Reports of Emma's road racing adventures..
Emma hits the road…(not literally)…06/05/2010
The road racing season has been in full swing here since the end of daylight saving, and except for a few days where the weather has been unkind or floods have made roads impassable, we have had a good turnout. Every so often a neighbouring club will come along to see if they can steal our glory and prize money, except there isn’t any prize money and very little glory either!
Our course is 10km long on a bypassed section of the Pacific Highway near Coffs Harbour, with only moderate traffic and a reasonable surface…even a few hotmix sections. ‘A’ grade do 5 and sometimes 6 laps, ‘B’ do 5 laps, ‘C’ 4 laps, and ‘D’ 3 laps.
For the first 3 race days I entered the ‘C’ grade race, and in the first one I finished just behind the bunch but at least not last, and with an average of 32kmh. Not a bad result but I was spending all my energy just to stay with the bunch. I had nothing left if anyone made a breakaway. The next week the situation was much the same but I got dropped a couple of kms before the finish. The next race day the pace was a bit quicker…(too many riders who should be in ‘B’ grade)…and the course a bit longer, and I got dropped at the 15km mark up a very steep hill, and did the remaining 25km solo. Good for character building I suppose…
Well, in spite of my now huge character, I was finding the comprehensive thrashings were not good for my motivation. So the next week I dropped back to ‘D’ grade, where the competition is more appropriate to my current ability. The pace was friendlier and I could easily take many turns at the front, and had a bit in store to catch anyone who had any ideas of getting away. At the 15km mark, another rider and I were stronger on the longest climb and we pulled away from the bunch without too much effort. We continued together forming an alliance, each taking turns at the front. With about one km to go I made an attempt at breaking away which I accomplished with about a 50 metre lead, but I spent a little too much of my available energy, and my companion gained my wheel again with about 600 metres to go. Now things were getting very cagey and the alliance that had lasted for the previous 15km had now evaporated. I slowed, he slowed, and he refused to lead out. I didn’t look back but could see his front wheel just adjacent to my back wheel as I peered discreetly under my right arm. Remembering the old saying…’When in doubt, lead out’…I stamped on the pedals about 300 metres from the line and up a moderate rise. But even with all my effort that menacing front wheel was sticking to mine, and with 30 metres to go my assailant passed by as my legs screamed for mercy. So I had scored a second place and over a km in front of third place. Average 29kmh.
Today was race day once again and with all the burglars still in ‘C’ grade, it was ‘D’ grade for me. A few more riders in ‘D’ grade today too which is nice. A slightly different course today, but still 3 x 10km laps. The pace was a little faster this week and except for a few riders who dropped off, the bunch stayed together for 28 of the 30 kms. I did quite a few long turns at the front in the early stages and then recovered on the last lap with shorter turns in the wind. I had worked myself to the front at one of the turn around points which is a round-about 2km from the finish, and as the others slowed and the bunch strung out for the turn I picked up the pace. Quickly I had a 200 metre lead and with a bike that rolls better than everyone else’s (tubeless tyres…;-)), I stayed away up the hill and down the other side. My lead was reducing and my legs were screaming as usual, but I could barely hear the screams over the complaining from my lungs and the faint headedness I was experiencing. So with hands on the drops and chin on the stem, and the knowledge that it was harder for them to make up the now 100 metres gap than it was for me to stay away, I persevered and grimaced my way to the line. First place at last and with about a 50 metre lead. Average 30.6kmh.
Well, no prize money, and barely any glory, but with stacks of satisfaction, I treated myself to a deep and hot bath with Epsom Salts, a glass of red and Nora Jones’ voice (‘Come away with me’) echoing through the house. Does it get any better…
Emma
