Hillingdon 10/04/07 My first race

[Richard (Apples)]

That was fantastic

Met up with MattD at Liverpool Street Station for the ride up to Hillingdon last night ,and we set off at a nice warm up pace.

There was quite a bit of traffic so we arrived with about 15 minutes to spare. Enough time to register and get our numbers pinned on . I must have been nervous as I managed to sign on to the 3rd cat race until Matt pointed out my mistake .

We rolled over to the track where we met up with two other ACCers Richard V and John and we set of for a couple of laps before the start and I got a couple of tips from them about what to expect and how things were likely to pan out. Invaluable advice as they turned out to be dead right.

With a couple of minutes to go we got to the start line for a quick briefing where we were told to let the fast boys through and not to jump on the back of them and anyone who did would be DQ’d

Off we went and the first few laps were pretty slow an I concentrated on holding my line and getting used to the track . I decided I would try to stick on the wheel of the bloke in front of me as he looked like he knew what he was doing. After several more laps , I suppose about halfway through there were shouts from behind to tell us we were being lapped by the 1/2/3’s and most of up politely moved to the left and they shot through.

Then the pace quickened and I realised a small group from our race had latched on to them and our group was trying to chase them down
After a few laps like this and some furious shouting from the bloke with the megaphone and some of the riders we were told that the breakaways would be waiting for us. I’m not sure what will happen here as we were clearly told at the briefing not to do that or be DQ’d

A few laps further on an I had a near miss with a rider who tried to barge past between me and the grass . After some language I’m not proud of, and a telling off from Matt, he seemed to calm down

I was really getting into this now and started to move up a few places each lap until two to go, bloody hell, I was on the front . I managed a cheeky grimace for the trackside photographer and then glory slipped away as I got passed by quite a few riders as things wound up for the final sprint .Into the last bend and I wasn’t in a great position for the sprint to the line but I think I managed to get some places back .

Then on the line carnage two riders who I suppose were fighting for points went down just ahead of me with sparks flying everywhere and the whole bunch had to swerve to avoid them and I ended up on the grass bank .

Not sure where I finished but finish I did and I’m well pleased.

Met up with the others in the clubroom and then Matt and John and set of back to Saarf London at a pace that I think may have been quicker than the race

Home by 9pm for me tea

Can’t wait for the next one

Cheers

Apples

[Richard (Apples)]

Absolutely

[Toks]

[quote="Richard (Apples)"] I must have been nervous as I managed to sign on to the 3rd cat race until Matt pointed out my mistake.

[Richard (Apples)]

Cheers Toks. I was looking out for you last night . Sorry if I missed you.

[Toks]

I can't race till I get a new frame. Hopefully I'll see you up there the week after next

[adrian]

Sounds like you played a blinder and more than held your own - well done, that man!

[Sylv]

And yet another addict Well done Richard

Sounds like a typical Hillingdon race!

See you there next week

[Stu Merckx Man]

nice one richard!

[Matthew Ives]

Nice work, Richard
I've no idea who you are, (I'm hopeless with names) but it sounds like you're another road race addict in the making.
Well done on finishing your first race and avoiding the carnage. Did Matt tell you that there's a crash every race at Hillingdon? Probably didn't want to put you off at this stage
You sound like another 3rd cat in the making .
Well done mate.

[MattD]

I didn’t want to bombard Rich with too much detail ! . I felt comfortable in the pack , tried a few breaks to blow out the cobwebs , then got caught up in the carnage on the finish line … it’s a bit of a blur , but I ended up doing a Lance … bunny hopped onto the grass verge . onto the footpath , then down the slope to the back straight !!

I can also confirm that my average HR back to Saarf London was higher than the actual event !

[-Adam-]

Sounds good guys, all you gotta do is stick at it and you'll end up somewhere near the top of the results list eventually!

Mr Apples, how many times did you rub shoulders, elbows, handle bars? Sounds like not too often otherwise your report would have sounded a little more scary me thinks. Which is good, your bike handling must be ok!

Who says theres always a crash at hillingdon? b******s.

Ive seen one crash there in 4 races. (well 8 when you consider 2 races run simultaneously) Nout like dunsfold last weekend, there were crashes in all three senior races, lets just say the paramedic was very busy!

Well done guys, just wait till palace

Hehe

[-Adam-]

You racing then Sean? Im a bit peturbed by the fact that i might actually get to 2nd by July now, and thus find out how much harder the E/1/2 is at the Palace.

[Andrew G]

Congrats Apples, see you at Chertsey .

[Ian A4size]

Well done Richard

[-Adam-]

Sean, i didn't want to be rude and say that you would be spectating, so i thought id give you the benefit of the doubt!