Llandow winter Crit

With the Wife down the Rugby in Cardiff and leaving me with a Sunday free to sort the house out, I decide last minute to grab the new bike, hitch a lift and attend the first race of the cycling calendar down at Llandow. As you do.

Arrived with the sole objective of finishing and finishing with out a scratch on the new bike. With only a handfull of miles on the wheels It was a case of tweeking. New seat height and length adjustment and new Cleats the night before was always going to be a worry but fear not great day of cycling.

Entered the 4th Cat and the 2/3/4 race. 50-60 in each race a lot of concentration was needed with 2 narrowing turns to slow the pelaton, and 2 long stretches to catch up with the group. Seated at the back of the group proved to be a big mistake with a lot of ground having to be made up to the front of the pack after each corner. (Note for the next race)

Finished comfortably in the pack, bored with the limited attacks.

With the second race starting as we finished I was dropped from the front group early on and settled to a 2nd group which was working well and catching the front runners. Put in a big push on the front and failed to hang on to the next chase and dropped in no man's land. Good few laps on a solo TT I puled out 2 laps from the end as the front runners where catching my wheel. Watched them finish with young Steve winning with a emphatic solo breakaway.  Top Day.

Team Pursuit 2013

Always a tricky race, the first outing of the season and the a true measure of the power of Mince pies. Doubt over the race due to the huge snow falls in crymych over the last few days but with a big thaw over the last 24hours it was go go go. Solid team again for Sarn Helen even with a stand by coming in last minute which still manage to hold on to our title of fastest team, and with myself the 3rd fastest and 1st out of our Team a very good day it turned out to be. The course suiting my ability with a downhill start to stretch and clear the legs and a hilly finish.

Brilliant Kit bag for the Win which will be used on my Ski trip to Chatel. Missing the Tregaron Half in the process.