So I missed the bunch due to faffing around with seatclamps and loose bottle cages. Rode part of the loop they do which was actually quite nice – around Burnham Beeches – very posh houses in amongst nice woods. The sun was out, contrary to weather forecasts which helped things. I was short on distance after doing some random “try not to get too lost” looping around so I went to Richmond Park for a single lap. I haven’t been there for ages. “You made that hill look effortless. Were you even breathing?” was one bloke’s comment after riding up the steeper hill going CW. Ha! Maybe actually riding my bike is helping my fitness.. who would’ve thunk it?! I’m not looking forward to the very early start 25mi TT tomorrow.

Left work early and rode too fast to get home (why oh why can’t I stop chasing people down?). Faffed about and then headed to the circuit on the TT bike with HED Jet and correct Powertap. #23 off I did a few test laps still trying to get used to the TT bike. It feels so low heading into the corners I’m still not confident leaning it over enough through the sweeper! Bloody chicken doesn’t wanna scratch his poor bike boo hoo! 😉

Anyway rode pretty steady (it hurt less than I remember – I must not be trying) in conditions quite reasonable for Hillingdon and did a 25:41. I think it is a PB for that course (I’ve not ridden it since ’08 maybe?).

It’s hard to tell who is riding fast since riders constantly loop the circuit but I was only passed by Tony Gibb while out there. I hung onto his wheel for about 400m and then bye bye! He was on a road bike too. :S Mind you, he is a silver medallist at the World Champs and 9 times National Champion so I think I have an excuse! There were also two Moulton riders out there and a bloke on a carbon fibre recumbent.

Rode home with Jayne who also PB’d with a short 27 I think. Well done Willesden CC! Don’t get too upset Wayno I was rockin’ the Grupetto kit. 🙂

UPDATE: Results for the 2010-04-28 Westerley Circuit 10.

Corinne & Scherrit from The Bike Whisperer presenting me with the newly built bike, complete with Coke disc wheels! Freakin’ jokers! 😀

Ready to ride it looks more like this..

Finally bit the bullet and booked a physio appointment for my leg issues. Leaving work early I met Michael (bluerip on Rollapaluza and LFGSS) on Thursday..

Based on my limited physio experience Michael conducted a pretty damn thorough analysis of my knee (as well as exercise levels, injury history, etc).

He found I was still a bit tight in the hamstrings and very tight in the calves (which makes sense since I never stretched my calves). Pushing my feet from underneath (while I was lying on my back) they’d get to 0 degrees (foot vertical) and stop whereas they should be 15 degrees (towards my head).

He showed me a more efficient hamstring stretch (push your butt out and keep your back straight) as well as some calf stretches (the arms against the wall, lunge kind – one with straight rear leg, the other with bent, like a squat). Also, he suggested standing on a ramp for 5min to elongate the calf muscle (the curve in my shower/bath allows me to do this while showering).

With some prodding and massage of the pain area he noticed a lump which he reckons might be a torn and inflammed tendon (I think) which should heal. Ice after riding. He said it could also be a cyst but this was less likely. If it doesn’t his other surgery has an ultrasound they could use to scan it.

Thanks for your time and help Michael.

Now let’s see if I mix up the Wired and Wireless Powertap headunits:

1:04:01 and almost a minute slower than the same course last year where I actually had to stop at traffic lights and used a road bike rather than TT-specific bike.

I should have known I was going too easy when I managed to form (almost) full sentences “head down arse up go go go” to other riders I passed. Alas, by the time I recognised I was getting close to the finish and lifted it was all too late. Slacker.

Oh, while we’re on that little issue of pacing – I had no idea about my power, heart rate, speed, or even distance at any point today.

Guess which d!&h&^d picked up his WIRED Powertap and not the WIRELESS one? Yeah, the luxury of having multiple power meters backfires, big time. I’m going to totally colour in one of them so there’s more than a tiny ‘wired’ on the side to distinguish. I mean, the wired one even has “2.4” written on it.. 2.4Ghz being the frequency of the wireless unit.. I mean.. WTF?! ARGHH NO DATA ARGH!!!

I still managed to arrive late to the start even though this time the alarm went off on time. I bumped into Simon on the way out and we rode to the start. I was shocked to see rider 42 starting when I was just rolling into the HQ.. I was rider 46! Crap! No time for proper warm up or any stretches (and my shattered glutes tell me this was a big mistake.. who wants to rub my backside better?).

I was off after speedy Peter D who set a very good 1hr time I think. I caught a few riders but I was never going to see Pete. I’m surprised Simon didn’t pass me to be honest. He arrived looking totally shattered (whilst I did my hair and laughed like I’d just had a picnic or something of course :)) and had set a good ~1:03. I think Lance had a bad ride too but he will no doubt report something on WCC. And here is the Willesden report.

So my plan this year to avoid training and just buy go-faster bits is not working. Next stop, Dr Fuentes.

The P-X isn’t for sale btw 😛

Simon’s Report

Lance’s Report

The first West London Combine event of the year was the Middlesex RC run 10 mile time trial. The course (H10/2) description is here. It was my first event of the year and the first ride of the new Planet-X TT bike. Also the first time riding with aerobars. Who needs practice?!

The headquarters for the event is the hall at Knowl Hill Village Hall (RG10 9XB). This is about 2 miles from the start in Westacott Way. I’d thankfully planned out how to get there last night (straight down the A4, basically). This didn’t help when I woke up thinking “ooh it’s bright for 6.30am”, realised it was 7:40am and the frickin’ alarm hadn’t gone off!! Argh!! Raced to get changed, Mal made me some toast while I pumped up the tyres and struggled to wake up whilst packing bits and pieces. I then “shot” (everything was still asleep) out the door and down the road, heading for the start. I did make it but wasted some juice riding out too fast. My saddle had already started slipping. :S

My ride was somewhat painful but I just didn’t seem to be able to get going. It was like my brain had already given up on the ride. Into the turn around RAB and then out and I must’ve been doing 20kph.. it was sad. The wind and hill and everything just made me wanna stop. Peter passed me here and I upped it a little bit for a few hundred metres. I also picked it up towards then end when I saw a couple of riders (Lance being one of them) but other than that a pretty lack-lustre ride. Next time gadget, next time.

26:08

Lance Woodman snapped a derailler cable before the start and rode in the little ring for the whole event.

Simon Wicks in his first 10mi with aerobars he couldn’t use beat me by 1 second.

Peter Dixon was Willesden’s star today though placing second overall I think and taking the WCC handicap with a 23:53! I know he flew past me like I was stopped. Great ride.

Thanks very much to Lance for the lift. Other than the stupidly low saddle height I didn’t have any troubles getting back. Thanks mate!

Willesden CC Results

Some interesting articles I’ve been meaning to link to for a while now. Insider doping info from ex-racer Joe Papp.

Joe Papp’s Blog

This Guest Post by none other than ex-racer Joe Papp (also a blogger) describes at length how racers subvert and escape doping control. Joe needs no special introduction. He’s been there, done that and I think he’s a fine candidate to tell us how slippery the pro’s can get from the system. How are athletes tricking our intelligence into believing illegitimate sporting performances? Well, find out by reading the following eye-opening article.

cozybeehive.blogspot.com – How Cycling Pro’s Defeat Anti-Doping Control

A few weeks ago, PEZ ran an interview with Joe Papp; one of the very few riders to admit, face up to and openly discuss the fact he failed a drugs test. Like most folks, we’re sick of the drugs scandals, but then the Tom Zirbel situation pops up and we to have accept that it’s still a problem and we need to understand it better. Here’s what Joe had to say – and it’s scary !

www.pezcyclingnews.com – PEZ Talk: In Depth With Joe Papp

www.thelondonclassic.org

From the site: The London Classic is an urban cycling event run entirely in er?London. It features some climbs, some famous places, some infamous places and lots of cobbles ? as many as we can pack in! The event takes place on Sunday April the 11th 2010

For now we are busy finalising the route, designing some cool T-Shirts and setting up a large screen so you can relax with a beer and watch Paris-Roubaix live and direct after conquering Londons pave.

Our mission is to raise awareness and funds for the Evelina Childrens Hospital (part of Guys and St Thomas?s NHS Trust). The event partners are Brixton Cycles.

To make up for an almost total lack of weekend cycling I hit the turbo tonight after swapping cassettes and wheels on the Planet-X TT machine. I’ve now got the wireless Powertap on it.

The last attempt at a turbo session was dismal – failure to hold anywhere near 75% FTP – dropping to 50% for 10min. I have a feeling there’s actually something wrong with my Wired unit since this time I managed a 2 x 20min with relative ease. First 20min at .75FTP, 5min rest, second 20min at .80FTP with the last minute around 300W.. for fun.

The wired Powertap was out of action for ages with suspected water penetration due to a cracked cover. I swapped the cover for a new one but wonder if it’s possible that the new cover is on too tight or something?