RR: Blackburn CC - METEC Crit 18-Mar-04

Blackburn CC - METEC 18th Mar 2004
45min + 3 lap Criterium

Well folks, this should be a nice, brief race
report. Why? I wasn't "in" most of the race!

This was yet another variation of the METEC
circuits, with the course being run 'backwards'
from the norm and extended to incorporate the
'hill' near the clubrooms.

As expected, Ross Hamilton lept off from the
start line as soon as the whistle was blown.
Predictable, but unfortunately for us, it was
again effective.

I chased. I hurt. I cursed my job for not
leaving me any time to warm up pre-race...

Two riders, Rick Reynolds (BBN) and Craig
Van Der Valk (HCC), managed to stick with
him but everyone else was left behind.
Michael and I dropped the others as we tried
desperately to catch the leading trio.

We yo-yo'ed behind them for much of the race
fighting against the wind and the small rises
in the track but never getting closer than
10 seconds. WIth 10 minutes to go Michael had
to fight on his own as I ran out of steam.
I surge and caught him again a lap later but
then fell away again with 5 minutes left.

I was in serious trouble, struggling up the
smallest 'bumps' on the circuit. To make matters
worse, I decided to go for the little ring and
spin for the rest of the race - just trying to
avoid being lapped by the leading trio.
Bad idea. I dropped my chain and was lapped
as I refitted it.

With 3 laps to go I surged again and used the
last of my energy in a feeble attempt to chase
the lead bunch with no success.

Time for a new training regime... holiday?

Too far away to see the sprint, the final
placings were:

1 Craig Van Der Valk (Hawthorn CC)
2 Ross Hamilton (Blackburn CC)
3 Richard Reynolds (Blackburn CC)

hippy

 

Boy, sounds like you did it tougher than usual that race!

I didn't turn up because of ....um.....what was it again?.....not sure why actually........oh yeah, that's right, I had a stomach bug last week and wasn't feeling crash hot. Talking about hot, it's going to be a hot one next Thursday and I don't race unless the temperature's below 28 degrees. . Might come along if the forecast cool change comes around early.

Nice race report as per usual.

That Ross dude deserves a nickname of "Mr Inflictor" or something like that. He causes much pain to those of less ability than him.

 

>Originally posted by jazmo
>Boy, sounds like you did it tougher than usual that race!

Yeah, it sucked basically.

>Talking about hot, it's going to be a hot one next Thursday
>and I don't race unless the temperature's below 28deg

If they are forecasting 'hot' _now_, it will be snowing on
Thursday for sure. Melbourne weather forecasters cannot
predict the weather, that is one thing I've learned as a
regular commuter who doesn't like rain much...

>That Ross dude deserves a nickname of "Mr Inflictor"

hehe... I'll suggest it to him next race :-D
He was racing B grade at Glenvale on Sunday.. if he can
keep up with them - it's no wonder I get punished!

Last one for the year this Thursday...

hippy

 

i think my cuzz's, Danny Kah races Bgrade out there and Melissa (Kah) races D? (you would notice them as their 2 little blonde kids will be running round biting ankles
(maybe i can ask them what that 'bell' sound means.....)

 

G'day,

I see Messrs hamilton & reynolds have scored 'D' grade in the coming weekends tour....."Mr Inflictor' hey....I shall start agitating the commisaire immediately for a 'promotion' to C grade for this guy!,

Cheers,

Hitchy

 

>Originally posted by Hitchy
>I see Messrs hamilton & reynolds have scored 'D' grade in
>the coming weekends tour....."Mr Inflictor' hey....I shall
>start agitating the commisaire immediately for a 'promotion'
>to C grade for this guy!,

bwahahahaa.. who says persistant sooking doesn't work!

hippy
- last track session for the season.. <sob>.. and I was
only just getting into it! <sob>