Hey wassup guys! I?m on the fifth lap of a 32-lap race for 3rds juniors and women. It?s not freezing but it?s still chilly enough for me to be wearing 3 layers and booties. For the first 4 laps the fifty-odd riders are nonchalantly cruising around eastway?s famous lumpy 1-mile circuit. There?s a fierce headwind circling the course so I?m wisely taking shelter behind a thundered-thighed giant riding for Milton Keynes. [Excellent! if the pace stays like this I?ll be fine]! YEAH RIGHT!
DAMN!! One of those all-to-fidgety-juniors has jumped off the front and the pace has shot up. I immediately lost the big guys? wheel, no problem I?ve found a nice little for myself ? right at the back of the bunch.
Lap 12: the pace is still highly variable, as advised I?m trying to stay in the front 20 places but its not easy - fail to close up any gaps and you go from 7th to 47th before you can say ?anyone for box hill?. Nevertheless as a ?lazy boy racer? (ask Ajay) I?m not feeling too bad considering its my first race of the year?. Up front are a couple of sprightly juniors, a Sports and Publicity Vet, Carl (more about him later!) from Brixton cycles and a really lively girl from London Dynamos. They?ve got a 10 second lead on the bunch. I?m right on the front now and I start towing the bunch back up to the five leaders?
Lap 26: Carl, myself, the craggy-faced Sport and Publicity vet lead the pack. We?ve just lapped tree-trunk legs from Milton Keynes (he?s now part of a four-man group that got dropped quite early on)? Carl is getting really twitchy he keeps turning around and looking at everyone. He thinks that an attack is imminent [don?t worry mate I?m not going anywhere I ?m staying right with you]. Someone shouts out that we?re only 40 secs down on a two-man break away. Nobody wants to chase. Apart from a slight scare when someone hit my handlebars I feel ok
Lap 28: ?Oi Yellow, close that gap!? [its not gonna happen mate, sorry!] After a fairly longish turn on the front I ?m fading badly. Lactic acid is having a party in my thighs. I?ve started going backwards and soon I?m swallowed up by the pack. At last I reach my niche position at the rear. With just four laps to go I hope I can recover to contest the bunch sprint?
Lap 31: The bell's just gone and I begin to drag my 'lazy boy racing' arse back up to the front. With 2/3rds of the final lap I manage to join the front fifteen guys. The pace is high and everyone is trying to get a good position on the final bend. Two riders crash and go down almost in front of me. I?m on Carl?s wheel he begins cussing creatively with the C- word and the F-word. I basically come to a standstill, there?s no where else to go and everyone cruises by. I decide to just roll towards the finish line?Sadly no top ten finish for me but it was great fun. Until next time take care, Toks