It's a wrap!

End of season round up

Now that the dust has settled on the 2015 season and I've had time to reflect, I thought I'd write a few words on the best moments and the learning points I'm taking forward into winter training.

It all started with round one of the Midland's Women's TT Series (MWTTS) back in April - my first experience of the K41/10 'Wolvey' course that has since become infamous given the majority of the events were held there. In need of some up to date power data, I rode my hefty winter steed affectionately known as 'Victoria' and used this as a 20 minute FTP test. The reasoning behind this - nothing more scientific than the fact you're always more likely to push yourself harder in a competition than you are in training! Five events later and with just four points separating first, second and third in the 'green jersey' competition it's fair to say it was a great series.

MWTTS Awards Dinner Nov 14th 2015 (second from left)
 

Although this season might not have delivered much in the way of silverware, it has provided some big changes and benefits - firstly, I swapped random training rides for structured training at the turn of the year. This has potentially brought the biggest benefits but taken the most adapting to. No matter what the weather or your friends are doing there is a specific session to be done - and some of the sessions hold more appeal than others!! Where previously on a sunny day I might have ridden an easy 3 - 4 hours, sometimes this had to be short, sharp intervals instead. Likewise, if it was wet and windy on a 'long ride day' then it was a case of go and get wet!



A win at the locally hosted Corporate Games 10TT

The other, equally significant change for me was the addition of my TT bike 'Lucy the Look' to the racing stable. It proved quite an art to get the correct position dialled in, in fact we were still tweaking this in the run up to Thruxton just last month. In comparison to a road bike position, the reduced hip angle and forward flexion required to ride a truly aero position take plenty of adapting to. However, if you can ride a good aero position the gains speak for themselves. Ironically my first competitive outing with Lucy was the ToC Chrono (qualifier for the World Amateur Championships) in June. If I'm honest this was more a case of desperation than meticulous planning!

The best moments of 2015

 

There are a few events and 'moments' that stand out for me: warming up on the bank of turbo trainers with 15 others at the ToC Chrono and then sitting at the top of the start ramp in Peterborough Arena ready to roll out back in June. This is closely followed by the Bicester Millennium Closed Circuit Championships in August which for me represents the one day this year when I was in tune with the bike. It was one of those rare evenings when everything came together - I relaxed and had 'fun' - and although I finished a close second, I did chip another 4 seconds off my pb. Of course it goes without saying that it was a proud moment to be able to pull on a GB skinsuit in Denmark even though my performance on the day was pretty unremarkable (6th).

The result that perhaps sums up what has been a year of improvement best is my closing position in the Midland Women's TT rankings. I entered the rankings after my first counting (open) event in May in a distant 85th and finished the season in 10th. I can hear the top 5 calling me already!! We have some of the top time triallists in the county based in the Midlands, so there's never a shortage of strong competition. Even so, I had too many 4th and 5th place finishes this year, so it would be great to translate those into podium places in 2016!

In the zone at the Closed-circuit TT Champs

Perhaps more than anything, this year has made me realise that even the best laid plans have to be fluid. I missed a large chunk of winter training due to illness and surgery and tried to play catch-up for the most part of the season. This, however, taught me some valuable lessons, so come the autumn when I made the decision to ride the National closed circuit championships, all my attention turned to training for this instead of the planned hill climbs.

I've learnt a lot from this year, both on and off the bike, but there is so much more to learn. I will be choosing my races more carefully and keeping those really important ones that I need to be in tip top shape for as the key goals. Next season I will once again be using the UK designed and made Revolver wheels (www.revolverwheels.co.uk) and Torq products (www.torqfitness.co.uk). If you have yet to try their black cherry yoghurt gel, I can highly recommend it! It goes without saying that  I am eternally grateful for the expertise ably provided (often at the last minute) by Paul and his team at Swinnerton Cycles (www.swinnertoncycles.co.uk). Not forgetting the guidance, chauffeuring, home cooking and endless bike cleaning provided by 'my own' Paul...!

Successes of 2015