This was my first ride on the Stony Stratford course in 2012: of the two prior outings in the NBRC calendar, I didn't ride the first because of an open event, and the second was cancelled due to rain.  So I hadn't got a clear picture of how the roads had survived the winter (the course normally has some pretty dreadful stretches of tarmac). In the event, I did reasonably well - slightly faster than this time last year.My ride out the the event was rendered slightly alarming by traffic volumes - indeed I retreated to the redways for part of this ride. The experience was  alleviated a bit by being merrily peeped by a passing Mavic car. And, no, they weren't offering puncture repair assistance! I arrived in time to sign on as #18. To my chagrin, Tony turned up and singed on a minute behind me. Still, I thought, that can only persuade me to put some back into it...I started off down the road behind some bloke on what appeared to be a single speed mountain bike - I passed him right on the first bend. I found it heavy going on the ride out to Beachampton (successfully avoiding some serious road imperfections), but that was nothing compared to the climb up to and through Nash - here my excess body weight told, and I felt like I was dragging the bike through deep treacle. Once through Nash, I found myself rolling along pretty well. Or so I thought until Tony came rumbling past just before the turn. I was horrified by this and decided I just had to put some back into it!Coming out of the turn roundabout, I was about 30m behind, a gap which grew slightly on the run back to Nash. But on the descent, my excess body weight became more of a benefit than a hindrance, and this coupled with my monster top gear started closing the gap on Tony.  Of course I never quite made it, and he began to draw away from through Beachampton and on to the finish.All in all, a reasonably encouraging effort. I finished with 27:49.Results (at the NBRC website) 

 Finally, some good weather!  The wind dropped to more modest levels than of late, the rain went away, and this strange shiny thing in the sky illuminated us all and raised the temperature to more satisfactory levels. Oh, and I am finally beginning to feel like a bike rider again, as I recorded my best '10' time so far this year.Breaking with tradition, the Bossard Wheelers '10' moved this year from the F12/10 on the Leighton Buzzard bypass, to my local course near Brogborough (the F15/10). The Bossard Wheelers are on a bit of an upward trajectory at the moment, and seem to have an influx of riders, a new strip, and a website. The F15/10 has been much-touted as a quick course, featuring a descent from the start that riders don't need to ride back up. A number of test events used the course in 2011, but it's not been until this season that I've had the opportunity to have a bash at it. My experiences prior to this event had been less than satisfactory. I was still ill for the Team Salesengine '10', where I recorded a career-worst 24:48, while my supposed 2-up ride at the TeamMK event left me distinctly deflated.Seeing as how this is a local course, I did of course ride out, taking a longer route through Ridgmont. I noticed many groups of kids with unfeasibly large rucksacks congregated at various points along the route. One such gang passed comment on my bike - in return I asked what they were up to. Apparently it was some Duke of Edinburgh thing, though I'm uncertain why Phil the Greek would be so keen to have groups of teenagers looking baffled in the countryside. Still, at least they had decent weather for it.The HQ for the event was in the Marston Social Club, about 3.5 miles and two level crossings from the start. Signing on was in the bar, and a succession of lycra-clad old blokes (as usual for a time trial, the majority of riders were veterans) must have entertained the drinkers there!Once up at the start, there's little scope for riding about, and I ended up chatting to some of the other riders, and not actually focussing on the task in hand. I was a bit remiss in not getting the computer started exactly as my minute man started. Anyway, after a bit of jibber jabber with Richard and the timekeeper (which seemed to focus on the recent deflationary debacle at the TeamMK 2-up), off I went as fast as I could down the starting slope. Once on the course proper, things always get a bit more interesting - it undulates a bit, and there seemed to be exposed sections. This made my speed seem to vary quite a bit. I did spot David Jones taking snaps out on the course, and I had my very own tifosi out to support me![caption id="attachment_1893" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Having spotted the photographer, it's always good to hold one's stomach in! Photo: David Jones"][/caption]Crossing the first roundabout seems to need a bit of attention as the entry and exit roads are offset. I maybe could have taken that a bit faster, but I'm naturally a bit cautious. I took the turn roundabout reasonably well (though I did thank the marshals, so maybe I wasn't going hell for leather). The return leg was a bit tougher I thought. The wind seemed to be a bit blustery and sporadic, and didn't really give consistent assistance. But I suppose the counter to that is that it didn't give consistent hindrance either. The last half mile seemed pretty hard. I finished with 22:39, my fastest '10' so far this year. Despite Geoff's efforts at the results board to offer me a 21:22, honesty prevailed! Still, I made it to 10th place - at least some form may be returning.Overall, the course doesn't seem as fast as claimed. But it's an improvement over the F12/10 as its traffic levels are quite low.Results (top ten places)

Another day of very heavy showers and blustery wind didn't bode well for tonight's club event on the Astwood sporting '10' course. I had pretty much decided to ride the event no matter what the weather was like, but I found myself running a little late by the time we got home on the tandem.  I reached Astwood in time to see the early riders start, signed on, had a bit of a chinwag, and then rolled off for a short warmup.  I soon found I needed a nature break. This delayed my return to the start line, where I found no-one except Tony and Bryan (timekeeper and pusher off). In fact as I reached the line I heard Tony say "5, 4, 3, 2, 1...go". And off I went...I found the outward leg to Chicheley quite tough, and mostly because the wind was twitching my front wheel quite badly, particularly where there were gaps in the hedgerows. In fact I wasn't much above 25 mph for a lot of that section, which is normally quite fast.  Reaching the sharp left after Chicheley I need feel a bit of wind assistance, but as the course meanders through the countryside, the wind never really seemed to add too much help! Fortunately the temperature was a bit warmer of late (last time at Astwood, my fingers got so cold it was difficult to hold the bars!).I had no real problems until the last mile or so - the fast descent before the final climb had quite few twitchy moments then just as I was approaching the finish line, my gears decided to jump up a gear, making a huge noise and denting what little remained of my momentum. I finished for a tied third place (out of 12 riders) in 24:16. I'd been unable to start the timer on my computer until about 15-20 seconds had elapsed due to my almost late start, so I didn't have a terribly good idea on how I was going.This was the second event on the replacement tyres (Bontrager Aero), which not only haven't punctured so far, but aesthetically speaking look pretty spiffy on the H3 trispokes. Maybe that's Puncture Bob banished for the time being!Results (at the NBRC website) 

For a change, it didn't rain today. But it was heavily overcast and remarkably cold for May. Another change was on the tyre front: as recommended by Gerry, I had ordered a pair of Bontrager Aero R4 folding tyres, in the hope of avoiding further puncture misery. An added bonus lay in the aesthetic arena: black tyres with white logos happen to look damned fine on my bike.I was feeling a bit tired and jaded en route to the course.  I'd never ridden the F2D/10 before (and neither, I think, had Tony) - fortunately we arrived in time to drive round the course and recce out the turn. The course was a pretty straightforward dual carriageway course, with a only gentle undulations and a lengthy turn (if that makes any sense!). While the rain held off, there was a stiff wind from the Northeast, which was cutting across the course. While it gave some assistance on the return leg, it did make the outward leg quite tough at times.  I had no trouble with hold-ups at any roundabouts, though occasional motorists came closer than I thought strictly necessary! For about the first time this season, I felt comfortable on the time trial bike, with the exception of some masculine discomfort later in the event (of which the less said the better!).I crossed the finish line with a result of 22:52. That's still a bit slower than I'd have liked, but I think it may be sign of returning form. At last. 

After my recent spate of punctures, I can be forgiven for feeling that I was never going to make it to the end of a time trial. Or even to the start.  So at this point, I'll cut to the chase and say that on this evening, I contrived to make it to the finish line.Of course, what would this report be without a puncture.  As it happens, I generally ride my time trial bike to work and go straight from work to the race.  Today was no exception, and I rolled away from the house with all hope that my ride to work would be uneventful.  For a change, it wasn't actually raining.  Unfortunately, about one and a half miles from home, b-l-a-a-p! My front tyre exploded.  I could see a 5mm gash with fragments of green latex exposed. After a minor verbal explosion which included a large proportion of the four letter words offered by the full breadth of the English language, I stopped at the road side to effect temporary repairs to puncture #7.  After using a patch to hold the cut together and putting a new tube in, I gingerly rode home to sort out a better repair (with a replacement tyre*).Somewhat miraculously, I made it both to work, and down to the event in the evening, without further mishap.  The event itself was ridden in dry but heavily overcast conditions. There was a pretty strong wind, and it wasn't warm.  However it was a tail wind up the hill to the dual carriageway section, and enough of a tail wind to the turn to make the outward leg rather brisk.  Unfortunately the converse was that the return leg was pretty brutal at times.  I was caught by Tony about halfway back from the turn, which came as no surprise to me.  On the final stretch to the finish, I was having quite a bit of trouble holding a straight line, such was the buffeting from the wind.  I finished in 23:46, which was OK, I suppose, a little slower than my last outing on this course, but relative to other riders I think I'm improving.*as I write, I'm still awaiting the real replacement tyres, ordered online following Saturday's debacle.Results (at the NBRC website)

Not only was this a classic Team Grumpy domestic 2-up disaster, but it was an event marred by course problems (changed from 25 to 15 miles due to roadworks) and by bad weather (blustery rain showers), but ultimately an excellently organised event with a very plush HQ at the Marston Forest Centre.Team Grumpy had regrouped the evening before, and had spent quite a bit of time looking glumly out the window at the gathering elements. On the day, it was cold and windy, but the rain had backed off to quite light precipitation. We were down as scratch riders in the 6 team 2-up section of the event. This had given us some cause for concern that we might be cruelly humiliated following our recent illnesses. Still, we went over to the HQ to do our best.The HQ was comfortable and warm, but 4.2 miles from the start of the F15/15. Fortunately we had allowed plenty of time to get to the start, as about halfway there, I heard the characteristic 'pssh' and my front tyre went down. This, as regular readers of this miserable blog of cycling cockups may recognise, was my fifth puncture of the 2012 season. Gerry dashed back to the HQ to get the spare front wheel (a Xentis) pumped up, while I limped back on a rapidly softening tyre. Quickly getting the wheel installed, we debated driving back to the start, but felt we had enough time to ride. Of we went, for what was a very brisk warm-up.We made it to the start with about 4 minutes to go, in time to see a team start (the team in front of us did not start). Unfortunately, as we arrived at the start, we heard...another deflating sort of sound, this time from my back tyre. With the comedy of errors now complete (and how we wished we'd driven to the start - the car had a spare back wheel in it), I tried to persuade the start time keeper that since we'd reported in time for our start, we shouldn't get a late start penalty if we were delayed from starting due to repairing a puncture. But that cut absolutely no ice, and I was left forlornly looking down the road as my team mate rode off for a solo ride.I rolled cautiously back to the car and got changed, and waited for Gerry to reappear. When he did finally return, he was terribly cold and wet and not particularly happy with his time. As we'd expected, there was a strong and gusty head wind on the out bound legs of the course (pretty similar to conditions a few weeks ago at the Team Salesengine '10' on this course), which made it heavy going.Having had six punctures on my time trial bike this season, enough is enough. I have now ordered new tyres.

In which Tony gets his racing mojo back and I have (yet another) punctureDespite the glorious start to the day, the forecast for the afternoon was somewhat dispiriting: more heavy showers. So it was with a certain degree of unenthusiasm that Tony and I set out for this afternoon event over on the N1/10 near Sawtry. I haven't been going well since my last bout of illness, and Tony seems to have lost his keenness for racing: we were hopeful that we'd both get our 'racing mojo' back at this race. We drove round the course before heading in to the race HQ, where signing on was in a strange green edifice that mostly resembled a container. This was conveniently located next to a sports facility that appeared to be hosting not only 105 bike riders and associated marshals, timekeepers and refreshment personnel, but also two cricket teams (with their associated helpers) and two football teams (and their associated helpers). Peculiarly, though all three sets of sportsmen/women were all intermingled, they appeared to be studiously avoiding eye contact and inter-sport communications were just about nil.Anyway, Tony and I drove off to park somewhere nearer the start. At this point, it was quite sunny and warm, though with a stiff breeze. I set the bike up and went off for a warmup. It seemed pretty clear that the wind was a cross-wind, but probably favouring the return leg. The N1/10 is on the B1034, the old north road, which runs along the side of the A1(M). It's quiet in traffic levels, but undulates quite a bit as it rises for intersections with and bridges over the A1(M). One roundabout in particular was singled out for attention on the start sheet, because it not only featured incoming traffic from the motorway, but had an unfeasibly sharp exit turn. Oh, and some significant potholes...Off I went, immediately feeling I had to push hard in the cross-wind. But at least I felt as though I had some energy to press out. My speed was fluctuating depending on how much shelter I had from the wind, and of course on what the gradient was. I made it through all the roundabouts without delays, including the 'difficult' roundabout (which was enlivened by two small girls cheering riders on with clacking plastic hands). I rode past David Jones, out taking pictures as usual. I sucked my stomach in just in case (recent photos from the Jones camera do indicate I have at present got the stomach physique of Bart Simpson), and pressed on towards the turn. I was almost at the turn when I felt the unmistakeable sensation of a wheel rim bumping on tarmac. Sure enough, I had a front puncture*. About 4.5 miles from the finish. And even further from the car.Well, at least it wasn't raining. Yet. There were dark clouds looming as I began the trudge back. Fortunately, a lady who with her motorcycle riding husband was checking the event for adherence to CTT regulations offered me a lift back to the finish area. This was really kind, and I'm embarrassed to say I didn't ask her name. I was at the start area to cheer Tony off, then I walked back to the car. Somewhat embarrassingly, I noticed that we'd parked very close to the back of an 'Adult Shop', so goodness knows what people thought of two lycra-clad blokes in a parked car in that location.So in the end I did less than half of the race, while Tony did a good 22:17. He said he'd had difficulty with the wind blowing him about at times, but fortunately neither of us suffered from rain. Back to the green portacabin to hand in our numbers and to wait for results. Once again cricketers (who were having their tea break with an enormous spread of sausage rolls and the like) and cyclists mingled without communication. I am sure there's an interesting sociology project in there somewhere.From Sawtry it was back home through heavy showers for a Spanish-themed dinner of Paella and a chocolate and membrillo tart. So not all was bad in the day.*This is puncture #4 of the 2012 season, but the only one that has occurred during a race. The others were either before or after racing.

This was a day which, rather than April showers, we saw April downpours.  This was a pattern all day.  Indeed, I declined to take my time trial bike to work due to horizontal rain (usually I ride the bike to work and go straight from work to the evening '10').  I was still swithering about whether to race when I got home, but conditions brightened slightly (as they do) and off I went.Now, I've used the heavy rain symbol not so much for the race itself, but for the conditions around the race.  I could see extremely dark clouds obviously emitting heavy showers up ahead, and in fact they looked to be on top of Astwood itself. Reaching the meeting point, I discovered five other apprehensive-looking cyclists (but I think not many of us had ridden up) and the start crew.  So it was definitely race on!I ended up as last rider, at #6, and as Lindz and I waited to start, the rain started again.  Thus dampened, the ride itself wasn't affected too much by your actual rain (though the highways were really wet, with significant puddles).  I had fitted a rear light in a vain attempt to increase my visibility to traffic, and I took every corner with some trepidation.In the falling light, I could barely read my computer display.  Actually, that might be characterised better as beng due to a combination of failing light, ageing eyes and steamy glasses.  Anyway, I could see by the time I turned at Chicheley that I wasn't exactly on a ride.  But I did feel a lot better than in recent events, notably the Team Salesengine '10' and the Beds RCC '25'.  No really pressing problems occurred - not traffic, no potholes, so little to report other than the generally wet and depressing conditions.  It did feel as though there was a bit of a headwind out to Chicheley, but thankfully nothing as bad as we'd seen earlier in the day.I finished in 4th place with 24:54, which isn't quite as bad as it sounds given the conditions (I think). Things got really bad on the way home.It was just starting to rain as I set off. I have to say at this point that several people offered me a lift home, so what transpired was really my own fault.  The rain got really heavy, and after a bit I was so drenched that any further rain wasn't really much of a worry.  I was felling a little cold on the descent from Cranfield though!  What really took the biscuit was puncturing just over 2 miles from home, then getting caught at the village level crossing.  I decided I wouldn't stop to repair the tyre, as my fingers were pretty cold, it was pissing down, and the light was failing fast, so I bumped home on a flat rear tyre, in my own personal cloud of blue language.I suppose this is character-building, but this is the third puncture of the year, and in fact happened in exactly the same place as the last one!Results (at the NBRC website)

Well, it may have been sunny, but it was pretty cold. Indeed, we had to melt ice off the car's windscreen before we set off to the race HQ in Roxton.  While temperatures did rise just above freezing, it did remain cold enough for knee-warmers and full finger gloves.  What was a bit more troubling was the strengthening wind, which whistled across the flat fields around the F1B/25 start. One problem I has was that one of the remarkably high tech Boa shoe fastenings on my left show decided to snap as I was tightening it up.  This wasn't the end of the world, as these shoes have two laces - it just left my foot floating a bit in the shoe. [The possibility of one of these shoe fastenings breaking was discussed just the other day over at timetriallingforum.co.uk]Of course, this made the southbound leg pretty comfortable, at least until reaching the 'lumpy' bits near the turn.  Actually, I got through the first two roundabouts without obstruction, only to be stopped by a lorry and a caravan at the third. At this point, I was feeling pretty optimistic, though the last three or four miles where the road, though not exactly hilly is rather severely undulating, was a bit tough.  Of course I had the continued optimism from the knowledge that the F1B/25 turns at hight altitude than it starts and finishes at.  There should, therefore, have been a bit of gravitational assistance against the growing headwind.Unfortunately, someone appeared to have inverted the gradient - there didn't seem to be much, if any at all, descent on the way back to the finish.  Indeed the effort, compounded by the cold air, made it quite hard for me to ride efficiently in an aero tuck.  Despite a late surge, I could manage a 1:03:54, something of a disappointment.  Perhaps I'm still recovering from that recent cold. Upon investigating the Garmin trace (see below), it's clear that the return leg is (overall) a descent, so that headwind on the return leg must have been pretty brisk.  After grabbing quick cuppa and a quick chat, we left before all the results were in.