Arrived early in the A Team van with Sylv and Stu, lashed up all the cycle race signs and still got to the village hall too early.
It was just like being down the Charlwood cafe with so many agreeable faces around, we sure can get a good turn out of helpers and marshals, Thanks Guy's and Girls for all your hard work in enabling us to race yesterday.
The pace of the race was pretty quick today and with the relentless wind and conditions I could see why so many riders were straying across the white lines of the road. Although I didn't really notice this much during the race because I was nestled right up the front with Sylv just where we like it, and up here in the head of the echelon it was more orderly and we seemed to be keeping to the correct side of the road.
Sylv was very active doing lots of hard work and generally I would see him 100m up the road, but unfortunately the pace was just bringing all the break attempts right back in again. Marek "incorporated " also did his obligatory early race off the front surprise move, but this week unlike Alfold it wouldn't stick.
I love the idea of trying to break away from the bunch, I think it really spices up the race and is so much more enjoyable than just sitting in the bunch till the finish, well if you don't try, you won't get away, but if you keep trying sooner or later it's gotta work.
On the 3rd lap I started to test the water a bit and tried my luck off the front, a couple of times I managed to get free with one or two others but after a quick glance back soon had the bunch on our heels.
At one stage I must have drifted back into the bunch as I bumped into Tok's
Then I realised I'd better get back into the action again
With 3 laps to got the pace was setting up for something, I looked round and saw the field strung right out behind in a long line, it was close to snapping point and all the faster riders seemed to be towards the front half.
Turning left into the wind stretch I gave it a good try to slingshot off the front, so I hooked up a gear or 2 and honked it off the front, only problem was there must have been a rider on my right, somehow we managed to bump/touch wheels together and next thing I know I hit the deck.
As I was brushing myself off one of the Paragon Boy's cheekily shouted "learn to ride George"
kick a man when he's down or what
First thing I did was check the Boras's everything was OK and the bike was ridable so off I shot off in hot pursuit to try get back onto the peloton.
I nailed it for a lap and a half but there was no way on my own I was gonna do it and get back in the bunch, I passed another pile up next lap and after a while Steve Atkinson who also came a cropper caught me whilst being towed by a team van
So naturally I hitched on for the ride. We were towed well fast up the road behind the van then, as we passed the lap board for the final time Paul T pulled us up early.
I was shocked to hear about all the fiasco with those plastic rozzers
It was a shame that Team Addiscombe had the gremlins today, soon luck will change and we'll be firing on all cylinders together.
Thanks again to everyone for all the help and Support