Highlights of 2013 and targets for 2014

This is the kind of thing you only have time for when you’re lying on your back with an injury. Well, I’m not quite lying on my back, but there’s only so much internet browsing you can do, before you lose the will to live. So this is a recap of results from 2013 and a look forward to 2014.

tejvan-honister-pass

Before the hill climb season, a few things stood out.

  • Buxton Mt TT 1st and getting close to Stuart Dangerfield’s course record.
  • Taking 9 minutes off my personal best for 50 miles. At the start of the year it was 1.49. In July I reduced it to 1.45 (up in Yorkshire). Then on the super-fast B50/6, it reduced to 1.41. (and it may have been a 1.39, but for a wrong turning)
  • I also set a pb for 100 miles in the national 100, up in Lake District. It was a good honest course, and 5th sounds pretty good, even if some of the fast guys were chasing faster courses down south for the BBAR.
  • I also enjoyed doing the National 50 down in Wales, where I finished 9th. I think this is the first year, I’ve done 3 Nationals in the same year. I hope to do more next year.
  • I also set a pb at 10 miles, though it was a case of shaving off a few seconds (19.02) on the superfast V718- course, at the end of the M65.

For the hill climb season, obviously winning the national title, was probably the most significant achievement in 9 years of racing. But, the season leading up to hill climb was also good fun. Setting course records on Snake Pass, Cat & Fiddle, Leith Hill, Porlock, Mow Cop, Guise Edge and finally on the Stang. 12/13 1st places was good. But, it was hill climb number 13, which was really the one that counted. I wouldn’t say it’s the national or nothing because that diminishes the open events. But, I’m glad not to end up with the title of ‘person who won the most open hill climbs, without winning national title.’

Mileage

I did a total of 10,570 miles during 2013. The biggest month was June – 1,263. The shortest distance was Feb – 412. There were 717 miles done in races.

I don’t want to calculate how many miles I did driving to races. I should just be grateful to my parents’ B&B up in Yorkshire.

Targets for 2014

The stand out target for 2014 is to retain the National hill climb title on Pea Royd Lane. I think it is possible, though perhaps a little more difficult than the Stang. Setting course records on Leith Hill (3.33) and Guise Edge (3.23) is encouraging in that I reckon the winning time in 2014 will be around that mark.  I would love to have another go at Horseshoe Pass, I was 13 seconds off the course record – that would be a special one to get.

The other big target for 2014 will be to have a go (injuries permitting) at the BBAR competition. This is a long standing competition which involves getting the best time and average speed at 50 miles, 100 miles, 12 hour. I enjoyed the 50 and 100 miles this year, and am really looking forward to (finally) having a go at a 12 hour. I will also try to do the National 50, National 100 and National 25. I think it’s quite possible to improve on last year’s positions. I was definitely getting faster towards the end of the season.

Apart from that I will be doing any hilly races I can get to. Circuit of the Dales and Buxton hilly CC are top of the list. Also, I’m already salivating at the prospect of the Dursley Hardriders WTTA 28 mile time trial. According to sales pitch of organiser “Last year just three riders averaged better than 20 mph on a course including four severe climbs. Riders were typically 7-8mph slower than their pb for 25 mile times. This year the finish of the course includes a final climb up the awesome Stouts Hill! So that’s five climbs, three of which have been used as Dursley RC club hill climbs. One thing’s for sure, this CTT event will again have the “slowest” winning time of the year”

Apart from racing, I have very few goals, though I will continue to tick off any hard hill climbs in the 100 hill climb books, I have a trip to Great Dun Fell (Knock, Lake District) lined up. and I’ve even toyed with another trip down to Box Hill.

Results 2013

Distance
Time
Av.S
Position
Feb 17Frome & Dist
10
21.29
2nd
Mar 3rdBanbury Star
23
53.32
41.7
1
Mar 10Maidenhead CC
30.8
1.10.49
40.5
2nd
Mar 17A5 Rangers
31
1.12.34
40.7
2nd
Apr 7Circuit of Dales
50
2.06.24
38.5
4
Apr 20AW cyclesH10/181
10
20.32
2nd
Apr 21Alton CC
31
1.12:30
1
Apr 28Little Mountain TT
39
1.39.11
3rd
May 5Buxton Mt TT
33
1.23.20
1
May 12CharlottevilleH50/8
50
1.52.16
3rd
May 18Lampard CCF12/10
10
20.42
1
May 25Farnham RCH10/8
10
20.21
1
June 1GloucesterU47/c
25
51.2
1
June 2Oxf. CityH10/181
10
20.57
5
June 15Hemel HempeadF11/10
10
20.19
29.7
25
June 16Wes LondonH10/2
10
21.16
1
June 23National 50R50/b
50
1.49.43
9
July 6Clifton CC
13
29.29
1
July 7YCFV239pb
50
1.45.56
2nd
July 14National 100L1009pb
100
3.46.21
26.5
5
July 20OxonianH10/17
10
20.23
1
July 21HounslowH25/8
25
51.49
Aug 3BDCAB50/6pb
50
1.41.12
29.8
3rd
Aug 10BridlingtonV718pb
10
19.02
31.5
3rd
Aug 11OxonianH50/17
50
1.48.51
27.6
1
Hill climb season
Sep 1Glossop KVSnake passCR
4
11.36
1
Sept 8Buxton CCLong Hill
4.4
13.13
1
Sep 22ndWeaver ValleyCat & FiddleCR
6.6
18.16
22
1
Sep 28Kingston W.Leith HillCR
0.8
3.33
1
Sep 29Minehead CCPorlockCR
4
13.24
17.9
1
Oct 5Otley CCGuise EdgeCR
0.7
3.23
1
Oct 5Otley CCNorwood E
1.2
4.56
1
Oct 6WrexhamHorseshoe P
2
9.15
1
Oct 12Holme ValleWoodhead
0.5
2.12
2nd
Oct 12Huddersfield SWJackson B
1.1
4.18
1
Oct 13Lyme RacingMow CopCR
1
4.22
1
Oct 20Chesterfield CBeeley Moor
1.7
8.35
1
Oct 27National HCStangCR
2.3
7.57.8
1
771.1
Open events
Total38
1st22
2nd7
3rd4
Distance10.57

7 thoughts on “Highlights of 2013 and targets for 2014”

  1. Circuit of Dales clashes with the Dursley event 🙁 as far as I can tell fromm CTT site

    06/04/14 30M U871
    10:00 Western Time Trials Association (WTTA Hardriders)

    06/04/14 50M L503
    08:00 IE HBT Nelson Wheelers CC (Hilly) (L&L Spoco)

    Reply
      • if you choose the Dales event then you could make a weekend of it and do our club’s Open 10 ( Birdwell Wheelers) on the Hatfield Woodhouse course near Doncaster the day before as a bit of a warm up -a flat out and back course 🙂

        Reply
  2. Just a quick question about H10/181, have you ever done a training ride on the course and what provisions are taken to ensure the safety of the riders during the event (I do apologizes if this sounds like a bit alarmist)? I have never done a official time trial like this on a road like the a40 and would have no idea what to expect.

    Reply
    • It’s fairly basic dual carriegway. Course is very straight forward. I wouldn’t really recommend practising on the A40, unless it is a quiet time. Traffic volumes can get heavy. In the race, there will be warning signs alerting drivers to the fact that riders will be on the road, but that’s about it. Once you start riding it feels better than standing by the side of the road looking at the traffic go past. Good luck.

      Reply

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