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SERRL 1 Fowlmead 14th March 09
It was a mild, dry and windy day - bare legs and fingerless gloves, my first time this year. The race was well attended with 11 1/2s and around 40 3/4s. The wind was all down the back straight with a stron blustery crosswind at the bottom of the course. Medway Velo and Toachim House were in force, but I was the only Dulwich rider. In the car park before the race my legs felt kinda weak, but I hoped to ride tham in.
The race was quite attacking from the start and after a few laps I joined in, but trying not to waste as much effort on the front this time. The first group of 1/2s (4 or 5) took off when I was recovering from an effort and stayed out there for the race - 3 Medways and a Toachim. Halfway thru the race when I was taking another breather a large group of 10 or 12 took off, but I encouraged the main group to do thru and off and reel them in. This worked well, and they were caught after about 4 laps. I think the next chasing group of 3 took off out of this group.
I found myself in the main group with 2 groups up the road and started to think about settling in for the sprint. I guess everyone had this idea cos the group slowed. I ate a gel. One guy broke off the front and the group didn't seem interested to catch him. The guys were talking and having a drink. So I took off myself with the idea to bridge up to him. I chose the part of the course leading into the hairpin cos 1) the group would stretch 2) I could kick it in the downhill following and 3) I gambled that no one would want to drag the group into the wind on the following stretch.
I caught the rider, but he couldn't stay with me. he'd been hung out to dry. But I'd got a gap on the lazy group so I went for it. I was 8 miles out. Not that I knew this, it was when I crossed the start/finish that I saw the 3 to go board.
After one lap I had held the gap and wondered if I could keep this up. The thought that I might be first wheel in the 3/4s kept me going - I didn't know who was in front of me, I suspected all 1/2s. I kept going - my HR was 166-170, so I wasn't going into the red. I got my head down and kept my cadence into the wind. I pulled away from the peleton so that they were out of sight. It was quiet on my own. I got thru all the windy bits and took it to the line.
I had no idea what position I was, possibly first. I didn't know if I should celebrate or what. In the end I just acknowledged the applause with a wave. Good job, because the chasing group were all 3rd cats and I crossed the line 4th. The group were about 40secs back. I coughed my lungs up. A shame it was only 4th, but it was a quality 4th in my book, and will give me a lot of confidence for the future.
It's cool how the measuring of effort can inform you how possible your effort is. I knew I could get to the line, but just hoped the group didn't come after me. They should have done - I exploited their bad racing.
Anyway - 6 points, which ain't a bad start to the season...!!
The race was quite attacking from the start and after a few laps I joined in, but trying not to waste as much effort on the front this time. The first group of 1/2s (4 or 5) took off when I was recovering from an effort and stayed out there for the race - 3 Medways and a Toachim. Halfway thru the race when I was taking another breather a large group of 10 or 12 took off, but I encouraged the main group to do thru and off and reel them in. This worked well, and they were caught after about 4 laps. I think the next chasing group of 3 took off out of this group.
I found myself in the main group with 2 groups up the road and started to think about settling in for the sprint. I guess everyone had this idea cos the group slowed. I ate a gel. One guy broke off the front and the group didn't seem interested to catch him. The guys were talking and having a drink. So I took off myself with the idea to bridge up to him. I chose the part of the course leading into the hairpin cos 1) the group would stretch 2) I could kick it in the downhill following and 3) I gambled that no one would want to drag the group into the wind on the following stretch.
I caught the rider, but he couldn't stay with me. he'd been hung out to dry. But I'd got a gap on the lazy group so I went for it. I was 8 miles out. Not that I knew this, it was when I crossed the start/finish that I saw the 3 to go board.
After one lap I had held the gap and wondered if I could keep this up. The thought that I might be first wheel in the 3/4s kept me going - I didn't know who was in front of me, I suspected all 1/2s. I kept going - my HR was 166-170, so I wasn't going into the red. I got my head down and kept my cadence into the wind. I pulled away from the peleton so that they were out of sight. It was quiet on my own. I got thru all the windy bits and took it to the line.
I had no idea what position I was, possibly first. I didn't know if I should celebrate or what. In the end I just acknowledged the applause with a wave. Good job, because the chasing group were all 3rd cats and I crossed the line 4th. The group were about 40secs back. I coughed my lungs up. A shame it was only 4th, but it was a quality 4th in my book, and will give me a lot of confidence for the future.
It's cool how the measuring of effort can inform you how possible your effort is. I knew I could get to the line, but just hoped the group didn't come after me. They should have done - I exploited their bad racing.
Anyway - 6 points, which ain't a bad start to the season...!!
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1 Comment
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Comment by Scott Bentley on March 21, 2009 at 8:13pm - Well done Guy a strong ride and a well deserved place.
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