So, how was your season?

Bronzie

As it's pretty much the end of the racing season for most of us, I was wondering how we all got on with the goals we set ourselves at the start of the year.

Personally, my goals in order of importance / achieveability were:
- complete the Marmotte (preferably in Gold standard time)
- get some wins at the local track league (hopefully enough to move up to the A's group)
- get some licence points (hopefully enough to move up to 3rd cat)

After a slow start to the year due to a chest infection that I had from January to March, I finally managed to get some decent training in although I started racing before I was really in anything like decent conditon and suffered like a dog because of it. Things seemed to come together a bit in early May and I got a few 2nd places at the track league, although a win was proving elusive. Seemed to go backwards a bit in June after picking up a sinus infection which again hung around far longer than it should, but made it to the start of July and the all important 5th (Marmotte day) in a healthy state.

My Marmotte went fairly well - got my Gold (8h52m) which I was fairly happy with although I know I messed up my feeding/drinking because there were little old ladies on shopping bikes overtaking me on Alpe D'Huez (1h30m). But overall, pretty pleased.

That out of the way, I could focus on the other 2 goals for the rest of the season. But it just never quite seemed to gel for me. Got a few more placings in the track league and felt like I was flying.................but by this stage in the season, so were plenty of others. Again, a win was just that little bit out of reach.

The one big dissapointment for me has been the road racing. Really need to go back to the drawing board again this winter and try and put a plan in place for 2009 that I can stick to. It's supposed to be my last race this Sunday, but yet again, the sinus infection I've had since early August has got worse leaving me on yet more antibiotics and with a thumping sore head to boot. :evil: Getting some blood tests next week to check for an underlying cause - I've never been to the doctors so often as I have this year, but maybe I've just been unlucky.

So, how about you?

wildmoustache

although i 've done a fair amount of riding ... my only real goal was a silver in the etape du tour, which i did ... in 6h 39m ... so I am pretty pleased. next year i'll set some more stretching goals.

Jez mon

Goal this year was to get into Uni for most of the year but ended up getting BBB, but I still got into uni to study what I want so that's OK

The riding...

Well after last year where I took a holiday in the middle of the racing season, I decided to try and be a bit more focussed over the summer. However, during the Easter period, I never quite had the zip necessary to race so concentrated on my exams, by the time the school year finished I wasn't brilliantly fit and the first few 50+ mile club runs were pretty horrible. However, chain gangs and hard training saw me ready to race within 6 weeks, but of course by this time it was late August.

Since starting racing, I've done pretty pants. I find it easy in the bunch, but I can't do anything spectacular, there have also been a number of crashes in front of me at crucial times which doesn't do wonders for the confidence. Last week I attacked on the penultimate lap at hillingdon, got onto the wheel of the guy who won, but rather than taking a rest when I got up to him, I did a bit of work for him after catching him. Which was stupid, as I then couldn't hold onto his wheel, and then after that I couldn't get into the bunch for the sprint.

Overall, it's annoying, I can feel I'm coming into OK form, but, the racing season is about to end.

Tom Butcher

Aim was just to get a few points on the board - did that at the end of Spring - moved up a cat - stopped racing, got a few viruses and a knee injury which has hung about - didn't start racing again - missed the only two weeks of hot weather with a virus. But now Winter is here I can start planning how it's all going to be different next season - again.....

Tom Butcher

ok so it isn't actually winter yet - but you know what I mean

andrewgturnbull

:-)

SCR Pedro

Jez mon wrote:

Goal this year was to get into Uni for most of the year but ended up getting BBB, but I still got into uni to study what I want so that's OK

Congrat's mate. Me too! Infact I move into the halls tomorrow afternoon. The question is, do I watch the Paris-Bruxelles before I go and miss the welcome talk? Of course I do!

This pretty much signals the end of my season though. I don't know when I'll get the bike through but hopefully I'll have better things to do.

I'll keep this short though. I've been riding for only a year, and I'm pleased at how I've progressed. The winter miles were lean, but I've managed almost 7,000km so far. I think the highlight was doing the Hohneck & Col du Schlutt pass in the Alsace region of France and of course my first and only 1000km month in July. The lows were 2 months of killer tendonitis and the dreadful weather.
I have a hell of a lot still to learn, but I think I know enough to set out a training plan for next year. It depends on whether or not studying gets in the way.

Cheers
Pedro

PS: Andrew: Do you ever have any dealings with the Triathlon club at Stirling uni?

shockedsoshocked

Crap. Had a groin strain from December to March so lost virtually all fitness and put on weight. Tried to get in some serious training but was hampered by work and poor weather. Felt crap on the bike (even though I was getting faster/climbing better) and felt pretty demoralised because of it.

Things are only just starting to come together. I'm in a good position now and hopefully with a proper winters training under my belt I can improve dramatically on this year. I think i'm about 1,500 miles down on this point last year

Alex_Simmons/RST

My 2008 cycling goals were:

1. Turn a crank on a bicycle on a trainer for first time since trans tibial amputation last year.
2. Ride outdoors.
3. Start racing again, especially on the track.

1. Tick, already done.
2. Tick, have had several outdoor rides. Have also ridden the track half a dozen times or so, so far. Will be a weekly thing.
3. Have raced 2 crits but not on the track (well not a mass start race - have done a 500m TT)

I set some new goals to be attained before year end. Let's see:

- FTP lifted to 225 watts (current estimate 200 watts)
- MAP lifted to 315 watts (last test 289 watts)
- reduce body mass by at least 5% (was 98kg, currently 94kg)
- finish a local D grade crit with the bunch
- race the track again (maybe)

idaviesmoore

:shock: Good up to now. First season in triathlon and still have about 6 races left (tris, duathlon and running races) left to do. Kept me head down, joined a club and really planned my year. Decided to experience as much as possible and get as much advice as possible so I joined a club.
Will move up to middle distance next year with much fewer sprint competitions.
Other than p1ssing the wife off most sundays it's really rejuvianated my love for sport, competition and training. Multi sport is so interesting to train for with many facets to think about. And it doesn't seems to wear one part of the body too much IMHO (maybe Andy Turnbull will disagree ).

Anyway, looking forward to next year

BeaconRuth

Hmm. A curate's egg of a season for me. But as ever ideas are already beginning to formulate about improvements for next year. When I run out of ideas I guess it'll be time to retire.

Ruth

Alex_Simmons/RST

BeaconRuth wrote:

Hmm. A curate's egg of a season for me.

Learn summat new every day they say....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curate%27s_egg

BeaconRuth

Well I confess I didn't know that was the exact source, Alex! Obviously they don't use the expression down under? (And I definitely meant the modern usage, not the original sense of the whole egg being unredeemed by the good parts.)

Ruth

mididoctors

rubbish

i got run over by a car

unclemalc

My seasonal ambitions were a lot less intense than most of the contributors to this thread as I had no aspirations at a club, haven't a clue about my power output and have never attempted a tt.
BUT, for me its been great. I have doubled my regular 'run' to 30 miles, which also now always includes a nasty little drag at the end just to increase that heartbeat one more time that day....
I did a 25 mile stretch in just under 1 hour in early August (it was a dry still evening :shock: ); my average speed is around 17-18mph, up from the slug-like 13-15mph last year and my bike (summer one) is now refitted with better kit and is running SUPERBLY.
This was all summed up this morning where I squeezed in a run and everything just clicked - great run, good speed, easy work and no abuse .
In addition, I have lost over a stone in weight and my knees, legs and feet (normally a 'curate's egg' 9 ) of a drivetrain at best, gave me no troubles whatsoever.
I am well happy and fully intend to switch to the winter bike soon and carry on regardless.
To all those who are also pleased with themselves: .

mididoc: I hope things get better soon. You sound due a good spell. Are you back on the bike???

Edwin

Well done everyone. It's been my first season road racing so I wanted to get at least 3rd cat, which I did. Would have been nice to get 2nd, but there wasn't really any more races on in the area after July, and then I got a chest infection anyway and lost all my form.
I'll be after some advice soon, on how to start training for next season!

Jez mon

Well done everyone, most have had better seasons than me! Apart from mididoc, hope you are OK now.

Congratulations Edwin, don't worry too much about not getting 2nd cat in your fist season, a lot of poeple stay 3rd cats for their whole life!

unclemalc

I must add to this thread that I have had a LOT of inspiration to do everything 'better' this year, since getting onto this forum. The stories, advice, information and humour, and simply knowing there are many, many people just riding, for whatever reason, on whatever bike, is bloody excellent.
Cheers to anybody that reads this...

andrewgturnbull

SCR Pedro wrote:

PS: Andrew: Do you ever have any dealings with the Triathlon club at Stirling uni?

Hi Pedro.

Yup, I know the guy who runs the club (Blair Cartmell) - I can put you in touch if you want to drop me a mail?

Cheers, Andy

DaveyL

Andy, is he (Blair) any relation to Fraser, by any chance? I heard an interview with him on Competitor Radio recently - he came across really well, I thought.

knedlicky

My aim was to ride 3 Marmotte type events, an aim I've had each of the last 10-12 years but only managed to achieve about every third year (like last year).
It was the usual story this year. Although I’ve felt pretty good on the bike all season, better than the last three (injury-prone) years, and ridden more km than recent years, I only managed time to do one such ride (Tirol-West, 220 km, 4600 m). But it went well.
Maybe I’ll try and see if I can get to the Giro di Lombardia.

Another aim was to get back into duathlons, after having had a break from them the last 4-5 years. I hoped to do 3-4 local/regional ones.
However, I missed early-season ones because of a hamstring injury, and, for a June one, I missed the registration cut-off. With practically none in high summer, I had to wait until last weekend for my first this season, a local one. But it went well – a good overall placing and first in my age category.
I have another scheduled in two weeks time.

snellgrove

While I've never really set any goals, or ridden competitively; I've generally tried to do as many miles as I possibly could since buying my racer - I just love riding the darn thing so much! (Total convert from mountain bike, I'm now a lycra-wearing roadie!! :P )

My season this year has been absolutely appalling though, as I finally got on the property ladder in January & I'm getting married this saturday, so been rather busy & the O/H isn't into bikes at all.

Been commuting to work for the first time this year & really enjoying that - Gives me regular riding time without interfering with the other things in my life which the O/H thinks are more important

I plan on buying tights & a long sleeve jersey, overshoes etc for the winter so next spring can be started with a better fitness level

bahzob

Pretty happy overall. Key goals event goals at start of season were to get gold in Wessex, 7.30 Marmotte and break hour for 25TT. Just missed on Wessex due to bad weather and bad luck (gear shifter broke day 2) but managed on Marmotte. Only did the one 25, missed hour by 56s (may try again before year end). Other goals were to get over 300W FTP and bag the last few cols needed for Cent Cols Club (both done).

Other best bits of season were the unexpected: trying and liking road racing (despite being pants), setting new club record for 12 hours (OK partly because first one to do one since new age cat standards but still reckon over 240 miles is OK), knocking 25s off my 2007 10TT time, getting up the Alp in 58.25 mins and discovering the cols of Lachat and Du Pre.

Other highlights: Tour of Ireland (riding on closed roads with a police escort, makes even the most average rider feel like a pro), Tour of Black Mountains (my vote for best UK sportive route), 75km of OCD climbing (to get to Commander level, sad I know..), staying at the King of the Mountains cycle lodge and discovering rare breed pigs.

Update: decent run of weather meant had another go at 25 yesterday and just squeezed in under the hour in 59.55. Self timed so unofficial but it will do. New FTP of 310W too.

nolf

Was a bit meh,
Rubbishy immune system meant I couldn't stick to my winter/spring training plan but still got some good training in.

Went out on a fair few chaingangs and managed to stay with almost all of them, outlasting people who can kick my a** at tting was nice to see! Was a bit weird actually, more than half of the 50+ milers I've done this year have been on chaingangs...

Other than that a few races, nothing great, but consistently finishing near the front is nice (top15 ish). Still haven't done a flat TT but want to before the year ends. Hilly TT's went well with a 20mph+ average over the ridiculously hilly 10.9 mile Clifton CC circuit.

For the rest of the season I want to improve on last years hill climb time, if I can knock half a minute off then that puts me well up there.

andrewgturnbull

DaveyL wrote:

Andy, is he (Blair) any relation to Fraser, by any chance? I heard an interview with him on Competitor Radio recently - he came across really well, I thought.

Yes - Blair is Fraser's younger brother. I met Fraser at his first ever Triathlon (oban 1997) - then they both joined Stirling Tri club when they came to Uni. I did the etape with their dad once too.

Blair is now the assistant national coach (Scotland), but still gives Fraser a very hard time in the pool - you've never seen competitive until you've seen two pro athlete brothers racing each other for pride!

Cheers, Andy

SpinyBike

Back on the bike (road), 10 years since I stopped racing MTB masters. Commuting & weekend stuff so far.

Feels....awesome

boybiker

I did quite well this year

Punched a chav moron
Got some points in the racing
Got some idea for what training I need to do over the winter
Had a couple of crashes, gained a couple of new scars, made a lot of new friends
and its not over yet

SteveR_100Milers

Not very good: here were my 2008 targets:

PB for a 10 (same course) of sub 24 mins - Check: no as i didnt ride the events/course despite entering 2 of them
Sub hour 25 - try doing the welsh 25 with a hangover, and by Sep I had losty the motivation. so check: no
Competing in the Welsh pooints and BAR - check No, after the appalling 25 i gave up in May...
Improving White Horse time - check YES! woo hoo
Improving dragon time - check No, bike fell apart half way round.
Riding 3 other sportives - oh dear 3 x DNS thank you inclement weather and erm lack of motivation.

but did achieve a PB by some 40s on the evening club course, and discoverd that there is a medical reason why I went so slow. That's my excuse anyway, and will serve me until April next year at least..

skavanagh.bikeradar

Train regularly for the first time ever: Check
Take an hour off Fred Whitton time: Check, 1hr 10 off despite blowing up on Hardknott.
Finish Marmotte: Check, although it was a close shave.

All in all, distinct progress. Next year will be different, mainly as training time will be dramatically cut. Different goals required.

Jeff Jones

Good. Targets were:

1. Win a few TTs (yep: 10 so far, plus a road race and an age category silver at the British TT champs)
2. Fall off/get sick less than in 2007 (so far so good, fingers crossed)

BeaconRuth

You forgot to mention this, Jeff..........
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?i ... rancija118

Many congratulations!!

Ruth