3rd Round of Hillingdon Winter Series

I didn't make it to the 3rd race of the Hillingdon Winter Series last week, but Patrick was there hoping to improve on his position from the week before (he was last).

And despite the chaffin' cold, improve he did, finishing strongly in the main bunch of what was a fast race by all accounts. At this rate he will be as strong as he was before his broken knee and should be finishing in the points early next year.

Pictures of Saturday 8th

Early days, hanging at the back trying to get warm





Pat looking strong/chubby depending on who you ask.




Pat working up the hill, perhaps too much too soon?




Making a move




Paul Delahunty pushes hard.




Pat and new friend Richard





I try and split the bunch




Pat and Richard having a race of their own, together till the end.




Finally I break the group, dropping the other 2/3 Cats.

Only fools and cyclists

"Surely your not going to race in this? Shireen asks me over the noise of the rain lashing against the windows.
"Pat has already left to pick me up" I reply.

How can I explain my willingness to race my bike in weather conditions most people wouldn't put the bin out in. I can't really. It is foolish but I love racing and I'll take every opportunity to do it. In all honestly if I wasn't racing I'd be going for a training ride anyway which is even harder to explain.

Pat and I weren't the only people blind to the conditions, it was a pretty good field considering.

It was always going a bit of a war of attrition. I struggled for the first few laps, mainly with the cold. It was obvious to me on the warm up lap that I needed another layer on, the wind and rain going down the back straight cutting through me to the bone. Unfortunatly Pat's car was locked with my base layer inside when I returned after the intial lap.

Pat seemed to be going strong for the first few laps, up near the front. Not bad for someone returning from a broken knee. I moved up through the field aware that even the smallest gap could be decisive. Myself and a few others forced the pace now and again until the pack had split in two. I made a few more efforts to split the group further but to no avail. Then a the pack did split, I was a number of places of the front and despite seeeing the move believed it would closed as all others had been. I wanted to conserve my energy and sprinting the 50m didn't seem attractive.

It was a bad decision, by the time myself and 9 others realised the gap was too big to be closed. Three of us kept trying to split the group, doing most of the work down the back straight. But despite the spray from the rear wheels, everyone was being very good at sticking to the wheel in front.

We rode past Pat and an Imperial Team rider a couple of times. They seemed to be enjoying the ride together, having paid the price for losing contact with the bunch.

Eventually with 4 laps to go, Paul Delahuntly open a gap, I pushed too and joined him. We were joined by another. It was fine by me because they were both 1st Cats so wouldn't effect my BC points. The other 2/3 Cats had been dropped, that is all I wanted to achieve. I sat up for the sprint as Paul had done a large amount of work through out the race and deserved the placing.

I was 11th overall, unfortunately there were 3 2/3 Cats in the first group, so I was only 4th in the 2/3 Cat race. I gained just 6 points, but 16 points from 2 races ain't bad and I'm still on target for 2nd Cat in 3 or so races.

Look at me!

One of the good things about racing Hillingdon is the great pictures Dennis at DGS photography takes.


Making an early break (too early)


Keeping the break alive


Back in the bunch


Racing to glory.

For once in my life

For the first time in my life I think I did something to the best of my ability. I won't say potential because I believe I could be better if I had more time to train, but I showed like never before what I was capable of.

It was a windy day at Hillingdon and I spent the first 5 laps or so at the rear of the bunch reminding myself of the cicuit. The head wind down the back straight was enough to slow the peloton down so a few people tried to break but never getting very far. I got in a break with Jason Streather and Bill Butterworth amongst others and genuinely thought we had a chance, but after several laps we were caught. I guess sometimes a group doesn't synergise.

Pat and I had a plan to break on 59 minutes, the race being 1 hour plus 5 laps. I wanted to put the plan into action even though Pat wasn't with me but I was worried I'd done too much work, so I rested in the pack.

While I was holding back in the middle of the bunch three riders went clear.

As the clock rolled on I recovered and found myself in the ideal position going up the hill to make the break.

A 1st Cat went of the front ahead of me, but he was in a different race as far BC points are concerned.

I did nothing dramatic, stayed seated but accelerated, I had a good gap by the crest of the hill and powered down the back straight catching the 1st Cat. I was happy for him to hold my wheel as if I tired he could take a turn.

The gap had grown by the end of the first lap and I'd dropped the 1st Cat. I was on my own, just like at Chertsey. I made sure to power up the hill and ride a steady pace into the wind on the back straight. 3 laps to go and I'm still holding them off, I concentrated on keeping the motor going, no moments of relaxing. 2 laps to go and I'm begining to believe. My pace on the back straight had dropped a little but I was stilling holdong off the bunch. 1 lap to go and I knew I'd made, just don't relax too much. Up the hill at full power and across the line, I was a winner in my Cat and 4th overall.

I'd done it in style.

Hillingdon Winter Series.

It is hard to believe it but the Hillingdon winter series is here again.

All three members of Shavedlegs are due to make an appearance. Simon in the 4th Cat race will be chasing some more BC points as he edges to 3rd Cat. Pat and I will try and work together in the 2/3 Cat race which goes off along with the E/1's.

Not the one

It turns out I won't be needing to pop to Ozwald Boatang for a new suit, there is to be no summer wedding. Pat had split with his girlfriend of a year or so. She wasn't the one as everyone thought. He has got a new Colnago that he picked up cheap on holiday though which is a good result.

The pins have been taken out his knee too so he is clear to train again.

The Team is back together

I was beginning to think it would never happen, but all three Shavedlegs members were present at MOD Chertsey race.

Simon was already off in the 4th Cat race when Pat and I arrived. He looked very happy sitting in the bunch near the front staying out of trouble. As so often happens at Chertsey it came down to a sprint finish, we Simon proving he has the power snatching 8th and his first BC points. A few more placings and he'll make 3rd Cat.

The 3rd Cat race saw a few breaks go off but nothing came to much. I don't like sprints, not because I'm rubbish at them but because there aways seems to be a crash. It had been decided that I would try a break of my own at some point. With 5 laps to go (10 miles) Pat suggested now was the time, I was convinced. Upon entering the hilly 'snake' section a gap opened before me and I thought what the hell. I dropped a cog and went. I open a good gap and extended it on the second lap, but I'd done too much too soon, and the pack were looking animated.

I was caught with a lap to go. It came down to the predicted sprint and a muppet swerved in front of me and then I narrowly missed a rider who appeared to be stationary. Thought sod it and relaxed to finish in the middle of the bunch. Pat was few places behind me, but a good confident ride since he is coming back from his knee surgery.