February 2008 Results
Portsmouth Crits, Mountbatten Centre - February 17th 2008
Ian 2nd!
Paul Redman and Ian Lowe ventured south to an early season criterium for 3rd cats at the Mountabatten Centre, here are their respective reports:
First from Paul: "It was nice to finally be able to race as a 3rd cat., although getting lost in Portsmouth was probably not the most ideal preparation as I signed on with only half-an-hour to spare. This was my first ever race at the Mountbatten circuit, it reminded me of a North American motor racing oval with added banking. Hopefully there would be no NASCAR-style slamming into the barriers at 180mph though!! The sunny, breezy weather continued with the wind coming at the field down the start/finish straight. With Mr Ian Lowe for company, we both started towards the front and after a short while, I decided to have a dig having been totally unable to on the previous day at Hillingdon.
I managed a little bit of a gap and on the approach to being away for a lap, a DHcyclesport chap came whizzing by saying something like "Hop on", "Jump on" or "Chop-chop". I felt like doing none of those and eased my way further backwards to the peleton, but not before the Thames Velo roadrunner (**BEEP-BEEP!!**) himself, Mr Ian Lowe, passed me like an express train. On my arrival back in the main bunch, I was allowed to stay on the front. I looked to my right and saw that I was alongside another DHcyclesport chap. I grinned at our mischievousness; for whilst Mr Ian Lowe was making hay with his DHcyclesport friend, I was on the front with my own DHcyclesport friend and taking the pace right down. After about two laps of 18mph sauntering, those behind us obviously sensed we were up to no good and seeing that Mr Ian Lowe and his DHcyclesport friend had a half-lap gap already, the first rider broke free and then a second. Clearly the game was up, so my DHcyclesport friend and I had to respond or get left behind.
I was soon near the back and content to, naturally, stay there and refuse to partake in any chasing. That's my story, I'm sticking to it!! I was able to respond to the frequent increases in pace and was soon joined at the back by Mr Ian Lowe and his DHcyclesport friend as they put a lap on the main field. About forty minutes in, I made my way to the front and put in another dig but I only stayed away for one lap and then paid the price for the exertion when I quickly went to the back of the field and backwards further. It was then a struggle to hold on and indeed, a struggle I was losing - as I was a good 30-40m behind the peleton.
From deep within, I found some reserves and clawed my way back into the peleton just as we crossed the line for the '5 laps to go' sign. The pace was slow for the next three laps and just when I was thinking that a possible 'Gary Bullock Manoeuvre' was on the cards, the pace hit the ceiling. The main bunch looked smaller than when we first started out and I couldn't fathom if that was riders going off the front or riders going out the back. I clung on for the super-quick two final laps and came home classified in joint-15th place .... pleased to have finished in the main pack when it looked like I was being chewed up and spat out the back. Excellent stuff by the Thames Velo roadrunner Mr Ian Lowe though, an absolutely classy performance; plus of course, many thanks to the two Miss Lowe's (
Next up from Ian: "Well another cold day with clear blue skies sees me travel to
My day was made when I then met clubmate
I was sitting in riding about 10th wheel as the group reeled them in. A DHC rider shot past as the group slowed down on catching Paul and another rider. I then decided to try and go with him eventually catching him and he called me through and so to work we went. It was the quick thinking of Paul (great work mate and many thanks) who got onto the front of the group with another rider from DHC and slowed the group down allowing us to go away.
Eventually we opened up a gap of half a lap and was holding this for about 6 to 8 laps when suddenly another rider bridged the gap by himself and not taking anyone else. I did not even see him leave the group or behind us then all of a sudden he was with us and said 'lets pick up the pace and get back onto the back of the bunch'. Now with the 3 of us working and sharing the load the pace was upped with renewed vigour. The picture below shows us ahead of the group in the back ground which we eventually lapped and got back onto:
Safely on and with the race now between the 3 of us it was crucial that I'd kept a careful watch on the other two riders. It became apparent that the 3rd rider who joined myself and my DHC colleague was certainly strong and seemed pretty fresh too. As the race developed he started to put the pressure on within the group and decided to have a go to get away again - this time by himself. I hesitated, then thought better of it and went too - I tried to get onto his wheel but was not strong enough alone. The gap is apparent in the picture below. Fortunately I took another rider (who was now riding for 4th place) shown with me.
Strangely enough this rider did not know that he was riding for 4th, he thought the pair of us were chasing for 2nd! So he was intent to chase me and the leader and to not let us go.
On the last laps I was certainly going to try and close this gap on the leader and give it all I could. Well I nearly managed it but couldn't quite make the junction. A close second was the best I could do for the day. See the gap in the sprint below with the 4th place rider ahead of myself just tucked behind with the winner sitting up.
The leader and I finished 1¾ of a Lap ahead of the bunch with the 3 placed rider finishing ¾ of a lap behind in the group.
A big thank-you to Paul for playing the team role and sitting on the front to assist with the get-away, hopefully one day I can return the favour. So all in all, a good week-ends riding for me and really pleased to get something out of today’s race after yesterday's decision making shambles.
Average speed today was 36.2 kph for the hour's race.
Imperial Winter Series - February 16th 2008
Paul Redman reports from the 'don: "Given that I'd had my points for 3rd cat. since January 19th, there'd not been much of an incentive to battle it out to the death in the Imperial Winter Series since that time. It's been akin to where you've finished all your project work two/three weeks before the end of term and whilst all the other pupils are hard at work battling to finish off their assignments; you're messing around at the back of the classroom, flicking rubber bands at the nerds and trying to look up the skirt of the class hottie!! Would today be any different?
With one eye on competing the follow day, it was likely that, for me, the final round would indeed be no different. I started fairly well in the sunshine, but the micro-climate that is Hillingdon meant the easterly breeze was going to be a factor. I was mid-pack early on when No.238 lost control on the downhill bend and gave me a sizeable nudge, sending me cyclo-crossing on the grass. The loss of momentum put me firmly at the back and with the peleton seven-abreast on the straights, forward motion was going to be difficult. The first crash of the day saw Dulwich's Nigel Wood have his front wheel taken away from him going down the back-stretch; luckily cuts and bruises were the only result. I was becoming increasingly frustrated at the back and unable to force my way through. I was also becoming jolly ticked-off with No.239 who, further ahead, was waving to his wife and kids on every lap. Totally amateurish, how about concentrating on the job in hand? I was truly, truly, truly looking forward to leaving the 4th cat's behind. If this was an end-of-term party, I felt like unplugging the disco equipment, throwing the buffet into the nearest wheelie bin and leaving by the back exit, such was my frustration.
On each of the three primes, the pace went up and then when the speed increased again with three laps to go, I decided not to follow the wheel in front. I sauntered around for the final two or three laps and rolled home half-a-lap behind the main field. Possibly just as well that I did so as there was a last lap pile-up in the run-in to the line. Having scored numerous race wins, Dulwich were not having a good day as David Rees was involved. Like me, he has his 3rd cat. points and would've just been playing out the Winter Series ready to join the adults races thereafter. Thankfully, he didn't look in too bad nick; I was happy to have survived what was a kamikaze race, with my chums Marcus and Dave commenting afterwards on what a perilous experience it was in mid-pack. From my view, it looked a jolly dangerous place - hindsight suggests I did the right thing by staying out of it!!"
Upavon Crits - February 16th 2008
Ian Lowe reports: "I travelled down to the Upavon airfield with beautiful blue skies and the temperature hitting as low as -3.5 degrees in places. The temperature at the airfield was -1.5.
Usual routine, sign on, chat, get ready, warm-up then it started to go wrong……went for a pee then needed to take off my winter top and put on my race top with number. The E/1/2 race had already started with our race starting 2 minutes later behind and off they went too - without me!!
Still struggling to put my top on, gloves, helmet, glasses and a power gel in the mouth I started about 300 metres behind with some really bemused faces who could not understand how I got left behind.
I looked up to see the bunch strung out single file as some idiot had decided to do what I did the week before. Payback I guess. So full gas and up to 56 Kph down the back straight when suddenly the organisers car appeared and waved me onto him for a tow. Then back up to about 64kph and he got me onto the group just before the drag into a very brisk chilly wind from which everyone was hiding. This wind was to be the opportunity for any getaway.
Well that was fun, NOT. So I now decided to have a rest to get my breath back. Some attacks happened but the group brought them all back. Strange I had not done anything for the first half of the race then decided to have a few tests and took a few riders, called for them to come through and…….Nothing.
Soon the group had us back. I did this about 3 times then realised today no one was going to work. So onto race plan “C”. 2 riders went away so I rode strongly onto the front of the group and slowed it all down allowing the 2 riders to get away. Believe it or not no one went to chase then down.
When 2 laps had gone by, I ducked off the front and hid till we came around and into the drag with the headwind then gave chase. I eventually got onto the 2 riders who by now were knackered and were failing to go anywhere when 2 further riders eventually bridged the gap. I tried to get the riders to take turns but nothing.
I think I was not in on the brief. The bunch approached the 5 of us as we crested the drag into the headwind, so plan “D” was quickly approaching and as the bunch, a little strung out, got on. Guess what……
Yes I gave it full gas and away I went by myself. Nutter hey. Well maybe not - as I gained 20 second on the group and held this for 2 laps, then put a really hard lap in and was about 30 seconds ahead.
I did not know this at the time but when I went there were only 8 laps left (1,9 miles a lap). I was away and enjoying myself with some of my body hurting a little but not distressed.
5 riders were seen to break off the front of the group and started their chase down of me when 3 laps to go came up. Eventually they went back to the group and the gap was about 18 – 20 secs.
I was pretty confident that I had enough in me to ride this out to the end without them catching me when……. without any thinking about it or planning and just over the 2 laps to got I decided to go back to the group. Why I will never know.
Well that was it for me. I did not even contest the sprint - I just rode in, I guess a little disgusted with the decision I had just made which I knew was the wrong decision.
I will NEVER make that decision again and if that happens again, then I will ride till I drop. When I came back to the group one rider came up to me and said "Well Done, really good effort."
And another rider after the race said I should have had it in the bag. I know that now but I guess that’s life hey….. So what did I get out of it. No points. No result. But I learnt a really valuable lesson and that’s to never give in. I had a extremely good ride which I was pretty pleased about with nothing to show. Ho Hum……"
Upavon Crits - February 9th 2008
Ian Lowe reports: "After nearly crashing at Hillingdon the previous weekend which I believe was due to 80 plus riders and the poor standard of the riding, decided to try my hand at the other Winter series - Upavon.
With a beautiful day predicted, the skies were clear and the morning fresh, 1 degree but expected to rise through out the day. I was feeling pretty up for this event. We had a separate race to the E/1/2 's so about 50 3/4 's started. I was informed that every break was caught the previous week and guessed that a lot of the riders who rode last week had this in their mind so I decided to play the reverse psychology game and attack the race.
I made my intentions clear by flying off the front on the first lap and stayed there - about 20 seconds ahead for 2 laps (1.9 miles a lap). I decided to go back to the group as this was no good.
Soon a few more attacks happened and I went with each and every one of them. They all came back as the group did the expected "chase and sit". From then on, every time I had a dig, the group chased me. So I sat in and waited and waited and waited.....
On about the 8th lap a friend of mine from Agisgoviner shot off the front and took 2 riders with him. I let him go.
However, it soon became apparent that this move may stick. I was riding on the left side of the bunch mid-way when a rider shot off from the right side. All eyes were on him and no one chased. I put the hammer down and chased him. No one saw me go, so the 2 of us worked to catch the 3 ahead.
It took 2 laps and we eventually go on. Once there, the 5 of us worked pretty well with a through and off and soon gained on the bunch taking the lead out to about 35 seconds.
Just before the hour was up, I suggested we put a really hard lap in to kill off any late attacks from the bunch behind. This was done and all 5 of us worked really hard to ensure this break was going to stick. After this lap we all looked back and we then realised that the gap had doubled.
5 riders broke off the front of the group behind and had a go at closing, but eventually went back to the group. With 3 laps to go we eased off a touch and I realised I had done enough to ensure that we did not get caught and was happy to get 5th.
We cruised the last lap and then the race was decided over a sprint of about 150 metres which I did not contest as my legs were drained.
I found out that one of the riders in our group of 5 had taken a lap out for a puncture and then jumped in with the break but he was disqualified as the rules say that lapped riders and riders who take a lap out cannot contest for the points.
So 4th place it was for the day and it made me feel rather chuffed we stayed away."