SERRL - Frant - 11th May

[Keith]

A few pictures from this morning's SERRL race:
[img]http://i32.tinypic.com/v7qpza.jpg[/img] [img]http://i27.tinypic.com/2yvjo7m.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i25.tinypic.com/2ujqq1c.jpg[/img] [img]http://i32.tinypic.com/vr801z.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i25.tinypic.com/21j8ylg.jpg[/img] [img]http://i28.tinypic.com/1zohz75.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i25.tinypic.com/viea74.jpg[/img]

I'll let the riders tell their own stories.....

[Snoop Doug]

Good one George - another tongues out photo in the bag. I'm hoping to have bagged a good un meself on the NP 25

[Marek]

Well, I would entitle this one close but no cigar for me. Turned up in Frant nice and early to get signed on. Met up with George, Sylv, Paul H and Kieran for the 100km of fun in the sun. Phil Sheehan was also there in his new kit. We marked out the strong Medway Velo guy as number 16 and then it was off.

The race started off at quite frantic pace. I was up the road a couple of times on the first lap testing my legs and seeing if anyone fancied an early breakaway. Not much was sticking as some strong riders in the pack and if something went up the road it was getting chased back.

Onto the second lap and George catapulted himself off the front at high speed. It was not long before he was out of sight. Then a group of about 5 started to get away after him. I jumped over to them and then it was a good through and off for a while to see if we could get onto George to help him out. We were gradually bringing him back, but the peleton had upped its pace and was now bearing down on the main breakaway. It was not long until the break got eaten by the peleton, but George and another rider were still out the front. George was not giving up and he was putting in a good effort but it was all in vain as the next time we hit the finishing hill he got eaten up.

Mid way through the race I started to feel it a bit on one of the hills so decided I would try my best to conserve my energy as it was so hot. I tucked up near the back behind a rider who came second last week. He did not seem interested in doing anything today, so I just made sure I was as close to his back wheel as I could be to get the maximum draft benefit. I did this for about 1.5 to 2 laps and then Paul H came back and asked me how long we had left. I said I was not sure, asked around and it was about 1 and a quarter laps to go. I was quite surprised as I was feeling pretty fresh and the drafting was helping even on the hills.

Onto the last lap and I thought I would wait until we had gone over the earlier hills on the course and then I would maybe have a last ditch effort at getting away. About a quarter of the way around the course I could see a rider from Agiskoviner having a good go off the front, but he needed help. Ok, this is it, head down I went past the whole peleton and then launched myself with some speed away. It was not long before I caught the Agisko rider and we started a through and off. He shouted at me that we were getting a good gap, but he said he was starting to cramp. I was therefore having to come through and do long and fast pulls, when he came through we slowed a little, he was suffering.

Thing was though that prior to the finish there is a long long drag before a slight downhill and then the finishing hill which starts off steep but then levels off. Well, we had a good gap, but on the long drag we were getting pulled back and I was now starting to feel the early twinges of cramp in my thighs myself. I thought sod it, I am going to ignore this pain and just keep going as this is a very good chance of a 1st or 2nd place. Head down and kept hammering, made it to the top of the drag and we were still away but could see the peleton were getting closer, then all of a sudden we were around the last corner and 2 other riders, number 16 and another caught me and Agiskoviner. I tired my best to latch on and i thought its going to be ok, but then I got out the saddle and bam, cramp along both of the thighs, my legs went to jelly and I basically had to stop pedalling. The others went away from me and I was left soft pedalling in absolute agony.

Then a few other riders came steaming past me, and then the peleton caught me and went past. The embarrassing thing is though that some guy on a mountain bike then came pedalling past as if I was standing still. Well, the legs started to feel a bit better so I managed to reel back in the mountain biker and then finally made it to the finish where Paul H and Sylv were waiting. Think George cramped also prior to the finish and struggled in after me. Then small groups of dropped or punctured riders started to come in a little later.

Keith and Michelle were at the finish, sorry no fireworks at the finish it was close to being my best 2nd cat race result, but close does not mean much when you roll in well outside the points. Ah well thats racing, had a couple of pints of shandy and feel much better now.

Cheers

Marek.....

[George]

Ooh it was a scorcher today, even at 9 in the morning you didn't want to stand in the sun for too long.

This is a great circuit and its good to get so many agreeables out there racing proper stylee although Paul and Sylv get yourselfs and Addiscombe top, or maybe it was a plow to hide 2 or 3 of us in breakaway's etc.

first lap I spotted a great climb to attack on so second time round I pounced and immediately got away, but I had to give it some watts to get out of sight. I really enjoyed being out alone indeed it almost felt like a time trial

I had the commissioners car for company and as I got some distance away from the pack the cars and motorcycles were shuffling themselves behind me which was pretty cool.

I noticed on the corner through Lamberhurst there was a break trying to bridge to me but they were keenly pursued by the peloton. Then Ivan from Raph bridged to me and we started throu and offing together, but unfortunatley we were indeed swallowed up right by the finish hill.

After this effort I had to sit in for 2 laps as I was a bit knackered. Then with just over a lap to go I felt good and strong so came up front and started riding aggressively.

Sylv and I were happy to see `Marek break off the from on the final lap so we just sat at the front not working too much, Marek got a decent gap and I was sure he was actually gonna stay away cos he was about 30 or 40 seconds ahead.

Then the pace went up in the peloton and up a climb Sylv and I were trying to get over to a fast group ahead and my legs just cramped up in excruciating pain with all the heat and sweating, so I had to ease off and couldn't contend the finish.

Well done to Paul and Sylv who were strong till the end and I would say the most aggressive attacking rider award of the day should easily go to Marek, well done on that last charge and unlucky with the cramp. Amost a Cigar indeed

Also I must mention Keiren who rode his socks off today and had the balls to come and race with the big boys

I'm now at home with heatstroke with aches and pains all over my body, I'm going to take a few days off and recover.

[Sylv]

[quote="George"]
I'm now at home with heatstroke with aches and pains all over my body, I'm going to take a few days off and recover.

[Sylv]

Well racing ain't getting any easier that's for sure.

I felt quite weak today. First lap without a warmup was horrible, and when Marek attacked on that long shaded hill my legs were already screaming with pain, I thought it was only going to get worse, I was regretting going with the training group yesterday.

Fortunately a mixture of having warmed up, and people getting more and more tired every lap, meant that I began to feel slightly better with time. When I looked at my speedo after the first lap and a half we had been averaging 40.7km/h (25.5), but at the end that had gone down to 39.2km/h.

My biggest worry had been running out of fluids so on top of two 750ml bottles I'd stuffed a 500ml screwtop bottle in my jacket. At halfway I'd just finished my first bottle, so took a big swig out of the screwtop and chucked it away (in someone's front alley ) knowing it would be ok on that side.

Marek's attacks were powerful and mostly solo. George too had some super digs at the beginning, shame it didn't stick. We lost Kieran but it transpired that he'd punctured on the first lap but managed to get back onto a group after getting a wheel from the neutral car.

I was hating the hills less and less, but they were still painful and I had nowhere near enough to attack or even just come to the front, only had one small stint there. When George and the other guy got back in our sight it was amazing to see, we in this huge bunch only had 100m to go, but they were still going for it as if they stood a chance - it worked for a while as we weren't getting any closer, but eventually up the next hill the effort had taken its toll.

At some point up the end of the shaded hill a small group had gotten away only 50m, I absolutely killed myself getting back to them, George was trying hard too swerving across the road, I made it but to my annoyment as I caught them they started soft-pedalling and waiting for the bunch to gulp them.

Next up to come forward was Paul in the last part of the race, in the saddle you don't really notice him attack but he really is motoring up those hills, he got in the right place for the final set of climbs, and reckons he was just out of the top 9 which they announced afterwards, I think I was within top 20. Kevin Knox got 2nd place, Kieran completed the race with a small group. Good to see Keith and Michelle at the finish, Keith wearing all black you must have been hot on that ride back.

[Sylv]

PS yes that really is a clean bike under Paul, take a good look at it

[Marek]

Although it was making a few funny noises, it was bliming light though and he seemed pretty pleased with its first outing.

Cheers

Marek....

[Sylv]

What was that noise early in the race - it sounded like someone's back wheel had disintegrated, and a big pile-up narrowly avoided.

[Marek]

I am not sure, but Paul H came out of his pedal at one point and nearly came down taking out a few people. But I think also his sprockets were not on tight enough as he sounded like Santa on his sleigh with his reindeer bells a' ringin'.

cheers

Marek....

[Paul H]

Tried out my new bike for the first time today as I only finished building it yesterday evening. Had a couple of mechanicals in that I forgot to tighten my cassette and my saddle slipped down 4cm which made it a bit uncomfortable. I also couldnt find my ACC jersey his morning.

I nearly came off when I tried to get my bottle out of the rear cage. It is a bit harder on this bike as it has sloping geometry and I think must have twisted my leg getting the bottle which unclipped me.

Tried to get away in a break a few times up the long hill to no avail. I was a bit far down in the pack up the last hill so had to come round a quite a few people but reckon I might have scrapped a few points so not bad for an old man on the edge of time.

[Andrew G]

Well done chaps, sounds like it would have been a good race to watch. Unlucky none of your breaks stuck, between you you have to be one of the most attacking groups of riders in races.

[-Adam-]

[quote="Paul H"]Tried out my new bike for the first time today as I only finished building it yesterday evening. Had a couple of mechanicals in that I forgot to tighten my cassette and my saddle slipped down 4cm which made it a bit uncomfortable. I also couldnt find my ACC jersey his morning.

I nearly came off when I tried to get my bottle out of the rear cage. It is a bit harder on this bike as it has sloping geometry and I think must have twisted my leg getting the bottle which unclipped me.

Tried to get away in a break a few times up the long hill to no avail. I was a bit far down in the pack up the last hill so had to come round a quite a few people but reckon I might have scrapped a few points so not bad for an old man on the edge of time.

[Toks]

That Kevin Knox (Dulwich Paragon) seems to be a bit of a canny so and so. He's name keeps popping up in the top five of races all over the place. He's obviously quite strong but me he's simply more race savvy than most.

[George]

[quote]What was that noise early in the race - it sounded like someone's back wheel had disintegrated, and a big pile-up narrowly avoided.