A
Absent Husband
Guest
Hey all,
Rocked up to Murarrie for the crits on Saturday morning. The plan was
to step up and have a crack at C-grade for the last crit of the
year....
At rego, I said to the ladies, "C this week thanks..." - but they said
they couldn't change my grade, and to check with the commissaire (Club
Prez Gino).
So i said: "Gino - can I try C-grade this week??"
Gino: "Well, have you had any results in D??"
Me: "Well no. But I', finishing with the group OK, and I wanted to see
if I could handle the pace in C..."
Gino: "Well, no. I'd rather you stayed in D....".
So how about that - a handicapper holding someone down!! Somewhat
chastened, I headed back and signed on for the D race....
So, 40min + 3 laps. About 20 competitors all up. Race went well - I
stayed in the top half the whole way around, which was great.
A few laps in, a guy I was passing on the left moved left, and his left
foot brushed my front wheel..... Luckily I stayed relaxed and it was
all good!! Then I felt a 'clunk' on my back wheel when someone's front
hit me!! I waited for the screams from behind, but everyone stayed
upright.... Fortunately it was all incident free after that!!
I was too far back (about 10th wheel) as we swung onto the home
straight for the Prime. But I learnt a lot from that, and had a better
idea of where to be for the final run home.
A breakaway of 4 riders took off at 3 laps to go. I had just finished a
turn (unusual for me!), and missed it!! I knew they were good riders
too.... I looked around, and no-one was willing to work to bridge. So
half a lap later, I put the head down and went for it!! Took me a full
half-lap to bridge, but was glad to make it!! A few others succeeded in
bridging as well a bit later - so with half-a-lap to go all up, there
were 8 of us in the bunch......
Swung onto the home straight, and it was on!! I think I was a bit
slower off the mark, and the first 4 gapped the rest of us by about
10m... I put the head down and stomped as hard as I could. Managed to
come up behind, then beside the 4th place-getter, but just missed by
less than half-a-wheel!!
Still - 5th is my best ever result, and I was stoked to be a part of
the finish. Now, just got to spend some time on those sprint drills
Carl gave me!!!
Cheers all,
Abby
Rocked up to Murarrie for the crits on Saturday morning. The plan was
to step up and have a crack at C-grade for the last crit of the
year....
At rego, I said to the ladies, "C this week thanks..." - but they said
they couldn't change my grade, and to check with the commissaire (Club
Prez Gino).
So i said: "Gino - can I try C-grade this week??"
Gino: "Well, have you had any results in D??"
Me: "Well no. But I', finishing with the group OK, and I wanted to see
if I could handle the pace in C..."
Gino: "Well, no. I'd rather you stayed in D....".
So how about that - a handicapper holding someone down!! Somewhat
chastened, I headed back and signed on for the D race....
So, 40min + 3 laps. About 20 competitors all up. Race went well - I
stayed in the top half the whole way around, which was great.
A few laps in, a guy I was passing on the left moved left, and his left
foot brushed my front wheel..... Luckily I stayed relaxed and it was
all good!! Then I felt a 'clunk' on my back wheel when someone's front
hit me!! I waited for the screams from behind, but everyone stayed
upright.... Fortunately it was all incident free after that!!
I was too far back (about 10th wheel) as we swung onto the home
straight for the Prime. But I learnt a lot from that, and had a better
idea of where to be for the final run home.
A breakaway of 4 riders took off at 3 laps to go. I had just finished a
turn (unusual for me!), and missed it!! I knew they were good riders
too.... I looked around, and no-one was willing to work to bridge. So
half a lap later, I put the head down and went for it!! Took me a full
half-lap to bridge, but was glad to make it!! A few others succeeded in
bridging as well a bit later - so with half-a-lap to go all up, there
were 8 of us in the bunch......
Swung onto the home straight, and it was on!! I think I was a bit
slower off the mark, and the first 4 gapped the rest of us by about
10m... I put the head down and stomped as hard as I could. Managed to
come up behind, then beside the 4th place-getter, but just missed by
less than half-a-wheel!!
Still - 5th is my best ever result, and I was stoked to be a part of
the finish. Now, just got to spend some time on those sprint drills
Carl gave me!!!
Cheers all,
Abby
