Another season, another blog post...

So, once again, it's been a few months since I've written anything- I'll get good at this eventually, honest!

The last few months have been absolutely hectic, with a fantastic cocktail of training, racing, guiding with Just Pedal, and a new job at Hoops Velo. There have been too many things that I could count as highlights over the last few months, so I'm going to split it into two posts- one about racing, and one about guiding. So here we go...

VC Meudon Ras de Cymru 2014
(L-R) Tom Bowering, Peter Hitt, James Bevan, Albert Ellison

I think the last time I posted something was just before the Ras de Cymru, the five-day stage race in Wales. After a disaster of an individual time trial ("Pace yourself," they said. "You'll go faster," they said), my General Classification chances were scuppered, and I eventually finished 42nd out of 100 starters. I wasn't too happy with that, but considering that in 2013 I couldn't even finish the race I couldn't complain. We finished the week on a high after finishing 4th in the Team General Classification, and two of our riders in the top 20- result!


The upside of my average result at the Ras was an incredible run of form in the following weeks- if anything, it was too good. My first race following the Ras was a Surrey League 2/3 on the notoriously tough Ladies' Mile circuit, and I felt ridiculously strong. I didn't even have to get out of the saddle to ride off the front of the group on the first climb, and ended up riding the first 50km as a time trial. When I was eventually pulled back, I attacked straight away, and was off the front for yet another 30km. After being wound in with 20km to go, I eventually missed the winning break by two bike lengths and had to settle for sixth place.
There was no logic to the way I raced that day, I was just enjoying riding my bike as hard as possible.

After taking 3rd place (from a bunch sprint...) in the next race I entered, I was absolutely determined to get a win. I set my sights on the Surrey League race at Parham Park- a rough circuit with gravel, cattle grids, narrow roads and a reputation for punctures; almost a mini Roubaix.
I put in a few digs on the opening laps, but having been marked as a strong rider by a few teams I wasn't being given much leeway. Eventually I had to ask my teammate Albert to hit the front to catch the breakaway and string out the field- he drilled it on the front of the peloton for a whole lap, and I finally got my chance to go on the offensive. I launched a full on sprint as we crested a climb, and after 6 laps away with Simon McNamara sprinted to my second win of 2014- not bad considering I'd been dropped on that circuit the previous year...

Getting my hands in the air at the finish...

I eventually finished my season on a high after winning a local 25 mile time trial, and repaying Albert for his help at Parham Park by setting him up for a win at the Gravesend Cyclopark. It was tempting to keep racing through November to chase my 1st Cat license, but that's something that can wait until 2015. I've proved to myself a few times this season that I'm heading in the right direction to start winning at a higher level, and hopefully another solid winter of training will put me where I need to be next year.

Thanks to everyone that's made my year what it's been: the management at VC Meudon for giving me another chance after a dismal 2013; my coach, Darrell, for keeping my training on track all year; and last of all, my teammates for another year of laughs and making my results possible.

Cheers guys- time to go and ride my bike in the wet for a few months...