Bonking and Belgium

    So far my season has been slightly underwhelming I must say, but all that was going to change at the champs, I was sure of it. My optimism was short lived though as my warm up was interrupted by a long nature call which left me running out the loo desperately o make sure I didn't miss the start. The race was quite quick from the off but I simply didn't have the legs or the head and at Blackpool riding at the back simply isn't an option. 

     Sure enough about half way through the elastic snapped and I was off the back trying to limit my losses. Crossing the line though I was welcomed with the news that Ben had won. No offence to Ben but he hasn't been my pre race favourite and everyone was ecstatic about his win.

     A few weeks later I packed my things and headed south with the balfours for a Belgian adventure. Our first race was on the Wednesday in a small town in East Flanders and we were amazed by the field of 90+ riders on the start line. This included an American squad, a South African team as well as Dutch and French riders. And of course the Belgians.

     The race was way better than anything here with a fast pace on a long rolling course creating good hard racing with a rapidly decreasing bunch.the Belgian "style" of racing also helped make it enjoyable and different with 6ft+ riders head butting and elbowing around the course, bunny hopping anything they can see and riding on the pavements to move up whenever possible.  I came round somewhere in the top 40 (because I got 5 euros back) with Stuart finishing 12th.

      The Saturday race we were sure would be smaller although as we found out afterwards there was only 2 races in Belgium that day which explained the 120+ field of riders. This race was even harder based on what effectively was a large crit loop. I managed to get in a small move but it was quickly shut down and again finished in the bunch. Unfortunately we weren't able to race the Sunday but it was still a great trip. Muchos thanks balfours!

Oh and Ben bonked on chaingang on Saturday and I had to tow him home which was payback for him lapping me then winning the British champs.

Cheers for reading, over and out.

      

Apr

A large scratch group assembled in the lay by before the call of rolling out was heard and we all headed off to start the race (yes, race, what of it?). It was a hot evening and no one wanted to take it up so the first lap was steady with everyone eyeing each other up, whilst others gazed in awe at the British champion.

Onto the second lap and things were starting to heat up. A few digs off the front by numerous riders were all closed down quickly but the pace definitely seemed higher and already riders were feeling the burn, getting spat out into the abyss. I was rolling through the line well and my legs felt amazing (as per). I knew this was my race (yes, race) to lose.

Finally the last lap arrived andy positioning was far from ideal towards the back of the bunch. It was strung out but after a superhuman effort by me I was able to work my way up the bunch. Two riders were up the road and I knew that was where I needed to be so I kicked hard leaving everyone gasping at my strength and finesse. I bridged the gap, turning round to see the whole bunch on my wheel.

In the closing metres I was sat second so attacked once more putting huge distance into my fellow racers behind but unfortunately they caught up and sprinted past. Ben won. The end.

More Nationals...

     The past month or so has been pretty full on with 3 national circuit races and 3 scottish omnium rounds in 5 weekends. The omniums for me have really just been a learning experience as they were my first proper taste of track racing. By the glasgow round though I felt at home on the boards and was able to really mix it up in the racing finishing 6th overall on the day.
     The Milton Keynes national was the first of the three and after a fair drive south and lots of delays for the race we started just before 6. This was partly due to previous races running on but also as a result of a pile up on the warm up lap bringing around 15 riders down. The race itself was quite quick on a reasonably tight and twisty circuit. With around 15 minutes racing to go I made my way to the front and attacked on the slight descent with no one willing (or feeling the need) to chase. The gap grew and I was out alone for over two laps before being reeled in and from there I sat on wheels trying to recover before narrowly avoiding the big crash on the final corner and rolling in 25th.
     Hillingdon was next and although not by much London is even further away than milton keynes. Thankfully we were able to stay with friends the night before the race meaning we could watch the lions scrape their victory in the morning before trudging through london traffic to the race. After a series of heavy showers the under 16 boys were up and with a wide smooth track and a relatively small field (around 60-70) the race had quite a relaxing feel for a national. I was able to keep to the front for most of the race with one or two digs off the front but no one was allowed more than a few metres off the front of the bunch. I went again with 3 laps to go but again was only away for a minute or so before being swamped by the riders behind. In the final sprint I finished 20th.
     Yesterday was definitely the worst of the three nationals (from my perspective anyway). Birmingham felt like a short drive after the previous few weekends and after a few rushed visits to service stations I arrived early and got signed on. Again qualifiers were needed to wittle down an entry field of 111 to a final of 60. I was up in the first heat of around 55 and the race was really frantic with everyone desperate to stay to the front and more than a few hairy moments but I managed to qualify with not much hassle. A long wait in the sun eventually lead to the final at 20 to 6. There wasn't much to say about this races with my legs feeling horrible from the start. It was really strung out on the tight circuit and just staying on a wheel was a challenge for me, getting held up by a crash with 3 to go and rolling around just behind the bunch to finish.
      Next weekend is the national championships which should prove even harder than yesterday and then I'm off for a weeks racing in belgium. Cheers for reading, over and out. x

Bicycle riding

     Qualifying rides are never fun. Following over subscription for the Wolverhampton national round, the organisers decided to run heats for the Youth A boys in the morning ( 2 heats of 50 ) with the top 25 from each progressing to the final later in the day. The majority of the field had travelled large distances to race there and most had parents who had invested time and money to see their child race the main race and NOT simply get put out after a 20 minute qualifier. This meant everyone was feeling slightly nervous and with the tight twisty course it was essential to stay at the front of the bunch.
 
     But, as you only needed to be within the top 25 and not first, nobody wanted to ride hard on the front to keep the pace high. This resulted in one of the hardest tactical races I've ridden with more than a few elbows being thrown about. Thankfully I was able to comfortably sit within the top 10 and qualified without any major mishaps but half the field were left empty handed and had to return home. After returning to the hotel in time to catch breakfast (it was an early heat) my Dad and I returned to the race to sit around for another 3 hours or so in anticipation of the main race.

    The race was quick from the off with lots of digs at the front. The field was either completely strung out or completely bunched up meaning getting away from the rear end was proving hard and I wasted a lot of energy having to sprint out of every corner. Thankfully towards the end of the race I made my way into the top 10 and was sitting quite comfortably, not wanting to push too hard as Stuart was up the road in a breakaway of three. Coming into the last lap I stupidly allowed myself to be pushed out of my spot and finished around 30th in the bunch sprint. Not bad but not what I wanted. Stuart managed to stay away though, finishing second, I got a sweet mud tan line and I was able to get showered in Smellis' van so at least there was some positives to take away.

     Showering in Smellis' van turned out to be a bad mistake though as it meant he gained my trust. This proved decisive the following Wednesday when we headed out from Ronde for a couple hours spin and he said, "I know this really good ride, it's a wee bit longer but great fun".

     It started out good, with my first crossing of the firth of forth on two wheels, but 5 hours and 120km later I arrived home after we managed to get completely lost. Not a happy Francis. The following day was then taken as a rest and resulted in me helping out marshalling the 48 race which was good fun until the midgies arrived.

     I have a wee gap now but June is go go go with 3 Scottish omnium rounds and 3 national youth circuit rounds, with the British Championships at the start of July. Cheers for reading, over and out. x

     Oh and I snapped my frame but halfords were sound and gave me another for free. Thanks to Lewis from Bicycleworks for getting it ready quickly. And thanks to Emma B for some of the pictures!

Pictures and words

Well, I forgot to post after YTOS.... My weekend was a frustrating one but at least Stuart got second and the food was good.
The first national round in hog hill was definitely an improvement. Hog hill is in london if you're wondering, which is a very long journey in the car. It wasn't all that bad though as we went to tebay and saw a burnt out coach and saw a dog riding in the sidecar of a motorbike. I was gridded on the last row of a 110 strong bunch and managed to work my way up into the top 30 after a few laps. The pace was quick but I felt good and managed to make my way into the top 20 with three laps to go of the 2km circuit. The atmosphere on the climb was amazing but coming around to get the 2 to go my legs suddenly went. My legs turned out to be fine in the end, it was my rear tyre that had decided to have a puncture at the worst moment. No laps out with 5 to go. Following the wheel change I rolled around, thankfully finishing on the same lap as the leader. I was pleased with my legs but 840 miles is a long way to puncture. A very long way.
I'm writing at the moment in the hope that it will benefit me tomorrow in my first big exam at 9. Next week will be tough with 4 exams in 5 days but following that I have 4 weeks in which I have 3 exams and lots of time for bicycling. Wolverhampton national is the next big race for me with a maths exam ruling myself and many other scots out of Isle of Man.
Thanks for reading, over and out. X

Hmmmm

Almost YTOS.

     The week after my last post I headed south to Middlesbrough (sp?) once more for another crit/devil combo. My dad and I left a slightly overcast Edinburgh and the further we travelled, the worse the weather got and driving into the car park we were greeted with 2 degree temperature and heavy sleet. I rode the devil and was quite disappointed after being called out, stopping and then being told I was still in leaving me 4th and out of points. For the crit I felt horrific and decided to sit in for most of the race just following moves. Rian was on a lone attack for the majority and I let the others chase him down before I came out the last corner in 4th wheel and managed to sprint to 1st place which felt really good as a time trial win is nice but the feeling of outsprinting a bunch to the line is hard to beat.

     A few dips with poorliness have only slightly halted my training and especially in the last week I have really upped my riding. I even attempted the Red Bull Hill Chasers yesterday but my below par qualification run meant I didn't qualify for the finals in the evening unfortunately. It was great to get out in the sun this morning for a few hours before coming home to watch the Tour of Flanders (Ronde Van Vlaanderen). Now I'll ease up the volume of riding in preparation for the Youth Tour of Scotland starting this coming Friday. My expectations are not extremely high although I'm confident I can get involved with the front end of the race and hopefully get in some moves and make a difference to the race.

     I'll try and get a post up next Monday evening with the outcome to the tour and hopefully the tone will be positive. Cheers for reading, over and out. x

The last picture is Ben not me.

Some proper racing

     Long time no see.

            Since my last post I've stepped up my riding and feel I have achieved a fair bit. At half term, Ben and I went down to peebles to stay with Calum for a couple hard days riding on the road. A big loop via st marys loch to Moffat and back over the beeftub (which is a lot further than I remembered) left me knackered after day 1 and after waking up to snow the following day we were left at a loss as to what to do. Neither me nor Ben had brought mountain bikes but a cunning plan off putting cross tyres on my bike and Ben and Calum on Calum's two cross bikes we were able to go out for two and a half hours in the snow around Cardrona and glentress. After the ride it really made me think why I even bother having a road and mountain bike, when I can ride 115km on the road one day, then swap tyres over and smash around Glentress the next day on the same bike.

           That evening Ben and I headed to Glasgow to race track league before retiring home. Since then I have ridden my first ever Madison session on the track ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtxigEaRT6U ) and had another week or so off the bike with illness. Last Saturday was the first road race of the season at Ingliston and despite feeling under the weather I managed to complete the time trial and crit finishing 6th in both. Today was the second in the series and after a much better warm up I managed to win the time trial ( 7 seconds faster than last week in sub 2 minute race) just pipping Grant Martin who had decided to ride across the grass on the last straight. The crit followed and despite the pace being quite slow I enjoyed it and finished third behind Rory and Grant (the winner).

          Tomorrow I'm off to Middlesborough for another crit and the season definitely feels as if it's in full swing already. Cheers for reading, over and out. x

Thanks to John and Phil (I think, sorry if I'm wrong) for the photos and Ryan here's your shoutout.