Yorkshire Points Round 5 Temple Newsam

Temple Newsam is one of my favourite course.  I seem to go pretty well here, which is surprising really considering the lap has what must be one of the longer climbs of any of the regular venues on the circuit.  However, what goes up must come down, and here I can put my considerable bulk to good use and just let gravity do its thing.  Plenty of rest time before the slog back up to the top.  Also good and varied, so keeps you on your toes and mind off the thumping heart.

A glorious day greeted another bumper Belgian turn out including Alison, Johnny, Mark, Nick, Paul, Rich, Ricky and me, and also official snapper Jo. Although a couple of rainy days preceded race day, the course was essentially dry with a couple of slightly sticky spots under the trees - splatter was minimal.

The whistle went, and everyone bolted for the first corner.  The hard hard toil commenced.  I raced and raced and tussled all of the race with Mark, which, now thinking back, made for a very enjoyable race.  Mark had the measure of me really if I'm honest, but a clogged cleat let Mark down at the crest of the final climb, and I pounced.  Sprint finish and just clung on to 117th!  Now I know I'm not the fittest bloke in the world, but still, I really turned myself inside out during the race and it's only worth 117th!  There are some very fit and fast people out there.

Women/Vets

Richard Allen          14th

Paul Nutton             43rd

Nick Waggat           69th

John Parkinson        117th

Mark Bradley          118th

Alison Crutchley      125th

Johnny Hardiman     129th

Seniors

Ricky Feather          17th

So it was just a great day out.  It had everything... meeting new team mates, sunshine, push bikes, racing in sandals, beer, everything!

*Photos courtesy of Jo Hanglebads.  Thanks

The Season So Far...

It is hard to believe but the Yorkshire Points competition is more than two thirds over. Round seven was last Sunday at the 'old school' Brighouse course. Also hard to believe is that Brighouse is the first points race this season where it actually wasn't dry/sunny for the vets race! Anyway having failed to post regular race reports its time to recap and take stock on a non-racing weekend!

Round One Northallerton 2/9/12

Steve giving me a 'funny look' ;-)

Well it wasn't the usual Oakbank opening round but it was the Northallerton 'grass crit', no need to dismount at any point and very fast. Bone dry and sunny, a rude awakening for the racing legs. I felt pretty good for the first race of the season but lacked a little in pace. Met up with Jon (cheers for the stickers!) for the first time since last season and best of all we recruited a new lady, Laura, with genuine Belgian pedigree! @Hanglebads photos
Rich Allen 15/88, Nick Waggett 54/88, Jon Allen 62/88, Laura Jolly 83/88 (5th W)

Round Two Oakbank 9/9/12

The usual season opener had to take second place this year but still managed to pack in the usual variety in a (relatively) small venue. Lovely sunny weather again to begin with and though most of the course was dry some areas held the rain. These areas started to cut up adding a bit of challenge. Funniest moment was having to sprint to and from the car to fetch a spare front wheel for Mark (J. D. Cycles) during the seniors race as he ran a lap to the pits with a flat. I hope he appreciated getting the first ride on one of my FMB Superprestige tubs! Jo was poorly so no photos.
Rich Allen 18/103, Nick Waggett 45/103, Laura Jolly 90/103 (5th W), John Parkinson 97/103

Round Three Tong 16/9/12

An good course with a mix of open fields, technical woody descents and a steep climb. Dry and sunny again and really not that wet under the wheels either. I felt pretty good but missed a trick by not using a log hop short cut every lap which was probably worth a place or two by the end - must get more confident/take the risk on some of the technical stuff. Things I learned or remembered - technical skills save energy and places! Jo was still poorly so no photos.
Rich Allen 19/99, Nick Waggett 51/99, Laura Jolly 77/99 (4th W)

Round Four Thornes Park 23/9/12

Hurdle!

Another fast course with just the one hurdle and it was yet again dry! Usually this race is run close to Christmas and can feature icy sections but not this year. Strangely despite having a right battle with my friend and adversary Wayne and feeling like I pushed it really hard it was my worst result of the season. Not sure why, the start was a bit crowded and I didn't get away that well but not that badly either - who knows? @Hanglebads photos
Rich Allen 23/118, Nick Waggett 43/118, Laura Jolly 93/118 (3rd W), John Parkinson 98/118

Three Peaks 30/9/12

I've already covered this in 50th Anniversary Three Peaks suffice to say it was a memorable send off for John

Round Five Temple Newsam 7/10/12

Our newest and youngest 'Belgian. 

The mud tubs (Rhinos) came out in expectation of wet conditions - so far I'd done every race on Griffos. On the day it was dry and sunny - again but there was at last some proper mud - yippee! A great course as always with a mix of technical woodland with some good muddy sections alongside the more open field sections including a 'nice' off camber 'P' turn. I had a good start - not as good as Paul though who set off at 500m pursuit pace! Things I learned or remembered - make sure you know where it is quicker to run than ride. @Hanglebads photos
Rich Allen 13/111, Nick Waggett 60/111, Paul Goulden 64/111, John Parkinson 94/111, Laura Jolly 98/111 (7th W)

Newsome High School (Huddersfield) 14/10/12

Team mates

A non points race high up above Huddersfield at Newsome High School. A mainly fast grass course but with a sand pit and some tricky off camber banking and a touch of woodland for interest. I had a great start and was actually up to 6th at one point - mainly because two riders slid out on a slippery grass corner. It was a fast course that rewarded smooth riding but punished errors - by the end a few stutters and slips and I'd slipped down to 9th but probably only 15-20 second off 7th. It was good to Things I learned or remembered - tyre/tub pressure is so important, I seemed to have it just right in the Griffos finding the slippery corners noticeably less problematic than some. @Hanglebads photos
Rich Allen 9/80, Nick Waggett 47/80, Adam Cooper 53/80, Laura Jolly 74/80 (4th W)

Rapha Supercross Broughton 20/10/12

Vets team raring to go - with Nicole. 

The whole Rapha Supercross phenomenon has stepped up a gear this year perhaps not so much in terms of the racing field, though I think there were more discreet categories this time round, but certainly in spectators and trade tents, catering etc. We arrived nice and early but by the time the vets had finished there were spectators everywhere and 'overflow parking was running short. The course itself was a compromise - heavy rain had meant that permission to use the more technical areas had been withdrawn for fear of severe damage. As a result it was an exhaustingly 'heavy' grass circuit which should have suited me but I didn't seem to be firing on all cylinders whether this was physical or just psychological given the slow going I'm not sure - though my recovery on Sunday suggests it was all in the head. Things I learned or remembered - tyre/tub pressure is so important, again! @Hanglebads photos
Rich Allen 14/91, Carl Nelson 24/91, Nick Wagget 37/91, Jon Allen 45/91, Mark Bradley 70/91, John Parkinson 75/91

Round Six New College (Huddersfield) 21/10/12

Jon in freshly laundered kit!

After the Supercross on Saturday it was a surprise to line up at Huddersfield New College actually feeling a lot fresher - perhaps yesterdays efforts had 'unblocked' the legs or more likely it was a faster course so everything just felt better! A goodish start and the good sense just to hold back a little on the 2nd corner saw me comfortably placed and avoiding the pile up. Not really any technical challenges and just two dismounts per lap (need to work on power as one of them was rideable by better/stronger riders). Actually felt that I could really power on the flats but couldn't catch Phil who had finished just ahead last week as well at Newsome. Things I learned or remembered - the turbo and rollers really do help. @Hanglebads photos
Rich Allen 11/113, Nick Waggett 37/113, Jon Allen 71/113, Laura Jolly 94/113 (5th W)

Round Seven Brighouse 28/10/12

Quicker to run than ride!

Finally we come to Brighouse an 'old school' course that includes a couple of big climbs and a couple of steep/fast/technical downhills - especially in the mud. Good to see the Lancashire raiders in the form of 'smiling' Dave Haygarth over for some Yorkshire action. At long last there was some proper mud and it was actually wet - almost anyway but nothing like the heavy rain forecast. Thanks to the points 'call up' I had a great start position and a flying start managing to stay (very much) on the back of the lead group for the first half lap. Reality soon asserted itself and a little group of us slipped back battled away for the next few laps until Mark (Hopefactory) pulled away and things fragmented. A few silly mistakes skills/strategy wise cost me a couple of places but I really didn't have the hutzpah or legs to make it count today. However it was such an enjoyable and tough course the race flew by. Things I should have remembered - know where it is quicker to run than ride even downhill and it is surprisingly easy to run a team mate over without consequence to oneself (sorry Nick!) @Hanglebads photos

Nick enjoying the flat before being run down...

Rich Allen 16/84, Nick Waggett 55/84, Mark Bradley 76/84, Laura Jolly 82/84 (2nd W)

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The story of my Yorkshire Points Season so far is a tale of ups and downs to say the least.

Starting with:

The Bad - Oakbank School

Never before experienced suffering

For winter cross proper, the heat of the day at the opening round of the 2012 Yorkshire Points Cyclocross at Oakbank School, Keighley, was incredible oppressive!  I find Oakbank a pretty intense course to start with, without having to battle against the elements too.

Two minutes into the race, following a sprint lap of a playing field and a vicious foot climb up a steep and long grassy bank, I was spent.  Lack of proper prep in the fitness stakes, and warm up, along with in the food, and fluid department, meant a very rapid a spike in heart rate and breathing.  The legs simply went!  All that was left to do for the remainder of the race was just cling on best I could.

Fading fast, and lapped several times by people I don't often see at all in a race, let along get lapped by, was rather embarrassing.  Afterwards all I could do was retreat to the car and drink drink drink!

One round to to put down to experience I feel.

The Good - Thornes Park

The story of my life

The next round I 'competed' in was Thornes Park, Wakefield.  It's a good course for me, and I have done well here in the past.  What with its mix of rooty woodland and open playing field type terrain, it's certainly more my cup of tea, and allows more opportunity to utilise my technical abilities.

I was a lot more at home, and the more autumnal weather was far more refreshing too.  Here I managed to ease my self into the back of the pack with some prolonged duels with the usual crowd.  Good honest fun from start to finish.

The Ugly - Temple Newsam

Buoyed by my performance and enjoyment at Thornes Park, it was now time to properly kick start my season, time to start getting ugly, time to start dishing out the hurt...  no more Mr Nice Guy.  It was time to start letting people know that yes, I had actually turned up this season, and that I wasn't going to be an also ran.  The time for action had arrived. 



Temple Newsam is one of my favourite course, and offered the  perfect place to instigate the above.  From the off I was hunting... chasing down my contemporaries, and yes gaining on some.  As with Thornes park, my ability through the rooty slippery wooded sections allowed me to slowly inch forwards, before being blown out on the open grassed sections.  Two steps forward and one step back so to speak.

Giving it the beans in the bends

For the first time in quite a while I managed to overtake, if only for half a lap, my long time racing partner Chris.  It was a naughty move on my part that involved essentially elbowing Chris out of the way on a particularly slippery hairpin!  I realised my boisterous manoeuver was a little unnecessary, and I did apologise after the race.  Chris had the last laugh, however, by cruising past me half a lap later with apparent ease!  I just can't match his power on the open sections.

My points season continues at Myrtle Park.  Another great course.  See you soon.

Round 4 Yorkshire Points : Temple Newsam

With a mixture of grassland, woods and a beautiful Tudor-Jacobean house the Temple Newsam CX has a fantastic backdrop for the racing. This year the weather was in stark contrast to 2010 when the car park was flooded and the course absolutely sodden. I'd enjoyed a good result there in the adverse conditions but todays event promised fast racing and a patina of dust rather than oozing mud.

This race also saw the debut of the new Gin and Trombones frame from Van Dessel and The Bearded Man, I'll be writing a review of the frame in a few weeks after its been raced a bit more but suffice to say that it put a big smile on my face at Temple Newsam on its first outing. The Belgian 'Flanders black with yellow' colour scheme and De Leeuw van Vlaanderen on the top tube were approved by Vlaanderen Nicole (and John) who were there taking high risk photos at the bottom of one of the single track descents.

The vets race saw (what I think is) a record field with 105 riders which made for a 'busy' opening lap. I had a reasonable start but then nearly got taken out as we entered the first taped section (along with several other riders) as people squeezed in or misjudged the room etc. Some emergency braking and dodging avoided collisions but also lost a bunch of places. I get the feeling that with such big fields there is going to be a need to have longer 'spread the field' sections at the start of the vets events. If you're faster enough to get the hole shot then its a non-issue but further back there are some initially very fast riders who get a bit 'lost' after 400m. The rest of the race was lovely with good woody single track and fast open grass as well as a nice off-camber 180 which was later to do for Paperthin Ben's front tub in the senior race!

I gradually made up places passing a fair few riders and as far as I recall not getting passed (a sign of a slow start), never managed to catch up to Wayne (York Cycle Works) though. I eventually finished in 17th which I'm happy enough with on a new build bike and post 3 Peaks. Waggey had a good race with a PB placing of 38th which is excellent post 3 Peaks. John was creeping up the order too (79th) and it was good to see Tim (Velocake) racing in the seniors and Tom spectating (Velocake & HCtB) recovering from an unfortunate broken finger. SportsSunday were there taking pics along with Jo @Hanglebads so photographic coverage was pretty much sewn up - though I reckon my pic of Ben gets the "un moment decisif".