Hillingdon 29.8 - 4th Cats

[Scott]

So this is it, the dawn of a new era in my relatively new found obsession ‘Cycling’ or more specifically the niche area of specialisation that is ‘Road Racing’. Just half a dozen races ago I was a virgin racer with absolutely no idea. Now I am sitting on 9pts and still have no idea!

I jest, for months I have been following a strict diet of instruction and training prescribed to me in 4 weekly blocks by ‘Blofeld’. There are those amongst you who know the cerebral sadist, a man of very few spoken words for he is a legend amongst men and a master of the more deadly written word. Most communications between us are conducted electronically but every time his instruction hits my inbox, I visualize his quite figure sitting on a sumptuous leather bound Herman Miller chair behind a large solid hardwood desk gently stroking a much loved fluffy cat laying on his lap in the very tall CW Towers.

I could go on to say that at Hillingdon on Saturday Nic Knack and Odd Job came in support of my quest but then that would just be a bit silly. In fact Chloe the Cover Girl came to watch having just banged out an impressive 5 km run at the Banstead Woods time trial together with Paul who has everything I haven’t –Hair, Good Looks, Youth and an Italian Bike! This was Paul’s first outing to Hillingdon so I primed him a little on the typical scenarios that are played out weekly.

I had had a bit of a mare’ish morning what with leaving Caterham half an hour later than I wanted, my zip breaking on my Addiscombe Club Shirt and my coms giving up the ghost despite a new battery. So, I popped a gel and hit a shorter than usual warm-up, bear chested and with no way of monitoring Heart Rate, Cadence or Time. Twenty minutes later, on the line I popped another gel and fired myself up into the zone. I wanted it and I wanted it bad!!!! 1 point was all I needed but I wanted to graduate to Cat 3 in style! I told myself I was better than these two bit untrained punks! I was the man…..grrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

We set off, approx 25-30 riders and a number of them now familiar faces. It would be an hour and then 3 laps engineered so as not to clash with the E123 race. I took the front for a lap or two and sat in the first five for the majority of the race. No coms, No Zip, No Sweat!

A somewhat experimental side of me was saying I could just wheel away from the bunch and go it alone but that was just the gel talking. I sat in and waited and waited and waited. I developed numbness in my right hand, quickly observing this as a sign of weakness I promptly shook it off. The commissionaire looked at his watch and over to the far side of the track to see where the E123’s were. This was a sign to me that they were going to call the 3 laps very soon. Another lap and they shouted 3 laps to go! Immediately the entire bunch tensed and drew closer to one another. Then the bell rang and I received my instant hit of adrenaline, my fuel, my drug, my weapon. I stepped out and took some wind in order to gain some position on the gusty straight and get where I wanted to be for the final break and uphill sprint for the line.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I shouted as I exploded into a sprint. I passed all but one as I chased him to the line. No one was coming past me, especially the three Paragons or the guy with the uncool black stocking on one leg. I settled for best looser [size=150]2nd.[/size] All the points I needed job done. I picked up my winnings and hit the bar for tea and cake along with Chloe and Paul and a feeling of deep joy.

Thanks to all those that made this happen and thanks for reading.

Scott

[img]http://i28.tinypic.com/261c0ft.jpg[/img]

[Toks]

Get in there my Son. Love it - Job Done (great report too) !!!!. The question is scott A or B race on the 19th?

[Grahame]

A race. He fails the two B race qualifications now. He is not a novice racer (several races experience) and he's not a 4th cat.

Congrats on the second place and the promotion to 3rd cat.

[Rob W]

Well done Scott.Knew we`d get the job done with Blofelds instruction.Do you fancy some 3rd cat races? I have just entered the Surrey league one on the 13th Sep at Rusper and there is one on the 20th Sep at Cutmill not sure if i can do that one,my sons football starts then.

[Sylv]

Awesome Scott!

I wouldn't feel pressurised to do the ACC A race though, with just over a handful of races under your belt. Or there are a few other people that might want to do the A race too in that case!

[ThePinkDreamMachine]

HOORAY i saw it, it was Brilliant, he STORMED up the finish and that photo dosen't show how close it was. If the finish was another meter away scott would have had him.

well done scott!

'I visualize his quite figure sitting on a sumptuous leather bound Herman Miller chair behind a large solid hardwood desk gently stroking a much loved fluffy cat laying on his lap in the very tall CW Towers.'

spot on scott..

[Keith]

[quote="ThePinkDreamMachine"].. sitting on a sumptuous leather bound Herman Miller chair behind a large solid hardwood desk ...

[Keith]

Nearly forgot - well done Scott.

[quote="Keith"][quote="ThePinkDreamMachine"].. sitting on a sumptuous leather bound Herman Miller chair behind a large solid hardwood desk ...

[Michelle]

I think we have a contendor for Wiliiam's writing crown. What a fabulous funny write up Scott.

Well done, it's great to see another ACCer who was a complete novice a few months ago, do so well. Chapeau.