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My First Winter Series by
Steve Dennis
"Yeah I know…..not another 'My
first..' but hey there can't be that much left!!!!"
Well the winter series at Hillingdon, a
chance for the 4th cats to find out just how far behind they are, all
riders from elite to 4th starting on level terms. I heard about it last
year when I joined and kept seeing the name of this Keith Knight guy
representing us and getting better throughout. Well I've since met Mr
Knight and been encouraged to ride every event going and even ridden the
few that he advised against.
After a couple of months without
competitive cycling except for the roller league, I was getting a bit
twitchy and eager to give it a go. Until I woke up last Saturday morning
and figured I could paint the wallpapering I have finally finished (the
same wallpapering I may have mentioned in January!) and go to Croydon and
buy the winter cycling togs. But no..I cycled to Hillingdon instead.
Started a little slow, but knew it would be fine. Then punctured. Just the
other side of Twickenham.!!!! I was relieved to see that both Mr Knight
and Mr Bayliss had already signed on. Steve was infact going to race on
his cross bike although with the necessary gearing changes.
The start was mad!! And I can infact blame
some of it on our Mr Bayliss. Not a lap complete and he's on the attack.
For the first 10 mins it was a struggle to stay on the wheel infront and
keep up with the constant accelerations. Yep that's my team mates
attacking, making my life difficult. But I kinda soon got used to the
rhythm for the race, knew when the bunch would accelerate, when it was
slowing etc also pleased to know that some had already quit or been
dropped. It was great to look up along the bunch to see Steve and Keith
constantly firing off the front. They are both the first to compliment
each other but I had the view of a proud passenger and they were really
great, full of fighting spirit. Once I had overcome the initial shock of
being in a very attacking race, the back straight being ridden at 33mph
(many laps in single file), I found myself comfortably in the pack and
ever nearer the front. I began to consider how great it would be to let
the whole peleton know that maybe there were in fact 3 Addiscombe riders
able to dig off the front. A mix of common sense (for once) and bad luck
prevented this from happening. Yep a front wheel puncture on that fast
back straight. Anyway after 30mins at 26mph I pulled off the circuit and
concentrated on supporting the valiant twosome. It wasn't until Jason
Streather punctured that I suddenly remembered that you could get a spare
wheel, although other riders with the same problem found those at the
finish rather unfairly reticent to share. Anyway Steve spent a few more
laps off the front either alone, with a few Twickenham lads, or chasing
down leaders or was seen in the bunch recovering ready for another result.
Keith was either sitting at he front holding the bunch back or driving on
to chase down attacks. Believe me it was great to watch. Steve punctured
unfortunately on 50 mins but took my rear wheel and was back on the
attack. With 3 laps to go that tyre had punctured and we were out of
spares. That's four Addiscombe punctures in one day. Infact it was quite a
puncture full day all round in the race. So for two laps we both yelled at
Keith who was unfortunately baulked on the last couple of corners and
finished 12th in the bunch sprint. A sprint won by some guy from a club
called "BAD" ?? Big fella. Looked like a track sprinter. Well
done mate. Importantly though Addiscombe had done its bit, it was there,
it was happy and it gave it some welly. Allthough I only rode 30 mins I
had a whale of a time, it was fast, hard, but it was great to know that I
could hold my own in there and just have a ball. We'll have to see if I
can keep so calm each race or will I soon be seen sprinting off the front
with a self absorbed grin on my face! Reckon so!
So Addiscombe road racers, and beginners.
Yes its daunting they are good riders, some of them are very tall, but its
do-able, everyone (except for the too serious moody @KJI"'s) are
chatty and supportive of all racers. There are other complete novices
riding it too, it is fast concentrated riding, you just gotta finish,
finish in the bunch, have an attack, then win. That's the learning curve
for road racing. The more you do, the greater your confidence and you are
halfway there.
Agreeable Steve (who needs to come from
Grinstead anyway!) Dennis
Photos on our forum and many more at
http://www.twickenhamcc.co.uk/winterseries/winterseries.html
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