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Feb 24, SERRL at Cyclopark, Gravesend
![Senecio [Daniel D]](https://forum.ccashwell.co.uk/uploads/userpics/691/nAAIKVAJWITJP.jpg)
It must be said not the most together outing for the Junior Team this week. Various illnesses and education assessments meant that it was only Theo destined to attend the SERRL event at Cylopark, Gravesend. My being in China last week added to this un-togetherness.
There were two races starting 3 minutes apart, both lasting an hour and a half. The 1/2s off first and then the 3/4s. I waved Theo off and then took up a vantage point on the hill above the BMX track. I must confess that I didnt see him come past on the first lap, but then I do sometimes miss him in the melee. Anyway at the start of the second lap, someone went off the front and Theo set about chasing him down. However with no help from the rest of the pack he slipped back into their warm embrace. I must say it did look like quite a comfy place to be, the Pudding Club were clearly having a day out (maybe I should have ridden myself). After about 50 minutes Theo put in an attack with some sponge lover who soon gave up and so Theo set about clawing back 90 seconds on the leader on his own. He soon got this down to 60. Meanwhile the bunch must have been discussing custard or something because there was no reaction indeed Theo had a minute on them in about three laps or so. In the closing laps the leader had help from a backmarker of the 1/2s, a fact the Commaisare was aggressively not interested in addressing when I raised the matter with him. If you raise a complaint I will do nothing about it (So why remind the assembled riders on the start line that riders cannot help those in another race?)
Thus the race ended with Theo getting second, by a country mile on the bunch, but it has to be said he was about a minute down on the winner.
It transpires the reason I didnt see Theo on the first lap was that he punctured just after the start and he had to take a lap out to change wheels, thereby losing most of the effects of his warm up session. When the winning attack came on lap two he wasnt warmed up and couldnt respond with full force.
So the poor commaisaring, the bitter cold and an unwilling pack meant it was not a particularly rapturous event for either of us.
So, advice for those wishing to ride Gravesend Cyclopark. The corners are tight so the bunch tends to be slow around the circuit. This means that a breakaway is likely to succeed. The surface is good and everyone I know who has ridden it says it is a good course. There are good showers and a café. Dont get upset having to pay for the car park. Oh, and, check your tyres for flints on the start line!
Crest Spring Road Race next Sunday (lets hope it is not snowing!) Sets off at 09:00 from Wendons Ambo. The Junior Team is riding this. Ill try and figure out a route description (the map on the programme is pretty poor) in case the club run wants to see any of the racing.
Daniel
There were two races starting 3 minutes apart, both lasting an hour and a half. The 1/2s off first and then the 3/4s. I waved Theo off and then took up a vantage point on the hill above the BMX track. I must confess that I didnt see him come past on the first lap, but then I do sometimes miss him in the melee. Anyway at the start of the second lap, someone went off the front and Theo set about chasing him down. However with no help from the rest of the pack he slipped back into their warm embrace. I must say it did look like quite a comfy place to be, the Pudding Club were clearly having a day out (maybe I should have ridden myself). After about 50 minutes Theo put in an attack with some sponge lover who soon gave up and so Theo set about clawing back 90 seconds on the leader on his own. He soon got this down to 60. Meanwhile the bunch must have been discussing custard or something because there was no reaction indeed Theo had a minute on them in about three laps or so. In the closing laps the leader had help from a backmarker of the 1/2s, a fact the Commaisare was aggressively not interested in addressing when I raised the matter with him. If you raise a complaint I will do nothing about it (So why remind the assembled riders on the start line that riders cannot help those in another race?)
Thus the race ended with Theo getting second, by a country mile on the bunch, but it has to be said he was about a minute down on the winner.
It transpires the reason I didnt see Theo on the first lap was that he punctured just after the start and he had to take a lap out to change wheels, thereby losing most of the effects of his warm up session. When the winning attack came on lap two he wasnt warmed up and couldnt respond with full force.
So the poor commaisaring, the bitter cold and an unwilling pack meant it was not a particularly rapturous event for either of us.
So, advice for those wishing to ride Gravesend Cyclopark. The corners are tight so the bunch tends to be slow around the circuit. This means that a breakaway is likely to succeed. The surface is good and everyone I know who has ridden it says it is a good course. There are good showers and a café. Dont get upset having to pay for the car park. Oh, and, check your tyres for flints on the start line!
Crest Spring Road Race next Sunday (lets hope it is not snowing!) Sets off at 09:00 from Wendons Ambo. The Junior Team is riding this. Ill try and figure out a route description (the map on the programme is pretty poor) in case the club run wants to see any of the racing.
Daniel
Comments
Starts 09:00, Sunday March 3rd. Those interested to spectate may wish to include this on the club run.
Daniel