After not being on the bike for a couple of months with a torn knee ligament and an extremely hectic racing schedule it had been tough keeping in shape… and boy did I feel it when I finally got back on the Kiron!

Once I had got over the initial shock of my unfitness I realised just how nice it was to get out on the bike again and have an hour away from the real world, free of all the stress and chaos of life!

Over the last 2 months I’ve been keeping a steady routine of 12 miles, 2-3 times a week on my lunch break (the only spare time I seem to have in my life at the minute!) and the improvement I’ve seen in my performance is incredible! I’ve shaved of nearly 10 minutes off my time going from a measly 44 minutes down an improving 35.4 minutes over the 12 mile route I take.

Not only have I felt alot fitter, lost some weight and felt better about myself I’ve really noticed that I don’t fatigue half as much as I had been during the long GT races. This is very important for me as it allows me to keep concentration and keep putting in consistant times throughout my stint which could lead to a race win in some situations!

A little bit of fun I’ve been having on the Kiron is taking it to the circuits and doing a few laps each evening and recording my lap times so I’ve got a datum to aim at each time I go back to that track – its good for me as often I’m away from Wednesday – Monday so it keeps me on the bike and I’ve also got a bit of a bike club going on within the team which is great to have some company with me and also it’s nice to have a little competition. Needless to say our times are getting quicker all the time as the competition hots up!!!

As my times are now coming right down for my normal route, the plan over the next month is to find an extension of the route to around 16 miles and try to keep building on my fitness so I can keep improving during my races…. there is a 24 hour race at Silverstone in late September that I’m trying to get a seat in and if it does happen then I’ll need to make sure I’m fully fit and prepared for the task…… wish me luck!

Here’s an update from Nathan Freke, 2009 Ginetta G50 Champion and how he’s getting on with his training schedule and Kiron MTL Road bike.

Since I took delivery of the Kiron a few weeks back I have been finding any excuse to get out on it… I’m sure my girlfriend is suspicious of me having an affair!

After a few short rides getting used to clip in pedals and the bike I managed to find the longest route possible from my house to my work – 10.1 miles .. some 9.5 mile detour from my normal route! I plan to ride this route to and from work every day possible and have already got it down from 40 mins to a record 32.3mins so far but I’m pretty sure its not going to keep dropping that dramatically!

With the season at an end its the perfect opportunity to get myself into shape for the 2010 season where I’m hoping to be competing in either the BTCC or the Porsche Carrera Cup where fitness levels will need to be a lot higher than mine are at the minute and I’m looking for my cycle training to get me to the fitness level needed.

As a racing driver its essential to have good stamina. With the races long, extreme heat and the car being extremely physical to drive you can’t afford to be unfit as it soon shows in the early stages of the race becoming erratic and making mistakes. Cycling is very popular amongst racing drivers as its a change from running and is great for building stamina over long rides, it also keeps you alert when watching out for some of the suspect British drivers!

I’ve never really been a gym person and love getting out and about so I see the cycling as a great way to get me in shape and having some fun, although with the winter nights well and truly upon us I’m going to have to upgrade from the shorts and t-shirt I’ve been using so far and get something substantial they’ll keep me from freezing :)

Regards,

Nathan

This weekend some of you may of caught the BTTC (British Touring Car Championships) on ITV4. The race series involves some of the best British car racing on television and incorporates a wide range of support races such as the exciting Ginetta G50 Cup Championship.

We are very excited to be sponsoring the Ginetta G50 Championship winner Nathan Freke and his racing team Century Motorsport. Nathan will be using a Kiron MTL blade

supplied by Wiggle throughout next season to assist him with his exceptionally tough training plan.

Nathan will be updating the blog on a monthly basis keeping us posted on his training and experiences with cycling in relationship to car racing.

A little Info on Nathan Freke
Nathan Freke, who currently lives in Kidderminster, was the 2006 British Formula Ford Champion. Nathan has held four British Kart Racing Championship Titles and in 2005 became the only driver ever to win an FIA/CIK Superkart Race in a Division 2 Kart against Division 1 Karts, (50% power differential).

British Formula Ford Champion. On the way to the title Nathan won 10 races, 17 podiums, 18 front row starts, 13 poles and 6 lap records. Nathan was one of the 2006 Mclaren – BRDC – Autosport Young Driver of the Year Finalists in his first full year of car racing.

Nathan tested in a number of different formula cars such Champ Car Atlantic Series, Formula Three, and Formula BMW, but funding restricted his activities to chassis development for Van Diemen International and Marangoni Tyres. He also competed in the Porsche Carrera Cup and the Dutch Supercar Challenge.

Nathan has signed for Michael Crawford Motorsports to race in the Firestone Indy Lights Series, the feeder to Indy Car, he passed his rookie test at Nashville Superspeedway, and had his first test on a fast oval at Homestead prior to the first race. He left the team after three races, with a best finish of 8th in the second race at St. Petersburg.

Nathan competed in his first endurance race at the Nurburgring 24 hours on the full Nordschleife circuit, finishing 148th in the Marangoni Tyres backed Fiat 500 R after starting 220th.

Nathan is Now racing in the Ginetta G50 Championship supporting the British Touring Car Championship and is now the Current Ginetta G50 Champion racing with his own Century Motorsport team, with support from EOS Productions and Hows My Driving.

Here are a few pics taken from the championships on ITV4 Sunday 4th Oct.