Morvélo Test Team

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Anatomy of a devil.

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After Friday's long overdue trip to the skatepark, my whole upper body has been feeling pretty stiff. I don't ride BMX as often as I would like, so 3hrs of hopping, jumping and manualling around a concrete park was a big wake up for those chicken arms of mine. Still I finally managed a pedal stall on the mini ramp so I left happy.

And the ying to the BMX's Yang, is the road bike and now some pretty sore legs. Now the whole body aches. In a good way of course - learning new skills with the BMX. Testing the legs with the road bike. A complete work out but the legs may take a while longer to recover.

A snapped spoke just as I set off today almost ruined the party but thankfully the resilience of the carbon Reynolds managed to hold together for the ride. Still alarming to look down as see the wheel sway side to side like it was doing the Lambarda. I managed to put the fears of an imminent imploding front wheel and loss of teeth to the back of my mind as I set off on the first climb.

Some might say I chickened out of the 25% wall of Porlock Hill and you'd be right. Kicking off a ride with a ramp like that puts me in the red for most of the day. So I chose the gorgeous gradient and resurfaced smoothness of the Toll Road. A far nicer climb for several reasons. One, it's very quiet and snakes through an autumnal feast of ancient woodland before finishing on the stark beauty of Exmoor. Two, it's just the right gradient for tapping out the kind a cadence that would make Armstrong proud. Which generally means by the top you've accidentally given it full gas and you're deeper in the red than if you climbed Porlock Hill.

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I minced my way through the downhills finding occasional reassurance in that squeezing the front brake straightened the wheel momentarily. Lots of gently undulating roads gave way to infrequent assaults of small sharp 25% pitches. With more ups and downs than a yo-yo, riding in this part of the country is split between freewheeling and a slow mashing of the pedals with not much inbetween. It could be just the routes I choose however.

And then the devil looms large. Dunkery Beacon. Or as I like to call it, Two Miles of Swearing. It's not rated a 10 out of 10 for difficulty for nothing. In my mind it's the ultimate test.

Starting in comforting and picturesque woodland any ideas of admiring the scenery are immediately banished with the first 'chevron' (of which there are 5 from bottom to top). This 17% pitch adds some spice in the form of a cattle grid which, if wet like today, you'll need to sprint over. After the smallest smidge of respite it's into chevron number 2 and another 17%. This time you can spot the edge of the woodland on the crest and the resulting slight downhill when you exit the lower slopes is a cruel twist.

You'd (and I have on many times) be mistaken for thinking that the hardest part is over. Its been incessantly steep since the bottom and now all you can see is a gentle road upwards. As the cadence drops you round a corner straight into a steep S bend. If they have stuck an S bend here then surely this is the hardest part, yes?

No.

As the ever present headwind starts to bite and the "comfort" of the woodland is left behind, chevron 3 on the S bend and chevron 4 not long after have you looking over your shoulder for the broom wagon. It you weren't on your bike, you'd be on your knees. It is often that I forget at this point about chevron number 5. The nature of the surrounding terrain leaves you to believe that the summit is close. Only when you ride over the crest of chevron 4 do you see the snake of the road rearing up. Menacing, exposed and unrelenting.

With it's non-committal left and rights the road barely ventures off straight. Everything about it taunts you. Begging you to have a go whilst laughing at your weakness. The headwind and gradient increase in unison. The resistance in the gear lever means there is nowhere else to hide. This is the beauty. You have to face the challenge head on. You've traded blows and the hills seems to be bracing itself for the knockout. The legs and resolve are weakened. With each revolution your legs cry out for an escape.

Deny them.

Deny them and you'll be rewarded with the rush of staring defeat straight on and calling its bluff.

Filed under  //   The DS  
Posted from 0°0'N, 0°0'E
Posted by Morvélo 

Serious?

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Well, it was serious just over a week ago when the Tour of Britain was being decided. Not this time. More an opportunist ride in the early hours whilst seeing friends in Glastonbury.

A quick check of Google maps and the Tour of Britain route guide and I was out doing the business end of Stage 6 before I could say 'hill climb'. Up through the Cat 1 climb of the picturesque Cheddar Gorge then down to Wells and up the Cat 1 climb of the Old Bristol Road.

Last time I "climbed" these I was eating Crisps and sitting on the sofa watching the ToB highlights. Needless to say it was considerably tougher and the heavy drizzle added to the atmosphere as I imagined the crowds whilst I climbed. It looked so easy on TV.

Now back on the sofa waiting for the World Road Race Champs. Speed up Cav...

Filed under  //   The DS  
Posted from 0°0'N, 0°0'E
Posted by Morvélo 

First ever downhill race!!! Best. Fun. EVER!

After the worlds it was time for a bit of fun and, this weekend, was definitely fun, it was amazing! So, downhill is quite different from racing XC where it is an hour and a half of pain and the descending part is about staying alive and trying to recover with the heavy cloud hanging over your head reminding you that you'll be going up again soon – making it a survival exercises rather than and enjoyable experience. This meant that the only 'cloud' over my head coming down the hill was that I'd have to get a bus back up to the top of the hill that smelt of dirt and farts… and that was just the girls……

It was back in May that I decided to do the Innerliethen SDA in a bet with Paul Newnham a Scottish MTB coach to see who was fastest… He didn't get an entry so it was an easy win for me! Anyway, I was buzzing! I walked the track with Bex Reilly, my partner in crime in the Edge Video's, and it was looking good! The course was a good mix of muddy, rooty, steep, pedally and twisty sections with some jumps stuck in at the top which I LOVED!  Check this picture!

After Saturday practice I couldn't wait to race! I'd done a couple of runs with the girls which was a great laugh – everyone was lovely! By the end of the day I felt ready to race!

Race day morning I was still asleep after a late night at my Granny's 80th Birthday party and on my first, and only, practice run I was crashing all over the place! This meant the pressure was on to get a clear run for the race… It was no time at all and I was at the top of the hill getting a quick tutorial in how to do the start – instead of just being told 'go' you could go anytime with in 5sec – then I was off! I had a slight slip at the top but made it safely through the dodgy 's' bend with loads of roots, then it was onto the jumps! I cleared them all no problems then it was time to pedal like mad! This wasn't easy on a squishy bike!! It was then down some swoopy turns, then over the fireroad and into the trees. I made it though the twisty bit fine, everything was going so well. There was something about riding down a hill as fast as you could – everything was just went quiet and at peace… It was just you and the bike and you didn't have to think about the next climb or how you were going to catch the next rider. You just had to ride fast and it was the best feeling I've ever had in a race!!

When I got to the bottom with a clear run and it was announced I was in first place with a 4:09 I was shocked! However, Bex's time wasn't up yet so it could all change… After grabbing a drink and a bite to eat I found out I was still winning, but, only by 5secs… Bex could make that up on the second race run! It was all hanging in the balance!

Little did we know when we got to the top of the hill that we'd be standing around at the top for over an hour due to a bad crash a Youth boy had! This meant that everyone was getting cold and by the time things started moving again we were all a bit over having to race! This run was hard, I was tired and my arms were giving up on me… But bex could still close that gap so I gave it my all! By the bottom I was done for! My arms were in pieces! I did a 4:13 but was still in the lead… Bex's time wasn't up AGAIN! So it was a waiting game to see if I'd actually won or not! It was great to finally getting out of my wet muddy kit so I no longer felt like I was wearing a nappy! The announcement came through that Bex hadn't beaten my time and I had won my first ever downhill race!! I couldn't believe it :)

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However, this weekend wouldn't have been possible with out alot of help! So, a big thank you to Emma, Rosie and Bex who let me borrow some of their kit for the weekend, my dad for letting me borrow his bike (I don't think I am going to give it back!), Andy Gowan at MMA for sorting me out with helmet, I would be going no where with out that! And to all the girls and everyone else who made this weekend a great laugh! Well done to all that raced! Also, another shout to Bex for still being my friend after the weekend, just beginners luck ;)

Keep riding people!

Win tin tin

Filed under  //   Katy Winton  
Posted by Morvélo 

Legs burning? Feeling Sick? Must be Cyclocross.

The 1st west Midland race was on sunday in Redditch. It was a really tough course with lots of hills and fast decents.
I had a pretty bad start after a bad gridding position so spent quite a bit of time moving up the field trying to overtake on single track which wan’t easy. After the 1st climb my legs were burning and I was feeling sick but with a bit of time to recover on the decents I soon settled in to a good pace. I had quite a good lead with 2 laps to go so kept the pressure on to win the race.
With a good start to the season i’m feeling quite confident about whats to come and even more determined to make it successful.

Redditch

Filed under  //   Hannah Payton  
Posted by Morvélo 

Inspiring rider

I couldn't help but spot Andy Macleod at the Scottish Bike Show earlier this year. He was in a wheel chair, with his right leg seemingly aputated from the knee down. I didn't know him at the time, and even now haven't met the guys.

A few weeks later I was speaking to the guys in a local bike shop who told me his story.

Just now I read Owen Philipson's blog, The Drum Up, and a little more about Andy. Its an inspiring story and I'd ask you all to read.

http://www.owenphilipson.com/blog/2011/08/24/andy-macleod-superman/ 

Keep riding

Rab

Filed under  //   Rab Wardell  
Posted by Rab Wardell 

getting ready

On the day of the British Individual Championships, I always have a moment of deep thinking. For the reasons that I cannot comprehend, I can't take part in those and always have this weird feeling of rejection. I gave almost 10 years of my services to the British Cycling, and the sport over here. I have been competing in all league matches over the years, supporting local meetings and winning whatever was left to win like the British Grand Prix. But on this Bank holiday Monday I always feel under appreciated and always go for a proper training session. These sessions are always a pinnacle of my season. The moment when all the riders in the country riding their hearts out and putting their seasons behind them, I always put that little bit more just to forget about the disappointment. Luckily this year I decided to enter the Polish Championships, which obviously going to take me away from riding in here for a couple of weeks, but that's the price I'm prepared to pay. I'm a World Champion and feel kind of obliged to come over to Poland and complete my national duties. There is a lot of people that would love me to ride in there so I'm pleased I have found a new goal this year. I have never finished above 7th place in Poland, although only competed once since 2002. My preparations don't end on just putting that extra bit in training. I have fully built me other Lynskey bike and now I'm lucky enough to run two custom titanium cycle speedway bikes. They both have exactly the same specs, with XTR cranks, and DT Swiss wheels. I'm also excited about my two new additions to my sponsorship partners. I have acquired a nutrition specialist Mybikefood.com which just sent me some products for trying, and which I'm very pleased about Moore and Large cycle wholesaler sent me two very special tyres. I have found them online and wanted to have them straight away. Kenda small block 8 in 1.75 will take the sport by the storm. They are narrower to the preferred Maxxis larsens and much grippier than those. I'm looking forward to race the Polish Individual semi final on saturday, and hopefully be in that top 8 and earn my place in the final. World does not end on the British Individuals. Got to keep it going. Lukasz.

Filed under  //   Lukasz Nowacki  
Posted by email 

Back on the bike- a hard month ahead!

I'm back on the bike now after a week with not very much pedaling involved.
I kick started my last training block of the season, with a TT training session involving two race pace efforts around a 9km circuit. These went well and I was pleased with the figures I was  producing after such a relaxed 7 days.
Here are the two Garmin files from my 2 race pace laps;

I had planned a long steady ride for Tuesday, but I was very tired and it had appeared I had jumped into the intense TT training too early and that maybe a week was not enough rest to properly get over such an intense season of racing. I took the day off the bike and relaxed, trying to forget about how I was feeling - which isn't easy knowing you've got to race against the Worlds best riders in less than 4 weeks.
Today I jumped on the TT bike again for a 2 hour spin. To my relief I was feeling fresh, strong and the fatigued feeling I had from the day before had completely gone. I finished off the ride by steadily pushing on and averaged over 40km/h for the last 16km.
Here's the Garmin file from today's ride;

I'm going to have another steady day tomorrow before racing this weekend in an open 10 mile TT on Saturday and an open 25 mile TT on Monday. The field for these races looks strong and it will give me a good chance to see where I am compared to some of the best TT'ers in the South. Notably, I am a seeded rider and with an extra note next to my name - 'one of the very few riders to ever beat Sir Chris Hoy'!
It should be a fun weekend and I'm weirdly looking forward to the pain!
The three pictures attached are of; my TT bike ready to race, my TT bike ready for training and a shot of me racing at this years Irish National TT Championships where I finished 2nd.

Thanks for reading!
Felix

Filed under  //   Felix English  
Posted by email 

Bringing a knife to a gunfight

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I'm addicted. The partial answer to why I chose to ride the cyclocross bike around the North Downs on Sunday (after watching the Olympic Road Race test event for motivation). "Are you riding your cross bike because you have no other bikes that work?" asked Gareth from Singular. He knows me too well, so that was the second reason. The expression 'Manana' certainly applies to my cycle maintenance so with no MTB it had to be the cross bike. 

Whatever the reason though, there I was after 2 hours of dry, dusty, rooty, fast trails still managing not to get dropped - too badly. Riding with 3 others, all of which were on MTBs, meant I was the odd one out and the rider occasionally screaming at the back. But man, those trails are FUN on a cross bike! Non more so than when unintentionally airborne off a rocky drop-off or diving down a large bombhole, hands firmly locked into the drops. Like a Spitfire pilot at the Battle of Britain, diving, swooping, banking and dodging the enemy. Roots and rocks in this case.

What made the smile so big, apart from the sun, good company and fine trails was the carbon Kinesis CSix. It's one hell of a ride! I've got a size 54, which on paper is too small for me, but actually gives the bike an amazingly sprightly ride and one where the bike can be flicked around at ease. Bunnyhops and quick changes of direction are instinctive and climbing is rocket fast. Literally NO flex. From anywhere. Harsh, you'd think but it's not. No loss of feeling in the fingers and only a hint of shoulder ache this morning after 2 hours of bone shaking action. On a Kinesis theme the fork - the RC09 - can get you into a lot of trouble, in a good way. Zero judder (a saviour at last!) and awesome tracking means you hit sections far faster than you were hoping/fearing. My other new love is the SoftTouch Fi'zi:k bartape. I normally can't ride anywhere without gloves, certainly in summer being a sweatboy, but this tape is excellent. No slip, absorbs and wicks away sweat and give a great feel to the bars. Like a gentle caress. It's one of those rides where it all seems to come together, despite being on "the wrong bike".

All in all a truly eye-opening afternoons riding and a crash course in bike handling skills. It felt fast and bumpy as hell but as another friend and cyclocrosser Shaggy Ross once said "On a cross bike it's a hot line if you get through with any punctures." I'm a cyclocross god then! Woohoo!

Although checking the bike this morning both tyres are now flat. Back to the drawing board . . .

Filed under  //   The DS  
Posted by Morvélo 

Olympic Test Race

I was going to start by saying that yesterday was the biggest race I've ever ridden. However, looking back at my 2011 season the Olympic Test Race is very similar to other races I've ridden throughout the year. After spending the Winter racing with 'the guys from the telly', these kind of events don't seem to phase me anymore. It just felt like a normal race, but with the difference that I was actually racing in England for a change!

The whole procedure of the team being introduced on stage in front of the crowd and having a team of staff to look after you is what I've come to expect from races now. So when I'm home and I have to look after myself usually in a cold, wet car park in the middle of no where it comes as a bit of a reality check!
I arrived up in London 2 days before the start of the race, staying in the proposed Olympic base for the Irish team next year. A very nice, quite posh hotel with a lot of very well spoken people in tennis clothing wandering about the place.
The plan was to settle in Friday afternoon, get a good nights sleep and to wake up early the next morning to head out for a spin. We were taken out by one of the local London team to Richmond park where we rode for just under 2 hours. The rest of the day consisted of more food, a massage and an early night.
I knew before the race started it wasn't going to be a good day. I flew back from a 3 week block of racing in France on Wednesday and with a combination of hardly any sleep and a lot of racing my body was a wreck! 
Verging on illness and ready for bed we were called up to the start line where I positioned myself on the second row behind the Italian and Belgian national teams. Stood next to me was Tyler Farrar and few riders across was the Aussie team of Matt Goss, Haussler and Leigh Howard. We got going and I pushed my way onto the front row, and followed the first attack from Sigma. Not getting away I then drifted back and sat mid bunch for pretty much the next 2 hours. The constant corners, narrowing of barriers and large crowds made it near impossible to move up without risking a crash. I struggled on the first two KOM's and then finally lost contact just before the last ascent of box hill after getting caught behind one of the many crashes caused by suddenly narrowing roads with no marshals.
I rode in with my team mate Martyn Irvine who thankfully waited when I was having a little trouble and one of the German national riders who came down in the crash I was stuck behind.
Looking back I was happy to finish considering the state I was in before the start and I believe if I was in better condition I could've made it to the finish well inside the main group.
My efforts now turn towards preparing for the World Championship TT at the end of September but first a much needed week of rest!

Thanks for reading,
Felix English

Filed under  //   Felix English  
Posted from 0°0'N, 0°0'E
Posted by email 

Out of season

It seemed very strange fitting the crossbike with summer tyres and heading out in the glorious sun. Normally it's mud tyres all the way and it only gets dragged out the shed when it's hammering with rain. I felt like I'd done too much road recently and not enough trails, especially in light of all this dry weather. MTB was without forks so the CX bike was the only choice. And a good one too as it transpired.

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TTFU - Toughen The Fuck Up - which is what I needed to do it seemed. Climbing up onto the Downs, the shelter given by the full summer foliage of the tress made the trail a sauna, with the rocks, roots and dry hoof marks rattling my arms. Definitely too used to smooth tarmac and suspension. The cool breeze at the top was a welcome relief as I set about doing a slightly re-jigged version of "The Three Peaks".

Just because it was sunny and dry didn't make any of these three steep climbs any easier, but it was faster. It was a welcome relief not to have to deal with wheelspin on the normally wet and greasy roads and rocks. Back at the top of the Downs again after the climb up Streat Hill I did some off-piste to try and find a decent route back down to the base of the downs. I was successful but only after a lot of portaging and rummaging around the undergrowth. Still nice day for it.

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Rather than straight down and back up Ditchling Beacon on the road, I used the bone dry bridleway to the side and held on for grim death. Fast, loose and sketchy are the best words to describe it but still not a patch on what it would be like in the wet. Each time I climb Ditchling Beacon I'm always look out for the deteriorating "Pantini" sign just near the summit. Placed at such a point of the climb where the top is within site but the legs are really stinging, it's a fitting ode to this great and flawed climbing legend. It's a shame that it's just the specks of yellow that remain and I for one would love to see it restored to it's former glory.

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Dropping down in the University it was hard not to finish of such an unusual cross ride with a trip up banks and down steps, always a good deal more terrifying when you're locked in on the drops.

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Even more unusual was to see this thing called "Dust" that had settled all over the bike. 

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A first for sure and this ride was whet the appetite for the forth coming cross season. Only a few weeks away now. Best out the mud tyres back on . . .

Filed under  //   The DS  
Posted by Morvélo