SL - Goodwood 3rds - 8th May

[Keith]

May 8, 2011 - Surrey League/Dulwich Paragon CC - Goodwood - 3rds - 40 miles

Pos Name Club/Team Cat Time
1 David Duffy i-Team.cc 3 1:46:20
2 Gary Sherriff Kingston Wheelers 3
3 Andrew Edwards Brighton Mitre 3
4 Richard Hosking Addiscombe CC 3V
...
7 Darren Peachey Addiscombe CC 3
...
29 Andrew Watmore Addiscombe CC 3V
...
40 Mark Field Addiscombe CC 3V
...
57 Antony Leeson Addiscombe CC 3V
...
72 Paul Hone Addiscombe CC 3V

[Antloony]

Right here we go, my first race report for over 2 years.

Having not really been interested in racing for the last couple of years but still retaining a reasonable amount of fitness and with my sprint still in good shape I finally decided to come out of retirement and go and take part in a race at Goodwood, a flat unexciting circuit ideally suited for a sprint finish. A plan was hatched and I was to be given a lead out train consisting of Paul H, Andy W and Peachy. a quick practice on sat and things were looking good.

Met with Mark F and Richard H before the sign up and that was it, team Addiscombe was complete. Marks a handy sprinter so if I failed we were still in with a shout for a victory. We managed to catch the last lap or so of the womens race to see Kate finish 4th though this wasn't official as they didn't get her number as she crossed the line. Great finish though and she was in the mix on the line, well done Kate.

So around 11am off we set with a huge field, must have been 80 plus for 17 laps or 40 miles if you prefer of what has to be the most boring ride I've ever done. I thought I'd be at least a little nervous and excited but having an abscess and being dosed up on antibiotics and numerous pain killers maybe my excitement was a tad shaded to say the least. Still, its a race, I'm with my mates, what could go wrong....CRASH....oooh that sounded expensive, I hate the sound of breaking carbon fibre. Luckily it was behind me and no serious injuries where apparent as we saw various riders carrying bits of bikes back to the start as we came around the next lap. My plan was to stay near the front and always with one of our crew in case we had to chase a break. At this point I was so bored I ended up watching the planes land which was fun as it was quite a windy day and was blowing straight down the start/finish line. I then started counting down the miles by looking at my polar and seeing how low I could get my heart beat by stopping breathing, anything to kill the the time till our plan could be put into place. We did have a go at breaking up the race but we were immediately shut down.

So after several mind numbingly boring laps with hardly a rise in pace 2 riders shot off the front and gave it ago...'fair do's' I thought....until somehow they managed to crash, eventually bringing out the red flag after 3 neutral laps (DARREN, A NATURAL LAP MEANS NO RACING OK ) so the ambulances could take them away. Started thinking to myself 'why am I here?'. (not heard any news on the injured duo, just pray and hope they're ok) A restart was in order and it was announced we would do 3 laps. 'Game on' I thought, 3 mad laps, maybe this will get me more excited.

So off we go again, team ACC all set to bring home some glory....or so we thought. This is where it went wrong and I threw a spanner in the works and apologise now to my co racers for not sticking to the plan....I shall explain...

3 riders got away with 2 laps 2 go and got a reasonable gap. I was on Andy W's wheel and he then gave chase and started to bridge the gap. I followed his wheel and as he powered his way to the break I was going into the red but gave it one last massive effort to stay with him. Finally we made it and settled in with the bell for the last lap loud in our ears. Glancing behind I could see a nice sight, team ACC trying to slow things down. 5 now in the break but having had to dig so deep to get there I couldn't recover enough to help out so just hung at the back behind Andy. All was looking good and I was slowly getting my breath back and some life was returning to my legs until the pack was closing in on us rapidly in sight of the finish line, game over, I sat up and waited and out of the blue up pops Paul to give me a lead out. I'm sat 2 inches from his wheel as he's giving it his all to get me back up there but just wasn't enough, was too much to do on his own. I started my sprint but my legs were dead and I eventually sat up and rolled over the line, being shouted at to 'hold my line'. Why people are sprinting for 50th place is beyond me, get a freakin' life.

I noticed Darren, Andy and Richard had gone by me and got in the mix which was some consolation. On reflection maybe I should have stayed in the pack and stuck to the game plan but I did what I thought best at that moment in time and tried my luck. Sorry if I spoilt your day guys, I know this was all geared towards me getting a good result and I do appreciate it immensely. The tea and cakes on me this weekend.

[Sylv]

There are some photos by Pauline English:

[img]http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/229265_10150289569483765_612373764_9542438_7217950_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/224637_10150289570483765_612373764_9542463_5126532_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/225749_10150289572993765_612373764_9542519_5102372_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/222080_10150289573183765_612373764_9542525_7575900_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/228678_10150289578958765_612373764_9542652_4422652_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/228335_10150289583788765_612373764_9542767_7186341_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/230937_10150289585848765_612373764_9542804_2566615_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/225894_10150289497063765_612373764_9541326_1569027_n.jpg[/img]

Goodwood does sound boring and I'm not going there.

[Toks]

[quote="Antloony"]Right here we go, my first race report for over 2 years.

.

[Keith]

I'm sure I've seen that rider on the left in the last photo somewhere before

[Paul H]

Anthony - No reason to apologise. If the break stuck, you could have sprinted past them and if it didnt stick you had us to help you.

The main problem was the other designated leadout men getting "blocked" and being unable to come to the front and help me. Thats understandable as the course is very narrow - barely wider than the M25.

I managed to shoehorn my way to the front along the empty expanse of tarmak next to the bunch and took my place in front of Ant & Andy (our backup sprinter) and managed to drag him to the last corner expecting another "teammate" to take over but it was not to be and it left Anthony with an impossible task.

[Sylv]

Reading between the lines it sounds like Paul had a fallout with Darren or Richard - who both selfishly went for the sprint win

Kate at least got the same result all with just one team mate

[Antloony]

[quote="Toks"]What's goin on with your fitness Ant? Unless you're exaggerating you're report suggests the race was ridden at recovery pace; so one big surge to get in a break and ya legs fall off sounds like you need to do some more racing matey. For the record I love Goodwood, I won there solo a few years ago
PS Well done for coming back

[Paul H]

[quote="Sylv"]Reading between the lines it sounds like Paul had a fallout with Darren or Richard - who both selfishly went for the sprint win

Kate at least got the same result all with just one team mate

[Antloony]

ignore this...double post...move along...nothing to see here...

[Antloony]

Paul. your sarcasm holds no bounds...

[Sylv]

: )

[DavidKennett]

Break of 6 with 4 ACC? Should have killed yourselves to stay away forget about the other 2 and attack them at the end

[img]http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/228678_10150289578958765_612373764_9542652_4422652_n.jpg[/img]

[youtubewww]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGpW-88VioQ[/youtubewww]

[Peachey]

Should have gone with my attack when the race was neutralised.....I thought the bunch were just cheering me on....!

It was fun with 80+ racers all in with a chance on the last lap......

[quote="Antloony"][quote="Toks"]What's goin on with your fitness Ant? Unless you're exaggerating you're report suggests the race was ridden at recovery pace; so one big surge to get in a break and ya legs fall off sounds like you need to do some more racing matey. For the record I love Goodwood, I won there solo a few years ago
PS Well done for coming back