LVRC MK Bowl Circuit Races (the final 3 rounds)

I'll just summarise here. After missing a huge chunk of racing during August it was inevitable that it would be tough there after. And it was, life and that had got in the way of racing and training. And on top of that the field had become unusually fast.
So the final three rounds were much of a muchness. Good starts. Managed to do more than hang on, but ended up being dropped towards the end each and every time, once on the bell lap.
Still, you can't do anything on nothing and that's what I had tried to do.
Otherwise very happy.

Thank you to Trudie and her team for some great and safe riding.

2016 it is then.

Omloop Van Der Drie Dorpen 2015

For this unusual yearly road race I partook in some unusual pre race preparation, unusual for me and down right horrifying to my team mate on the day. A slight cock up in my calender meant that Saturday was, arrive in Euston for 11am and drink until about 2am the next day, this being the big summertime piss-up with the customers. However as we're not sixteen any more I was allowed to slip off at 7pm to try and sleep off eight hours of boozing. Before putting my head down I checked my messages to see when Andrew was picking me up.....6am......great.
True to his word 6am saw us loading up and before you knew it we were up in Flecknoe getting ready to race.
So the Omloop? It's an unusual race as I've said. It's super short and super tough. About 60% road and about 40% stony doubletrack. It is though without a doubt a road race.
The conditions bring out an eclectic mix of bikes. Top end carbon race machines, 90's steel Colnagos and cyclo cross bikes, all present. My choice this year was the CX bike fitted with 28c road tyres, 25 and 28c tyres are de rigeueur for this one. The stony sections have to be ridden to be believed, pictures don't do it justice. The stones are embedded in the baked hard soil, they don't give. Pick your line and stick with it....or else.
At the briefing we see the great trophies, cobbles with engraved plates Paris-Roubaix stylee. We then get our race briefing, and cautionary note come warning. We are reminded that bones get broken on this one and that trying to change lines on the sectors could easily see you on your ass. It's Andrews first Omloop and I'm sure I hear him gulp.
Then we are assembled outside where the race lead car then escorts us to the start. We set off is age groups, I think this is mainly for safety. Did I mention how narrow the tracks were and that some are lined with barb wire fences?
My group is off, it's all downhill to the start of the sector. I make the decision to hold back to avoid the chaos when the group hits the stones. I think it pays off as I don't have to stall and I can choose a line rather than risk being forced into a ropey line. Yes it pays off and I find a line past many riders.
It's bone jarring, but you can't look for anything better as it's all rough. Loose grip, steer with the knees, float on the saddle and most of all big ring it.  Then your out. It's a few hundred yards reprieve and then its into the head wind. I'm already riding solo which is another odd feature of this race, you'll see many doing this as it's hard to strike up a mutual partnership here. Ideally a team mate would be best.
Whilst on the road a rider I passed on the stones storms past me, my crosser is a little under geared. We take a left and turn out of the wind, only problem now is that it's all climbing to finish of the lap.
I catch my man on the climb and descend towards the sector again, and again he passes me. End of lap one.
I can see him slow on the stones, so I pass him thinking I might bury him and stop him passing me on the flat. No, he comes past again. I sprint out of the saddle fighting the headwind and keeping my foe in sight. Again I pass on the climb and he again then passes on the descent. I dig deeper on the stones and fly past my man. I exit onto the tarmac ahead, but once again he comes flying past. This time however he really fly's and drops me. To my horror he is ahead on the climb and seems to have found his off road legs as well. Still never say never.
I'm alone I fall into my drops on the stones and TT it. I fight the wind and push a bigger gear on the climb. I'm passed at this point by a Corley pairing, Carl from Corley's shouts encouragement. He tells me that a lot of riders have pulled, crashed or retired with mechanicals. With that info I lift myself out of the saddle and push out of the stones. I'm heading for the flag now so pain isn't much of a problem. Stones done, headwind beaten it's just the climb, and nearing the climb is my foe. I can see him labouring. This is where months of training and working on the front over all those club rides comes to fruition. I select a big gear and and push, I pass him and honours are mine.
I'm just chuffed to bits to have finished.
I'll later find out that I was 4th in my age race and Andrew was 5th in his. I'll take that.

LVRC MK Bowl Circuit Races Round 10

I wasn't feeling it today, despite it being the best race conditions of the year. Somehow Sundays G1 ride was still lingering  in me old pins. Probably all that rain, wind and relentless climbing....even though there wasn't a hill in sight? One of those club runs that amass more altitude than those where you go looking for pointy roads.
In warm up I felt dreadful, and despite the warm weather I had to go back to the car and dig out my cyclo cross winter oil, and try to burn my legs into submission.
My mind was still in 'oh bugger it' mode by the time we were called up to the starting grid.
Then we had a small presentation for the Divisional Champs...I think as I couldn't hear over all the gassing. Dave Brown was called up to get his gong.
[ Just want to say/mention/point out something. How come when there's a BC race even if it's a 30 minute Cat 4 effort. The next day, nay the same night there are about a million images of that race posted up, countless videos and results down to the very last man.  Yet when it's us lot, there's nothing. Not even on a hot summers day and your men are picking up metal ware]
Anyway well done Dave, and thanks for your efforts in the LBRCC's club colours.

Gold, Silver and Bronze stashed away and we're sent off. As usual it feels okay, I settle into a nice spot determined to be as selfish as possible to save my weary legs. And I keep an eye on the man in front whoever he is at the time, or I should say any gaps between him and the front of the race. If he slows I pass and grab a better wheel, being careful not to 'accidentally' go to the front. I think I see a Velo Equipe rider go taking a Corley man with him. There's no way I can do anything, and the bunch seems to feel the same. So it seems we're all racing for third place.
So far so good. However next it's the gates onto the extended circuit. Going out of the gates the first time my position isn't too good, but either I have found my legs or the group slowed up either way I'm back in.
From my position it looks like no one can get away, and I'm determined not to go out of the back. Attention to position saves my legs and I'm three quarters through. Then there's a short lull, I mean very short, just enough seconds to draw breath and have a quick think. Then we're off again, willing to let anyone take the front and me to the bell I stay put.
The bell goes, three laps. Now the tricky bit. Go to early and everyone will thank you. Go to late and you'll be last man through the series of bends that lead to the flag. Compromise.  That's what I'll do, some cheeky movement to get 'near' the front is all that's required, success. I have contact with the wheel in front on the way to the line.
Now it's time for a schoolboy error. In full flight for the line I focus on passing the guy that's ahead of me. Which I do, only to be passed by about five riders left and right of me. Focus on the line.....FOCUS ON THE LINE you fool.
Still happy with that and on a night I felt so tired, I can only assume it was the tiredness that made me a bit more canny than usual.
No more Bowl races for a few weeks due to concerts, so no more news from the man at the back putting the 'M' into mediocrity.

LVRC MK Bowl Circuit Races 2015 Rounds 8 & 9

After missing round 7 due to work commitments I was keen to give it a good go for round 8.  Luckily the weather Gods were just starting to get onside, and I had a rare chance to race with a full set of aeros (so far if bought new they were costing me nearly £1000 per ride) So weather, wheels and eagerness all in place.
With the customary forty minute warm up concluded I lined up with the bunch. No guns or whistles just Trudies  off you go, and we're racing. I was really keen not to get on the front today, usually I don't mind as I finish out of the top ten, so see this as my opportunity to do some work that might just have the smallest effect on the race?
I chose to keep on Pete Smiths wheel, now there's a good wheel to shadow. Riding along side him the race felt slow, but within minutes we were lapping the EF race and picking up dropped AB's so clearly not slow. I can only conclude that we were doing it right. So it was going well, and I wasn't at all tired.
Then! The lead AB race came past us, which is fine. We allowed a little gap to form so the two races didn't influence each other. However a group of 'our' back markers jumped on the AB race and we gave chase. I did say we should leave them as I didn't think they'd live with the AB's, but heckles up we went after them and the race became fast and messy.
I was annoyed by the lack of sportsmanship shown by those backmarkers and felt sorry for those that had worked hard for half of the race now floundering like myself.
Of course the strong riders regained their rightful place and the backmarkers fell one by one to the wayside.
The remainder of us TT'd to the finish and ended it with a minor places bunch sprint...which I took (insert smiley face here)
Justin took a win in the F race. Dave didn't win tonight only because he was marshalling.

Round 9.   
Proper nice tonight sunny and still, and a four man LBRCC turnout with a man in AB CD and two in EF.
Good tight racing tonight. Not much to say as we kept together for ages. I did a rather foolish breakaway at about twenty minutes before returning to the back to push my lungs back down. The big boys were struggling to get away.
I was beginning to sniff it tonight before going off the back. Then I got the bell when I shouldn't have and pulled up early. No problem though, wasn't going to win and had put my strongest ride in so far. No silly bugger break aways next week, as I might have come between 8th and 11th looking at the results.
Andrew Martin came in 10th in a super strong AB field. Dave Brown top three in F followed Justin in the F race.

LVRC MK Bowl Circuit Races 2015 Round 6

Tuesday nights seem to now herald stormy weather, and this Tuesday didn't prove to be the exception. So as now customary I have a little practice with both aero's fitted, then pop back to the car and fit a standard front purely for control. With so many riders out it would be reckless to ride a bike that might develop a mind of it's own at any point. Think I'm kidding? last week a rider was actually blown over.
With warm ups done I line up with all the other racers AB's CD's and CF's Then when we get the off I realize I'm right on the back of the bunch, I imagine what my clubmates would think if they saw me now. 'I thought he knew what he was doing' probably. So I make sure I'm in a better position when we come round again. Not content with a better position I move up to around a fourth place spot, and suddenly the race becomes a whole lot easier.  For half the race we let others chase down breaks and counter any decent attacks. The race feels slow from here, but we pass plenty of dropped AB's and lap the CF's so it only feels slow. Being in the company of the big boys is making life a lot easier.
However things are about to change! The warning has gone out and the race is about to go onto the full circuit.
Dear God what am I doing. I've let far too many riders past for the first turn onto the extended circuit. Even before I've made the turn I know I've blown my race and undone all the good work that had gone before.
I'm fast going out of the back, and when finally separated I have to settle into TT mode in an attempt to draw in stragglers and get 'something' going, but that doesn't work. Instead I simply ride round passing those not wanting to play.  So again it's mid bunch mediocrity, rolling in 15th, two places up on last week.
Going better that night was Dave Brown, getting the win in EF's. I saw Dave in a three man break so I assume he won the sprint.
Still good representation for the club.
Congratulations Dave.

LVRC MK Bowl Circuit Races 2015 Round 5

Another race and another weather warning. It's dry at least, but there are small branches on the course so its pretty windy.
I'll have a go with the 'Lightweight' aero's first. Hmmm it only takes a moment to realize that they will be too dangerous for racing close quarters. I'm going to go for low a profile rim up front for control and a deep profile on the back.
After a forty minute warm up I line up with the other old boys in a very large field. Whilst I wait for the off I wonder if it's going to be a 'gentlemens' start or an out and out hoon. We're given the off. The pace is high. The field will be split by the time we go onto the extended circuit at this rate.  I've no issue with that if I can hold on. Easier said  than done though, I'm not sure if I'm reading things right as the attacks seem to be coming on the flat straights? usually they come on the few inclines.
When I feel settled in I sneak a look at my watch to see I'm a third into the race....that went quick. However the warning that we're about to 'go outside' see's a sudden urgency in the pace. And me go off the back.  I look behind to see if there is another rider behind to share a wheel, but the guys behind are way back. I decide to go for it. If I get on then great, if I don't I've got a long solo ride ahead of me. Much to my surprise I do get on. That's good news in the fact that I must have picked up a little more race strength. However I'm soon out of the back again and this time the strength is clearly missing. I'm now doomed to a life of the soloist unless another set of wheels come by.
When they do it's the older cat race so I hop on the back unable under the rules to influence the race. We snake round the circuit with class, I even hear a spectator comment about how smooth we are. Obliged! not to work I find it pretty easy going here on the back.
Our race is momentarily interrupted by a crash in the AB race. We slow down and verbal instructions go out to allow our race to regroup as we were before coming across the stricken riders.  Again pure class riding, sadly not seen right across our sport. I find it odd than a few individuals have gone down, perhaps it's the incredibly strong winds? I know I've had a few moments.  Thankfully I'm safe or at least feel safe in my group, if only I could have a pop.  I'm one of three 'out of cat' riders in this bunch and we're positioned behind a few struggling still in category. Knowing rules dictate we don't pass, but after a while they wave us though, kind and sportsmanlike. There is now a huge gap for us to play in, the three of us play hard enough that by the time we reach our old group there are only two of us.
The old boys get the bell and soon have finished their race. The two of us race on and for the remainder of the race collect other riders that have fallen by the wayside. Though way down the field we've not been lapped, this is why I think it's important to carry on, especially so early in the year. This is great training if anything. Coming up to the bell lap I sit on the wheel of a pretty strong fella. I could probably sit here and take honours in our race of tail enders. But for some reason I think it's better to get on the front on the bell to lead the group round. It's not as if we're in the standings, so I push myself for the last few minutes. Of course on the flag straight I hear the sounds of gears changing and two come by.
Still a good day of racing and I'll go home with a bit more in my legs for next week....I hope      

Leighton Buzzard Road Cycling Club.....Our club.

 I have been  sort of asked to just rattle on about the club, our club, my club. Although just in our fifth year we have over 100 members on our books, not too bad for a small market town.
However one of the things that concerns me, is that often the most vocal club members are it's racers. That's fine, but that does make us appear to be a racing club when in fact we are a very inclusive cycling club. So I hope I can correct that misconception, if just a little bit.
First of all the racers are a in a minority, a tiny minority. However when you've been training hard all winter and are proud of the results it gets when the racing season starts it's hard not to shout about it. So we like them to have their moment, and it does wonders for the clubs profile.
Though as well as 'racing racing' we do a lot of inclusive racing. Namely cyclo cross and Time Trials, both welcome total newcomers with open arms. In fact many G3 riders have competed in these disciplines.
Anyway I'm talking about racing!
The meat and bones of the clubs riding are it's weekend club runs, the G1, G2 and G3 rides. Everyone rides these....racer or novice. The club run is just that, a club run. Not a race and not a training ride a club ride the whole raison d'etre of the club, so everyone is welcome and wanted on these rides.
But it doesn't stop there, we're not defined by racing and club rides. There's a whole world of cycling in between.  Where do I start? A natural step up from the club ride is very often a sportive, it might be 100km or 100 miles sometimes London to Paris and sometimes more. This year for example we have members touring the USA. Calie and Matt are riding the Vatternrundan in Sweden www.vatternrundan.se    and another riding the historic Paris - Brest - Paris www.paris-brest-paris.org it wasn't long ago that some were G3 riders.  (not you Matt!)
I'm not implying that everyone should be on a constant lookout for the next challenge, but I would recommend it. To that end many LBRCC members combine a cycling holiday with a small or not so small challenge.  Talk to your fellow club riders about doing this, there's only so many times you can ride around the local counties without wanting to stretch your wings. A few popular weekend destinations are Belgium to sample the cobbles and wonderful beer (I recommend getting in some early training in the Black Lion) Another is the area local to Calais to just ride the wonderful and friendly roads. They're both nearer than you think. A longer break can get you into the Alps or Pyrenees, I think as a club we've climbed just about all the famous Tour De France mountains? There are usually several yearly trips into mainland Europe.
Another popular event LBRCC members participate in is Audax. Audax is a unique long established  cycling discipline.  It's a hard one to explain, but it seems to be very well suited to the riders we have within the club. But if I was to try and explain! think fast touring on a set route that has to be self navigated i.e no waymarks. It's sometimes said that sportives are ridden by people pretending to race, whilst audax's are ridden by people pretending not to. www.aukweb.net
The club is called the Leighton Buzzard Road Cycling Club, but we do meander off road very so often.
We are blessed with some fantastic country roads, but look over the hedge line and you'll discover some great mountain biking country.  The club as of now is trying to get group membership to ride the trails of Woburn, but there are still miles and miles of perfectly legal trails to ride on. And to go full circle, 2015 will see a small number of members racing their mountain bikes.
So I hope this helps paint a broader picture of what we do, basically if it's doable on two wheels we do or have done it.
If you have an idea come forward with it. If you have a route in mind tell us. If you have any questions ask the rider next to you.
Very soon we'll have a new website up and running www.lbrcc.com. there you should find all you need to know.
Thank you for watching.