as the case may be... as I decided to take the train. Bored out of my face, I decided to hitch a lift back with Em G to Reading than face sitting alone on a train for 6hrs again! The race itself was hard, a wall of a climb to get up and with riders such as Emma Pooley, Nicole Cooke, Sharon Laws and Lizzi Armitstead, to name just a few, ramping up the speed it was inevitable that the bunch was going to split up. Watching it back on the T.V. a few days later it was shocking to see just how much the field split up on that climb! I managed 14th place, of which I was very proud of :)
Today I got back from Czech... after competing in the Tour de Feminine in Krasna Lipa. We travelled out on Tuesday morning, leaving London and hitting traffic straight away - great start! The Tigertours bus was fantastic - 9 seater, 6 seats in the back facing each other with a table in the middle... and TV screens and a playstation to keep us amused. Then there was the little bed at the back... for taking a cheeky nap on. We drove all over the place picking up riders as we went... and eventually stopped at 2am to sleep. Up early and back on the road we eventually got to Krasna Lipa to sign on... with about 1hr to spare before the race sign on closed! As soon as we arrived at the boarding school (our accommodation) we got kitted up and went for a spin... discovering cobbled decents and broken roads... riding through fields and along tiny farm tracks and finally coming back just in time to make dinner.
Day one of racing, my word - around 180 riders on the start line I had never been in a race like this in all my years of riding - I was scared, I'll be honest. From the off the racing was fast - and with nervous riders in the bunch a slight touch of breaks rippled through the bunch to develop into full on anchors down for riders towards the back. Glad I put brand new brake blocks on front and back... might have run out of pads come stage 5! Up the climbs I struggled with my gear... 23 on the back just wasn't small enough for the climbs and I got dropped with 60 other riders. I managed to ride back onto the front bunch... but got dropped up the next hard climb - I finished alone about 2-3mins down on the winner. Not too bad. Severely dehydrated and cramped up I collapsed in a heap on the floor after the finish... looking my best, naturally, Rouleur photographer Gerrard dived in for some shots of my suffering. Big thanks to Jody for bringing that coke and sitting with me as I lay in the foetal position recovering.
Day two of racing... a number of riders caught out by the time cut on day one the start line was a bit lighter. I felt more confident with the riders around me... and avoiding anything caffeinated and drinking more during the race I felt like 10 men. I kept with the bunch up the climbs and found myself much higher up in the position, everything was going so well until I punctured. Not a problem I thought... put my hand up... pull to the side, take the offending wheel out and hold it up so the team car/neutral service can take the right wheel to me. How wrong was I. My teams car was ahead following a break away group... and neutral service went straight past me... along with every other team car. I was left on my own. Yes, I cried... and swore. Thankfully a chasing group wasn't too far behind, and Horizon Fitness stopped to give me a wheel change - my heros! I finished at the back of this group alongside Curley... neither of us willing to sprint to the death for 90th place.
Day three of racing... this time riders weren't starting because of time cuts and the much talked about bout of food poisoning that went through the boarding school occupants. We blamed the rice. The Germans blamed the fish. The Czech blamed the Germans. etc. No one knew what exactly caused it, but what we did know was around 50 people were unwell following the rice and fish meal. Miffy, Gaby, Gerrard and Jody were up all night with it... Miffy and Gaby had to pull from the race. A sad day for them both. Jody put on a very brave face and sorted all the riders legs out, cleaned and filled our bottles and spent the day handing bottles out in the scorching heat.
I rode the TT... and felt OK ish... a crap nights sleep and dodgey tummy meant I wasn't feeling amazing... but I was surviving... I did a good ride considering - averaging over 41kph on a rolling, uneven road surface with a tough wind. Happy with that!
On to the second stage, the 92km road race, Curley was sick on the drive to the start and had to call it quits then... there was no way she could continue. I was sick just before lining up. Nerves maybe? Got to the first climb, 9km into the race and I was sick again, this time all over my leg. Classy. I got dropped, but chased back on. Next climb, I was sick again... I got dropped again... I wasn't catching back up, but then a train held up the bunch and I rolled up to the back along with other riders. I stayed with this front bunch until the next climb where it all happened again. About 70km into the race and I was delirious, I was weaving around on my bike and just retching over the side... I was running on empty. None of my drinks or gels were staying down. I got to the top of a climb, and just started crying.... the broom wagon drove up beside me and asked if I was finished. I nodded and turned back. Game over.
Day four of racing, by now all that was left of our huge team in the race was Em G and Cath - two very strong, very tough riders. Lucky for them the sick bug hadn't hit them too hard, but that doesn't mean they weren't suffering some of the same symptoms. To have carried on and finished showed true grit and determination, I'm very proud of them girls! Not only did they finish, but Em finished 24th and Cath was in a chasing bunch not far behind, amazing rides!
The epic road trip home began at 1.30pm, the back of the van piled to the roof with bikes, bags and wheels. Our seating was already bagsy'd and shot-gunned with pillows and iPods. A few detours led us along cobbled narrow roads and to a river crossing... we were on a ferry by the late afternoon... sadly this ferry didn't take us to the UK... just over the river. We drove all night, stopping only for fuel and toilet stops. A fry up at 3am on the ferry was a welcome choice. Arriving back in the UK around 5am we began dropping people off on route, I jumped out just off the A2 and carried on my travels with a very tired James, who I woke up at 3am to declare plans had changed and I was now going to be in the UK early in the morning, not late in the evening!
So. For now I am focusing on catching up on lost sleep, and shaking off this sickness... but soon I shall have to turn my focus on getting as skinny and strong as I can to get my a** up climbs faster later in the year!
Peace out!
What a few months it's been - the very first womens' Tour Series event, hosted by Johnsons Health Tech kicked off this summer. Peterborough, Stoke on Trent, Oldham and finally Woking all within the space of a month. To add to that there was the Smithfield Nocturne held in June. Now I work full time... so I had to book off annual leave for the Tuesday or Thursday it was that the race was held, then drive back to Reading in the evening ready to go to work the next day. By the end of it I was exhausted - from the travelling! The racing was fantastic, what a platform for womens' bike racing to take off from; the atmosphere, the courses, being on TV - amazing. Bring on 2012's rounds, rumour has it there will be 10 of them!
Then came the national women's road race championships, another epic drive up to Newcastle - or not as the case may be... as I decided to take the train. Bored out of my face, I decided to hitch a lift back with Em G to Reading than face sitting alone on a train for 6hrs again! The race itself was hard, a wall of a climb to get up and with riders such as Emma Pooley, Nicole Cooke, Sharon Laws and Lizzi Armitstead, to name just a few, ramping up the speed it was inevitable that the bunch was going to split up. Watching it back on the T.V. a few days later it was shocking to see just how much the field split up on that climb! I managed 14th place, of which I was very proud of :)
Today I got back from Czech... after competing in the Tour de Feminine in Krasna Lipa. We travelled out on Tuesday morning, leaving London and hitting traffic straight away - great start! The Tigertours bus was fantastic - 9 seater, 6 seats in the back facing each other with a table in the middle... and TV screens and a playstation to keep us amused. Then there was the little bed at the back... for taking a cheeky nap on. We drove all over the place picking up riders as we went... and eventually stopped at 2am to sleep. Up early and back on the road we eventually got to Krasna Lipa to sign on... with about 1hr to spare before the race sign on closed! As soon as we arrived at the boarding school (our accommodation) we got kitted up and went for a spin... discovering cobbled decents and broken roads... riding through fields and along tiny farm tracks and finally coming back just in time to make dinner.
Day one of racing, my word - around 180 riders on the start line I had never been in a race like this in all my years of riding - I was scared, I'll be honest. From the off the racing was fast - and with nervous riders in the bunch a slight touch of breaks rippled through the bunch to develop into full on anchors down for riders towards the back. Glad I put brand new brake blocks on front and back... might have run out of pads come stage 5! Up the climbs I struggled with my gear... 23 on the back just wasn't small enough for the climbs and I got dropped with 60 other riders. I managed to ride back onto the front bunch... but got dropped up the next hard climb - I finished alone about 2-3mins down on the winner. Not too bad. Severely dehydrated and cramped up I collapsed in a heap on the floor after the finish... looking my best, naturally, Rouleur photographer Gerrard dived in for some shots of my suffering. Big thanks to Jody for bringing that coke and sitting with me as I lay in the foetal position recovering.
Day two of racing... a number of riders caught out by the time cut on day one the start line was a bit lighter. I felt more confident with the riders around me... and avoiding anything caffeinated and drinking more during the race I felt like 10 men. I kept with the bunch up the climbs and found myself much higher up in the position, everything was going so well until I punctured. Not a problem I thought... put my hand up... pull to the side, take the offending wheel out and hold it up so the team car/neutral service can take the right wheel to me. How wrong was I. My teams car was ahead following a break away group... and neutral service went straight past me... along with every other team car. I was left on my own. Yes, I cried... and swore. Thankfully a chasing group wasn't too far behind, and Horizon Fitness stopped to give me a wheel change - my heros! I finished at the back of this group alongside Curley... neither of us willing to sprint to the death for 90th place.
Day three of racing... this time riders weren't starting because of time cuts and the much talked about bout of food poisoning that went through the boarding school occupants. We blamed the rice. The Germans blamed the fish. The Czech blamed the Germans. etc. No one knew what exactly caused it, but what we did know was around 50 people were unwell following the rice and fish meal. Miffy, Gaby, Gerrard and Jody were up all night with it... Miffy and Gaby had to pull from the race. A sad day for them both. Jody put on a very brave face and sorted all the riders legs out, cleaned and filled our bottles and spent the day handing bottles out in the scorching heat.
I rode the TT... and felt OK ish... a crap nights sleep and dodgey tummy meant I wasn't feeling amazing... but I was surviving... I did a good ride considering - averaging over 41kph on a rolling, uneven road surface with a tough wind. Happy with that!
On to the second stage, the 92km road race, Curley was sick on the drive to the start and had to call it quits then... there was no way she could continue. I was sick just before lining up. Nerves maybe? Got to the first climb, 9km into the race and I was sick again, this time all over my leg. Classy. I got dropped, but chased back on. Next climb, I was sick again... I got dropped again... I wasn't catching back up, but then a train held up the bunch and I rolled up to the back along with other riders. I stayed with this front bunch until the next climb where it all happened again. About 70km into the race and I was delirious, I was weaving around on my bike and just retching over the side... I was running on empty. None of my drinks or gels were staying down. I got to the top of a climb, and just started crying.... the broom wagon drove up beside me and asked if I was finished. I nodded and turned back. Game over.
Day four of racing, by now all that was left of our huge team in the race was Em G and Cath - two very strong, very tough riders. Lucky for them the sick bug hadn't hit them too hard, but that doesn't mean they weren't suffering some of the same symptoms. To have carried on and finished showed true grit and determination, I'm very proud of them girls! Not only did they finish, but Em finished 24th and Cath was in a chasing bunch not far behind, amazing rides!
The epic road trip home began at 1.30pm, the back of the van piled to the roof with bikes, bags and wheels. Our seating was already bagsy'd and shot-gunned with pillows and iPods. A few detours led us along cobbled narrow roads and to a river crossing... we were on a ferry by the late afternoon... sadly this ferry didn't take us to the UK... just over the river. We drove all night, stopping only for fuel and toilet stops. A fry up at 3am on the ferry was a welcome choice. Arriving back in the UK around 5am we began dropping people off on route, I jumped out just off the A2 and carried on my travels with a very tired James, who I woke up at 3am to declare plans had changed and I was now going to be in the UK early in the morning, not late in the evening!
So. For now I am focusing on catching up on lost sleep, and shaking off this sickness... but soon I shall have to turn my focus on getting as skinny and strong as I can to get my a** up climbs faster later in the year!
Peace out!
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