A brief update to keep you all informed on what I have been getting up to in the past few months.
The road and mountain bike race season is now over until next year so it was my chance to have a go at cyclo cross. I managed to beg an old bike from one of my dads mates who did the 3 peaks cyclo cross on it about 15 years ago.
My first race was on 6th October at Clayton Vale park in Manchester for the Evans youth series race, this was my first ever cyclo cross race and I didn’t even know how many laps we were going to be doing.
The course was fairly short with one slight hill up through some trees then on a fast grass section until 2 hurdles you had to get off and lift your bike over. On the start line the organiser said we were to race for 30minutes then 5 laps, so it was similar to a criterium race. I now know that all cyclo cross races do a similar amount of time.
I was doing ok and was in 3 rd place on the 1st of the final 5 laps when I slipped just before the hurdles, I jumped back up and tried to ride but had buckled my front wheel and knocked out my rear derailleur. I had to jack in so was a bit gutted but it was my 1st race.
My 2nd cyclo cross race was on 13th October the Wheelbase organised race at Outwood park Radcliff near Bury. People said the course was harder than the “normal” type of event because it had a couple of steep climbs that you had to run up and carry or push your bike. I had a good race and although I found it hard because I was not used to the running and jumping back on I managed to finish in 4th place so was chuffed for my 2nd ever cross race.
At the start of October I started getting training & coaching advise from Adrian Timmis (ex Tour de France rider & GB World champion elite rider)Adrian is advising me on my training but also my diet and strength training excerses. He is making sure that I keep within specific heart train zones so that I don’t over train.
I have got a single speed bike to do my winter training, it’s a Kona Paddy Wagon with a 42-16 chain set complete with mud guards for the wet and miserable days ahead.A few of my team mates are also using single speeds this winter and I have been told it will definitely help me get stronger and improve my riding style.
I went to St Helens during the half term holidays to see Marc Laithwaite of Endurance Coach (www.theendurancecoach.com) to have a Max VO2 Test and various other cycling related tests. It was interesting to see where my strengths are and what I need to do to improve.
I now know why I am not too good at sprinting from a standing start, but good at long steady climbs. Its in my genes!
I had improved in my power and my overall fitness since the last time I had these lab tests. These new results will help Adrian to plan my training and we will be able to see if the training is paying off when I get measured again in 2 months time.
Polar Heart Rate Monitors (UK) very kindly sponsored me with a heart rate monitor to help me get the best out of my training and racing for next season.
So a BIG Thanks to Polar and all my sponsors.
Nice one Sam – need to work on your pure speed I think for cyclocross to get the most from your strength (which I think is Endurance). Turbo training (speed, spinning, fast sprints) has helped me, along with faster, shorter, but more intense rides.