Hot of the press Palace 01/08

[Gavin]

3/4
Toks 3rd
Matt Ives 5th

[George]

Matt you are seriously excelling mate, just to stay in the bunch here is an acheivement.

Look ouy behind you Toks.

Nice one guys

[Dr Frigo]

well done
pics in the morning

[Matthew Ives]

Ha!!! the stuff was pouring off me, Sean!!

Where to start?

Well, They should have a sign up at the Palace before a race starts:
?You are entering a world of pain ?, to quote Walter from The Big Lebowski.

I would like to give a detailed ,coherent account of what happened in the 3 / 4 race, but each lap blended into the other in an indistinguishable haze of labored breathing and burning legs.

Actually, that's not quite true.

Some laps were relatively easy...all except the hill , which hurt nearly every time.
?Hill !!? I hear you say........?that's not a hill.......it's just a small incline!?
Well, yes and no. First time up it on the warm up lap...yes, it's a small incline.

But when you're racing up it with 44 year old legs trying to hang onto the wheel of some 25 year old London Dynamo rider with sculptured calves....it most definitely becomes a HILL.

But most laps hurt a lot and I was close to being dropped a few times. But somehow I fought and held on,
always being spurred on by the sizable and extremely vocal support of a contingent of Addiscombe supporters , (thanks guys ).


Each time I looked round and there were less and less riders in the main group. Life at the back of the bunch is hard since you end up sprinting a lot harder out of the corners. Toks told me this before we started along with a lot of other useful advise all of which I promptly forgot as soon as the race started.

The first few laps I labored at the back, watching how others took the corners, noting their lines etc. The pace was high but since my legs were fresh, I found I could close gaps that my inexperience would let open. I felt I was close to my limit several times and was expecting to be dropped. Then, around the middle of the race the pace eased a bit and life seemed a little easier in the group. Toks was often at or near the front, monitoring things looking supremely comfortable, chasing down the odd attack or two.

Towards the end of the race, the pace started hotting up as attacks went off the front. I decided I'd like to sample life further up in the pack and promptly found myself sitting on the very front of the group. I don't want to be THIS far up, I thought to myself. I soft pedaled a bit hoping someone would come and take the wind but instead a couple of riders put in a ferocious attack and went off the front.
I was in no shape to chase and looked round hoping others would lead the chase. It was a long time before anyone came round and when they did it was with the intention of joining the break, not towing everyone else up to it. I think this was the point when the main group dwindled to about 10 or so. I held on for grim death and sprinted for all I was worth to hang on the the coat tails of the select 10. I just made it by the skin of my teeth and made the junction at the top of the hill.

The last lap was a welcome relief . Knowing it would all be over soon was more than comforting.
I just remember the sprint (if you can call it that) ,starting at the bottom of the hill and people just getting shelled out as the pace went higher and higher. I hung onto Toks' wheel as best I could and I think that helped me gain a few places. At the top of the hill I had no energy to sprint. Just a self-preservation instinct to hold onto the position I already had. Toks crossed the line in a impressive 3rd place, after having done a lot of work on the front chasing people down.

All I can say is that I hope this gets easier, although I'm pretty sure it won't.
Thanks to the awesome support and for Toks for guiding me round.

[Dr Frigo]

Mattster

[url=http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smatt4pe9.jpg][img]http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/4043/smatt4pe9.th.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smatt2yj7.jpg][img]http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/3142/smatt2yj7.th.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=smattyi4.jpg][img]http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/2563/smattyi4.th.jpg[/img][/url]

[Dr Frigo]

Timster

[url=http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stim2iz2.jpg][img]http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/1381/stim2iz2.th.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stim8ez8.jpg][img]http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/5935/stim8ez8.th.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stim7kb2.jpg][img]http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/6884/stim7kb2.th.jpg[/img][/url]

[Dr Frigo]

Tokster

[url=http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stoks5pa2.jpg][img]http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/580/stoks5pa2.th.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stoks6gh4.jpg][img]http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/9805/stoks6gh4.th.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stokswm5.jpg][img]http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/8792/stokswm5.th.jpg[/img][/url]

[Matthew Ives]

Awesome pics Sylv!!!!
Nice work mate

[Dr Frigo]

I can return the compliment!

[Toks]

Ok there's been some impressive debut's in the 3/4's at Crystal Palace this year. Andy (triathlete) finished comfortably high up the bunch about two months ago on his first outing; but I think Matts effort yesterday will take some beating. Having graduated from Hillingdon 4ths with honours he raced intelligently last night and grabbed 5th spot. Fantastic! How do i feel after pre-warning him to 'just keep going if you get dropped'...I'd like to thank my newly appointed Crystal Palace publicist Andrew for such huge support. It was good to see Ian, Ajay, Gavin, Sean and co

P.S Big thanks Sylv - excellent pictures. I must learn to keep my tongue in my mouth its becoming a habit

[Phil S]

Great results, fellas. Nice wheels, Toks

[Toks]

E/1/2
1 Matt Holmes Arctic/Shorter Rochford
2 Iain Paine London Dynamo/Cyclefit
3 John Sadler TSN/Sportful(ex ACC)
4 Guy Pearson Pearson Cycles
5 Anne Boorsma Dulwich Paragon
6 David Struele London Dynamo/Cyclefit
7 Scott Bugden Pearson Cycles @ 30 secs
8 Dan Santoni Pearson Cycles
9 Gavin Ryan London Dynamo/Cyclefit
10 Allister Tullett Arctic/Shorter Rochford
11 Tim Harris Addiscombe CC
12 Sam Humpheson London Dynamo/Cyclefit
13 Gordon Kennaway London Dynamo/Cyclefit


3/4/W
1 Quentin Tring Brixton Cycles
2 David Gardiner London Dynamo/Cyclefit
3 Toks Adesenya Addiscombe CC
4 Andrew Strong London Dynamo/Cyclefit
5 Matthew Ives Addiscombe CC
6 Stewart Martin Kingston Whlrs
7 Chris Bracewell VC Londres
8 Fraser Wildman Downland Cycles
9 Rob Jeffroy London Dynamo/Cyclefit
10 John Carnall PM

[Ian A4size]

Toks you are well lean man.... you make Kate Moss look like Hulk Hogan .
Also you are getting all the pro moves in as well... elbows on bars a la Floyd and tongue out like Moreau!
We really enjoyed the race last night, grass roots at its best, no one wanted to pack.. one guy was asked to stop 3/4 times as he kept on being lapped but still kept on plugging away.
Great photos slyv.
The evening was rounded off nicely with a mexican!

[quote]Toks you are well lean man.... you make Kate Moss look like Hulk Hogan .