Race Blog - Hillingdon, winter 2008

Jamie Walker is a relatively new member to the club and, at the start of 2008, has decided to participate in the Saturday race series at Hillingdon, West London.

Here is an extract from Jamie's blog about his racing challenge so far this season :

Hillingdon 26/01

I thought I'd post my racing Experiences this season as there never seems to be anything on here so far. Yesterday I thought I'd start my season a little early and headed down to Hillingdon to catch the tail end of the winter series and this being my first visit there also. I thought I'd take my mum along as she wasn't doing anything and a previous race she came to I had to pull out early with a stitch early in the race.

I registered my name in at race control, all seemed pretty smooth but not as smooth as other race's I have been to before but all was pretty quick and I had plenty of time to go back to the car and get my leg warmers and stick in a couple of warm up laps. Hillingdon Appeared to be a good track, pretty flat, a small hill and a slight incline to the finish line which Looked like it could separate those that weren't feeling to strong at the end of the race, I, felt good and knew if I raced well and kept a good position it should be mine for the taking.

After the usual talk we all headed off the start line, it seemed pretty slow compared to most races, but this was cat 4 riders and after hearing the talk before the race, it seemed it was alot of peoples first race. the race got under way after the first lap, I don't really know what speed we was doing as I decided to try racing without a HRM to see if I could go on feel, I guess we was going around 25-27 mph, and I had a great position behind the tallest man on a bike shielding me from the oncoming wind, which I sat at for a good 3-4 laps, till I was able to move to the front of the group and lead out for a while. after around 6 laps a crash happens on the climb after the hairpin, I was lucky enough not to be behind it, but unlucky enough not to miss the sliding bike heading across the track, which I inevitably hit but was lucky enough to see this happening and was able to throw myself to the grass rather than the tarmac.

I instantly got up went to collect the bike which was 2 metres behind me, but in my haste to get going again I pulled on the bike without noticing it had got caught in the fallen bikes spokes. After getting it out I was off, chasing the group down which felt I was doing around 30mph into a headwind but I was unable to catch the group. I carried on, catching stragglers and passing them. Another rider caught in the crash was able to catch me and pass me but he had to pull off after 2 laps as he was totally spent and had nothing left. I carried on chasing the pack but every time I looked up they had pulled away that little bit more.

So I just slowed and let them catch me so I could rejoin the group. I again held my own but I didn't want to jostle for position as I had already been lapped. It got to what appeared to me to be the last lap so I thought I'd see who was still strong and also If I was and sprinted for the line, only to find there was still one more left to go. I followed the group round again one last time, but this time thought I'd only give it 70% to the line as the real winners were fighting for position. It was a good days racing and I felt a little disappointed that I knew today was my day but you win some you lose some, till next weekend.

Hillingdon 02/02

Do you ever get that feeling that today is going to be a bad day? I took the Mrs. to her first club meeting and took the race bike just to get some early warm up, halfway up the road and the rear mech isn't shifting. So I pop into LBS and they appeared to of got it to move. So I head back home and it doesn't shift again, this is the last I need after I didn't get much sleep last night. Anyway another half an hour in the LBS and we finally got the rear mech to work, somehow the cable came loose. Anyway back to the race.

I was able to get there in time to get two warm up laps in. the race heads off and I shall point out it's very windy today. the first 2 laps am I'm spent already and Already thinking of just pulling off and let the rest carry on without me, but I persevere and follow everyone round. the back straight was very slow, the front fighting into the wind and dropping speed made the rest of the pack slightly dangerous as everyone was pulling on the brakes and someone pulls off with a puncture, a newbie on a flat bar, but we all start somewhere. not many droppers today, I think we had a total of about 3 so very low compared to last week.

Everything is going well till out of no where two riders ride straight on at a hairpin corner right in front of me, leading me to have to go off road, the two riders knew my appreciation of this with a few chosen words, leaving me to have to sprint to catch the group, I really didn't need to be wasting this energy, as we was about 5 laps from the end and I wanted the shelter from the group but I was able to get back on and hold a wheel. The bell goes for the last lap and the pace picks up, riders are all across the road and I can't find a way through but come the back straight and I',m moving up. the sprint straight is a slight up hill and I'm calling I'm making my way up and for the slower riders to make way.

I was able to only get 21st position, but I knew I had to make a move earlier. A good ride, much better riders than last week so no major upset's some of the riders where slightly all over the place and I did have to try and miss going into the odd rider but all in all a great day

Had to do better this week, I knew after last week's result that 21st just wasn't going to cut the mustard, or get me any points. Today started well, the mrs said she was going to come and watch me, so that was a bonus and someone I had to try and impress other than myself today. The weather was good so I knew there was going to be a significant number of racers come out of the rocks today so I thought I'd get there a little earlier to book myself in with a little bit more ease and add a little bit more warm up time. Do you ever get the feeling you shouldn't be here? for some reason as soon as a race starts I just feel knackered, and I'm only 2 laps in.

Racing goes well, and around the end of the second lap I'm on the front and pulling everyone round till I pull of and move to the back of the group to restart the batteries. There doesn't seem to be any hiccups, there must of been about 3 or 4 racers go off at the hairpin (again) right in front of me, but I was able to swerve round them and carry on with the group. With 6 laps to go and the burst of energy I get at every race kicks in and I go from second to last to a 7-10second lead on everyone for a whole lap. After I've done a lap another rider comes up to join me, another rider on a Planet X and we appear to the crowd the Planet X race team. we manage to keep going on our own for another lap till we get pulled in by the group.

I move to the back of the pack to rest for a little till the second to last lap, and I'm moving back through the group again. The bell goes to signal last lap and its foot down and go for it, I managed to sit around the middle of the group till its last corner and the sprint is on, the same as last week and my sprint is that much faster than everyone in front of me (the training pays off in the end) but I can't seem to fight my way through. In the end I had to settle for 10th place, Enough for 1 point.

Hillingdon 16/02

I woke up not feeling too strong, and really not any idea as to why, But I thought lets go race anyway, It's only 45minutes of racing, I can handle that, so off I went. I arrived really early this time, about an hour before race start, so decided to take my time getting checked in and getting ready, as I started warming up the rear mech decides to Jam. Please God not now, not today. So I take it back to the onsite mechanic (a nice touch as you never see these normally) who sticks it up on the grab and it seems to work fine, So off I go again. as race starts I look round and there is a huge number of riders turned out for last race of the series, but race gets under way and we are all off round the circuit. Another windy day (I think it being right by Heathrow airport a wind will always pick up on the vast open space) and the back straight is always slow.

A fellow rider I met last week takes off on the front in the second lap and I knew he wasn't going to be strong enough to keep it up and sure enough he gets pulled back in in due time and falls and gets spat out the back. I'm pretty much at the back for the whole race, Not sure if this is some mental tactic I have each week but this is where I find myself most of the time, but never get dropped.

We had one crash this week, I managed to avoid it and carry on. It gets to the last 3 laps and I'm telling myself its make or break time and to move to the front. on the last lap I make my move, I'm going from the back right to the front in one hasty move picking the bunch off one by one and now I'm on the front, fighting for my life. Do you remember I said I was tired before I left? It hits me, I've run out of power heading for the final corner and the whole bunch are on my back wheel, I beckon them to pass but I keep hold of the 3rd wheel that passes, Giving me no more than 5 seconds rest I sprint for the line, it's mine, the HRM is telling me I'm going to die but what does it know, its a machine, I'm climbing and climbing and the finish line is in sight, YES! YES! YES!...... NOOOOOOO!!!!! With all the pulling on the handlebars they've become loose putting me off and making me sit back in the saddle and let the rest of the group pass me. A real bummer but that's life, that's racing, and till next time, more training, oh and sack the Mechanic