SL Handicap - Newchapel - 21st May

[Keith]

First things first: A [size=200]BIG[/size] thank-you to all of the helpers at tonight's Addiscombe hosted race. From signing on right through to a cuppa afterwards, and everyone inbetween. Thanks - we couldn't have raced without you.

[Ivor]

Excellent marshalling all round, whoever was on the corner with the golf course, hope you were ok after your incident with the white fiesta.
Pretty tidy racing as far as I could see, keeping on the right side of the lane.
Bit of a hairy start with the scratch group , but you live and learn.
Cheers,

[Alan M]

Yes, thanks so much for the organisation. Still trying to calm down after what felt like the most physically demanding hour+ that I can recall. I learnt a lot, especially about cornering. Some of my laps were 25mph average WOW! Also I survived to the end ... just....

[Keith]

So, to a race report. That's the most fun race I've had for a while . Often I only enjoy a race after the event .

A "sold out" event today. Quite a few riders were turned away . I don't think the commissionaire wanted to exceed the regulatory max 60 riders, because of the extra vehicles on the route with the main Newchapel road closed.

I was put in the 3rd group, along with ACCers Marek, Steve B and Andy E. Our group had around 12 riders including Torq Steve, 3 Norwood Paragon, 1 Redhill and a useful Brighton Mitre. 9 1/2 laps to go.

It took quite a long time for us to get organised and working together. For the first lap or two only around 4 or 5 of us were prepared to work. The sitting-in was so noticeable, that a couple of attacks went in. I think the sight of 4 ACC riders in a rolling maul having broken off the front of the group was enough to spur others into "taking part" .

Once we'd started working together, our group worked very well, with everyone taking turns in smooth through-and-off . With the first 2 groups on the road being given at least 2 minutes head start each, this was the only way we had any chance of catching. 4 laps to go the lead was 1:40. 3 laps to go 1:20. Hmmm, this could be close.

Last but one lap we caught the 2nd group (3rd vets). Marek broke away, trying to use the disruption of the catch to get away, but to no avail. Still no sign of us getting caught by the scratch group behind, although with our increasing numbers it was getting more difficult to see behind. Into the last lap and we caught the lead groups (4th & women). Through at full pace in an effort to leave as many behind before the sprint.

So, to the sprint. I've rambled enough, I'll leave it to somebody else to declare the result.

[Steve B]

Huge thankyou to all who organised and helped last night .

No time to write report now, I'm late for work . Save to say tho

Tell away guys

Steve

[Sylv]

Well done Steve! I heard you before I saw you

[Gavin]

Hard work last night.

I turned up and off went the 4ths and I wasn't in it.

They called the next group and I wasn't in that one either. I asked George and he said I was in the 3rd group. Marek said just to go so I did.

Good job too the group was a little uncoordinated but I spent most of the time at the back holding on. We got passed by Marek just before the finish line with 1 lap to go. We then caught the 4ths with 1 lap to go. They seemed to have split up quite a lot when we came through. I just held on up the hill and finished a couple of hundred metres back off the sprint.

Good workout though and slept like a log last night.

Thanks to all the marshalls it was amazing the number of addiscombe who made it down there and also a large number in the race itself.

[Snoop Doug]

I went down to HQ yesterday intending to have a go. Rode round the course and my post fall off nerves just got the better of me . I'll get my head together again one of these days.

Anyway...

The sense of excitement and general agreeable-ness before the race was great. There was yellow and black everywhere, smiles, preparation, smiles, help, smiles....you get the picture. Buzzing.

Felt like the whole clan had turned out. Prez was there, Club Captain was there, General Sec was there, VCs were there, crikey, we were all there. George, you led a fantastic show last night. You and everyone who helped and raced must feel very proud.

In 2009 I've been at the road race, the Open 25, an SCCU event and now this. We've organised, run and supported some great racing this year. Wherever we go - we make a difference. We've a few more chances yet to show our sport why we're such a great club.

Top job one and all, mighty impressive.

Snoop

PS - and did I see a Shadow pass the finish line.....

[Andrew G]

Well done George, a very good event top work fella.

I managed to get there earlier than expected so went to the finish and moved the 1km to go sign back so it was a bit further from the line than about 400m . Sorted out the numbers in order for the lap board and got about the serious business of eating snacks before the race came through.

An interesting race to watch, the later groups (as would seem from above) took a couple of laps to get organised as they didn't bring the gaps down at all until about lap 3, and from 4 on they were noticeably coming together a bit. The last group was shifting but couldn't close it down as once organised the 3rd group (Marek, Keith et al) were shifting themselves and always working well when they came through.

I don't know how much Rob W bunged PVT to get in the first group , looked like he was on a recovery ride early on grinning away . You looked a lot better once the other groups caught you.

Well done to Ivor too, looking like a veteran of race leading these days.

With it coming together so much for a sprint finish I ballsed up my judging in grand style . I can normally get the first 10-12 but as a big blob of fast moving riders I found it impossible after the first 3. Thank God for Michelle's expert spotting and Monty's camcorder to capture the action for freeze-frame re-runs in the HQ.

A good evening and great to hear the lion roar again .

[Ivor]

[quote="Andrew G"]Well done to Ivor too, looking like a veteran of race leading these days.

[Andy E]

Yep, a great night of racing, and a HUGE thank you to all involved for a race which great organisation and marshalling from start to finish

Race wise I started in the 3rd group with Marek, Keith and Steve B and was reasonably confident we could stay away if we worked properly. I spent the first 3 laps doing as much work as i could, and even though at least half our group was sitting on a few attacks and all 4 of us breaking away for a bit changed their mind

Laps 4-8 were really well organised and we were motoring, I got stuck on the inside before the final turn and was too far down to contest the sprint, but got a good view of the Shadow's arms being raised aloft There were about 6 or 7 of us in the group on the final lap and we really should have got organised into some form of leadout, but with the high pace and narrow roads it wasn't really possible, and thankfully we didn't need it anyway.

Anyone know how far behind the remaining groups were?

Excellent cake post race too, great job Chloe

[Rob W]

Thanks to all the people who helpedto organize the race.Had great fun and a good ride.Look forward to the next one.

[George]

Well done Steve the Shadow and finishing off the podium in 3rd MR PVT
4 Agreeables in the top 10
At the finish the scratch group was only 17 seconds behind Steve Shadow, I'd say that was pretty much perfect handicapping by ACC
[img]http://i42.tinypic.com/14m9eoj.png[/img]

[Paul on the Pearson]

First off a big thankyou to everyone who helped out and got the thing up and running. CHEERS!
That was the best race I've done this season and the first on the road. Learnt a lot, especially about keeping or trying to keep some speed through the corners and that my bike handling skills dont stretch to getting my water bottle from my bike to my mouth which lead to a hairy moment! All was going well and I felk OK untill disaster struck and I just blew up before the last lap. But the best way to get race fit as they say is to race.......

[Michelle]

Well done everyone and especially Hubby for a great ride.

I went along to get a lift in one of the lead cars, we ended up driving right in front of the 3rd group off which just happened to include the winner, the 3rd placed ACC the 5th placed ACC (Hubby) and the 8th placed ACC! It was great to watch the lovely smoothly rolling through and off through the rear window. And Mareks attack through the 3V group was v exciting. Well done for managing to hold off from attacking till the last 2 laps, rather than in the first 2 laps as usual

Mark's driving was great and the other motorists really noted his signals to slow down and take it easy. The marshalling was exceptional, special note to Sian on the corner by the bridge, the Hewitt sisters on that busy section and whoever was round the corner from Paul Ingram, they had the busiest times.

Back for tea and cakes and what a spread there was. The video was a good idea, it really helped; Huw says his number taking was poor but mine was even worse, I was so excited I could hardly write especially after gripping the radio for the last hour.

Anyhow, some piccies for you lot.


[img]http://i39.tinypic.com/f6xx3.jpg[/img]

Loads of people at the start.

[img]http://i44.tinypic.com/ru3dkw.jpg[/img]

Hmmm, but too photoshopped this one, nevermind

[img]http://i43.tinypic.com/9jjgnp.jpg[/img]

Good 'speed' effects

[img]http://i43.tinypic.com/20levs.jpg[/img]

Rob W taking it easy, nonchalantly hanging off the front of the handlebars