Parham Park 2/3 – 2nd place.

The Irish contingent in Declan, Nigel and Seamus were present for the mornings race at Parham Park, along with Keith Griffin. 12 laps of a 3 mile circuit, which includes main road, an 8 foot wide gravel path through a forest, then through Parham Park stately home. It’s very narrow with few passing points. It’s also famous for punctures – over 50 last year out of 80 riders punctured. 

I’d managed to get to sleep at 02:30 and was up at 05:10, and it was raining, so I stayed in the car to sleep. Seamus returned at 10:30 to the car which awoke me and to tell me that nearly everyone had punctured.  Nigel was out, and Keith had punctured 3 times! We drove down to near the finish to watch the last 3 laps where the last remaining Wheeler in Declan managed to come from 9th wheel back at 300m to go on a narrow finish, and claim 2nd place (query 1st place possibly?). For his troubles, he won a Bontrager helmet and bottle cage! The event organiser said anyone who punctured in the AM race, could enter the afternoon one free of charge. I was knackered and did debate just going to Hillingdon, rather than risking -1 point for a likely DNF from a puncture. Nigel was the only one who took this option though, and went to Southdown bikes to buy £50 worth of Armadillo tyres for the afternoon race.  

Afternoon 2/3 
The circuit was so gravel laden – 25 punctures in the morning race! Meudon, Southdown and Dynamo were well represented. I wasn’t overly sure of being up near the front, despite tending to favour wet and gravel-like conditions, so I hung around at the back getting dropped out of each corner, but not panicking and sprinting, but slowly making my way back onto the tail of the bunch on the descents and through the corners. 

A host of moves tried going, and 3 riders including a guy from Southdown bikes were off the front for 2-3 laps through the race, but Dynamo and Meudon worked well to bring them back. When they returned to the unch, Peter Allen (private member) who had sat with me throughout at the back moved up with 3 laps to go, and went with a lad from Norwood Paragon (who punctured). Dynamo and Meudon got working to bring Allen back and got within 15 seconds. 

On the penultimate lap with 6 miles to go, a slight split occurred and I decided to attack to the Meudon and Dynamo guy. I went to the front and did a big turn which was pulled back. 

Again, I put in an attack and got a gap. I was closed down by a guy from Southdown bikes, dragging the bunch back to me. At this moment, the gap was to Peter about 10s. I tried a couple more attacks in getting gaps, but the Southdown guy just kept closing me down. I finally lost my temper with him and said something along the lines of “Stop f’n chasing me down. Come with me, or do a turn.” and gave him two fingers and called him something else colourful.  He lost his cool and retaliated back with “Fuck off! I’ve been working all race on the front, you dick!”, which was interesting to know! He came through to do a turn, which I didn’t think was that strong considering he’d been pulling the bunch back to me. He was saving something for himself.

We then hit the narrow section and I was trying to work out whether I could get away still. I thought it was unlikely, and wanted to stretch Meudon and Dynamo for the finish who could line it out for the sprint. I don’t think Pete is up there threatening me in the Surrey League rankings, so I decided to come alongside the Southdown guy in an attempt to block any chase from Meudon and Dynamo, unable to pass. Pete Allen’s lead went from 10s to 35s over half a lap or so! 

As we hit the bell lap, Mike Lancaster (Meudon’s Tour of Sussex GC rider) came around me as I’d hoped and took a strong turn up the finish. I jumped on his wheel as he came around me, and as we went around the tightest bend onto the main road at the top, I geared down and attacked again out of the corner which gave me and Mike a gap from the Southdown bikes lad behind and the bunch in tow. I told Mike to come with me. He looked behind and shouted “FFS come on Meudon!” as I went. He was spent. I just put my head down and got maybe 8s on the descent. With 2 miles to go, this lead was down to 5s or less as I could see Meudon and Dynamo on the front coming into the narrow bit. I thought I was caught but dug a little deeper than I would normally, hoping I was either strong enough or that I could stay away to the section with gravel in the middle of the road would prevent through and off and thwart the chase. 

I actually felt quite confident going through the wet corners on my own, so probably wasted a shit load of energy making the race hard for myself at the back for 80 minutes. With 1 mile to go I looked back after the gravel lined section and had extended my lead out to ~15 seconds on the bunch. I’d managed to get Pete Allen down to about 15s too, but ultimately had settled for 2nd when blocking. Pete took the win, and I took 2nd place, with David Webborn of Dynamo taking 3rd in the bunch sprint. Nigel took a top 15. Maybe 12th? 

Back at the HQ, I couldn’t see which Southdown guy I’d shouted at to apologise (I talk a lot of shit – even more in races). There was a prize giving.  Pete won some S-works shoes. I had the option of a Specialized Gore-tex thermal jersey or a pair of S-works tyres worth £50 each. The jersey looked decent, but was far too baggy for my liking in medium, so took the tyres. I had a chat after with Meudon who seemed a bit pissed that once again they’d let me get away – talk to me before races guys! Very happy with that result considering as I think that puts me on 157 Surrey League points, 33 ahead of 2nd place. 6 Surrey League races remain that I’m entered into, needing only 2-3 podiums for 1st cat too, though I may try to avoid that as its such a dead category locally and a pain in the arse to get to races without use of a car!

Alfold 2/3 – 1st place!

The team and circuit 
Seamus, Declan, Nigel and I met Nathan at the start for todays ~63 mile race around Alfold, which is 5 laps around 12.5 miles each. Fairly flat with a couple of rollers, but nothing more than 30s long. The finish was about 300m out of a left hand turn, had a slight hump across the road, and was downhill. The final 2km were with a tailwind. I instantly knew that I did not want to be competing this as a bunch sprint as it’d be chaos as its such a non-selective circuit.

The race 
Instantly, a group of 5 went. I saw a Dynamo go, but no Meudon. The first half lap was a pedestrian 22.5mph before it picked up. The group of 5 had 30s on us at the end of the first lap. After an hour of racing at the end of the 2nd lap, this was a 25s gap.

The 3rd lap I said to 2 Meudon boys, were they interested in going across with me with 1 or 2 to go, as I felt I could get across to a 30s gap. They ummed and arred, about it, and said maybe. I had an idea of where I wanted to go though, and hoped they would follow.

The 4th and penultimate lap was uneventful other than a 4×4 hurling around a 90 degree bend which caused the bunch to move to the left. I slammed on the brakes and ended up in some gravel, but managed to save it. I didn’t realise I’d delaminated 2″ of my tyre tread! I was fortunate not to puncture! We got a time check – The break had increased their gap to 35 seconds however.

Making the move 
Dynamo had been blocking well all race, with Peter Allan and Paul Edwards doing a lot of work to try to bring the break back on the final lap. I moved up to about 8th wheel and attacked. A couple came with me, but Meudon I saw were dragging me back. Their DS was there and shouted “come on Meudon – control this!”. A few moments later, I heard a Meudon rider telling his teammate to “slow it down” – obviously there were Meudon in the break!

I saw James Wright of Charlotteville following me as he has done this season. I attacked hard for a 2nd time, desperate for it not to become a sprint. I was spared 100 yards, and 2 came with me – Charlotteville and another guy, I think Nick Gasson from 34th Nomads. Joe James of Velosport tried coming, but cramped. I felt like I was doing the majority of the work, and on one of the 30s rollers, I managed to drop them both. I got into my low position and just carried on, hoping the front 5 would be playing cat and mouse. I passed one who had been dropped from the break, and I could see them up the road about 20s ahead, and quite quickly, I managed to get across to them.

Last lap, in the break 
I slipped into 3rd wheel and took a turn, wanting to gauge how strong they were. There was a guy in black kit, a London Dynamo, and 2 Meudon riders. One of the Meudon riders told his teammate to sit in, and do no work. Again, I felt my turns were harder and longer than the rest of the breaks, weighing up that I wanted to stay away to extend my lead in the Surrey League, or gambling and risk being caught in trying to conserve for the win.

Gaps were appearing, and I’d had enough of the Meudon guy sitting in, so I attacked with 3 miles to go. A 5 second effort on a little incline and then I got low. There was a lot of shouting at me, but I ignored it and continued. I heard a crash, and looked behind to see the Dynamo guy had come down unfortunately. I hit the next little roller and was a bit gutted that one of the Meudon guys (Darrell Pembroke) had got across to me, but at least I’d shelled it down to just me and him.

I told him to do a turn, but he refused saying he was fucked, so I attacked 600w for 20 seconds. He managed to stay with me. He clearly was playing me. I told him to do a turn, and he refused, saying he’d been away since 60 miles. I attacked him again with 500w for 20 seconds on the final kick, trying to wear him down. We now had 2km to go, and he was sat on my wheel, with a tailwind. I was doing 280w, so he would have been cruising. I decided I’d need to do a long one before the final corner if I was to have the beating of him as he’d now been sat on for 2 miles.

I kicked before the corner. 850w for 10s. I sat in the saddle, keeping as low as possible, and with the line coming up fast at 35mph, I could feel him beginning to come round in the last 100m, so I kicked again and managed to beat him by about 6-12″ with a lunge. Tight, but my 6th win of the season!  I was absolutely ecstatic how it panned out!

After the race, Nathan said he was doing some blocking for which I’m grateful. Declan had punctured before the first corner, which was gutting. Nigel got top 15 he thinks and I think Shay got held up behind a crash with 3-4km to go as there were drabs coming over the line. I think in terms of style, 2 attempts to bridge across, having to go solo, attacking the break, and then managing to win the sprint from someone who’d sat on, it’s definitely my best win of the season so far. The last 24 minutes were 320w/338w NP after 2 hours of racing, which highlights how lazy I am in TT’s!

Seale 2/3 – 4th place

Who and where
Rob Sharland, Seamus, Luke, Declan, myself and Nigel entered this race in Seale today, promoted by Wyndymilla. 14 laps of a short punchy circuit.

Pre-race
Sharland was a prick at the HQ, criticising my pre-race music of Santigold. Nigel was hip enough to recognise it (hence why Rob never got the invite to the pub after). We stood road side, cheering Maryka on in the morning womens race before we had to get ready. The womens race had been blown apart. The gaps were massive, with 6-7 in the front bunch, including 2 phoenix riders. Seeing Maryka at the HQ later, she told us she won!  Excellent stuff. I think I heard her say that while she’d won a load of crits, it was her first RR win? She tried downplaying it, but a win is a win! Excellent stuff!

So with the bar set of a KW win, upon a quick recce, the corners were tight, full of drains/potholes, and I didn’t like it one bit. I knew it’d be a ‘stay safe out of others way’ job. That unfortunately meant poor positioning at the back of the field, and not being able to respond to moves. The finish line was 0.16 miles from the final tight corner, and I knew I’d stand no chance in a sprint if I left it down to the bunch, so wanted to get away.

I think David Creeggan of Pedal Heaven was there. An elite rider. With a number on his back. Eavesdropping a convo of someone else, they said they overheard him say something about finding out whether he was an elite or not, but another grassed him up to the commissaire, and he didn’t get a ride. 

The race
In the neutralised section, the lead cars were very stop/start, causing the bunch to constantina, and a Meudon guy (Albert Ellison?) managed to touch wheels with the guy in front, and came down hard, with a LOT of language. On the first descent, a Dynamo about 8 wheels ahead of me came down, and I just managed to come by his rear wheel, unscathed. Fucking nuts.

Meudon were riding a lot on the front, chasing down attacks. I assumed that they would be trying to set it up for a sprinter, but they were riding quite hard chasing down attacks in that first hour. 3 of them soon dropped to the back, and were starting to be shelled. This left Norwood to do some of the pacemaking and chasing of attacks. Seamus had punctured unfortunately at this point.

With roughly ~10 minutes per lap, I moved up a little to Rob Sharland, who told me Lawrence Carpenter and a G.S Avanti guy name Jonathan Harris were off the front, and had 1 minute 50 seconds. He said Keith Lea of Addiscombe (who had been trying to get away lots, but Meudon seemed to mark him hard) fancied one more attack. We had 4.5 laps to go. I’ve done so little sustained effort training this year over 20 minutes long, and didn’t fancy 45 minutes off the front. I said to Rob I was going to go, and he could mop up in the sprint. He said he felt good, so I said we should attack after the very fast tailwind section, where the bunch were swallowing most attacks as a hill followed. I told him to get on my wheel, and we moved up…

The all-important moves
With 3.5 laps to go, we moved up alongside a double paceline, with Keith Lea on the inside, and the front 10 in a single paceline. I used the momentum to carry us through and decided to go then and try to isolate Keith from joining us (as he corners like a boss, and would shank me out the back), still on the tailwind section with 400m to go until the corner up a hill. It was an audacious move to suggest Rob and I should go, but I knew we’d work well. We got a gap, and a Charlotteville guy who seems to mark all my moves came with us, as well as a Dynamo. The Dynamo guy seemed to be ~10 yards off the back, and Rob pressured the Charlotteville chap into doing 1 turn, and then we dropped them both after about 5 minutes into our attack.

Rob and I then 2 up’d for the last 30 minutes. I wanted retrospective time checks on the bunch back to us, but we were getting time checks to the group ahead. The gap was coming down, VERY quickly. Rob and I were flying. I was however cornering a lot quicker now than at the back of the bunch, and I overcooked 3 corners, even once going up someones driveway, onto the grass, and back onto the course.  I need to do some more crits.

The gap came down from 2:30 down to 1 minute with 2 to go.  I had cheekily thought about asking Rob to gift me 3rd for the SL points, and him get 4th for 1st cat as a final thanks for the Sussex race, but the gap to the front group came down to 30s on the final lap! 3/4 of a lap to go, and it was down to 20 seconds! That put pay to any plans of gifting! The front 2 must have been getting time checks as Lawrence and the Avanti guy seemed to pick up the pace, while I was hoping for cat and mouse.

By this point, I felt shagged. Rob was doing more of the work from me, and told me to eat/drink. He said to me “if I gap you in the last corner, should I go”. My answer was a definite “yes!”. I said I’d try to do my best to get him across in touch with the front group. I had a quick check to make sure nobody was upon us, and buried myself into the final corner. I waved Rob through and on, shouting encouragement. I think he finished a mere 8 seconds or so down on Jonathan (who took the win) and Lawrence. A tremendous chase. I rolled over in 4th, mostly looking over my shoulder on the final hill, needlessly fearing I would be caught on the line.

I’m not sure I could have gone any earlier. I averaged 198bpm/95% of my max heart rate for that final 35 minute 2 up with Rob at 320w NP, after 1h45m of racing and sprinting out of every corner at 255w NP. It was cheeky enough for us to both attack the bunch, and it would have been absolutely audacious to catch the break with such a massive lead and scalp them, but we almost did it! It’s a lesson in cornering really – had I been confident/competent enough through the slower corners, I’d have been up near the front and likely followed the move with Lawrence in. Shame, as Rob and I clearly had the legs, but a brilliant break, chase, and decent result all the same.

The next group rolled in – 5 riders, including the Charlotteville and Dynamo we dropped, about 60-90s back. Then an older Pedal Heaven guy rolled over, solo, followed by the main bunch where Luke and Declan placed high [top 5] in the bunch sprint for some BC and SL points. Nigel rolled in, having cramped. Speaking to some in the bunch after, they said that Luke and Declan were on blocking duties in the peloton, and throughout our break, Seamus was roadside offering bottles and time checks. Fantastic teamwork all round! 

Finally, a MASSIVE congratulation to Rob Sharland – now a 1st cat! I’ve said it elsewhere, but I’m going to miss racing with him as the last 4 races have been great fun collaborating to get results. Gonna have to do the E123’s now I guess!