Only Fun was to be had at Bradford :I

On the 11th December I left Dover and travelled all the way up to Bradford with my coach (Richard) where the National Trophy Cyclo-cross Round 5 was to be held at Peel Park. As it was an over 5 hour journey, we stayed the night before at a hotel, about half an hour's drive from the race venue. We stayed at a Travel-Lodge and was a nice way to relax before the big days racing the next day!
We arrived at the Travel-Lodge when it was dark, but still had a lot of time on our hands, first i got the usual funny looks, that you get when you bring a Wheelbag, a Turbo Trainer and a Cross Bike through recepetion :D
Once i had settled in i took the time to do a pre-race-day turbo session to try and put the legs in a good way for racing the next day.

Hotel Turbo Trainer Setup

Above is a picture of a turbo set-up in my hotel room. I was wondering what the people in the room below thought all the vibrating was (that was created by the Turbo Trainer) for 45 minutes of their stay, but hey-ho, it's what racers do! :D
After a well-needed turbo session I had some dinner and had a talk with my coach about the race the next day, and then went back to my own room and settled down for the night. Altogether this was a nice evening and knowing a wouldn't have to get up at 5 or 6 in the morning all helped to achieve the relaxed mental state that you need for cyclo-cross racing.
I woke up at a the nice time of 9 o'clock in the morning, which is much earlier than i would have needed to if i had travelled up on the day!

Packed and Ready for the days racing!! :D
(Bike and spare wheels)

First I packed all my stuff away and then met my coach for breakfast. We then packed all my stuff and bike in the car and we left for the race venue.
We arrived at the race venue with plenty of time on our hands, so I took the time to get all my race kit organized, to make sure I had my spares ready and generally check everything. Once the juniors had finished racing, i went round the course for a couple of practice laps. During the Junior race i found my coach viewing a rather technical section of the course, where there was a off camber decent on very slippery mud. Many riders had fallen off there and had slid right under the tape, because of this i took the time to practice this particular part of the course 4 times! I had a sketchy moment on the second try, but apart from the that i had it dialled!
Once i had practised the course i started a pre-race warm-up which involved and few repeats of easy pedalling down hill and sprints up-hill on a 50 metre stretch to get the legs working and the circulation going, this generally helps with the immediate and fast start required in a cyclo-cross and helps my overall race.

I lined up near the start waiting to be gridded and was told by fellow riders that the technical decent that i had taken my time to practice 4 time was no longer in the course!
I was then reassured by the BC Comissaire that the course was the same as the previous race and that the technical decent would be included in the course, after this I was then gridded on the 2nd row and with the gridding place, the course practised, and the technical decent dialled i was confident of a good race. However this was not how it all paned out!

Struggling on the second lap :(
(me on the left)

I had a good start and was up the front of the field for about a 1/3 of a lap, then i died, not literally :P, but my legs ran-out of energy. Also the sticky and claggy mud did not help with my race performance. I pressed on and took the time to clear a bit of the mud from my chainstay area a couple of times during the race. I finished the race with a bike as clogged up as much as a gutter, and with a result which wasn't worth a welcoming crowd!

A Disappointing Result
(me on left)

Once I had finished I normally talk to my coach and other riders about how the race went, but for now at least I didn't really want to talk about my race. Anyway, I had a wash, packed up the car and watched the senior race, which was won by Ian Fied of Hargroves Cycles. My race (Under 16 Male) was won by Billy Harding, with London rider Harry Franklin in 3rd.

After the senior race we started the long drive back to Dover, but first lets get something to eat! We went to a Harvester about half an hour from the race venue and I enjoyed a Very Nice (but not so well deserved :(   ) Gammon Steak with Chips and Pineapple. We then got back in the car and went home, which took around 5 1/2 hours!

My Very Nice post-race Meal :D

Overall I enjoyed the race course alot, but obviously with enjoyment, not always comes results. Even though i didn't get a good result i enjoyed the race and the weekend. I think mainly the reasons for me not having a very good race was Lack of training in the weeks leading up to the race and the lack of a spare bike in very mudddy and claggy conditions. Luckily for the National Championships on the 08/01/11, I should have a spare bike, and a pit crew(dad :P) to clean my bike's to help my race efforts.

Anyway a very enjoyable weekend and thanks to Richard Wood (coach) for taking me there and back etc.

Next Report on next Monday on the London League Round 11 at Herne Hill Stadium :D

Au revoir!! :D