Velo Allegro St. Patrick’s Day Criterium, Los Angeles

I don’t think there’s a whole lot of Irish in my family history, if any, but I sure showed my Irish pride at the Velo Allegro St. Patrick’s Day Criterium when I finished 3rd! St. Patrick’s day weekend marked my 14th full week of training and racing in Los Angeles. 14 weeks of the biggest learning experience of my life! I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work with some of the best nutritionists and sports psychologists in the sport. Learning all about how to fuel my body for racing and training and how to really get my “game face” on come race day! The amount of knowledge I have gained during my time here is huge! And on St. Patrick’s Day, with only 6 weeks left here, it was time to put that knowledge to use!

To be honest, the day before the race I wasn’t sure if I’d even be able to race the next day! We had really typical cold and cloudy UK weather (which almost never happens here!) and while I was on the training ride that day I had really bad asthma symptoms. By the time I got home I felt like a zombie! All I could think of, was sleep!! Come the next day (race day) the weather was perfect, my legs felt alright and all I could think about now was getting on the bike and over writing the bad memories from the day before. 

It was time to turn the negatives into positives. Rolling up to the start line, game face on and excited to race. It was a good course, rolling flat and able to pedal corners with a long straight to the finish. I had a good feel for the course, knowing where to position myself best, as the back straight was the toughest part, being very windy. With 15minutes into the race an attack was made by Junior World Champion Jennifer Valente, to which the attack managed to stay away. Pulling the bunch together and tearing it up on the front, taking turns to pull the attack back, we were full into race speed around 30mph. 

Eventually with 10laps to go the attack was pulled back! By this point there were hungry riders with determination brewing, as always in a bike race anyone wants the win. I made sure I positioned myself upfront in the bunch and out of trouble. I also knew there was one more prime left before the finish, that I wanted to go for as I was in perfect position. Bell comes for the prime, I had the World Champ on my wheel making it cat and mouse! I pushed my pedal down and came through winning it. I was pleased and at this point my legs were hurting! No pain, no gain is exactly what I thought! 

Coming into the last 5 laps, I wanted to podium however bad my legs were hurting, my mind took over, I knew already from analyzing the course before the start of the race, you needed to go from the final corner! Coming second into the final corner, 'GO' is exactly what I did! Sprinting with everything and more I had left in me, my legs were screaming, my mind exploding with determination... I finally came across the finish line with a strong lead with 3rd position! Knowing I just won the final prime 5laps before this, I was feeling really happy, a sense of relief and a positive look towards the day before this race... 

'A negative training day can be put into a positive when you don't give up!!'

Podium at The Newport Nocturne!!

The very first Women’s Newport Nocturne arrives! I find out with four weeks to go it’s going to be run. At this time I was in America training and racing hard, which had set me up ready for it. The four weeks had soon passed; I was more than ready to race, kept focused and couldn’t wait!!
Before I begin on how I rode the race to gain my podium position.. A few years ago my Uncle, Mike Jones raced the men’s Newport Nocturne, to which I went to watch him at one. It was amazing! The crowd and set up was an insane atmosphere!! Not to mention the racing was on a whole other level of experience... this was just watching the race! So this encouraged me to start racing and ever since I’ve wondered if there would ever be a women’s race at The Newport Nocturne.

So I’ve just turned 21 and being told there’s going to be a women’s race in The Newport Nocturne after watching my Uncle race it at a young age, great news!! Happy as I knew what this race was like and how big it was so it was brilliant to know I’d have the experience to actually race in it myself!

Ed Rollason Photography

I arrive, warm up and race head on!! Race starts... I knew where I needed to be, up the front, stayed up there the whole race. I won myself two primes within the race so I was feeling very on form. Legs felt good and so did my head; I was thinking where to position myself throughout the race and what primes to go for. With five laps to go I just won my second prime, knowing at this point I’ve still got the legs to pull something out the bag with this race. I’ve trained hard over in America for five weeks, so this was my chance... one lap to go coming down the finishing straight I was there in the right position, no holding back, sprinted with everything I had left in the legs finishing a successful 3^rd across the line!!...
One VERY HAPPY girl!!!


Ed Rollason Photography

 It felt amazing after a very long and hard few seasons, to feel that achievement was over whelming!! Best of all, to come home from America achieving the goal I had set in my head for the past four weeks! Not only coming home to race The Newport Nocturne, it was coming home achieving this result in The Newport Nocturne in front of a home crowd, family and friends. I would like to thank them all for the best support, along with a big thank you to Nick Jeggo and the organisers for putting on such a fantastic Nocturne!! I hope this won’t be the last.

Now it’s still on the bike prepping for the Senior British Cycling Track Championship Nationals.

Big thanks to Richard Bennett and Ed Rollason for the photos!

Hayley x

America!

“What happened to you out there??” a question I’ve been asked countless times in the short week I’ve been home. A question just as hard to answer as where to start writing this blog... My five weeks in America were the fastest and toughest weeks of my life. I made a family of friends and unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime. The racing and training in America redefined how I view myself as a cyclist and what I am truly capable of...

The day to day routine of training built my confidence without me even knowing come the third week out there. Double sessions each day, track and road, the best training I’ve done, more so the HARDEST. Here is some of what we (myself and Charline Joiner) did... Motorpacing, standing starts, road rides, mountain climbs, derby rides and most importantly the track and crit racing! Full on and hard work put in!!

To add to this... I turn up on the first week to race the World Series of Bicycling Track, racing with the pro/international women’s field against, New Zealand, Poland, America and Scotland. This was a big night of racing each Friday with crowds of 2,500 to 3,000! This was one of the best experiences to be able to compete within this race series. 
 
Throughout the hard weeks of training I put in mentally and physically, it started paying off with results... Top ten in the women’s crit , 5th overall in one of the Omniums, just pipped to 4th in the women’s big event the kieren and finally a big win on the Friday night (World Series of Bicycling) this was in the women’s scratch race, report follows... 
 
“In the ten lap scratch, Nadia Latzgo made a move with four to go and brought England’s Hayley Edwards with her. Edwards was able to hold off a hard charging Latzgo to take the win, while Colleen Gulick won the field sprint.” The Valley Preferred Cycling Centre.

This was then the start to a rider introduction on the last week I was out there. I was asked alongside the pro/international riders, men and women to do a rider introduction to the crowd. This was a lot of fun!! Your name along with an introduction and country your from is called out whilst riding round the track waving to the crowd. A very rewarding and fun experience after a long five weeks of racing and training at my hardest!...

Through all the hard full on racing and training I’m not missing out the fun and CRAZY cherished memories! Though it’s hard to explain every best one, as there were so many!! Instead I’ve got photos, so here are the BEST memories of ‘Summer 2012 in America!’...

The Valley Preferred Cycling Centre

The BEST International family... English, Scottish, New Zealand and American, all in one house!

 

The one of many scary storms!!

The ‘very’ burnt pizza... we attempted to play frisbee with.and managed three throws, RESULT!

I experienced some creek walking with machetes and FROGS!!! (I fear for)

I found the chocolate all in one place in New York!!

 

I experienced some creek walking with machetes and FROGS!!! (I fear for)

Just completed the derby training session, celebrating the tough average 30mph effort!!

Rocking the sunset whilst out training

I wanted to take the sun home to rainy England...

Racing the Tour Series and amazing TEAM NAILS!

After weeks of racing and training the highlight of my favourite racing so far this season has been the Tour Series. After racing three rounds with team mates Nicola and Frankie, Oxford, Peterbourgh and Stoke On Trent, I was buzzing. The atmosphere in all three rounds was amazing!! It was fun to be racing crits with great crowds.


The first round was a big shock to the system! VERY FAST... Legs just about held on! Second round after riding round the course to get a feel for it, was my favourite. I knew what to expect this time, prepared for the speed, so I did much better with a good result to finish just behind the bunch in a group of 10 riders. The third and final round was, let’s say, VERY windy with hit and miss rain. The twisty course was fun - my favourite part had to be the fast decent down under the bridge! I performed well again finishing around 20th and Nicola 18th. Good results!!


Whilst racing the Tour Series with my team mates, we didn’t miss out on a chance to paint ourselves matching nails! It all started at the Junior road race Championships, when myself, Nicola and Lauren accidentally turned up with matching pink nails...! For the following races together we went all out for the NEON YELLOW team colour and logos!! The wheel changing and cleaning bikes had to wait.


Now after the tour series i'm in full training and working/coaching ready for my trip to America!

More soon... keep you posted,


Hayley x

My win at Blackpool!

Crossing the line!

First Blackpool circuit series and I was in it to win it!! Building up my motivation, I arrived at the circuit focused and ready. A quick catch up with the team, sign on and then a full roller warm up with some tunes pumping away. I was in pure race zone!!

The race began. I started strong and sat in and did a few turns on the front with my team mates. We were all looking great! I then decided it was time to mix it up a bit after five laps and made a strong attack from the middle whilst no one was looking. I managed to hold it to the bottom corner, but the race then bunched back up holding a reasonable race pace. Throughout there were attacks off the front from my team mates Nicola and Frankie. I made sure I went with them where I could without dragging the bunch up, so at least one or two of us could make a break. Unfortunately no one was getting away. Myself and Nicola were working on the front of the bunch, controlling the race.
With three to go I was watching my position and was sat fifth from the front, moving myself up to third place behind Lauren coming up to the last hair pin bend. I took my chance tightly round the corner, smashed my foot down and went for it... it was a long way to the line!! However the bright yellow finish line eventually shined at me and my fist was up in the air picking up 10points! A VERY HAPPY moment!!! With Lauren coming in 2nd a few metres behind, Frankie 5th and Nicola 7th ... A HUGE WELL DONE to my great team mates!! : )



Me and Lauren collecting our prize money!

 Now I can’t wait for my next race the Junior National   incorporated with Seniors on 12th May and West Midland Regional Road Race Championships on 20th May!

Hayley x

Two nail breaking punctures, first race of 2012 and LOVING THE NEW KIT!

I started out on a sunny Saturday ride with local riders, working hard and doing reasonably well, until my bike started to feel a bit like a bouncy castle! Turned out to be a slow puncture. Fantastic, my nails had been freshly painted the night before all nice and pink. After fixing the puncture (with nails now black and chipped) I got back on with no further issues. The following day I went out again although this time it was raining/sleeting. Half an hour in and ANOTHER puncture! Just my luck... I'd already given up with the not so pink nails, but with all the rain I also looked like a drowned rat! After training hard around Shropshire up long climbs, Hope Valley, Marshbrook and Church Stretton... feeling very tired and cold after four hours. Food and sleep was needed!!

On the bright side, I had my first race of 2012 the following week - very exciting stuff. Jazzing up the race bike with glossy Fizik bar tape and all the little last touches, like a big kid in a sweet shop!

When race day finally arrived, meeting all my team mates was very exciting and they were all lovely! It was great to be part of the team, they made me feel very welcome! Racing in my new kit was really exciting, I absolutely love it and my Mum commented that she 'wouldn't miss me in races this year!!'. In the race, I managed to stay up from out of trouble, working hard on the front and sitting in to recover. Unfortunately two riders managed to get away, I did think to bridge the gap and had a couple of digs off the front, but couldn’t go on my own. However I was pleased with my performance for my first race of the season finishing 10th, surprised myself! A big well done to my team mates too, particularly Mel who won the bunch kick for third place! Hopefully Nicola's crank won't fall off next time!

Looking forward to next weekend racing Salt Ayre and spending the weekend with the girls in the Lakes for our first proper training ride of the year :)

Hayley x

How I discovered cycling and got into womens bike racing

I first discovered the sport watching my Uncle racing in the Newport Nocturne. Followed by my brother racing mountain bikes and road, passing endless water bottles! I then hung up my running shoes and converted from cross country/athletics to cycling.

I joined my local club of which runs through 3 generations in my family, Stan's/Paramount CRT and started riding a road bike. I had caught the cycling bug! With Halesowen just down the road, I thought i'd try my hand at track cycling. At first I couldn't quite get my head round a bike WITHOUT BRAKES!! However I soon took to it and I started competing in local circuit races and track leagues. The enjoyment from the racing and training made me want to do more, I loved it!

I then joined Halesowen due to there being younger riders around my age and over the next couple of years started racing the National women's road series, National women's track omniums and did a couple of races in Belgium. It was a great experience racing with International riders.

This winter I've been braving the cold training long miles, turbo and roller sessions and circuit training sessions. I am very excited to be riding for Maxgear this year, being part of a women's team racing and looking forward to the challenges along the way. Can't wait to meet you all!! :)