As some of you may know I cut my 2015 season short. I felt after the crash; once I got back racing again I was almost pushing too hard to try and get some results. “Just let it happen” – Ges Barker 2013. I realised I shouldn’t doubt my ability. So I took a risk, end the season early. I wanted and focus on building towards a stronger 2016.
I have managed to find myself in Australia for at least the winter and have joined an Australian team – Physio Health Swift Carbon. So far everything has been great, I have been lucky enough to be accommodated by the manager Rod along with his son (Also a team rider) in his home. It’s a great setup, living with athletes as such means disciplining myself is a whole lot easier. I am also surrounded by knowledge of how to improve myself as a rider.
My first race over here was the day I arrived, after sleeping for almost the whole day after my morning ride I rocked up to the local crit. I felt half asleep on the start line and was incredibly jetlagged. The first move went off the start line, including a quality rider who briefly introduced himself to me before the race. I decided to try and bridge, eventually with 3 others we joined the move and the break looked strong. We were away, then a nasty crash in the bunch meant race over. I felt pretty good, with a hill on the course the profile was perfect for me. Onto the next one.
The next race was ‘Warny’. A lot of preparation went into this race, 280km long and the 100th edition of one of Australia’s most prestigious race, I was more than up for it. With it being a mass start of 300 riders of all abilities I was a little overwhelmed everyone was just riding everywhere and I think the only word to describe it was chaos. After finding Tim in the bunch, a previous winner of the race I decided to stick with him. He was more than helpful to move up the bunch with and deciding which side of the road to ride on. So he got me through the first 20km. As soon as I lost his wheel there was a big crash right in front of me. So I had to do a bit of an effort to get back on, to make sure I was still in the race.
After that I tried a few digs off the front, hoping the bunch would let something go, but everything was pretty well marked. Then as the bunch stopped for a ‘pisso’ a group rolled away and joined the two leaders on the road. The next few kms were real steady, quite easy but important none the less. Eating and drinking well I felt really fresh.
I think after 120km the gap to the break was 16 minutes so the bunch had to start working. Riding in the first third of maybe a 200 rider bunch, everything seemed to be going well. Then at 133km a rider 3 wheels in front lost his wheel on the gravel and I followed him into tasting some tarmac. I hit the barrier on the side of the road, knocking my shoulder, breaking a pedal and a few spokes in the rear wheel. Two riders from the team stopped to help me out, but I knew there was no chance of me getting a wheel. Our team car was up the road, I couldn’t see neutral service and no team were up for giving me a wheel. So the lads got back in the bunch. I eventually got a wheel maybe 5 minutes after asking around. A heap of riders came down so there was a lot of shouting in fairness. I then set myself the task of trying to chase back on, solo. I chased for nearly 70kms, picking up riders on my way. At times I could see the bunch in head however, the effort came to an end, I had spent the whole time without water in the Aussie sun. Bad idea. I had to pull the pin. Race over.
Overall the Warny was a good experience, I got to meet the team and get the feel of Aussie racing.
Since then I have done a few local crits, these are mainly training tools.
Training wise, my program is a little different and more varied than in the past. There are a few bunch rides which go early in the morning which are a laugh and an opportunity to show off my Pom tan to the locals.
I have also been adopted by a few other rider’s reco ride. They are a funny group to ride with and love a coffee stop. Despite not liking coffee, I enjoy the stops and listening to the tales they have to bring to the table.
One of these myths was the story of the magpies attacking and ‘swooping’ riders, I thought the fellas where just pulling my leg. After a few failed attempts of trying to show me what they do, I was caught off guard. Whilst training in the hills I was in a world of my own and then all of a sudden I was swooped by two magpies. I have never tried so hard on the bike in my life. I just nailed it. Whoever wrote the rhyme ‘one for sorrow two for Joy’ was a liar. Joy was the last emotion I felt. Myth Busted.
Well I have probably bored you guys enough, so until next time.
Ben
Again a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me so far!
I have managed to find myself in Australia for at least the winter and have joined an Australian team – Physio Health Swift Carbon. So far everything has been great, I have been lucky enough to be accommodated by the manager Rod along with his son (Also a team rider) in his home. It’s a great setup, living with athletes as such means disciplining myself is a whole lot easier. I am also surrounded by knowledge of how to improve myself as a rider.
My first race over here was the day I arrived, after sleeping for almost the whole day after my morning ride I rocked up to the local crit. I felt half asleep on the start line and was incredibly jetlagged. The first move went off the start line, including a quality rider who briefly introduced himself to me before the race. I decided to try and bridge, eventually with 3 others we joined the move and the break looked strong. We were away, then a nasty crash in the bunch meant race over. I felt pretty good, with a hill on the course the profile was perfect for me. Onto the next one.
The next race was ‘Warny’. A lot of preparation went into this race, 280km long and the 100th edition of one of Australia’s most prestigious race, I was more than up for it. With it being a mass start of 300 riders of all abilities I was a little overwhelmed everyone was just riding everywhere and I think the only word to describe it was chaos. After finding Tim in the bunch, a previous winner of the race I decided to stick with him. He was more than helpful to move up the bunch with and deciding which side of the road to ride on. So he got me through the first 20km. As soon as I lost his wheel there was a big crash right in front of me. So I had to do a bit of an effort to get back on, to make sure I was still in the race.
After that I tried a few digs off the front, hoping the bunch would let something go, but everything was pretty well marked. Then as the bunch stopped for a ‘pisso’ a group rolled away and joined the two leaders on the road. The next few kms were real steady, quite easy but important none the less. Eating and drinking well I felt really fresh.
I think after 120km the gap to the break was 16 minutes so the bunch had to start working. Riding in the first third of maybe a 200 rider bunch, everything seemed to be going well. Then at 133km a rider 3 wheels in front lost his wheel on the gravel and I followed him into tasting some tarmac. I hit the barrier on the side of the road, knocking my shoulder, breaking a pedal and a few spokes in the rear wheel. Two riders from the team stopped to help me out, but I knew there was no chance of me getting a wheel. Our team car was up the road, I couldn’t see neutral service and no team were up for giving me a wheel. So the lads got back in the bunch. I eventually got a wheel maybe 5 minutes after asking around. A heap of riders came down so there was a lot of shouting in fairness. I then set myself the task of trying to chase back on, solo. I chased for nearly 70kms, picking up riders on my way. At times I could see the bunch in head however, the effort came to an end, I had spent the whole time without water in the Aussie sun. Bad idea. I had to pull the pin. Race over.
Overall the Warny was a good experience, I got to meet the team and get the feel of Aussie racing.
Since then I have done a few local crits, these are mainly training tools.
Training wise, my program is a little different and more varied than in the past. There are a few bunch rides which go early in the morning which are a laugh and an opportunity to show off my Pom tan to the locals.
I have also been adopted by a few other rider’s reco ride. They are a funny group to ride with and love a coffee stop. Despite not liking coffee, I enjoy the stops and listening to the tales they have to bring to the table.
One of these myths was the story of the magpies attacking and ‘swooping’ riders, I thought the fellas where just pulling my leg. After a few failed attempts of trying to show me what they do, I was caught off guard. Whilst training in the hills I was in a world of my own and then all of a sudden I was swooped by two magpies. I have never tried so hard on the bike in my life. I just nailed it. Whoever wrote the rhyme ‘one for sorrow two for Joy’ was a liar. Joy was the last emotion I felt. Myth Busted.
Well I have probably bored you guys enough, so until next time.
Ben
Again a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me so far!