3rds Cutmill (12.09.2010)

[Toks]

It doesn’t matter how fit or how much training you do, come race time, it’s a good idea to bring the following – drinks bottle and, most importantly, your helmet. I brought neither! Thankfully I was provided with a spare bottle from a friend and a very disapproving spectator loaned me his Giro helmet. Somewhat humbled by their generosity and embarrassed by my own failure to prepare properly for the race I spent the first couple of laps mid to 2/3rds back collecting my thoughts.

Approximately sixty of us (Inc two women) compressed, extended and snaked our way around the very testing but sunny Cutmill Circuit; lots of familiar faces were present throughout the bunch. One in particular I had only seen in pictures so it was cool to finally meet Kingston Wheeler’s, Maryka. Up front Rob (ACC) and Toby (ACC) were riding well, and Rob even found himself off the front in the first tentative break of the day. Trading places is the name of the game with team mates so I rolled forward into the top 20 just as Rob rolled back to recover from his efforts

A failure to lock down gaps soon had me returning from whence I came. You can quite literally have a race within a race sometimes. Warning to self, burning matches just to maintain a good position - not good. Somewhat annoyed with myself, as we began the 3rd ascension of the main climb I took advantage of the lull in pace and surged to the very front alongside Jim (Kingston Wheelers, Rob Jefferies (London Dynamo and Toby (Addiscombe).

The climb starts off quite gently but then ramps up unevenly - twice before the finish line; oh and just for good measure after a slight plateau it ramps up third time. Beyond this the 7 mile circuit features fast long descents punctuated with some flat bits and a couple of 'bridgeque' rises. Each of the seven laps required complete concentration – last years winter had clearly increased the pot holes count.

I managed a handful of attacks on laps 3, 4, 5. I wasn’t alone, others also tried soft, hard and sneaky attacks but to no avail. The Pac men snapped us up. At once point I thought myself Jim (Kingston Wheelers) and a couple of other guys had a ‘freedom pass’ it but without London Dynamo and other clubs featured nobody was going anywhere. Unless of course…on the bell lap a Dynamo got a bit of a gap on the climb - probably had 20secs by the time our wearily somewhat depleted bunch got to the top of the climb.

Now those of you that are not newbie racers have all been in this position before. Some guy is well within view just off the front. You could pull him back but the question is (a) you’re tired and it might be the effort that puts you out of the race (b) you may just ensure other get the benefit. Like a Priemiership football team destined for ‘relegation’ we pondered in a spectaculary unorganised fashion and the Dynamo stayed away to take the win. The best loosers competition was a drawn out affair. I positioned myself badly and had to settle for a place just inside the top 15. No worries Toby (Addiscombe) claimed 2nd spot. Job done for ACC? Well almost

[Toks]

Well done Toby, just a handful of points needed for that 2nd cat license

1 James Mickelburgh London Dynamo/Prologue
2 Tobias Kerr Addiscombe CC
3 Paul McGuigan Norwood Paragon
4 Shaun Reed Bayeux Landscapes
5 Craig McLean London Dynamo/Prologue
6 Andy Lack Kingston Whls CC
7 Graham Hills Southborough & District Whls
8 Ian Jones Bayeux Landscapes
9 Gavin Morton Charlotteville CC
10 Robert Jeffroy London Dynamo/Prologue
11 Toks Adesanya Addiscombe CC
12 Mark Spindler Twickenham CC
13 Robert Marcus VC Godalming & Haslemere
14 John Alderman VC Meudon
15 Robin Osborne London Dynamo/Prologue
16 Robert Cranstone Royal Navy & Royal Marines
17 Patrick Martin
18 Robert Wright Addiscombe CC
19 Steve Smith VC Meudon
20 Clive Green London Dynamo/Prologue

[Sylv]

Yep great result Toby

[Andrew G]

[quote="Toks"]Some guy is well within view just off the front. You could pull him back but the question is (a) you’re tired and it might be the effort that puts you out of the race (b) you may just ensure other get the benefit. Like a Priemiership football team destined for ‘relegation’ we pondered in a spectaculary unorganised fashion and the Dynamo stayed away to take the win.

[quote="Andrew G"][quote="Toks"]Some guy is well within view just off the front. You could pull him back but the question is (a) you’re tired and it might be the effort that puts you out of the race (b) you may just ensure other get the benefit. Like a Priemiership football team destined for ‘relegation’ we pondered in a spectaculary unorganised fashion and the Dynamo stayed away to take the win.

[Andrew G]

Depends what you're after really, if you're after every point you can get then you may get more by following in with the bunch. If you're not point chasing then it doesn't matter if you come in 50th because you died before the line or before you caught the leader and got swallowed up so may as well give it a go.

Come on Toks try and be the wolf next time .

[Sylv]

Ok Toks goes for death of glory if Andrew shows his face in a road race

[Toks]

[quote="Andrew G"]Depends what you're after really, if you're after every point you can get then you may get more by following in with the bunch. If you're not point chasing then it doesn't matter if you come in 50th because you died before the line or before you caught the leader and got swallowed up so may as well give it a go.

[Andrew G]

[quote="Sylv"]Ok Toks goes for death of glory if Andrew shows his face in a road race