Well over due season update!

So, time for a well over due blog post about what’s been happening over the past couple of months of bike racing.

Since my last post, I have ridden several races in the UK, achieving consistent results against tough opposition, holding my own and racing hard, trying to learn from every race to improve further. I have also moved out to the Basque Country for a summer of high level racing.

The original plan was to spend 1 month here, return home and think about my options. So, after a month of consistent results in the front third of each race and a top 20 in my last race of that month, I returned home, wanting to get back out as soon as possible, with my team; Ibaigane Opel also keen for my return, it was an easy decision.

Cos, my group up the climb. ( I'm mid shot, blue sleeve)

My first day on the bike when I got home it rained, the second day was the same, it made me really miss the great weather in the Basque Country; I couldn’t wait to get back. I spent just over a week at home, taking it easy, seeing friends and family, riding my bike and working, before I was packing for my return to País Vasco.

Cos (I'm in the middle)

When I arrived back in Bilbao airport, it felt like I hadn’t left, the hot air swamping me as I made my way outside and into the team car for the drive to the hotel in Igorre. The temperature gauge on the car measured 42 degrees centigrade, a heat I haven’t experienced since my time out here last year.  The next morning(Saturday), I had an Elite race in Amurrio, it had been described as flat, but as I have found the description of ‘flat’ races over here aren’t too accurate, with 2 main climbs each lap, of around 1km(sounds easy, it wasn’t!). I was feeling better than I thought I would, legs were a little heavy from the travelling the day before, but I expected that. In the end a group of about 25 riders finished in front of the peloton of roughly 100 riders, I managed to get through okay and rolled into the finish mid-bunch.

The next race for me would be on Monday in Lemoiz, a lumpy circuit with a tough gradual climb which was made hard by the wind we hit as we turned into it. There was plenty of climbing in this race, none of the climbs longer than 1k but there were plenty of them. I managed to recover okay from the race on Saturday and was actually feeling much better than I had done, I worked hard getting in moves mid-way through the race, trying to make an impact in my early races back. I felt I was riding strongly up until the last 20km or so, when my legs started to feel the stress of the past couple of days. I stayed in towards the front of the bunch until the last 10km or so, up the headwind climb near the finish, when I just couldn’t hold the pace of the riders in front and dropped off the back with a few others, riding the last 10km easy to the finish, coming home around 50^th. I was so disappointed, and couldn’t  understand why I wasn’t going as well as I was in July, but I thought I’d give it time and see how I went in the next race.

Lemoiz

The next couple of races were pretty similar; I wasn’t feeling any better and still couldn’t understand what was happening. I then had a couple of decent training sessions and was starting to feel a lot better, and regained some confidence for the next races a few days later.

It would be a 2 day block of under23 racing, the first day was in Elgoibar, and it was more or less flat for about 75km before we hit a couple of tough steep climbs near the finish that would  diminish what was left of the peloton. The whole race right up until about halfway up the first tough 2.5km climb I was feeling really good, coping with the speed of the bunch no problem, and getting myself in splits and breakaways. I wasn’t able to stay with the front riders up the climb, so from here about 20km to the finish I was on a chase over the top, down the tricky descent and up another tough climb of 5km then to the finish with about 12 riders. I finished 47^th.

The next day was a race in Guernica, 5 laps of 15kms with a 2km shallow climb at the start of every lap, before a bigger lap of 30km that included the short shallow climb before it turned off onto a tougher climb of about 5km. The race was largely controlled by Naturgas Energia and Bidelan ( 2 strong teams that had missed out on the break of 6). This meant the pace was pretty constant for most of the race, as the bunch kept the 6 leaders within a minute or so. I felt I was coping with the pace pretty well, and managed to get into a good rhythm up the climb. I was feeling good for the tough final lap that included a lot more climbing. We hit the shallow climb for the last time, and the bunch suddenly became more nervous and aggressive as riders tried to prepare themselves for this tough lap we were in for once we turned off and onto the steep section. Quicker than anticipated, we turned right and onto the steep stuff, with attacks going left, right and centre. All I was able to do was watch and try to stay in contact; I was no longer feeling good. I rode as hard as I could with a group of riders to get back on to what was left of the peloton, succeeding just over the top of the climb. We then hit another steep ramp of about 1km, but I was in the red and again lost contact. A fast technical descent through the cars, taking some risks and I was back on, and with only 10kms of downhill and flat remaining, I was pretty confident I would stay in and have a good chance of a top 20, as my strength on the flat seems to be a lot better at the moment than when it isn’t. Almost as soon as I got myself back into the peloton of about 25 riders, a spoke in my rear wheel gives way, so time to change the wheel and ride off in pursuit, catching riders in the process coming into the finish in 37^th, 3 minutes behind. However, there were some positives, I felt in better condition than yesterday’s race, onto the next one!

Views of the Basque Country

The next one…An elite race in Lakuntza down in Navarra. This race was pretty hard going to say the least. The first half of the 130km race was mainly held on open exposed roads and some narrow twisting lanes with gravelly corners. The pace was pretty fast from the off, with moves going and coming back until a solid break formed. There were further chase groups and I managed to get involved, making our way across the gap to the lead group of 10-15 riders. Our group got bigger and bigger until there was about 20 riders in the group and the peloton was closing in, as some teams weren’t keen on the numbers they had in the chase group. I was able to avoid working to bring the break back as I had 3 team mates in the front group, which meant Ibaigane Opel were having a pretty good race.  Throughout the 3 main climbs in the last 60km I rode at my own pace, as there was no longer a peloton, with groups of riders everywhere as the difficulty of the race took its toll. I worked with a group of about 10 others to the finish, coming home in 46^th place. Despite the result, I was satisfied that I had better ‘sensations’ than the last race, so I am confident that I can pick up some form for the last few races of the season.

The Urkiola

The next race is this weekend and it’s a big one, the Vuelta a Valencia, a 4 day stage race from Thursday to Sunday. It should be pretty hard going but I am really looking forward to it, and hopefully I can get something out of it.

The team leaves early tomorrow morning for a 6 hour drive, which should be fun…

I’ll write up a report when I get back, thanks for reading,

Taylor

Weekend in Belgium.

If you can race in Belgium, you can race anywhere. I've been told this countless times, and I completely agree. The racing is so aggressive, and so different compared to anywhere else, it's always a great experience and I can't wait to get back out there in a few weeks time.

So, myself and Scottish team mate, Jack Barrett made the journey to Belgium via Eurostar,  and a local train to get ourselves to the apartment in Oudenaarde. Once we got there, it was time to quickly settle down and get some rest, ahead of a tough weekend. The next day we got out on the bikes for 90 mins along the canal, to get the previous day's travelling out the legs. 

To the racing! On Saturday we were racing in Bissegem, a 30+km ride to get there, giving us some nice mileage aswell as racing. The race was fast, but I felt comfortable enough to get involved with moves and stay at the front of the race without too much trouble, although I only finished 47th out of about 100 starters, not a bad start, but nothing to shout about. 

'Full gas'

On Sunday, we were racing in Zwijnaarde, not quite as long a ride over as the day before, but still a good 25km. The course included a section of cobbles just after the finish line, and a few corners in close succession just before it, which made it a tough course and it was so vital to stay as far up the field as possible. I managed to do this quite well, but I didn't have the form to attempt to bridge across to the group of around 20 riders who had moved off the front. I then spent the rest of the race in the top 20/25 riders in the main bunch, which was getting smaller and smaller, lap by lap. I began to feel the strain of the race and not being in the first 10-15 riders really hurt when we were strung out in the gutter, as riders pulled out of the line, unable to hold the wheel in front. Onto the last lap, it was a bit manic, riders pushing and shoving for a top 30, the only reason to do this in my opinion is the prize money, so I joined in. I didn't manage to get anywhere though, coming in 59th out of 150 starters. Numbers off, recovery drink, food and change of clothes, it was time to ride home, 30km's and an early start the next morning to catch my train.

First experience of under 23 racing in Belgium was a decent one, with this weekend only being my 3rd and 4th races of the season, and very little form, I am sure in a couple of months time, in these sorts of races, I can be challenging the front hitters. For now though, just finishing in the front half and learning how the under 23 'lads' race over in Belgium, is an experience ticked off the list and I can't wait to race there again.

Taylor

The Racing Season Begins.

So, it's been a while since my last post, a few things have happened since then, so I will do my best to fill you in, let you know what's going on, and what I have got coming up as the racing season starts to kick in.

My last post was after my first week in Lanzarote, the last week and a half out there was great. The weather improved, with the temperature getting up to about 24 degrees most days, and the wind dropped a fair bit, which made it more enjoyable and easier to stay in a straight line! In the last couple of days of my time over there, I started to feel fatigued, so decided to take the last couple of days easy and avoid training that wouldn't do me any good so close to racing. So, after a late flight, I arrived home at about 1am Friday morning, and was pretty tired to say the least. I took the next couple of days easy before my first race on Sunday, at the SERRL event down at the new Cyclopark in Kent. I wasn't expecting too much from myself, so just took it easy for the first part before I started to get involved with the racing. I soon realised that I wasn't really in the shape I needed to win the race, so I tried a few different attacks to find out what shape I was actually in. I found out that my top end, wasn't so top. A few riders got away in the end, mainly in ones and two's, then I came third in the bunch kick to take 9th. An okay start, considering.

Next up, I recieved my new race bike for this season, a Colnago M10, kitted out with Campagnolo Super Record 11 and FSA components. Many thanks go to Maurice Burton and everyone at De Ver Cycles, Peter Nisbet and the people at Windwave, for sorting me out with a fantastic bike for the 2012 season.

The following weekend was my first road race of the season, and what an introduction. The weather was grim, so grim. I've raced in a few different weather conditions, but none as cold and wet as this one. I felt alright for the first half of the race, but the conditions took their toll and I ended up getting dropped from the chase group within a couple of miles from the finish with a lap to go, so decided to pull out, once I had reached the finish line. There was no point whatsoever to continue in my eyes. I hate having to pull out, but it was for the best. My arms, feet and hands were so numb I could hardly ride my bike, it is safe to say I have never felt like that on a bike before.

Monday brought a problem. In the afternoon, I started to get a headache and a hungry sensation. As the day progressed I felt worse and worse. I got home and just collapsed in bed, knowing something was up. I spent the night being violently sick, I had caught a stomach virus. I was frustrated, but I tried not to let it get to me too much, and just focused on getting better, telling myself that it's a long season, and these things happen. The next couple of days would be spent in bed, resting, drinking, and doing what I could to recover. Come Friday, I was starting to feel a lot better, and knew I would be well enough for some long rides over the weekend.

This was the case. A few hours on the bike, both days this weekend was a good way to get back into it all. I felt better than I expected to, so hopefully after a good week of training behind me, I can be somewhat ready for my trip to Belgium next weekend. I will be racing on Saturday and Sunday, both races being about 150km's. This week has damaged my chances of doing well, so I am hoping to feel okay, but I can only imagine how tough it will be.

So, that's what's on my racing agenda next. The week after that, is the Wally Gimber Memorial race, in which I am hoping to have a good ride, as I build towards my first goal of the season.

That's all for now, will give another update on my trip to Belgium next week!

Taylor


http://www.devercycles.co.uk/
http://www.windwave.co.uk/index.html
http://www.colnago.com/

First week in Lanzarote!

As I only had 1 hour on the bike today, and therefore have a bit more time on my hands, I thought i'd better write up a post on how things are going on the island of Lanzarote.


After a later arrival than expected on Sunday evening, due to the plane leaving 6 hours after it was scheduled to, there was no time to get a couple of hours in on the bikes. This is what Monday was used for, Germain and I rode along to a town called Orzola, on the north of the island and back, which gave us just under 2.5 hours of riding time, to get the travelling out of the legs before the real training began.


And so, on Tuesday, it all began. I was, for the first time in a long while, excited for my 5 hour ride. The new scenery, mountains and conditions making it easy to get out on the bike for hour after hour. The new roads to explore and mountains to climb, it really does make the bike riding enjoyable.


I won't go into too much detail about the training i'm doing, but I will say that I have never trained as much as I am over here in Lanzarote. My time here should give me a great base to work on when I go back home, and hopefully will lead to a strong first season as an under 23.


My racing calender is almost complete, once it is, I will publish it on here, so keep an eye out!


It looks like I have got away just in time, as I hear there is even more snowfall back home, hope you guys are getting out on your bike okay, it's a bit windy here, but i'll get by ;)


That's all for now, will keep you updated on a more regular basis from now on.


Thanks


Taylor

Cross Season Over, Road Season About To Begin.

Apologies for the late update on my last cross race, been enjoying my time off the bike and haven't got round to writing up a blog post, but as it is my last day off before training resumes, I thought i'd better get on with the blogging!


My last race of the cyclo-cross season was the last National series round at Shrewsbury. It was probably my best result of the season, 17th, although I felt I could have and should have done better if I wasn't caught behind crashes, but thats racing. I really enjoyed the race though, I felt more involved, which is a nice feeling considering the lack of cross specific training I did during the Season. The course was really good fun too, mainly based weaving in and out of trees and on off camber banks, making it quite technical. Good news for the road season ahead though, is that on the long road section each lap I managed to gain time on the riders in front, proving all the power and strength work I've done this Winter has paid off.


Cross bikes are now hung up for another year, I am now comitted to the upcoming road season, looking forward to testing myself and improving on last years results, to prepare myself for my second year as a Senior and Under 23 rider.


Its looking like I am heading off to Lanzarote for a couple of solid weeks pre-season training with the Burtons, in the second week of February. I can't wait to get back into the swing of training, and starting off in Lanzarote is perfect to get it all underway. I am planning to start my racing season almost as soon as I get back, on the last weekend of February, to say i'm excited is an understatement.

I hope to be picking up my new Colnago team bike in the near future, that is making the upcoming season even more exciting, cannot wait to get my hands on it!

The Colnago M10 Frame I will be riding in 2012.

The Colnago I will be riding this year will be completed with Campag Super Record 11 groupset and FSA components.


That's all for now, keep checking back for my racing calender updates, blog updates and changes to the site.


Thanks


Taylor

National Cyclo-Cross Championships 2012.

One word to decribe my race is a dissapointment.  I begun the day, hoping for a good result, I felt a top five was realistic and achieveable but anything can happen on the day. This proved true, as I lined up on the second row of the grid, focusing on the first part of the race which is so important in cyclo-cross racing. The usual countdown began, 30 seconds...15 seconds....Then bam, the gun goes off and the race was underway. A decent start put me into the top 8 riders. The pace was high, lined out along the straight 200 metres after the start. As we approached the next corner, I tried to change down a couple of gears for the exit, however, there was a problem. My shifter had managed to get something caught in it on the start straight, some grit or something and I couldn't change up the block, so was stuck in my biggest gear until I could change bikes at the pits. Stupidly, I missed the first set of pits, they were based on a corner and I was too busy trying to fix the problem and whizzed past the pits, just realising how big a mistake I had just made. I was gutted, after such a good start, but I tried my best to keep my cool and lose as little time as possible before the next set of pits. I found it tough to stay in the front group in such a big gear, as the speed of riders like Steven James out of corners is hard enough to match with a choice of gearing.


I got to the second set of pits trailing the front group by around 15/20 seconds but that gap was significant on a course like this and would need a massive ride on my part, to get back into that group. It didn't happen for me, every lap that passed, I was losing time to the front group and I soon realised that I wasn't going to make the top five, however there were a couple of riders about 30 seconds in front of me who were fighting to get into that front group, and thought if I can get myself up to them then I am a step closer to the top five, but as with the front group, I was losing seconds here and there each lap and never really managed to make an impact into that gap. I spent a lot of the race working on my own, frustrated as the race pulled further and further away from me, but there was nothing really I could do, I was riding as hard as I could. The laps ticked by and with 1 lap to go I was still no closer to the riders in front of me, I rode on to finish in 9th place, dissapointed and feeling slightly sorry for myself, I tried to tell myself 'that's bike racing' but I was still really gutted. The only aim of my cross season, ruined in the first hundred metres of the race by some grit. It's hard to take but I have just got to move on and look forward to the road season ahead, which I am very much looking forward to, get some good results and see what that brings.




The last race of my cross season is this Sunday at the final National Trophy Round in Shrewsbury, I will still have a poor gridding position, but I hope I can push myself into the top 20 riders and finish the cross season with an acceptable result. The forecast is dry and very cold, but I've been told it's going to be muddy, not sure why if its dry, but I guess only time will tell.


Here is a link to pictures of the race, taken by Simon Parker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonjamonbda/6680229377/in/set-72157628826934605/lightbox/


That's all for now, thanks for reading!


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Taylor

First race of 2012, Start as you mean to go on.

I'm pleased to say myself and Mick Bell got 2012 underway with a win at the Madison Cross at Herne Hill today. It was a great race, fun and enjoyable, with short fast laps preventing resting riders from standing about in the cold and rain for too long. It's not a particularly competitive race, however with the National Championships next week, its always nice for morale to get a win, of any kind. It means a lot to Mick who has such a great chance to win the Vets 50+ Jersey and I'd like to think I will also have a chance in the Under 23 mens race.


Back to the race today...Mick was the starting rider in our pair and got a decent start, sending me on my way after a lap in 4th a couple of seconds from the front. I came back around the next lap slightly ahead and from then on the pair of us gained seconds here and there every lap, comfortably positioned in 1st. It wasn't assured though, as the 2nd placed team kept us on our toes but on the last lap we still had a good 15-20 second gap, and we held it to the line with Mick taking the victory celebrations.


The next time I will be riding my cross bike will be at the National Championships next weekend. The nerves are starting to kick in now as I feel I have a genuine chance of a good result in the closing weeks of the cross season. I will need to be riding at my best though, to have a chance of a good result, as there is some tough competition in the under 23 category, but hopefully all my hard work over the past couple of months will pay off.




Picture from today's race, taken by Pauline English.

Good luck to everyone riding the Championships next weekend, I'm sure I'll see some of you there.

Taylor

Last post of 2011.

As it's the last day of 2011 I thought I would write up a small post to round out the year. 2011 was my last year as a Junior rider as I now move up and into the under 23 and Senior ranks. To say I'm excited about the prospect of next year is an understatement. I can't wait to start my preparation for the season and sort out my racing calender, it's going to be a big year for experience, as I will be racing in big races home and abroad, testing myself and looking for results in my first year as a Senior.


The new year also brings a new Colnago bike,  supplied by Windwave through De Ver Cycles, I really look forward to getting my hands on it, will post pictures and info when I get it.


My first race of 2012 is tomorrow, the Madison Cross race at Herne Hill. I am pairing up with the legend that is Mick Bell, hopefully we can both start 2012 with a win!


I decided to ride out to Richmond Park and do a zone 3 ride for my last ride of 2011, not too nice a day out but hopefully there aren't too many of those left in the next couple of months. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/137784713


Happy New year everyone, when it comes. Hope you all have a great 2012!


Taylor