Week Seven - 18th Feb

Brilliant day out at Sproatley for the seventh session, temperature in double figures and little wind; unfortunately not so many numbers - it must be because of crossing the city to get out east but, really, it's the best of all the courses I use. Two and a half miles around and virtually traffic free. Eight laps gives us 20 miles and we could have done more today, but it was certainly hard enough - John Lockwood certainly left a trail of sweat. Group one were: Mark Walker, Phil Eden, Mick Adams, John Lockwood, John Galbraith and Mike Kilgour.
Three minutes behind were two riders only, Steve Macklin and Dave Hudson. They could have done with some help from Paul Kilvington but that wasn't to be. Paul came on his best bike but his back wheel cones came very loose and it was unsafe to ride. He did manage to get a replacement wheel with about three laps to go but that was too late to help Steve and Dave.
The scratch group, also small but quality, were another two minutes back. They were: Joel Wainman, Richard Moore, Chris Daddy and Paul Noton.

 

 

	Phil Eden was the first two give in after a couple of laps but he did come off two weeks ago and maybe not got back to fitness. Dave Hudson too was under some strain with only Steve Macklin to share the work but he called it a day after six laps.
Lap Gp1 Gp2 Gp3 1 8.15 6.56 6.48 2 7.21 7.00 6.31 3 7.30 7.00 6.29 4 7.35 6.52 6.27 5 7.25 6.34 6.26 6 7.12 6.54 6.17 7 7.23 7.18 6.32 8 7.15 7.06 6.32	When everyone came together after five laps the scratch group went through and the others stayed together sensibly. Steve Macklin's was mostly solo, but maybe we'll get more for the last session next week.

News of Paul Hayward who came down last week. Paul has broken his ankle and had to have an emergency operation to insert a plate last Saturday evening and has to keep his leg elevated for the next six weeks. It's a bit unfortunate as Paul has only recently started a new job. Obviously he wants to get back to work as soon as he can but he's also keen to get back on the bike when possible - he doesn't want to lose too much of his fitness. Hope you're soon as good as new, Paul

Week Eight - 25th Feb

Not the best of weather for training but the forecast was worse than what
appeared, although it was rather cold, especially standing around. Only
seven riders at 2 o'clock - Steve Macklin, Nathan Chester, Mark Robinson,
Dave Hudson, John Galbraith, Mark Walker and John Lockwood so they all set
off together in one group. The good thing was that they could all have a
proper chat lap for the first of eight laps - wind a bit stronger and quite
different from the summery weather of last week so the same number of laps
in these conditions was the same as upping the effort.

Three more joined the group on the first lap, Richard Moore, Dave Galbraith
and Mike Moss, and this upset the balance a little - I did tell Mossy that
he should break out with Richard as they were certain to upset the pace of
the others.

The pace certainly upped on the second lap and John G and Mark W formed
their own little section and they went around well together and John was
able to help Mark a bit although I suspect he wasn't as fit as him. It
really got split on the third lap and Mark R and Nathan decided to keep the
old middle group together, only Steve Macklin decided to go it alone when he
couldn't match the pace of Mike and Richard. So that's how it worked out,
and if you look at the times you can see how regular as clockwork Richard
and Mike went round - their lap seven time includes a few seconds lost when
they had to stop for traffic at the Sproatley road junction.

RM/MM   SM NC/MR/DH/DG/JL MW/JG

Lap	Gp1	Gp2	Gp3	Gp4
1	10.20	10.20	10.20	10.20
2	6.47	6.47	6.47	7.09
3	6.49	6.49	7.46	8.11
4	6.48	7.04	7.26	8.10
5	6.47	7.30	7.31	8.24
6	6.47	7.24	7.24	8.24
7	6.54	7.23	7.24	8.26
8	6.41	7.31	7.32

Notice also the parallel with Steve Macklin's times and the group's. On the
last lap Richard Moore stepped up the pace a little and Mossy had had
enough, but he finished happy! We had a surfeit of marshals to help today
with Sheila, Rob Stones, Don Wilkinson (as ever), Brian Middleton, John
Anson, Charlie Cromack, as well as Mark Walker's dad.

I had a little note from Joel Wainman saying how much he'd enjoyed the
sessions and he wants to thank everybody who's helped. I think this includes
the riders as well because that's what makes these sessions. Interesting
info from Joel was that the fastest lap was just under 25 mph and last week
his heart rate averaged - yes averaged - 175 bpm. He's suggesting it's the
roadmen who pulled it out of him but he could be a bloody good roadman if he
wanted.