. No change this year then as I entered my first ever race in the E12s. All day nerves kept coming to the fore everytime I thought of the evening ahead.It was great to see Rich taking the plunge tonight, after getting his racing license this week, he jumped head first into one of the toughest criteriums around. Good on ya mate
. Lasting until 5 laps to go, excellent stuff for your first time 
. Where were the rest of you 
Lining up with the E12s seemed a bit odd at first and almost like I shouldn't be there. But once away all that negative stuff went and I felt quite at home on what has become my favourite place (results wise). The pace was how I expected it, fast, and there were quite a few massive digs up the hill that really stretched the bunch, me included obviously, but I wasn't hanging out the back as much as I had feared. The combination of more riding during the winter, hanging with the chain gang on Tuesday nights and losing about 10lbs in weight has all helped. Surprisingly the paced slowed on a couple of occasions up the hill and this helped me recover from previous all out efforts. A touch of wheels sh1t the life out of me at the bottom of the hill on one lap, but stunning bike handling skills kept me upright, oh, and a touch of luck
Each lap completed was a bonus. I really didn't expect anything tonight, but lap after lap I was still there, mainly mid pack and able to react when one of the big boys decided to kick butt up the hill. A big butt kicking effort strung the group out with 5 laps to go, and by the time we reached the hill on the next lap, 5 or 6 guys were 50m up the road. Now this is where, for some bizarre reason, my brain went in to serious melt down and decided that my legs should be the ones to put in a massive effort and bridge the gap to get in to the break. [size=150]What the hell was I thinking[/size]
. Out the saddle, full gas up the hill, round the top and on to the straight. I'd closed the gap and was nearly on to the back of the group but I was chewing bar tape, big time, and seriously blowing out my backside 
. I'd pulled a few more guys with me and with that the break eased and all were back together.Oh sh1t, I'm going to go out the back door here, my legs were now like jelly and I couldn't get enough oxygen in. I drifted to the back and regrouped. Only 3 laps to go, could I hang in there.
It took a lap and a bit to recover but I'd managed it and was now looking forward to the flat out frenzy that is the last 2 laps around the circuit, and finishing my first E12 race with the group.. A nice little move on the penultimate lap put me just outside the top ten, and when the sprint started at the bottom of the hill on the last lap I gave it all for the cause, totally burying myself. It seemed such a long sprint tonight and there are some seriously fast guys out there, but I only counted 7 of them in front of me as I across the line. I'd made the top 10
.As you can imagine I'm absolutely totally over the moon with the result and performance. I'm buzzing.
Steve
There are seasoned 2nd cats who wouldn't go near an E12 at Palace if you paid them. Well done, I look forward to seeing you down there soon. Although at 10llbs lighter will I still recognise you 
Glad you're out of the 3rd/4ths now 