SERRL Brenchley 1,2,3 Road Race

[George]

Marek and I were down at the HQ this morning as the only riders from Addiscombe, we didn't seem to be very motivated before the ride, even though the weather was bright and sunny and also a bonus was that the rain held off.
It's beautiful countryside around here and I remember last year we road down to this village to cheer on the TDF riders, so good memories there.

Into the race and its a 10km circuit with a big hill to finish on, so 10 laps was on the menu today there were some strong first category riders today and early on, didn't feel too confident, then as the race wound on I started feeling better and better.

Didn't see much of Marek in the race as he was sitting near the back, I don't think he liked the hill too much

Every time up the hill I was near the front and was extremely surprised that the other riders were not as strong as I was expecting them to be or either I was stronger than I had initially thought

With 5 laps to go I thought I'd head back to Marek to see how he was doing, he told me he didn't like the hill too much, I told him I was feeling very good and was gonna try something soon, so with this I scooted back up to the head of the pack.

Next lap a break of 6 or 7 riders got away, I just watched them and bided my time. Then next lap on the hill I attacked with Chris Moores from Norwood `Paragon, I could see he was having a good day also.

We left the pack for sure and 5 more riders came to join us, next 2 laps we just hammered it in a good through and off stylee, but there was really only 3 of us doing any decent work and we had 4 riders just hanging on to us for the ride.

Well we could see the lead break up the road for a whole lap and I was taking some heavy turns at the front but making sure I still had enough in the bag for the final.

We really hammered it and the pace was so high we dropped all of our stragglers and eventually caught the leading break with a lap to go.

As we caught them up I could see that they were all knackered but luckily I had good legs so I had a big smile on my face. I was doing some good turns on the front and eventually we hit the finishing hill,
I had to move off a wheel or 2 as some riders literally were shelled out the back, then bang into the uphill sprint for the line, I finished in 5th or 6th, I'm not too sure of the exact position yet. I may have been the top 2nd cat rider so very happy with my ride today, nice result.

waited at the line for a while to see Marek finish but unfortunately he had pulled up a lap or so before, really good circuit and good road conditions, I would encourage any Agreeables wanting a good road race to get down and ride with the SERRL.

Cheers George

[Dominic]

Good ride George. 1st cat by the end of the year.

[Keith]

Excellent, well done George.

[Andrew G]

Nice one George, keep smiling .

[Michelle]

Sounds like you had some fun! Blummin well done.

[Marek]

I did this race last year and I really don't know why I went back, but at least I did a few more laps than last year when I got shelled on the 2nd lap. It was a 9 lap race and each lap meant going up this bliming great big hill, which hurts a bloater like me.

George looked really strong through the whole race, whereas I was sitting on the back just trying to hang on. The flat parts of the race were not easy at times as it was quite windy and the roads were very wiggly and it was hard to get good position. Sometimes attacks would go on the flat and it was head down and keep on the wheel in front. Then we would hit the hill again.

With 3 laps to go 6 of us at the back got distanced slightly from the bunch. We chased like mad men to get back on, but the peleton was in full flow as they had ramped up the speed as attacks were going off the front. The group of six soon split up and then we hit the hill again, I went up it at my own pace (very very slowly) then pulled out as I had had my fill.

George came in slightly later with a big smile on his face, 5th or 6th place in that company is a fantastic result. Although I was a little disappointed not to be able to hang on till the end I was really pleased for George as he was a bit dubious prior to the race. Well done, top riding on a tough course.

Cheers

Marek....

[Snoop Doug]

Nice one George - keep em coming. Marek - top man for going back again knowing you were going to hate it, I like that (more than you by the sounds of things).

Snoop

[Ian A4size]

Well done lads, especially Marek for digging in on a course that does not really suit him. I have a list of many as well.

[Stu Merckx Man]

george thats fantastic! what a result!

marek, good for giving it a go considering your lack of training recently!

[Sylv]

Awesome George you make it sound so natural and easy! Brilliant effort. How many points then?

Marek see you on the flat ..

[Toks]

Excellent work George and great result You've had a bit of a rough time in your first few races but it was only a matter of time before your quality shone thru

[Tony]

Hey George, that's a cool result. Exactly the sort of result you should be getting!

The only fly in the ointment is that Dan Santoni's fat ar*e completely obsecures all the pictures of you crossing the finishing line.