Hillingdon 1/8/06

[-Adam-]

Well what can i say, that was one of the biggest rushes ive got out of riding my bike so far!

As it was my first ever race, i turned up early, very early. I wanted to be able to get familiar with the track first and find my way around. But arriving at 5.30 was a bit of a joke! Thanks to leaving work early and a very smooth journey round the m25, i was the first to arrive. So i went for a couple of completely solo rides around the track to familiarise myself.

My first thought was, i thought this track was supposed to be easy!? Its certainly not flat like somebody told me, and bloddy hell was it windy! By the time i'd ridden a couple of laps i returned to my car to wait fo an yellow and black jersey ot two to arrive. It wasn't long before Simon H turned up, with his bike in about a million pieces due to the ridiculous restrictions on public transport! As he talked me through what to expect i became more and more nervous, especially when average speeds of 25-27mph were mentioned! I was really starting to wonder what i was doing there.

Then, as we made our way to the start line, a sudden wave of adrenaline took hold and nerves seemed to be all but forgotten. As we were waved off i was about midway down the peloton of around 40 riders.

The first lap was fast, my heart was racing harder than my legs due to a week of the bike prior to the race. I sat in the bunch, observing what was happening, trying to find the right lines for the corners. Then i kept noticing due to a noticeable lack of inexperience, i was drifting to the back of the group almost every lap. After a few twitchy moments i decided to think logically about where to put myself in the bunch. As the wind was so strong, i decided to stick on the left, so as to be sheltered down the back straight. This worked to a certain extent, but i kept driftring to the back of the group.

By this stage id given up moving up and drifting back, wasting energy, so i thought id save my legs for the final. Being a bit of a sprinter i began to study the (uphill) finish. I decided that it would be best to stay on the left for a surge up the inside of the group. As we crossed the line with two laps to go, i was almost right at the back of the group. This was not a good placve to be i thought to myself. So i spent the penultimate lap trying to move up. I didnt get very far...

By the time we crossed the line for the penultimate time, i was still around three quarters down the group. I was getting nervous again now, and decided to just follow which ever wheel was moving through the group. This worked ok, but i was still too far down the group. I had been warned by Ray before the start the final lap could be a tempered, and it certainly was. The language was a little colourful at times, and people were obviously desperate to win!

As we rounded the last bend there were about 20 riders in front of me. I waited and waited, then surged up the inside, in a kind of 'half' sprint. As i wound it up i was blocked by a slower rider, six people had seemed to escape. In that split second i lost the race. The moment of indecision meant my second sprint was just enough to catch the six but by no means pass them. As i looked about i was fairly sure i managed a 7th place.

We then came round to the finish line again and waited for conformation of the results. As the man consulted his video camera, Simon had grabbed 4th place, while i had just missed 6th (and some prize money) by what must have been mearly a tires breadth.

Although i was very pleased to have achived 7th (out of around 40), a certain amount of dissapointment began to set in that my inexperience had cost me a higher place. With the benefit if hind sight i didnt need to slow as much as i did in the sprint, and as such could have maybe won!? But for a first time i wasn't really expecting to win anyway, but bloody hell i want to win that race next week!

When i consulted my computer after, the average speed was about 23.5mph for a 21 mile long race, which is the fastest average ive ever recorded! I also got my heart rate up to 205bpm in the final sprint, though i felt i wasn't going as hard as i could have. Due to this mental block i had on really going for it, for want of a better expression i 'bottled it'!

So thankyou to Simon, Ray, Matt, Kevin and the other addicombe rider whose name escapes me (sorry!) for all your advice and support at the start. I would have been a whole lot more nervous without you guys!

If your reading this and have never raced, and are thinking about it. Just do it!!! Its taken me the best part of two years to bite the bullet, but now i have, i don't think im ever going to look back!

[ajay khandelwal]

Well done Adam, thats a very good place for your first race.

Savour it !

Perhaps if you won first time that would be disappointing, as it would be too easy ? Remember if you come 1st next week ACC will re-imburse your race entry fee to give you an extra boost.

Good result Simon, looks like your on the fast track now to promotion ! You must surely get prize for best pre race preparation !

[Toks]

Don't be so hard on yourself Adam! That was a fantastic result for your first race ever. Don't forget a lot of people struggle to finish with the bunch on their first race. Also well done Simon on 4th spot!...With a bit of luck you should make 3rd cat before the seasons over. Adam, being a sprinter I absolutely expect 3rd cat status from you in the next few races!

[Dr Frigo]

Awesome, that's heartwarming.
Racing - there's nothing like it innit!

[Dr Frigo]

[quote]Remember if you come 1st next week ACC will re-imburse your race entry fee to give you an extra boost.

[ajay khandelwal]

But not before you collect your BEASTWAY ACC refund monies !

[Kevin Rynne]

Well done Adam, thats a good result for your first race. you should have no problems next week, the secret is to stay relaxed and to use the bunch to recover from any effort such as going off the front, increase in pace etc. I assume its the same in the 4th cat race but if you can place your self in the top 10 positions with say about 4 or 5 laps to go it makes it a lot easier in the sprint. Have a look at the higher placings from the results on london cyclesport and try and get on one of those wheels to tow you to the line.

Sean don't be shy give it a try!
I'm confident you will be fine its all good fun

[Matthew Ives]

Well done Adam.....great stuff!!!
You've definitely got the speed to win one of these days.
The trick is to get into the first 10 going into the final lap and try not to get boxed in. If I can win a sprint @ Hillingdon, I reckon anyone can. And you are super fast , so it should come pretty easy for you, if you get the tactics and position right.
However, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just enjoy it and see how far you get.
Really pleased for you mate.
Well done !!!!

[huw williams]

Well done all you guys for an excellent series of races at Hillingdon this year.

Those of us who cut our teeth at the Big H over the past couple of years have been busy telling anyone who'll listen that it's a pefrect place to earn your spurs.

If you're capable of getting up near the front in an ACC club-run sprint for the Charlwood sign, then you've got every chance of doing well at Hillingdon.

Steve, Matt, Neil, Adam and co have all proved that this year so well done again.

Anybody else going to take the plunge before the season's over? I see plenty of ACC riders in the 18mph 19mph and training groups on saturdays capable of holding their own at Hillingdon. You never know, you could be the next Tim Harris, Marek or Toks in the making

[Dr Frigo]

[quote]But not before you collect your BEASTWAY ACC refund monies !

[Ian A4size]

Well done adam, wish i had been there to cheer you on, but i was at the palace (as its much closer)

[Matthew Ives]

Also, congrats to Simon for getting 4th.
Well done mate.
Hope your usual posse of support was out to witness your points scoring ride