by Paul Blackburn » Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:12 pm
I entered the 4th Cat race at Hillingdon last night as my 3rd ever foray in to racing. The start of the race was pretty tentative as no one seemed to want to take on the pace, but after a lap and a half it started to warm up a bit. A few people tried to get off the front of the bunch but a strong headwind on the back straight kept everything together. I managed to achieve goals 1 and 2 for the evening. Firstly, I didn't get dropped on lap 1 (as happened in my first race in a huge field at Chertsey where I think the first riders were several hundred metres up the road before the back markers had started) and, secondly, finished the race in the bunch.
As with the ACC 4th cat club race on the Newchapel circuit last summer, I found it difficult to hold a consistent position in the peloton and had to dig a bit harder a few times when riders ahead lost a wheel when the pace surged. At least I got to the front on the last lap but instead of being able to tuck in somewhere sensible, my previous poor positioning meant that I had to come right around the outside and I ended up right on the front in to the headwind. With a bit more experience I guess I would have done so at real pace and gone for it with less than a third of a lap to go, but I merely succeeded in giving a bit of shelter to those who showed their (in)gratitude by surging past on the finishing straight, leaving me well down the field. Still, it was great fun and I intend to do more of these over the coming weeks as goal 3 is to trouble the results secretary by registering at least 1 point before the summer is over – this one may be a bit more of a stretch based on my first outing!
This first race was pretty short due to a bit of a delay for the "Youth" race to finish and the fact that it gets dark fairly early at the moment, so I expect it will get a tougher as the weeks progress. Hopefully my fitness will also improve, which is one of my main reasons for racing in the first place.
If you’re thinking of giving this a go and were wondering about the pace, I think the average speed was a touch over 22 m.p.h. I normally ride in the 19s and find that OK but would consider reaching the Hooley traffic lights with the Training Group a major achievement, let alone anything more, so I’m sure that it’s well within the scope of many club riders.
My advice is to roll to the back before the last bend if you aren't realistically gonna contest the top 10 places. The sprint for 24th position might be the prelude to Ealing Hospital's Accident and Emergency department. 
