From 6th to 2nd

Last Saturday was my second criterium race at Heffron Park. The Dulwich Hill club was well represented in D grade with Grant and Lindsay racing with me. My race almost didn’t begin as I got a flat half way around my warm up lap. Thankfully, the starters waited for me and Lindsay quickly put in my ‘three-patched’ spare tube. I was paranoid for the first few laps that I’d get another flat. The D grade race was a lot quicker than the previous week. All the Dulwich Hill riders did a lot of work at the front. I did several turns at the front although this week I was weary not to do too much work. The first real move in the race came at lap 10 (although due to a counting error we did 11 laps instead of ten). One of the stronger Randwick-Botany riders (Rocky) did a really hard turn at the front and winded up the pace to weaken the field. He then returned back into the pack halfway down the main straight before the final lap. I was now at first wheel and I noticed the pace drop off immediately from the rider in front.

At the first turn I decided to attack and push myself all the way back to the finish line. I choose this point because it was just before a series of sharp turns so I thought that the pack would be slowed down and I’d have the most chance of sustaining a break away. I rode with everything I had until I got to ‘the pimple’ (i.e. the little hill) where I was really starting to hurt. I knew there was only one rider on my wheel, but I didn’t know who it was? As I came down the hill I realised it was my clubmate Lindsay and I found out latter that he was on my wheel when I attached. As we turned to the main straight it was clear that the pack wouldn’t catch up so it was down to the two of us. At this stage I was thoroughly rooted and happy to concede defeat in the sprint. In true trackie style, Lindsay passed me at about 100m to take line honours. I knew Lindsay would pass me and I was happy for him to win. One thought entered my mind after the race. The most important piece of equipment in cycling is your head. Cycling is not just about grunt-work but is much closer to a tactical game like chess and thats what makes it so exciting.

In other bike related news I got rid of my car this week. I sold it for scrap for $100. So while I've barely used it in the last year, I'm now completely detached from the automotive wet nurse. The pick-up guy asked me 'what car do you drive now'... I told him that I didn't drive anymore and to my suprise he responded: 'thats the best way to be'.