Lessons learned...

The season begins: BP Road Series Race 1,

A brief description of the racing categories:

1st Group (Limit) New Rider to Racing, likely to have done some fun rides in the past
2nd Group (Break 4) - Some race experience, used to riding in a bunch, guide Taupo Time 5hrs +
3rd Group (Break 3) Couple of years racing, confident in race bunch, guide Taupo Time under 5hrs
4th Group (Break 2) Experienced A/B Grade Rider,Taupo Time under4hr45m
5th Group (Break) Experienced A/B Grade Rider, Taupo Time under 4hr30m
6th Group (Scratch) Experienced A Grade Rider, Taupo Time under 4hr15m

The night before the race I put Angry's Mavic Ksyrium SL wheel set on my heavy beast, this was to try out his theory that decent race wheels CAN actually make a difference. The difference was instant, I felt more alive and snappy than I ever had on my R500 commuting wheels, ha go figure, the only time Angry was to be correct that whole day.(Sorry about the blur, but below is the PNP dog tied up to my Giant 20kg road bike)

Planned to meet Angry first thing in the morning and rode to the race together. All the way he was reassuring me that "Scratch it's not that bad, you'll be able to hold on".

Got to the race for some pre-banter and prep. Registered to the tune of everyone else I knew at the race saying "yeah, Break, Break 2 for me..." Warning bells going off in my head... as I stood up to registration and was asked what category? "Scratch" I said in a confident voice, to which the guys eyes nearly popped out of his head and rightfully so...

Right onto the race and I lined up against some of the big names in the sport, Lee Evans, Stu Houltham & Clive Bushlove Bennett. Arse!!! right then I knew I was screwed. Off we went at a cracking pace. I started in the rotations fine and had a couple of turns at the front, felt fine until we turned around the point and off they went. As I tried to hold on I found myself at the back of the bunch by Scorching Bay and dropped like one of Davo's ball-sacks when he turned 20, within a kilometre after that I was 5mtrs back.

Decided at that point it was time to try out my time trialling so I dug deep and hammered the rest of the race by my lonesome. I even put a sprint in at the end to cross the line dead last. Never mind it was a day of lessons learned and I will be back for some more ass whooping next week. 66th over all and last in Scratch.

Lesson 1: Never get dropped from a group in road cycling, especially when there is wind involved
Lesson 2: Don't trust Angry when he says "You be fine in Scratch"!!!!
Lesson 3: Decent road wheels CAN make the world of difference. No flex in the wheels mean for better Sprinting, Climbing, Standing up off the seat and general wheel flex from weight. Not that my result from the weekend displayed this :D
Lesson 4: Crossing the line dead last, is not such a bad thing... until they rolled up the timing mat straight after. I laughed!

A big ups to those who cheered me on at the Breaker Bay hill, thanks Oli & Co ED: Me too, the support is great!). All in all an interesting result but a great fun day and race. Will see you all at the next one ;) watch for the guy racing himself with an MTB peak in his helmet

Chur Tiger




My Race (Angry)
My memory must be failing as I dont recall the pace in scratch being that fast last year, right from the get go our small bunch of about 10 riders was straight into attack mode, riders werent just riding to the front in rotation, rather a lot where attacking straight off the front meaning the pace was pretty mean (and throughly enjoyable) as you then had to pass that person to get onto the front again, Still dispite having a bit of a chest cold I didnt feel too bad and was able to do my turns, the climbs up through the cutting in Seatoun were done at a pace most people would be proud of on the flat and into the final home straight the pace was full on with Lee pulling out a big lead until he was pulled back in somewhat, I went for a sprint a wee bit too early and got pulled back in just before the end, im not sure how I would have done it different but I think putting in a sprint earlier to gain a bit of a gap then letting the bunch sprint to catch whislt recovering then sprinting for the finish while they recover seemed to be effective, least thats what I think Lee did too great effect.

Round 2 next week I feel pumped.

Huge thanks to PNP for organising this series, the turnout was huge and just goes to show the level of support PNP has.

NEW FLASH!!..Tiger just emailed me, and said hes going to race scratch again, awesome news, well done Tigs!..