Missing in Action

[Keith]

We seem to be missing some reports from racing action over the last week. Come on Toks, you're usually badgering people for a write-up

Sunday 28th March - London Women’s Cycle Racing League 1 - Goodwood
Bridget Malarkey Addiscombe CC 4W 114

Sunday 28th March - Dulwich Paragon CC - Goodwood - 3rds
Paul Tunnell Addiscombe CC 3V 84

Saturday 27th March - Ride Beyond Spring Circuits 2 - Hillingdon
ED OSBOURNE ADDISCOMBE CC

[Andrew G]

Also I'd be very grateful if you let me know if you're road racing so I can keep the results archive up to date. If you don't want to write a report then I'd be very happy if you could just drop me a pm.

Cheers.

[Toks]

[quote="Keith"]We seem to be missing some reports from racing action over the last week. Come on Toks, you're usually badgering people for a write-up

Sunday 28th March - London Women’s Cycle Racing League 1 - Goodwood
Bridget Malarkey Addiscombe CC 4W 114

Sunday 28th March - Dulwich Paragon CC - Goodwood - 3rds
Paul Tunnell Addiscombe CC 3V 84

Saturday 27th March - Ride Beyond Spring Circuits 2 - Hillingdon
ED OSBOURNE ADDISCOMBE CC

[Bridget]

Okay, okay. There's really not that much to report but since you insist....

Having failed to persuade any other ACC women to participate at Goodwood (although I did get a few promises for the next time round ) I travelled down in the Glowinski team car with Geraldine (chief support, mechanic and cheerer), Anna (Team Mule Bar) and Nancy (Rollapaluza).

This was a Surrey League women's 3rds/4ths race and the first fixture in the new London Women's Cycle Racing League, and as such was quite well attended for a women's race with 38 entrants (about half as many as the men's 4ths race running at the same time).

The course was flat and wide (so suited me as I'm allergic to hills), but with a pretty strong headwind in parts. I stayed with the bunch fairly easily for the first few laps, until I lost it at the sprint for the first prime. Then formed a group with some other riders, under the tutelage of Charlie Blackman. I found the pace pretty easy at that stage, but there wasn't much option as the group was well away, so just took the opportunity to get in some practice through-and-offing.

The bunch caught us unfortunately on the penultimate lap, and there was another prime which I mistakenly thought was the end of the race. Sat up afterwards and realised that the others were riding away. Had to work hard to get back onto my little group so didn't have enough left for the real sprint at the end of the race, but I figured it didn't really matter since I'd been lapped anyway.

My final result was 32nd (@1 lap), which is quite different from the 21st originally posted I think this one is nearer the truth though

It was good though, nice atmosphere and was nice to feel I wasn't the slowest. It was nice that they had experienced riders riding round with us helping out, though they didn't do the training laps I had expected - essentially I had the training laps after I was already out of the race!

After hanging about for a while chatting, we got back to Croydon after 2pm, just time for lunch before leaving at 3pm to go to women's track training at Herne Hill. Since I was up just after 6am, and with the change to BST, it was a pretty long day!

Now I have to decide whether to go to the next one of these at Goodwood on 11 April, or to Hog Hill on the 10th - the next in the London Women's League - that one will be E/1/2/3/4 though Not sure how that will work out!

[Bridget]

Write-up and pics on BC website http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/road/a ... -Round-1-0

I think describing my position as 'mid-field' is pushing it a bit!

[EdO]

Keith well spotted. Guilty as charged. I didn't write a report because I didn't get a result.
Still if I can write on this forum about running half marathons, club runs, exagerating headcounts in the training group, chaingangs with
DP and any other crap that pops into my head then I can take 10 minutes out for a write up when racing for ACC....
even if I don't get a result I'm sure I'll get pointers from some of the faster guys in the club with who are a bit more race savvy for next time.

Got to Hillingdon 30 minutes late. I spent the last 20 minutes of the journey going slightly batty trying to find the turning and busting for a leak.
Got to the signing on desk the 4ths were 20 minutes in already so I signed up for the 2.3.4s which we're going off in 5 minutes
Enough time to put my bike together and get my kit on but no warm up.
Got to the bottom corner and they were just about to pull away I make it to the start just in time.

First time since last May that I've returned to Hillingdon and the first time I've ridden in such a big bunch.
The first 6 laps were pretty quick (not as fast as Palace mind).
It's a great feeling to be racing again.
I place myself far back so I can steer clear of trouble with the intention of moving through the bunch.
28 laps to go. There's a few breaks which I ignore them right as they fizzle out after a lap.
There are also riders not holding their line , others cutting up on the inside and some pedal scraping on corners.
I try to make a mental note so to avoid them. Last thing I wanna do in March is crash. 22 laps to go I keep moving up.
I'm in the top 20 (I think) keep my breathing controlled and feeling okay. Happy days watching that lapboard and keep moving up a bit. 10 laps to go.
There's a break and decide to go for it to get on to back. WTF am I doing?
I'm right on my limit and after a lap I ease off as the break moves away. The bunch go past and I latch on to the back to recover. Start all over again but there's
only 6 laps left and everyone's seriously bunching up as the pace slows and I can't move around. The laps are going down faster than I'd like and
I know I'm not gonna get a good position. Then the bell rings and I absolutely nowhere. There's plenty of breaking and loads of verbal on the back straight.
We reach the bottom bend and start to hit the finish but I can't even sprint as riders in front of me are sitting up.
It's painful to watch someone 50 meters ahead raising there arms aloft but that's racing.

It's not all bad. I've got the taste for racing and I'm 35 laps better off. And I finished in the bunch which when I was lost on the Uxbridge Road an hour earlier didn't think was possible. Not sure about this Saturday as the weather looks bad. May try a clubrun. I'm keeping my racing options open too. Hillingdon isn't the only place I can race.

[Snoop Doug]

great stories folks - keep em coming well done Ed n Bridget

[Andrew G]

Well done Bridget on a tough double session day!

[Toks]

Good reports Guys, thanks for sharing. You may not realise it but by just reporting you're inspiring others to get out there and have a go. So who know's you may not be the only agreeable on show at your next race . All competitive cycling reports whatever the discipline are appreciated it doesn't matter how bad or well you did... Ed, be careful with Hillingdon I'll admit that most races can be ridden from the back but it's not advisable cause generally thats where the crashes happen. Also if you're planning to be competitive you'll likely miss the key break on be unable to sprint for a placing.

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Toks"]You may not realise it but by just reporting you're inspiring others to get out there and have a go. So who know's you may not be the only agreeable on show at your next race . All competitive cycling reports whatever the discipline are appreciated it doesn't matter how bad or well you did.

[Dominic]

It also gives you some point of reference to refer to later on. After having a crap year last year I went back to the previous year and read some of my race reports and others from when I was going well. It's amazing how much it reminds you that you can do it and gives great motivation to train.

Or am I the only one that it that sad

[Snoop Doug]

a - you're no saddo, and b - great idea!

[Andrew G]

[quote="Dominic"]It also gives you some point of reference to refer to later on. After having a crap year last year I went back to the previous year and read some of my race reports and others from when I was going well. It's amazing how much it reminds you that you can do it and gives great motivation to train.

Or am I the only one that it that sad

[Maria David]

Well done at Goodwood Bridget. You looked to be riding quite smoothly in the group. Just a matter of getting in more practice and listening out for the primes

You might want to try Goodwood again to see if you can race it better than you did last time. The field will be just 3 and 4s again, so not too initimidating.

Hog Hill is good for the hill practice. As it's a women's league race there is likely to be a biggish field again, with riders across all levels. It will be tougher but it will make you stronger!

If you are able, why not do both. Use one as training, and the other to contest against your peers. If I can find transport I will try and do both. Will let you know.

[Toks]

[quote="Bridget"]Write-up and pics on BC website http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/road/a ... -Round-1-0

I think describing my position as 'mid-field' is pushing it a bit!