First race for me tonight after joining HCC a few weeks ago. Left work
early and rode from home to the course (4km), got there around 5:30pm.
Signed up, got my number - '155', and proceeded to do a few laps in a high
gear, and a few in a low. I really had no idea what to expect. I've been
to the Kew crits for a looksee a few times but didn't know if I could keep
up with the group and the whole surge at the end. Rolling around, seeing a
few other D graders rock up and doing a few laps.
My goals were not to come last and maybe if I was lucky, not to get dropped
by the bunch. 6pm on the dot we get told about not overlapping wheels and
to hold our line. Off we go... I knew that if I was any further back than
about 10th then the hairpin would become a nightmare, so I sat in about
5-6th place for the first lap or so. A small break away of about two or
three attempted the impossible at about lap 3, nobody was chasing.. they
were back in the bunch about 1/2 a lap later 🙂
A few of the other guys were looking serious, but I thought if they were
that much better they would be in C or above. Dropping around the sweeper
the wind was like a brick wall, always on the lookout for a wheel to sit on.
Few more laps go by. The hairpin corner is a weak point of most people,
braking before the turn!? (thanks to dutchy here for his tips a few weeks
back, working a treat!). I had no idea of the pace compared to other weeks,
so I just kept my position. Somehow I kept getting spat out the front
around laps 5-10. I thought what the hell, and pushed on sitting around
1st-4th place.
There were a few break away attempts, all solo efforts which had no chance
with the wind like it was. More laps.. then more laps.. 5 mins to go is
called. Starting to wonder when the surge would take place. Looking behind
me the group appears to be one large bunch just waiting to pounce. 3 laps
to go.. still up the front.. toying from 1st to 5th... 2 laps to go, still
no surge.. waiting for someone to make their move. I still had enough legs
for a decent finish. I was now expecting at least a top 10 finish. ONE LAP
TO GO.. not much movement, so what the hell, head down, I'm going to get a
good run into that last hairpin and see what I can do up that hill. Last
glance the bunch looks like it will choke itself on the last corner, I take
all the room I need, not changing down this time and its god damn
SHOWTIME!>>.. put everything into getting up that hill, attempting to snap
those cranks clean off.. and over the line... 1st place..!!!.
I roll around to the starting point.. not knowing anyone there I put the
bike up against the fence and take a seat. Two older guys next to me start
having a yarn about the race. I overhear a few statements about "number 155
getting stronger on the last lap" and own up before they say something nasty
🙂
A few friendly faces from BR fame are there and give me a quick run down.
Then giving me the bad news that I will probably be in C next week. I'll
have to keep a low profile and stick to D so I can learn a thing or two
about bunch racing. $15 for the win in D.
cheers,
GPL