Palace 13 May

[Brian Robinson]

I finally popped my Crystal Palace cherry, so now I know what it is really like . Hadn't intended riding but around 5.30pm thought it was a nice evening why not! This proved to be a good plan as I arrived in a state of panic more from a logistics perspective than actually worrying about what lay ahead.

Saw a few other agreeables and then had a warm up on the special Addiscombe oval (i.e. the lower car park) where myself and Steve were joined by George, Andrew and Mark. As I had never actually ridden the course I was keen to get a few laps in beforehand. The thought of riding blind with 60 other riders on a technical course would not be the smartest thing to do. Unfortunately, I stayed out too long, as I reached the start/finish for the last time everyone had already lined up so I joined at the rear of the bunch. A schoolboy error I hope not to repeat.

Off we went and I was trying hard to move up through the bunch but this proved difficult as there was very little room for passing without trying a Schumacher overtaking manoeuvre and risking wiping out the bunch. Thus, the only area for overtaking was the slight incline round the back where I managed to gain a few places on each lap. I felt quite good but by lap 6 the hill started to take it's toll especially as I was trying to gain places and I knew my time was limited. I managed to hang on up the hill on the 7th lap but by the time I reached the start/finish line I heard a big pop. At first I thought it was a puncture but then realised that my elastic had gone .

I managed to hook up with about 5 or 6 riders and managed a few laps but eventually I had to let go as I was paying for digging deep. Then within a few laps Andrew joined me and provided encouragement including the wise words that only a tester could provide in a road race......"ride steady". I was struggling from my "unsteady" antics earlier so spent the majority of the time on Andrew's wheel and then let go for a couple of laps. Admittedly after a few laps of tester-esque riding I did find my pace again and managed to hook up with Andrew once more and do some work on the front. I wasn't sure how long I should keep riding but decided to drop out with 3 laps (6 on the board) to go as I didn't want to get caught up with the real race. Managed 24 laps in all, no idea of distance, HR or speed but really enjoyed the race .

Can't wait til the next Palace to see if I can survive more than 7 laps. I must say that I really like the CP circuit, I love the technical aspects, there are some wicked corners for a bit of Valentino Rossi action....must remember my knee sliders next time. I have raced at Hillingdon before but it doesn't feel special the way Palace does so big thumbs up!!

A big thanks to all the support round the track, it was really appreciated.

Bri

[Stu Merckx Man]

very pleased with last night.

was a bit worried about getting dropped again by the e,1,2s, so i decided not to try anything until the end, and only if i was sure i felt good enough.

i drifted to the back of the group, to make sure i could take my own lines, and avoid so much sprinting out the corners. its not ideal, as it means i miss out of breaks and things, but i need to get a little fitter before i do all that.

i felt surprisingly comfortable at the back and was never in the red. it was funny seeing a gentle trickle of dropped riders coming off the group. at the beginning it was a bit annoying though, as this one rider would keep leaving a gap on the hill, and i would have to bridge it, i would think he was dropped, but he would fight his way back on down the other side, and leave a gap again- though thankfully he got dropped after about 6 laps.

it was a bit hectic when we caught the 3,4s, and it was a battle to get through them and back onto my group. a couple of times i was forced onto the grass as it was so tight.

with about 10 laps to go, i realised i was feeling pretty strong, and hardly tired, so i made my way to the front. i did a few turns here and there, but didnt attack or go with any attacks.

when the lap board said 2 to go i made a decision i was going to attack up the hill. just as i was about to a dynamo rider attacked, so i went with him. we didnt get far though. i stayed near the front still, and with one lap i attacked again but it came to nothing. by now my legs were feeling it, and i knew i wouldnt have much left for a sprint so i decided to lead sylv out.

i got him behind me and hammered it up the hill and a bit round the corner, and then he shot passed me, and finished near the top of our group, so it was worth it.

cheers
stu

[Sylv]

[quote="Brian Robinson"] Thus, the only area for overtaking was the slight incline round the back

[Andrew G]

[quote] I wasn't sure how long I should keep riding but decided to drop out with 3 laps (6 on the board) to go as I didn't want to get caught up with the real race

[Steve B]

Top marks to Tamar - good effort, and also top marks to Brian and Phil for their first attempts at the Palace circuit (Phil's 1st race ever)

Wow, what a huge field of racers last night . This led to some seriously difficult cornering for a good 10 laps as everyone tried to get and stay near the front. Most laps I was on the grass out of the hairpin, but this seemed to be the safest place so didn't worry too much. As Brian said, it was tough making gains with such a large number of riders spread across the whole track, so it was important, not only to try and nick a few position whenever possible, but also not to lose any positions by being in anyway negative. Palace is physically tough but last night it was mentally tough too, and I was doing pretty good on both fronts, sitting mid bunch with Toks. The pace seemed higher than last week but the head of the group was always in view, and I felt that if there was a break up front, I could go with it.

Laps 11&12 got quite spicy with the speed seemingly as quick up the hill as it was down it , and this spread the group out slightly. I decided to now get nearer the front and made a move on the outside, up the hill. I was now alongside Kieran - perfect position . But just as last week, a few laps later my legs were full of lactic and I couldn't push anymore .Damn. 15 laps is ok but just not good enough Right, where's that turbo?

I pulled out and joined the good number of Addiscombe supporters standing near the finish line shouting encouragement to all ACCers . It's really great to get cheered on when you are racing, so thanks alot to all who come along

Well done to all of you that raced, it was tough out there. Bring on next week

Steve

[Michelle]

Maria nice post on your blog. Made me laugh.

You coming along to the regionals on Saturday?

[Phil L]

This was the first race of my road cycling career and bit of a disaster . I think I managed 4 laps and then decided my legs were not up for it and pulled out. I wasn't relaxed enough, and I just didn't feel warmed up enough to hammer around at race speed, even though I just cycled 8 miles from work . I started off feeling comfortable, but only because the overcrowding on the first lap kept the pace down a bit, but once the field spread out, the pace picked up and the main group gradually disappeared into the distance, leaving me on my own in a spreadout tail of stragglers. Each time I went up the drag at the back, I got a bit slower - all I'll say it's a very hard hill to repeatively do at a race speed, especially carrying my 90kilo bulk. Normally, I would power up a hill like that, which I managed to do for the first couple of laps, and actually used it to pass some people, but after that it got a bit pathetic . It soon dawned on me that the performance on a club run, even when I managed (just) to hang on to the B training group's average speed of 22.7mph in the last club run, bares little comparison to the performance in a race . So I very cowardly decided to pull out and reflect on how I should be training for a race other than club runs and couple of days commuting to London each week. In hinde sight, I should have carried on and used the race as a training session - definately next time. So I'll be blowing the dust off my turbo trainer and reading up on some of these interval thingies everyone talks about. Huw pointed out that my commute from work wasn't the right type of warm up, where I should have done some intervals, and maxed out my heart rate a couple of times - and I thought I was being good by taking it easy and saving myself . There's a lot to learn about this racing lark, with some useful tips already. It was great to see how other hardened ACCers did it, and full respect for the determination of those who dropped off the back and got lapped, but stubbornly refused to give up and even kept on smiling .

[Toks]

Wow what a night. There must have been 11 ACC riders on the circuit which was great. Big Big Well done to Phil and Brian for popping their racing cheeries. You chose the the toughest crit circuit in the South East too Great stuff!...It was great to see Tamar and Maria back ... Now we just need that other racing woman to show up. I can't remember her name but I'm sure she won a race last weekend Not too much to say really [url=http://theademerckx2008racingfiles.blogspot.com/]see my blog for more[/url] Chapeau to Sylv and my main Stu for putting in good work in the E12's. Can anyone beat Kieran's up front holding stickablity in the 3/4's I doubt it, well done mate. . Great to see you placing again Hal ...Thanks for all the support (George and Marky Mark) I could hear you loud and clear. I must try and get there early next time and put some of these names to faces. It was good to chat to Mr Green senior; the bib shorts will becoming soon Andrew. Whats wrong with wearing knickers anyway By the way did anyone else see a fella called Huw Williams at the circuit...mmm!!!!Great job guys see ya next week

[Maria David]

[quote="Michelle"]Maria nice post on your blog. Made me laugh.
You coming along to the regionals on Saturday?

[Michelle]

Har Har nice blog write up Toks, another one to make me giggle.

May not be coming to Palace for a while, need to concentrate on the long hilly rides for La Marmotte. As a toss up between the Handicap Series and Palace, the Handicap has won, mainly cos it looks a whole lot tougher, and I may get to ride with famous people like the Yates's (well be in a 3 mile vicinity of them.... ). You could see me at Palace after July though, in a bid to rack in the points in my new Cat 3 status .

Maria - just to point out, you being sick did not make me laugh, sorry to hear about that.

Also the weather may just hold off for us. Could be a bit steamy though... see you Saturday.

PS do you know if we get all the bells and whistles - lead car, outriders, marshalls and will there be anywhere to put wheels in case of punctures etc?

[kieran]

[quote="Toks"] By the way did anyone else see a fella called Huw Williams at the circuit...mmm!!!!

[Maria David]

Just read your "school report" blog Toks. Nice one ! Good to see you the other day.

Michelle, there'll be a lead car and a first aid car. Not sure about outriders - I don't remember seeing any last year. There'll be a a designated area where you can place spare wheels, which they'll tell you on the day.
This is essentially a local race, so you won't get "team series" sized fields. Last year there were 25 starters. It'll probably be around the same this year - possibly more.

[Sylv]

what the hell is Boost Toks!

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Sylv"]what the hell is Boost Toks!

[quote="Snoop Doug"][quote="Sylv"]what the hell is Boost Toks!