Help for Revolutions

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Re: Revolutions 5-day 15th - 19th August, 2008.


Once again that time has come when I have to go begging. The Revolutions needs your help to the extent of some 10 or 12 marshals per day plus a couple of lead cars, commissaire drivers, motor cycle marshals and neutral service vehicles.

The stages are :-

1.. Staplefield/Handcross - 91 miles - HQ Handcross Village Hall - Start time 12:00
2.. Kirdford/Dunsfold/Alfold - 101 miles - HQ North Hall, Loxwood - Start time 12:00
3.. Goodwood - 1 lap TT then 87 miles Singleton - Midhurst - South Harting - Lavant (2 laps) finishing at Goodwood - TT Start time 11:00 - RR Start time 13:00
4.. Wivelsfield/Barcombe - 96 miles - HQ Cooksbridge Village Hall - Start time 12:00
5.. The Ashdown - 72 miles of all the hills - HQ All Saints Church, Crowborough - Start time 12:00
More details and maps can be found on the Surrey League web site at http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/news/revo ... tion08.htm


Could you please canvas all your members especially those with no work commitments! Those using their cars on the race will re-imbursed for their fuel but I will need to know type of car and its registration number for these people so that they are covered by BC for the race.

Yours in sport,
Keith Butler

[KeithK]

It seemed a good idea at the time so I helped all five days as NEG.

Lesson learnt if I hadn't learnt it allready....bicycle racing is a totally mad sport. It is just soooooo tough. 5 days of unrelenting going up and down hill and then they have to race up the wall, in Ashdown Forrest, three times!!

I was quite busy so could not watch the race but every now and again I was aware of the sheer speed and wonderfull bike handing, and all round skill of the riders.

As well the Sigma Sport team many of the top local riders and the Halfords pair of Rob Hayles andTom Southam lined up and Rob looked a million dollars in his National RR jersey. Tom got the overall.

Keith Butler gave special praise for all the helpers and amongst the Clubs Dulwich Paragon got a worthy mention. They helped with several marshals, a lead driver, a Commissare and a couple of riders to boot. Their Mr Knoxs(not sure about my speelinge) might not look too good in the results but he was really unlucky to punture while in a strong group away mins ahead of the bunch early in the race. After that he rarely stayed in the bunch for long. It will be no surprise when he starts winning at the highest level and just like our George he does not do misery, always finds the positive and is just such a lovely chap.

In each result you do not see all those little battles that are constantly ongoing in road racing over the three or four hours of each race but for me I really admire the constant attacking of Sigmas Steve Gower and Steve Golla they are magic to watch.

I am completely knackered even though I was on a motorcycle and will probably sleep all day tomorrow.

[-Adam-]

Has to be said the sport would not be what it is without people like yourself Keith.

And I shall second the sheer speed of it all. Chloé and I helped marshal on Saturday, and it was quite a spectacle. Some of the countries best riders.

There was one memorable moment that will live with me for a long time... Tom Southam and one of the Irish lads had just attacked the 20 strong break with a few laps to go, they flew round our corner just as I had my head facing the other way to check for traffic. I was standing in the middle of my lane, expecting them to be well back on their side of the road by that point. In actual fact the pair of them came round the corner so fast they flashed literally right in front of my nose, narrowly avoiding my toes! Awesome, there really is no other word for it.

I spoke to Tom on Sunday also, and one of the things that strikes you is that he really is so down to earth. He said today that there is only one tougher race than this Revolutions this season... the Tour of Britain itself. What a priviledge to have formed all but a small part of the organisation.

Of around 70 starters only 38 finished, thats quite an attrition rate. Even Rob Hayles was dropped today.

Mad, really mad. All that remains to be said is how gutted I am to have missed this race!