KingstonWheelers.com

[JimLey]

My fourth Race, Surrey League Dunsfold 4th cats, I've done a big week on the bike, about double normal hours/distance @ 350km before today, including a race on tuesday, and a hard wednesday ride. It was also very windy for the completely flat course.

Not surprisingly I felt really flat in todays race, I hang around in the middle of the pack for the first half, watching Ian Russell do lots of work at the front, but slowly woke up a bit and moved up towards the front on lap 6 (of a proposed 10)

I was sitting 4th wheel, and the 1st and 2nd guys rode off into the headwind with the 3rd wheel just tiring, I didn't actually want to go around, but got annoyed so I bridged over to the two basically to avoid braking. It wasn't a real break and we didn't really work to get away.

On lap 8, I was again sitting 3rd wheel, when a half hearted (I thought) attack came through, which I reacted to mainly to hold my position, a shout from behind that we were away changed that and it turned out there was a group of 5 now about 50m off the front, and about to head into the headwind section where the group had been completely unwilling to do any work all day. Unfortunately the two guys on the front then proceeded to accellerate side by side into the wind and it was clear there was little chance of the break actually doing anything with guys who didn't get the importance of getting a paceline going. I mentally abandoned the attempt along with the guy behind who called that we were away, and they soon died without ever getting organised.

I led the pack around for a lap, and when crossing the start finish line noted there was no bell... however the rest of the group convinced themselves it was the last lap, this led to a big pick up in speed and I was trying to decide the likelyhood of it being the last lap. I fought a bit to hold position, but not too much, and had slipped to 15th or so and boxed in on the corner before the start/finish straight. Everyone was sprinting, and I joined in until I heard the bell ringing - I crossed the line somewhere in the top 25 but all the people who sprinted all out were blown up / slowing so I quickly weaved through to the front, 2nd wheel, but he sooned peeled off and I again led the entire pack through the headwind.

I now had the problem of people coming past me and boxing me in, to prevent this I matched speed with everyone coming through, which meant I spent almost all of the last lap into the wind. Just before the final corner, 2 Redhill guys came through on a good leadout and it had finally stretched out enough that I could slot onto a wheel.

I was about 10th going into the final corner, mucked up my sprint as usual (I need to remember to gear down, when I've been chasing for position I end up pedalling at at least 120rpm and I'm just not able to get a proper sprint from this position, I just manage to wind it up to 140+ but not putting in lots of power) but I think I squeaked into the top 10 for my first point.

Again reasonably disappointed with the race, but glad I felt better after the first half, and glad that I could pick up a point or two (if I indeed did) in a race done in a hard training week, makes me think I should be able to pick up some more, and hopefully find a race with people who can get a break going.

Unfortunately Ian cramped up in the penultimate lap just at the wrong time before the headwind and dropped off the pack and not surprisingly was unable to get back on.

Hopefully some more of the other 4th cats and non-racers we have in the club who are just as strong as I am can come out and join me in some races.

[JimLey]

Oh, and here are my numbers:

[leona]

also my 4th race today. i can quite honestly say i didnt enjoy a minute of it. i wasnt looking forward to the flat circuit and i was right not to. i didnt get comfortable with the pace until about 3 laps in because it kept speeding up and slowing down for no real reason. with 6 to go a twickenham rider went off the front and no one went after her. it seemd a couple of people didnt even notice as they thought it was someone who had been dropped from the mens race.
the general feeling was that she wouldnt be able to stay away and if she did then she deserved the win.(she won)

there was the usual shouting (from the usual person) trying to organise everyone to do through and off but the reality was that we only did it into the head wind for some reason.

there was a crash at some point i think caused by a road stud. i managed to avoid it as i was sitting at the back but later on tried to take myself out by cutting a corner and going on the grass.

each lap that went by i was counting down hoping the men would lap us as we'd been told we'd do one less lap if they did. when the did catch us it took an absolute age for them to pass which gave me a nice breather

seems there was a cock up with the lap counting as we ended up doing the full 10. i didnt really try that hard in the sprint as i wasnt going to make up any places so it didnt seem worth the bother. i got 7th in the end i think.

next surrey league is goodwood which is equally flat. will have to think seriously about whether i want to do it..
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My marmalade's called Nigel And my toast is called Elaine
I bet my butter wishes it had a proper name.

[leona]

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/4323110
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My marmalade's called Nigel And my toast is called Elaine
I bet my butter wishes it had a proper name.

[JimLey]

London Cycle Sport has the results, and I was 10th, so I've got my first point!

Luke was 13th in the 3rds Race, and Russell just behind him in 18th

[leona]

well theyv got my as 7th which is what they told me there but the last person as dnf was ahead of me so not sure what thats about.. i know she wasnt lapped so i dont get it.. maybe i'm 8th...
_________________
My marmalade's called Nigel And my toast is called Elaine
I bet my butter wishes it had a proper name.

[leona]

yep, 8th
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My marmalade's called Nigel And my toast is called Elaine
I bet my butter wishes it had a proper name.

[James B]

Still two points! Well done Leona and Jim for bagging some points.

Master the gearing Jim and you'll be getting a whole lot more I suspect.