Chilham 2,3,4

[Marek]

Stuart, Paul and I turned up at sunny Godmersham to see a sea of riders. The organisers allowed 90 riders to start which was great.

The course starts with a shortish hill then you have a nice fast descent and then it is a long drag. You then have another long drag after the first left and then it is the main hill on the course. Then it is another long drag up to the top of the hill and then a fast descent, then another shortish drag and then a long fast section back to the starting hill. The last lap was to go up White Hill which is a bitch. All in all it is a quite demanding course, Paul H looked like he was suffering a bit which makes a pleasant change.

A break went quite early, and having no confidence today after last week I just watched them ride off. I did stay close to the front and did a couple of turns, but wanted to ride myself in as was not sure how I was going to feel. After a bit I realised that I actually felt great. Stuart also had a pop off the front but to no avail, quite hard out there on your own hey Stu.

I attacked a couple of times but could not get away, then a break eventually went with Mikael one of my new team mates latched to the back. I was really tempted to go with it, but decided that I should slow the main group, so did a bit of blocking, along with another guy. Before long the break had gone. But now I was feeling quite good knowing that most of the points were up the road.

Had one scary part in the race where Paul Hone was coming around my outside after the short hill and then someone cut him up, he then veered into me and we were locked together at about 30mph for a few seconds, man I thought I was going to lose it, thankfully we both stayed up but it was touch and go for a few seconds.

Ah, well I decided to have a couple of pops off the front to see if I could bridge on my own but nothing was doing. Then it was onto the last lap with White Hill to look forward to. I didn't even bother trying to get up it too fast, but mind you nobody seemed to be flying up. Wish I had tried a bit harder to get up the hill first as I was feeling surprisingly good today.

Think Mikael got 10th place which is great news.

Think Stuart and Paul got up White Hill quite quickly so must have been quite high up in the rankings. Great race today, really enjoyed it.

Cheers

Marek....

[Stu Merckx Man]

that was a fantastic race.

my first proper race on the road.

the first lap i stayed in the pack, i was feeling slightly timid with it being with 2nd cats and all. after the first lap though i realised i had no problems with the pace.

so on the second lap i decided to give it a little dig before the hills started as i was feeling pretty comfy on them i reckoned we if people joined me we could get some distance. i sprinted out and was on my own for an uncomfortable amount of time like marek said...eventually i think 4 people got over to me and we started working relatively well together, although only 3 of us were working. we got pulled back in just after the top of the climb...the next few miles were spent recovering as i was pretty nakered!!

half way through the second to last lap i felt completely better and and made my way to towards the front again. as i got there marek made his little break so i helped bring him back so he would not be so tired out there alone

the rest of that lap i was feeling great so i did a lot of turns on the front and was pretty active up there.

we past the start line and the bell went for the final lap and i still felt great! i was leading half way up the big climb feeling fine, then someone came through to take the lead off my hands. all of a sudden out of no where i just cracked!! i could see the top of the hill not to far off but to me it might as well have been a million miles away! i slowed right down and everyone was passing me on the right, i was just waiting for the last man to come passed and then i would be dropped. but then again out of no where i suddenly had a new surge of energy and i managed to get into it about mid way down the pack....strange...

the rest of that last lap was not as fast as i thought it would be and as we got the that the new hill to the finish i felt ok. i was about 7 from the front and we could see the breakaway up the hill about 100m in front. paul came passed me so i grabbed his wheel, but soon realised it was hopeless and i dropped off, again loosing a lot of placings because of that mistake. however, in many ways the hills was forgiving as it was long enough for me to recover my mistakes. so i got into my own rhythm and i started to over take people. about 2/3 of the way up i was joined by a bloke on a scott and we worked well with eachother the rest of the way, over taking quite a few people.

as we neared the finish i saw paul cross the line about 50m ahead of me.... i crossed the line pretty nackered, and im pretty sure i was in the top 1/3 of the field. i think all the points places were taken by the break away group.

it was the most fun race yet, beautiful weather, great course and ssome nice hills!

stu

[Andrew G]

Nice write ups chaps, sounds like you had fun.

Stu, I'm in awe. Just started racing, 16/17? and frighteningly strong already, then in your first race on open roads not just mixing with the 2nd cats, but having a dig off the front to try and get away.

Was this 2/3/4 race? I thought 4th cats could only race on closed circuits?

[Stu Merckx Man]

its not as bad as youd think. if you drafted the whole way most people could probably manage i think.

yeh it was was 2,3,4

[Marek]

The SERRL allow 4th cats unlike Surrey League.

Cheers

Marek...

[George]

Well done boy's especially Stu.

Marek your lucky I wasn't next to you and Paul when you nearly had your off

Hey Stu it's a bit scarey at times

[Andrew G]

[quote]Think Mikael got 10th place which is great news.

[-Adam-]

Good work guys, how long was the race, time/distance...?

Sounds like you took to the road like the proverbial duck to water stu... its a lot different to a circuit huh!?

A good different though, i cant make uo my mind whether i prefer open road or closed circuit...

Your right andrew, we must do something to stump his growth! Only messin, but seriously stu... keep it goin and your surely gonna get yourself a reputation. Maybe think about tactics more though... I don't know if you ever read armstrongs autobiography, but when he was a youngster like us (well you more than me, he was almost world champ by my age!) he apparently had no tactical brain at all. But look how fantastically engineered his tour wins were! Sometimes its not always the strongest guy who wins huh (Marek will tell you all about that im sure!).

[-Adam-]

True, but he didnt win the world champs as a 23? year old without perfecting his tictacs!

[Stu Merckx Man]

cheers adam,

techinical bits--> 55miles
23.9 average speed
45.6 max speed
2 hours 19 mins 55 seconds

i much prefered it to the circuit races. the scenery was a lot better. there was one bit of it after all the decending where everything opens up and your surrounded by hills and fields, i thought i was in the TDF!.. also i found it a lot more exciting that the crits, it was easier to break. the finish seamed a lot more dramatic with it bieng a massive hill...people who looked megga strong were dieing, and it was all very silent, all you could hear were the chains turning and heavy breathing, it was brilliant! (though i know not all road races will be like that)
also i liked the way i was really able to push myself. and up the finish hill i put everything in to it so i know the placing i got, whatever i got, is the one i should have got iif you see what i meen, luck didnt seam to play any major role as i found it sometimes did on the crits.

but dont get me wrong i like crits too!! its allll good!....but on the road seemed a bit better!

stu

[Toks]

[quote="stu"]...as i got there marek made his little break so i helped bring him back so he would not be so tired out there alone

[-Adam-]

Stu i am back next wednesday, here is my plan...

Thursday (3rd May) - Training

Friday - Training

Saturday - Chertsey MoD 3rds

Sunday - Another Adam Special Alternative Sunday Clubrun...

Monday - Training

Tuesday - CRYSTAL PALACE yay!

Wednesday - Eelmore for the Surrey League series there

Thursday - Surrey League Handicap at South Nutfield

Friday - Training (slowly)

Saturday - No Tour of the Milburys, so i guess i will show my face on a saturday clubrun for the first time in a while...

Sunday - SERRL race at Lamberhurst/Frant 2/3/4 - How do i pre-enter for this?

Monday - Training (slowly)

Tuesday - Short ride in the morning as im back to uni in the afternoon... for my final exam of the year on the wednesday...




Care to join me for any of these, anyone?

[Stu Merckx Man]

i can try and join you for crystal palace

[Marek]

Adam, I think I have entered Lamberhurst/Frant. Go to the http://www.SERRL.org.uk and there is a link to what you should do to enter. Pretty easy.

Stu, you numbskull, don't chase me down, I was not lonely mate, I was trying to catch the break. Next time you go up the road, maybe I will come and join you to 'keep you company', and maybe I will drag the peleton with me so that you have lots of people to talk to.

With you chasing me down and Paul trying to knock me off I may as well stay at home, or just attack from the gun. Latter is more fun.

Cheers

Marek.....

[Stu Merckx Man]

sorry marek

in my defence though, i didnt start the chase, a few others did, then i did my perpetrating spell on the front. not for too long mind!! it wasnt a purposeful attempt to catch you in particular, just turn in front...

but i spose in hind site i could have just sat in...i would hate to burn bridges marek...so please dont drag the pelton over to me! id rather just a few of you to talk to instead!

stu