Morvélo Test Team

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Classics

First classic of the season last weekend with Milan San Remo, so it was fitting that last Saturdays Road Race at Barcombe involved rain, hills and filth. I turned up typically close to the race start time and asked if their was a spare place going, hoping the thought of 60 miles in the wet would deter some racers. My luck was in and I'd just pinned my number on when we rolled out. It's quite strange going to a race, getting your kit and bike ready, but not actually knowing that your going to get a ride.

So my mind wasn't in full race mode, if ever indeed it is, but I heard from other riders about this course at last weekend's road race. Tough, hilly, a 2/3 cat race and only an hour earlier I was deciding what daytime TV I should what before Milan San Remo came on. That's before I took the last minute plunge, grabbed my kit and headed out. So my previous too road races I professed about 'race craft' and not holding back. This time was I definitely on the defensive and seemed happy to ignore my own "wisdom". I was a bit nervous about firstly the hilly course I hadn't ridden and secondly about having to go out and play with some 2nd cat riders. I'm not sure my legs could handle it.

The course was awesome and as it happened went straight past a close friends house so I started to recognize many parts. Lots of lumps, a few sharp corners, some balls out downhills and some typical Sussex bergs. My aim was low. Too low I think. I just didn't want to get dropped, so I foolishly never pushed myself up near the front. Now the first thing you ever learn in road racing is NOT to sit near the back. You're forever playing catch-up, sprinting out or corners to try and grab that last wheel, always at the mercy of someone else's pace. So the going was hard yet the pace was slower than last weekends 3rd cat race.

The rain added some seasonal glamour to the proceedings alongside plenty of road grime and roadkill. Their was one excellent section where the whole bunch flew down the hill in a big long paceline, stretching out around 2 or three corners ahead. I could see this great spectacle because, as I've mentioned before, I was sat at the back. Naughty boy. Then the hills hit which is the bit I loved, albeit still breathing out of my arse.

Come the closing part of the race, I saw the key move go and new that I should have been in it. Once they'd disappeared up the road the pace eased and I knew that was it. Game over. Still we had the last few climbs left and the excellent hill top finish. It felt like the whole race was up the road whereas one of us could still grab a top 10 spot. This needless to say, I didn't realise. All I knew was that I wanted to give it full beans on the last hill, for no other reason than it's fun. Once again I was at the back when everyone went for it. I made my move but as boxed in so actually had to brake mid climb! Not sure that has ever happened to me before, but then a gap opened and I gave it, as a downhilling MTB friend calls it, "the berries". 

Finally after 60 miles I felt I was racing properly and being pro-active, as I climbed past rider after rider. If anything the finish line came too soon. 17th place was my reward, so a good better than last week but I know now it could have been so much more. So you know I say how I've learnt the 'race craft'? I have. And this fool I ignored it.

Still, was a great course, good competition and the organisers, marshalls and volunteers made the whole race one I'm already looking forward to doing again.

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Posted by Morvélo 

Roaming

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Not in as in a 100 mile expedition but as in a 10 mile commute. I kept seeing off-road paths snaking their way between houses on my road ride to Morvelo HQ. So today on the way to work I roamed around Brighton, under the pretense of getting to the office. As it turned out it was perfect for the cyclocross bike. Small pathways, open city centre bridleways, steps, some cracking woodland trails with some great whoops, banks and drops. Don't know if it was the spring sunshine or not but I just couldn't help but hop up, over and around all the numerous obstacles that crossed my path. Like a spring lamb. But not quite so fluffy. More roaming on the way back.

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Posted by Morvélo 

Giving it the 'Jens Voigt'

Race weekend and first spring road race of the season at the hitherto unridden, by me at least,  Dunsfold circuit.

So using the products one of our favourite sponsors, Dark Star Brew Co, I settle down with a glass or two and streetview. Pro reconnaissance style. But from the armchair.

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Having garnered nothing apart from a renewed love of Hophead, I dreamt of glory. Getting away in a break and showing everyone whose boss on the finishing 'berg'. I'm ever the (unrealistic) optimist but watching Jens doing his trademark break in Paris-Nice, cemented the plans.

So, unusually leaving plenty of time for once, I set off. Man, I'm well prepared. Well that is until I realized my race license had expired as I was signing on! £10 lighter but with a race number in hand I set off to get ready.

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A little bit of tinkering was needed to get the bike ready. I'd not ridden it for 3 weeks as it had been used for a video shoot so it needed a bit of adjustment. As did Phil's lovely loaner GF Ti. Albeit just taking the mudguards off.

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Having ridden the track bike uphill and down dale for the last few weeks, it was a revelation to get on the carbon KR810 with super light carbon Reynolds. Gears! Freewheel! Hoods! All great things that I had taken for granted. Still I was a touch nervous. The race was 55 miles. My longest ride for the past couple of months has been 25-30 miles. Seeing the amount of fit people and fast (expensive) bikes I was going to have to sit in I thought. I never listen to myself though.

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You could tell it was early season as attack after attack came in the first lap. Foolishly, myself included. I'd just hate to miss out on a move. The wise part of me way saying, 'Sit in, save your energy, you're not the one that has been sat on the turbo for the best part of winter.' The Jens Voigt side of me was saying 'ATTACK!'

Which is what I did. So about 18 miles in there were 3 of us up the road. One rider was considerably stronger than me and Greg from Brighton Mitre. To the point of where we were struggling to do our turn. He was nice enough about it and proceeded to ride away from us. Myself and Greg wondered what we had got ourselves in for. I was going to have to ride flat out for for the best part of 30 miles and had a brief moment of regret. Once that had passed we settled in and pegged the lead rider just in sight. Still we couldn't bring him back and it took two more riders who had bridged up to us to get him back finally.

We had a good unit now, doing through and off, but I was a weak link I felt. Missing a few turns before I could recoup my energy. It was great to be in the thick of the action though and I was loving the course, with some super fast downhills.

My plan of the peleton sitting up wasn't to be. The early season enthusiasm meaning that everyone wanted a piece of the pie so it was gruppo compacto with 3 miles to go. The legs were cooked but I wanted to hang in there as the finish hill looked so damn good. It was. It'd be even better with fresher legs and just the kind of short punchy climb I love. However 35 miles of so in a break meant I was fending off cramp as much as other riders in the sprint, rolling across the line in 25th.

The thing Iove about road racing is the tactics. You take your chance, play your hand, see what you get. It didn't work out this time but I'm already getting the race licence renewed for another crack.

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Posted by Morvélo 

Who am I kidding?

Who am I kidding?

 
To say that these days I prefer to knock out a few miles on a bike with drop bars rather than take out one with risers.
To say that the winter of cyclocross has fine tuned my bike handling and ability to rattle over big log piles.
To say that the road miles equip me well for the all-round workout of a thrash on the MTB.
To say that if I did the mountainbike race on Sunday I'd be at the business end.
To say that new forks, new brakes and wide risers won't make a difference.
To say that my MTB roots are starting to whither.

Sunday was the day I remembered what I was missing.

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Posted from United Kingdom
Posted by Morvélo 

Short but sweet.

The road bike was sent back to Upgrade Bikes for a Reynolds Wheels video, the cross bike was missing tyres, the MTB was fresh back from an overhaul (and it seemed a shame to get it so dirty so quickly) so the only ride available was the track bike. It has a front brake so it's not a pure death trap on the roads and the gearing is set more for commuting (41:17) but it didn't make it easy.

With just over an hour to play with I thought I'd revisit the SuperCrit route. It's been a while so I took a few wrong turns but nevertheless it was hilly.

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The climbing was slow and more of a strength training exercise but seemed to have done the trick, going on to eat the Sunday Roast at record speed.  

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Posted by Morvélo 

Farewell & Hello

Cross

I didn't make as many cyclocross races this season as I had hoped for. Although the ones I did make have been a blast and it's rapidly becoming one of my favourite forms of racing. I'm yet to figure out mid-race where the hell I am exactly (position wise) in the ever increasing field of racers but that doesn't seem the point. The closeness of the racing is everything. This season has had it all. 28 degree heat at Herne Hill. Bone dry 'dirt crit' super pace around Hillingdon. The steep, fast down and slow winch up of Penshurst and now, last Sunday, was the last race of the season, with a brand new course. For me. And a new bike - it was my first ride on the disc adorned Kinesis Crosslight Pro 6.

I heard that it was a testing, technical course, although as a friend pointed out, more like a proper cross course, not just a round a field that is typical of many UK races. A opportune moment then to race a bike that blends traditional cross with a hint of MTB. 

Starting in a big field of snow there were more than several moments of grappling with the bars trying to keep the bike in a straight line. Controlled (uncontrolled?) chaos. Still slipping in the snow, the course climbed just enough to hurt the legs then into the woods. Twisting, turning, rooty with a couple of bombholes I could have be doing an MTB race. The ground packed down and froze over so the techniques for many of the corners was either to drift or to tiptoe. Racers were slipping over left, right and centre. I had more than a couple of speedway moments, but soon familiarized myself with a few racing lines and could slowly pick people off. Overtaking was hard in the woods, with the only way to dive up the inside of the racer ahead and sprint out. Something than required a lot of focus and increasingly hard to do as the race wore on and fatigue set in. With cross racing there is nowhere to hide unlike the road race of last Saturday. If you're not on it, you're not on it.

I wasn't on it. Places chopped and changed the whole race and the venue had a great atmosphere with spectators, a blazing fire, cowbells and drums. Awesome! More like this please CX race organisers. The bombholes were great fun with the opportunity for a bit of airtime and the sections varied from requiring real pinpoint maneuvering to get around smoothly to a pedal like f*ck and hang on approach. So the result was typical for the year for me with a 31st out of 117 but I di complete my aim. For the first time ever I wasn't lapped by the leader! It's strange really, I see peoples names finishing above me who I know I have regularly beaten on MTB or Road but for some reason I struggle to translate this through to 'cross. More work to be done for next year then!

The Pro 6 was in it's element, consistent braking all race and incredibly agile, and with the Maxxis Raze tyres providing surprising levels of grip and straightline speed. With BBB stepping in to sponsor The Kinesis Morvelo project, I got to test some of their Arriver glasses and thin winter racing gloves, the Race Shields. It was only when I took off the glasses I realized how dark and grey it was and not once did they mist up in the slow woodland sections. The thin winter racing gloves were a revelation. No bulk but plenty of warmth, grip and sensitivity. I didn't realise gloves like this existed and always presumed warmth = bulk and loss of feel.

I did have a lucky escape in hindsight. After my crash I did wonder if the headset had come loose but, in the mind race mindset of 'Must plough on', I just put up with the slight rattle. It was only when I checked after the race I realised the front wheel QR had sprung open! Thank god for tabbed forks.

So that's it until next September when the cross season starts once more. Now back to MTB, Road and Track. Who I am kidding. Cross bikes are so much fun I'll still be riding it the whole time, especially as I do some recce rides for an urban cross race I have planned. Keep you posted.

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Posted by Morvélo 

Race Smart

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True to form I turn up late and I'm already having to sprint just to catch up with the bunch.

It's my first road race of the year at the Hillingdon Circuit and there is something about that place that makes me late. I roll up to the start line and some helpful 4th Cats point to the 3rd Cats racing off into the distance. Binning the jacket I sprint into an bitterly cold headwind whilst grappling with putting on my gloves. Almost a lap later I'm finally back on. The legs already feel dead and the tickle at the back of my throat lets me know that cold hasn't fully gone. Fitness not quite as it should be. That's always the excuse. The overheard carpark chat was of a dry, mild winter - so everyone is on form. And it's the penultimate race of the winter series so there will be some strong riders in there. Time to race smart. As I see it I only have a handful of matches to burn. This is my visualization for intense efforts. Blazing bright before it's gone for good. I best use them wisely.

So there I sit. At the back. Lap after lap. I almost feel guilty not contributing to the pace. I keep a close eye on things. See whose doing lots of work at the front, who looks fast, who looks sketchy. Assessing the field. Not that I had grand plans. I had a few good results last year when I least expected it so now I'm ever an opportunist. You'll notice the only photo I appear in is at the finish. Hiding. The strong cold headwind put paid to any thoughts of breaks. A few tried but were pulled back quickly. In a rare move to the front of the field I saw a move go that thought would stick so used up some vital energy to bridge across. Glancing back I saw the whole bunch on my wheel. Time to sit at the back again. Lets make that just one match left to burn.

I kept a close eye on the time, seeing that the 50 minutes was almost up and the countdown of 5 laps would begin. I took this time to figure out what line I would take when it would inevitably end in a bunch sprint. Need to get this right as they don't nickname these races 'Spillingdon' for nothing. I either need to be at the front or out the back.

As the laps tick down I place myself on the outside. Don't want to be boxed in and it gives me an escape in case of a crash. Last lap. Speed ramped up. One guy goes for a flyer. Two corners and 500m left as before I know it I spot a gap and I'm full gas, sprinting as hard as I can round the outside. Last match is blazing as I'm in full on track sprint. 'You damn fool Pepper!' I said to myself. I've got a good gap but 500 metres is a long sprint. Too long by far. I sail past the guy who made his bid for victory earlier and try and stay strong and smooth. Pedal circles not squares.

I can see the line. Head down and waiting for the bunch to spring past. Surely they must be here. But nothing. Silence. Damn! I could win this! Until that is until I heard the tell tale rumble of carbon wheels approaching as fast as I'm fading. The brain calls out to the legs to MTFU but it's no good. They put up a good fight but I'm beaten on the line. Still, I stoked with 2nd! In fact I can't believe it.

On reflection I'm so happy with this race. Sure, a win would have been nice, but throughout the whole race I felt like the spring wasn't there. It felt a struggle, even sheltering in the peloton. Luckily the years of racing are paying off. Learning more about the craft of road racing is serving me better these day than my fitness. Sitting back and watching the Tour of Qatar I'm glad the season of racing is back. I never realised I missed it so much.

Photo © Antony Edmonds

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Posted by Morvélo 

Welcome back

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Now , that was one sweet ride to work. Running late and lots to do I was going to just head straight to work. The shortest way. Then as I picked out the commuter from the shed, the cross bike, still covered in mud from a month ago, called out from behind the road and mountain bike - "Oi, over 'ere"

Next thing I know I've dusted off the cross bike, lubed the chain, and I'm heading completely the opposite direction to work. Fingers and toes numb within minutes and an icy headwind, I soon warmed up as I hit the first climb. I've never felt so glad to make a split second judgement call and go with my gut feeling. The ride was awesome! Bone dry, super fast, tailwind for most of the way. The winter has trimmed back all the bushes from the sides of the narrow singletrack and I didn't leave the attach position of the drops at all. Banzai!

Now I'm late in and have loads to catch up with. But boy was that a sweet ride in and a warm welcome back to going the long way.

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Posted by Morvélo 

The saviour of a #noturbo ride.

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The one single item that seems to make venturing outdoors in the sheet rain bearable, or even enjoyable isn't a waterproof jacket, gloves, shorts or socks but it's the humble cycling cap. With no technical advancement needed for years this most simple of cycling garments does a multitude of jobs perfectly. Keeping the head warm, the rain out of your eyes and the mind optimistic.

Having suggested that people should shun the turbo trainer and venture out this winter, I had to keep to my word despite the sheet rain on the window. Sure, it wasn't a long ride but when you're soaked through after the first 2 miles you'll know it'll be just as much a mental test as physical. Which is where the cap comes in. Keeping the rain out of your eyes or off your glasses makes the ride seem strangely not all that wet. With the absence of rain drops sliding across the lenses of your cycling glasses, it's another good day in the saddle. In fact, before long, you can start to revel in the conditions, splashing through puddles, sliding around corners, thriving in the elements. 

Come summer and those dusty trails or dry tarmac you'll look back on days like these and think - I've earned it.

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Posted by Morvélo