Spring 2013

Well, it's been six weeks or so since my last update.

 2013 is shaping up to be one of those years, perhaps much like 2011. Having some thirty-odd seasons behind me now, I have very much come to understand that cycling isn't really a fixed formula. Well it is, and it isn't. In some respects the basic ability of a rider is largely determined by three factors. Genetics, mindset and what training they've done. The easy part, I can do nothing about my genetics, the training - well that's just a case of getting on with it. Mindset, well that's what manifests itself in so many ways. Training and genetics are what gets me round my regular training rides at twenty-odd MPH. Mindset is what makes one smash the pedals round in rage, or not, or perhaps sometimes. The mindset's not been great this year. Pressure of the day job and the generally daily grind has made the form that layers on top of general condition inconsistent. The engine's there, sitting on the turbo during warm ups comfortably at 300w tells me that. What's been sorely missing is being able to ride two events a week for six weeks - and ride intermittently above threshold. But life is what it is, and what goes round, comes around. I had a really pleasing win on probably the fastest 10 course in the country with a fine 20.10 in cold blowy conditions. I won by about 25 seconds which was a good performance, especially as I nudged 380w average. The last four weeks, things have become more settled with good solid 11-13hr weeks and more regular racing so we'll see how the form develops. Notwithstanding the above, I'm nicely upbeat about the CX season. There's so much to look forward to about this and I'm not in the slightest worried about having a dodgy TT season. I'm fit, light, up for it and TT'ing is such a precise discipline, the slightest crack becomes a big deal. In cross, it's not. No singular component part ruins the equation. Unexpectedly, my long term sponsors have remodelled their business which has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons re a bike sponsor. Having started to migrate onto Specialized, it's all change, and it's an ill wind that blows no good. So I have a lovely brace of new carbon cx bikes for this year. Shod with Zipp finishing kit, SRAM Force, Hope Carbons and Dugast's it's gonna be a pleasure!