Oh No my Tub rolled Off at the Palace!

[George]

Well the E12 race was pretty fast tonight, everytime we seemed to be sprinting up the hill lap after lap and it was very tiring.

After 10 laps I attempted an escape from the pack I got away with Matt Seaton, we were working together fairly well but only really had a 100m gap or so.

The speed of the group swallowed us up after a few laps away.

I seemed to take ages to recover after this foray, indeed almost got dropped off the back at one time but managed to dig deep and jump back.

Sylv was working hard up near the front, he always seemed to be dragging everyone up the hill.

5 to go up the back straight I sprinted off with all my might to get away for a lone one

I pulled out some air between the group and absoloutley flew into the top haipin at top speed!

I banked it over and hoped I got around, then my bike suddenly slipped sideways and there was a Big BANG and my rear wheel locked up.

At full lean angle in the hairpin my back end was skidding round, then it hooked up and nearly threw me over highside, but I managed to hold it and came to a halt.

My tub had slipped off on the corner and locked up in the back break blowing the tub

Oh well I'll have to glue it strong next time

[Andrew G]

3/4/W
1 Rune Sanbeck London Dynamo/Cyclefit
2 Hal Branson Addiscombe CC
3 Ramiro Siena Arctic/Shorter Rochford
4 Stephen Broomfield Addiscombe CC
5 Tony Vickers Pearson Cycles
6 David Arthur RoadCyclingUK.com
7 Adrian Good Addiscombe CC - "Polish" Andrew Guz shurely
8 Simon Fox GS Avanti
9 Rob Jefroy London Dynamo/Cyclefit
10 Scott Nelson Brixton Cycles

E/1/2
1 Dan Santoni Pearson Cycles
2 Ben White Finchley RT
3 Sam Humpheson London Dynamo/Cyclefit
4 Mick Bell London Fire Brigade
5 Matt Seaton Rapha/Condor
6 David Jones Dulwich Paragon
7 Kevin Knox Dulwich Paragon
8 Sylvain Garde Addiscombe CC @ 3 secs
9 Tom Burke Agiskoviner
10 Gordon Kennevay London Dynamo/Cyclefit


Top work from the fast boys again!

[Toks]

Well done fellas

[Andrew G]

Bloody hell that was hard work.

The pace felt a bit quicker than last week in the early stages, although it may just have been the nagging little wind that was on part of the circuit.

Another new PB for me tonight. I made it to the 30 minute mark tonight (about half way) before finally losing touch with the bunch.

I don't really like hurting myself (not keen on pain, it hurts) but managed to push myself in to the red a bit more than normal, and for longer. As usual it was the hill that did it for me. I can hold the pace everywhere else quite comfortably (all things being relative) but just don't have the power to hold the pace on the hill. I tend to drop a mph or two which just means they ride away from me.

Plenty dropped before me and I carried on at a reasonable pace after I was dropped to pick up some more riders. My Dad was watching tonight and was checking his watch and said I didn't just fall away and held a steady gap for quite a while, so I'm pleased with that.

It took until about 4 or 5 laps from the end before I was lapped. When the leader came passed I looked back and saw Steve trying to bridge and had a small gap on the bunch. I kept left going in to the bottom bend and gave him a shout as he came past. Round the bend and saw Steve had over cooked it a touch and was practicing for the cyclo-cross season . He pulled it back on track without a problem other than his heart trying to escape out his chest.

When the bunch caught me I grabbed a tow for a lap and a bit and it was soooo much easier sitting in that pack rather than being the one with your nose in the wind all the time.

The hill came round again though and they didn't slow enough for me so I slipped out the back as my legs were screaming by now and I just couldn't up my pace when needed.

Kept them in sight to the end though and finished fairly happy but bloody tired, and a touch queezy as I'd mixed my energy drink to strong and it was revoltingly sickly sweet.

Great results from the others though.

Excellent support tonight from a fine number of Agreeables, thanks a lot it really helped particularly towards the end.

[Toks]

Wow I haven't seen the LD's on the 3/4 podium for ages. Steve you can't be far off Cat 2 now ..Great effort once again Andrew. Just three more attempts weather permitting (14th, 21st & 28th) It'll be my turn again next week ...how did Rob get on by the way?

[Hal]

The sun was shining but there were dark clouds looming on the horizon, the threat of rain was not far away. However we were fortunate the things stayed dry and the race lasted its full 30 laps.

All was going well a few little breaks from likes of Adam but they were all brought back in. About 10 laps to go a Pearson guy got a good lead. The shadow had though that I had gone too and flew of the front of the pack to bridge to gap only to discover I was still in the bunch. They both got brought back about 5 laps to go.

I was feeling pretty fresh and keeping up in the top 10, no claxon this week which was good and I was moving up to top 5, on the second to last lap a Dynamo guy was on the front with me in second place. As we went past the bell and the hair pin I found myself passing him as I did not was to slow the pace and encourage any attacks. I tucked up nice and aero for the decent and the bottom corners and then just built the pace to the max on the climb leading all the way to the top. We had a clear gap on most of the bunch but I had another dynamo guy glued to my wheel. I only needed one point to make 3rd cat so decided to just keep hammering the pace and as expected the Dynamo just piped me on the line. Another great race.

PS Must write my name neater on the signing on sheet as they spelt my name a bit wrong, but looks like they got Andrew's really wrong

[Sylv]

The state of that tyre afterwards!

Like Toks wrote about George's results it seems the podium and top ten finishes are now a permanent fixture for ACC at Palace. It's still hard work however so well done all.

The goal for me last night was to get into the top ten. Unusually the race started flat-out with a Dynamo taking the lead at a furious pace.

The pace was kept high and there was no respite up the climb - pretty much every time someone attacked out of the saddle and by the time you got to the top your legs were screaming.

It was funny doing the yo-yo with George when he'd go to the front for a dig then get tired and move backwards, then I would do the same.

So there were loads of attacks but seemingly not enough strong persons to work together and make it stick.

At one point I found myself in Matt Seaton's wheel which I thought was quite cool so focused on staying behind him, getting the feeling he'd make an attack. It didn't fail and 2/3rds of the way up the climb he did and I was the only one to follow closely enough. Man the strength in his legs. We got to the top and I was struggling to keep up, hoping he'd carry on to the front all the way to the 180 degree turn. No chance as he flicked his elbow and I had no other choice than to dig even deeper and go to the front.

Thanks to me not being able to sustain that pace we were caught up shortly after and after having recovered I was happy that attacks were chased by more people which allowed me to take part without killing myself as much, even having a few gos up the climb. Once though the elastic almost snapped and at the top of the climb I realised about twelve people had overtaken me, so looked back and realised I was last and losing touch. Gulp! Thankfully the slowing down at the bend allowed me to make contact again and by taking the outermost line and being careful to stay on the outside for all of the turn I got back into a more manageable position.

I can't remember exactly at what point George did his tub trick but as we were about to enter the same bend he was exiting it and we heard that big rattle and then George was wobbling on the side of the track coming to a stop. There were a few heads shaken in disbelief

On the last three laps the pace slowed down as everyone was looking at each other. Someone attacked on the line with two to go but they were quickly brought back. I got myself in the top five but was hoping this wasn't going to make me work too hard - it's the only way to stand a chance in the sprint though. Got some good wheels up the climb and moved to the left which proved a good move as there was some slowing down on the right. Soon the big guns came past though and I could only give it all and hope for the best. Once again I had nothing left as I crossed the line, but still had the presence of mind to quickly count how many were ahead of me and made it seven which I was happy with.

Good to see a few people who came to watch. And bad luck to Aodan who on the climb to the Palace exploded his rear mech all over the road and didn't get the chance to race.

[kieran]

well done guys, Hal 3rd cat now , Steve and Sylv great results

George, sorry to hear about your tub coming off.

I'm glad I decided to help Toks with the ACC race instead of taking part in it with you all in such good form!

[Tamar]

I just can't believe how blase George is about is tub coming off. Having seen the ferocity of his cornering I don't know how he didn't come off along with his tub. But no, despite the frustration of not finishing, not to mention narrow avoidance of a near-catastrophic accident, he was grinning away as usual.

Nice work from the rest of you and congrats to Hal on another 2nd place, Sylv for top 10 in E12, Shadow for a decent 4th place, Andrew for sticking in there and riding incredibly strongly to the end (nice cornering!) and Adam for providing the entertainment, crusing round at the back .

Polish Andrew - sorry - didn't spot you - wear ACC kit next time!

[Maria David]

It was good to see a few familiar faces out racing. Well done !
George, you were in amazingly good spirits considering what happened to your bike. Very respectable !

I had a deal to race at Palace with the Dulwich Paragon ladies. I signed in, but then when it looked like the heavens would open, Karen P asked for her money back and in true girly fashion it was a case of "if she's not racing I won't either." So we (shamefully) left Rebecca Thompson to fight it out alone. And it didn't rain after all. I then decided to some hill reps nearby, but then got waylaide on the sidelines chatting about "handbags and makeup, and other things".
I am sorry to say that we brought women's cycle racing into disrepute !

I must also apologise to Higg. If he'd known I wasn't racing he could've used my bike. So my bike sat there doing nothing, while he stood and marshalled on probably the coldest spot on the circuit. Soz hun !

So I've got detention at Herne Hill tonight !

Maria
http://www.2wheelchick.blogspot.com/

[Andrew G]

[quote]top ten finishes are now a permanent fixture for ACC at Palace. It's still hard work however

[-Adam-]

[quote="Tamar"]and Adam for providing the entertainment, crusing round at the back

[Steve B]

With a good turnout of racers and a few more addiscombe supporters down to watch, the question was, "Could we get in the points for the umpteenth week on the bounce"? Answer - Of course we could

I decided to sit near the back this week and conserve as much energy as possible. Not that I'm ever at the front doing work or anything - don't be silly . Instead of sprinting out of the tight bends, I gradually eased the power on and got back to the group. Up the hill I got really tight to a wheel in front and got as much of a tow as possible. This however would not have been posible a few weeks ago when the pace was a tad quicker. I would have been off the back quicker than George's new wheels

Adam, Hal, both Andrews and myself were in the 3/4 race. Adam showed himself early doors with a good stint at the front, but that effort cooked his legs and he retired to rear gunner position, taking it easy for the remainder of his last race before shoulder surgery Good luck mate, hope all goes well.

Andrew G showed his best form to date, lasting half an hour with the bunch - nice one

Most of the race was led by Hal, P Andrew, and acouple of other guys. Andrew did some great work up there and must have tired himself out too much for a good place finish.
And then there was Hal. I must say that was pretty damn impressive last night Hal - back to him in a minute.

So with 6 laps left, one of the Pearson guys jumps off the front and no one go's with him. I'm happily sitting in thinking, ok they know what they're doing, the pace will pick up soon and we'll get him back. But nothing happened. Then, coming down the finish straight, I look up and see an Addiscombe jersey on the wheel of mr pearson. Damn, I thought, Hal has jumped across the gap and now the race could be all over. So with a rush of blood, I decide to see if I can jump across too and make a threesome. Halfway across, I look up and realise the 'A' jersey was Andrew being lapped and jumping on for a quick tow.

I carried on chasing but couldn't quite make the gap. On the bottom bend I got the apex wrong on the corner and ended up about 6 feet on to the grass Change of shorts please

I got swallowed up by the pack shortly afterwards and mr pearson half a lap later.

2 laps to go now and I've had a lap to recover from my madness, slightly, and decide to follow last weeks winner, with us roughly in 8/9th place. I thought this would be ideal, moving up slightly with a lap to go and then making a move up the hill on the last lap, sprinting past everyone down the final straight for a win. Plan was going well until Hal decided to put in an absolutely awesome last lap. Down the hill he started to turn up the wick. I'm in 5th place now and still very confident of catching the guys in front. But Hal just kept getting faster and faster. It was brilliant to watch. The problem for him was that he had 2 guys on his wheel
A gap had opened up between the front three and the rest of us. I almost sprinted up the whole of the hill but still couldn't close it, and only made up a bit of ground down the finish straight, where the inevitable happened and one of the guys jumped Hal for the win. Brilliant riding Hal, welcome to the 3rd cats

Really pleased with my 4th place

Must mention Sylv's 8th in the E12's. That is such a good result, well done that man

Unlucky George, keep smiling mate

Steve

[Robh]

Tubular tires :- adhesives and practice

http://www.engr.ku.edu/~kuktl/bicycle/Cusa1.pdf

[Andrew G]

Let vanity prevail.....pictures courtesy of Mr G Sr.

[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Crystal%20Palace%20310707/IMG_4844ACCGeorge.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Crystal%20Palace%20310707/IMG_4850Andrew.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Crystal%20Palace%20310707/IMG_4854ACCHal.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Crystal%20Palace%20310707/IMG_4848Adam.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Crystal%20Palace%20310707/IMG_4857AAdam.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Crystal%20Palace%20310707/IMG_4851ACCGeorge.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/Crystal%20Palace%20310707/IMG_4863A.solo.jpg[/img]