Addiscombe 1,2,3 cha cha cha

[George]

Congratulations Sylv for the win

The Shadow for 2nd

Stu Boy Mercxs 3rd

Addiscombe, Addiscombe, Addiscombe

[Stu Merckx Man]

what a great race.... i still find it hard to believe. people always say ''time for an addiscombe 1,2,3'', but i have to say i never took it seriously. then when it finally happens its almost un believable!!

so it was my second race on the new merckx frame (then one on sunday i punctured). i was slightly worried about crashing on it, but that soon went out the window when the race got underway.

i stayed in the front 5 pretty much the whole time, doing a lot of turns on front, but i felt fine...now in this race it was 30 laps, with 3 primes. i thought i wouldnt bother going for them, and sure enough the first one i sat up so as not to wast energy.

a couple of laps later, as we were approaching the corner by the bank a dynamo rider started to come up the inside of me when there was clearly no room, and where i couldnt see him, then as we start to turn in to the corner, he went into me, and nearly caused a crash which was totally avoidable had he been riding properly. i was pretty cheesed off to say the least, and yet he had a go at me! i lost my temper at him which maybe took him by suprise, and i didnt hear from him again

anyways after a while it was time for the next prime. i was second from the front coming out of the hair pin, and was following a duwlich rider. it was kind of like a repeat of how i won last time. he gave the elbow to come round and i sprinted passed him. we got the corner with the bank and i looked back, i had a small lead. i dug in and got out the saddle but keeping low down to make me more streamline. at the top of the hill i still had 40m or so. i gave it another kick and then relaxed as i crossed the line to win the second prime

it took me about 5 laps to recover, but after that i was fine.
so onto the last lap and it was a bit hectic. we were jumbled about with the e,1,2s. as we approached the hill i took a duwlich riders wheel and he weaved my through the field up the hill. at the top of the hill sylv came passed me. i was about to jump on his wheel when i saw a yellow jersey coming passed me...it was steve! . we approached the line and we got the 1,2,3 easy...i think sylv said he had some left over in the tank, so did steve, and i also felt that it wasnt the hardest sprint in the world. infact i had to sit down for most of it as there were e,1,2s in the way. but what a great result for us all!!

the stuff of dreams!
we are truly DOMINATING palace!

sylvs a 2nd cat now
steves and 3rd cat now
and im 5 points away from joining the 2nd cat A team

cheers
stu

[Ian A4size]

[quote]did someone say we're not a racing club?!?!?!?!

[Ian A4size]

Well done lads.

[Sylv]

Yeah the A-team got a bit of a result tonight

3/4/W
1 Sylvain Garde Addiscombe CC 56.13
2 Stephen Bromford Addiscombe CC
3 Stuart Chamberlayne Addiscombe CC
4 Thomas Burman Team Economic Energy
5 Patrick Jones Dulwich Paragon
6 Ben Jones Dulwich Paragon
7 Mark Lloyd Dulwich Paragon
8 Greg Conti London Fields
9 Phil Burnett Mosquito Bikes
10 N/A
11 Jayson Weale Medway Velo


I didn’t know what to expect of my legs setting off for my commute this morning – had felt very sleepy on Monday after driving back from Wales, but had a rest afternoon and was hoping that the long ride at low(ish) intensity would transfer into good power for tonight.

Felt ok on the commute, but there was a strong headwind and I wasn’t up to the usual speed on the two short climbs of my route. Still I had taken the road bike, minus the race wheels as I didn’t fancy another tub puncture on the way to – or worse during – the race, so was up for racing whatever the outcome.

Met up with Stu, grinning with his £30 winning fee from the previous week’s win, Hal who’d previously said he wouldn’t make it this week, Steve B looking determined to finish in the bunch, Kieran, Simon H and the 2nd cat boys, George mending a snapped chain, and Jon.

The race went on as usual – well not quite actually. We knew from the start how many laps we’d be riding (27) which were displayed on the board, and there were three primes (pronounced preem!) along the way, announced a lap early. The field was fairly big, I tried staying within the top 5 most of the way, and never out of the top 10.

Stu had a good start leading seemingly for several laps. It was great to see Hal, Kieran and Steve mixing it up at the front (and up until the final stages). I went for the first prime on the climb, following in about 4th place until I realised I was too far back and the effort would be worthless – still it left me out of breath for a lap, and I was weary that someone would attack from the back straight after the line. Chased some attacks, had a couple digs on the climb, but didn’t bother about the following primes – just trying to stay within reach in case someone would keep going hard after winning the prime. Stu made a valiant effort at the second prime, attacking early and never being endangered.

Laps went and towards the end there was a bizarre moment as we caught the back of the E/1/2, which was a big bunch. At that time I was leading so had to freewheel until I saw other yellow numbers, unsure of what to do, at which point we decided to overtake. I can’t recall how many laps from the end this was, but on the last lap we were also in the middle of lots of E/1/2 which was a bit confusing. Launching the grinding for the sprint up the climb we were going much faster than them and had to make our way through them. I went on the right, overtaking the leaders, almost had to ride in the grass, and upon hitting the top put the bike in a huge gear which I thought after was going to be too big. Had good legs as the climb hadn’t been all that fast, so I just kept pedalling out of the saddle, quite slowly given the gear, until the speed required a sit-down position. Was unsure whether someone was ahead, in the confusion of mixed races, but kept pedalling as hard as I could until the line, about a second after which Stu went (for the first time of many this evening) “It’s an Addiscombe 1, 2, 3!”.

I was a bit dazed and unsure of the result – this up until I saw it printed on LCS! Too bad that my ACC jersey was in the washing from the weekend and I was riding incognito as a "man in black" (without the drugs)

Well done to Stu again, and even moreso Steve - who must be glowing with satisfaction tonight.

[quote="Ian Munnery"][quote]did someone say we're not a racing club?!?!?!?!

[Snoop Doug]

Wow! Fantastic stuff - a 1, 2, 3 - how coooool is that!!

Rockin

Snoop

[Sylv]

The 1-2-3 is for Amelia

[Marek]

That is fantastic, to get a result like that is awesome, we nearly kind of managed it earlier in the season when we were in the five man breakaway with 2 from ACC and 2 ex ACC, unfortunately the other rider won it. But that is awesome, especially on such a tight circuit to all come in together is great.

Well done, Sylv does this mean we will see you in a few more of the longer SERRL races, I know that Paul, George and Stu would be grateful of the company.

Hopefully see you lot at the 4 up TT at the weekend.

Cheers

MArek...

[Andrew G]

Absolutely fantastic result! That has got to get you in the Advertiser ahead of Paragon this week .

Sylv is surely the most deserving of winners after his consistent top 5 finishes. And congratulations on the 2nd cat.

Steve, you must be so chuffed. The way you've been turning yourself inside out each week getting closer to a bunch finish. 1st time and you're on the podium.

Stu, top work nearly a 2nd cat and another podium.

At least with you lot all becoming 2nd cats the 3/4 race might get a bit easier - fat chance.

[Toks]

Brilliant stuff fellas! Sylv it was only a matter of time - well done mate. Steve, excellent result and Stu I said it all last week - Top Man:D

[Toks]

Hey Kieran and other ACC 3rd/4th cats have you noticed something? London Dynamos' the so called biggest racing club in the South East haven't had anyone in the top six/seven positions in the the CP 3/4 series this year. In fact most weeks they're not even in the top ten.

[Steve B]

Sylv, congrats on your thoroughly deserved win tonight and your promotion to 2nd cat. Fantastic stuff

Race started badly for me as I missed my left pedal and while fumbling to engage the second time, most of the field went passed me.

As usual Sylv and Stu were at the front dictating the pace, Hal and Simon were also up there mixing it up. I made my way nearer to the front and I felt quite comfortable sitting in while the fight for the first prime went on up at the bubiness end. Hal nearly took it but his slight detour on to the grass up the hill lost him a bit of momentum which cost him once near the line (good effort though Hal)

A few attacks went off the front and I made sure I was on Sylv's or Stu wheel as I knew they would be in a good position whatever happens. The pace dropped on occations going up the hill causing the group to bunch and spread across the whole track, meaning that the guys in 5th to 10th-ish got squeezed back into mid pack, which was a bit annoying as you then had to make your way up the field once the pace picked up again.

The siren went for the second prime and Stu made an early 'Stu-like' break for it at the bottom of the hill. He stayed away to take a great win

Various other attacks went and came back. I thought about going for the 3rd prime but decided against it as I wanted to finish with the group for the first time, and there was only 5 laps to go.

Kieren showed himself at this point, moving up the field into a good position, so we now had 5 riders in the top dozen, with Sylv and Stu up near the front and us 'others' slightly back.

3 laps to go and we were somehow joined by the E12's. This was now quite confusing as we were nearing the end of our race and speeding up.
Last lap and it was one huge group and I couldn't tell where I was, position wise, so just tried to go with the guys in front of me. At the bottom of the hill I looked up and saw Sylv about 20m ahead of me and at least 8 yellow numbered jersey's between him and me Damn, I was too far back, but decided to go as hard as I could anyway to see if I could get top 10.

Head down, ar$e up, I made my way past a few yellow numbers and white numbers(E12's) up the hill and found a gap on the inside at the top. Full on sprinting now and I was flying past lots of riders, but I still didn't know where I was position wise. I caught Stu and saw Sylv ahead but I was in the wrong gear and legs were spinning, just didn't catch him. Then Stu shouted "Addiscombe 123" and I realised I had not only finished the race but had come 2nd Couldn't believe it

Another brilliant Addiscombe evening

Steve

[carl f]

Fantastic result guys,sorry i couldn't make it up there to witness the 1-2-3.

[George]

Jon and I were in the E12 race, I joined Jon at the front of the pack early on.

On about the 5th lap Jon initiated a break up the hill I was in a position to come through and join him, we shot off the front on our own.

Then we were joined by 2 more Dan Santoni from Pearsons and ~Danny Rudd from citihub, these guy's didn't do any work at all.

We heard the prime buzzer go so the next lap Dan Santoni went at the bottom of the hill for a lone one, I was tucked in behind Jon he pulled us up towards Dan then I sprinted past Dan for the first prime

after that we were caught by the peloton.

Matt Seaton kept trying to attack up the hill but he never seemed to get too far away, also Eric Rowsel had a couple of digs with him and Jon keeping the pace up.

with 9 to go I came through up front and just wanted to see how long I could tow everyone round, I was putting in alot of effort and really honking up the hill,

3 riders had broke away so eventually after 5 laps on the front I managed to drag us all back on, where we duly caught the 23's right on the last couple of laps

It was a bit chaotic with us all in there, I we all got mixed up, I thought they would make us turn left instead of the hairpin

Just after this I lost contack with the peloton partly confusion but mostly cos I'd burnt me matches

I wasn't too fussed I just wanted to really use this as a test for myself to see how I would last at maximum, good training

Well done again to the three S's, and I don't mean Sh1t, Shower and Shave