First race – Hillingdon…Done!

What can I say?

I packed the bike and associated tools into my car on Saturday night so that I just needed to load my cycle gear and my food / drinks this morning. Sunday dawned bright with little wind and saw me get ready in a leisurely fashion and leave by 9am for a 10am arrival. Notably I forgot to take suntan cream which wasn’t a good idea. Hey ho! Trundle down the M40 and towards the Hillingdon track, only to be followed in by “Slash” the world champion. I thought that I would be one of the first there. How wrong I was. It was heaving with people.

I went to say hello to a few people and then get my bike ready. Transporting it without the wheels was a good idea, even though I have to deflate the tyres to get them out between the brake pads. Taking the derailleur off wasn’t a great idea as it’s a pig to get back on without adjusting it. I’ll leave it on next time and just add some protection on it. Once ready I went and signed on. I received my numbered timing box, fitted that to the bike and went out for a lap of the circuit to “warm up”. Ok, all done, just have to wait for the first “race” which was a time trial of one lap (1.5Km) with a rolling start of maybe 5-10m.

Lined up and waiting, time to switch on the video camera and make sure my heart rate and bike computer were working. Front of queue. Off to a poor start as I couldn’t clip my right foot in. Then it’s off up the hill, working hard. Heart rate was up to 170 ish. Into the downhill section to take the bottom bend and exit it at 24mph, which makes the next short hill easier than when taking it slow. Apparently the bottom bend maxes out at 30mph if you are brave! Down the back straight and across the line for what felt fairly respectable. I was trying to beat my 15.6mph average from the last outing here. I’m waiting for them to post the times!

Lunch and rehydration was next, then waiting for the start of the main event. 40 minutes plus two laps. Boo!

Lined up at the start with about 25 or so other riders, all sorts of bikes and ages represented. Start was again poor as I couldn’t get that damn foot clipped in. Practice is needed I guess as my aim is slightly off to line up the clip. Up the hill and round and round and round…

My aims for this event were to beat my 15.6mph average and Stuart Glen. We had battled hard last time out and he beat me. It wasn’t revenge, but he was a good marker. I was going well, even lapping some people (and getting lapped) I always lost ground up the hill but gained it from the bottom bend onwards. From about 20 minutes in I wanted to give up. I was hurting badly. I dug deep and kept going although my steering column was working loose and twisting. This required a little jiggle every now and then to straighten it back up. Not easy at 20+ mph. Apologies to those following for some of my weaving. ;-)

I lapped Stuart and his son (once I think) and was battling with two trikes for the last two laps. ¼ lap to go I sprinted and gave it my all. 24-25 mph on the flat. I crossed the line well ahead and slowed to a stop at the side of the track a little way up the hill. I was spent. After a little break I turned my bike round to coast down to the “pits” area. As my bike refused to pick up speed on it’s own I went to pedal it. Big mistake!! I had been suffering from cramp for the last 4 laps and it came home to hit me. I had a heel strike and went over, not particularly quickly, but I was off. Thank goodness for helmets and elbow pads. I couldn’t get out from the bike due to my cramp so just lay back. Help was by now running up the track in the form a Frazer, Stuart and a.n.other (sorry don’t know your name but thanks). The bike was removed and I was helped up and back down the hill. I wasn’t the only one to come a cropper at slow speed! So I’m not embarrassed at all. Apart from a very minor graze and a sore leg from the cramp (and some sore pink bits from the sun!) I got away with it and so did my bike. I must sort out the steering column before the next event at Fowlmead in Kent (a two day affair) but not tonight as I’m too tired.

So was it a good day? I think so. I just need to confirm how much better it was than last time. As soon as I have the results and videos done I’ll post them.

Laters

MBG