Surrey League Road Race, Milland Hill Basingstoke CC 7th April 2012
by Andy Carter
Rode today's Surrey League Road Race promoted by CC Basingstoke this morning on the Milland Hill circuit out past Petersfield. It's a fairly
challenging circuit with the main feature being Milland Hill, after which the circuit is named. If anyones ridden it before it can be a bit of a tester with first half a mile or
so at around 4-6%, before ramping all the way up to 25% underneath a railway bridge. There's an informative sign before the bridge kindly letting you know what's coming. The race
was 6 and a half laps of the circuit, so 7 times up the main climb and about 50 miles in total.
There were a few other interesting features, like a sort-of-technical descent, but it wasn't overly challenging. The hardest part of the circuit was about a km of steady drag
which you get to about 30 seconds after you've busted your lungs on the hill itself, which probably made it about twice as hard as it actually is!
The race played out to be a bit of a war of attrition really. The first time up the hill was pretty comfortable, but then when the hammer went down with the larger teams like
Kingston Wheelers pushing up the pace things got difficult. A couple of guys slipped away, they had 1-2 minutes at one point. A few other attacks went during the race, but because
of the hill it was proving hard for anyone else to escape. Every ascent of the hill seemed to claim a few more casualties and it was a pretty reduced group that made it to the
finale.
On the penultimate ascent the race blew apart as the peloton fractured into several groups. I made it over the climb in the front section of what was left of the peloton, but then
after the small descent the attacks went as some guys made it off in pursuit of the two who had escaped earlier in the day. Everything fractured into small groups and I took a lot
of wind trying to fight then time trial my way back up to the next group but it didn't happen and I was joined by other chasers. We worked together to stay ahead of other groups
behind and since I was climbing well all day I left those guys on the final ascent to the finish line.
Not sure where I finished in terms of placings, but it was another good race and another good stepping stone towards becoming a better road racer.
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Easter Circuits @ Mountbatten track 7th April 2012
Omega Thruxton Circuit Race 25th March 2012 by Jerry Collingwood
My second outing at Thruxton Motor Circuit, this time however was different. I was not a new to racing Category 4 rider. My 6th place here the previous week
and ensured my Category 3 rider status and now it was time to race the big(ger) boys. I had hoped that by graduating from Cat 4 to Cat 3 the previous week I would gain an extra
hour in bed as the Cat 3 race was after the Cat 4′s, however due to the clocks changing, in real terms this was not the case. However I shall forgive British Summer Time
for this rudeness as it does now mean that every night of the week is light enough for a good ride
Like a child at Christmas, I was too excited to get a good nights sleep, what little sleep I did manage was consumed by dreams of winning the race
and being signed up by a pro team to ride the Tour de France. In reality I appreciate there are a few more steps to it than that. I spent the morning trying to remove the
pressure I had placed on myself. When I started the season (bearing in mind I only started riding just over 6 months ago) my aims were to become a category 3 rider and survive
my trip to France later in the year. So far I had achieved half of this and I am confident I will achieve my second objective.
As we pulled up at Thruxton I was feeling slightly more awake, though I still opted for my race preparation to be sat in the van sheltering from the wind
basking in the sunshine. With 30 minutes to race start, I thought I had better at least do a few laps of the car park as warm up, Rich had been on the rollers for a good 20
minutes, and Andy likewise but on his turbo trainer.
After completing a few circuits of the car park as warm up I made my way to the pit lane ready for the start of the race. As I lined up towards the back of
the group I looked at the race numbers around me, I saw 87 and was a little surprised, were there really over 80 riders? There had been 66 starters in my race last week, and 68
in the category 3 race. I thought that peleton had seemed large, this one was going to be even bigger, even tougher, I was dreading when the time would come for us all to file
through the chicane at the end of each lap.
My thoughts were interrupted by the race officer ‘Please ride sensibly’ he said, ’12 laps…Go’. I pushed off and found my left
cleat, clipped in and started pedalling, the race was on. I sat right at the back for the first couple of laps, sheltering from the wind and conserving energy. I was pretty
certain nobody would be audacious enough to try to form a breakaway quite so early and I did not feel the urge to jostle for position in the mid field. As I warmed up and found
my rhythm I started trying to move forward within the peleton, I found this easy enough to do, particularly when the pace slackened on the inclines. However everyone around me
was also jostling for position so wherever I gained a place before long I found myself towards the back again. In that time I had not ‘lost’ a wheel, but the person
I was following may have been pushed back as he was himself forced off a wheel.
My analysis after 3 laps was, the pace was significantly higher than the category 4 race – a good 2-3mph average. In particular I noticed that there was
no taking it easy down the descent as there had been last week, the peleton would accelerate at the top of the descent, carrying speed through the gentle corner at the bottom of
the hill before attacking the climb at speed. I knew that trying to finish well was going to be tough, I decided that first and foremost I must get towards the end of the race
in good condition. As such I had a rather dull first three quarters of the race.
It was not until lap 9 that I really tried to make an effort moving forward. Before then I had done a little bit of jostling for position, trying to find a
good wheel to follow and take plenty of shelter from the wind, but most been content to ride towards the back allowing other riders to reel in any breakaways – of which
there were a number but no serious threats. I had analysed the movement of the peleton around the circuit and decided that I needed to be on the right hand side of the track
(exposed to the wind), taking an inside line in turn 2, outside in turn 3 and inside in turn 4 by which time I would then be sheltered by the peleton. This tactic would allow me
to keep the inside of the track down the hill and move forward/counter attack on the climb should anyone try anything.
Using this tactic I crept forward gradually in the bunch, trying to follow other people where possible to avoid expending too much of my own energy. I
caught up with my club mate Rich who had been riding towards the front most of the race, he was looking strong. Just at that moment I saw an attack and then a counter attack go
off the front, there was little reaction from the peleton so I thought I would use a quick burst of acceleration to be part of the group that was trying to form. As I joined up
three riders looked at each other, deciding whether it was worth it, that hesitation allowed the peleton to close back in and as we were starting the descent it was not worth
it. I was swamped at we reached the bottom of the descent, riders were coming by me on both sides and I could now accelerate fast enough. I found myself in the middle of the
pack trying to fight my way to the right up the climb so that I could make some progress again.
I pulled myself back into a good position by turn 2 of lap 10 but then just as I reached the apex I felt my rear slide away slightly and as I brought the bike
back up level out of the corner and applied some power I felt a rhythmic bump, bump, bump. Had I punctured? I hoped not, I gingerly took turns 3 and 4, in doing so
losing more places. I formed up at the back of the peleton trying to assess my situation. I still could not decide if I had punctured or not, if I had it was a slow puncture do
I might be able to complete race. Could I risk competing for positions in the corners though? If the wheel suddenly did give way I would not want to be responsible for causing a
crash. I asked a fellow rider if my rear wheel looked flat, the response I got was not exactly what I had hoped for, ‘looks a bit soft, yeah’.
I took a few places up the climb before playing it very safe in the chicane, on entering the pit straight for the final lap I found myself next to Andy. I
quickly told him, ‘I think I’ve got a puncture, want me to get you up the group a bit?’ I did not wait for Andy’s response, I was offering him my
service, he would be silly to refuse. I pulled in front and moved up the inside through the gentle turn 1 and along over the crest in the small straight, easing up before turn
2. I had pulled Andy up towards the middle of the peleton but I was not confident in my cornering abilities for the next three corners. I again slipped to the back of the group
before the red mist of racing descended.
The next part of the course was straight-ish, I was at the back of the peleton so had a choice of sides as the group were riding in the middle of the track. I
opted for the right hand side and used the slight incline out of turn 4 to my advantage, as I started the descent I was only a few riders back from Andy although with the
peleton now on the right hand side of the track I was blocked from any further progress until the climb.
My plan of attack was to pull to the right and sprint up the final climb, collecting Andy on to my wheel on my way past and delivering him to the
chicane in a good position to gain some points. As we started the ascent another rider attacked from behind me, I quickly accelerated onto his wheel, being careful not to leave
a gap in case any other riders thought they could switch out and take advantage. As I passed Andy there was a rider in between us, he was boxed in and my line was now making
rapid progress towards the front of the peleton, there was nothing I could do to help Andy.
I could feel my legs failing as we reached the top of the climb. I needed to take the chicane one last time and then surge down the start/finish straight to
the end of my first cat 3 race. I took the chicane as fast as I dared, not leaning the bike too much in either direction in case the suspected punctured real wheel gave way
under me, A few riders passed me, I was now back to about 20th place or so. As I exited the chicane I flicked up a gear and tried to accelerate. My legs were burning as bad if
not worse that the previous week where I had spent the penultimate lap chasing back to the peleton before attempting to sprint. The pace increase from Cat 4 to Cat 3 was clearly
taking it’s toll on me. I saw Rich come over my left shoulder, I tried to follow but had nothing left. Making my way as best I could to the finish line.
I believe I crossed the line in about 25th place, somewhat disappointed in some respects but had I not felt that wobble on lap 10, suspected a puncture
and lost all confidence in cornering who know’s where I might have placed given that I would not have started the final climb quite so far back. At the same time though,
for my first Cat 3 race my performance was not too disappointing, I’m sure I will be challenging for points and podiums before too long although I would really like to
test myself on some road races rather than circuits.
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Well done Jerry Collingwood after coming 6th at Thruxton races 18th March 2012 - Cat4 to Cat3 in only 3 races!
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Omega Thruxton Circuit Race 18th March 2012 by Jerry Collingwood
Moving away from the somewhat repetitive 500 metre circular track at Mountbatten and hoping to put the previous week’s disappointing result, albeit due to
an accident, behind me, I headed to Thruxton Motor Circuit & Airfield in fine company. The company comprised of two club mates, unfortunately they were already 3rd Cats and
therefore not in my race but I knew that if I could finish 8th or better than for next week’s race I would be joining them in the peloton. It was an early start from
Southsea, riding to an agreed meeting point at the top of Portsea Island before loading my racer into the back of the van. The rain that had been forecast had come in overnight so
the roads were a little damp but mercifully the sky was clear and the sun was out, I had a good feeling.
On arrival at Thruxton I registered and then set about preparing myself for my race. I figured the track would be challenging as unlike Mountbatten there were
right turns as well as left turns, some of the turns were quite sharp, the course was not flat and at 3.792km or 2.356 miles it was unlikely in a ten lap race that a breakaway
would be able to gain a lap. However should a breakaway form I was determined that I would be in it, especially having watched a group of 10 riders pull away from the peloton in
last week’s 3rd Cat race at Mountbatten. The game plan therefore was to stay out of trouble, conserve energy and try to get the 8th place or better with those two precious
points I needed to progress.
As the race got under way I moved myself comfortably into the middle bunch, a substantial break away was very unlikely to form on the first lap and I
thought the middle of the track was a good place to learn the course from. I had not ridden at Thruxton before, I had visited a couple of times as a kid, once when my cousin had a
track day and once for a flying lesson – it looked very different from the saddle of a bike. I had looked at the course as much as possible via Google earth the night
before, Google had somehow driven their car into the compound and taken some panoramic pictures, they too made the course look flat.
The pit straight is on a slight decline, we had started from the pit lane which fed out on to the track on the inside of the exit to the first right hand turn.
From here there was a slight incline over a crest before entering the breaking zone for turn two, a 90 degree right hand bend sweeping downhill and almost immediately into a 90
degree left hand bend before a 60 degree right turn and onto another gentle incline. On this short straight there was a slight turn to the left before turning back to the right in
a long sweeping corner heading down the big hill. At the bottom of the hill was a right then left before a climb back towards the grandstand. The climb was not overly steep but
just the right incline and duration to knock the power out of a riders legs before gentle right hander leading into a left-right chicane on to the pit straight.
After the first lap I still felt I had not got to grips with the course so I played about with my position relative to the bunch on the track, taking care not
to expose myself too much to the elements or use too much energy. I soon realised there was a very real prospect of some accidents compared with the track at Mountbatten.
Mountbatten is roughly oval shaped and all of the turns are very gentle, here at Thruxton there were a lot more tactics at play in the corners. The optimum line
is obviously a slightly wide exit, kissing the apex and maintaining maximum speed through the corner – the racing line. If there are 6 – 10 riders abreast
then it is not possible for a rider to follow the racing line as the riders on the inside will be cut up and left with nowhere to go…though this did not stop many riders
trying, or even the riders on the inside being aggressive by steaming into the corner expecting others to give them room.
In the first few laps I took my fair share of corners on the inside of the bunch, the outside of the bunch and in the middle. I would like to think I was
respectful of other riders by holding an intuitive line and not barging, I had already developed some differing views of some of the other riders…but then we were racing so
provided there is not a crash (and thankfully there was not) then all is forgotten. As I reached the top of the descent mid-way around the third lap I decided to stretch my legs,
attacking wide on the left from the middle of the bunch I quickly accelerated to and past the front of the peloton, there was no reaction. I did not for one moment want to launch
a solo attack at such an early stage so with a large grin on my face (from the descent at speed) I took a sweeping line through the right then left at the bottom of the hill and
then set into a gentle rhythm up the climb. One rider came past me, clearly using me as a counter attack but I thought his efforts to be in vain so I let him go. Next two riders
caught me and there was still a gap to the peloton who were only just now beginning the ascent as I was half way up it. After a quick exchange with the two riders I jumped on
their wheel and we looked to exploit the gap that I had triggered. After each taking a short turn on the front each, as we crossed the start/finish line we realised the break was
not going to work so we eased up and let ourselves be caught.
As we were caught I tucked back into the peloton and proceeded to rest up whilst scheming my next move. I followed a few wheels to the front when I anticipated
attacks may be about to form, intending to be part of them if and when they did materialise. It was on one such foray towards the front that I got caught out, on lap 5 coming down
the hill on the left hand side where I had attacked two laps prior I was squeezed across some rather bumpy kerbs and on to the grass along with a couple of other riders. I had
bounced across the kerbs at speed and now riding slightly slower on the grass having regained my balance I dared not try the tricky trip back across the kerbs so I continued on
for another thirty metres before rejoining the track. By this time the peloton were well up the hill, I’m not sure if an attack had been launched or not but I was certainly
in the wrong place at the wrong time. I punched up the hill picking up speed as I went and chased through the chicane tucking onto my drops down the pit straight to be as
aerodynamic as possible pushing and pulling hard on my cranks to catch the bunch. I knew if I could not get back into the group quickly my race would be over and I was furious at
myself.
Fortunately the pace eased into the tight right hander of turn 2, probably due to people not holding a sensible line and trying to barge on the inside, whatever
the reason, this time I was grateful as I was able to home in and taking a nice sweeping line through turns 2, 3 and 4 I was back in contact with the peloton. I took shelter and
forced myself to have a good couple of gulps of fluid, I may have been unfortunate to find myself off the track but I knew I had been lucky in equal measures to be able to get
back to the group. From then on I stuck to the right hand side down the hill, slightly exposed to the wind but not at risk of being pushed off again.
As we climbed the hill for the 8th time I was feeling comfortable and my thoughts had even turned towards the end game, could I launch an attack up the last
climb? Would an audacious move down the preceding hill work? My thoughts were very rudely interrupted in the chicane by a collision right in front of me. I had
no time to react, I rode over a rear wheel and the rest is a little hazy, I did not hit the deck but I obviously un-cleated and dropped my bike as my right brake level was
bent in. I could see the peloton accelerating away along the pit straight and I knew I had to get after them. Riders behind me had flooded past on either side, able to take
avoiding action. I tried to put my left foot in the cleat and could not manage it; I tried again, getting ever more frantic. On the third attempt I gave up and span my pedals
around, the right foot went in first time and I was off. My left foot still would not go in the cleat, no matter I changed down a gear, I needed to accelerate, I slipped, barely
catching myself before chinning my stem and colliding with my top tube, I recovered and this time my left foot found the cleat. I was just entering the pit straight and already
the peloton were almost out of sight around turn 1.
I was mad, twice dropped from the peloton for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, after being hit by a riderless flying bike on the track the previous
weekend, maybe it was coincidence, maybe it was not and my tactical positioning needs evaluating, in any case this was not the moment for thinking. This was a moment for action! I
had started lap 9 of the 10 lap race, in 7.6km, less than 5 miles the race would be over (if it was not already for me) and I did not intend going down without a fight. Out of the
saddle I stamped on the pedals knowing time was desperately running out, I felt fit enough to ride another 100 miles but I had to be in the peloton before that final climb if I
was to have any chance of some points. I knew if I could get back into the group I would be angry and stubborn enough to punch beyond my weight.
With just two laps to go I was expecting the pace to have ramped up but I could see the peloton and I was gaining. Looking back at the Garmin data for the first
half of lap 9 I appeared to be travelling approximately 6kph (almost 4mph) faster at around 40kph (25mph) than on previous laps, the peloton were probably slightly faster than
previous laps as well but with every pedal stroke I was getting closer. Riders were beginning to drop off the back of the peloton and I tried to use them to get back on board
though as they were travelling slower they were not a great deal of use to me physically although mentally I knew I was closing in on my target. I attacked the hill with all the
strength I could summon and by the top, by the entrance to that dreaded chicane that had nearly ruined me on the previous lap I was in amongst the peloton.
By now the peloton had shrunk a little but it still appeared to be about 40 riders strong, some looked comfortable, some were gritting their teeth and some were
red faced and near exhaustion. I moved slowly through the peloton, following wheels where I could as everyone jostled for position. Having already nearly come unstuck twice I was
very cautious through turns 2, 3, and 4 and slipped back a little. I used this to my advantage as where the peloton was thinnest I switched from left to right on the straight
before the descent. I kept pedalling hard on the descent and gain a few places, sweeping right then left as we started the climb for the last time.
I felt my fighting spirit return, I had tried to suppress it and relax since rejoining the peloton at the start of the lap but if I wanted my 8th
place or better, now was the time to fight for it, otherwise the last 9 laps had been hard work for nothing. I was riding up the peloton on the right hand side, trying to judge
the moment where I thought I could launch an attack from and sustain it over the crest, through the chicane and down the straight to the finish line. Just as I was about to stand
and accelerate a rider pulled across in front of me from my left and launched his own attack, I pushed a little harder and caught his wheel without having to launch my own attack.
I looked to my left, we were going clear of the group and there was no reaction, A small gap started to appear in front of me, I was losing the wheel, I pushed a little harder, I
was second wheel and we crested the hill and entered the chicane.
I stayed tucked up on the wheel of the lead rider; he was leading me to my category 3 status. A win would have been beyond my wildest dreams, I was not
interested in it, and I just wanted to keep all but 7 riders at most behind me. I could sense a rider coming up on my left hip as I entered the left turn of the chicane, I did not
want to push him, I had no interest, I just needed 8th place, there was too much to lose to risk an aggressive manoeuvre, he came past, another rider was on his wheel. The rider
in front of me rose from the saddle, this was it, the final sprint, and I rose for the saddle to and gave it everything I had. My legs were spinning frantically, I was in the
wrong gear, or maybe it was the right gear, I needed more power but my legs were on fire. I tucked back onto my saddle for stability and flicked up a gear, I rose and pushed
again, giving everything I had, I could see the line; I knew the pain would be temporary. I was gaining on the rider in front, I had a decision to make, left or right, I went
right and immediately regretted it, the pit wall was very large, solid concrete and intimidating, no matter, I was committed. I gritted my teeth, the pain was agonising but I only
needed a few more pedal strokes.
I crossed the line and eased up, sat in the saddle and stopped my legs. I tried to count the riders in front of me. One, two, three, I had lost the ability to
count to five, I tried for a second time, this time trying to ascertain if the riders ahead had been ahead or if I had overtaken anyone whilst free-wheeling since
crossing the line. I decided I had done enough, I think I was 7th, or possibly 6th, definitely top 8, I summoned a grin, or maybe it was more of a grimace, I had achieved what I
wanted from the day, and the sun was out. I followed the other rider’s lead and performed a U-turn into the pit lane from where we had departed a little under an hour
previous. I congratulated the winner and then found a spot to stop, I un-cleated and bent over my handlebars, exhausted. After a few minutes I mustered the strength to move and
after exchanging pleasantries with a few other riders I escaped back to the van to find food.
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Surrey league Road Race Dunsfold Kingston Wheelers 3rds 11th March 2012
by Andy Carter
Yesterday I rode in the first Surrey League Road Race of the season. Kingston Wheelers were promoting the event which was held at on the Victor
Berlemont open road circuit just outside Dunsfold.
I rode a couple of Surrey Leage events last year, and as ever this was brilliantly organised and marshalled.
At 9.30 we rolled out from the Winn village hall and onto the circuit. It was a good rolling circuit with a few ramps, a few tight corners, and some really nice fast sections, but
nothing to break things up too much. It was quite a steady start out of the neutral zone and everyone took it easy up the first incline. Pace was soon injected though when we
reached the faster sections, and then the attacks began. Experience from last year taught me that it's best to be up the front and out of trouble during this period, so thats
where I stayed. A few early moves looked like developing, but it just ended up with various combinations of riders yo-yoing off the front, getting gaps, but then being pulled back
once the pace increased again.
It wasn't until later in the race that a few riders managed to make a move really stick and they got about a minute up road. They were soon joined by several others and a large
and very dangerous looking group of about 15 formed. They were disappearing into the distance, I felt pretty good so I thought I'd try to bridge. I jumped off the front and began
trying to pull myself up to the break and I was soon joined by a companion. This didn't last that long though, as it became pretty apparent we weren't making much ground and the
peloton soon rejoined us. I then took a bit of a rest in the wheels and it was at this point that suprisingly we began to pull back the large break.
It was maybe about 7 miles from the end when everything came back together, and the pace ramped up another notch for the final circuit. I descended pretty aggressively to work
myself into a fairly decent position, although it could have been better by the time we hit the final descent and climb.
The race finished with a nice little kick which did break things up a bit. I passed quite a few riders on the way up to the line and my legs felt good which is why I wish I'd have
had a better position. I came in 21st.
I had high hopes when I woke up this morning, the sun was shining as had been forecast although the air was still cool. I had spent yesterday afternoon
cleaning my bike after rides in the morning and the previous evening and made a few minor tweaks. I had bought some new tyres as my old ones were beginning to look a little
worse for wear, I also bought a new bottle cage (plastic not carbon fibre – I am on a budget here) and some new ‘high performance’ brake pads. I had thoroughly
cleaned and re-greased my chain and as per the first race, stripped off any excess baggage not required for racing. I was confident, going into the race I was ranked top of the
Category 4 Southern region riders. I had achieved this status thanks to the 8 points received for my second place on the previous outing. Upon receiving 10 points you are
promoted to third category and it is impossible to score 9 in a single race…so maybe I have taken too much pride in my ranking but so far none of my friends have matched
it.
I rode to the track early as I had missed the pre-entry deadline, I also hoped to catch the youth races which Charlie and Rob, two fellow club members were
entered in. First to start were the under 8′s, under 10′s and under 12′s. At the risk of sounding very feminine, little people on little bikes are SO cute!
Next up were the under 14′s and under 16′s, the majority of riders here fell into the under 16 category which had a competitively sized field. The pace seemed fairly
high at times and this aided the peleton in staying together for a bunch sprint, the result of which I could not see, partly from my position around the track and partly because
I was preparing for my own race.
At 10.30 I entered the track with Tom alongside me as per the previous week for a few laps warm up. The game plan for this race was to try and assist Tom in
scoring some points and hang on for the two I required myself to progress to category 3 status. As we lined up on the grid I spotted number 38, there were a few more
riders racing than the previous race but this did not phase me, I intended on being in front of them at the crucial moment.
The race started faster than the last one, with our first lap at around 37kph (23mph) and this increased on the next couple under we were averaging 42kph
(26mph). This race was shorter than the one two weeks ago, only 30 minutes + 3 laps to accommodate the extra youth races rather than the 40 minutes + 3 laps, clearly a few
riders meant business.
After a little over 4 minutes the first attack was launched, I touched 54kph (33.5mph) bridging the gap. The peleton was quick to react to this and nobody was
allowed to escape – I had thought this would be the case before I started so my plan was to stay tucked in and conserve my energy until the latter stages. The pace
stabilised at 40-42kph (25-26mph) without any serious attacks launched.
I do not know whether it was because of the number of riders on the track, or the fact that there were few attacks to stretch the group out or possibly
inexperience of some riders or a testing high pace but there were a number of incidents, particularly upon entering corners where riders touched creating some heart stopping
moments for those riders and any riders following them. To put this in perspective, if riders could stick to their line the track is safely wide enough for six riders abreast in
the narrowest part of the corners, in a bunch there can easily be another five riders tucked into and overlapping with the gaps between those 6 riders. If a rider wobbles,
perhaps from touching or almost touching the wheel of the rider ahead, he takes the space of 3 riders - so the corners get very narrow very quickly.
I had already escaped two or three very near misses/wheel touches that had unfolded directly in front of me, thankfully without any fallers before after 24
minutes of racing I caught a glimpse of something white and circular out of the corner of my left eye as we entered turn 1. I thought a plastic bag had just blown into the
group, seconds later I heard some terrible noises and it was clear that there had been some form of impact. As we rounded the last bend I could hear a whistle blowing and I
thought they were abandoning the race, as it was we were just being warned to slow down and use the outside of the track to navigate the incident.
At this point I realised the flash of white I had seen was a helmet. Two riders were on the floor on the inside of the track although clearly moving, a third
was sat upright (usually a good sign) although he was clearly in a lot of pain. We completed a further two laps before the rider was removed from the inside of the track and
normal racing ensued. Presumably some of the other riders were thinking of the crash and it’s victims, it was certainly still in the back of my mind. Being new to racing I
have not witnessed many crashes first hand, there have been two in training sessions I have been participating in, both of which have occurred a long way behind me in
a group.
I was watching the time and a few minutes before our lap countdown was shown I tried to position myself towards the front of the group. I overtook riders on
the outside and tried to find a sport to tuck in but they seemed in short supply. If I was going to get a result from this race it was going to have to be earned the hard way.
Shortly after 30 minutes had passed the board showing 3 laps to go was held up, at 32 minutes the pace shot up above 48kph (30mph). I was on the outside of the group succeeding
in moving up the group slowly, catching wheels as they went passed and using them to provide a brief respite.
As I heard the bell go I was in about 15th place, further back than I wanted to be but I knew that destroying myself getting to the front on
the preceding few laps would have been just as bad. I was thankful that there was not a repeat incident in the first corner but this feeling was short lived.
Half way along the back straight there must have been a touch of wheels, or handlebars, or pedals, or all. The result was I that I was staring two entangled
riders clear in the face as they pirouetted and somersaulted along the track in front of me. I instinctively braked as much as I dared, knowing there was a
very real possibility of riders piling into the back of me. I also moved slightly to the inside of the track where I saw a small gap, I bowed my head and braced for impact. The
thought crossed my mind that this was going to be a horrendous and very painful collision but there was nothing I could do about it.
I saw the first rider’s cleats snap free and he continued in a straight line. I did not have time to be thankful that I was not going to mow him down in
excess of 48kph (30mph) though as the two bikes, still intertwined were now roughly horizontal with the wheels pointing towards me, about four foot in the air and travelling
from right to left across the track. I felt the first impact on my helmet, fractions of a second later I felt like I had been punched on my right shoulder and I fought to regain
control of my bike which was wobbling horrendously after the impact. After what seemed like an eternity, and a lot of nervous wobbling I regained control and looked up, the
peleton were 10-15 bike lengths in front of me, my hopes for the day were in tatters. I looked over my left shoulder and saw Tom, thankfully he had escaped the carnage
unscathed, I free wheeled to the line and soft pedalled a further lap waiting to exit the track.
The two riders’ whose bikes I had collided with appeared to be walking wounded. I did not see the victims of the first crash although I later saw
paramedics arrive to take the worst affected rider away on a stretcher to be checked out thoroughly in hospital – fingers crossed there is no serious damage and he makes a
swift recovery.
After returning my racing number and collecting my licence I stopped in the sun to discuss what I had just witnessed with Tom and watch the 3rd category
race in which another club member, Rich Walker was competing.
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Mountbatten Circuit Races 19th February 2012 4th Cat Race
Jerry Collingwood
Was a little chillier than I wanted this morning but the sun was out and the track didn't seem wet by comparison to some of the training
sessions I've done there. After a gentle warm up about 35 riders lined up on the starting grid, a quick briefing later and we were racing.
The first lap was fairly neutral at around 32kph (20mph) with nobody really wanting to take up setting a fast tempo, from lap 2 attacks started to fly in, possibly part of a
game plan, possibly a few first race of the season (or in Tom and my cases career) nerves. After 15 minutes I told myself I had been one of the largest, if not the largest
protagonist off the front and I should save some energy so when Tom came riding past and launched an attack with a member from iTeam I looked at the bunch and said "not my
problem", it was a few laps before they pulled Tom back but like every other attack it ended with the bunch back together heading for a sprint finish.
With 5 minutes and 3 laps (race for Cat 4 is 40 minutes plus 3 laps) to go I found myself next to Tom towards the back of the bunch, albeit a slightly smaller bunch due to drop
outs for whatever reason. I realised that we had to make a move now or when the pace really kicked in we would be stuck at the back. I had Tom on my wheel as I went scarily
close to the barrier on the outside of turn 1 to find space. Using the banking I was able to accelerate towards the front of the group where I slotted in and over the next 5
minutes made my way up to third wheel behind two riders from Team Wiggle. Unfortunately I had lost Tom by this point, or maybe I hadn't, I was concentrating too much on the
rider in front and those trying to come past me to look at what was going on behind. One of the wiggle riders stayed on the front and I figured that he was trying to line the
sprint up for the second rider so I made sure I sat on his wheel.
With half a lap to go a large group came around the outside on the back straight and for a moment I had a horrible realisation that I was about to get boxed in and stuck on a
faltering lead out train. Fortunately a slight gap appeared and the second wiggle rider went for it, I quickly pounced on his wheel as another rider tried to close the door and
I held my nerve to escape through back into about 5th or 6th position. Keeping the inside line into the last bend I was making progress on two riders outside and at an opportune
moment a gap appeared between the 3rd and 4th placed rider and I was able to work my way outside mid way through the final corner. Kicking hard I soon relegated the rider from
Team Wiggle to 4th and had my sights firmly set on the Southern Velo rider who had a two bike length lead. I felt I had the speed at the end but unfortunately not the distance
to the line and had to settle for 2nd place although to be honest, in my first ever race, I can't complain really.
Thought the breakaway was a good idea at the time. Turns out it wasn't
After that I decided to sit in the bunch. Nearing the end of the race, I found Jerry's wheel, who then did a good job moving up through the group. As he said, I lost his wheel,
just as he went close to the barrier. I continued to move up, and when the bell went, was not in a bad position on the outside (although a bit far back).
However, as everyone jockeyed for postion, I found myself forced further and further to the ouside of the track, almost losing the back wheel going into the final turn, going
too close to the grass. After that I was too far back to do anything, and just rolled through the finish. Will have to be a bit braver next time.
