| Looking forward to the 2007 season | ||||||||||||||||||
| It’s now February, which means the season is fast approaching and I can’t wait to get stuck in! I got plenty of rest at the end of the 2006 season and then spent November and December working nights order picking in a warehouse near Burton to help fund 2007. Working up to 60 hours a week didn’t leave much time to get out on the bike, but since then I’ve done a few big training weeks particularly during January.
January’s training was all base stuff with mostly long steady rides and just enjoying, what was mostly, a very mild and dry month considering the time of year. It felt great to get back out on the bike again, even when it was windy and raining all day I just wanted to do more! I think the longest time spent in the rain was just over five and a half hours. I had some really enjoyable group rides as well, and the odd epic. One of which included a trip over to Winnat's pass in north Derbyshire. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that day. We had a steady ride out in what was cold, but bright and sunny conditions, with only a slight breeze. That lasted until we were within five or so miles of the infamously steep Winnat's Pass, when the wind started to pick up! For any one that doesn’t know this climb, it ascends along a small valley for about a mile or so and gets to about 20% gradient. As we started the climb, the wind worsened and by a quarter of the way up, as the valley started to open out, it was unbelievable! All of us were struggling to stay on our bikes, getting blown all over the road, from the gutter and then violently pushed onto the wrong side of the road, no-one got past half way! For the first time since I was a schoolboy, I had to walk up a climb! Pretty embarrassing really! For most of 2007 I will be based in Belgium with K.W. Heist Zuiderkempen, but will be returning to the UK for some high profile British events. The U23, Elite Road Race Championships and the U23 Time Trial Championships are all important and feature on my race program. I also intend to ride the CTT 10 and 25 mile Time Trial Championships, plus a few premier calendar events, especially the Rutland “Cicle” Classic and National Circuit races, including the Guildford town centre, where my Belgian programme permits time. Goals I have for the coming season include -
During February my race programme is:
During the winter I got confirmation that I’d receive support from the Dave Rayner Fund, which was a great boost for morale! I am also still receiving support from Ken Wingate, of Homespace Design and Construction, who helped me no end throughout the 2006 season! Thanks also go to Jason Hough, of Paul Chetwyn Supplies for his contribution of ‘SAS Attack’ spray lubricants and Russell Carter for the design and construction of my website. Don’t forget to check out my new website regularly as it gets built and let me know what you think! Till next time! Dan |
