by Jess
Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:28 pm
Has anyone seen the film 'racing stripes'? You know, the one where the zebra thinks he's a racehorse?
Well, that was pretty much how it went - apart from the whole 'turning it around for a win & a happy ending' bit, of course....
Got there in a bit of a fluster after a couple of mechanical issues (flipping mudguards!) and a hole in my tyre (glass again!) - watched the 4th cat only race & then had a quick lap round the course before our race.
Quite a few entries (lots of 2s & 3s there I think). Set off with the cat 4s- not many of us, about 8. All strong looking, Cervello mounted, sponsorship wearing types (not a very friendly bunch actually but then, it is a race, not a social) - took a little while to get into the swing of things but got it together & some paceline riding happened. It wasn't very fluid though and was pretty fast (25 mph+) and whilst I could stick with them in the group, all they had to do to lose me was sprint a bit. Which obviously they did. So the inevitable happened & I was shelled out the back fairly quickly.
Managed to catch them again & hold on for a bit, but got a repeat performance. Was tempted to hot foot it into the pit lane back to my car (especially since the photographer kept taking pictures of me alone on the track - oooh the shame) but I carried on anyway & used the course a bit to work on my cornering technique, which actually I think improved it no end.
So whilst 'on paper' it was a bit of a disaster - I am glad I went. The organisers were fab, it was a good experience & I think it did improve my riding.
Some Things I have Learned
1) I need to get faster (4th cats are quick indeed)
2) My bike is the equivalent of the aforementioned Zebra. No one actually laughed - but lets just say 'out classed'. (I think the wobbly mudguard was a highlight)
3) It's flipping cold and windy on a racetrack in January - (next time, stay in bed and wait til spring)
4) It is ridiculously hard work, slow (and also a little dull) doing laps on your own
5) It is far better for riders if 2 or 3 from the same club work together in the group (I observed this working really well with a few teams)
6) I can get as fit as I like but I think that sprinting will always finish me off (its anatomical, right?) so if I want to get ANY points I will probably have to look at women's races.
7) Did I mention I need to get faster?
Anyway, I'm fairly happy - Chalked up to experience - back to the training rides for me for a few more months I think!
Well, that was pretty much how it went - apart from the whole 'turning it around for a win & a happy ending' bit, of course....
Got there in a bit of a fluster after a couple of mechanical issues (flipping mudguards!) and a hole in my tyre (glass again!) - watched the 4th cat only race & then had a quick lap round the course before our race.
Quite a few entries (lots of 2s & 3s there I think). Set off with the cat 4s- not many of us, about 8. All strong looking, Cervello mounted, sponsorship wearing types (not a very friendly bunch actually but then, it is a race, not a social) - took a little while to get into the swing of things but got it together & some paceline riding happened. It wasn't very fluid though and was pretty fast (25 mph+) and whilst I could stick with them in the group, all they had to do to lose me was sprint a bit. Which obviously they did. So the inevitable happened & I was shelled out the back fairly quickly.
Managed to catch them again & hold on for a bit, but got a repeat performance. Was tempted to hot foot it into the pit lane back to my car (especially since the photographer kept taking pictures of me alone on the track - oooh the shame) but I carried on anyway & used the course a bit to work on my cornering technique, which actually I think improved it no end.
So whilst 'on paper' it was a bit of a disaster - I am glad I went. The organisers were fab, it was a good experience & I think it did improve my riding.
Some Things I have Learned
1) I need to get faster (4th cats are quick indeed)
2) My bike is the equivalent of the aforementioned Zebra. No one actually laughed - but lets just say 'out classed'. (I think the wobbly mudguard was a highlight)
3) It's flipping cold and windy on a racetrack in January - (next time, stay in bed and wait til spring)
4) It is ridiculously hard work, slow (and also a little dull) doing laps on your own
5) It is far better for riders if 2 or 3 from the same club work together in the group (I observed this working really well with a few teams)
6) I can get as fit as I like but I think that sprinting will always finish me off (its anatomical, right?) so if I want to get ANY points I will probably have to look at women's races.
7) Did I mention I need to get faster?
Anyway, I'm fairly happy - Chalked up to experience - back to the training rides for me for a few more months I think!