Palace laast night 22/8

[kieran]

Well, seems there were about 4 ACC riders last night; myself, Adam, Maria and Tim. I didn't realise this until later as only Tim was flying the colours (do my mitts count?). There was also a number of supporters (thanks - even if you couldn't spot me I knew where you were and tried to put in a bit of effort) including my family for the first time. Sadly I don't think we got any placings unless Maria got the Women's prize. Still this was Adam's first time at Palace and I was just back from my holidays (no serious cycling for three weeks - bad for the form but actually quite nice just to pootle around with the family for a change). There was a huge London Dynamo group, also Dulwich Paragon had a big crowd. Anyway no break away group really ever formed and it turned into a battle of attrition as slowly the bunch got smaller and smaller as riders dropped off, I got dropped about 16 laps in but found a smaller group of about 8 to continue to the finish and I don't think we got lapped (hard to tell now with the short cut being used but we were never passed by the leading bunch). I couldn't find Adam anywhere - guess there is some advantage to wearing the club colours. Well I finally finished the 25 laps and was glad to as well.

Looking forward to next week - hopefully some more agreeables will be racing and hopefully I'll be a bit stronger by then (- probably means I need to book a turbo session on Thursday ).

Just out [url=http://www.addiscombe.org/members/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2898]this link[/url] for a spectators viewpoint of the race.

[Andrew G]

We thought it was Maria, but not being in Addiscombe kit weren't sure. Nick called out but didn't get a response. Was it a doppelganger?

[Nick]

My second time to Crystal Palace to CHEER the lads and lasses on.

It was a truely unbeliveable pace it looked very fast from the sides let alone trying to keep up. Well done to one and all. It has given me more encouragement to start next year.

Again well done.

[-Adam-]

Well that was what they call character building i think!?

As usual i arrived far too early for the race, but this also meant my usual pre-race nerves seemed to disappear before they even started. After nick and the other aggreeable support crew arrived i almost forgot i was even signed on to race! Then when tim arrived things started to look like a race. He said, 'just stay near the front and you'll be fine', what for the whole race i gasped! 'Yes'.

Once i finally got on the track for a warm up, i started to get nervous. The realisation that i was on yet another new track (and the fact i hadn't a clue how to ride it) sank in! As i sat at the start, my heart was racing... stay near the front, stay near the front...

Trouble was, as usual i started at the back. Big mistake. As reported already the Dynamo boys really wanted to control the race. Which wasn't going to be too hard for them since they made up about a quarter of the race!

So the pace was absolutely frenetic from the gun. I was struggling from the start. Sprinting out of every corner to keep contact with the bunch was soon going to take its toll. And it did...

8 laps gone (out of 25 apparently, though it felt like more than that!) and i was off the bvack for good. I felt terrible. Before the race i even naively said i was goingh to try a break. As on Sunday i felt v strong at goodwood. trouble was i dont think id completely recovered from the 50miles in 1hr 50mins at goodwood, i had lulled myself into a completely false sense of security.

So there it was, the harsh reality of bike racing, i was dropped. The next few laps took forever as i faced up to either pulling out like so many had already done so, or just finishing for the pride. It was one of the biggest mental battles i have ever faced, for those few laps i could barely understand why i rode a bike at all, let alone pretended i could race. But then i decided i was not going to have DNF next to my name. Im worth more than that i kept telling myself. So i dug in and tryed to find a ryhthm. The support from the aggreables at the roadside was a major factor in me continuing, i didnt want to let them down.

So eventually, after being lapped, i finished. Given the amount of people that abandoned, i reckon i was probably just about in the top 20. Though around 2.30 down on the winner. I was just happy to finish.

So once again my inexperience was probably my downfall, but i can only keep learning right!? in the last couple of races i have learnt a great deal about what my body can do, and as such, am learning when to give it some, and when to back off.

Those of you who no me will know i can climb reasonably, but the hill at the palace is more like bloody alpe'd'huez the speed it gets ridden up!

What i am taking from the last few races is a much better idea of what i need to train on for next spring. Because ill be back! And i will win a race at the palace even if it kills me!!!

Last race of the season at palace next year, we must have as many riders there as possible. We gotta rival those bloody Dynamo's!!! Half of them are fat anyway! They must be beaten...

Cheers...

An almost recovered Adam

ps. will be on my last clubrun tommorow, off to liverpool in 2 weeks, and will be racing at hillingdon next saturday.

[kieran]

Adam, one of the things I found was that as you come out of the 180 degree turn riders speed up to keep with the bunch only then to slow down for the approaching right hand turn down the hill, if you are not near the front you can usually get away with not accelerating out of the bend so much as a bottle neck occurs when the riders go around the right hand turn and you end up breaking, if you get it right you can coast up to the group and not have to break. I also tend to change down gears for the hill and spin up it rather than power up it - only need to power up it if a break is going or on the last lap. A lot of riders dropped on the hill also catch up with the group as the group slows down approaching the 180 degree turn - only you don't get asmuch of a breather before having to accelerate out of the turn.

[Tim H (liquigas)]

Adam

Good effort - holding on for 8 laps is quality for your first race..

As much as it hurts, staying at the front is the key. thats probaly why you managed to hold on for 8 laps and not 3 like i did the first time..

In the E 1 2 race there was also a load of Dynamo's.. about 8 i think and there was probably only 20 in our group.. Iain Pain attacked from the gun and i felt really good so i went with him.. we got a gap for about 1/2 a lap then were pulled back.. then another Dynamo went and i chased him down as well... then it got pulled back.. then another Dynamo went.. this was the fastest Pace i have ever ridden at and I am trying to chase everything that goes... after riding in the top 3 for about 7 laps i eventually went towards the back to recover.

my lungs were on fire my legs had gone to jelly... i got dropped but managed to dig in up the hill to latch back on! then the pace picked up past the start finish line - i was at the back - what are you doing here Harris - you know you should be near the front.. but a break had already gone.. i was frustrated cos i missed the key break again...

i got so annoyed with myself for not playing a more tactical game - i should have waited and saved my energy!.. i pulled out after 10 laps and went straight home.. no dinner and straight to bed.. haha...

still learning lots as this is my 1st season..

i know i can get top 3 easily just as long as i am in the key move..

not sure if i will be there next week... but this winter is going to be big on the training front... next year i will be right up there..!!!