First race

[Alan M]

I supposed that I might have had to play the age card for any failure to finish in the bunch. However, the multiple pile up on the 3rd lap meant that I went mountain biking and lost contact with the 90 strong peleton and then completed the 5 remaining laps on my own. This was a shame because my ?beginner? race did not seem as impossible as I had initially thought it might.

On good advice, I had arrived at the MoD racecourse, close to junction 11 on the M25, at around 9.30. I was immediately dismayed to see so many riders lining up to sign on. About a third were in London Dynamo kit and most seemed young, fit and skinny ? oh dear!

Well I believe about 90 signed on ? aside from Michael Kazimierski, No 89; Paul Tunnel was the only other ACC rider and he was coaching. The MoD circuit is brilliant, about 2 miles of wide sweeping bends with 3 small bumps at one end and a very fast straight section. Following some warm up laps we were split into groups of about 10-15 and we completed 2 sets of 2 laps at just below race speed, each with a sprint finish at the end. I felt fairly comfortable with this and I managed to muster sprit finishes towards the front of the group, but maybe some others were holding back. We then set off, all 90 of us, for an 8-lap race. The first 2 laps were fast but manageable and I sat in about 2/3ds back. However, the group was very large and it did make me nervous, particularly on the hills and by some cones where there was some fairly random riding. Paul came alongside at one point with a comforting hand on my back and he gave some encouragement. But, shortly after this it all went somewhat adrift.

There was a big crash to the right and slightly in front of me ? several riders went down - I only just avoided the melee by riding along the dirt at the side of the road. By the time I was back on the tarmac the peleton had blasted off about 40 metres in front and try as I might I couldn?t bridge the gap. I finished the remaining laps on my own save a few dropped and cruising riders that I managed to catch.

Well it wasn?t such a bad experience but 4th cat racing on this scale seems a bit of a gamble. After the trial I watched the 2nd and 3rd cat race for a while and chatted with others before setting off for the M25 circuit. I will probably give it another bash and I will use tomorrow?s 100k road ride from Fetcham as a counterpoint to today?s experience.

[Toks]

Hey well done Alan! that was a pretty big field. I've never raced at the MOD but it sounds like a good course. Glad you missed the crash; unfortunately 4th cat races can be vary hary at times. If you're strong enough its worth the effort - safety wise - to ride near the front... Oh by the way, get used to seeing the London Dynamo guys - they're bloody everywhere! Take care, I look forward to reading your next race report

[Alan M]

Thanks for the advice Toks. I now have a session lined up at calshot later this month so maybe that will improve my confidence!

[ajay khandelwal]

Nice ride Alan. Looks that training camp in Mallorca coupled with Paul T racing camp in Newchapel is turning you into a semi pro. Look forward to getting on your wheel during the racing season for a good lead out train !