by Sylv » Sun Dec 18, 2011 6:44 pm
Was pretty cold and icy round here at 9am this morning, by 11 it had warmed up a few degrees but i was still unsure as to whether to race or not, having felt pretty cold-like for a week, power way down and heart rate way up. In the end i did go, and after a comical false-start where we all went the wrong way after 400m due to wrong taping, after a re-start found myself chasing the leaders and not feeling too bad. Quite muddy for a change, actually make that very muddy, and a few had mechanicals (Harry Franklin in the lead, Jules Birks, etc ..), so found myself in the lead after a few laps, passing Darren Barclay, Taylor Johnstone and arch rival Matt Webber. Was really chuffed as i had began to wonder if it was just my form that had been going downhill this week. The speed and effort were down due to the slippery course, yet my heart was beating a good 6bpm higher than usual, a bit scary. But i was increasing the lead and felt alright for the win, enjoying Geoff Waugh's drumming on the side of the course.
Then over half way I got a puncture, the one race where i hadn't brought spare wheels (cos i didn't have my car and rode there). Half a lap on a flat rear, asked unsuccessfully for a spare, and that was it. Chances of winning the overall London League now over too, which is a bit raging - almost as much as having to replace a tub for the second race in a row (x layers of glue and all that), with only a few races left before swapping them for road tubs again.
I think the ACC riders taking part were Ian, Ed and Peter and unless mistaken Peter was in the lead for the trophy when I last looked at the course.