SE Divs E/1/2/3 Edenbridge

[Sylv]

A long day in the office yesterday - can't tell you how long race was as I lost my Powertap head unit at some point thanks to a million potholes on the course - can you say annoying. Drank 2l during the race (thanks Adam for the sip on last lap) but that still wasn't nearly enough, lost 2.2kg and have to keep topping up with water today. Felt good but not enough to mix it up in a break containing the strongest riders, mostly Elites. Actually glad I wasn't in the break after reading Ian Paine's report, he had a good race - it went very tactical and they started attacking each other. Once the break went it took a while to organise a through anf off chase, in which Keith and I, but no more than another 4-5 got involved, which lasted for about half a lap, then somehow the chase stopped.

From then on it was a touch slower, though the short climbs on the course were now taking their toll, and attacks kept fusing, mosty from Luke W (Pearson), Mark P and Kevin K (DP) and John HA (Dauphins). I had one go myself on a climb but wasn't strong enough to keep it up. Adam looked like he was having a stroll, climbing seated and not always needing to take wheels. Why wasn't he in the break. I looked back and the bunch had shrunk by a fair bit. Last lap I was getting ready for it to break up and hopefully get away, but it didn't. Final long downhill and a couple went away solo, John HA and Dan Santoni. Geared up for the sprint where I didn't do brilliant, maybe 25th-30th overall, Steve C got it.

Day wasn't over though - went round the 23km course a 7th time looking for my little yellow computer, without success. By the time I got back it was 8pm and the gates to the HQ were locked, so I wasn't going to drive away. Thanks to some sms help from Keith I got on the 8.51 train, which alas didn't go further than Hurst Green. There it took some persuasion for the replacement coach driver to let me on (involving taking wheels off bike), and by the time I got off at Purley I couldn't be bothered to faff with another couple train trips, so rode home with bag full of kit and spare wheels - made it at 10.15. Had to ride down and pick up the car this morning.

1 Alex Highham. Windy Milla
2 Chris MacNamara. Team Corley
3 Andy Betts. Sigma Sport
4 Ian Paine. London Dynamo
5 Gareth Montgomerie. Sigma Sport
6 Gary Dodd. Sigma Sport
7 Alex Camier. Team Toachim
8 Gareth McCullough. Aprire RT
9 Ian Field. Hargrove Cycles
10 Nick Collins. Torq Performance
11 Simon Lawn. Sigma Sport
12 Andrew Dolan. Team Toachim
13 Richard Mason. Cycles Dauphin
14 John Heaton Armstrong. Cycles Dauphin
15 Daniele Santoni. MSTina
16 Steve Calland. Southdown Bikes
17 Adam Cotterill. Flanders Racing
18 Luke Wallis. Pearson Cycles
19 Josh Cunningham. Flanders Racing
20 Chris Taylor. Medway Velo Club

[Toks]

Damn Sylv that sounded pretty tough, chapeau to you, Keith and Adam. Sorry to hear about your powertap problem
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10965&p=103776#p103776

[George]

Sylv you sure gave yourself a good kicking yesterday

[Andrew G]

I rode out with George and Ben to catch this although we lost Ben when we were doing a lap in reverse giving a bit of a cheer as the race passed in the opposite direction. When we passed a pub with Marcus sitting in the sun we stopped for a beer and cheered from there for the next lap.

Really well done to Keith and Sylv as this was a tough circuit, a real roller coaster, and a hard looking race with plenty being shelled out on the climbs. You both looked comfortable in the dwindling pack behind the lead group which had some class in it. McNamara and Highham looked very strong throughout. You were both showing the club colour well and with some style.

Apologies for not thinking of it at the time but we should have handed up a bottle but it only occurred afterwards that you were racing without support and having to carry all your fluids with you in that heat.

Bad luck with the computer and journey home Sylv, that's a real sh1t way to end the day.

Bikes, lycra, beer .
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/2010SERoadracechamps-pub.jpg[/img]

A London Pride wasn't the required drink .
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/2010SERoadracechamps-beer.jpg[/img]

A good ride back with a bit of a burn up on the way.

[Hal]

Sounds really tough, Incredible ride sylv and keith.

H

[George]

Sylv was on the wrong side of the road to grab that beer Andrew

[Sylv]

It would be nice to have confirmation that we finished, don't know what those timing chips were for ...

[Robh]

Might be of use to you Sylv :-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CycleOps-Powertap ... 414faea8c4

[Sylv]

Thanks Rob, I saw it after Paul tipped me on people replacing their PT unit with a Garmin .. which is what I did.

[Sylv]

Gareth Montgomerie's (5th place) stats http://connect.garmin.com/activity/34300995

.. and from 2nd place in the 3/4 race http://connect.garmin.com/activity/34233230

[quote="Andrew G"]Keith and Sylv ..... You both looked comfortable

[Amy]

What is that you're sitting with in the pub?? With all the hair that looks like its owner's stuck his fingers in a live plug socket... And shame about the pink handlebar tape

Well done, Keith and Sylv for hanging on in there. Gary Dodd must be slowing down - I think he might be going touring this year...

[quote="Keith"][quote="Andrew G"]Keith and Sylv ..... You both looked comfortable