Got to the circuit, bike out of car (yes I drove there!) and parked next to Dave Kennett (ex ACC). He told me that this week was a SCRATCH race, as they alternate between handicap and scratch - deep joy that means the E,1,2,3,4 all in together.
As is usual, this was a Surrey League scratch race where the 4ths and ladies got a handicap
On the first lap, 10 riders broke away and disappeared up the road - I think they were the real fast boys as we never saw them again.
We caught the 4ths, then cruised round the next 8 laps with the occasional break going and being reeled in, then the race started to develop. The speed went up and attack after attack. I found myself sprinting across gaps and deciding to take a breather, dropped backl, only to see that I was at the back - of about 20 riders, the rest of the bunch (40 or so) were adrift. As the group eased, it all came back together.
3 to go and around the back of the circuit a group of 8 riders eased themselves off the front and had a gap of about 400m. I rode tempo on the front of the bunch, upped the pace, looked behind and I had a gap, so decided to go for the break and wound the pace up, bridging the gap really easily, passing 2 riders along the way that couldn't get on my wheel.
Worked hard throough and off in the break, realising I was surrounded by 1st and 2nd cats . In the final sprint for the line, my legs felt good and I got 4th in the group , with Dave kennett - Norwood Paragon just behind!
A great race and can't wait to do it again.