by nigelt
Sat Aug 31, 2013 7:39 pm
Airedale Olympic Day at Dishforth 4th Cat races for me today. Not the biggest Clifton turn out, only me and JohnB (trying road racing for the first time). Indeed not the biggest turnout overall (the usual van selling coffee had even been replaced with a Smart Car with a coffee machine bolted into the rear to reflect the reduced attendance !).
About 40 of us started the first 4th Cat race- 5 laps in around 40 mins. What had started as a sunny still day when we arrived soon clouded over and as always at Dishforth the wind picked up! Each lap followed the traditional Dishforth pattern of 50kph on the downwind leg and a grinding 30kph into the wind.
Felt pretty good all race and after my last visit here I made sure I was in the first 10 as we approached the finish. My position to the right side of the bunch seemed good until, as we approached the last right hander and started to kick, several riders cut the corner leaving me with nowhere to go.
I had no option but to hit the anchors to avoid going onto the grass, and when I kicked again the change of speed unshipped my chain and wrapped it round my rear mech. End of race! I replaced the chain and rolled over the line in last place. Gutted!
Well done to John B who placed in the top 10 in his first race.
In the second race I fared much better. This race was much harder as a much reduced field (only 15 of us in total- 6 guys and 9 girls) removed the chances of sitting in. A break of 3 (including the two 1st cat girls) went away and stayed away. The rest of us started to through and off to try and get them back, however with the wind soon only 4 of us were working, then two. Myself and a Crosstrax rider basically pulled the bunch round for three of the five laps, with the others either unwilling or unable to work.
Managed to avoid disaster in the sprint this time and ended up with a 4th place, which I'm well pleased with- my first BC points!
Despite the small turn out this was another good day's racing, with the second race particularly hard with no real chance to shelter.
About 40 of us started the first 4th Cat race- 5 laps in around 40 mins. What had started as a sunny still day when we arrived soon clouded over and as always at Dishforth the wind picked up! Each lap followed the traditional Dishforth pattern of 50kph on the downwind leg and a grinding 30kph into the wind.
Felt pretty good all race and after my last visit here I made sure I was in the first 10 as we approached the finish. My position to the right side of the bunch seemed good until, as we approached the last right hander and started to kick, several riders cut the corner leaving me with nowhere to go.
I had no option but to hit the anchors to avoid going onto the grass, and when I kicked again the change of speed unshipped my chain and wrapped it round my rear mech. End of race! I replaced the chain and rolled over the line in last place. Gutted!
Well done to John B who placed in the top 10 in his first race.
In the second race I fared much better. This race was much harder as a much reduced field (only 15 of us in total- 6 guys and 9 girls) removed the chances of sitting in. A break of 3 (including the two 1st cat girls) went away and stayed away. The rest of us started to through and off to try and get them back, however with the wind soon only 4 of us were working, then two. Myself and a Crosstrax rider basically pulled the bunch round for three of the five laps, with the others either unwilling or unable to work.
Managed to avoid disaster in the sprint this time and ended up with a 4th place, which I'm well pleased with- my first BC points!
Despite the small turn out this was another good day's racing, with the second race particularly hard with no real chance to shelter.