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Rob Francis

@f4rmerrob

699

followers

900

following

Somerset born and bred
Racing for @teambottrill and @pronto.bikes Coached by @bottrillmatthew. Supported by @nopinz and @giantuk

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The cutest pumpkin in the patch 🐾💛🍂 by @f4rmerrob

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2 days ago

6th and Team win at the National Closed Circuit championship

Throughout the season I was always looking forward to this race as it's on my favourite race circuit for circuit racing. I've done around 250 laps so I could ride around with my eyes closed. With the peak of the season already done the last couple of races is all about trying to hold onto some form for as long as possible. As the TT season is very long starting back in mid February.

I was very happy with my execution and it was probably my best paced race of the year with the legs I had on the day. Keeping up my consistently of top 10ing in all nationals for the last 3 years since joining @teambottrill. Also adding another team win to the growing collection with @tomleecycling and @sarge.jaco.

With only X1 race left of the year for me. It's all in for the national hill climb up Porlock to try and beat my previous best national hill climb up the Struggle back in 2023 where I came 55th. Now it's time to lose a couple of kg 😂

As always huge thanks to all the sponsors and support throughout the season.

Photo: @sarah_behind_the_lens

#smashitup #powerisnothingwithoutcontrol by @f4rmerrob

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4 days ago

Hill climb season has truly started. Not my forte, but always fun to give them a good wack. With nationals this year being local and 4miles long. It's something to aim for and finish the season with. With the goal to beat my best placing of 55th a couple of years ago when it was up the Struggle.

So far 11th at Porlock toll road open (same as course as nationals) which I went out hard and suffer in the 2nd half.
Followed by Zig Zag run by @aeroclctv where I can away with 6th with 3rd in a mixed team with @prontobikesraceteam. Not quite the best legs, but a course with a bit of everything and emptied the tank. Which I'll definitely return next year to.

Only X2 races left of the season for next. National circuit champs at Thruxton (aka the best racing circuit in the UK) and the national hill climb at Porlock. Let's get it!

#smashitup #powerisnothingwithoutcontrol by @f4rmerrob

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13 days ago

Nice is Nice

Nice break with this one. Far too many pastries were consumed 🥐 by @f4rmerrob

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a month ago

It's been a cracking season with these lads. Another great weekend at the National 10TT, coming away with 10th and continuing my three-year streak of top-10 finishes at every National.

The National 10TT always attracts the best riders in the UK, and this year was probably the most stacked field I've raced in for years. After finishing 2nd last year, I knew it was going to be tough to match that result, but I gave it everything.

Even better, we took the team prize for the third year running with @tomleecycling and @dylan_rg04. @sarge.jaco wasn't far behind either after absolutely smashing the National 12hr the week before.

A huge thank you to the Lee family for hosting us last weekend — and for the mega chilli 😂

As always, I wouldn't be able to consistently put out these performances without the careful guidance of @bottrillmatthew. And an extra boost from Matt shouting at us from the sidelines never goes amiss!

On to the next one 💪

#smashitup #powerisnothingwithoutcontrol by @f4rmerrob

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2 months ago

National 25TT 8th

25 mile time trails are always my favourite discipline, they seem to suit me very well. And this course was probably one of the nicest I've ever ridden. Not the fastest, but smooth rolling roads with minimal traffic. Testing every rider. Numbers were as planned, although I had some hamstring issues on the return leg which meant I had to break position and stretch out a bit. Which cost me a bit of time. I still managed to empty the tank and leave it all out there. Luckily @fromesportsmassage has already sorted me out.

Happy with my performance and back placing where I should be in the high level of field which attended this year. Huge thanks to @bottrillmatthew for getting me back on track after a very difficult national 100 a couple of weeks back.

Looking forward to my next event which will be the national 10TT. Which means loads of V02 sessions over the next couple of weeks to fine tune that top end power.

Another shout out to @pronto.bikes for fixing my mechanical last minute before travelling up.

Photo credits to: Stewart Harrison, Michael Watson and Holly Parker

#smashitup #powerisnothingwithoutcontrol by @f4rmerrob

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2 months ago

Not the national 100 I was hoping for. Being soo close last year but running out of water in the heat towards the end. It was my big target to redeem myself. Training under @bottrillmatthew was going well hitting best numbers for long durations. But unfortunately a busy week prior left me completely cooked going into it. From the get go I knew it wasn't going to be my day. But I thought I'd give it a go and see if I could ride into it. But it wasn't to be, resulting in the first ever TT DNF. A couple of days rest with plenty of sleep and relaxing with Holly and Cosmo sorted me right out.

All in for the national 25TT. So last week was just about hurting myself whilst having a bit of fun. So no better way to pin a number on with @prontobikesraceteam for a local crit around castle combe. Where I came away with 7th after leading @angusc_07 out for 5th to take him 3rd in the series. Mission accomplished as I was in a massive hurt locker thanks to @ash.hutchison.5 😂.
Photo:@b_and_b_photography8

Then come the weekend it was continue mission sub 18mins for a 10TT. It was decent conditions at the Sotonia 10TT on the Andover course and legs were good considering I've done zero top end in training. I came way with a 18.19 and joint 🥇 which was only 1s off my best ever 10TT. So with a bit more top end training (I love a good 40/20s session) I should be primed for the national 25TT.

#smashitup #powerisnothingwithoutcontrol by @f4rmerrob

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3 months ago

National 50TT 8th for the third year in a row!

I wanted more but overall I'm happy with my performance and numbers. Came into the event trying to improve on my previous X2 results and had a great opportunity. The course was rolling and on/off rain which is what I race on back home. The numbers were decent but had a couple of hold ups which cost me more time than I thought. But I think everyone did.

I've never done a long distance TT where the position hasn't felt comfortable untill yesterday. It was by far the most comfortable I have been on a TT bike thanks to @bottrillmatthew and the @drag2zero .66 extension.

The team smashed it as always with @laura.rides.bikes taking the win in the women's event, @emsvelo taking the women's road bike event (Great to see you back smashing it) and @tomleecycling rounding off the podium in the open. @sarge.jaco and @dylan_rg04 came away in 5th and 6th which was enough for the team prize. It was close between 3rd and 8th. Only being separated by just over 1min.

I'm looking forward to my next event which is the national 100. Hoping to redeem myself after last year's bonk of the century 😂

Huge thanks to my biggest supports for cheering me on across the country. @hollyjaneparker and @cozzysuniverse

#smashitup #powerisnothingwithoutcontrol by @f4rmerrob

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4 months ago

Happy 6 years. Thank you for being my better half and putting up with me for this long 😘 by @f4rmerrob

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4 months ago

Having a bit of fun in the local events recently before the big X2 long distance events of the year (the national 50 and 100). Although the local short stuff hasn't been a target it's been great to see progression with course PBS in all events bar one thanks to the rapid kit from @nopinz. With a couple of wins and podium pushing me all the way, been very close at the top in a couple of events, which is always good fun. Huge thanks to @bottrillmatthew for guiding me into building long distance from whilst incorporating the local shorter events. As in the past I have always struggled with managing the volume and leaking for the key events.
Photos from random events

#smashitup #powerisnothingwithoutcontrol by @f4rmerrob

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4 months ago

Chicken Dinner (🥇) at Castle Combe Round 2 E12

Summer finally decided to show up, which brought out a strong field. The first 30 minutes were full gas but pretty stop-start, with nothing really getting clear. Then with around 20 minutes to go, I found myself off the front with two others. We committed, worked well together and managed to build a decent gap over the bunch heading into the final lap.

With about a mile to go the other two hesitated and looked at each other for a split second — so I went all in. Managed to hold them off to the line and take the win in classic Bob The Bus fashion.

Massive ride from the team as well with Pronto going 1st, 4th, 6th, 7th and maybe 10th. Five seasons in and it’s still a class group of lads to race bikes with.

The result also means I’ve retained my Cat 2 licence after only four races.

Photo credits to:@b_and_b_photography8

#upthepronto #smashitup #powerisnothingwithoutcontrol by @f4rmerrob

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5 months ago

A long journey up to Scotland for the @cyclingtimetrials national team time trials hosted by the top blokes @gtrreturntolife

This year’s event was on the WW31/02 course, a super fast and super flat 31mile dual carriageway. It was a course that really suited the big powerhouses of the discipline. We were greeted by an unusually nice day for Scotland, light winds, sunshine, but a bit chilly for us soft southerners.

We had a plan and executed it as best we could. Guided by @bottrillmatthew @f4rmerrob would tare it up on the downhills and flats whilst @dylan_rg04 and @sarge.jaco would take control of the corners and ‘up hills’. Our effort saw us cross the line in 59 minutes and 29 seconds which earned us 3rd in the TT bike category and 4th overall. Our result left us wanting more but we worked well as a team and are happy with our performance.

As always thanks to the team’s great sponsors for making this possible. Matching @giantuk Trinitys @cadexcycling_uk Wheels @nopinz kit and @windwaveroad @ceramicspeed finishing touches had us feeling very professional

#smashitup #powerisnothingwithoutcontrol by @f4rmerrob

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5 months ago