SCRL Handicap - Newchapel - 17th June

[Keith]

[img]http://i45.tinypic.com/2d9cvwn.jpg[/img]
(Photo: R Hicks - RCC)

[Keith]

I think that I counted 7 ACC riders at last night's race. I was hoping that the photo of the finish might prompt some reports.

[George]

thats disgraceful Keith I would put a proposal to the committee to chuck out the offenders

[EdO]

Andy W was 2nd and Serge 3rd. I think I finished in the top ten (Darren Peachy also) but I'm awaiting the results. To be honest after a week on a cruise ship I was happy just to get round so finishing top ten is a bonus.

4ths stayed away. Our time gap went down to 1.40mins but then gradually increased to 3mins with 3 laps to go.
Good work on the front especially Serge and of course that guy in the Pearons kit he's a legend (just can't remember his name sorry). Shame we didn't get a win but that RedHill guy was looking quite lively. He attacked earlier on but decided to ease off.

I suspect the crash slowed the chasing groups down. With one and a half laps to go, when the Redhill guy attacked again only Serge went after him. Eventually Andy went across too and full credit to both of them for keeping up the chase and then staying away.

Really like these races but it's a tough one getting there on time straight after work.

Roll on (hopefully) next week.

Ed

[Keith]

Cheers Ed.

It makes a pleasant change from many of my recent handicap reports..... "we didn't get a sniff of the lead group".

As is usually the case, the scratch group worked pretty well up until we picked up the first of the groups ahead on the road. It then took a little time for the through 'n off rhythm to reform.....

[quote="EdO"] but then gradually increased to 3mins with 3 laps to go.

[Antloony]

Well done boys. Been a good week for The Agreeables

[Marek]

Was good fun all 8 minutes or so I had of racing. Side wall of my tyre had split which I had not realised on the first puncture, the second one went with a big bang, think Dan almost shat himself when it went as it was so loud. The crash happened the lap after I punctured, am thankful I was not involved in that as it was my group, they came around a bend to be confronted with a horse and cart on their side of the road pootling along and a car coming the other way. A couple of guys in the ditch and the rest managed to skirt around the obstacles. One guy broke his Felt frame in two and his Zipp wheels were totalled, an expensive evening. I think a couple of guys got carted off in the nee nah, hope they are ok.

Well done to Serge, from what I saw of the race he was hammering it on the front of his group with a big grimmace on his face and he was making some roaring noises as he went past, awesome.

Cheers

Marek.....

[Andy W]

Thanks to Ed, Serge, Darren and Matt (the big chap from Pearson’s) for pulling the group along with some great turns on the front.

This was my second handicap and I learnt from the first - save a bit for the final few laps providing we have a healthy gap over the chasing group. The gap seemed to be going up and down each time we had a call and with about 2 laps to go it was still over 2 minutes.

With just over a lap to go, a chap from Redhill made the jump on the group and probably got a 100 yards on on us before Serge decided to make a chase. He did a great job of getting across the gap and they both stayed about 150 yards away until are group started to slow. I think everyone wanted to save a bit now for the final sprint. I was feeling pretty strong having ‘sat in’ for the last couple of laps - this was my chance.
I edged to the outside of the bunch, put it in a big gear and just gave it everything I had. I think the element of surprise worked, as know one tried to get my wheel.

All I had to do now was catch two riders that were working together to stay away. It was a painful (chin on the floor) few minutes before I managed to finally get across.

I now had about a mile to recover for the sprint. I finally got my breath back but unfortunately found myself on the front on the straight down to the finish. With about 200 yards to go, the chap from Redhill made his move but unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to respond.

I’m certainly happy with a 2nd - Now things get a little harder on those Thursday evenings...

Andy

[Peachey]

First handicap race for me, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Still waiting for official results - but I think I came in 6th. The course was really flat and it was a nice summers evening.

Pace was really quick (for me anyway) averaging around 26mph for the first 6-7 laps - thanks to some good organisation and some great turns from Matt, Serge and Ed - there were also a couple of strong Redhill guys at the front as well.

Nearly went pop with 2 laps to go but managed to sit back for a lap to restore some reserves for the sprint finish. Got back to the front for the bell where a very spritely Andy Watmore shot off the front chasing down Serge (who had also shot off) to chase down the Redhill guy who kicked on the last lap. Didn't really have the legs to go with them but managed to stick with the chasing group for a (sort of) sprint finish for the minor places..!

Will definitely do some of these again and would recommend to anyone considering some racing?

Darren

[DavidKennett]

Race [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/felt_tip_felon/sets/72157624304432404/show/]pics[/url]

[Fat Robbie]

Great evenings racing and a good show by the Addiscombe, Mr Peachey did some monster turns on the front,generally just before He came into His fathers view and amazingly they finished just after........... There were some issue with the results from what I could hear in the hall after, they had me as a lap down, this clearly did happen as unless the bloke who's wheel I was sat on was a lap down as well.

lovely circuit, almost as flat as Herne Hill !

[Rogan]

Well done to all ACC riders - would love to have raced this one especially with Serge, Andy and Ed in that lead group. Thats' a very strong 4th Cat group right there (and all ACC)... but work got in the way...! Great Pictures Dave.

[Andrew G]

[quote="Marek"]...the second one went with a big bang, think Dan almost shat himself when it went as it was so loud...I think a couple of guys got carted off in the nee nah...

...Well done to Serge...making some roaring noises as he went past, awesome...