Welcome to the forum

West Suffolk CX report and results

Just an hours drive to this event so well within my journey limit, a new course for West Suffolk Wheelers as a dog owner complained to the local paper after last years event. That was enough to get the local councillor to bend a few arms but well done to WSW for putting in the effort to find a new venue. Usual service resumed for me and I was late but got 1.5 sighting laps before the start. I was up until midnight the day before trying to get my bike working and managed to Heath Robinson it just in time. A quick chat to Pete before the race and the advice was to “pace yourself”. The sighting lap was a long slow slog, some sand and a long uphill climb but nothing too tricky. I stopped for a quick chat to Daniel (now the owner of a very fine jacket) and Stuart, I bored them both with my bike issues before heading over to the start line. I’m now being called several places behind Dave which doesn’t help me in the Dave v Dan challenge. I decide to grid on the left behind Ben so hope he has a good start. Dave is a row in front but on the far right. The whistle goes and the rider in front of Ben can’t clip in. Ben gets past but I’m stuck behind the bad starter. We begin to settle into the race and I see Dave at least 8 places in front. I’m putting in massive efforts in to catch him (ignoring Pete’s advice) and after a couple of laps I get past Dave and get a good gap. Lap 3 and I’m really struggling now and by lap 5 Dave is now on my wheel. He puts in a big effort and gets in front of me, I try to hang on but he’s broken me, Pete’s wise words ringing in my ears as Dave disappears. The leader is now coming up behind me and I realise this will be the last lap. I put in another effort and get on Dave’s wheel but mentally I’m struggling. We spot Iain just ahead and both go past but another rider gets in my way and Dave puts in another massive effort. One last jump over the hurdles and for the second race in a row I’ve failed to find the motivation to put in a sprint finish. These lost points could prove costly come the end of season. I check the results 31/70. Pretty good for me but I can’t get over being beaten by Dave, several other riders I would normally beat and more importantly having to pay for losers coffee again- I’m starting to think I may have been played. So it’s a hatrick for Dave and now 3-4 in the Dan V Dave challenge. Dave has now decided it would be a good idea to have a trophy. The fact this coincides with him taking the lead is pure coincidence. Ben wants to get in on the challenge but unless he changes his initials to DJH he’s out of luck.

Comments

  • V40
    17th Ben
    28th Dave
    31st Dan
    32nd Iain

    Women
    10th Jackie
    23rd Anna
    27th Emma

    V50
    22nd Vince
    28th Tim
    33rd Pete
    34th Stuart
    48th Richard
    Daniel DNF - not sure what happened?
  • It was tough out there. With three laps to go I was on my knees. I'm certain we were thrown another lap. Nice having a longer lap at 1.7 miles a lap it felt like an adventure. Lost my focus at the end but also had no energy for a chase and sprint by the end.
    Thought I was going to fade big di hang in there just.
Sign In or Register to comment.