Hillingdon 3/4 – 2nd place

Tonight We had:
Massimo
Mark
RobPC
Tim Wormleighton
Tim Watling
Nathan
Seamus
Paul Banner

Large field tonight. About 60 on the start line. There wasn’t a plan as such – we all had our own individual goals, whether it was trying a break, or working on positioning. I did a 250 TSS ride yesterday and was feeling it a little when I woke up, so didn’t expect much of myself. The wind was horrendous. A strong SW wind made the tailwind up the straight quick, but the drag down the back a bit of a slog. I didn’t fancy a solo!

Seamus did well to start, puncturing with only a few minutes to go! I was surprised to see him in the peloton (just learned Nathan lent him his spare front – nice one Nath! ). I did one warm up lap too many, and started at the back of the pack. It took me 3-4 laps to move up, and in that time, I saw some very sketchy riding. Once near the front, I felt far safer.

A guy called Simon Raglickas in a Lithuanian champs jersey went off the front with another and RobPC as he said he would. I was about 15th at this point, so details may be sketchy. I made my way up to the front to disrupt doing easy turns at tempo, freewheeling the corner, and just following other chasers coming through. Soon, one rider was shelled from the break, and within a lap or two more RobPC I saw dropping back. He told me after the race he was doing 370w to stay with him! In this time, John Wyse (who has done a few of our winter rides) got across.

Seamus, Mark and I were near the front. A few were chasing and flicking their elbows, but I was doing my pulls about 250w, even though we had no KW in the break. The break had about 150-200m consistently for 3-4 laps, and were working well together, maintaining their lead. Mark followed one wheel ahead of me and the two of them had 15 yards. Mark looked back and I flicked my hand to try to signal him to go, but I’m not sure if he saw as he came back to the bunch from no mans land.

Once we went through the corners, I put in a dig into the headwind, had a look behind to ensure I wasn’t dragging the bunch, and bridged across to the 2 up the road into the headwind. Mark told me a chaser was flicking his elbow to get him to come through, which he didn’t. I had to do 400w for 2 mins to get across to them, did one turn, and then we started working together immediately after a quick chat to do some through and off.

An E123 break of about 12 caught us, passed us VERY slowly, and they stayed about 20 yards ahead on the racing line. We were riding the outside of the track and were still gaining on them. I wanted to pass as I felt they were slowing us up, but my two break companions kept encouraging me not to. In doing the through and off, Simon, the Lithuanian guy was taking the turns on the homestraight, John through the corners, and me downhill into the headwind. I was trying to keep it around FTP though. The one lap I didn’t come through to try and mix the turns up a bit, neither did the Lithuanian, and we slowed to 20mph.

There was no prime. We were about half a lap ahead of the bunch. The E123 didn’t catch us. Suddenly we were on 2 to go, which surprised me. John did his turn through the corners, and I attacked him into the headwind. I was hoping to attack both and that some hesitation would let me get a gap. He was shelled instantly having just done his turn, and I was at max heart rate. Simon got across and onto my wheel. It was this point I was ruing not wearing a skinsuit tonight! As we came around the clubhouse, the Lithuanian attacked me putting 5 seconds into me. I tried to respond, but it stayed about 5s for the rest of the final lap, which was 2:30 at 403w. I put in a final 700w dig for the last 16 seconds at the end which took me to 210bpm – a heart rate I’ve not seen since my running days – and within 3 seconds of him, but he had won comfortably. Took 2nd, which is better than 3rd. Andy Lack told me at the finish this lad who won was strong at the Milland 2/3’s, which I was happy with.

Break was 19 minutes long, 325w AP/337w NP, averaged 96% MHR, and 26.3mph. Happy with those figures, especially considering yesterdays ride. Good replacement for not being able to do the club 10. 3 podiums from 4 races makes it a very promising start to my season. I didn’t see the bunch sprint, but am told by Mark he didn’t see any Wheelers ahead of him and rolled in ~20th. Paul punctured, and I saw Andy Lack (E123) had also picked up a puncture – unsurprising as there was a lot of flint and loose chippings on the track tonight, compared to normal. Tim said he was happy with his positioning until the gallop, and Massimo found the race easier than normal.

A couple after thought I’d rode away solo, or didn’t know there was a break up the road – gotta position yourself better guys and talk if you know something! If you’re not moving up, you’re moving backwards, and the further you go, the more swamped you’ll become. You can’t influence a race if you’re not aware of what’s happening, or if you’re sat too far back. It took me 2 years to work it – warming up with Henry at the start, even he took the piss and said “Do you still sit at the back?” 

On reflection I was the most rested at the time of attacking, which was a decent time to attack. In hindsight I’d have liked to attacked the rider who beat me after his turn, and I should probably have attacked from 3rd wheel, as opposed to 2nd. It shelled one, but Lithuanian guy did well to bridge and attack me while vulnerable, but these races are good to learn that shit. Lesson learned.

Kudos to Massimo who saved all his energy for the ride home. 

E123 for me next time I think.
_________________

Hillingdon 3/4 – 1st place!

Kingston teamwork domination tonight.

We were represented int the 3/4 tonight by:
Myself
Seamus
Keith
Massimo
Luke Taylor
Paul Banner
And Nathan! (sorry mate!)

There were about 30, maybe a couple more starters.

A few of us had a chat pre-race about attacking/counter attacking to wear chasers down. I was a bit concerned the NNE wind didn’t favour a break as the long slog into the wind would be tough.

The race started with an attack. Keith followed his wheel, and I let Keiths wheel go, and nobody was coming around me. A couple of others and Luke bridged, and there were 5 up the road, but only had 5-6 seconds. A La Fuga rider got on the front, and chased it down, and then Seamus went off. This was the plan. Counter attacks, men in the break, and a lead out for Luke or Keith if nothing got away.

Seamus was away for a lap or so with others before being dragged back. Keith attacked, and ended up in an break with Seamus again I think, and a two others. Dynamo had 3 riders, and 2 on the front were working together to try and bring this back – which they eventually did. Next attack Luke was up the road as we came onto the prime lap. The young girl (think she won Longcross and didn’t look out of place tonight) bridged across, but Paul Banner chased in competing for the prime.

As we were near to crossing the line, I looked to jump on passing wheels to attack when Seamus came by and slapped his arse. I knew this was the time to attack. I jumped on his wheel, and he slungshot me to the front and I was off. Coming out of the chicane kick, the bunch were just coming down it, so I knew they had been slow to respond.

Within a couple of laps I was on the home straight as they were coming down the back and I was confident I had the win – especially when I saw the number of Wheelers at the front of the bunch. The organisers put the lap board up early for me and pulled me in a lap or two before they finished. Shame really as I was using tonight as a 20 minute TT effort, so wanted to see where I was at compared to last season!

I sat and watched the sprint, and Luke Taylor sprinted for second and won the bunch sprint – great stuff! Massimo rolled over, knackered, after Keith told him to dig in. I think if you roll in so shagged, you’ve definitely dug in and done your share.

Absolutely TOP work from the team tonight. We rode together, a man in each break, lots of blocking and taking corners easier when someone was up the road, taking turns easier, and we made the chasers work hard on a windy night. The £25 winnings will be shared – I’ll probably be down the pub after work on Thursday.

Well done guys – we completely bossed the race from start to finish.

Longcross 3rds

Frustrating morning.

Race was stopped due to 2 massive crashes. The first of which I saw a bike fly up which I thought was going to hit me, I managed to get round a fallen rider, wheel locked up, and ended up off the track, but managed to hop back on and stay with the group. If you look at the Strava trace you can see me heading off the track. The second I heard behind me on the first bend. On the long straight, I attacked to bridge across with another to an Archer CC rider to find the officials waving red flags to give everyone a bollocking and to (assumingly) let dropped riders caught in the crash back on.

Paddy had a good go solo at the right point and got a gap, but possibly a little too early as the zealous bunch just reeled him back. He said after that it was pointless trying to escape so early, and he was right. I followed a couple of individual Dynamo attacks hoping it would stick with them blocking the bunch, but nothing did.

Later, a break of Graham Crow (Twickenham), and 2 from Dynamo including Riko Sibbe and another else went up the road. I bridged the gap as I thought it was THE break to be in (2 Dynamo, and 2 from the Dunsfolds successful break, and I know they do work), saw me do 450w for a minute to get across. It certainly had the right make up. I was fuming to be told that a Kingston Wheeler was leading the chase that brought the strung out bunch back to our wheels. I don’t know who it was – I don’t want to know who it was – but that was a daft move. You’re in a prime position to let someone else do the chasing AND get a free ride.

With 15 minutes / 3 laps to go, I went up the road with a private member who had been looking to get away also most the race. I spent nearly 1 lap on the front dragging us away from the bunch before flicking him through. A Dynamo tried bridging and joining us. I sat up a bit and gestured for him to get across as I thought we’d stay away, but he sat up in no-mans land and went back, presumably to help the chase as there was 4-5 Dynamo or so in a paceline trying to bring us back. We were caught a quarter of the way through the bell lap, 2-3 minutes from the finish which was gutting.

I had a look around and could only see Tim a number of wheels back on the other side of the track. If you’re looking to be in for a sprint finish, you’ve really got to be in a good position early on so you’re not wasting energy moving up close to the finish, but simply maintaining that position. It’s a lot easier. Spent and no teammates around me to take 300m to the line, I thought I’d try one more go at a long one, and as going around the outside of everyone, a Dynamo swung out like he was pulling off a lead out train (despite being warned NOT to do this) almost taking my front wheel with him. I obviously wasn’t going hard enough because I effed, jeffed, and then called him a prick for good measure. I wasn’t getting anywhere (as I heard someone behind me grill him too ) so ended up not contesting and rolling over the line. Ho hum.

Dynamo – positionally VERY strong all race, with 3-4 members of their team in the top 15. They had numerous attacks which Meudon and private members were chasing down, rather than trying to bridge. Nobody seemed interested when I asked about attacking in numbers rather than pointless individual efforts. Their blocking was a little too blatant. I’d have liked to have seen our remaining riders disrupt their chase though and they’d have been well positioned for the finish too.

Massive congratulations to Aaron for OBLITERATING the 4ths, finishing about 2-3 minutes ahead, almost lapping them. Kudos for the support and time checks from supporting Wheelers!

Pros:
– Aaron winning with panache
– Happy with my positioning throughout & being in 4-5 breaks
– Happy to be in ‘the’ break of the race
– Power wise I equalled yesterdays peak & 5s. New 30s best.

Cons:
– Riding standard in general was disgraceful. No more racing at Longcross!
– KW not following any attacks. I ended up covering 4 or 5 as nobody else was around me to do so. Just makes subsequent attacks less potent.
– About 5 laps went by without me even seeing a Wheeler around me. Need to positon ourselves better so we know whats going on up the road.
– Not blocking or disrupting the chase when I was away. Comes down to positioning again – see Dunsfold!
– Losing Keith to puncture and Nick/Paddy being caught up in first & second crashes.
– Having to reflect on all this on a night shift until 9am.

Live and learn, but a frustrating day where our club got nothing from the race.