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A Circuit Racer Returns By Brian Tidey

Having not ridden a circuit race for some 25 years until this season, I approached the prospect with some apprehension. The Addiscombe C.C. had already encouraged me back to the sport with amiable club runs, a friendly clubroom on Wednesday nights and tremendous moral support in the time-trials. The first club run back in November 2000 was a challenge but the Addiscombe members waited when I got dropped on the hills. Some 6 weeks later I found I could stay with the main group all the way round which was a major milestone and feeling of achievement.

A spring and summer of time trials this year was the recipe for bringing the heart and lungs out of hibernation in readiness for the aerobic ups and downs of circuit racing. Apart from the encouragement from Addiscombe members, my wife bought me a new set of racing wheels and a heart rate monitor to assist the not so young man with his mid-life crisis. My 16 year old daughter seems to have a lack of comprehension as to why any sane person would want to set alarm clocks for 5 am on a weekend to arise for time trialing. My 19 year old son thinks his old man is pretty cool for returning to racing and mixing it with the twenty and thirty somethings.

Keith, the Addiscombe's road race secretary, with an infectious enthusiasm for massed start road and circuit racing, helped me organise my BCF licence and Surrey Road Racing League licence both of which look impressive and make you feel more like a racer even before you sign on for your first event.

A dry Saturday at Hillingdon was my opening shot with a slightly nervous line up beside 4th category riders and a handful of very fit ladies. Riding in a bunch at speed can take some time before confidence sets in, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that skills developed through many hours lapping the Crystal Palace circuit in my teens had not deserted me. I felt confident after a few laps and even found that I could gain some places through tight cornering and positioning within the peleton. This meant that more of my small brain was available to sense how much it hurt to be in the pack where the pace often changes and the old legs and lungs have to attempt to respond to sudden surges. Addiscombe took a raiding party so there was always someone familiar in the pack nearby to give a feeling of belonging.

Why has that guy got "Sue" print across the back of his shorts ? It took me a few more seconds to realise that the muscular frame and awesome display of acceleration belonged to a girl who was giving all the guys a few lessons and a hard time. Apparently she is an elite rider coached under the World Class Performance Plan. After 18 laps I felt settled in, a little stronger. I moved up, and kept going fairly hard through the twisty part of the track to find myself some 10 metres off the front with Sue and another guy. What happened next was a slow motion dream, we hit the wind in the back straight, my legs were drained from the effort of over-enthusiasm, the bunch went by one by one and they didn't wait for me. How could I pedal so hard and go backwards ? I managed to slow down until I was lapped and allowed to join in the fray again this time lasting another 8 laps before getting dropped. The workout and sensation of travelling at speed in a pack was tremendously uplifting and I was determined to do better next time. It was particularly pleasing for Dave Kennet, Richard Claridge and Richard Munday to all finish in the top 10 at the chequered flag but also sad to see Steve Hehir in pain after an unfortunate crash in the run up to the finishing line. The help that Steve received left me in no doubt that the Addiscombe C.C. is a collection of individuals who really care for each other.

"Next time out " was 32 miles on the motor racing circuit at Goodwood with Steve Dennis, Richard Munday and Rob Wilson. Goodwood is a 2.4 mile wider circuit than Hillingdon with easy curves but an exposed finishing straight. About forty 4th cats. and a few ladies pulled away from the grid in no particular hurry whilst we warmed up at a reasonable pace and riders settled in to close formation riding. By lap 3 the tempo had risen and I noticed 33 mph on the wind assisted section without over exertion as the suction of riders in front pulled us along. With 3 other Addiscombe riders in the bunch it was comforting to be able to see another team mate close by at any time. With cross winds to figure out it often seemed that I was on the wrong side of the bunch with little prospect of quickly moving across to get on the correct flank and hence benefit from other riders. Something happened on about lap 6 to quicken the pace and I found myself about 30 metres off the back with Steve and a few other riders coming into the home straight against the wind. I didn't seem to be gaining or losing ground and Steve and I just kept pushing to the limit hoping that the pack would slow down the longer they fought the wind. It worked and when back in contention Steve and I looked at each other thinking "that was on the edge and close". Later on Steve recovered well to get off the front with another rider as did Richard. Personally I was just happy to finish the race with the bunch even if it was towards the back of the group. No way could I have done that 6 months ago so thanks to Keith Knight for entering me all the guys and girls in the Addiscombe C.C. who encouraged a 1970's teenager to attempt a comeback.

Later that afternoon Paul Tunnel got 5th after being instrumental in forming the winning break in the 3rd cats race whilst Chris Colford finished in the bunch with a smile on his face. By now the heavens had opened and Keith Knight had a gruelling race with 1st and 2nd category riders to come in a creditable 10th. A great day out.

Brian

We also received this from Agreeable Chris

I really enjoyed Sunday, both riding and watching the other races. The highlights for me were:

1. Seeing Rob Wilson (novice) in the distance bridge across to a lone leader in the 4W race.

2. Seeing Steve Dennis (novice) trying to bridge across to the winning two-up break later on the in the 4W race RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE GRANDSTAND. Steve clearly has a sense of occasion. He got about half way across into a blocker of a headwind, and was looking incredibly strong, but the gap was just too big. Even more impressive, he was able to stay in the bunch after that superhuman effort, when it is all too easy to go straight out the back after your attack.

3. Seeing the face of Brian Tidy (first year returning to racing) as he went through the start/finish line on those occasions when there had clearlybeen a tasty lap (pain/determination/possibly even a little pleasure in there somewhere). I wasn't able to see Brian or Richard Munday (?second year of racing) attacking, but that was probably because most of the attacks were on the far side of the circuit, where the wind was more favourable.

4. Sitting fifth wheel in the bunch with Paul Tunnell (ridiculously experienced rider) up the road in the 3rd cat race, hearing shouts from behind ("Come on you lot! Get after them. They're getting away.") The bloke in front of me pulled out of the line and this point, turned his head and shouted, "You f**king get after them then". At this point I began to feel optimistic about Paul's chances of staying away. It was a great race, with lots of attacking. I even went with some of the doomed moves, but it was really hard to stay away, because of the head wind at the end of the home straight. On the one occasion when I was ahead at that part of the circuit (in a group of three) we slowed to 14 mph. It wasn't even up hill. We looked at each other and sat up.

5. Catching the 1st and 2nd cat race (which was on the circuit at the same time, and had been started off a minute or so in front of us). Unfortunately for Keith Knight (?fourth year of racing), he was in a three man break in the 1st/2nd cat race at the time, and was reeled in by the combined 1st/2nd/3rd bunch. Nevertheless Keith got an impressive 10th, finishing alone in the horrid wind. After the race had been restarted (and the first and second cats sent off on their own, with a dire warning to get their collective finger out, or else be run over by the race Commissaire's car) the 1st/2nd race bust to bits, with Peter Kench (Liphook Cycles) riding off on his own, showing incredible strength.

6. Goodwood generally. I'd recommend it to anyone wanting to have a go for the first time. Wherever I've mentioned anyone's name, I've indicated how experienced they are at road racing. Rob, Steve and myself are all complete novices, but we were all able (towards the end of our first season) not just to get round, but to get involved in the attacks. I myself am quite a nervous rider, but I feel more relaxed at Goodwood than anywhere else. It is a closed circuit, so no worries about traffic, potholes etc; also no hills (ie novice-dropping climbs and scary descents). But it's not a tight circuit like Eastway or Hillingdon, where the corners can be a bit scary, if you're not used to riding fast in the bunch, perhaps in the wet. The circuit is about 2.5 miles long, and the corners are very gentle. The only tricky bit is a chicane, where it all slows down, and you have to resist the temptation to move out of line and up the field (because you might not be able to get back into line, where the riders have gone into double file to get through the narrow gap).

I'm sure everyone else had their own highlights. Everyone really seemed to have enjoyed the day.

Chris

Agreeable Chris on the start line just behind experienced Paul

Paul at the head of affairs

Chris, Richard W, Steve, Richard M and road race honcho Keith

Same picture but with Brian in after a 25 year gap!