Sunday 23^rd March 2014 – 1^st SEWTT’S TT 

Today I took part in my first ever time trial, 21 miles on a very demanding course consisting of many hills, a poor road surface and strong winds! This TT was the first one in this year’s new South East Women’s Time Trial series (SEWTT’s) which is a great event encouraging more women, like me, to do TT’s. I’m entered in the 4^th Category for this year, as it’s my first year, I most definitely have the aim to win this category and to produce similar times that would be competitive in the higher categories as well. The atmosphere at this first event was great and I can’t wait for the next one I do in a couple of weeks’ time.

            It was quite an early start, and combined with the fact I had the Women’s Team Series race the day before, I was feeling slightly tired. I was not as tired as I might have been, as I had received my new Skins recovery tights the day before which certainly helped my legs recover - thanks Skins! I had already done a recce of this TT course a few weeks back with Jasmijn so I knew what to expect from the course and how to pace myself accordingly, especially as there were a few tough hills. The TT started on a relatively long drag hill which I was certainly relieved to get to the top, also knowing that I had exciting, slightly twisting, long downhill section to contend with next; I was certainly able to pick up the pace and maintain that speed on the flat roads following it. Then though came some steep hills where the fatigue in my legs certainly began to kick in, I used a small easy gear to keep my legs spinning and eventually I reached the top. Annoyingly, at the top of one of the hills, my chain came off when I was switching from the small ring to the big ring. I lost a couple of valuable minutes here getting off my bike and putting the chain back on. Overall though, I was pleased with my time compared to the other women, I came 12^th out of 50 women. I also came 1^st Junior and 1^st in the 4^th Category. For my first TT I’d say it was an encouraging result and hopefully, with more practice, I will be even more competitive with the women in the higher categories.  That concludes my busy weekend J

Saturday 22^nd March 2014 – 1^st round of the Women’s Team Series at Hog Hill

            Today I had the first of the Women’s Team Series races at Hog Hill with my new team. I was a mix of emotions going into this race, obviously excited to be racing with my team, but also a bit nervous as in the past I’ve never been able to conquer this circuit. However, I also knew that I was going into this race in quite good form.

            I arrived at Hog Hill with plenty of time before the race so it was nice to just relax and have a catch up with my team mates. Soon enough, though, my race preparation routine kicked in, including my warm up. A few minutes later, I was on the start line ready for race to start with a massive field of 100 women. When the race started, I felt good and comfortable riding in the bunch. I didn’t feel too pushed going up the hill each lap and recovered quickly each time. The race was going much better than I expected; I had no problems staying with the main bunch and I decided to stay sheltered in the middle of the bunch for the majority of the race. On the final lap  I positioned myself towards the front of the bunch. In the bottom flat section there was an attack off the front, which I joined as during the rest of the race I had conserved my energy so that I felt strong enough. I was in a great position at the bottom of the hill, in about 7 or 8^th position. However, I misjudged my effort and when I hit the steepest part of the hill, I had nothing left in my legs and unfortunately I seemed to be going backwards compared to everyone else. I finished 36^th which I’m quite pleased with, but also aware that if I hadn't gone with the attack I would have probably finished a bit higher. Still a good result for my first Women's Team Series Race.

Saturday 15^th March – Revolution Round 5- London Olympic Velodrome

Madison-Genesis - from left to right, Frank, Tom Scully, Andy Tennant, Hisham, Monica and me!




There was no doubt that I was definitely looking forward to going back to the Olympic Velodrome to race in the final round of the Revolution series!! I raced in the Future Stars category. It was certainly an amazing experience having elite men and women from both endurance and sprint, including some Olympic and World champions, racing at the same event. There was a great atmosphere as the Velodrome was completely sold out. To have around 6000 people watch you race was certainly a new experience for me which I loved.



Me and Tom Scully

It had been about 3 months or so since I last rode my track bike but my training had been going quite well recently and I went into the event quite confident with my current form…but perhaps too confident. In the first 6 lap dash race I didn’t have my best race-head on and ended up following too many of the attacks and my sprint suffered at the end ... I didn’t get a good result. My best race was the Point’s race. I just missed out on points on a couple of occasions but I rode that race tactically better. I had energy left at the end to have a strong-ish finish. Overall really fast hectic races which didn’t really suit me (less than half the length of the national races more suited to sprinters than more endurance riders). Despite this, I had a great time at a really great event!

Weekend of 8^th/9^th March 2014

Saturday 8^th March – San Fairy Ann CC Spring Crits 2

Today I had my second women’s race at Cyclopark and this time I was joined by my two teammates, Lucy and Frankie! We all lined up on the start line, with again quite a big field of women which was great. The race was much faster than the previous week and made quite a bit tougher with a strong headwind coming up the hill. The race livened up very quickly where I went in a small breakaway for a little while, before we were brought back into the group. The next breakaway was the one that stuck though and unfortunately I wasn't in this one. The group of 3 seemed to have organised themselves in the breakaway very well and they were all strong riders and so not before long there quite a big gap between them and us in the main group. I then put a lot of work in on the front with a couple of other women, we were closing the gap but not quick enough!! So many of the riders in the group weren't helping to catch the leaders and as a last ditch effort I made an attack off the front of the main group to hopefully quickly bridge the gap. I was soo close to getting onto the back of the leaders but then I hit the climb with the wind and I immediately began to suffer. I held the gap for a little while but I wasn't getting any closer and I WAS getting tired. So I decided to drop back to the main group. After a short while our group decided to stop chasing the leaders as we had maintained a high speed for a long time now and we were getting close to the final sprint. I could tell in the lead up to the sprint that I didn’t have any energy left in my legs for the sprint, after kind of sacrificing myself earlier in the race trying my hardest to catch the leaders. Nevertheless I finished 5^th in the sprint, so overall 8^th.

All in all, not the best final result in this race, but I think I’ve gained a lot by trying to stay with the leaders, so maybe next time I’ll be that little bit stronger and I’ll be able to either make the jump to the leaders or be in the leading group myself!!

Sunday 9^th March- Thames Velo Club Run –  57 miles, 20mph average speed.

You couldn’t have asked for a nicer spring day, the sun was shining, perfect weather for a bike ride.  Today I went on a ride with Thames Velo, with a route that planned to go past a local TT. My legs seemed to have recovered from yesterday and I felt quite strong on the ride today. There weren't many hills so we were able to go at a fast-ish pace.                                                                                                                

Some would say, rather conveniently, mid-way through the ride I got a puncture, which allowed the group to have a little rest. For me, my first puncture on a road ride EVER (I knew the day would come at some point) but because I’ve virtually had no punctures I was a little out of practise! Luckily for me everyone was really helpful, and with the aid of a gas canister, we were back riding in no time J Well I did set off riding but I had to stop again shortly to sort out my cadence sensor which I accidently knocked so it was brushing my wheel. Andy and Laurence stopped with me, and so we managed to efficiently get back to the group quite quickly.

With 3 miles to go I was warned of the usual 3 mile race back to the start point. For the next 3 miles the pace was really high and it was good to get my legs really spinning! I was still not quite sure what to expect so I followed each of the attacks, sitting on the wheels waiting for the next one to go. In the end a controversial red light, led to a DQ and I won. Overall a great ride in the sun and good to get some good miles in!

Saturday 1^st March- San Fairy Ann CC Spring Crit 1

Today I had my first women’s only race of the year and also the first time racing at the Cyclopark circuit in Kent. There was quite a strong line-up of 30 women entered for this race so I was feeling a mix of emotions on the car journey there, excited and slightly nervous as well! There was no need for me to be nervous though as when the race started I felt the pace was comfortable for me and I had no problems at any point in the race. As I expected, a number of the stronger riders attacked up the hill but they were all pulled back into the group. Towards the end of the race things were getting a bit confusing as we were riding at the same time as the 4^th cat race and they had split into 3 groups. With one particular group travelling round the circuit at the same speed as us, so a lot of overtaking and being overtaken! On the last lap some of us at the front of the group mutually decided to slow down the pace a bit so that the 4^th cat group got out of the way so we could have a proper sprint the next lap. But then one woman attacked off the front of the group, lots of the other women in the group shouted for her to slow down as we were supposed to be distancing ourselves from the men. We were all unaware though that she was actually a lapped rider, so we sprinted off oblivious to this to catch her. We were unsuccessful in our pursuit though as she was towed round the lap by the men’s group. I finished 5th/30 in a chaotic bunch sprint finish. Overall, I'd say that my performance in this race was quite encouraging for the main races later in the year. Next weekend lets hope that the finish isn't as confusing and so the pace on the last few laps is higher which would suit me better in the lead up to the sprint.