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My First Time Trial & My
First Road Race. All On the Same Day... By Singlespeed Sylvain
1. My First Time Trial
Getting up at 7 am was never my favourite start
to a week end, and a light hangover doesn't help either, but the thought of a
brand new cycling experience is largely enough to drag me out of bed. Mind
you, I do a 10 miles time trial every time I commute to London - only I'm
allowed to draft behind lorries. So Marco, Martin and myself, our three bikes
and Eileen head off to Dorking.
It is a relatively uneventful drive - only for
the twisted petrol cap key, forcing us to slow down cos we're not sure how
much petrol is left and we can't get the cap off to fill up. After a new key is pressed at the locksmiths en route, we
stop for a refill and stretch, I notice the guys in the police car at the
petrol station, who are staring at our suspiciously low Escort laden with
bikes and riders but eventually
move away. Then we manage to leave the keys inside the locked car, but recover
them with a long stick…Then there's all these foot and mouth viruses flying
at us from everywhere so access to the regular car parks is restricted. At 10:06 I am launched onto the dual carriageway by
Dave Palmer (the organiser) and told not to come back in more than half an
hour. Doing my maths as I encounter the first hill, I keep in mind the average
speed on my computer mustn't fall below 32 (km/h that is, me being a Europhile).
The tarmac is not in perfect condition, and the headwind is pretty strong.
After a few miles, I encounter Huw and Monty on their tandem on the other side
of the road on their way
back, looking very fast. I must definitely try it one day. I keep a fast pace,
concentrating on breathing hard and spinning smoothly.
Halfway is determined
by a roundabout, which is not nearly as tight as I've been warned about. Going
back is a much better feeling, all tailwind and descents and flat. I get caught by
a fast Robert Royle-Evatt, and manage a 28.37. The tandem guys are under 25, and Mark
Bayliss just below 24 - so there is room for improvement ! Oh, and I did it on
a mountain bike with slicks.
2. My First Road Race
After the time trial we drive to Hillingdon to
watch the fast guys race. Being still relatively fresh, Marco mentions at some
point that we could also be racing, which must trigger a synapse in me. But on
site, common sense and the high entry fee for us non BCF members puts us
off. We're just gonna sit down, enjoy the just-appeared sunshine, and relax
with our
huge Addiscombe contingent. But hey, isn't this an occasion for another new
cycling experience ? And what is coolest than being the only mountain biker on
the starting line ? Wish I'd brought my baggy shorts…
Anyway, I decide to
enter and after a quick briefing, we are told that the race has officially
started. The first lap is pretty slow, I even have to brake a couple time. Is
that it ? Easy. It is fun being in this big mass of bikers, but very soon the
pace accelerates and I am quickly relegated towards the back. Keith, being a
[3rd cat], is our pacer today, and is looking after me (thanks Keith) and a
small group including three girls, whom I struggle to keep up with - a
humbling experience as I'd probably give them a real run for their money off
road.
We're still not that far from the peloton, but I'm
constantly slowing down and feeling weaker. My legs are stiff, but worse I'm
dying for a drink. Hannah lends me her bottle for a sip (thanks Hannah), I
tell her not to wait for me anymore. So I'm on my own now, and the straight
portion with the high headwind feels awful. I am getting lapped several times
I think, and consider stopping. I am so dehydrated I even start having
hallucinations - like the pizza I will be indulging myself to at the club
evening later. Always bring water, never have vodka shots the night before.
And eat more than a Bounty bar for lunch.
Hannah laps me and hands me her
bottle once again (in slo-mo under the cheering of the crowd, like a scene
from Chariots of Fire ) which I open completely for better flow and gulp
the whole of, including the sticky white bits at the bottom. This literally
saves my life, and I can feel the energy flow back in my veins. I manage to
finish the race (Marco's filming it for the webiste, it's gonna look terrible !), shivering and
still thirsty, but glad I made it. This really could have been good fun,
should it have been prepared in advance ! Drafting behind someone is one of
the sweetest sensations of road cycling. Kudos to Richard, Nick and Chris,
whom I've been beating week after week during last year's cyclo-cross season,
and who have showed me what Downhill Jason calls the "dark side" of
cycling really is about ! It gave me an insight of road racing, and the guys
and girls today, although only 4th cat.( ! ), were dangerously fast. You just
have to leave your ego at home (and bring a road bike).
3. My (almost) first jumping session
On Sunday, to clear up the alcohol from the
excellent Italian dinner we had the night before, round up a decidedly
cycling-orientated week-end, and restricted by foot-and-mouth, we head for yet
another (see related articles and medical reports) messing-about session in
the outskirts of Croydon. The turn up is surprisingly good, and the mix is as
eclectic as it gets: from techno- weenie downhill/freeride bikes with full
suspension, disc brakes et all, to rigid steel klunkers (like my singlespeed
Sunn). Hey, Rachel's even borrowed her father's bike - he must be a tall guy -
on which she seriously intends to race the Red Bull 24 hours in June. Jason's
toe is now only twice its normal size (it was four times after last week's
crash), and Joe whom we meet later is back in form (unlike his bent seatpost)
following last weeks mishaps.
What we do is basically move from spot to spot,
scary downhills and mad jumps, until we can't take anymore. Jason easily
clears an almost-vertical jump, followed by Pete who is too shaky afterwards
to repeat the feat. Pictures are taken, falls (mostly courtesy of Joe) are
laughed at. Joel lands badly on his side after a nasty downhill, and I keep
falling due to my sticky Time pedals. Joe falls again. I do a big jump land
heavily on my front wheel, which instantly gives me a headache and marks the
end of my silly time. Joe falls a last time. On the way backon a downhill
bridleway, at the infamous "badger holes" spot, I lose control and
ride through the said hole, into a set of bumps and thorns that don't even
slow me down, manage to stay on the bike and narrowly avoid a tree. Phew. A
good way to finish a great weekend!
Warning: much of the action depicted in this
last article is potentially dangerous, and was performed by riders who don't
really know where they're going to land. I hope this doesn't put of anyone to
join us on a Sunday or night ride. I myself am not particularly into killing
myself, I've got much nicer things to do. So remember, ride only if you feel
confident to, not to get the ultimate cool of having your scars exposed in the
Addiscombe website !
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