VCL cyclo-cross Herne Hill 02.09

[Sylv]

Can you guess what happened next?

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2451/3883938528_9145dfdfd1.jpg[/img]

[Ivor]

you hopped forwards twice on the front wheel, span the bike around so you faced the other way, stood on one pedal, took one hand off the bars, made a star, span around again, dropped onto rear wheel then rode on to much applause?

[Michelle]

My guess is he went [size=150]SPLAT[/size]

[Sylv]

Not quite Ivor!

I was meant to cut the racing and start the hill-climb intervals but it looked like it was going to be a wet evening so I took my mtb to work with a view to race the 'cross for fun if it was not that wet. Weather changed its mind about four times throughout the day, but at 4.30 it had stopped raining so I made up my mind to go. Eating plan had not been ideal, zero carbs at lunch and bread/honey at 5pm, I was looking for a banana in the office but couldn't find one - let's see how that goes! I got a bit stuck at work then hopelessly lost in Herne Hill/Dulwich ( !!) whilst trying out an alternate route, losing ten minutes in the process and realising I was feeling more tired than I would like for racing, almost turned back home at one stage, then I recognised College Road and the fact that I was only two minutes away from the velodrome.

Got there with minutes to spare but still time to do a practise lap with everyone after the youth race, well I started at the back and as I was riding at snail's pace called a meeting of the brain and thought let's have a crack at winning this, somehow though I missed out on riding the section with the wooden barriers. Lined up at the front with familiar road/cross racers, Matt Seaton, Ian Paine, Stuart Spies, Ben Spurrier, Guy Pearson etc, though a "fun" event everyone seemed very keen on starting if only a few inches ahead of anyone else. Gary Record, also on a mtb, shot off in front and I was happy to take his wheel as the first section within the grass inside the track was a bit of a maze and I didn't fancy taking a wrong turn.

Once onto the off-road singletrack though he proved very fast and was gaining terrain on me. The course was as usual brilliant, making the most of what little is space available behind the track and reminiscent of the old Eastway off-road course - excellent! Phil Jones was there with his remote flash in strategic locations. Onto the velodrome again and Gary had some 30-40m on me, and I had the same on my immediate follower. I put on my biggest geat to float on the rough grass surface and was quickly making ground on him - halfway through I was just about to make contact when my bar-end got tangled in with the course rope (thin blue rope + green grass + no light + slight colour-blindness = crash #1). Got up with my bar-end now facing South and having lost some seconds, approaching the barriers. I saw Gary bunny-hopping them so had a go myself - ok on the first one, but not enough speed on the second - rear wheel caught the barrier, whopping OTB (also caught on film I am told) and my leg and knee smashed into it which is really painful today. I got caught by someone and could see the herd of the next bunch just around the corner - ho hum.

Quickly passed the guy again and set upon getting back on Gary - that took ages - maybe three laps, he was going strong, each time I was getting closer on the grass bit, but losing that ground again on the singletrack. Then it started raining. Not too good, a) I'd only ridden my new tires for 500m in a muddy section but that was enough to know they were crap, and b) my Ergon grips are brilliant but become terrible (slippery) in the wet, unless you have gloves - which I had forgotten. Tires proved ok in the end but grips were giving me gripes. Andy Waterman was getting closer to us in third place. In the end I caught Gary and passed him before the singletrack, but couldn't get rid of him. That was only about half an hour in, and John had told us about an hour race. But then we finished that lap and they rang the bell, well it was getting dark and miserable. Time to engage the overdrive!

Despite my efforts to attack we were still locked in, I was getting worried I would lose time at the final passage of the barriers (having to hop off the bike after my failed bunny-hopping attempt) but was still leading there, with 250m to go. We were neck in neck and it was a bit of a sprint, there were a couple of people in the way but I think Gary could have passed me if he was able to, it was about a wheel's length on the line. Didn't hang around as it was now raining properly - had forgotten everything - lights, waterproof, post-race food. To safeguard me against traffic I managed to draft an 18-wheeler from the top of Crystal Palace to the Croydon bypass - and he was shifting - epic ride.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/12445176


[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2667/3883787040_77f0c1fcc8.jpg[/img]
gary the hippy

[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3429/3883947048_8924a26391.jpg[/img]
note downwards facing bar-end!

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2484/3883938640_dbdc93e069.jpg[/img]


Pics by Phil Jones: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30401683@N ... 223300586/

[Ivor]

wow! great write up. hope the leg's not too bad. if it's any consolation my thumb is still throbbing!

[Michelle]

Does that mean you won Sylv?

[Sylv]

Oops yes did I forget to make that clear : )

Knee is better cycling than walking today!

[Sylv]

And there's the vid for you to scoff at http://www.londoncyclesport.com/Feature ... _2888.html

[George]

Well done Sylv a fine victory

Next up is senior race winner Sylvain Garde (Addiscombe CC), who for once sees his fine bike handling skill let him down as he does an 'endo'.
http://www.londoncyclesport.com/Feature ... _2888.html

[Toks]

I watched that endo five time - wicked! Fantastci result Sylv well done! ...How may races have you won this year now?

[Sylv]

[quote="Toks"]I watched that endo five time - wicked! Fantastci result Sylv well done! ...How may races have you won this year now?

[Chris L]

Great write up, that race sounds a lot of fun ! Well done on first place.
Now I know who it was went past me in Streatham on my way to work, all I saw was a litespeed MTB and the ACC socks. After the predictions of heavy rain later rain I was onmy my MTB, was trying to catch Sylv up til a bus got in the way. Who I am kidding I didn't even get close.
Chris

[Antloony]

Radical endo dude....

Great result and excellent write up as we've come to expect from you now, top banana.

[Sylv]

hey all, i am eventually getting surgery tomorrow on my knee following this seemingly innocuous crash, as the cortisone didn't work and it's gone worse

should be back on foot shorty after and hopefully on the bike by the time it's 2010

yes i did show the video to the surgeon

[Dominic]

Hope it all goes well Sylv