This weekend saw the battle for the Festival RC 25 mile TT title held within the North Hampshire RC event on the Bentley course. With Colin McDermott on holiday and Mick Gowan a non-starter, it was down to Barry McDermott, John Froud and myself to fight it out.
Off early in a full, high quality field John posted a time of 1:03:44 on what was an extremely blustery day which made the outward leg particularly gruelling. To add to the fun, it then began to rain for the
latter part of the field !
Next to go was myself, and though not particularly in great shape after just returning from holiday, was reasonably satisfied with a 58:44. Even so, I figured it would take a strong ride from Barry to topple me, but in what was, in my opinion, one of his best rides of the last couple of years - that's exactly what he did, to record an excellent 57:41 and take the club 25 trophy to add to his 10 mile TT trophy that he won earlier in the year.
Nice one Baz!
Monday 23 August 2010
Surrey League at Goodwood
A rather overcast and damp day was in order for the last weekend Goodwood race of the season. I lined up with about a million other 3rd cats and Mark Workman was in a relatively large E12 cat field.
In my race, after a steady first few laps, any moves were snubbed out immediately by a concerted bunch effort. I must have been involved with ten attacks but it was impossible to get away as quite a few riders seemed desperate for a bunch sprint. I managed a little escape with three others for half a lap but it fizzled out.
In my race, after a steady first few laps, any moves were snubbed out immediately by a concerted bunch effort. I must have been involved with ten attacks but it was impossible to get away as quite a few riders seemed desperate for a bunch sprint. I managed a little escape with three others for half a lap but it fizzled out.
Anyway, I realised with half a lap to go a bunch kick was inevitable so got out the way and let them get on with it. Watching things unfold down the back straight it was just a matter of time before people crashed. The headwind slowed the bunch, everyone squashed together, the shouting started then bang 20 riders hit the deck. I observed all this from behind and felt massively relieved I stayed out of the sprint….especially when riding past the carnage.
The E12 race split into two groups with Mark in the second coming about 5th in his group sprint for a top 20 position.
No racing this week, next up the SL Handicap Worlds.
Thursday 19 August 2010
I am not a fish
The London Triathlon was last week set at the Excel centre in the Docklands. The Olympic Distance Mens race was last Sunday during a very hot afternoon. The aim was to just get through the swim and finish the race!
I started off with a nerve racking 1.5km Swim in a nice, clean, warm, Thames Doc….. Apart from swimming right over to the left in the wrong direction, I felt like I was punched, kicked, elbowed and swam over! I eventually came out of the swim 320th in my category. The bike ride up to Tower Bridge and back was the circuit, I managed to climb from 320th to 250th in the bike ride. After the cycle the run was a circuit along the doc. My legs almost gave in, but with the constant 'come on Chelsea audio' being chanted at me from young cheerleaders and spectators, I managed to pass another 50 people and finish 199th.
I am going to invest in some swimming lessons then have go at a longer distance
Surrey League RR at Walliswood
I rode the third cat Surrey League event at Walliswood on Sunday which saw a full field of 60 riders tackle 8 laps of a 7.6 mile circuit (61 miles). The weather was a bit chilly to start but soon warmed up with a fairly strong southerly wind making things tough on parts of the circuit.
My plan for the race was to stay out of trouble for the first 4 laps then try to get involved on what is a fairly lumpy circuit but with no especially tough obstacles.
For most of the race the bunch seemed fairly happy to plod along with various riders happy to ride hard on the parts of the course suitable for an attack but not hard enough to cause any damage.
Annoyingly, as I was loitering at the back feeding, four riders did manage to get away with two eventually getting dropped and the remaining two fighting for the win. I attacked with about five miles to go and stayed out for a few miles until I was brought back for a bunch sprint to decide the remaining places. It’s a shame no one came with me as I reckon with a few riders we would definitely have stayed away as the bunch crawled along A29.
It’s Goodwood on Sunday…
My plan for the race was to stay out of trouble for the first 4 laps then try to get involved on what is a fairly lumpy circuit but with no especially tough obstacles.
For most of the race the bunch seemed fairly happy to plod along with various riders happy to ride hard on the parts of the course suitable for an attack but not hard enough to cause any damage.
Annoyingly, as I was loitering at the back feeding, four riders did manage to get away with two eventually getting dropped and the remaining two fighting for the win. I attacked with about five miles to go and stayed out for a few miles until I was brought back for a bunch sprint to decide the remaining places. It’s a shame no one came with me as I reckon with a few riders we would definitely have stayed away as the bunch crawled along A29.
It’s Goodwood on Sunday…
Tuesday 17 August 2010
Festival RC "Roadbike" 10 - New address for entries!
Please note there is a change of organiser's address for entries to the Festival RC "RoadBike" 10 on Saturday 18th September.
Entries on standard CTT entry forms need to go to:
Colin McDermott
223 Hillcrosss Avenue
Morden
Surrey
SM4 4BU
by 7th September 2010 with cheque for £7.50
Contact Colin for more details at 07799505546 or mcdermottcolin@tiscali.co.uk
Entries on standard CTT entry forms need to go to:
Colin McDermott
223 Hillcrosss Avenue
Morden
Surrey
SM4 4BU
by 7th September 2010 with cheque for £7.50
Contact Colin for more details at 07799505546 or mcdermottcolin@tiscali.co.uk
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