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My First Race
by Richard Appleton
That was fantastic
Met up with fellow Addiscombe rider Matt at
Liverpool Street Station for the ride up to Hillingdon last night ,and we
set off at a nice warm up pace.
There was quite a bit of traffic so we
arrived with about 15 minutes to spare. Enough time to register and get
our numbers pinned on . I must have been nervous as I managed to sign on
to the 3rd cat race until Matt pointed out my mistake! .
We rolled over to the track where we met up
with two other Agreeables Richard V and John and we set of for a couple of
laps before the start and I got a couple of tips from them about what to
expect and how things were likely to pan out. Invaluable advice as they
turned out to be dead right.
With a couple of minutes to go we got to
the start line for a quick briefing where we were told to let the fast
boys race that was setting off 5 minutes after ours through and not to
jump on the back of them and anyone who did would be disqualified.
Off we went and the first few laps were
pretty slow an I concentrated on holding my line and getting used to the
track . I decided I would try to stick on the wheel of the bloke in front
of me as he looked like he knew what he was doing. After several more laps
, I suppose about halfway through there were shouts from behind to tell us
we were being lapped by the 1/2/3’s and most of up politely moved to the
left and they shot through.
Then the pace quickened and I realised a
small group from our race had latched on to them and our group was trying
to chase them down After a few laps like this and some furious shouting
from the bloke with the megaphone and some of the riders we were told that
the breakaways would be waiting for us. I’m not sure what will happen
here as we were clearly told at the briefing not to do that or be DQ’d
A few laps further on an I had a near miss
with a rider who tried to barge past between me and the grass Evil or Very
Mad . After some language I’m not proud of(!), and a telling off from
Matt, he seemed to calm down
I was really getting into this now and
started to move up a few places each lap until two to go, bloody hell, I
was on the front!!! I managed a cheeky grimace for the trackside
photographer and then glory slipped away as I got passed by quite a few
riders as things wound up for the final sprint .Into the last bend and I
wasn’t in a great position for the sprint to the line but I think I
managed to get some places back .
Then on the line carnage two riders who I
suppose were fighting for points went down just ahead of me with sparks
flying everywhere and the whole bunch had to swerve to avoid them and I
ended up on the grass bank .
Not sure where I finished but finish I did
and I’m well pleased. Very Happy
Met up with the others in the clubroom and
then Matt and John and set of back to Saarf London at a pace that I think
may have been quicker than the race ;-)
Home by 9pm for me tea
Can’t wait for the next one
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