Count down to the Nationals.

The Pain of Chains!
First purchases of the year, chains and cassettes and tape and the like.  I might as well get them now when I have the cash.  I also got a bike workshop stand, quite cheap but with good reviews. I got it for Ewa to help her in the pits in cross races, but it may come in handy with an idea I've got.  More about that later.

There was a time in my youth when cassettes were called blocks had 6, 7 or maybe 8 sprockets and lasted a life time!  I run Campagnolo gears and I was shocked to find out how short a cassette lasted on a winter bike.  I put a new one on at the beginning of last winter about October, by December the chain was wrecked and needed replacing.  The new chain just would not mesh with the worn sprockets so a new set were bought, now only a few 1000's miles along they are like sharks teeth!.  I try to take care of the chain and cassettes with regular cleaning and de-greasing but the quality of the metal and the thickness, or lack of, material does not allow them to survive for long.

I run 9 speed on my winter bike for longevity and race on 10 speed.  These chains are even worse and I've snapped a few, even wrecking 4 links in a time trial last year, resulting in a walk up the hill and a pick up from a spectator.  I still say it should not happen, chains should be bomb-proof, God knows what 11 speed are like!  I run good chains either KHS or Campag's own, normally mid range, maybe I should invest in the top end ones, but at £40 or more, is it value for money?  As I don't buy them, I'll never know.


National Cyclo Cross Championships
Next weekend it's the National Cyclo Cross championships at Derby, an event I've been planning for all winter.  This will be my first individual championship for over 20 years, 1992 being the last one I rode.  I'm competing in the veteran category now, which is very very competitive!  I rode (badly) a national trophy event at Durham back in November and finished 29th.  I was shocked at the quality and ability that some of these 'old guys' can race!  Some of them like Nick Craig, give the pro-elite riders a good run for their money!  Nick, still a pro rider himself for Scott, won the vets race last year and then went on to finish 4th or 5th in the senior event!  Quite astounding!

So what am I expecting next weekend?  To be honest I don't know, pain and heartache in equal measure is my usual reward.  I've been training hard, but mostly on my own, which does not really help me along.  My biggest handicap is my weight, at 76-77kg, I still about 10kg over my race weight.  Now I know that that was 20 years ago and I've come down from 90kg just a few years back, but 10kg is a lot.  As Ewa says in races, 'everyone in front of you is skinny, you look chunky'!  Chunky and cross racing don't go together.

Chunkiness!  Taken at CXNE,Gateshead October 2013.

 My expectations are to try for a top 30 finish, if I get a good start - there's over 115 hopefuls riding and it's grided, so I'll be down the pecking order.  To be honest I'm not too bothered because just getting to the Nationals and racing at this level was out of the question 2 years ago as I had 7 months out with a prolapsed disc and sciatica, which still troubles me now.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey this winter with cross racing and pleased with my progress.

I've managed to drop 1kg over the Christmas hols, so perhaps if I'm good another 1/2kg may come off by the weekend?  This week is going to be mainly speed work and intervals.  I always thrive best on intervals, then an easy end to the week and travel down on Friday.  There will be a whole crew of CXNE riders, family and helpers there so at least the atmosphere will be good!  Wish me luck!  I'm aiming to be the best lardy arse at the race!

Another fine shot at the Ripley Cross in the rain (2nd).  That bridge sagged when I got on!
Photo Courtesy of Jo Allen.

link to National Cross champs:   http://derbycyclocross.org.uk/

Happy New Years Day! Ripley Cross Race.

So we didn't see the New Year in, instead had an early night as we were up at 7am to travel down to Yorkshire for the inaugural Ripley Cyclo Cross, near Harrogate. The closer we drove the wetter it became, eventually parking up in a constant drizzle.  It was going to be a wet and muddy affair, first of the season for me!  The venue is a delightful spot, an old Yorkshire village with stone cottages, pub, church and castle.  The car parks were filling up and despite the weather there was a buzz of anticipation as competitors and spectators filed down to the castle.  However after signing on I watched the youth racing a while and an elderly lady pulled up in her car.  'Can you drive in there to the shop, I need to collect the groceries?'  I looked at the barriers and the kids racing round, fat chance!  I suggested parking up and after the race had ended in a few minutes for her to ask a Marshall to help out carry her groceries, after all it was only a matter of 50 metres.  Her reply was, 'it's a damn scandal!  I live in the village!'  I beat a hasty retreat, 'Lady Downton' wasn't going to string me by the short and curlys'!  We have a long way to go for cycling to be accepted by the country class!

So the race.  We had driven the van round to the drop off point at the far end of the course near the pits and decided it would be best to stay there.  Good decision as it allowed a great view of the course.  Eva was in the pits, I have a wonderful wet looking wife. Incidentally the correct spelling of her name is Ewa, but in Polish the 'w' is pronounced with a 'vu', with a childish E.  Sorted?

There were around 80 riders in our section, another 40 or so vet 50 and women setting off behind, a busy course today!  The course was great with loads of obstacles, cambers, grass work and changes in terrain, cobbles through the castle grounds and even a Flemish style 'scaffold bridge'.  It was wet and muddy and going to make for a challenging race.   I managed a few laps, warm up is not the word I would use, and then decided to tumble on the only serious drop off! The landings would be soft today!

One of the great aspects of returning to a sport after 20 years is bumping into old racing buddies from times past.  One today was Brent Carr, who was out walking the course.  It had been over 20 years since I last saw him and it was as if we only parted last week and he hardly changed a bit!

So the race again.  I was seeded on the second row of the grid, which was good and the start was relatively clean, only loosing a few places.  Spray and mud were being thrown up from the tyres and I immediately regretted not having glasses on as I was blinded in one eye with mud.  Passing through the castle I managed to wipe away most of it and then set off taking a few places.  The top guns were already away as I glanced down the course but I managed to take a few places and then hauled myself up behind Matt Denby (Team Jewson), a quality rider.  So the plan was set, hang in as close to Denby and a Harrogate Nova rider as long and as best as I can.  That lasted about a lap, but it was enough to secure 10th place.  I was riding well, no issues with my sore back and thigh from the crash last Sunday.  I was in race mode!  I was strong on the long grass muddy sections, hugging the posts and tape to find a clean line!  I could close slightly on the two in front but lost loads on the faster cobbles and path sections.  I was  pleased, but was leaking time.  Then Denby crashed or something and he was pushing his bike, I rode up to him as he jumped back on and we slogged through the mud.  We both bike changed and I was holding him for pace.  It was hard but I was fighting well, then a mistake on a corner, foot down and 3 seconds lost, I never did see his wheel again.  That's the problem when you are on your limit and carrying a lardy arse, you can't pick up the pace.

Two laps to go and I chased in vain, just concentrating on not making mistakes and being clean on the hurdles and ditch sections.  Denby slowly pulled away on that last lap and the wind got up and cut a chill through my sodden skinsuit, it was getting tough out there.  But with half a lap to go and somebody shouted that Kenny Johnson, a hitter in my book, was just in front.  I looked at the long last grass mud section and could see him at about 20 seconds. If I could only....?  This section was muddy and downhill slightly and I managed to find the 'Sven-line' (homage to the Belgian world champion cross rider, Sven Nys), and I clunked it up a gear and flew.  I was visibly catching Kenny, but that ramp up over the ditch and castle grounds bit hard at my failing strength.  Into the castle, onto the cobbles and easy does it, finished!  Tenth place I was to find out later, gasping, and dribbling snots and saliva!  Flash of a camera, a bewildered stare, a smile!  All over and I loved it!  I looked into the mud-strewn eyes of fellow CXNE'r Jon Allen, we smiled,and shook hands, we both knew that was one for the cafe stops and cups of tea!

The race was won by Mike Simpson (GS Henley), one of the country's top vet racers, with a great ride by Dicky Noble (TWFS CC) in third place, a CXNE (Cyclo Cross North East League) rider and a fireman who was due to a night duty that evening. Some recovery session that!  CXNE riders took some podiums in other categories with Andy Cosgrove (Teesdale CRT) winning the over 50's race, Nicola Davies, ladies vets  and young Thomas Mein (MTS Cycles) taking third in the youth race.  I should mention the support and camaraderie there is within the CXNE league, a great bunch of people who each week take so much time out to organise, help, support and compete in the races.  Today there were a few out encouraging along the course, helping in the pits in the most awful weather.  Thanks goes to Thomas's dad John Mein, who help Eva with my pit changes.

Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing Team)  making it look easy, winning the senior event.

Finally, poor Eva!  She was literally soaked through to the skin, right down to her underwear!  When she was getting changed in the van afterwards, standing on the seat in just bra and knickers, my daughter Zofia said  'Mum! that man is looking at you in that van!'  She was so cold she was past caring!

Ripley Castle Cross race is a classic in the making!  Ripley Cross, a damn scandal!

Setting out my thoughts on the blog and buying gear.

I need to start thinking about how the Budget Bike Racer blog is going to pan out over the next few months.  I don’t really want it to be a parade of highs and lows of my racing over the next year, but about giving out some opinions, advice and tips on being a budget bike racer.  And also for others to contribute and give their advice and tips.

One point I have thinking about is advertising, notably ‘adsense’ from google.  After searching and reading up on this it seems that unless you have a massive following then the revenue created isn’t worth the hassle.  So that’s been kicked into touch.

I will be posting up links to bargains on the net, not that I will be paid or ‘sponsored by these companies.  I suspect that this will be a far-far off opportunity.  However the budget bike racer has to look anywhere for cheap deals. I don’t like Ebay, I’ve been stung a few times with it, and I feel unless you know what you are looking for, be very careful.  And some of the prices can be high for what you are getting.  Better to buy from club mates or perhaps  from Facebook selling stuff  pages, that is local and you know something about the person selling.  Most club riders will offer rock bottom prices and perhaps you can pick up a ‘cheap’ Cervelo from the rich kid whose looking to ‘finance’ his new bike!

I often think that the ideal situation is to foster a balance between the internet shops and the local bike shop.  Although the LBS can be expensive compared to the ‘net, they are handy and available for those emergency buys and bike fixes.  My LBS, Jim Cycles in Bedlington, is really no more that a large shed, but I’ve known Jimmy for many years and he’s been good with me, discounting when I buy stuff, normally chains, brake blocks, tyres etc.  The budget bike racer need to be a good mechanic, fixing and repairing bikes yourself will keep you rolling a lot longer at a fraction of the cost of replacing parts.  Tinker with your bike, work out how parts go together and how to replace worn out parts.  In the long term it will save you a fortune.

I normally use Ribble Cycles, Chain Reaction cycles, Planet X and a few other internet shops.  They offer value and the budget bike racer has to look at the bargains to keep one going.  I have had a few frames from Ribble’s and I find them to be good value.  There is a lot of snobbery on the bike forums’ over the use of frames from Ribble and Planet X, but I usually enjoy racing on my Ribble sportive frame and beating folks on much more expensive bikes.  It’s the engine that’s the most important component in bike racing.  The Budget Bike Racer (BBR) can’t afford to be a snob! And stay away from ‘bike-porn’ photo’s they will just make you envious!  Contentment of your bike is a must for the BBR.

So in the coming months, I’ll be balancing my writing between my own tribulations and doling out some advice and support to the newbie budget bike racer.

And finally a quick view of the ‘garage’.  Messy and full of  bikes and junk.  One thing the BBR does not do, that is throw stuff away!

The Bargain Bucket

Check these out.

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYVIOPCOEVKS/vittoria-open-corsa-evo-ks-folding-tyre

The last weekend rides of the year.

For once in quite a few weeks now I'm actually out on the winter bike rather than cross racing.  On Saturday I had planned to meet up with a few folks but with my usual dilly-dallying and 'lost' kit I left a tad late and then got caught by 2 trains at the crossing.  I got to the meeting point alone and left alone.  I had no chance of chasing down the group, so I had to plan a short cut.  As I headed north I could see tyre tracks and assumed it was the three in front.  I was expecting them to turn left and west round the planned route, but the kept going in the same direction as I was on.  I would ride the opposite way and meet them, but again my plans were thwarted as I realised my my wrong way was their right way, if you get my drift?  So I never did meet up, but struggled on my own into the wind and over the hills around Rothley and Ewesley Fell.  The only bonus of the day was catching the Gosforth RC club run and steaming past them from Bolam lake.

I got 50 miles under the belt and got home feeling rather tired and jiggered!  The other three got a lot more in, over 100 miles by one rider.  I just can't seem to get the long rides in as I used too, my back stiffens and aches up and I loose a lot of power.  Still there is tomorrow to pick up the baton again and see if I can get 4 hours in without too much stress.

Conclusion?  too old, too fat, too slow!  One I can't change, the others I better!

The Sunday ride.

Up and out early to meet the club and get a few hours in.  There were 8 of us out and on a bright but cold sunny morning we headed north.  All was well until we turned into a small lane just below Belsay and within minutes 7 riders were lying on their backs; black ice!  Everyone seemed fine with a few bumps and bruises, but I had landed hard on my hip and lay on the floor with my calf cramping up.  So we picked ourselves up and headed off.  After a few miles I knew I was not too grand, hip and calf were aching and my back, the dodgy iffy back, was grumbling and groaning.  As I am racing on Wednesday I played it safe and turned for home and limped in at a steady pace.  just under 50 miles done, but a lot less that expected.

So I sit here now, stiff and aching feeling a bit sorry for myself.  I don't bounce well nowadays.  I had a couple of good weeks  with my back and now it feels that I am back to square 1!  We'll see what a night's sleep and a dose of Ibruprofen will do.

Ups and downs.  Ups and downs!

The last race of 2013.

Today on Boxing day I rode the last race of the year, CXNE cyclo cross at South Shields.  I gained a solid 7th place and I rode quite well, but once again I was distanced quite easily by the top dogs.  The course was set up slightly differently with more camber that was bound to rut up and become difficult as the race went on.  Ran mostly on grass that was frozen on the surface, it broke through into wet mud in places, which again would become worse as the race went on.  I was quite pleased with my tyre pressure selection and had plenty of grip until that last few laps.

Start of the second lap at CXNE South Shields.


The start was good for me and I managed to tag onto the back of the fast guys in 7th place at the end of the straight.  That's the closet I got to them as the they steadily pulled away.  I could feel someone on my shoulder but as I started the second lap I was on my own chasing shadows and that's basically what happened for the rest of the race.  I told myself I was leading to motivate me and to keep the pace up, and I could see that a Cumbrian rider and Steve Smales from the CXMagazine.com team were closing on me at about 10-15 seconds.  A few mistakes on the cambers and a big effort from behind meant that the Beacon Wheelers rider was within 5 seconds with half a lap to go.  I put some big digs in on the muddier sections and I knew he would not catch me, but he fell on a dropping left hander as I was riding back up after a hairpin turn and I knew I had 7th in the bag.  I was a bit goosed at the finish with those usual mixed emotions of being pleased, but disappointed with conceding so much time. We have some very good vets up here in the North East, 4 at least in the top 30 of the national rankings and good couple of juniors as well. Trying to stay with them is hard work and I put much of  it down to being a good 7-10kg overweight.  Until I shift that lard, I ain't going to be competitive.

So there we are, 2013 draws to a close and I've managed to put in a full season, time trialling, few road races and my first cross season for 20 years.  Fours win on the score-sheet, and numerous top 10 finishes.  I should be pleased, but 2014 looks like a lean year and I need to secure some work and income to ensure a comfortable and stress free living and racing.  Access to funds is going to be limited and it's going to be a one big year as a budget racer!

Next Race.
Ripley Cross on New Years day.

Getting started.

The idea of writing a blog on bicycle racing has been at the back of my mind for some time now and so I thought it best to get a few words down and get started.

I won't go into too much detail about myself and my bike racing just yet, I'll just let that develop along as needs dictate.  Suffice to say that after many years away from bike racing I'm now back into it in a positive way.  I raced as a youth up until I was about 25 years old and then family and work commitments took over and I drifted away to being a weekend warrior.  Out at weekends with friends either on the road or mountain bike.  I even got into touring for a while but found this difficult to fit into my life.  You need plenty of time to get away on adventures with the tent and bike.

So a few years back as my girth expanded I started running but kept coming down injured, this led to triathlons, but again running injuries curtailed any decent training and thus performances.  So the decision came to me, 'I'm a bikie, stick to what you know best'.  So in 2010 I trained hard and aimed at getting a season of time trialling under the belt.  I did quite well, broke some personal best times, got lighter and fitter and won a pile of club trophies.   Then I came down with a prolapsed disc and sciatica and I had to take time of work and 7 months of the bike.  I managed to start training again in March 2012 with a few races in August onwards.  It was however in 2013 that things began to pick up.  After a good solid winter I competed in local time trials and league road races with some good successes, plenty of  top 6 results, a win in an evening league race, which came as quite a surprise, and a few top 10 places.  Then this winter I got back into cyclo cross and I've had 3 wins and an overall win in one league and many top 10 placings in the British Cycling veteran cross league.

My first cyclo cross race in 15 years at Yarm on Teesside in September 2013.  11th place and a newly found determination to do better.

It's been a lot of hard work and graft with the training and quite a bit of cash on gear.  I presently work part-time so time is relatively plentiful.  I have a lovely supportive wife who loves to come along and help, which is a massive bonus.  However cash is limited and maybe more so next year as I am under threat of redundancy.  So the idea took shape of sharing my next year, bike racing on a budget.  So if your expecting to see Zipp wheels and Cervelo bikes on here stop now, there won't be any stuff like that.  What there will be is a lot of getting by with old kit, useful tips and money savers, short cuts and results!

Over the following weeks I need to establish what my aims and objectives will be for next year, bearing in mind the reduced limited budget I will be on.  I also need to 'stock-take' on my present stable of bikes and just work out exactly I can afford to replace and upgrade for next season. It will give me a good idea of a budget expenditure for the year, but will also allow you the reader get an idea on the type of equipment required for racing. 

I'm hoping that by documenting the year and all it's trials and tribulations and hopefully a few high spots, it will give an insight into racing  for newcomer's and that you don't need the best modern equipment and bikes to compete.  Money has to be spent but by targeting good quality equipment and parts this can be kept to a minimum.

Well that's it really.  We will see how it develops through the year and if you read it I would love you to contribute and get involved. no doubt I will learn as much from you as I hope you will from me.