Hillingdon 1st December

[Rob C]

Went and raced at Hillingdon today. Weather was great and got there in good time so I'd warmed up and was looking forward to the race unlike AJ who turned up with enough time for a comfort stop before having to get down to business. Having read peoples advice in the forum I was conscious of trying to stay near the front. I did a great job of that, too good in fact. I found it hard not to try and take a turn if I think I can manage it and ended up leading the whole group into the wind swept home stretch and beyond. Unfortunately this was very early in the race and I soon started to feel the effects of my efforts as people were (wisely) reluctant to get on the front. I managed to stay with the pack but when it inevitably split I struggled to get on the back of the leading group of 20 or so and ended up on my own for pretty much the rest of the race.

I did look around a few times to see if there was anybody to work with but didn't notice anyone, my timing must have been rotten because I spoke to AJ after the race and he said that I was never that far away and he was wondering why I didn't just sit up and wait for the pack to ease the effort a bit. I got caught by AJ's group as the winner was lapping us and crossing the line so I got a bit confused about positions or if I even managed to get one.

Have to say though, it was great fun, not cheap at £23 for series registration, day license and race fee but the registration fee is a one off and I'll get a license to save on the tenner that that costs.

Would like to be there next week but might be in Wales so I'll see how it goes.

For those that are interested I averaged 22.5mph for the race.

[Toks]

Well done Rob. It take a few races to get the hang of things - keep going

[Andrew G]

Well done Rob for your first proper race. It's easy to get carried away early on and then pay for it later. I expect you'll see a few of the same faces at these races and soon know who to keep an eye on and follow.

[Stu Merckx Man]

nice one rob. is that your first ever race?

[Rob C]

Sort of, i raced at the club race last month. Also, just been on BC website. £60 for membership and a race license, seems excessive but I suppose there's no alternative

Does anyone go out in the evenings? Tuesdays perhaps?

[Toks]

[quote="Rob C"]Sort of, i raced at the club race last month. Also, just been on BC website. £60 for membership and a race license, seems excessive but I suppose there's no alternative

Does anyone go out in the evenings? Tuesdays perhaps?

[Rob C]

Sounds like my mate [url=http://www.coachtroy.com/products/department3.cfm]troy[/url], he wears exceedingly high shorts...

Race 1 51km Cats E123 Race Time 01:14:30
Finish No. 01/12/2007 Race 1 Results Cat E123 Cat Series Race Points
1st 06 r Paul Pickup Privateer 1 200
2nd 12 r Chris Moores Norwood Paragon 1 150
3rd 08 r Steve Golla Sigma Sport 1 130
4th 42 Alex Kirk Shavedlegs 3 120
5th 01 r Jason Streather VC St Raphael E 110
6th 07 r Paul Delahunty London Dynamo 1 100
7th 10 r Vincent Halpern AWcycles.co.uk 1 90
8th 25 Phil Sheehan Mosquito Bikes RT 2 80
9th 05 r Ed Graefe Team Economic Energy 1 70
10th 04 r Gianluca Cappello Pearson Cycles 1 60
11th 46 Neil Bradford Weybridge Wheelers 3 50
12th 3 Thorsten Klassen Kingston Wheelers 3 40
13th 8 Mark Northover CC Giro 2 30
14th 18 Adam Roberts agiskoviner.com 3 20
15th 41 Kevin Sparks agiskoviner.com 2 10
16th 19 James Norris High Wycombe Cycling Club 2
17th 03 r Pete Smith Team M.K. 1
18th 2 Michael Hill Team Quest 2
19th 09 r Jason Edwards Wildside RT E
20th 5 Gary Wood Southend Wheelers 3
21st 39 Richard Collins Imperial Racing Team 3
22nd 45 Robert Jeffroy London Dynamo 3
23rd 32 Harry Bulstrode Thames Velo 2
24th 33 Boyd Roberts http://www.agiskoviner.com 3
25th 47 Nat Spurling Finsbury Park CC 2
26th 21 Keith Knight Addiscombe CC 3
27th 31 Guy Phillips Dulwich Paragon 3
28th 10 Mike Inder Thames Velo 3
29th 26 Robert Fletcher High Wycombe Cycling Club 2
30th 27 Nicholas Mawson Swindon RC 3
31st 11 r Ben White Finchley RT 1
32nd 17 Mario Manelfi http://www.agiskoviner.com 2
33rd 13 Ian Lowe Thames Velo 3
34th 22 Brent Skinner Met Police CC 3
35th 40 Mick McManus RT316 2
36th 24 Simon Letch Twickenham CC 3
37th 34 Clive Nicholls High Wycombe Cycling Club 3
38th 7 Sara Burling Fat Birds 3W
39th 6 Jamie Streather VC St Raphael 2
40th 20 Martin Halbert VC Meudon 3

Race 1 Cats 4th 25km Results
Finish No. 01/12/2007 Race 1 Results Cat 4th Cat
1st 44 Jim Lewis LVY CC 4Y
2nd 12 Clive Nicholls High Wycombe CC 4
3rd 19 Martin Dawkins Hillingdon Slipstreamers 4Y
4th 24 Werner Otto Finchley RT 4
5th 50 Chris Jenkins Kingston Wheelers 4
6th 37 James Carter London Dynamo 4
7th 14 James Platt Kingston Wheelers 4
8th 4 Paul Sewell 4
9th 15 Peter Gowans St Ives CC 4
10th 18 Marcus Atkins Twickenham CC 4
11th 53 Jonathan Andrew Twickenham CC 4
12th 56 Martin Haenlein London Dynamo 4
13th 33 Gareth Batson High Wycombe CC 4
14th 20 Steve James FVSTri 4
15th 17 Neil McCann VC Elan 4
16th 6 Andrew Ferry GS Avanti 4
17th 35 Graham Kerr 21st century airports cycling team 4
18th 39 Yannick Pierre Team Dever 4
19th 38 James Dunsbier 4
20th 51 Peter Cornwall 4
21st 16 Andrew Jackson Amersham Road CC 4
22nd 34 Richard Lofthouse 4
22nd 3 Philip Howard 4
22nd 10 Paul Callaghan GS Avanti 4
22nd 25
22nd 31 Michael L Brighton Mitre 4
22nd 7 Rob Crozier Addiscombe CC 4
22nd 54 Richard Goodwin 4
22nd 21 Martin Bowd Hillingdon Triathletes 4
22nd 45 Dave Lancaster High Wycombe Cycle Club 4
22nd 52 Toby Blackman London Dynamo/Cyclefit 4
22nd 29 Stoyko Bussarov 4
22nd 30 Tracy Jaquest High Wycombe CC 4W
22nd 55 Ajay Addiscombe CC 4
22nd 36 Bob Harwig London Phoenix 4
22nd 8 Donald Woodman Archer Road Club 4
22nd 48 Darren Poon 4
22nd 11 Paul Morrissey High Wycombe CC 4
22nd 49 Chris Pearcy 4
22nd 46 Steve Culverwell 4
22nd 28 Paul Wixon London Phoenix cc 4
22nd 32 Paul Redman Thames Velo 4
22nd 27 Rachel Clarke Ipswich BC 4W
22nd 26 Paul Driver Ipswich BC 4
22nd 42 Jordan Phillips Amersham Road CC 4
22nd 41 Vivorn Siriphong Reading CC 4
22nd 47
22nd 2 Thomas Patrick Imperial Racing Team 4

[Rob C]

[img]http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/9403/robhillingdonqi3.jpg[/img]
if only it had stayed that way...

PS - it's a smile!!!

[Toks]

Rob, I'm glad you're sticking to those unwritten 4th cat ACC rooles. You must never never never let the last London Dynamo racer finish in front of you. Its time for Ajay to have a refresher maybe

[ajay khandelwal]

http://www.dgs-photography.co.uk/cyclin ... 07&Index=1

[-Adam-]

Well done all those who raced... might be there myself next week...

[Andrew G]

Good gurning Rob. Maybe we should have an unofficial gurn of the year competition for the best facial expression caught on camera during a race.

[Colin Steadman]

[quote="Andrew G"]Good gurning Rob. Maybe we should have an unofficial gurn of the year competition for the best facial expression caught on camera during a race.

[Paul on the Pearson]

Well done Rob. Did you register on the day? I was thinking of doing some of these in Jan, Feb. Can you do that or did you have to register at the beginning?

[Rob C]

I'd pre registered on their website but I think you could do it on the day though it might save you a bit of time to do it beforehand.

http://www.surfprint.co.uk/imperialracingteam/form.htm?