To win every race I entered. Attempt to stay upright on my bike in every race.
Training approach / philosophy
Well as I have now moved house, the old riding into work and back has gone out the window. So my training approach was based around riding 5 mins to and from the local station on my heavy mountain bike as fast as I can. I also threw in a few turbo sessions in the winter, the pain.
Lots of long social rides around the lanes of Surrey and Sussex with ACC and East Grinstead CC where no one can talk because they are panting so hard going up as many hills as we can find.
My best ride
I have had a couple of really good rides this year not just in races but also out with the club and on cyclo sportive events.
One of my most enjoyable rides in the winter was with David Findlay where we cycled around Lake Geneva. This was fantastic, it was an overcast cool day, not much wind and we just blasted around the lake which is almost 200km ride.
I also remember at some point this season doing the TOSH route with a bunch of ACCers. We dropped most people on the first climb and then the fast group just went for it the whole way, it was a really good group. It was great fun to see Toks struggling up Cranleigh hill and then having a massive blast back to CSS over Whitedown and then racing back over Box Hill. Over 100 miles in the legs and we were still ticking along at over 20mph. Fantastic.
Racing wise well it has to have been my win of course. I felt so strong on that day I could attack all day long and still had a lot left to be able to break away with around 15 miles to go and get the win. The feeling of joy and relief, at last getting a league win was awesome.
My worst ride
I have a list of bad rides and I cannot really pick a worst. My bad rides revolve around either mechanical failures or physical woes. The physical woes tend to mean me getting dropped in a race or not quite managing to get to my objective of winning every race. There have been many so I won't bore you with all the stories of nearly winning, but at Chertsey earlier this year it was so close, had been away for two laps and on the final lap my breakaway companion went on to win the race, I was 20m off his wheel at this point and the peleton caught me and spat me out the back and I came in well down the pack.
One race where I had a mechanical I was gutted. I had been racing hard and fast in the SERRL, over 100km race against the 2nd cats. I was still feeling strong at the end and was coming down the final hill before a left hand turn toward the finish. On the downhill I moved up into third spot, perfect for attacking the final hill. As I got to the bottom of the hill my bottom bracket gave up the ghost. Basically I could no longer turn the pedals, so not only did I not get the chance to get a decent placing in a 2nd cat race, but I could not finish the race. All that hard work for nothing.
Another mechanical was at the Grand Cymru event. I was really looking forward to this. The weather was great, had spent a couple of days in Bala and was really looking forward to blasting the course. After about 20km my back wheel gave up the ghost. I then had to spend about an hour trying to get back to HQ to see the misses. I must have spent loads of money on that weekend and only rode my bike for about 40km. This was annoying but I will go back next year as the course looked great.
Best road racer
Hmm, well surely the ACC road race results should tell you.
Really though Tim Harris is mega smooth and I think he has done really well. Last winter he could hardly keep up on the hills, now he is whipping ass in races with very high calibre riders. His result in the SERRL against the 1st cats where he managed to get in the points is extremely impressive and shows what he is capable of on a good day.
Best TTer
Hmm, well you need to have something wrong with you to enjoy time trialling and I think that Richy V fits the bill. I believe Richy is in the legal business, they are a strange lot, trying to make money out of other peoples misfortune and making mountains out of molehills. But I have to say that his results have been awesome, the average speed of some of his rides got me thinking as to whether or not he should be done for a speeding offence. Surrey Traffic Police Vs Viney, will you be defending yourself Mr Viney or is it a fair cop that you must have broken a few speed limits on your recent rides.
Most impressive riding
The most impressive riding I have seen this year is from Max Ramirez. Max is a regular road racing member of ACC, but not many of you will have seen him out. Max and I did the Marmotte this year and we spent a couple of days in the Alps riding. Max would just ride away from me and David Findlay whenever the road went vertical, which is quite a lot in the Alps. Max does not look like he is trying, he just gets into his rhythm, seated climbing and just keeps a constant pace, which is just fast enough to drop me. It is impressive to watch him disappear into the distance and watching your own HRM hitting 95% and thinking how does he do that. Although Aodan and Sylvain are impressive climbers, Box Hill is nothing compared to Alp D'Huez and I have to say it chaps, but I reckon Max would knock your socks off up the Alp or Box Hill, his climbing when he is on a good day is awesome.
Favourite Club Riders
My favourite club rider is Paul Hone. He rocks up on his bike dressed like the equivalent of a tramp when stood next to the bling assos clad boyz and then sits on the front of the training group and works. He is extremely competitive and loves trying to drop the training group or at least put them through hell. He is always up for trying to win the race to the top of every small hill, drag or even getting to the end of a road first. On a couple of occasions he has caught me napping this year and made me have to work hard to catch up with the group when he has put in a dig. When Paul is out I always know that I am going to have to put my back into the ride to be able to keep up and put in a good show.
Season’s low point
Simon Hazeldine getting knocked off his bike just before the racing season started. He had excellent form and was looking like he was going to cause awesome damage to the races. Thankfully he made a full recovery and is now getting ready to kick butt next year.
Most improved racers
I think that this has to be Toks. Before this year Toks was very nervous about showing his true colours in terms of his strength and speed. This year his confidence has risen significantly and he is attacking and leading the peleton in most races that I have seen him in. Getting into the break at the ACC race and then getting dropped later in the race, although sounds bad is brilliant. That is what it is all about, you have to be in it to win it and now he is having a go he is getting his just rewards. Well done on your second cat, you really deserve it.
Best Racing debut
Not sure but you lucky buggers who got a first place in your first ever event have got to be pretty happy. So you know who you are, well done.
Most improved club riders
My hat goes off to Aodan and Kieran. Both of these guys have come on really well this year. Kieran is now racing regularly and next season I reckon will start getting a bit more confident and should be up there in the results. Have you seen Aodan go up Box Hill, no, well nor have I, keeping up long enough to see him all the way to the end is just too painful. If he raced we would all be in trouble.
Favourite ACC event
ACC road race at Eastway. Well done Toks on an excellent event, well organised and cheers for making the result so good as well.
Best Forum bits
Toks race reports are brilliant. I wish I had the literary art that Toks certainly has. When are you going to start writing for cycling weekly?
Could have / should have …
… won every race I entered/won every race I entered
Best Quote
"we are going to take it easy today", me every time I turn up at CSS and am trying to round up riders for the training group.
Most ‘Bling’ Rider
It has to be Tim, although I seem to remember some really dodgy pictures with funny coloured arm warmers with yellow ACC top, this was pushing it a bit.
King of Pain
Huw
Next Year
Young Stu Bianchi is going to kick butt if he stays on the straight and narrow.
In relation to my objectives I managed to stay upright but only won 1 race. Next year objectives will need to be redefined, but I am sure Toks is going to give me some wise words of wisdom as to where I should set my target. Of course this does rely on me doing what he says, and as my moto is 'attack on the first lap and keep your fingers crossed' I think I will need to keep my adrenaline on a tight leash.
Cheers
Marek.....
