Postby James Rogers » 05 Nov 2012, 12:03
Here is my verbose report:
We almost didn't make it to the start – our car was parked on some mystery street far, far, away; when we found it, there was almost no petrol; the Gong Ride was reclaiming the local area; and when I got to the petrol station, two taxi drivers were monopolising the cashier's time. (Of course, I should have ridden to Lansdowne).
But on the other hand, I had Taku with me and the conversation was good. Even the GPS worked. I managed to sign in exactly as D grade started; got a very brief briefing on the course; and had a minute to pull on my gloves and get in line for C. I was prepared to be hanging on the back and probably spat out of the bunch by halfway.
I did hang off the back for the first two laps, introducing the others around me to my own brand of dodgy riding. But to avoid any spills, I thought I should get up towards the pointy end of the bunch... sitting behind any DHBC jersey would do me, and they were all up the front. I can't sprint, and I can't descend, but I can climb. So pushed up on the hill, only to find a couple of Waratah riders going off the front. I chased them, following a lovely Ti/Carbon Serrotta ridden by handsomely attired fellow I dubbed Rapha Man. But the chase was hard, felt stuffed. Luckily, so did they – and we drifted back into the bunch. I took note of the riders involved, and thought I would watch them.
Taku made a great one person cheerleading squad, screaming, "Go Dulwich Hill", each lap we passed.
I watched Noel go off like a cracker on the prime, and he and a collection of the others, disappeared into the distance. Fortunately the bunch didn't chase, so I just concentrated on testing my legs on the hill – I did notice the group slowed quite a bit on the ascent, so figured it was the only place I could gain advantage.
A couple of laps more, and I wondered how much longer. I asked a guy next to me, who said he had no idea. Jedi mind tricks. Must be soon, I thought. I kept getting swallowed by the bunch during the descent, so knowing the last lap was near, I manoeuvred as best I could to the front. Again there was another attack. May as well chase, I thought. For some reason the attack suddenly stopped, but I kept going. I looked behind me and couldn't believe the gap. May as well keep going, I thought. Suddenly Rapha Man was on my wheel. I thought the bunch would engulf us in no time. Bugger, that didn't last long.
"Go Dulwich Hill!".
I looked back again, but was surprised to see it was only me and Rapha Man. Mano-a-mano. My heart rate was totally into the red at this stage, and I was flapping my right arm like a chicken trying to get Rapha Man on the front. He didn't go. I suddenly felt very lonely. I looked into my suitcase of courage and only found a single mothball rattling around. This clearly wasn't going to do. So I sat up and hoped my heart rate would recover by the time the bunch caught us. Rapha Man apologised, "Sorry, I haven't got anything". It was a very Ernest Hemmingway moment.
Back in the bunch, heart hadn't exploded. Another lap passed. It felt pretty slow. Was something happening? The bell answered that. Big surge and the bunch stretched out. I think I was passed by everyone on the descent. I had to get back up on the hill. Stayed in gear and pushed all I could.
I found John M's wheel on the ascent. He was following another guy in blue. By sheer fluke (on my behalf) it was the right wheel to be on. A strong lead out to the crest of the hill, and we sat in that order. I would have been happy to just finish without being dropped. Didn't think I'd come third – but the possibility began to dawn on me.
Suddenly, the guy on the front swung right and sat up, cutting across John's line almost taking him out. We both corrected left (fortunately). I was spinning insanely to keep up, not game to change gear. Heart pounding, I thought the sprinters would clean me up before the line. They didn't. Second.
Thanks to John for the wheel.
Last edited by
James Rogers on 05 Nov 2012, 12:32, edited 2 times in total.
). This made life much easier! 
) Plan was to not get dropped but managed to stay with the bunch - as I'm the opposite of James I rely on good descending skills & track knowledge to make up a lot of ground at Lansdowne (on the descent my plan is mostly stay on the outside in the first left hand corner and then inside on the 2nd right hander). Anyway. Not much action during the race; just the usual Waratah half attacks up the hill around the back every lap. The Prime came and went with a rider attacking from 1k out and everybody except one guy, who was quickly in no-mans-land letting him go.
) . Pity that Eleri & Jo S didn't get to finish .. next time we'll get the sprint train happening !!
BTW, upgrades via phone call only.