Surrey League - Pearson Cycles Jaunts 5-day - 2005
Summary
Every year the Surrey League organise a number of multi-day stage races during the season, traditionally based on the tougher circuits that have been tried and tested over the years - especially if Keith Butler gets involved. One of my targets for this year was to take part in one of these and to try and do a good ride - albeit as a solo rider in what is predominately a "team" event, as you need support in many different forms - both on and off the bike. This is probably the most important factor that will influence a successful ride.
One thing worth noting is that the organisers were pretty lenient to riders that had failed to start/finish stages - instead of elimination they were prepared to let them ride the next day. For example, on day one around 9 riders didn't start but were allowed to race on day 2 - fair enough. However, one rider only turned up on day 4 and still got to ride! Also, the winner of the last stage had packed the day before - perhaps to save his legs?? Who knows, but it did seem a bit unfair on the rest of us. There were a few chancers who turned up on the day to get a ride - they were turned away, which was right.
Suffice to say that I got round - and wasn't last (one of my targets!). I wanted to get into the points but this didn't happen - the competition was very good this year and mostly consisted of top end 2nd cats - not old duffers like me. The courses used were tough - and got progressively harder on each day and included an ascent of the highest point in southern England - Leith Hill, which stands at 294m.
At the start of the final day, I was in 29th place - still placed well and 3rd vet overall. Unfortunately, I punctured mid-race and got serviced with a wheel that refused to talk to my derailleur - game over.
Super hard racing, well organised with no crashes. I could sleep for a week!!!!
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Day 1 - Ladies Mile, Groombridge - 42 miles
The first race of the series was to be held on a small but challenging circuit close to Groombridge, near to Tonbridge Wells in Kent. The thoughts of a drive around the M25 on a Friday afternoon was a challenge itself, but I decided to make it even more so by spending the day with the family at Longleat, Wiltshire and THEN driving over to the race! I allowed plenty of time though and arrived at the HQ a good hour before the off at 7pm. I did a recce of the course beforehand - a triangular affair of around 5 miles, 2 "draggy" climbs and a very fast descent. I spotted the Norwood Paragon team in force doing the very same thing - now there is a team taking it seriously, I thought - and how right I was. Despite thunderstorms everywhere else in the south east - this area had good weather all day. However, by the time I got the bike out of the car it was raining - with the light diminishing by the minute. The clouds then gathered and it was the full monty - thunder, lightning and the roads awash with grit - lovely.
We'd been set an extra challenge as the original HQ was closed for refurbishment and we were to get changed/sign-on in a lay by on the circuit. I found this out by luck and so followed everyone else in as we tried to locate the new HQ. It turned out to be a lay-by n the course with no facilities at all. Fortunately, I hadn't relied on water at the HQ - I'd taken plenty of the bottled variety. There were a few familiar faces and we exchanged pleasantries, I sensed quite a few of us nervous at what we were about to take on.
As we set off - the rain had stopped but we now had greasy roads to contend with and a very muggy feel to the air. The lead car did a circuit one lap neutralised, so that we were all familiar with the course and to nullify any advantages of local knowledge. Soon enough, a group of 4 riders managed to get away - in what felt a very fast race - with gaps opening up quite a lot, but lot's of fresh legs to close things down. The finish was up a long drag and this had us all stretched out. On the back of the circuit - under a railway bridge - it was like riding into a tunnel, anyone with their shades on praying that the wheels in front stayed that way!
I managed to hold position quite well, but couldn't really move up much due to the speed and narrow lanes. Despite the race splitting into several groups, the four leaders stayed away and the rest came back to one bunch. There were however, some riders tailed off completely, which must have been quite demoralising for day 1! In the sprint I came in with the bunch that were all placed around 12th with the same time- the break had come back to around 22 seconds on the line. The drive back around the M25 meant that I got home around 10.30pm. Not much time to get some food, clean the bike and rest before the following day's stage - which meant that I had to be away around 11am.
Day 2 - Ewhurst & Leith Hill, Ockley - 65 miles
The M25 was being kind to me this morning, as I arrived at Ockley, Dorking in plenty of time to get ready for today's stage. Around 10 riders failed to start the previous day - but were allowed to start today, which I was surprised to learn, giving the advantage they would have with not racing.
View from Leith Hill
We were to do 2 laps of the Ewhurst circuit, a rolling affair with no climbs - then a big loop out to Dorking on the A25, followed by the Coldharbour climb up Flint Hill to Leith Hill - the highest point on the North Downs (or indeed anywhere in the south east of England!).
Then onto Abinger Common and back down to the original Ewhurst circuit for 5 more laps. The day was warming up nicely, with the clouds parting to make it really warm by the time we set off at 13:30. Everyone was saving themselves for the big climb and so it started fairly gently. We must have taken a wrong turn somewhere as we began hacking down a very narrow lane indeed, before emerging back onto the circuit proper. Again, I kept towards the front and out of trouble. As we started out to Dorking the race split and some smaller groups could be seen ahead. As we started the ascent of Leith Hill (294m) I decided to just follow wheels, as I had not recce'ed the course. Good job too - as it was a pig of a climb. I lost contact with the bunch and rode at my own pace up the twisty never ending hill, just about hanging onto a few wheels ahead of me. I heard someone call that we were at the summit and immediately got it back into the 53 ring to try to make up some ground.
Unfortunately, it kicked again and I dropped back again n some of the ground that I had made up. At the summit "proper" I found myself in a group of about 8 riders - I looked behind and there was no-one else - were we the last riders on the road? No time to consider - as we got our heads down to some serious driving to get back into the race, I was somewhat reassured, as I recognised quite a few "useful" riders in our group. The descent was VERY fast, made the more hazardous by the rain the previous day washing grit all over the road. We held it together and got onto the finishing circuit in one group. As we motored on, I suddenly caught a glimpse of some riders ahead surely not! Yes, we were getting back up to the bunch! Apparently there a few riders off the front, but not that far away. The team tactics, however, started to come into play as the Norwood Paragon had a rider in the break and were just sitting on the front of the bunch. Any counter move was swiftly nullified by the team. As the miles passed by and we approached the finish - we could see the leaders - only around 10 seconds ahead. With the narrow lanes and the large group I couldn't quite get through and came in again with the bunch just outside the top 20, for 25th place for the stage.
I'd felt okay - obviously the confidence had been boosted by getting over the hill and back onto the race. Behind us, around 20 riders had been dropped from the race- leaving only around 40 riders still within shout of the GC placings - with the leader holding under a minute on the rest of us. All still to play for!
Day 3 - Norwood Hill, Leigh - 65 miles
Woke this morning to beautiful blue sky and warm temperatures - and another slog around the M25 - I was getting quite well acquainted with almost every inch of it. Today's stage was a "rest" day for the event, as the last two days were to be the deciders in my book - looking at the race profiles they were "rather hilly". So we all lined up for 7 laps of a rolling course with no major surprises - one draggy climb, but big ring stuff.
The race turned out to be a bit negative, with the teams on GC riding tempo at the front most of the time. In retrospect, this was the stage to make my move - but I didn't have the confidence to go for it - a combination of riding solo - and worrying too much about "saving" myself about the last two days.
So what transpired was that 3 riders got away early in the race and were out of sight in no time. The green & yellow jersey & teams seem quite happy to let this hold sway and no one else took the race on until with 2 laps remaining, Darren Pembroke (agiskoviner) broke away by himself. Then Mark Ketterer (Team Quest) rode off the front of the bunch - saying afterwards "I felt as though I could ride faster on my own - the bunch was so slow, that I took advantage of a lull in proceedings". Mark quickly got up to Darren and set out catching the leading trio. Even as the pace picked up on the last lap they were well out of sight. At the finish the leading 5 now were within sight and finished only 14 seconds in front - Mark taking full advantage of the tiring 3 riders who had been away for most of the race.
I came in 28th and was kicking myself for not having a go. I drove home that day a bit dejected, for not having much to show for things so far. I was placed mid-race and 3rd vet - just.
Day 4 - Cutmill, Elstead - 65 miles
Another gloriously sunny day, tempered with thoughts of another slog around the M25 to get to the race. A Monday morning is not the best time to contemplate such a journey so I back tracked around the lanes instead and still got there in good time. The start was delayed by the non arrival of the First Aider, so we had more time to warm up (ha ha!) or top up the tan by the side of the road.
I'd done this course before - quite a toughie, with a main climb, but a nasty sting around the back of the circuit that sometimes kills the legs more so than the finishing section. We were to do 9 laps, but somehow we ended up doing 10 times up the climb by my reckoning. It was steady to start with and again, a few riders were given some leeway at the front to get away. The attack was on the back of the circuit, I think everyone was thinking it would go on the main climb. Anyway, 8 got away and were not hanging around. The time gap leapt up as the bunch was happy to ride at a steady pace - I'm sure someone shouted 3 minutes at one stage I got tailed off a few times on the climb, but dug in to get back on each time. I don't think this was a good sign. It was one of those races where I started crap but gradually got better - but not enough to take on much. On the last lap a few riders shot off from the bunch to pick up the minor placings. I tried to follow a rider about 1km out - but the legs (and by now, the head!) said no. I came in at the back of the bunch - more despondent for feeling ok, but failing in the effort to go with an attack. I still was in the race though and determined to make the most of the last day.
Day 5 - Bletchingley - 60 miles
The final stage was to held on a circuit that I'd heard plenty about, but not ridden personally. I arrived a bit late but all morning I seemed to be going through the motions, I really struggled to motivate myself for the race. This is probably the time that you need teammates around you to lift you and give you a bit of an incentive. We were to do 6 laps of a nasty circuit that started with a never ending descent, then a rolling section, followed by a hill finish - topped with a drag back up and over Bletchingley itself, which is on the A25 to the east of Redhill.
To me it seemed fast from the start and I tried to keep mid-field as much as possible. I saw a few attacks early on but I wanted to recce the circuit on the first lap before hatching any plans. We took it real steady on the first lap - everyone using the gears sensibly to keep the legs turning. Over the top through the finish area and I again got tailed off with a small group. We got back on before the rapid descent, and again it seemed to ease before the climbing started again. I think a few had clipped off the front by now, but I was pretty much in survival mode - not a good sign. We'd aso lost a few off the back too. Second time up the climb and the long drag felt better - and I relaxed a bit more. However, on the descent I seemed to catch a pot-hole big time - but assumed everything was still okay. As we wound our way around the rolling section I felt the bike go "heavy" and sure enough - on the next corner, felt the back slide from me and realised I'd punctured. I signalled for service, but hadn't put a spare in the vehicle and so called for a "Shimano 9". A messy change then ensued and I got back up and running - but it didn't seem to mesh very well at all - I really fished around for the gears. I then called the service vehicle forward for a tow back to the race - as he was hanging back. To my horror - the car came through at break neck speed and buggered off up the road! I wasn't going to get back on by myself and noticed a rider behind me, but he'd packed and was on his way back to the HQ. I decided to press on but soon found that I couldn't change down the block - I was stuck with going up the gears and soon ended in the "21". No amount of physical abuse to the lever would make the damn thing work. So I resigned myself to spin the remaining laps by myself - getting pulled out with a lap to go so that I could at least watch the finish. I gathered with a quite a few more riders that had found the pace and course too much and we sat in the sun to watch the race finish.
So I finished 37th overall with a time of 12hrs 43mins and 44seconds from 55 finishers and 75 starters. Race distance in total of around 300 miles.
An amazing experience and some lessons learnt in the differences between solo races and multi-day stage events.
The standard of riding was high - you'd have to be a good 3rd cat to get round this event, let alone do well.
Mike Inder