Dunsfold 2/6/2009

[huw williams]

Ah it felt good to be back in the saddle on a UK track again. Actually it didn’t feel good to be back in the saddle, it felt bloody painful to be back in the saddle as, alarmingly, my a*se was still hurting from the Nove Colli nine days previously.

That and a serious amount of pre-race nerves due to worrying that I might still have ‘sportive’ legs and get dropped by the first bend. ‘Sportive’ legs are what you get from doing big hilly sportives. They’re useless when it comes to short, fast circuit races like this and after a ride the size of the Nove Colli you’re never sure how long it’s going to take to loose them and regain your ‘racing’ legs – which is a much faster kind of leg altogether and it doesn’t have to go up hills for 8 hours.

[size=150]Scratch that
[/size]So I was a bit concerned when Glynn called ‘Scratchicap tonight’ on the line. A Scratchicap means that there’d be no meaningful handicap of any kind dished out at the start and we’d have to race with the E/1/2 scratch group pretty much from the off.

This was bad enough but worse was to follow – “you’re doing 12 laps tonight” said Glynn confirming that the race distance would be increased to 36 miles. What? Are you Serious? 36 miles in this heat, for a mere Tuesday-night, fish-and-chipper? There was derision from the riders at the back of the grid. Abusive dissent was voiced and personal slights aimed at the organiser. Calls went up along the lines of “Bring back Keith Butler” and “You should’ve stayed in America” but Glynn calmly stamped out the uprising by threatening to ban a few of the scratch group including the defending champion Jamie Newell, which brought everyone back into line. So 12 laps it was.

My second reason for attending tonight (other than trying to rediscover my racing legs) was to baby sit one of the ACC racing newbies Scott Georgiades. I’ve been coaching Scott since the end of last summer when he was overweight, over-geared and wouldn’t have dreamed of doing a circuit race. Actually that’s not true, he WAS dreaming of doing a circuit race but that was about all he could do, dream about it, as at that point he wasn’t able to comfortably hang with the 16s club run group. He’s now a lean, powerhouse who comfortably holds his own in the 20’s or ‘B’ training group and Dulwich chain gangs and has a promising racing future. It gives me just as much pleasure to see the riders I coach from scratch make their racing debut as it does to see the experienced ones bagging points, so welcome to the fold Scott – the latest ACC racing convert.

[size=150]Too strong?[/size]
So having got him to the line Scott quickly set about ignoring everything I’d told him on the way down by getting very excited when he realised that he was much stronger than the majority of the 4th cats in his group and immediately doing more than his fair share of the work at the front. As our 3rd cat group caught them within a lap and a half and we in turn got caught by the scratch group about half a lap after that I could see what was about to unfold and positioned myself accordingly. So when the Norwood express (four riders) Excel Tiger/VC Meudon (six riders) and Brighton Mitre (five riders) teams launched the selection attacks to shake out the dead wood – ACC was reduced to one rider (me) as Scott was had already burned too many matches.

So that was it, we made the jump to hyperspace and this time I’m pleased to say I got on the train. The next nine laps were just a blur of high-speed tactical chicanery as time after time attacks were launched, chased down and counter attacks launced again. It was awesome and for the first time in a few years I was racing at the front of an E/1/2/3 race and playing my part in all the moves. If I wasn’t in a break I was playing my part in chasing one down and my legs felt really powerful after the gruelling sportives and a couple of maximal interval session I’ve been doing recently.

[size=150]"Trust your feelings"[/size]
I’d decided to race blind and not to be swayed by data for this one, so had no comms on the bike of any kind, the HR monitor and powertap were banished so I don't have any data to impart but happily I can report that I never felt in danger of getting dropped even though the pace was a little frantic at times.

Riding solo amidst the bigger teams was a problem but I just sat on the shoulders of the Norwood guys as they tried to boss the race, pretty impressive to watch they were too actually – then Jamie Newell (we go back a long way to when we used to race mountain bikes together) recognised my plight and suggested I add a dash of yellow to the red Excel Tiger team as an honorary member for the evening as long as I “contributed to putting one of our guys up the road on the last lap.” This I was happy to do, and enquired if any money was likely to change hands. “Thousands of pounds mate” replied Newell laughing “this is a really big team.”

Amazingly after ten of the 12 laps I was getting stronger (or probably everyone else was fading a little and my eight hours at the Nove Colli was starting to pay dividends) and when the rapier-like attacks started on the penultimate lap with first Norwood and then Brighton Mitre trying to get away, I was able to sit in with the Excel guys as they pulled everything back and wait for the last lap fireworks. It worked beautifully… everyone was marking Jamie as he had the number 1 plate on his back, so he launched a bogus attack up the right on the penultimate straight, some of his team mates and I went with him, immediately lighting the blue touch paper in the pack as the others were forced to respond. After a really hard turn on the front Jamie throttled back and just as the rest of the pack gratefully eased off for a bit of respite, his Excel team-mate, Dave Creegan, who they’d worked out was up for the win, attacked up the left and took it round the last bend all the way to the finish, slightly ahead of the mass sprint which unfolded behind.

Awesome… there were cheers and cuddles all round for a job well done on the warm-down lap. The Tiger Excel boys were delighted with the win, I was amazed at simply being at the sharp end of the action for the whole race. I think I got swamped a bit in the final sprint after working hard for the team on the last lap but I rolled in in 21st despite not actually sprinting at the end.

I’m happy to report that Scott followed instructions and re-joined the lead group for the experience/training when we came round and found the pace comfortable and sustainable, further annoying him that he’d made the mistake in the early laps. No matter, your first race is always a rights-of-passage affair and he won’t make the mistake again. He’ll put things right next week.

[size=150]Next stop the Nationals
[/size]So a pretty ordinary result on paper but just being in there at the front means this was a big night for me – after wide-ranging health problems in recent years I never really expected to be racing again, but after all the coaching knowledge I seem to have a better handle on training and what my body is doing and am enjoying an unprecedented long spell of uninterrupted good health. National Champ in five years? Maybe not, but its good to have rediscovered the fun in racing again.

So, feeling everything was about right with the world I got back in Scott’s car for the trip home only for things to get better. Directeur Sportif Michelle was on the hotline from Crystal Palace telling me that Chloe had bagged a haul of points for finishing 3rd. This was the best news of the night as we had initially talked about Palace as a chance for her to grab the odd one or two points here or there, so the seven points she gleaned from this performance was a massive bonus and puts her within a handful of points of her 2nd cat licence. Even with all the work she puts into her riding she still never fails to amaze me with her performances at events of all kinds and without wishing to put too much pressure on her, I hope there will be a champagne moment sometime before the Dragon Ride in ten days – which would be so far ahead of schedule we could take the rest of the summer off.

1 David Creeggan VC Meudon 1 1:22:40 14
2 T Wrzegonowski Prologue 2 18
3 Jason Edwards Wildside 707 RT 1V 1
4 Jamie Newall VC Meudon 1 6
5 Ken Prince VC Meudon 2 2
6 Gianluca Cappello VC Meudon 1V 2
7 Alexabdre Private Member
8 Nick Allen Specialized UK 2
9 Simon McNamara Wildside 707 RT 1
10 Benjamin MacLand VC Meudon 2V
11 Paul Thatcher Brighton Mitre 2V
12 Darryl Barr A3CRG 3V 1
13 Benjamin Marks Private Member 4 3
14 Marc Clothier South Down Bikes 3 3
15 Craig Wilson VC Meudon 2V
16 Mike Donohue Private Member 4V
17 Claire Leonard Brighton Mitre 2W
18 Anthony Mott VC Meudon 3V
19 Mark Sussex Wildside 707 RT 2V
20 David Wilson Charlotteville CC 2
21 Huw Williams Addiscombe CC 3V
22 Mike Brampton TM Racing 3V
23 Alexander Mackmin Norwood Paragon CC 3
24 Andy Grant VC Meudon 3V
25 Mark Pelling In Gear Quickvit RT 3V
26 Ian Vincent Norwood Paragon CC 3V
27 Neil Stone TriSportNews Racing 3
28 Richard Sale Private Member 3
29 James Stuart Norwood Paragon CC 3 4
30 Max Filleul South Down Bikes 3
31 Fiona Blagg Crawley Tri Club 4W
32 Nick Burher South Western RC 4V
33 Emma Craddock South Down Bikes 3W
34 David Burt Private Member 4 1
35 Howard Radcliffe iTeam.cc 3V
36 Graham Rees Brighton Excelsior 4
37 Caroline Goward Scott UK 3W
38 Tony Wells Epsom CC 4V
39 Tony Gordon Pearson Cycles 3V
40 Stuart Fahey Brighton Mitre 3
41 Stuart Kirkham Lewes Wanderers
42 Christopher Scarlett TriSportNews Racing 3
43 Rob Sherrin A3CRG 3V
44 David Pollard In Gear Quickvit RT 3V
45 Mario Manelfi AD Cycles RT 3V
46 Lisa Scarlett London Dynamo 2W
47 John Willis Bayeux Landscapes 3V
48 Dave Larkin Team Velo Sportiff 4
49 Nick Sky Brighton Mitre 3
50 John Hyde DHCyclesport.co.uk 2
51 Dominic Brown Team Toachim 3
52 Ian Russell Kingston Wheelers 4V
53 Mike Hawkins Norwood Paragon CC 1
54 Jim Orr VC Meudon 3V
55 Morgan Lewis Brighton Mitre 4 2
56 Nathan Dye Brighton Mitre 3
57 Dave Larcombe VC Meudon 2V 9
58 Bruce Karsten Prologue 4
59 Scott Georgiades Addiscombe CC 4
60 Paul Radford AD Cycles RT 4
61 Trevor Montague AD Cycles RT 4V
62 Peter Farnfield Dunsfold Park 4

[Scott]

So eloquently put Huw, have you thought about writing for a living?

Despite all that I was told and all that I had read, I stormed out like a bull in a china shop. In the best of Greek accents and with the greatest of Greek (Spock like) logic my Dad always says “To make a mistake once is ok just as long as your learn from it but make it twice is bloody Stupid peeps,init”. So here’s to next week for lesson #2.

Anyone that has thought of giving racing a go, JUST DO IT! It’s the dogs’ danglers!!!!

P.s I'm still hopefull of preium points for fastest 4th in one of the sprints!

[Michelle]

Nice write up, chaps, almost makes me wish I had been there to witness it, but.....no, my evening was better the bosom of the 3000 ACCers who turned up at Palace!

Well done to Huw, some points please next week, E123 or not

[huw williams]

[quote="Michelle"] some points please next week, E123 or not

[Toks]

Another most excellent report Huw - well done mate. I think I started racing just as you'd put yourself into early retirement so its great to hear how well your comeback is going. Oh and chapeau Scott on your debut..Having been swiftly dispatched by the E12's at Palace on Tuesday night (thanks for the workout Warrick ) I set about 2uping and 3 uping with other 2nd and 3rd cats that didn't quite have what it takes. Later on having been told by the commissionaire not to jump back on to the E12 2nd group I forgot myself and offered Chloe a tow up to Charlie B and the other girl. Chloe remained in the zone - smooth and "Kennet-ish" and admonished me for my naughty rebelious behaviour and away she went . At that point I decided to call it a day and join the ACC massive on the sidelines and thank my greatest supporters - Carole's kids

Adam, Sean and Kieran - Palace has a history of letting dropped riders to continue riding which I think is good and encourages more people to race do that most british of things called "giving it a go". I think it would be a shame to stop this because of a few numpties who ain't paying attention. Personally I don't think the commissionaire give enough warnings and explain to dropped riders that they should keep out of the way in the closing laps.

[Scott]

[quote]Oh and chapeau Scott on your debut..

[ThePinkDreamMachine]

sorry Toks. In the zone yes and ready with a arm to punch No.50 when he lapped me again so i could punch him for spitting on me.

[Toks]

[quote="ThePinkDreamMachine"]sorry Toks. In the zone yes and ready with a arm to punch No.50 when he lapped me again so i could punch him for spitting on me.

[kieran]

Hi Toks,

As I said I think the problem is dropped riders drifting around the circuit and not pulling out when asked near the end. I don't think they should be pulled out as soon as they are dropped as the circuit is so small some would get little practice. Also the big fields don't help, these 3/4 fields are about 30 riders more than when I started at Palace just 3 years ago, and more E/1/2 and women riding so pronbably about 40 extra people, I would guess there was over 100 on Tuesday across all categories.

Problems also caused by the front 3/4th not heeding the neutral call when the E/1/2's come to pass by. Those near the back of the bunch, who encounter the E/1/2's first, have the choice of heeding the call and letting the E/1/2's pass in safety and loose touch with the front of the 3/4 race or ignore it so as not to get dropped.