Race Report – The Spring Onion

The report…

The Spring Onion is a cracking local event of 65 miles (104.5 km in Triathlon speak). Run by Dudley of 50/34 events it is good value too.

Starting in Cobham town centre at a gentle 8:15 am (and how easy is that?) we rolled out like a marauding group of Viking Raiders. Dodging Nannies in Range Rovers heading for their skinny latte take outs, riders of all shapes & sizes were at 150% of FTP in the gentle upward drag to Effingham and White Down. I took the chance to snuggle up behind some of the ‘fuller figured’ riders to save the limited watts I had so far accumulated this season.

By the time we were in ‘The Street’ in Effingham the group of 50 odd was down to 15 or so, as we got going on the drag up past St Theresa’s to White Down. At White Down we are down to 10 riders – 8 Dynamos plus 2 including me.

By the top of Leith we are 7.

We then head out into the real Surrey & Sussex countryside, up Smokejack Hill & past pubs called ‘Badger’s Spleen’ and ‘Ocelot’s Nipple’ where local farming types with bugger-grip side-burns will later be sat drinking Old Thumper. From the back of my group the view looks great, sprawling country homes for the fishing and shooting types.

Wisborough Green is where the halfway feed station is at. The trouble is we get there too fast, & they are not yet set up! In any event we have no plans to stop for snacks, and trundle past looking serious. I am already starting to suppress the need to wee. Being over 50 this is a big disadvantage, as whilst it is well-documented muscles waste faster as we age, it is also seemingly true that your bladder gets much smaller. Mine seems to be about as big (or small?) as a walnut as I try to think about anything else.

I venture the idea of a stop but nobody else is keen as they are all too young, and still have bladders the size of grapefruits.

At the Foxbridge Lane climb we lose a Dynamo as he goes shooting out the back. I bet he stops to pee, lucky thing.

Two fast riders then breeze past. WTF?

I realise that there is no way I can keep up and let them go, but two of our crew try in vain to keep up, and waste some energy. By Hascombe Hill the two speedsters are long gone (to eventually finish 1st & 2nd). I tell myself they are young and don’t have proper jobs, wives, families, cats or dogs, so can train a lot more. If nothing else it stops me thinking about having a wee.

At Hascombe Hill we also lose another Dynamo out the back, so now we are down to 5 (3 Dynamos plus Jonathan from Cadence, and me). I almost get a nose bleed by venturing to the front, & thankfully before too long we arrive at Coombe via Bramley, Chilworth & Albury. Up Coombe I am having to back off, the other guys are all bigger & gravity is taking its toll. I suspect their larger bladders don’t help here, they could have been so much lighter had we stopped to wee.

There is no point in riding off to get away, as from the top of Coombe it is all downhill as we scream down Green Dene, into Effingham and then Cobham. Again time to be in a group and to know you need to do that before you start the ride. I am now on & off the front with Jonathan, pulling as fast as my little legs can go. We scream into Cobham which is now very busy. Range Rovers are again everywhere, as Davinia & Claudia head for extra Ballet & Piers & Miles are dropped off at the Skate Park. We avoid any collisions and I let the guys roll in ahead, as that is good rider etiquette having sucked their wheels like Linda Lovelace!

Dudley has, as always, put on great post-ride snacks & pasta. After pi$$ing like a racehorse I scoff down loads of protein (as well as some junkier stuff) and chat to the guys I rode with, who are all lovely. We work out we placed 3rd to 7th (with me in 7th). I ponder suggesting an over 50’s category for 2017 and then roll home.

Lessons from the day?

Racecraft in cycling events includes knowing when to push, and when to sit in (& hide). For a fast time in this event you need to be with a good group after the top of Leith Hill, as from there it is flatter for long periods. Therefore, know your route in advance, so in this instance pushing hard early actually worked well. Conversely start too slow & you spend the ride with a weaker slower group, who will rely on you to do more of the heavy lifting. Choosing not to stop at the feeds in shorter events, especially when the weather is cool can save time too. Having a powermeter helps hugely, as if you ‘know your numbers’ you are less likely to blow to pieces and can become more skilled at conserving power to use it when needed. To know your numbers you ideally need a coach, for me that has been the best money spent in cycling!

There were some other Viceroys there, so they too should write up how they got on?

Have a good season everyone, you can do more than you think you can!

Race results can be found here.

Pete

Olympic Dreams

Our very own Louisa Sawer has officially been selected for the 2012 London Olympics. Louisa will be representing Great Britain in the K4 kayak over 500m.  She is one of four in the kayak and a great achievement as the selection process has been long and challenging.  She is off to the European championships (Spain) next week before the final push.  We wish her all the very best and hope she can do the business.

New members….

A big welcome to Sam and Amy-Jo.

In their own words….

Sam and Amy-Jo have recently returned to the UK after 18 months living in Bondi, Australia. When not sunning themselves on the beach, they spent a fair bit of time training and racing with the BRAT club in Bondi although Sam was known for shunning them in favour of his own company! Both have raced over a variety of distances with varying degrees of success! Current triathlon goals are up for discussion once some semblance of form has returned.

Race News

Great weekend for the VTC at the Bicester Sprint triathlon. The weather was sunny, but windy and with six VTC members rocking up, we looked set for business. The swim was set in a pool with the slowest going off first. With no marshalls counting athletes lengths, it was clear to see that there could be some intersting times. What can only be described as a stupidly long run from the pool to transition, times where set to be slow. These this was over shaddowed by the 400m run from T1 along a path to the bike mount line. The bike course was a two lap affiar, but due to poor sign posting, it was easily to get lost. Finally the run was five laps around a soft and spongey college field. Everyone battle hard against the persistant wind and we picked up THREE age group winners with Claire Lloyd (35-39), Mark Edmonds (20-24) and Mark Yeoman (35-39).

One year on….

Nearly one year since Andy was involved in a near fatal accident whilst out on a training ride he was interviewed by Tom Edwards for the BBC.

Phil, Andy’s brother writes:

One year on and Andy’s road to recovery is truly remarkable and inspirational for us all.

But as his older sibling and one of the first see him after his accident this is especially true for me.

He’s still very much in pain on a daily basis – but never moans! and his upbeat attitude never wavers!

Through this horrendous accident will come so much more, his journey now to promote Road ID and the use of helmets is at the forefront of his agenda.

Im so proud of him.

The interview can be found here.

Project Pink Handover

Viceroys Member Andy Curran was knocked off his bike in 2011 and suffered serious injuries, to help with his rehabilitation the Viceroys led by our Chairman undertook to rebuild his bike, to make it the ultimate turbo bike.  (Photos of the build can be found in the Gallery)

Last Saturday a number of the Viceroys were present when Project Pink was handed over to Andy in a surprise meet up at his local pub, Andy now takes over the story:

Hi one and all

Well what can I say! Continue reading

New week, new member…

Welcome to Carla who has decided to join the Viceroys for 2012, in her own words:

In summer of 2009 I took part in a relay race at Dorney Lake, with just the one discipline to complete (the run) I found myself eager to learn more. So that was it, signed up for my first Triathlon. Having only ever swam breaststroke at snail’s pace, I knew this would be the toughest discipline, it was a mental battle to get in the water. I immersed myself in books, magazines, personal training and with the support of my family and friends I completed my first Tri (June 2010) not only that I also managed to raise over £2000.00 for two beautiful children Abbie and Christopher both of which lost their lives to cancer (two charities were formed in their name!).

Continue reading

A warm welcome to Jacky

A big welcome to Jacky who in her own words….

I have for many years been a very keen water skier, skiing on both boat and cable. I have water skied for Team GB in the cable team in slalom, trick and jump. Skiing in Open Nationals, Senior Europeans and World Championships. I am also a very enthusiastic snow skier having done this since childhood.

Just over 2 years ago I decided I needed a new challenge and took up road biking. I cycled Hampton Court to Paris in 2010 and 2011. 525km over 3 days.
Last year I did the tour of Flanders 140km over the pave and the 3 day Alpine Challenge in Annecy. I have joined Viceroys as a keen cyclist looking to improve fitness, get faster and stronger and meet some like minded people to train with. I am this year again doing Flanders at the end of March and climbing in the Alps later this year.

Will I ever do a triathlon, I don’t think so as unable to swim more than a bit of breast stroke, but maybe I would try a small duathlon.