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:: Road Racing
:: Edenbridge 3/4
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andrewcolvin
Posts: 83
From: Kenley
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Edenbridge 3/4
Posted on: 23/05/2010 10:00 PM
Today was a great day!
I woke to the sun a shinin, the birds a tweeting and most importantly Sam asleepin. Downed a bowl of porridge, bike in the car, pysche up music on the ipod (bit of Britney sorry will get "so amazing" next time Paul) and headed down to the village of Edenbridge to meet steve for the lastest SERRL cat 3/4 race.
This was a race of 4 laps of a pretty lumpy course. The first lap was fairly uneventful apart from me loosing both my water bottles, bouncing out over a couple of sizable pot holes. I was a bit worried about this as it was a little bit warm today. I was saved by super domestic Steve Salmon who went back to the team car to pick up more bidons. (well he actually gave me one of his - thanks again mate)
Into the second lap I though it was time to light the after burners and hit the front and stretched it out for a few miles to the next rise. The pace settle for a bit along the next long stretch leading up to the main climb on the course.
The climb was not that steep, but was enough and long enough to do some damage. So a Dynamo guy and myself put in a big effort and began to stretch a lead. Buy the time we got to the top I looked back to see we had a good gap and Steve on the front controlling things.
I was feeling strong and pushed on. Dynamo guy was helping a bit but I could tell his was working a bit harder, so I ended up doing more of the work. By the time we got around to the climb again we had 1 min on the group. I kept the pressure on up the hill and the Dynamo guy conceded and blew up pretty quickly and dropped away.
It was now a solo ride to the finish. Steve was doing a great job behind as I was able to keep pulling the gap out which got to 1.30. Which I heard with about 8k to go and was very welcoming as the legs were starting to complain. The last time up the climb was tough, but I knew if I got to the top and could not see anyone in the distance behind me I could get there.
The group was coming fast, down the other side I heard 50sec so I gave it one last effort and then enjoyed the last 500 yards over beautiful smooth tarmac to come across the line around 25 sec ahead of the pack.
I was able to turn around see Steve come across the line in 7th an awesome effort after all the work he had done in the race.
Great race, great team work. I am hoping this will put bigfoot into the top 10 of the south east clubs. I am now 3 points off my cat2.
Celebrated with a lovely pizza and peroni at Zizzi's. (highly recommend)
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B2BMike
Posts: 246
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Re: Edenbridge 3/4
Posted on: 24/05/2010 09:17 AM
Well done Andy. Won't be long before you make it to Cat 2.
Mike
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pauls
Posts: 426
From: Shortlands
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Re: Edenbridge 3/4
Posted on: 24/05/2010 09:18 AM
Sounds like superb riding by both of you. Great results, sorry i couldn't be there to join in the fun. That 2nd Cat licence is surely only a race or two away now Andy and based on Jeremy's recent report he described the exact situation where you need a teammate to help out so you'll step up will be welcomed.
You'll be a loss to us third cats but at least you'll stop overshadowing our efforts! ;-)
P
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Steve
Posts: 178
From: West Wickham
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Re: Edenbridge 3/4
Posted on: 24/05/2010 10:06 AM
Here's my version of events on what turned out to be the best, most enjoyable race I've ever ridden in.
In form Andy Colvin and I headed down to Edenbridge on Sunday morning for another round of the SERRL road race series for the 3/4 cat race over 80k. Having ridden a 2/3/4 race their last year we knew the course and knew that it was one of the hilliest in the series, despite having a pan flat sprint finish area.
The race consisted of four laps, which started/finished in Marsh Green and rolled out through Lingfield, Dormansland, Hammerwood, Cowden and Den Cross. Our pre-race pan was to sit in for the first lap and try to force a break at the beginning of the second with a couple of other strong guys from other clubs. After a neutralized roll-out through Edenbridge town centre the pace lifted as we went through the start/finish line for the first time, signaling four laps to go. The usual suspects were at or near the front pulling things along until we hit the first climb where I followed the wheel in front over the crest to find that three of us had got a gap. We pushed on for a minute or so and were joined by a fourth rider, forming a small but not un-workable break. Despite working together for a couple of minutes, I knew that the break wouldn’t last, particularly as the first lap of any race tends to be quite quick, and sure enough we were pulled in by the bunch. I also knew at this point that, despite my legs feeling ok (and my back screaming), today wouldn’t be a day for a break with me in it. The first lap rolled at a fast pace without more excitement other than a few bottles flying about because of the potholes. Little did I know until he pulled alongside me that Andy had lost both of his; not ideal on the hottest day of the year so far. We shared what I had left, which gave Andy about half a bottle for the rest of the race.
As we rolled towards the finish line for the beginning of the second lap another attack went off the front, which was quickly pulled in as Andy took to the front of the bunch and literally single-handedly started putting the pain on. As our pre-race plan to jump off the front looked like it would be closed down, Andy decided to hit the front and raise the pace so high that it strung the 60 rider bunch out in single file in the hope that we could split things up and create a smaller bunch to work together; effectively it did, but I wouldn’t realize that until much later on.
As we hit the hill on the second lap a London Dynamo guy and Andy went off the front in a very strong move creating a partnership. The fact that no-one else went shows how much hurt Andy had put on in that last effort. Almost immediately the pace in the bunch slowed; we’d be averaging over 39kph up to that point, including the slow neutralized roll-out!
With Andy and the other guy moving away nicely up the road and the pace slowing, I decided that I needed to give them every chance of staying away. There was still a long way to go, but with Andy in such form there was always a chance. So as a result I moved to the front and slowed the pace even more; this only lasts so long if you slow things down too much, but is effective in letting a break build up their gap. Not having realised that Andy’s companion was London Dynamo at that point, it soon became clear as two of their guys started to do the same thing as me on the front. I asked them whether their guy up front was strong; the answer was ‘yes, but he’s sick’. Let’s hope he’s strong enough for him and Andy to work together for a good while, I thought…
The other responsibility I had aside from slowing things down was to start to mark any moves and stop further attacks that would limit the likelihood of the two of them staying away. As a result, and with the absence of any other teammates (Paul S, I could have done with you), I had to follow every attack or lift of pace to make sure that the bunch stayed together. I didn’t necessarily have to do this single-handedly because other racers also followed attacks in the hope that they would get away, the result of which was more wheels to grab for everyone. Nonetheless, I had to remain alert and ready for the remaining 2.5 laps. This went on throughout the third lap, during which I was starting to feel stronger, and the race took on a really enjoyable (if not painful) flow. As we crossed the finish line with one to go, I thought to myself ‘ok, I’ve done about as much as I can do’, I just hoped it was enough. I was also starting to get nervous about Andy’s tires and whether he’d get another unlucky flat.
Naturally the pace lifted in the last lap, and feeling stronger still I started to think of my own finish. I knew that others were tiring, but not to the extent that they actually were. As we approached one of the climbs we caught the London Dynamo guy who’d been up front. As we passed him I asked how Andy was doing; almost in a dejected way he said ‘strong, very strong’, which was hugely satisfying to hear.
I remained first/second wheel in the bunch and was sure that things would now stay together for a bunch sprint (for second place, hopefully). When riding at the front I had to judge my pace so as to keep the bunch moving forward in the belief that I was chasing, but keeping my speed 1-2kmh slower than I thought Andy would be going. I didn’t know until later that his lead was cut from 1.30 to 30 secs at the end… Mid-way through the final lap one guy rode off the front and hung out there for a while; thinking of my own finish place I decided to let him go, thinking that he’s naturally get pulled back in. As it turned out, he wasn’t and put in a very strong display to ride away from the bunch and stay away until the finish. I was convinced, however that no-one would be catching Andy now, so felt safe that I’d not jeopardized his position out front; after all we could still see the guy who’d just rode off but hadn’t seen Andy since the second lap.
So, the bunch thundered along eyeing third place, assuming we wouldn’t catch the two out front. As we came into the final 3k a big guy hit the front giving me the perfect wheel to follow. I knew he was strong because he’d been on the front/attacked a couple of times before, so I thought ‘ok, sit on and get led out’. My main concern was that the bunch would condense and I’d get swamped and therefore out of position, but the guy whose wheel I was on did a great job of keeping the pace high and the bunch (which I later learnt was down to about 20 riders!) strung out. As we hit the final left-hander into the approach to the finish, the guy whose wheel I was on died and as others came past and I quickly got onto another wheel. With 200m to go we were at full speed, charging for the line – I even remembered to get on the drops and out of the saddle for this one. The last 100m came and I was still holding on, pushing for a top ten finish. As we hit the line I knew I’d placed, and let out my customary expletive born of frustration, exertion and excitement (apologies for that). I thought I’d crossed the line in fifth place, seventh over all, but wasn’t sure. I knew that we hadn’t passed Andy or the other guy, but it wasn’t until I saw Andy that he confirmed his win – a truly fantastic solo effort on a hard course, on a hot day with half a bottle! The other guy placed second and I had indeed crossed the line, fifth in the bunch sprint (on a flat sprint!!!), for seventh overall – Brilliant.
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pauln99
Posts: 296
From: Shortlands
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Re: Edenbridge 3/4
Posted on: 24/05/2010 08:06 PM
Great result and work guys.
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Andy
Posts: 1042
From: Hayes
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Re: Edenbridge 3/4
Posted on: 24/05/2010 10:16 PM
Wow! great riding.
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swervo
Posts: 95
From: Bromley
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Re: Edenbridge 3/4
Posted on: 25/05/2010 11:28 AM
Outstanding.
+1 for the really thrilling race accounts - I don't think I've ever read anything quite like them. Really gripping and great to get the split perspective. I'm already looking forward to the next installment. Tim Krabbe better watch out.
Dominic
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