by Toks » Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:02 pm
[color=blue]the critical thinking, hero worship and quirky sideways glances of a reluctant stage racer. Paul Richards (Mosquito Bikes) presents life as it was - 47th on the GC:
Prologue
It was an excellent race, even though I didn't really have the legs for it. My performance has been just on the right side of shambolic right from the start.
I turned up at Victoria station on Friday afternoon to get the train to Dorking and was told by the jobsworth zombie at the barriers that bikes aren't allowed on the train after 4pm. After a moment of panic during which I was working out how long it would take to ride to Box Hill, I just took the wheels off, bundled everything under one arm and strode briskly through the barriers...first selection passed. Then at Dorking I started off riding the wrong way to Box Hill. Not to worry, there's plenty of time till 7 I thought... except the race started at 6.
Fortunately it was delayed anyway because a film crew had closed off the road to shoot a VW ad. Also fortunately Tony turned up just before I was about to race and gave me some water, which was much needed. You can look my time up if you're interested but I'm not about to write it on here. Basically I didn't win. The other racers I took an interest in were Mr Heaton-Armstrong of Fit For who rode it in the little ring on spin cycle and finished 10th, and the legendary George Brent who took joint 3rd with a Kingston Wheeler. I was hoping George would take the overall at the end of the weekend, but it wasn't to be.
Stage 2
I can't even remember that much about Saturday's race. It was a 70 mile RR on the Dunsfold circuit, and was pretty fast from the gun, and no one got away until the end.
Not able to do much in terms of actual racing, I spent some time thinking about team characteristics.
Some of you will know that I've been fascinated for some time by the Kingston Wheelers. They all seem to be slightly nerdy public schoolboys. One of them I know is a chartered surveyor; I expect the others work in IT in the City or similar. Off the bike, a Kingston Wheeler is unfailingly aimiable and polite. Even in a race situation he will wave at oncoming traffic that stops, although he will exert himself strenuously for the win, and sacrifice himself unhesitatingly for a teammate.
A Kingston Wheeler would be a good man to have with you in a shipwreck, or the trenches.
My favourite team though is Brighton Mitre, because of the VW camper van they turn up to races in. I would really love it if Brighton Mitre riders were all gay, but unfortunately I suspect they're not.
The dominant team at the 3 dayer were Dynamo; there were hordes of them, all looking hard an efficient, and I find it hard telling the difference between them. They remind me of Imperial Stormtroopers.
Not sure what impression other teams have of Mosquito, although I think I was mostly noticed in the race as being the only one who turned up under his own steam without a car.
Back to the race: some riders got away in the last lap. Not sure who or how many they were; it'll be on the internet somewhere. Big George Brent had a mechanical which I later found out was a snapped gear cable. He came in 20 minutes back, although I don't see why being stuck in 53x11 would be such a handicap for him. Julian Bray of Rapha had a video camera strapped to his stem and made a film of the race which they showed in the village hall the next day. It was pretty cool
Stage 3 & 4
If I'm going to do any more stage races I'm really going to have to learn to time trial. Having looked at last year's results I reckoned 27 minutes was a decent above-average time for the 11.5 mile test, which meant averaging 25.5 mph. In practice I couldn't sustain more than 22.2mph and got 30 mins. It didn't help that I got mixed up about the route at one point and nearly went off course. I imagine a pointy hat would wipe of about 2 minutes and the rest will have to be practice.
That was yesterday morning, then there was a 60 mile RR on the Ewhurst course. Recovery between races was aided by scampi and chips in a local pub followed by an excellent leg massage from the new soigneuse.
It's a fast course without too many hills and the pace was relentless. I don't even know when the break got away. The finish was up Leith Hill which is a real killer. Marek had turned up before the race and warned me about it, but it was still a shock. I was coude a coude with one guy but dropped him before the end. However, as we were both very far back and only doing about 7mph this isn't all that impressive. Big George crashed on a corner while trying to bridge to the break and was quite badly hurt. Tony took him to hospital afterwards. Hope he's OK.
Afterwords it occured to me that I hate racing and only do it because I love drinking tea in village halls. Next season I'm going to sell the bike and join the WI.[/color]
) very impressive, taking the final (4th) stage on Leith Hill and 2nd in the GC 
