Oh dear, what a day. It started out ok, then got better, then got even better, then got horribly worse, then became not quite so horribly worse, then got very painfully worser (hmm, why is there not a real word for more worse).
I had no thoughts for this race other than finishing it. This would give me a point to take my lead in the overall handicap standings to 9 points, meaning Elliot Porter would need to finish 4th to overtake me. With respect, this would be out of his reach with the caliber of riders in the race. Having said all this, the overall should have already been in the bag from my point of view, as the result from the Newdigate race(4th aug) has not been added?
I haven't had any cycling legs since the Rusper road race in Aug, so I wasn't even hopefull of finishing this race. I'd got dropped very early at Parham Park a few weeks ago, the same in the TTT last week and all other training or recovery rides have been aweful, with my legs feeling very heavy and painful. I've not been ill so its a bit of a strange one
Anyway, yesterdays club run would tell me if it would be worth me even travelling down to Kirdford for the race or not. Luckily a nice steady ride down to the cafe and a little bit of a blast on the way back saw my legs have some feeling back.
With nods of good luck from the other ACCers, Keith Ghaleb John Ilija, and from the Norwood Paragoners (thanks guys), we were off. Ghaleb John and Ilija in the font group, Keith in the 3rd, me in the 4th with Dave K, with the fast boys behind in 1 or 2 groups?. All was going well, and I had some legs on me, rather than the lumps of timber I had bolted on last week. Our group was working ok, but we all knew it was a matter of time before the scratchers would swallow us up. A lap and a half in (of 7), the express carriage flew past and we all jumped on for a ride. I sat at the back, as you do, and watched. Two attemps from a couple of the fast boys went off the front but were hauled back. If this was how it was going to be, we were in for a fast and furious race.
The next thing i know, 3 or 4 had gotten away and a few others were in pursuit. They joined together to make a 7 man breakaway, including Andy Betts, 3 Cycle Kindoms, Chris Moores (NP), and two others? This was the definitive moment, they were the strong guys of the race and the bunch never got back. A couple of efforts saw guys trying to get across the gap which pulled the bunch a bit closer to the breakaway, and Dave K had a go to bring the bunch even closer, but they were still about 80m ahead. I was quite happy watching all this going on. EP was still in my group just in front of me and all the points were dissapearing up the road, perfect. This was where my 'even better' bit happened. I kept looking at the 80m gap, thinking "I reckon I could get across that", so I did
. Why, I don't know
.
I looked around but no one had followed me. The breakaway was now 8 and I was batting way above my average. But my legs felt great
. We were stonking along and soon pulled out a fair gap to the group behind, we were out of view. I couldn't believe I was doing this, but I loved every second of it. I didn't think I could last to the end with these guys, the pace was too high. I would give it a go though and see what happens. The horribly worse bit was just around the corner though.
A touch of wheels in front of me had two guys on the deck with two bikes directly in my path. I looked for a way out, there wasn't one. You can't bunny hop a whole bike while it is bouncing around in front of you, but i gave it a try. I was heading for the bushes, my bike had hit one on the ground, flown up in the air and I sommersaulted, landing on my shoulder and stopping sharply when I hit the trunk of a bush with only my torso sticking out of the hedgerow. I was still attached to the bike at this point, I couldn't see all of it though. I lay there for a minute listening to the aftermath of the crash behind me. 4 had hit the deck, 2 had got back on. Chris's bike was in half and he looked quite dazed with lots of cuts all over. I had no cuts, the bike seemed ok once I'd retrieved it, but my shoulder was a bit sore. The main group was now passing so I jumped back on the bike with only about 40m gap to the back it. I couldn't get myself going though and they rode away from me. I find it amazing how the pros can get back on after some of the crashes they have and still get back into a fast moving peleton. They're tough.
I still had a long way to finish the race and the pain in my shoulder was getting worse and worse. I carried on and intended to finish the race come what may. But Keith Butler told me to stop to get treatment. I'd sperated my right shoulder AC joint playing football some years ago and the symtoms where exactly the same this time. Its not a very nice injury (none are i suppose) as this takes such a long time to heal, and oh how it hurts
. My other one took about 3 years to heal and about 10 to be strong. But at least I'll have a matching pair of lumps on my shoulders now, you have to look at the positives I suppose. The other positive is that I ended up at the top of the Overall Handicap Standings for this year
Well done to the rest of the lads, especially Keith for his 12th place, good good result
Steve (at home, high on painkillers)
by Keith » Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:59 pm 
, coming off when riders crashed in front of him. He even got back on & completed to ensure he wasn't docked points for a DNF. His nearest rival wasn't in the front group at the finish.
