The race was lively to say the least; that's what ya get when close to forty odd OBG's (Oldie But Goodies)who have nothing better to do on a Sunday morning start thrashing around a snakey circuit in Essex. I think two London Phoenix guys+1 were the first to really get going. They seemed to have a few laps on their own before being brought back. While I 'struggled' at the back I could also see Mike Holloway (Southend Wheelers), Damien (EagleRC), Dave Farrow (Eagle RC) and Bob Downs (Condor) all have a few digs but with such a fresh legged pack nobody was going nowhere; at least not for now
Meanwhile I was tiring of my mini sprint sessions at the back of the bunch and took advantage of a let up in pace and had my first dig. Blimey, it almost killed me! The view from the front of the bunch was preferable - choosing your own lines seemed to be so much quicker - but it cost me and I went right to the back to lick my wounds and recover from oxygen dept. A few laps later we left the lower circuit for a preem up the hill. I recovered well from my first effort and was only 3 places back from the first preem. By the 2nd ascension of the climb some 20 minutes later I was feeling good and ready to party at Threshold.
One launch in superman mode and I was away for a lap - bunch engines purred noisily behind me but didn't roll thru. The pace dropped so off so I went again - another lap and I purchased a 10 second gap for my troubles. Some of the big dawgs rolled past, Damien (Eagle RC), Bob (Condor) Phil (Southend). A quick glance back and the gap had been closed. Damn those horrible pack spoil sports; to ensure the split I went for a possibly a suicidal move . I hadn't quite recovered but was convinced drilling it on the front for another half a lap would do the job; well... by the time I had recovered there was indeed a seperation and 3 guys were away. Excellent! I then watched Phil Holloway (Southend Wheelers) and Dave "I-never-miss-a-breakaway- Farrow" (Eagle RC) bridge across to them. Damien (Eagle RC) is also a whiley old fox and immediately made his bid to join the exclusive party now taking place some 70 meters up the road.
A lap later I tried too but the bunch-engines wanted to come with me. Now I'm all for inclusion as a policy but towing people across to promising looking breakways is clearly not the done thing; I swung off and ignored the cussing from behind. The breakway teased us for a while with tantalizing rotations; then finally and irreconcilably they showed us all the middle finger and slip away.
Someone from Glendene tried to organise a chase. "Come on lads lets work together " I returned to my inefficient riding at the back of the bunch and brooded to myself for a few laps. Once again Glendene guy tried to engender a collective effort but the bunch was hampered by the big 3 - excessive blood lactate, muscle fatigue and threshold limitations. I glanced down at the watch 55 minutes - not long to go. Once again I tried to make friends with the wind and left the bunch. When I glanced back after half a lap I was pleased - not a single MAMIL insight; bang on my threshold, I pressed on. After what seemed liked forever (X number of laps) the lapboard appeared showing the number 5. By the bell lap I was about 15 seconds down on the break; with half a lap to go I watched as two riders (Bob and Phil) jumped away to duke it out for the win. I finally caught the rest of the break at the beginning of the climb. My anaerobic tank was empty of course and all four rider pulled away. 7th place for me; getting better
