Christmas

Feel pretty lucky to have had a rest week this last week.  The roads have just about cleared up and had two easier rides on Sat and Sun out on the roads without stacking it.  Was awesome to go down to Newport for some track midweek and finally get the legs out after months and months of leg warmers.  Was initially a little sketchy as was expecting the banking to be like Calshot but loved it once I got used to it, really want to do more track this year.  Spending far too much time checking out track bikes at the moment.

Looking forward now to getting stuck into some of the longest training weeks of the year in the next month, nicely timed with school holidays, just praying it stays reasonably warm and dry.  New flat is taking forever to get sorted but hopefully not too much longer.

Its not a proper ride unless...

Been some epic training rides recently and after extensive discussion with compadres the area the official list is as follows.  It is not a proper winter training ride unless:
1/ Fig rolls are eaten, whole pack
2/ Some sort of blizzard or extreme weather conditions completely inappropriate for Sussex
3/ Ditchling Beacon has been ridden up
4/ At least two pairs of clothing are essential e.g. gloves/leg warmers/overshoes/hats
5/ At least 2000 kcal are burnt
6/ You think how hard can Paris-Roubaix be only to then think how can anyone even finish it and decide to take it easy and aim to ride the Tour instead
7/ Some sort of inappropriately impossible interval session is completed satisfactorily.  Thanks Dan
8/ You get stared at with that confused face that people who don't ride bikes have when you ride past them
9/ You wonder why you took up cycling and then wonder why you would ever consider giving up cycling 10mins later
10/ Josh Cunningham turns up from somewhere unexpected wearing some form of bizzare team kit which definitely isn't the kit for the team he rides for now but somehow it works
11/ Henry Bird is slightly late and has secured some part of his bike using masking tape, usually something non-critical however like his cranks or stem; who needs them anyway?
12/ Charlie J Fawke comes out with some amazing comment that shows he is actually quite intelligent but just not in a way that can be appreciated by humans
13/ Tom Laker has bitched about every single persons bike on the team except his own but forgotten to tighten up anything on his own bike
14/ James Peckham has made some reference to his stats
15/ Your water bottles have frozen
16/ You wish you had gone on the turbo/wish you hadn't

Who are you calling a fatty?

Had a hard block of training and almost more excited about rest week coming up than Christmas, mostly as it will mean not having to put hours and hours in on the turbo with some luck.  The snow has meant that with the glamourous assistance of Henry Bird, we have in my garage done nearly 7 hours of training in the last two days-joy!  Sure my legs will be grateful of this in the season.  Had quality training sessions this week, three times getting caught in blizzards; love it!

Had my body fat percentage checked today.  I had a lot of problems with my diet last year; although riding at about 11.5% body fat during the latter part of the season felt this was too much and tried to drop some pounds but cut calories and my body didn't respond particularly well.  After loosing 2kgs in the last month, I just got tested again today and found that I am down to 10.4% which is lush especially with my gains in power that I have been making recently.  Should work out nicely for the start of the season. If anyone else has any comments on my weight on the team they can jog on!

Off to Newport track hopefully this week and can't wait to tear it up.  Dreaming of track bikes at the moment but the new flat is going to make that pretty difficult; any sponsors out there?

Thanks to Dan Bennett for making it out in the snow for the flexibility and core conditioning session today!

Snow training

Been cracking out the miles over the last few weeks.  9 hours on the rollers so far this week and another 6 or so to come over the weekend, starting to do some intervals and gradually build in a bit more intensity and power.  Having school closed this week has meant being able to catch up on sleep and work and so hopefully will be able to finish the term with good fitness rather than the usual problem of catching a cold as soon as term ends.  Legs are feeling pretty big at the moment and starting this week to try and lose a few pounds.  Still think I am around 11% body fat but after getting ribbed at the weekend for being off the scale in terms of weight from my delightful team mates, going sub 80kgs and sub 10% would be very helpful for the start of the season. Had a very productive goal setting session with coach Dan at the weekend and can't wait to smash particularly some of the early season races.

Impressed with how well the squad are coming together and nice to see Drew has got a new website http://www.drewholmescycling.co.uk/ but can't believe there are no photos of me on there yet. 

Going to have to try and risk going out on a mountain bike soon.  After going out in the snow last year with Pete Hooper, stacking it twice and being dragged all over the downs, I must admit I am hesitant but will refreshing to actually move when I am training. 

Massive respect to my brother, who despite leaving his porthole open and flooding his cabin, is now over halfway across the atlantic in the Arc Race.  Outstanding work!

Hard week

Had the pleasure this week of having the pins of my seatpost snap while I was riding today, not sure whether its too much power or too much weight.  Half way through the ride and a fair few miles from home, pins snapped and had to complete the rest of the ride standing up.  Not helped by Tom Copeland and James Brickell pushing the pace and making sure we took the longest possible route back home for me. Quads will be aching tomorrow! 

Great ride with Drew on Saturday, looking pretty sharp even at the end of a 5 hour ride, real buzz about the team ahead of next year!

Night Riding

Congrats to Felix for his win over Sir Chris Hoy at the Europeans, epic result, can't think of anyone who deserves a result like that more than Felix.  Feel like I am on the far less glamorous side of cycling at the moment with my winter training.  As work usually finishes pretty late, I tend to get home, have a nap and then start training about 7.30-8.00 and go for a couple of hours while the roads are a bit quieter.  Been loving the night riding as so few cars, saw 3 shooting stars tonight and practicing handling throwing the bike round the tight corners of Lewes one-way system at 10pm with no cars on the road is a lot of fun, if a bit mental.  Legs feeling pretty good, stamina building, going to be a good season.

Great team ride on Sunday and good to see George, Tom, Tom and Lewis joining the club as well as Jack Oliver-Blaney who was pretty much part of the club last year anyway.  Going to be an awesome year, can't wait for all the race calendars to come out, first race 15th Jan; can't believe I am looking forward to racing at Hillingdon!  Got about 90 percent of my Sussex coursework done for the entire year; just one essay and one presentation left and so plenty of time for training now!

New wheels

Just had to do a post to talk about the new winter bike; In Gear in Uckfield have helped me out with a new Kinesis frame which for the price feels amazing, have taken it out over some proper winter training lanes over the last few days and it is so stiff and descends beautifully as its rigid throughout and you can get your weight right over the back wheel.  Lacing the bike up with lights ahead of all the night training I have coming up over the winter, as ever being a teacher though, not too long until the next block of holiday time.

Half term is always a great time to get back training and Dan Bennett is sending his training plan through in the next few days.  Really looking forward to getting some structured training back, trying hard not to get too prematurely excited about the race season but setting goals and laying out periodised training plans makes me think about how next year has so much potential.  One particular boost is seeing the team rosta for next year which looks quality. 

Had a great ride out on Sunday with some of Dan's training clients and enjoyed a wet but social ride. Thanks guys.

Thanks also for everyone who keeps feeding my fish.

Winter Training

Winter training has begun with some solid rides accompanied by none other than Double Brompton Junior World Champion Brock Duncombe-Rogers.  New winter bike has arrived and enjoying going out for rides during my two week half term before having to pay too much attention to my heart rate monitor.  Looking forward to a really strong winter ahead.  Team training with the Development squad starts on the 7th Nov and trying to get as much marking and coursework done now so I can focus on cycling during the second half of term.  Very strange not to see Dan Bennett and Trevor Holmes for 3 weeks who were with us every weekend last year.  Really looking forward to meeting up with the team on the 7th and hear we have some very strong riders joining us.

Pleased with my season last year and after a while began racking up some points.  First half of the year was focused on some big races in Belgium and in the area and really developed a lot by racing a level above myself.  That experience definitely helped my progress in the second half of the season.

Very sorry to see James Peckham heading off to Wales and Nathan Boschma heading off to Aus.  Just helped James' wife pack up the house while he is off on a business trip before moving early doors tomorrow!! Unbelieveable! Training and racing won't be the same without you guys!