SL Newchapel 19/05/11

[Peachey]

Firstly, thank-you to George for putting this on – and all of the ACC marshals who helped and shouted us on. It is certainly is great to hear encouragement lap on lap.

I have been going quite well of late and had rested since Sunday’s race at Cutmill, which was quite challenging. I was feeling good and hoped that I would have my legs.

Went off with the third group which included a few familiar faces from team ACC – Matt C, Andy W, Ed O and I certainly earmarked a few other guys such as Jim Burdett and the Redhill guy who has been scoring quite well of late. All in all – there must have been 15 of us?

I had already suggested to Matt that we should go from the gun and commit to catching the 2 groups ahead – and continue to go hard to prevent the scratch group catching us, which included Keith and the Shadow. We were released by Keith Butler and straight from off we went for it – Paul H was our target in the 2nd lead car, which marked our progress. The group started to work hard – and we were making good progress. We caught the second group pretty quickly – maybe lap 2 or 3 (??) and inevitably picked up a few passengers who happily were sitting in. However, we also acquired some more fire power in Rob W and Ant.

The usual faces continued to work hard for another lap or so – and I was given a split of 30 seconds from my Dad on the side lines – I thought we had been caught – but didn’t realise this was the split to the group still up the road. We turned into the straight – and there they were in the distance. We quickly rolled up to the back of them and 3 groups had become one. There must have been about 3 laps to go.

After a brief consultation with Matt – we decided to continue to go hard and make it as hard as possible for those who were not contributing too much. Matt, Jim, Andy W and team ACC were really strong tonight and we almost got away from the massive group – we made a few attempts at trying to get off the front – but it just didn’t seem to happen. Matt had the whole group strung along the back straight which was quite amusing to see – but despite a few through and offs from me and Jim it wouldn’t stick.

Went through another lap – saw 2 to go – and it was apparent that the scratch group were not making any real inroads. I started to conserve my energy for the evitable sprint, which is not really my forte. Went through the bell lap and everyone started looking at each other – nobody was that keen to take it up but eventually someone did and we started to get some real pace going. I positioned myself up near the front on the back straight – with all of the strong guys well positioned.

The final corner was a bit tricky and quite tight – it was also the place where it kept breaking up with people having to get out the saddle to get back onto the chain. I planted myself a few back from Matt, with Jim B also between us. I knew that these two would keep the pace high and that a vast majority wouldn’t be able to figure in the sprint – they both duly obliged.

The chain went through the final s-bend and I could see the finish in the distance – now planted to Jim’s wheel I still felt good – kicked for the line and managed to take a great line down the side of a rider who, I think, came second. I couldn’t believe it – I was at the front of the race with 25 metres to go – I was going to win…!

I thought I would have had the class to throw two hands in the air – nope – was too worried about someone coming round the side of me – I just buried myself…! Really chuffed – it was great as my family came down to watch as well.

Other Team ACC figured in the top 10 – Matt got a well deserved 3rd and Andy W in the top 10. Really great to see so many ACC out again – with Iliya and Ghaleb new additions to the race scene.

Cheers,

Darren

[Keith]

[Ian A4size]

Well done to all who competed- Dan, Dominic and myself were marshalling the last corner, lovely it was in the sunshine- we never really had much to do except make snorting noises like the donkeys in the field next to us.
I only had to wave one car down in the entire race, so we all had a good old natter!

Well done to Brasso for promoting the event and booking a fine and sunny evening.

[Ghaleb]

Thanks to all the organiser and helpers, enjoyed my first race. I was in the first group which was going at a pretty slow pace, and nobody wanted to do much work, so I knew we were going to get cought quick. We got cuaght by the 2 group pretty early on and the pace was still pretty slow but now we at least had the T&O going which was better. We then got cuaght by the third group and thats were the pace picked up and it started feeling like a race. I tried keep my self near the front most of the times and I didnt feel too bad. I kept losing count of the laps, I had Darren beside me once and asked him, he said we have two laps left, so I started positiong my self nicely up the front, I found it difficult to move up the bunch, maybe I just need to get used to it, but at the end I managed to get myself infront of the bunch on the last lap when we were just about 1.5 miles away from the finish line. I didnt really want to be right in the front doing work just before the sprint, so I slowed down the pace a little, and then suddenly there I was at the rear of the bunch, then there I started panicing and thinking what have I done! we got to the last corner before the finish line and I was still at the rear of the bunch and couldnt move myself up. I had to break quite considerably on that turn, which made hard to catch the chain and I ended up being dropped just before the finish line! As Darren said it was a tricky corner that one. Thinking of it now I should have just gave it all when I was at the front, oh well next time. Anyway well done to Darren on the win.

[Amy]

One of the Norwood Paragon riders stuck his tongue out at me as he came past warming up

Fortunately he had distinctive pink bar tape and saddle so I managed to spot him after the race and asked him what that was for! Apparently because ACC are always being photo'ed with their tongues out (I didn't even have my mobile out, I don't think). I then added that I hoped he'd done it to all the marshals but no, I had been singled out to received special treatment...

Cheeky s*d...

[Andrew G]

Peachey .

Pink tape and saddle, Marcus?

[Keith]

[quote="Peachey"]
I had already suggested to Matt that we should go from the gun and commit to catching the 2 groups ahead – and continue to go hard to prevent the scratch group catching us, which included Keith and the Shadow.

[Mulberry]

Amy

My tongue-out pose was a mark of respect to the ACC as I thought you guys were mad for it! Check out your recent history:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6197&p=76281&hilit=tongue#p76281

Thanks to George and all of you guys for some good marshalling and organisation yesterday plus the fine selection of cakes at the end. Whilst I like a challenge I resisted Caveman's bet that I couldn't fit a whole rock-cake in my mouth

After seeing 4 out of 4 handicaps where scratch hasn't caught the front group I think it'll be largely chaingangs and hill-work for me - that way I can get a better and more consistent work-out. The low turn-out of E's & 1s in the handicaps would suggest that many of them are losing interest. I seem to get more of them out on a chaingang than the SL attracts to the handicaps.

Having said that I will be at Wivelsfield Green as I've been "told to do it" by one of the rowers.

Well done to Peachey - I look forward to riding with you and boyz in the Wessex.

Marcus MRB

[Amy]

It's ok, Marcus - I just don't particularly subscribe to that ACC habit. Keith is more likely to be found sticking his tongue out at photographers I just thought "cheeky bloomin's Paragon, I'll have words with Keith Butler when I see him about the behaviour of his club" if only for the pleasure of winding Mr Butler up

Good win, Peachey

[Marcus]

Chapeau Peachey. Well done to Mat for a superb 3rd, Andy on a top ten spot and all the ACC guys for working as part of a team.

Darren family at every race now is it

[Paul H]

Well done mate - I knew you were going well.

Marcus - Addiscombe have a strong team now in the lower categorys with a number of unknown riders who could easily be 2nd Cat which is affecting the Handicap. Looks like our brutal winter training regime has worked.

I can understand the low turnout of E,1,2s as £15 for a training session is pretty steep

[Keith]

[url=http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/results/results2011/may2011/may19.htm]May 19, 2011 - Surrey League Handicap Series #4 - Addiscombe CC - Newchapel - E/1/2/3/4 - 30 miles[/url]

Pos Name Club/Team Cat Time
1 Darren Peachey Addiscombe CC 3
2 Philip Watkins Private Member 3V
3 Matt Chapman Addiscombe CC 3
...
7 Antony Leeson Addiscombe CC 3V
...
10 Andrew Watmore Addiscombe CC 3V
...
17 Robert Wright Addiscombe CC 3V
...
24 Ed Osborne Addiscombe CC 4
...
39 Keith Lea Addiscombe CC 3V @ 0:33
...
46 Stephen Broomfield Addiscombe CC 2V
...
50 Galeb Aqel Addiscombe CC 4
51 Ilija Trkulja Addiscombe CC 4
...
56 Paul Tunnell Addiscombe CC 3V
...
59

[Iliya]

Finally I found some time to share my experience of this race.

This being my first race, it was an interesting experience. Ghaleb, Paul T and I set of in the first group and took share on the front along with a few other riders (mostly Redhill). No one else wanted to take turns on the front?! I didn’t expect this until later on in the race – however from this standpoint it all makes sense now

Well it all went well until first fast group caught up with us and started setting the pace. At that moment I was stuck inside the peloton and fast guys were all passing us on the outside. I somehow managed to ‘un-dig’ myself from the inside but it was too late. I lost the group at one of the turns and couldn’t catch up with them again.

I then picked up a few other riders who stayed with me for a short while but they soon dropped off.

I cycled on my own for a while when suddenly second fast group approached me and past me at speed of train. I felt like I was standing on platform 2 of East Croydon station and Gatwick Express was passing by (not scheduled to stop at this station) . There was no time to react and it wouldn’t be safe anyway. Paul T was in this group but he dropped off later on so I caught up with him and we cycled together for a lap or two. A few more riders dropped off towards the end of the race and I joined them to finish the race in disappointing 51 place. Still, this is hopefully the first of many races I will take part in.

Well done Darren for winning the race!!

[Ghaleb]

I'm pretty sure I was beside Ed at the finish line?

[Stu Merckx Man]

well done peachy.