Clifton LVRC race
Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2016 3:27 pm
I did our race at the weekend with Tim being the other Clifton rider in the A/B now that John has 'graduated' if that's the right phrase to the C's.
I was third last year so wanted to do better if I could but I knew beforehand that probably the only way to do that would be to go with Jamie Sharpe when he attacked. Now I'm nowhere near as good as Jamie so I needed a couple of ringers in there to trade turns with him. Coming towards the end of the first lap (he had already been away for half a lap before getting caught) another move of 5 moved clear. They were about 50m clear when I realised this was it. So I braced myself to go 'over the top' in my one and only all in effort. I shouted to Tim but to be fair didn't give him much warning. I full gassed it and got 3/4 of the way and thought, I need someone to help here. I checked and was by myself so I got out the saddle once more and I was either going to make it or bust a gut and get dropped. Fortunately I got on and managed a breather. We then did through and off, full gas (or at least I was!) for a lap and dropped one. By this point I was seriously blowing but the bunch were still chasing. I missed a few turns up around the lumpy bits as did another guy but next time we got on the longer straights we seemed to have a bit of distance over those behind. Now at this point it eased off a bit but that might've been due to the fact that I was now missing more turns than I was doing. I knew the other 3 were all Bs and I had no chance of beating Jamie so I had 2nd in the bag if I could avoid getting dropped! With a lap to go Jamie missed a turn so I knew he was about to attack and so it turned out just at the headquarters he jumped taking one with him. I worked well with the other 2 who were obviously racing each other so I just hoped they didn't start jumping around as that would've had me in a pickle. Fortunately they seemed about as pooped as I was until one jumped with a mile to go. I then outsprinted the other for 4th over the line but 2nd A category. It's been a long time since I've done 50 miles in a break at 25mph average but I was pleased to see it, know I needed to be in it and then, just, make it across. I felt bad missing turns but I know my limits and I had to make sure I made it to the end. now I need to get a bit fitter and thinner to be able to contribute and maybe, if Jamie doesn't race, I might get on top of that podium one day.
I was third last year so wanted to do better if I could but I knew beforehand that probably the only way to do that would be to go with Jamie Sharpe when he attacked. Now I'm nowhere near as good as Jamie so I needed a couple of ringers in there to trade turns with him. Coming towards the end of the first lap (he had already been away for half a lap before getting caught) another move of 5 moved clear. They were about 50m clear when I realised this was it. So I braced myself to go 'over the top' in my one and only all in effort. I shouted to Tim but to be fair didn't give him much warning. I full gassed it and got 3/4 of the way and thought, I need someone to help here. I checked and was by myself so I got out the saddle once more and I was either going to make it or bust a gut and get dropped. Fortunately I got on and managed a breather. We then did through and off, full gas (or at least I was!) for a lap and dropped one. By this point I was seriously blowing but the bunch were still chasing. I missed a few turns up around the lumpy bits as did another guy but next time we got on the longer straights we seemed to have a bit of distance over those behind. Now at this point it eased off a bit but that might've been due to the fact that I was now missing more turns than I was doing. I knew the other 3 were all Bs and I had no chance of beating Jamie so I had 2nd in the bag if I could avoid getting dropped! With a lap to go Jamie missed a turn so I knew he was about to attack and so it turned out just at the headquarters he jumped taking one with him. I worked well with the other 2 who were obviously racing each other so I just hoped they didn't start jumping around as that would've had me in a pickle. Fortunately they seemed about as pooped as I was until one jumped with a mile to go. I then outsprinted the other for 4th over the line but 2nd A category. It's been a long time since I've done 50 miles in a break at 25mph average but I was pleased to see it, know I needed to be in it and then, just, make it across. I felt bad missing turns but I know my limits and I had to make sure I made it to the end. now I need to get a bit fitter and thinner to be able to contribute and maybe, if Jamie doesn't race, I might get on top of that podium one day.