First points in 2 years

MikeWW

Having not got any placings last year after a fall cut the season short started to have another crack at it this year. First few races had gone OK but just couldn't get into contention on the last lap.
So turned up at the 4th cat race at Mallory last night and instead of trying to go off the front and chase everything down played things a bit more tactically and sucked wheels.
Felt really strong with 5 to go but stayed patient and drifted back to about 15th with a lap to go and then started to jump on the faster wheels as they went through. The sprint unfolded and I kept moving forward and all of a sudden I could see the line and there was hardly anyone in front!!!Got past 3rd and a wheel off the win by the time I crossed the line so 2nd!!!! Real result for me at 49 and quite new to cycling.
http://app.strava.com/rides/9263576 Ignore the elevation(which is wrong) and 2nd to last lap is the final race lap. My fastest ever lap of Mallory So only one more result and 3rd cat here I come

Tom Butcher

Well done always nice to move up to third cat - how far off the win were you ?

Spaniard

Excellent result. Well done - it gives me hope at 44 and just starting to race.

MikeWW

Tom Butcher wrote:

Well done always nice to move up to third cat - how far off the win were you ?

About a wheel - was a team mate so 1,2 for Lichfield

Spaniard- you will have no problem at that young age

racingcondor

Great job , get that upgrade then go back to chasing everything down until you pop. Nothing like it for building fitness!

barry_kellett99

Nice one!

MikeWW

Well had another go last night but didn't quite go to plan. A couple of strong riders(one had ridden in the milk race years ago) were attacking off the front and no option but to try and bridge across. Missed the one that stayed away which meant we were fighting for 4th. Race had been pretty clean but a touch of wheels in front of me on the last lap brought 2 riders down and no where to go!!!!. So 32 mph and straight into a bike and over the bars. Can only think that I managed to roll because apart from some very minor grazing was unscathed!!!!!....but no points
Snapped a shifter in half, bent rear mech and think front wheel might need trueing. Probably going to take a few days to get the bits so looks like next Wednesdays road race and Thursday crit race are going to be on the winter bike Just need those 2 points ......hope its not going to be too long

triboy222

Hope you get the bike sorted soon and it hasn't knocked your confidence too much. Good rolling I say to escape any road rash.

MikeWW

Interestingly when you don't get hurt it probably adds to your confidence. Bike worst than I thought with a cracked top tube so looks like a new frame as well

triboy222

Real shame about the frame. Carbon frame? Remember you can get carbon tubes repaired these days and they do a really good job. Normally about £100 (?) for a simple tube break. Might be worth looking into.

MikeWW

triboy222 wrote:

Real shame about the frame. Carbon frame? Remember you can get carbon tubes repaired these days and they do a really good job. Normally about £100 (?) for a simple tube break. Might be worth looking into.

Yes-there is a place quite locally that specialises in this so will see what they have to say

alex1rob

Great result on the first race, nice work.

Shame about the damage on the bike though, still new shiny bits are always nice!

MikeWW

Frame in for repair and should be up and running in under 4 weeks
In the meantime racing on the winter bike
Picked up 3rd last night so 15 points off 2 races and 3rd cat here I come

solosuperia

An insight into the French attitude.....
A friend of mine hasn't raced for a good few years, only took out a licence again earlier this year to aid someone he was mentoring.
Hasten to add he was no slouch in his time, In fact he ended up only doing one race, finished second !
The French officials were going to upgrade him to 2nd Cat. there and then........
He was saying "whoa whoa" or whatever that is in French..... that is it, I'm not racing again this was a one off...
No you are a 2nd cat now.
He was not seduced back into racing....Shame really!

alex1rob

Mike are you racing tonight? I'm tempted to give it a go at mallory, any tips?

Weather forecast doesn't look great and I have a head cold, excuses? or is it worth waiting for some nice weather for my first race.

Thanks

alex1rob

I raced and crashed . go me.

MikeWW

Only just seen this. I can't race Thursdays any more ( upgraded to 3rd cat now )
Hope the crash wasn't too serious-what happened?

alex1rob

In the last 100 meters I was behind the guy in 3rd he was out of the saddle giving it everything. I hadn't kicked yet and as I was just about to he must have pulled on the drop too much and twisted his wheel, he wen't straight down and I had no where to go, my garmin thinks I was doing 27mph at the time.

Over the handlebars onto my wrist which is really badly strained I can't move it very well, the usual grazes and bruises down the right side. Bike seems ok apart from cosmetic wounds on the shifters, and a bent hanger. Will inspect more later.

Other guy seemed a bit shocked, they thought he might have broken his collar bone.

On the plus side the race was going well up until that point. !

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/191398081
http://app.strava.com/activities/11411171

MikeWW

Sounds really bad luck
You were obviously on for a fair few points as well
Hope you are quickly back on the mend