You are reading a single comment by @andyp and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@andyp
London League Round 4 at Herne Hill today.
It was hot and dry and Herne Hill Youth CC had put together a superb course, really making good use of what the venue offers, which was very technical with lots of turns and very little sections where you could sustain a high speed for any amount of time. Basically go, brake, turn, go, brake, turn for 45 minutes.
Unlike last week I didn't get gridded so started from the 4th row of the grid, which is aways an issue at HH as there is very little opportunity to make up places once the race is underway. I got away well but got squeezed very quickly afterwards and had a good long lean (don't lean!) on one of my fellow competitors, but thankfully we both managed to keep it upright. I had a good first lap and managed to pass quite a few people and get closer to the front of the race so pressed on, trying to gain more places.
One the third or fourth lap, I passed Adrian Lyons, who'd beaten me last week, and could see the next guy in front of me, so was pushing hard to gap Adrian and make the catch when I overcooked it on the exit of a 180 degree corner and lost the front wheel. Luckily I went out over the handlebars and landed on my feet, and was just remounting as Adrian came past, only to realise I'd lost the chain, so had to dismount again, and get it back on. I could see Adrian ahead the rest of the race but could never close the gap to him again.
The rest of the race passed in a blur of go, brake, turn interspersed with passing lapped riders which, on a narrow circuit like HH, is always difficult. Thanks must go to everyone who co-operated in letting me pass, it's appreciated. I even managed to lap a fellow forumite, which surprised me, only to discover afterwards that he'd not understood how the race was started and had joined the V50 riders, who start 2 mins after the v40s (which he should be in).
I could see my Phil Jones closing in on me on the last two laps but just about had enough left in the tank to hold him off and kept it going all the way to the line. Again, not sure where I finished but given the riders ahead in the opening couple of laps, would expect to be just outside the top ten. I've no complaints though, I don't think I could have gone any quicker and am sat here knackered now.