Croft TLI 26 May – Report
Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 11:28 am
Myself and Rob_h made the trip up to a windy Croft yesterday for the TLI event. It was Rob’s first race, and only my second.
The overall number of entrants was a lot lower than the event I rode two weeks ago, with I guess about 50 riders in total. The novices’ group comprised only five riders this week, including Rob and I.
Due to the low numbers, strong wind and presence of a very good rider returning from a few months’ lay off, the novices group split in the first lap. I stuck in a two-man group with the very good rider for a few laps, but wasn’t able to keep the pace when he jumped on to the back of an overtaking group. I ended up time-trialling round either on my own or with the odd rider who picked me up or I picked up.
The strong wind had a similar effect on many riders, with fewer big groups than previously and more people riding round in twos or threes. I managed to slip on to the back of one of the faster groups for a lap or so towards the end, but the effects of having been out on my own for a good part of the preceding hour or so took their toll, and I slipped off the back on the way in to the final straight on the last lap. Rob wasn’t far behind, and managed to slot in to a group for a while too.
Perhaps not the best race experience, but back at HQ I was overjoyed to be told that I’d got second in the prime, with three bonus points and a £3.00 prize (my, that feels good, typing the word “prize”!!). Rob got third in the prime, so a strong Clifton performance! I didn’t even know when the prime was, as I didn’t hear a bell / hooter, so it was an unexpected bonus!
Will hopefully be riding again next Tuesday if anybody else fancies making the trip.
Jason.
The overall number of entrants was a lot lower than the event I rode two weeks ago, with I guess about 50 riders in total. The novices’ group comprised only five riders this week, including Rob and I.
Due to the low numbers, strong wind and presence of a very good rider returning from a few months’ lay off, the novices group split in the first lap. I stuck in a two-man group with the very good rider for a few laps, but wasn’t able to keep the pace when he jumped on to the back of an overtaking group. I ended up time-trialling round either on my own or with the odd rider who picked me up or I picked up.
The strong wind had a similar effect on many riders, with fewer big groups than previously and more people riding round in twos or threes. I managed to slip on to the back of one of the faster groups for a lap or so towards the end, but the effects of having been out on my own for a good part of the preceding hour or so took their toll, and I slipped off the back on the way in to the final straight on the last lap. Rob wasn’t far behind, and managed to slot in to a group for a while too.
Perhaps not the best race experience, but back at HQ I was overjoyed to be told that I’d got second in the prime, with three bonus points and a £3.00 prize (my, that feels good, typing the word “prize”!!). Rob got third in the prime, so a strong Clifton performance! I didn’t even know when the prime was, as I didn’t hear a bell / hooter, so it was an unexpected bonus!
Will hopefully be riding again next Tuesday if anybody else fancies making the trip.
Jason.