CP 12MAY09

[kieran]

My second race this year and second one at Palace. 27 laps for the 3/4ths and 30 for E/1/2s. Another huge turn out, and a sea of blue with some yellow dotted around the place (lets see, me, Andy, Steve, Gavin, Serge, and Mark in the 3/4, Hal and Sylv in the E/1/2 and Chloe in the womens, sorry if I missed out anyone, and Mark and suffering wife as support!). It was also very cold for May, but kept dry. The racing was a bit better this time and no big mess ups when the E/1/2s over took. Anyway to cut a long story short I stayed with the front group throughout, the pace was on and off sometimes up the hill allowing dropped riders to get back on but picked up near the end and coming into the final lap I was badly placed at the back of the bunch (about 16 of us) and last time up the hill I managed to pass about 4 or 5 in front of me to claim 11th place (I thought I was 10th but judges thought otherwise). My feet were cramping on the last lap and then shortly after getting off the bike so did my legs. A good race. Steve did good and Serge was also up in the main bunch for all of the race, apart from the last lap or two? Mark did a lovely crash I'm sure he will tell us about it. As usual I believe Hugo Humphreys either got 1st or 2nd.

[mlocke]

I crashed on lap 3!!

On the right hander just after the hairpin I was forced onto the grass and instantly went over, no time to react. Fortunately everyone missed me so nobody else came down and thinking back it could have been a lot worse because I was in the top 10 at the time.

Nothing hurt too badly but now my hip has a bit of a lump on it and it hurts quite a lot

I got back up and carried on but I had lost 30 seconds on the bunch so that was the end of my race

I did a total of 12 laps at which time I stopped due to cramp and not really seeing the point in trying to ride through it

average speed for my race was 21.7mph for 12 laps or just under 10 miles

I'll be back again next week

Well done to Kieran who got 10th not 11th ( i counted those over the line), Steve who placed well (but i'll let him tell his story) & everyone else who raced

Locky

[Steve B]

3rd race of the year for me, but from the weather forecast the night before, it shldn't have taken place. Rain was suppose to come over late afternoon, meaning Palace would definately be off. But I took my bike with me to work anyway, just incase, or maybe even taking a trip down to Dunsfold to join Huw. As it happened the sun stayed out, the rain clouds stayed away and it was 'race on'

A carbon copy of last weeks start saw me move up to a good position with the usual blast down and around the outside, using the grass as an extra peice of track. I think I slightly shocked Mark as I steamed past him while everyone else was braking for the hairpin. A very large field, again, meant there was innevitably going to be a few dodgy bike handlers, and why is it I always seem to find myself next to, or stuck behind one of them. It certainly makes your bum twitch when the rider in front of you pulls his brakes halfway around the bottom bends, I can tell you . Hmm, think I'll move from this position .

27 laps for us, but I'd not lasted more than 17 so far this year, but as Kieran said, the pace eased a few times up the hill allowing my legs just enough time to recover from what seemed to me to be a pretty decent pace. Andy looked good early on, but all of a sudden dissapeared, Mark had his little crash and Gavin soldiered on on his own after getting dropped, good effort Gav.
Serge showed himself about halfway through and seemed quite strong, moving toward the front when the pace eased and then moving back slightly when the pace picked back up. From his own admission, he needs to practice his cornering. You had a good ride Serge and I was grateful of the company at one point when I was started to suffer a bit. It definately gives you a boost seeing fellow agreeables alongside. Then Kieran showed his face and all three of us stayed pretty much together till the last few laps.

About 20 or so in the front group now with 5 laps to go. I stopped worrying about position for a bit and tried to conserve as much energy as possible for the all out blast that is the final 2 laps. With 3 to go I'm on the back, and as we pass the start/finish line, the siren sounds for the last lap of the womens race. This seemed to panic and waken the front of the bunch up, quickening the pace to final lap speeds . Oh boy, these chaps are good if they are going to keep this up for 3 laps, cos I can't . Damn, the first tiny twinge of cramp in my right calf, I've had it, this isn't good. Ok, dont panic, Kieran is just ahead of me, he knows what he's doing. If I can pedal extra smoothly to save my calves and follow Kieran I'll be all right. But the cramp is getting worse, in both calves now, and we're both in a bad position coming to the final lap . At the back of the group, we're definately not in a position to contend the race. At this point you know whether its worth totally and utterly killing yourself for the cause or not. You know if your going to be in contention for the race, top 5, top 10 etc. Top 10 looked as good as it was going to get today, and I'd be pleased to get that. Down the hill for the last time, round the bottom corners at full whack trying to gain ground on the guys in front of me, and around the last bend and onto the hill expecting to see everyone in front of me going at it hammer and tongs up the hill. Now this is where my luck changed . No one wanted to make the first move and so the pace eased for a moment and I was back on . 2 seconds rest and the blue touch paper was lit. Hugo Humphreys went first followed by another. I had about 8 or so in front of me, but I just went for it. The two up front were gone leaving 3rd place up for grabs. My calves were knackered and I was pedalling with my heels down. It felt odd, and it hurt alot, but hoped my thighs would do the work for them. Towards the top, only 2 guys left to get past, with a lovely gap that opened up between them perfect for me to slip through. But the guy on the right was having none of it and veered directly across the two of us. I swore loudly, checked, went round to the right and went past both of them and on toward the finish line. I looked around to see if anyone else was coming with me but I was safe, 3rd . A better result than performance though, with quite a bit of luck thrown in.

Well done guys and girl, same time next week

Steve

[ThePinkDreamMachine]

Awesome the shadow - a great report with more faces than a dodecahedron Surely a win is just around the corner

Huw

[Andy E]

Great result Steve You were certainly looking comfortable from where i was (about 10-15 places behind you most of the time )

Race to forget for me. Great start had be 5th into the first corner, then i proceeded to slip backwards on every single corner following that and was down to about 40th after a couple of laps. Kept plugging away but couldn't get much further than about 15th. Started to yo-yo off the back with about 12 laps to go and couldn't be arsed riding on my own so pulled out. Great training though, no amount of road racing can prepare you for that. Still, hopefully in a few weeks i'll make it to the end, and might even trouble the judges sooner or later

[-Adam-]

Top ride Steve, now stop pissing about and win the thing will you!!

[Steve B]

Adam, I'm trying mate, I'm trying

[Toks]

[quote="Steve B"]Adam, I'm trying mate, I'm trying

[Michelle]

Good write up, Steve. GRRREAT result.

[Toks]

[quote="kieran"] My feet were cramping on the last lap and then shortly after getting off the bike so did my legs. A good race. Steve did good and Serge was also up in the main bunch for all of the race, apart from the last lap or two? Mark did a lovely crash I'm sure he will tell us about it. As usual I believe Hugo Humphreys either got 1st or 2nd.

[Toks]

Women
1 Charlotte Blackman Cyclefit.co.uk
2 Karen Price Dulwich Paragon
3 Byrnie Drabon VC Londres
4 Lisa Scarlett London Dynamo
5 Rohan Battison DNA Cycles
[size=150][color=#FF4080]6 Chloe Thomas Addiscombe CC[/color][/size]

Chloe you realise that finishing the race behind Lisa is not acceptable especially now she's riding for those New kids on the block. Please address this as soon as you can.

3/4
1 Oliver Wilmmot InGear
2 Hugo Humphreys Lee Valley Youth CC
[size=150]3 Steve Broomfield Addiscombe CC[/size]
4 Christian Cormack London Dynamo
5 Luis Cuevas InGear
6 James Wilson Sigma RT
7 Stuart Jones London Phoenix
8 Vaidas Grabahska Dulwich Paragon
9 Akex Robbons Dulwich Paragon
10 Richard Balfour McCheesefour