The team's 2020 season got underway on Sunday with Hickers and Hockers riding in the Lea Valley 25 on a windy and chilly day. With question marks over how many events we'll actually get to ride over the next few months, at least we're up and running.

First out of the blocks was Hugo Hocknell who showed that he's clearly had a storming winter of training and is back to his best form with a simply brilliant ride of 1:00:21 to score 9th place overall.

As the picture below shows, Nick Hickman has further honed his brilliant looking and slippery position, and rode well to stop the clock on 1:10:54 which was good enough for 36th on the day. Nick reports it was super rapid to the turn and then a brutal battle against a near 20mph headwind all the way back to the finish. The classic mental torture of a time trial!

Nick Hickman captured in full flight by Davey Jones.

What happens next is anybody's guess. Next up for the team, in theory, is the ECCA 10 on Saturday 21st March where we have both riders competing and personnel helping support the event.  If this falls by the wayside due to Covid-19 we'll all no doubt be switching to Zwift to ensure the racing carries on even in isolation.

Nick Hickman gets our season under way with strong performances in freezing and wet conditions

Time triallists tend to be a warm-blooded creatures by nature, so most won't be seen out and about racing until at least well into March and, if we're honest, the vast majority don't peak their heads out of their burrows until April.

But, new team member Nick Hickman is clearly no ordinary time triallist! Here we are barely into March and he has 4 TT's under his belt already and is flying.

2019 wasn't even a full day old and Nick was up and running. For his first ride in our team colours he smashed out a 23:33 at the CC Breckland New Year's day event to bag 15th place. The rest of us were nursing hangovers and avoiding the cold!

Then into February he took his next chance to battle the elements at the Ely & District hardriders - a 25 mile race that on paper seems easy enough due to the flat roads. But once you throw in howling winds across the fens, biting rain and some of the worst roads this side of Belgium Pave you have a proper hard-mans event on your hands. Showing what a great winter he's had, and choosing to make things even harder for himself by riding fixed (!), Nick took 3:29 off his previous PB to clock 1:18:10 for 38th overall.

Photo courtesy of Davey Jones

It took a few weeks to thaw out before Nick was back in action again, this time at the Kettering CC hilly on the punishing NC1A course. Another strong showing bagged him his second top 20 of the season with a superb ride of 54:57.

Finally, on the 9th March Nick returned to racing at the Hitchin Nomads hilly 18.5, clocking 58:59 and no doubt being completely spun out on the long downhills as he was back on fixed again.

So welcome to the team Nick. It looks like the awards for hardiest racer, and rider with most events in a season both will soon be in the bag at this rate!

Race Round Rockingham Results - 30 June 2018

Preliminary results can be found on the chip timing web site:

1 Lap
https://www.stuweb.co.uk/live/race.shtml#3265-7570

3 Lap
https://www.stuweb.co.uk/live/race.shtml#3265-7656 

Prizes will be sent in the next few days. Congratulations to all riders and our category winners.

Thank you to all competitors, volunteers and support staff who helpd make our little idea of closed road time trial racing come to life.

Steve & Simon, on behalf of Team Sales Engine

Race 'Round Rockingham update - Important news for all riders

Please see the following note and attachment regarding tomorrow's event.

"I've just had a call from the team at Rockingham to say that the Abarth event won't now be clear of the circuit until after 18:00, so we won't be able to gain access to the inner paddock to set up until 18:15 at the earliest.

"As a result we've decided to push the start time for the first rider back from 18:46 to 19:31, and move to 30 second intervals between riders to avoid the event running too late into the evening. So please check the attached startsheet carefully for your new start time!

"There will still be time to ride the circuit beforehand. This will now be between 19:00 and 19:20. If you arrive at the circuit before 18:15 there will be a holding parking area on the right hand side after the road that takes you to the inner paddock.

"No cars will be allowed into the inner paddock area until we get clearance from Rockingham. Our marshals will be there to help if you have any questions. 

"Apologies for the inconvenience, and look forward to seeing you tomorrow."

Steve

For anyone concerned with 30s intervals for riders, please note that many circuit based TTs use 30s was their benchmark, e.g. Tour of Cambridge, Ride Blenheim, CTT National Circuit Championships. The circuit can easily accommodate this change.

Number Start time First name Last name Gender Club/Team Bike type

1 19:31:00 Mark & James Fraser City Cycle Centre Tandem

2 19:31:30 Ben Robinson M Team Salesengine.co.uk Road bike

3 19:32:00 Ethan Dynes M Hitchin Nomads Road bike

4 19:32:30 Jack Mace M Icknield Road Cycling Road Bike

5 19:33:00 Thomas Barnett M Team Bottrill Vanguard Road bike

6 19:33:30 Skye Martingale F Sotonia CC Road bike

7 19:34:00 Mason Bradley M Icknield Road Club Road bike

8 19:34:30 Eloise Cain F Icknield Road Club Road bike

3 Lap race

Number Start time First name Last name Gender Club/Team Bike type Category

10 19:35:30 Dave Wilson M St Neots cc Road Bike

11 19:36:00 Samuel Quiggin M Road Bike <15

12 19:36:30 Aidan Halfpenny M Icknield Road Club Road Bike <15

13 19:37:00 Matthew Barclay M Icknield Road Club Road bike <15

14 19:37:30 Archie Bracewell M Cycle Club Ashwell Road Bike <15

15 19:38:00 Frankie McMahon M Icknield Road Club Road Bike <15

16 19:38:30 Ella Ruggles F Hitchin nomads TT Bike <15

17 19:39:00 Michael Carter M Welland Valley Cycling Club TT Bike <15

18 19:39:30 Will Perkins M Welland Valley CC Road Bike <15

19 19:40:00 Cameron Morris M Icknield Road Club Road Bike <15

20 19:40:30 Aimee Lane F Wyre forest TT Bike <15

21 19:41:00 Jonathan Toma M Fenland Clarion Cycling Club TT Bike >15

22 19:41:30 James Lowe M Welland valley TT Bike >15

23 19:42:00 Lucas Timms M Coventry Road Club Road Bike >15

24 19:42:30 Jordan Black M Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon TT Bike S

25 19:43:00 kristian woolf M VC Equipe TT Bike S

26 19:43:30 Ryan Witchell M Salesengine.co.uk TT Bike S

27 19:44:00 Martin Moore M Walsall rcc TT Bike S

28 19:44:30 Martin Pilcz M Road Bike S

29 19:45:00 Denise Burrows F The Cycle Studio Core Telecom TT Bike C

30 19:45:30 Steph Russell F Team Bottrill/Vanguard TT Bike C

31 19:46:00 Victoria Watson F Road Bike F

32 19:46:30 Gemma Stuart F Velovitesse Road Bike C

33 19:47:00 Mark Bottrill M TeamBottrill TT Bike M

34 19:47:30 Timothy Perry M IRC TT Bike M

35 19:48:00 Joanne Lee F velo elite Road Bike C

36 19:48:30 Chris Green M TT Bike M

37 19:49:00 Oliver Wright M Banbury Star CC TT Bike M

38 19:49:30 David Lindsay M St Neots cc TT Bike M

39 19:50:00 Ian Richards M Stourbridge Cycling Club TT Bike M

40 19:50:30 Caroline Hewitt F VeloElite Road Bike C

3 Lap race

Number Start time First name Last name Gender Club/Team Bike type Category 41 19:51:00 Matthew Saunders M Team Vision Racing TT Bike A 42 19:51:30 Nicolas Pillinger M Team Secret Squirrel TT Bike A 43 19:52:00 Sam Hayes M Team Salesengine.co.uk TT Bike A 44 19:52:30 Derrick Thirlwell M Kingston Wheelers TT Bike A 45 19:53:00 Fabos Young M Velo Elite rc TT Bike A 46 19:53:30 Vlad Nebolsin M HWCC TT Bike A 47 19:54:00 Jamie Quiggin M Road bike A 48 19:54:30 Simon Murphy M St Neots CC Road Bike B 49 19:55:00 Daniel Barnett M Team Bottrill Vanguard TT Bike A 50 19:55:30 Stuart Emmett M TT Bike B 51 19:56:00 Leanne Cutler F Hitchin Nomads TT Bike E 52 19:56:30 Neil Fitzgibbon M Road Bike B 53 19:57:00 Damian Webber M Road Bike B 54 19:57:30 Chris Rimes M Team Salesengine.co.uk TT Bike B 55 19:58:00 Niall McCallion M Road Bike B 56 19:58:30 Hitesh Mehta M Road Bike B 57 19:59:00 Steve Robinson M Team Salesengine.co.uk TT Bike B 58 19:59:30 Adrian Read M WellandValleyCC Road Bike B 59 20:00:00 Steve Smith M Hitchin Nomads CC Road Bike B 60 20:00:30 Stephen Holmes M V.C Norwich TT Bike B 61 20:01:00 Stuart Abram M Wellingborough Cycles Road Bike B 62 20:01:30 Elaine Maitland F Bonito Squadra Corse TT Bike E 63 20:02:00 Anthony McMahon M Icknield Road Club Road Bike B 64 20:02:30 Gary Hewitt M VeloElite Road Bike B 65 20:03:00 Simon Richardson M St Neots CC TT Bike B 66 20:03:30 Jodie Redden F 45 RC Road Bike E 67 20:04:00 Mark & Anna Fraser City Cycle Centre Tandem 68 20:04:30 Ian Scott M Boston Wheelers CC TT Bike C 69 20:05:00 Stuart Martingale M Sotonia CC TT Bike C 70 20:05:30 Nick Hickman M Hitchin Nomads CC TT Bike C 71 20:06:00 Stephen Cockerham M Trent Valley Road Club TT Bike C 72 20:06:30 Brian Ruggles M Hitchin nomads Road Bike C 73 20:07:00 Bronwen Ewing F Rye & District Wheelers TT Bike F 74 20:07:30 Stuart Short M QN coaching TT Bike C 75 20:08:00 Lisa Brady F Velo Elite Road Bike C 76 20:08:30 Iain Macfarlane M Bonito Squadra Corse Road Bike C 77 20:09:00 Paul Riley M Hitchin Nomads TT Bike C 78 20:09:30 David Ledgerton M Team Salesengine TT Bike C 79 20:10:00 Trevor Ricketts M Velovitesse Road Bike C 80 20:10:30 Sarah Short F QN coaching TT Bike G

3 Lap race Number Start time First name Last name Gender Club/Team Bike type Category 81 20:11:00 Martin Reynolds M CAMBRIDGE CC TT Bike D 82 20:11:30 Nigel Wilson M HNCC TT Bike D 83 20:12:00 Craig Hopkins M Wyre Forest cycle racing club TT Bike D 84 20:12:30 Andy Wickham M TT Bike D 85 20:13:00 Martin Magnago M St Ives CC Road Bike D 86 20:13:30 Mike Moralee M Hitchin Nomads C C Road Bike D 87 20:14:00 David Cook M Bedfordshire Road Race Team TT Bike E 88 20:14:30 Dave Wentworth M Team Salesengine.co.uk TT Bike E 89 20:15:00 John Poole M Team Echelon Road bike E 90 20:15:30 David Heath M Beds Road Road Bike E 91 20:16:00 Patrick Ellerbeck M St Neots cc TT Bike E 92 20:16:30 Peter Nix M Rockingham Forest Wheelers Road bike F 93 20:17:00 Robert Barrett M High Wycombe CC TT Bike F 94 20:17:30 Gillian Reynolds F Willesden cc TT Bike H 95 20:18:00 Robert Woodford M Welland valley c c TT Bike F 96 20:18:30 Roy Robinson M Team Salesengine.co.uk TT Bike G 97 20:19:00 Richard Glover M CC Ashwell TT Bike H 98 20:19:30 Edmund Spurgeon M Colchester Rovers CC Road bike H 99 20:20:00 Dave Wilson M St Neots CC TT Bike M 100 20:20:30 Graham Read M Veloelite RC TT Bike D

Race 'Round Rockingham - Strava

We have set up a Strava club for our Race 'Round Rockingham event.

Details here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/TSE-RaceRoundRockingham

We also have the first lap as a Strava segment.
https://www.strava.com/segments/17951665 

Race 'Round Rockingham Strava Lap 1 and profile

Team/Event member summaries:





Latest rides by all members:

Race 'Round Rockingham is fast approaching - Enter now to avoid disappointment

In our last post we proudly announced our Race 'Round Rockingham event which takes place on 30 June 2018. Entries are still being accepted and you can still get a ride, but don't delay as we are proving rather popular.

Enter at the RiderHQ site. For a brilliant taster of the super smooth track and what it may be like to race on the iconic Rockingham Raceway, have a look at Steve Robinson's recce of the course from last week.

TSE to promote Race 'Round Rockingham - Closed Circuit Time Trial - 30 June 2018

Team Salesengine.co.uk are proud to announce the inaugural Race 'Round Rockingham closed circuit time trial.  

120 Riders will be presented with the chance to test themselves against the clock (and against their mates!), in the traffic free environment of the Rockingham Motor Speedway circuit, near Kettering. 

Race 'Round Rockingham Flyer - Team Sales Engine

The centrally located event takes place on 30 June 2018, the first riders will commence their rides in the late afternoon with racing continuing in to the early evening. Easy access from the road network and lots of free parking.

A 3 lap, 15km time trial will utilise both the twisty infield of the circuit followed by a blast around the sweeping high speed raceway bowl. 

There are special categories for juniors and those wanting to ride a road bike. 

You do not need a pointy hat and a full blown Time Trial bike or kit  to come and enjoy the chance to compete in this unique race setting.

There will be chip timing for live results as soon as you finish, and on-site catering provided by RealBelgianFries to give riders and their supporters a chance to refuel on classic Belgian fries, waffles and other tasty treats.

The event is being run under the rules and regulations of TLI Cycling - www.tlicycling.org.uk.

We look forward to seeing you there! Entries accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Book now to avoid disappointment.

Contact Information and sponsorship opportunities

Steve Robinson - mailto: srobinson@salesengine.co.uk

Event Registration and secure online payment

https://www.riderhq.com/events/76276/race-round-rockingham-0 

Pricing - highly competitive at £25 adults, £7.50 juniors (under 18).

Stop Press - Witchell smashes 25 record

Just as Roy Robinson finished updating the TSE team records Ryan Witchell troubles the printers again with an astounding 49.48 on the E2/25 (02 Sept 2017). Truly fantastic riding, first espoir and pushing for top spot overall. Great work Ryan.

In the N&DCA event around Naesby Sam Hayes was top 10 despite a 30s hold-up on the course due to traffic. Sam Hayes, 23.41, Hugo Hocknell 23.57, Steve Robinson 25.39, David Ledgerton 29.30, Roy Robinson 30.30. Rumours abound that the team were in the running for the team prize.

In other news, Gavin Ashfield made a welcome return to racing in the Hitchin Nomads CC F1b/10 (3 Sept 2017). Gav recorded 21.31 and edged out co-TSE rider Simon Doyle by 2s. Welcome back Gav!

Gavin Ashfield - pic D Jones

Records tumble in TSE bumper bank holiday

2017 is proving to be a vintage year for the team. Andy Horner, fresh off the back of his recent solo win smashed out a 52.23 on the CC  Breckland B25/8.

Andy Horner - 25 time tumbles

Ryan Witchell recorded our first sub-20 minute 10 to obliterate the previous TSE 10 time. An outstanding 19.15 on the V718 is going to take some beating.

In other news, Steve Franklin bettered his 10 mile PB with a 21.15. This has been a real breakthrough season for Steve with PBs also recorded for 25 miles and various course bests.

In the Victoria CC series, Hugo Hocknell looks to have troubled the top 5, with Jerome Watts and David Ledgerton also featuring in the series tally. Details to follow when published.

Simon Doyle, Sam Hayes and Steve Robinson wrapped up the 3up competition series with a time of 22.54 for the 10.2 mile distance. The trio secured the series win again, retaining their 2016 title.

Hayes, Robinson, Doyle (L-R) - 3up series winners Victoria CC 2017 - pic D Jones

Race Round Up - 30 July 2017

There's been a pile of racing recently, almost too much to keep tabs on.

The fabulous Victoria CC 10.2 mile series went in to round 3 this weekend (29 July 2017). In the solo event Jerome Watts came out as TSE top dog with a time of 23.44. His best on the rolling and idyllic E1/10.2 by 15 seconds. A poorly Hockers grabbed a few more points in the series with 24.11, lemsip in the post mate. David Ledgerton completed matters with a 28.39.  The winner of  the event was Wayne Crombie in 21.51 with Dave Harding in 22.03 and Pete Harding 22.32 hot on his heels.

In the 3 up team time trial, the Robinson, Doyle, Hayes combo took top spot with a 23.09. An admittedly below par Steve got a good drag round the course vowing to get some more turbo miles in during his family holiday. One more decent ride could see the trio keep hold of their 3up title.

Steve, Simon and Sam at the front - thanks for Davey Jones for the snap

Later in the day, Ryan Witchell smashed out a sublime 20.39 for 6th spot in the Team Chronos F2/10. Awesome work by the baby of the team. 48s off the winner is an excellent ride.

Andy Horner wrapped things off with a spankingly good 21.23 with Tina Reid (Trainsharp) in the 2up team time trial.

In other news, Ric Palmer did a sportive.