hillingdon 13th of jan- my first race !!

[Stu Merckx Man]

i was dead excited and did not get much sleep last night as i could not stop my head going through all the different sinarios that might occur.

i arrived at hillingdon with pleanty of time to spare to consolidate my thoughts and get ready. i felt a bit out of my depth at first as everyone looked rather strong... but i just imagined it as a club run and that it wouldnt be to hard to stay in the top 10 riders. as we warmed up i felt a tad lonely as the only acc rider there when i heard a familiar voice...it was sylvain, this gave me a bit more confidence and releaved me of some of my nerves.

we started off at a good pace, around training group pace. i stayed near the front within the top five. but on the back straight there was an awful headwind and it seamed that everytime i was leading the pack it was there. and no matter how much i swerved over to the other side no one would take lead. on i think the 3rd lap someone my age attacked so i went after him. we had a little gap going but we were soon swallowed up. then onther attack on the same lap and i followed again but the pack stayed on my wheel.

for the next lap it was settled, but the next lap so about lap 5, another attack and again i was the only one willing to chase. i was pretty nakered now and had burnt off a few matches. so i succumed to the pack and duly got swallowed up. it was rather peaceful in the peleton and good shelter. there was no way there would be anymore attacks as the lads at the front were strong and swallowed up everything so i new i would not miss much.

it stayed like that untill the last 5 laps...i decided to fight my way up the peleton. though to the dislike to a few riders who i had a couple of close calls with, and some colourful language was thrown my way .

4 laps left and i had made my way to the top 17 riders. there i stayed untill 2 laps left.

on the last lap i was in the top five when there was a big push on the outside (right of me) and i found myself back around 15th. i was very demoralized as i was totally pinned in and there were allready riders going off the front.

on the last corner though before the hill i saw a tiny gap on the inside so i took it...again some more colourful language directed at me but never mind. from there it was out the saddle full on sprint...at this point my mind flicked back to the tour de france videos on you-tube wich gave me a boost...

i was back 10 places but slowly up the hill i took a few people. now i was about 7 and we were just coming to the crest. i took a few more...i was in 3rd !!! then a voice behind me shouted..'clear the line yellow!!'...i politely obliged (damn my gentlemanlyness!!). he came past me but i was too tired to follow his wheel. i was in the top 4 now and the line was in sight. i put in everything and it was neck and neck between me and another chap. i fought him to the line but he beet me so i settled with 4th ..... and it turns out the one i moved over for one the race!! woops !

i have to say it was absolutely fantastic racing...its great to put all that training into practise.

cheers.
a very happy stuart

ps where do i find the pictures?

[Matthew Ives]

[quote]..i was in 3rd !!! then a voice behind me shouted..'clear the line yellow!!'...

[Andrew G]

Well done Stu.
Great result first time out, and as usual a good report to read. Look forward to seeing the photos on LCS as it sounds as though you should be in a few of them!
As Matt says don't always be agreeable, but remember you'll be racing them again so don't be too nasty .

(Pics will be on [url]http://www.londoncyclesport.com/[/url] On the front page under Race Reports there will be a short report - E/1/2/3 race only - and photos of both races posted, usually takes a couple of days before they appear.)

[Stu Merckx Man]

dont worry matt, next time ill block them in

andrew im slightly worried about what my face looked like on the sprint though i think it could rival georges !

[Andrew G]

[quote]andrew im slightly worried about what my face looked like on the sprint though

[Stu Merckx Man]

yeh up m25 then m4...would have taken about 45-50 minutes, but somehow my mum got us lost in stains (took the rong turning at a roundabout)

[Ian A4size]

Well done Stu, i must try that gag - pull over Marek i'm coming thru, i can just see him pulling over and sitting up
I guess you wont get caught with that one again. Excellent effort, oh to be young again

[Paul H]

Well done Stu. Make sure you get that 3rd cat licence next time.

[Dr Frigo]

Well done Stu, for a first race it's a good result. I would've got out to watch the end of the race, but it suddenly got very cold and then it started drizzling.

Got my worst placing so far this time they set everyone together and it was a tough race. That wind just killed you on the flat bit. A fairly big group got a gap, not huge but we couldn't work to get back. Stayed towards the front of second group for the last few laps, but stupidly chased an attack into the wind on penultimate lap, was dead by the bottom of the climb, and at the top about 30 people had passed me. Tried moving up on last lap, then sprint but was hardly worth it for placings so was half-hearted.

New bike rides great though! 135km today

[Andrew G]

By the way Stu the photos of the Winter Series have been taken by DGS Photography. There is a link from the digest to [url=http://www.cyclingphotos.org.uk/index.asp?Mainpage=http://www.cyclingphotos.org.uk/clubpics.asp?Club=Addiscombe%20CC]Addiscombe in Action[/url] which will have them, and you can browse through all the other exploits of your club mates.

[quote]New bike rides great though! 135km today

[Stu Merckx Man]

ah right cheers andrew

[Toks]

Wow thats a fantastic result on your first ever race Stu.!!! Most people do well to just finish with the pack. You manage to place which is excellent
[quote]another attack and again i was the only one willing to chase. i was pretty nakered now and had burnt off a few matches.

[Stu Merckx Man]

cheers toks, ill bare it in mind... i was kicking myself afterwards for moving over for him, i was in polite clubrun mode... i learnt a lot today, especialy on bike handleing. on all the tight corners for the first few laps i was way on the outside in the wind and i would have to fight to get a place in the top 7ish riders, that took a bit out of me too. but towards the middle i got the lines and realized i can lean into the corners a lot more than i first though without falling.

how many points isit for a 4th, and how many points to move up?

[ajay khandelwal]

well done stu ! Great result. Glad to see the Addiscombe flag is being waved at the Hillingdon. Another 3rd cat - Toks Marek et al - you're boots are being filled faster than you can say 'Addiscombe beats Mosquito again !'

[Matthew Ives]

[quote]cheers toks, ill bare it in mind... i was kicking myself afterwards for moving over for him, i was in polite clubrun mode... i learnt a lot today, especialy on bike handleing. on all the tight corners for the first few laps i was way on the outside in the wind and i would have to fight to get a place in the top 7ish riders, that took a bit out of me too. but towards the middle i got the lines and realized i can lean into the corners a lot more than i first though without falling.

how many points isit for a 4th, and how many points to move up?