WALLY GIMBER- paul, sylv, george we are in!

[Robh]

Was today the first day back on the bike from your cold?

I'm surprised your going to be racing tomorrow after just recovering from the ill effects of a cold. You certainly don't want to come across potential life threatening complications such as cardiomyopathy or endocarditis.

[Toks]

[quote="Robh"]Was today the first day back on the bike from your cold?

I'm surprised your going to be racing tomorrow after just recovering from the ill effects of a cold. You certainly don't want to come across potential life threatening complications such as cardiomyopathy or endocarditis.

[Robh]

Because everyone knows there's a chance of crashing in a bunch, road race or a club run.

Where as the dangers of returning so quickly after a cold is not so common knowledge.

[Stu Merckx Man]

dont worry rob i wasnt too bad. 2nd day back, i went for an easy club run yesterday.

i felt ok but still a bit sticky from having 2 weeks with only 1 decent ride.

the race was super fast, averaging 28mph for the first lap, but then it went down to 25mph average there after.

my most enjoyable part of the race was when the peleton split in two, halfway round lap 3. however, not to worry the A team was there to pick things up. me george, sylv and john from mozzie bikes went up to the front and started working really hard to pull us back up to the other half of the peleton. about 5 others were also working. it was really hard, right into a headwind. thankfully we managed to get ourselves organised and managed to close the 200m gap down by the end of the lap, which i was pretty impressed with. unfortunately george had over done it and got dropped on the next hill.

however i was not far behind. halfway round the 2nd to last lap at about 50 miles, i thought i had a puncture on my back wheel, so pulled over only to see i didnt. panic struck i tried to sprint back but just gave myself cramp, so had to pull over and collapse on the floor in agony! i dont think i had been drinking enough, that and also my legs wernt used to the hard riding, after bieng TOO well rested . dissapointed as i knew my race was over. reasonably happy though since ive had the cold, and the 2 weeks off. i think had i been on form i would have been there at the end with paul and sylv who both managed it. paul getting reasonably far up, perhaps top 30 or so, and sylv not that far back off him.

i should be good for crowhurst next week.

stu

[Marek]

Excellent, keeping up for that long is still impressive Stu, and having Paul and Sylv get to the finish is fantastic. You should be flying for next weeks race.

Cheers

Marek....

[-Adam-]

Well done Stu, gotta say while I was enjoying my sunday dinner I didn't once miss the idea off getting a kicking from some of the premier calendar boys!

Did Hillingdon myself yesterday afternoon. 80 people in a 3/4 race, christ is was scary. Some of the dodgyest riding I've ever witnessed. Then I had a good place on the last lap, about 5th wheel, when the only Evans Cycles rider in the race (good, as now i'll be able to find out his name and keep it stored up) literally barged me off the track to get the wheel in front. All at 50kph, I very quickly learnt how to ride cross. Luckily stayed upright. Rode to the finish after getting back on the track having had to let everyone by. Went straight to the comissaire and complained. Although there was already a crash behind us in the back straight so I don't think he was in the mood for me. But I was fuming for about 5 minutes. Many expletives put it that way! Anyhow, I caught up with the guy handing my number back, so I asked...

''Did you win then?''

''No, was about 5th'' came the reply.

''So barging me off the track was real worth while then!!''

His basic reply was ''thats racing'' I thought, not literalling forcing someone into the grass mate! Its rude and bloody dangerous. If I had done the same to him, he would have gone into the guy just off his right shoulder and it would have caused a mass pile up. Twat. If he's at the next couple of SL's he will be a marked man. Funny thing was, that despite the fact I was initially fuming, and may well have been able to win had it not happened. I soon calmed down, and thought to myself how lucky I was to stay upright and that theres always next week. Which I reckon had I not won the other week, I wouldn't have been thinking. It's almost like I'm chilling out with my old age! lol. Still, road racing starts next Sunday for me... bring it on!!

Anyway, I digress! Well done againg guys. Stu, a lesson learnt I would guess. I would still take it easyish this week though so your properly recovered from you sickness for next week. George, good man, you'll be winning thos kinda races later this year! And Paul and Sylv, top work finishing!

[Sylv]

Well that was loads of fun and great to be racing amongst so many strong riders, with our spare wheels in the support car and bikes and cars at the front all the way.

First lap I thought this is pretty easy, we were blasting down the country lanes at 40mph but the bunch was quite compact so was getting maximum protection. There were a few dodgy moments due to the poor state of the road and the oncoming traffic, when guys who were riding on the right side had to move left and others had to brake to let them in. The Paragon guys were always not far from the front, and the Plowmen putting in real strong work.

George and I spent the first couple laps in the first, maybe 1/4 of the main bunch, we hit the final climb and I quite liked it, there was a false summit after a real steep section, then another 200m of climbing after a short downhill section. End of lap three I could see John pulling a couple strong turns at the front of our group to bridge across a fairly large group that had gotten away and that we were reeling in, no-one was really helping him, then Stu came past followed by George, so I got onto their wheel and Stu got us organised into a through and off (Tony G wouldn't take part though), well Stu did but his second turn only lasted about two seconds before he asked me to move to the front

This was just before the climb and although we were within grasp of the group ahead I knew it'd cost us a lot of effort, right enough we caught them on the climb but it didn't slow down it accelerated rather and I almost lost it going up, I knew there would be a few seconds respite after the top as people would be refuelling, so had to hammer it to get back to their wheel just before the super fast first downhill. I think this is where George lost it, although I didn't see him and thought later that he'd gotten in the break we heard about (so I was happy with not doing any work to chase ).

Lap four I spent mostly recovering and getting as much shelter as I could, lap 5 I spent the first 2/3rds in about 6th/10th place, i knew I wasn't getting as much shelter, but I was just enjoying it and didn't want to risk being boxed in at the back for the final climb. By the time we got to it it inevitably got more crowded as people moved their way ahead, I still was fairly well positionned but, although I'd quite enjoyed the climb so far (except on lap 3) I totally died going up it, it didn't even feel as I was sprinting just riding up it I couldn't go any faster, people went past and then noboby else, exept one guy who got me fighting to keep up with him to the line, just made it by half a wheel coming past a Plowman rider on the way. Paul had gone past me looking super strong (but he did say he spent most of the race at the back) as well as John.

George is working tonight so won't be able to post his thoughts!

[Sylv]

2hrs35m 56 1 Simon GAYWOOD Plowman Craven RT / Plowman Craven - Pinnacle - Leica **
34 2 Richard SYKES-POPHAM KFS Special Vehicles / Sunday Bicycles - Halo Sports Management
71 3 Roy CHAMBERLAIN*** Team Corley Cycles / Phil Corley Cycles - Madison - Willen Hospice
11 4 Rob ENSLIN awcycles.co.uk / Giant Bikes - onefishtwofish
61 5 Simon RICHARDSON Plowman Craven RT / Plowman Craven - Pinnacle - Leica
@20s 80 6 Chris McNAMARA Wildside RT / Ewhurst Control
@50s 58 7 Alex HIGHAM Plowman Craven RT / Plowman Craven - Pinnacle - Leica
36 8 Jules BIRKS Kingston Wheelers / Evans Cycles
70 9 Wouter SYBRANDY Sigma Sport - Specialized - Sportful
55 10 Neil COLEMAN Plowman Craven RT / Plowman Craven - Pinnacle - Leica
75 11 Andy BETTS Twickenham CC / Evans - Floatopia
68 12 Daniel DUGUID Sigma Sport - Specialized - Sportful
83 13 Lewis ATKINS http://www.agiskoviner.com / Agisko Natural Sports Food - VinerBikes.com - Goodness Shakes Nutrition - Liphook Cycles
66 14 Andrew BYE Sigma Sport - Specialized - Sportful
38 15 Sam HUMPHESON London Dynamo / Cyclefit.co.uk
52 16 Daniel PATTEN PCA Ciclos Uno / Plowman Craven Assoc. - Ciclos Uno - Isaac Bikes - Squeezy Gel
46 17 Christopher MOORES Norwood Paragon CC
25 18 Kevin KNOX Dulwich Paragon CC
35 19 Paul WILLS Kingsnorth International / Nico Sport - Tacx
24 20 Fraser WILDMAN Downland Cycles / Buy to Ride
16 21 Tom SMITH awcycles.co.uk / Giant Bikes - onefishtwofish
33 22 Malcolm DAVIES Kent Cycles RC / Look - Met - Pro

** I can see now why he wasn't keen on chasing (they had ear-pieces)
*** your brother Stu?

[Ian A4size]

Well done to you all, serious stuff so early on in the season. Knackered just reading about it- 40 mph!!!! i only do that downhill!

[Andrew G]

Fantastic rides all round, this is one serious race. To be in it and organising chases and finishing in the main group is quality stuff when surrounded by a bunch of semi-pro/pro riders.

Charging round country lanes at 40mph - pretty easy , crickey that skiing was good training for your legs Sylv .

[Toks]

[quote="Adam"]
Did Hillingdon myself yesterday afternoon. 80 people in a 3/4 race, christ is was scary. Some of the dodgyest riding I've ever witnessed.

[johnnyha]

Cheers lads - top bombing all round.

JHA

[quote="Toks"][quote="Adam"]
Did Hillingdon myself yesterday afternoon. 80 people in a 3/4 race, christ is was scary. Some of the dodgyest riding I've ever witnessed.

[Sylv]

So plurien meant they should stick to rowing ...

[quote="-Adam-"][quote="Toks"][quote="Adam"]
Did Hillingdon myself yesterday afternoon. 80 people in a 3/4 race, christ is was scary. Some of the dodgyest riding I've ever witnessed.