The Plumz riders VIEW FROM the sharp end of racing (hopefully)
BigRing Reports:
I felt good and confident from the start getting away in third place ,after the first hill which quickly sorted out the fast starters from the contenders myself and Rob quickly opened a gap.
Rob set the pace along the flat top part of the course until we hit the second climb where I pulled alongside then took to the front ; first time I've led a masters race. (Hey did you give him the Lance look - J.P)
We both kept a good pace up for the rest of the lap but after the final concrete climb which was damn near vertical I started to open a gap and went through the finish area a few seconds ahead. Rob came back to me on the first climb of the second lap but I quickly pulled away again soon after, this time putting a race winning margin between us.
The rest of the second lap I rode at a good strong pace but never really had to push myself to the limit to keep the lead . The third lap I really enjoyed, being able to call out race leader coming by was a novelty to me but one that I could get use to. The course really suited me with big climbs, twisty singletrack and fast fire road (Big ring indeed) and I would not hesitate to say that it was the best course Gorrick had put on this year (if only a little short). Overall being able to raise my hands in triumph at the end and second in the series made everything worthwhile. Well done to series winner Rob you deserved it mate the champagne was shocking though)
BigRing
Well now, it all started so very badly , for the last two weeks I've been suffering badly with sleepless nights, no reason that it's happening it just is,not much I can do about it.
Training is been going ok but not great ,so after a complete Saturday night with no sleep whatsoever expectations for the race and moral was pretty crap.
But at least the weather forcast was great and a new Gorrick course to try out made up my mind to head down south. Warming up, my moral just got worse, legs that felt like lead weights , and some monster hills to compete with didn't bode well.
But how things can suddenly change, (It's called doing it rather than worrying about it - JP) the charge off the line went well ,especially for one of the Extreme guys, (Chris Hoy would of been proud of that sprint ) who opened up a immediate gap on eveyone.
Four of us gave chase and slowly started to close the gap , my legs started to warm up and with every turn I felt stronger, the gap closed and then a bit of team play from Extreme allowed one of its riders to escape while the other slowed the rest of us down in the singletrack.
Once in the open though I made my way to the front and gave chase which was succsessful ,two of us went clear. The course was pretty tough with freshly cleared singletrack that sucked your tyres in, some fast fire roads and even some broken tarmac. The hills really turned it into a hard mans couse with a few long drags and a few short but severly steep rises ,one of which put paid to my chances of winning.
Half way up the steepest part of the course with me in second place the leader stalled and swayed to the left where I was tucked in and caused me to go off the hard trail into sand which stopped me dead cursing I had to dismount and run to the top helping the leader to open a gap which unfortunately I was unable to close a second time. As the race wore on I settled into a rythym and felt quite comfortable whilst not being able to give it maximum effort .
With regular checks behind me I was able to keep Rick from Mosquito cycles at a safe distance and enjoy the rest of the race . To round off another good day and yet another great course from the Gorrick boys I was the only one in the masters top ten to go faster on my last lap even if it was only 2 seonds .(Hey you can win the tour de france by that margin ) still waiting for my fist win!!!! Results
JP
After pulling in a few favours at work I made it to the start line, oh Shit seat is loose. sprint back to the van and a tighten it up. This is frantic and I'm still flemming up after Easters head cold enforced layoff, is this really worth it, its only a road race fer crissakes.
Anyway we got 3.5 mins on the fast boys this time, and off we went for 5 laps. Quickly I realise I'm in trouble, our group fancies its chances and its way to quick, I'm hanging on. at one stage I'm warning Rocko rider Vic that if he stays behind me he could be digging in to get back on the group.
For once I stay at the back, and after about 2 laps it seems easier, is this just the life of a wheelsucker, here go's lets see up the hill.
Hey I'm getting better I feel comfortable up the hill, and decide to try and show these really slow roadies how to use gravity on the downs (what is it with them?).
Last lap and we are leaders on the road, could it be our day, nope the fast boys join us and all hell lets loose. there's bodies going everywhere as the pace goes mental. I'm way back but still hanging on, as we approach the final climb.
Now its time to pick a good wheel, anyone fast is a no no, I barge my way through, past about 15 riders and grab Vics, I know he can pace it well and he can sprint. we start to motor up the hill, and I sound like Ivor the engine, heavy breathing was an understatement.
Suddenly its 200yds to go and its down to 6 of us, bloody ell I'm lucky as one dies right in front of me as I glance him on the way past, then its up two gears and kick, past Vic...Yes 4th wahoo, and I nearly pulled out.
No prizes but one kin big grin, yes its worth it. Results Rd 4 - Overall points
BigRing
Well now, after the fastest and what I thought was one of the most dangerous starts in the history of starts; all down hill at a top speed 38 mph.
Four of us soon pulled away very quickly on the first climb, James Lett was leading to the top when just before the twisty section Rob used his experience and jumped in first and of course me still being wet behind the ears went in last.
After a few real tight corners in the dense woods the two buffoons in front of me decided to crash leaving Rob to get away again , not too far this time but enough. We could all see him and chased hard, I was struggling to keep up and on a particularly rooty section I fell back maybe 200 metres. (you need some suspension you do...JP). Bum I thought and was actually resigned to ride for 4th place ,but after a couple of more climbs my legs started working properly and I started to reel them in .The two in front came and went quite easily ,and surely the leader was just around the corner.
I was climbing very powerfully but struggling a bit on the flat rooty sections, not being able to find a good rhythm on the S-works. Lap two was pretty normal chasing I could see Rob quite a lot but couldn't get up to him. I hooked my bar end round a tree and went arse over tit in the woods but crossed the line still in second place so I decided to chase down the super masters who were not being very super. Started seeing Rob more chased harder but also saw 3rd place gaining ,bugger ,wasn't worried though I still felt pretty good and when I passed the 5th placed super master he said to go hard Robs not to far ahead and fading. Trouble was there were only two climbs left to the finish, and the results tell you the rest of the story. I think that's my favourite course plus it suited me much better being longer . Round four is going to be MINE !!!!!!
J.P.
BigRing