When in doubt – buy a new bike
Posted July 26, 2011
This season is going really well, surpassing all my expectations. After spending last year in Team Cycling Plus, I thought it would be impossible to have a better year on the bike. I am pleased to report, my experiences so far have proved me wrong.
A big part of my feel good factor has been the improvement in my performance. Team Cycling Plus introduced me to the benefits of coaching. Andy Brodziak has enabled me to keep that going. Time trialling, the race of truth, has given me a measure of my improvement, and with 5 personal bests under my belt already, I have proof that I am stronger and faster.
Leicester Forest CC run a points competition during the evening time trial series. Initially I was lagging behind, having to be content with 4th place overall. My sudden improvement in times has seen me finish as the fastest club rider on two consecutive weeks, I’m getting closer to the three lads above me in the points table. With what I hope is the timing of Cadel Evans, I’m inching my way into contention.
The time trialling has been a massive bonus this year, but the events I like best of all are the hill climbs. With a couple of good results last year, and a surprise appearance in the National Hill Climb, one of my main goals for the year was to improve on this aspect of my cycling.
The club competition is going to be closely fought this year, with a number of good climbers vying for the title. They’re all much younger than me, so to improve my chances, I took the path followed by all true Mamils, I bought new gear! The local hill climbs are short and sharp and perfectly suited to a fixed wheel bike. On one of my regular trawls of cycling bargains on ebay, I spotted a track frame that fit the bill perfectly. A little bit of tinkering and I have a niche bike for the climbs that weighs less than the UCI limit and all for under £400.
It’s not all about the bike though, Andy has already changed my training for the week to bring in some specific climbing work – more on that next time.
Picture credit
