Wednesday 28 May 2014
Monday 26 May 2014
18. May 2014; LVRC NATIONAL ROADRACE CHAMPIONSHIPS, cat A (40-44), HAMPSHIRE, 11.Place
This was the LVRC equivalent of the BCF master championship, same riders take part in both, except that BCF excludes all non-UK citizens. LVRC permit them to take part.
Nice rolling course with 3 good lumps, giving many of us quite some troubles on the 5 laps (a10mi). There was an early (too early for me) breakaway that stuck to the end and then the usual stop and go attacks after attacks in the peloton, with 2 laps to go we got probably a 20 strong through and off for about 10km and it looked like we could get closer to the breakaway who had on average 60-90 sec. But the unity broke and the attacking game went on. I put my eggs into 3 serious attempts in the last 20k, but when I got caught after one of them, with a lap to go couldn't go with the counter attack of another 2 riders, one of them the later winner Ian Knight. At least on the penultimate climb I attacked to break up the remaining field, and with the 5 up the road we came in as a second group of 10 or so. The final 200m my legs completely broke again, similar to what happened at Bletchingley a couple of weeks ago, could not sprint at all any more and only got in 6th of that group and 11th overall. During the race I had 3 occasions where my garmin started beeping like mad and displayed "your are above you HR max" and I couldnt believe to see 103%. Analysing the data later it turned out that I had spent a cumulative 49% of the race in Z5 and above, 19% in Z7.
Nice rolling course with 3 good lumps, giving many of us quite some troubles on the 5 laps (a10mi). There was an early (too early for me) breakaway that stuck to the end and then the usual stop and go attacks after attacks in the peloton, with 2 laps to go we got probably a 20 strong through and off for about 10km and it looked like we could get closer to the breakaway who had on average 60-90 sec. But the unity broke and the attacking game went on. I put my eggs into 3 serious attempts in the last 20k, but when I got caught after one of them, with a lap to go couldn't go with the counter attack of another 2 riders, one of them the later winner Ian Knight. At least on the penultimate climb I attacked to break up the remaining field, and with the 5 up the road we came in as a second group of 10 or so. The final 200m my legs completely broke again, similar to what happened at Bletchingley a couple of weeks ago, could not sprint at all any more and only got in 6th of that group and 11th overall. During the race I had 3 occasions where my garmin started beeping like mad and displayed "your are above you HR max" and I couldnt believe to see 103%. Analysing the data later it turned out that I had spent a cumulative 49% of the race in Z5 and above, 19% in Z7.
Tuesday 6 May 2014
Surrey League 3-Day Stagerace, 3.-5.May, 2014, 21st Place in GC
First Race of the season for me, not quite the best start to begin with a 3-day road stage race...
1. Day: Dunsfold, 120K
The big questionmark was, would I be able to survive it? Would I be able to finish the race? At the end it was ok, just died in the final sprint. 17. Place
http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/results/results2014/may2014/may3.htm
2. Day: Bletchingley, 120K
This circuit is said to be the hardest in the whole Surrey League. Climbing the Hill 7 times proved to be a real legbreaker. Having dropped my chain just at the foot of the hill on lap3 costed me quite some matches to fight back on. Generally ok performance, went into the final sprint/climb second wheel but in the following had total shut down of legs and only got in the middle of the field. I was very happy again that I finished the race. 37. Place
http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/results/results2014/may2014/may4.htm
3. Day: Lingfield, 115K
21.Place
The last day of the stagerace was something very special for our club and for me personally, too. We managed to succeed as a team by making individual sacrifices.
http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/results/results2014/may2014/may5.htm
General Classification:
Got 21st place
http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/results/results2014/may2014/may3daygc.htm
Rusty, Reacesecretary of London Dynamo wrote:
Stage Three on Monday May 5th starting at 10:00 is promoted by Dulwich Paragon CC
Lingfield circuit over 67 miles (6 and a half laps).
Hot Spot Sprint Point: Marsh Green (16 & 48 miles)
KOM Point: Top of Hartfield Road cat 1 (28 & 58 miles)
KOM Point: Mutton Hill cat 2 (67 miles)
Finish Point: Mutton Hil
Well I'm very proud to be a Club member today, This was the last stage of the 3 day, and with Lee sitting in 2nd place after stage 2 the race was still open. I'm afraid we lost a few riders today James Captian Mickelburgh, with a bad case of fever over night, and Dan the Man Thut with a bad case of Girl friend
so both did not start this morning.So the Team left..
Stuart Go from the Gun Spies
Lee Sprinter Star Comerford
Steven Diesel Noble
Jamie Junior Francis
James Turbo Local
Riko Ex pro Sibbe
and Me Russell Rusty ShortPlan was to keep Lee Sprinter Star Comerford and James Turbo Local safe, first lap and and out of the corner of my eye we see James pulling over back wheel problems, 10 mins later I again lose my front to a puncture - F*^K, if anyone knows road racing its pretty impossible to get back on to the bunch one your own once you given a wheel from netural service. (Its not like the tour dr france). So I set up and wait for the bunch to lap me, shortly later James catche's me up and I also convince him to hang on with me.
Mean While all hell is breaking lose in the race Lee Sprinter Star Comerford (remember he is 2nd overall) has a rear flat, Stuart Go from the Gun Spies notices pulles over offering him his wheel, So stu gives up his GC chances for Lee ending his own race the then arond the corner Lee finds the rest of the team pulled over also waiting to help Lee get back onto the bunch.. Stu is waiting nervously by the side of the road hoping that lee gets back on. Steve, Jamie and Riko drag Lee back to bunch, Jamie suffering with back problems Riko jeoparising his own chases for a good result Steve loving ever moment of it. They all mange to get Lee succesfully back on to the bunch. The race was pretty flat on the last 2laps with a group of 6 up the road at 30secs. Well the team did well to drive the buch back onto them leaving it up to Lee to makesure he finnished well in the bunch for the sprint for the line Lee road strongly not losing to much losing one place to strong finnishing Steve Calland. Lee Comerford 3rd overall Surrey League 3 day.
Well Done everone... Proud to be a London Dynamo member
Lee Sprinterstar Wrote:
Well said Russell Rusty Short. Can't thank the team enough for sacrificing themselves today for my GC. When I punctured and Stu pulled over and gave me his wheel, I thought to myself, is he serious?! What a legend! Before I knew it I was back on the bike going hell for leather, I get to the corner and a (kinda good looking) female marshall say's "your team will be waiting for you around the corner", at that moment it felt like the tour d france. There was Riko Ex Pro Sibbe and Jamie Junior Francis waiting for me. They got me back on the bunch in no time - complete power houses. At that point people were looking around thinking - did he not just flat?!!
On we went, I just wanted to stay out of trouble then. Steven Diesel Noble chased down everything that went and still had enough fuel to stay on the front after each effort, can't believe how much time he has spent at the front over the WE working for the team. Riko Ex Pro Sibbe then jumps on the front and hammers it to catch the break - we all know the only chance of winning is if I win the race and at this point (after the team's sacrifices) I am feeling the pressure to do them proud.
We are 1.5 laps to go and the bunch is getting excited, the leader looks at me and say's "are you ready for this?" puts the hammer down and I am on his wheel. After that I decide to have a go myself (mistake!) because then a break goes flying past and I am left catching my breath. We chase for a while, low on LD's at this stage so I do some work and bury myself - can't lose the fricking break, if I do will lose my GC. All of a sudden James Local Turbo drops back from the break and say's come on Lee. Riko gives me a push from behind and I am latching onto James' wheel. He turbo's ahead to the break - motorbike speed. He's got me back on the break. I am spent, but know the close is near. Want to do the team proud. Put in my last (every) effort to cross the line.
After the race everybody was saying how well our team worked together, by far the best organised. I kept my jersey on all the way home and had a think about the sacrifices made, hard work, sweat and (nearly) tears - thanks to London Dynamo for being a great club and especially
Stuart Go from the Gun Spies
Steven Diesel Noble
Jamie Junior Francis
James Turbo LocalRiko Ex pro Sibbe
Me Russell Rusty Short
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