SL Ewhurst 1/2/3 - 16th August 09

[Keith]

I decided that it was about time time that I dipped my toe in the water of a 1st Cat race.

What did I learn? When riding hard for 3 hours and 70 miles for the first time since I don't know when, it's probably best not to do it with a bunch of 1st Cat racers on a lumpy course.

At certain points around the course I had Joyce's words from Saturday morning ringing in my head: "Just make sure you finish." I'm not sure these were words of encouragement or a vague threat!

I managed to hold on to the bunch for the 6 laps, but then when we peeled off for the finish line up Leith Hill I found reverse gear when the road got really steep. I came in not far off lantern rouge. Does that make me Lantern Rosé?

A big thank-you to the shouts of encouragement from Michelle, Chloe and Huw.

[img]http://i28.tinypic.com/24dhidf.jpg[/img] [img]http://i28.tinypic.com/2j674fq.jpg[/img] [img]http://i26.tinypic.com/t5lgr5.jpg[/img]
Pictures by Michelle.

[Marek]

Well done, you got to be in it to urrr well finish it. It can only help your riding to get stuck in with the big guns, the more you do it the easier it gets, apparently.

Cheers

Marek....

p.s. did you get given extra bottles by your ds whilst racing as 70 miles is quite tough on two bottles at race speed.

[Andrew G]

Well done for sticking your neck out, a course that finishes up Leith Hill .
[quote="Keith"] I'm not sure these were words of encouragement or a vague threat!

[Antloony]

Well done for getting stuck in Keith. Spoke to my mate today, said he followed the race on route to the countryside with his family fpr a picnic, said he couldn't believe the speed of you guys...must have been fast has he drives a supercharged jag.

ps I'm hoping to do Palace tomorrow, a year since I last raced there, hope I do better than last time As you said Keith will only get race fit by racing, tad late in the season to get going but may use it as a spring board to some decent winter training...might even.... get...a ...turbo trainer...gulp

[Keith]

[quote="Antloony"]As you said Keith will only get race fit by racing...

[Antloony]

You cant mean train as well as race...you know me, I don't do training, way to lazy

[Toks]

Good effort Keith From reading a few reports from 1st cats it sounds like it was a good race.
http://www.theroadcyclist.com/
Cameron Austin, London Dynamo
The Tester that came up a Hill and down a Mountain

With the BMC (72cm) and Blue tubbed S3 loaded we were all set to go, hydrated, fuelled and ready for the final climb over a well known Surrey Favourite, Leith Hill.

Well Oiled Legs, Rapha gloves (Black though...), White shoes, Shades. Check.

Great conditions today, Sun was out, with a slight headwind on the drag before the finish.

Fairly small field rolled out onto the Ewhurst circuit which included a few minor climbs, one descent and (Shock, Horror) some CORNERS* before a long, open, rolling section on an A road before turning left before the turn off for the final climb.

First few laps were fairly well paced with a few attacks, none of which gaining more than a minute on the bunch. John Heaton Armstrong (FitFor), Rob Enslin AW Cycles), and Steve Saunders (Kingston) all looked strong and were involved at the sharp end.

Just before middle distance a break went with Austin, Paine, Saunders, a DHC character, Steve Tring, Ben Wilson and a few others slipped off the front. The break was working pretty well, with the young DHC smasher doing his very best to try and drop all his breakmates on every turn... Kettle Calling the pot Black but Austin was heard ordering a smoother turn...

A combination of the Heat and the long A road drag ensured the return to the field after a couple of laps away.

Heads were turning at the catch on the long drag, and as Ben Wilson wound up those 808s into another attack Steve Tring in true tester mentality joined. Paine had commited to some Truly Beautiful turns on the front in a passionate attempt to up the pace of the break, which may have contributed to his less astonishing second half...

BUT THEN

Out of the corner of my left eye part of a HUGE section of White Scaffolding came into view... Surely not. As those three letters came past (at roughly eye level...) B...M...C... with Powdrill aboard steamed past and the sheen on his taxc honed lower limbs clearly showed he meant business. This Titanic Steed powered away on his favoured A Road Habitat, never to be seen again by the bunch.

The break of three was away and running with 2 to go, and from a heavily depleted field there were several attempts to bridge, most of which were marked by Austin and Hayter... We were both in agreement that if anyone could stay away over that distance, then expect to drag their bodyweight up 2km of Surrey's finest terrain... They were most likely a lonely soul used to sitting at 180bpm at 0630 in the morning, on their own, talking to no-one.

the last two laps in the bunch were "raced" at the sedantry pace of an old persons home as the field readied themselves for the final push... Apparently the break was faltering at this point with the trio struggling up hills, paying for their earlier exertions... Not to Worry. Out favourite Poodle was merely readying his greasy limbs for circa 4mins @ 440W (Do not repeat unless under SImmonds orders)

At the final turn off the last long drag Guy saw the bunch, but kept his head down, Steve Saunders was in no-mans land finishing off a strong performance after being involved for most of the race.

Half way up Leith Guy dropped the hammer to dispense with his companions (Companionship not Powdrill's Forte...), but more importantly to hold off Mr Saunders Esq who was hunting the white footed pooch with intent. All the miserable everlasting moments at horrible Wattages sweating torrents finally paid off and Guy kept it spinning over the summit to cross the line with 10s to spare.

The bunch followed in ones and twos but All the Glory had been taken by Coach Simmond's finest student... Just in an RR not some indescript TT where the course is known by a number.

Congratulations.

*the only corner of the Course Still gave Guy some trouble as we turned left, I couldn't understand why the BMC was coming back towards me at surprising pace... Overtaken on the outside. Truly dismal... At least Leith is fairly straight.

Race Winner Guy Powerdrill's ReportYou're telling me, my first win on the road since May 2004:-

http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/result...004/may9-4.htm

First 2 hrs I sat-in and watched as the main break went away and was happy not to have to do anything to bring it back as Cam & Ian were both there. With 25miles to go the break of 8 or so got dragged back and I jumped on Ben Wilson & Steve Tring's wheel who were just off the front by about 50m - looked behind and the bunch seemed to be taking a breather - 25miles....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm that's a familiar distance, head down off we go....we were out of sight quickly and worked well together, 2 laps went by in a blur and before I knew it we were at the foot of Leith Hill with about 35 seconds to play with. All 3 of us were in bits by then and it was a case of last man standing, Wilson slipped away the moment the gradient rose significantly at about 1/4 distance. Tring and I were side-by-side up until the steepest section by the wall/farm shop just after half way - I just kept pedalling squares and gapped him by about 3 or 4 bike lengths - after that it levels out a bit and I was able to put more distance into him - one final look over the shoulder revealed Steve Saunders coming-up like a steam train, having already caught Wilson - by then I was at the 200m to go flag - shifted it up a few cogs and finished off the job with about 10seconds in hand. A dribbling mess over the line with no real victory salute - but hey, I don’t get much practice.........

[Rob Q]

Great effort Keith, it was a warm day too

[joyce]

Glad you finished.Thought you would.Couldn't let the Boss down!!!!!!!!!!!.
Keep up the good work.Great to see you are riding with the big boys now & not toooo intimidated by themIf you keep fit though the winter & are still enjoying riding you will improve again
Joyce.

[-Adam-]

Top bombing!

[Keith]

Pos Name Club/Team Cat
1 Guy Powdrill London Dynamo 1
2 Steven Saunders Kingston Wheelers 1
3 Simon Ernest awcycles.co.uk 2
...
27 Keith Lea Addiscombe CC 3
...
30
and 5 x DNF

Told you I was nearly at the back .