May 2007 Results
Eelmore Crits - Handicap (23/05/07)
Gary Bullock flew the flag for the Velo at the ever popular mid-week handicap crit at Eelmore this week. A spate of mid-season illnes, injury and lethargy(!) has seemed to affected quite a few racing members .... here's Garys report:
"After no racing for two whole weeks and some nice weather I was looking forward to tonight. I was hoping it would be a 3rds race to gently ease me back in, but due to the Champions League footie, a smaller field would take to the line. Therefore, it was decided that the race would be a handicap. So a total of around 45 (a large percentage were E/1/2’s) riders would fight it out tonight. The 3rds set off with the older heads barking commands for through and off and everyone to take their turn. For the first few laps we were all working really well, coming through and pulling off to the right and the majority of the 3rds were working, although what didn’t help the situation was several attacks which did nothing but disrupt the rhythm and effectively end our chances of staying away.
You could see the E/1/2’s were eating away at our slender lead with each passing lap and with around 10 laps to go they caught us. As soon as they did, the pace went up another notch and It was hard work on the finishing straight into the slight headwind. As we neared the top bend a small group of around 8 escaped and got a nice gap. Again the pace went through the roof and it was really uncomfortable for a couple of laps as we pulled them back. With two laps to go I decided that it was not going to be my night and therefore I would just coast into the finish, happy with the fact that I hadn’t put hardly any miles in over the last week and finishing in the bunch would be a good workout. So with that the bunch roared into the finishing straight and from what I saw it appeared to be an Agisko 1,2,3. Here it is on YouTube.
Content with finishing mid bunch I packed my bike away and headed home to catch the 2nd half of the Liverpool match."
Stats:- Racing Time: 1Hr 2mins, avg spd: 26mph, max spd: 35.5mph, Avg HR 176bpm, Max HR 189bpm (MAX 196)
Edgware Crits, Hillingdon - 3rds & 4ths (19/05/07)
Ian Lowe: "Well what a week of highs and lows (or should I say Lowes and lows……..).
For some of you that don’t know I could not finish the Fred Whitton due to mechanical failure of my bike. This hit me pretty hard and I send my bike back to Trek to be fixed and resigned myself to not racing for a 2 weeks. I was at my lowest on Wednesday almost considering my future etc…..
Thursday brought news from Trek that my bike had been fixed and would be back with me on Friday. All of a sudden I was lifted and considered my options for races etc….. Hillingdon on Saturday would be good.
The weather was good and a brisk wind, which always makes it interesting at Hillingdon. I decided to ride over as I had not been on the bike since the previous Sunday for the Fred Whitton. I felt rather lethargic and tired in the legs but assumed it was because I had not been on the bike for nearly a week. I decided that for this race I would sit in until the last quarter of the race and then see how I felt keeping my strength for the end part of the race.
Strange how things change as waiting on the front row of the start line I decided to go from the gun and by the time we were into the headwind down the back straight more than half the field were single file, lined out trying their hardest to stay on my wheel.
It must have been my sadistic streak in me to force the pace so early on. This lead to a fast day at Hillingdon, where anyone going off the front was soon reeled back. I had a few goes with a few breaks but it all came to nothing.
With 3 laps to go 4 riders snuck off the front and looked like staying away. With 2 laps to go, another rider and a friend of mine, Vaughan Luff, hot on his wheel, shot off the bunch with
However, the ever chasing bunch hunted them down and with me having nothing left, decided to stay out of it to bring up the rear of the bunch. The bunch leaders caught the escapees just before the “S” bend on the final up-hill finish.
The top 10 places being evenly spread in the sprint with the first 2 fighting it out for the win. The eventual winner was a private member, from a fast finishing AW Cycles rider. It was also good to see the winner of our
Average speed for the race was a respectable 26 mph or 41.5 kph. A very good workout nonetheless and so good to get back on the bike again."
Eelmore 3/4 Crit (16/05/07)
Andy Fowkes: "It was run as a handicap again which definitely promotes quality racing. I got away straight away with this Agisko guy (who eventually came 2nd).
We were away for 3 laps before being joined by about 4 others. This seemed to work for a while but (for reasons I can't really explain) just sort of fizzled and we fell back into the bunch!
The E/1/2's then came bearing down on us and we all jumped on! Apart from a winning break of 4 that got away it all stayed together which was surprising. I was always in the top 8 or so looking for a move but to be honest I was pretty well spent after my earlier efforts (and some jolly around the Lakes I did at the weekend!)
For the sprint I had nought but was happy with my earlier efforts. A good competitive, aggressive race - none of this 3rd Cat negativity!"
Hillingdon Tuesday Crit - E/1/2/3 (15/05/07)
Mike Inder reports: "I decided to ride over to the race tonight as the rain had cleared to what I thought was going to be a dry race and ride home. Luckily I'm not employed by the Met Office 'cos it hosed down at the circuit and on the ride back! The racing was good though and I enjoyed the usual speedfest with added pain ingredient of hold-the-wheel. I started at the bike but soon moved up as the pace was hot and I didn't want to come round too many wheels. The break formed in ones and twos and by the time we were passing the 4th cats it looked pretty well established. A chase group formed which I latched onto, but not for long as I started to cramp up badly - which is a new one for me! Back to the bunch I eventually retired as my back told me enough was enough and that it was time to ride home. Although it had stopped raining, the roads were flooded all the way back so I got soaked again from the ground up. Roll on summer!"
Eelmore 3/4 Crit (09/05/07)
Gary Bullock: "Cold, Damp and a stiff breeze greeted the riders tonight for the 2nd race in the Eelmore series. Just me from the Velo tonight although it was good to see Roger Fowkes at the track. Tonight would be a handicap rather than two separate races due to the fact that only 7 E/1/2's turned up.
So the 3/4's were given half a lap lead and off we went at typical handicap pace. Both myself and Roger were taking our turns on the front driving the bunch along, some of the riders were obviously sitting in waiting for the E/1/2's to come up to us. On around the fourth lap driving up the finishing straight into the headwind, three riders managed to just simply ride off the front of the bunch, these were never to be seen again. Another couple of laps and we caught a couple of the E/1/2 riders and a couple of counter attacks to try and get across were launched. I was simply now resigned to waiting for the five remaining E/1/2's to come up to us and they did a couple of laps later.
This is when the race split to bits as Anders Christensen (Agiskoviner) got on the front and upped the pace. With 10 laps to go, the race situation was 3 up the road, a chase bunch of around 12 riders both myself and Roger were in this group, then the main bunch, reduced to around 20 riders.
Roger was looking impressive and he was still taking his turns on the front. With around four laps to go I was around five back and then out of the blue a loud bang followed by the wobbles, my back tyre had decided to explode on me and I was left with the lonely walk back to the car. On inspection the tyre had actually blown to shreds and all I can think is when I was involved in the crash on Saturday I must have weakened the tyre. So I was able to watch the last couple of laps. With two to go, Anders Christensen and Lee Smith (Agiskoviner) attacked the small bunch and tried to bridge across to the 3 up front. They left it too late and the three were left to sprint it out. Toby from Glendene took it with ease from his breakaway companions. Next over the line was Anders who had dropped Lee on the last lap. Lee then crossed just in front of the bunch which was lead home by Mark Bremner and Roger Fowkes got third in the sprint and let out a loud wooooo hoooo for 8th overall. Well done Roger and well deserved.
I left the track feeling a bit gutted that I have never finished at Eelmore when it has rained, but that's bike racing."
Tour of the Abberleys - LVRC (4 stages, 3 days) May Spring BH
Mike Inder rode the 2007 edition of the Tour of the Abberleys, in Worcestershire this weekend. A full report to come but suffice to say that he took a right old kicking on a hilly series of stages in not the best of form.
The weather was kind to the riders with sunny skies all weekend except Monday (even kinder to Mike as it poured down on the last lap of the last day, by which point Mike had packed!).
Stage 1 was on Saturday lunchtime, a 3.5 mile Time Trial which looked to be downhill most of the way, but still was hard on the legs on what felt like dead roads. Mike did a fairly unimpressive 7:27 which didn't place him last - but almost! Average was 27.6 mph. The winning time was a short 6 minutes. Mikes GC was 35th from 46 riders.
Stage 2 was a 52 mile race in the afternoon and on the same course as last year, so at least the riders knew what to expect. It was also a chance to see who was hot and not on a circuit that rolled but had a nasty KOM hill at the back of the course.
Mike got in a group of 3 early on but was quite pleased when it came back! Thereafter he sat in the wheels towards the front to watch for any further breaks. Two riders managed to escape late on and put a couple of minutes into the bunch at the end. Mike rode in with the group and grabbed a few more places to lie 32nd on GC after day one.
Stage 3 was a repeat of the previous year's version, 54 miles of ups and downs with not much flat. Mike had hatched a plan with a fellow rider to try and get away before the big hill, as both knew that there would be a better chance to making any ground this way instead of the hills taking their toll. This worked to Mike's adavantage last year, so it seemed a reasonable plan. However, this pretty much went to pot as the race went mad from the gun! Plenty of riders where keen to attack and even more so to chase down, so it was lined out for most of the time, with a few respites inbetween.
The race was chasing 4 riders on exposed & rolling roads with a nasty head/cross wind and as the bunch turned onto the first major hill, the quartet could be seen ahead. This of course meant that instead of rolling steadily up en masse, the group went hell for leather to catch the break, which they did so over the top. Mike lost his wheel halfway up and despite regrouping with 6 other riders, never saw the bunch again. The 7 worked through and off as best they could but this was only the start of a hilly section and by the end of this only 2 others stayed with Mike.
The trio persevered and Mike managed to come in ahead of the others, but was 10 in arrears to the bunch. This left him now in 35th place on GC around 12 minutes down.
Stage 4 was new to 2007 and was a real killer. In two places on the 5 x 8 mile circuit there were descents graded at 12% and of course, what goes down must come up.
Plenty of opportunity then to use the inner chainring although some were seen to show off and big ring completely everything!
The 5 laps started briskly enough with plenty still to play for up front. Mike was well out of it racewise but still there after many riders decided to call the last day off. The weather had turned overnight but the rain had passed prior to the start and the roads, if anything were drying.
Also of note was the KOM climb, which was a steep affair but crucily only halfway up the ascent to the crest of the hill and the descent at the aptly named "Clows Top".
Mike felt okay in the group until a monstrous attack from one of the contenders (Phil Mason, a previous two time winner) on a real draggy part of the course. This had the bunch lined out and Mike in his max. - but got closed down eventually. This was repeated over and over, until the 3rd time up the KOM hill, where a truce appeared to be called.
By now, Mike was in survivial mode and sure enough the next time around, couldn't keep in touch with the bunch and slipped backwards. He completed a further lap and climbed off at the bell which also coincided with the heavens opening.
Mike said: "I'd love to use my excuse of recovering from a bad back, but that felt okay! I simply wasn't up to scratch this year, just not fit enough. Last year we only had to watch one rider until the last day. This year EVERYONE seemed up for it, so it was relentless. I'll be back next year in fitter form - I want to give this another crack!"
Thanks go out to Ray Minovi for putting on an excellent event, in the true spirit of stage racing. Not much of a turnout from the "southern softies" as most of the riders came from local or northern based teams. The only exception was a team from Finchley RT.
Portsdown RR - 3/4 cats (06/05/07)
Andy Fowkes writes: "After feeling strong in our own race the previous weekend I truly believed I was going to feature in the results today.
A tough course - very similar to the Reading course with a cheeky climb followed by a draggy section. I had had a lightish training week and mentally was focused and prepared. I knew the hill would be the leveller - it would sort the men from the boys - and as such knew positioning for the climb would be important.
I decided if anyone clipped off the front over the climb I was going to be part of it. I wasn't going to be the animator but if anything went I was going too. So, lap 1 and I was about 6th up the hill. Two guys edged away and I tagged on. We didn't really get anywhere but I had stuck to my plan. The bunch had largely stayed together and the rest of the lap was uneventful. Lap 2 up the hill and my positioning wasn't as good - top 15 I guess. It was okay though - no-one sneaked off. Again, the rest of the lap was uneventful. I was aware my legs weren't as 'sharp' that time up the hill though. 3rd time up the hill: Well positioned - top 8 and got over the climb okay. It was on the exposed, draggy section that my legs started telling me they weren't enjoying themselves! I started slipping back through the dwindled bunch and then, suddenly I was out the back! It was so frustrating and the scenario was identical to that at Reading a couple of weeks previous. Four of us got together and worked well for the last lap and a half. I guess we were five mins behind the remnants of the bunch and came in around 30th. To add insult to injury, my younger brother held on and finished in the lead group! Aggghhh!"
MOD Chertsey - 3rd cats (05/05/07)
Gary Bullock and Ian Lowe raced at MOD Chertsey no Saturday in a big field for 3rd cats only. A more detailed report to come, but Gary missed out on a top 10 by placing 12th equal with a mass of riders. Ian came in safely with the bunch complaining of "dead legs" during the race. There was a mass pile-up (again!) with a whole load of riders coming down in the gallop. There are some good (if you can call it that) piccies on Dennis Sackett's site.
Gary's report: "This weekend both myself and
During the warm up Ian told me of his plan to attack with two laps to go and could I make it to the front and muddle up the chase, if that failed I was then going to go from the last corner as I hate sprinting here. We had a plan and now all we had to do was hope that one of them worked.
As we pulled away from the start no more than four pedal strokes and POP goes someone's tyre, soon the majority of the bunch were laughing at the poor bloke’s misfortune. I later learned that he got his spare and re-joined the race.
Just as we went round the first bend a Python rider attacked. As the pace was not too hard, I went to the front of the bunch and started to pull along (really I just wanted a photo of me on the front). As we went over the lumps for the first time I managed to slip off the front of the bunch and get up to the Python rider. We took a couple of turns together but as usual the bunch caught us. Soon it was Ian's turn to have a go, again the bunch reacted and Ian was soon back in the fold. This was the story of the first 10 laps. Now, I don't know where this happened but soon there was around 9 riders about one hundred metre's up the road and at this point I thought that might be the winning move as there were a couple of strong riders up there and so I decided to join them. After a brief chase I got up to them and soon found out that this was not the break to be in as only a couple of riders were working, energy wasted there Gary! And so soon the bunch came past.
With around three laps to go Ian mentioned that he didn't feel too great and therefore wasn't going to give it a go. With a lap to go a Sigma rider shot off the front and was going like a complete train and with that, the Python rider off earlier went. Seeing how strong this guy was, I went as well by the golf course, just before the lumps. Now I was flying and made no inroads on the Python rider although up-front the Sigma rider was dying and was all over his bike. Coming round that final bend I passed the Sigma rider, onto the finishing straight I got up to the Python rider and rode straight past him. I looked under my arm to see that the bunch were right on my wheel, game over. I sat up and they roared past. I tried to jump on or near the front but my legs were having none of it, so I settled for about 20th spot. As the sprint was nearing it's conclusion a load of riders came down in the middle of the road, all I remember is missing a Kenton RC rider by inches and seeing the ladies by the finish line run for cover as I hurtled towards them. Due to sheer luck I didn't come off and ended upright in the gravel!!! Ian showed his wise head by not choosing to sprint and roll in with the bunch behind.
Race Facts:-
1HR 30MIN for 40 Miles
AVG SPD 26.7MPH
MAX SPD 34.8MPH
AVG HR 167BPM
MAX HR 194BPM (My Max is 196)
Eelmore 3/4 Crit (02/05/07)
Gary Bullock reports: “The first of the Eelmore Circuit races took place this Wednesday in sunny conditions. Although the circuit is a simple oval and a mile in length this provides excellent power/sprint interval training as you’re always out of the saddle coming out of the corners. Glad to see a friendly face as Ian Lowe arrived as I was getting a bit of a ribbing from ex VC Meudon team-mates, although he was complaining of heavy legs as he raced Hillingdon the previous night and from what he was saying it was hard going.
After the usual pre-race prep we set off, the first couple of laps were fairly uneventful. A couple of attacks followed which started to increase the pace of the race, these were bought back swiftly, I then decided to have a go to test my legs. It didn't last very long and the bunch was upon me. Ian at this point was seemingly spinning his legs like a mad man, he had just recently put his compact chainset on in preparation for the Fred Whitton. The majority of the race passed without incident, although there was one very nervous rider that was causing a few guys to hurl abuse as he crossed lines, even bumping into riders, now there was a wheel to avoid. Nearing the final few laps and an IBike rider jumped and got a fairly good gap, he lasted a few laps then the VC Meudon boys got organised and chased him down. We caught him with just over two to go and as we neared the finish line, the chief comm. was holding up the 2 to go board only for a little girl to get overly enthusiastic with the bell and ring it. At this point the comm. shouted “NO - 2 TO GO!” just as we were coming into the penultimate lap. At this point Ian shot past and started stretching the bunch out. He later told me he took it as the last lap and opened the gas up as he heard the bell, hard luck mate. On the back straight two VC Meudon boys shot to the front and really put the hammer down. I managed to get the wheel of one of them and just sat on it. As we approached the final corner they took it a bit too wide and I had to brake, which at that point a few riders shot up the inside, with the eventual winner cornering superbly and getting a small gap which he managed to maintain all the way to the line. I just dug deep and managed to get 5th place. I'm not to sure if the gear I was in was the correct one as I struggled out of the last corner to hold the wheel in front but my sprinting speed is coming and there's always next week for that elusive win!
Race Facts:-
AVG 24.8MPH
MAX 34.2MPH
AVG HR 170BPM
MAX HR 194BPM
Hillingdon Tuesday Crit - E/1/2/3 (01/05/07)
Ian Lowe reports: “With a beautiful warm spring evening it was guaranteed to draw a large field to the track, albeit tempered with a brisk NE breeze.
A strong field of top riders were present and with the wind gusting pretty hard down the up hill finish it was almost certain a break would occur. From the gun the leaders took off like there was no tomorrow – a planned move methinks. By the time we hit the back straight all riders were strung out almost single file from front to back. This laid down the foundation for what was to come for the rest of the evening. I had started 2 from the back and was trying to may my way forward which was almost impossible due to the high pace. Mike was up ahead, positioned very nicely and I wanted to move up towards where he was riding. From the start 4 of the strongest riders broke off the front of the race, Joel Stewart & Mark Bruce (Agiskoviner), Colin Roshier (Team Quest) and Gordon McCauley (Plowman Craven Evans Cycles RT). We were never going to see them again!
I found that coming up the finishing rise that the pace would slow down a touch so used this opportunity to move up towards where Mike was, which surprised him when I came alongside, he said he thought I was up front. I replied that I wish I could be!
After 5 or 6 laps I was really feeling the pace and looked down at my HRM, which was reading 188 (my maximum!) so decided to back off a touch and drop through the field. It was at this time we were about to lap the Cat 4’s and as we passed them, one of them was spooked and put his brakes on which lead to a crash. About 7 or 8 riders came down but it more or less blocked the track. Fortunately there were no serious injuries. I think all of the 4th Cat’s joined their race. However, this caused a split in our event as around 15 riders who had passed the Cat 4’s before the accident went away and the rest had a chase on their hands.
This now left the race in 3 parts, 4 up front, the 15 riders and then the bunch. In the effort to chase, the bunch split in two, with Mike upfront. The pace was full on and within 5 laps the bunch had got back together with the leaders well away. Apparently AW Cycles had missed the move and so were driving the 15 man chase group to get back to the leaders – to no avail.
Well this is how it was to finish so it just became a hard slog to the end and you had to ensure that you did not lose the wheel in front. Mike and I race together in the bunch to the end but we were racing for the glory of 20th place so rolled in and finished safely in the group.
I reckon about a third of the field dropped out. A further 5 to 8 riders were lapped and when the bunch was going over the line at the bell for the last lap the break of 4 were 20 seconds away from lapping the field. They were certainly going some!
The result was McCauley from Stewart, Bruce and Roshier fourth.
Due to the delayed start, the race was just short of an hour and the average off my computer was 42 kph (26mph). This was the fastest average for me and most certainly the hardest race I have done at Hillingdon.
With the light fading fast and only Mike with lights we briskly rode home afterwards, assisted by the tailwind, talking about how hard and fast it was, but also what a good work out it had been.”