RSE, I reckon you are waiting for the 'de clic' as they say in France, One day it will all fall into place, you'll not feel your legs and wonder why everyone else is suffering, well, that's the theory anyway, I may have experienced it, but can't recall to be honest. Good luck at the divs.

Managed to get this CGI of the future. You're circled in red.

CC Ashwell 56 miles on the old Warden circuit, chopped on the bunch uphill sprint - such is life. Was never going to win it but had a plan on how to ride the hill to pick up a few points, all going as I had hoped, sprinting channel opens up for me just about to "empty" myself rider in front moves straight across me. He had nobody move on him he just looked fked. It happens when people are tired.

A real "de clic" day for you Bob on your home race - you must be very pleased.

One of our club riders didn't turn up for my race (I do alot of my winter miles with him), he was involved in a crash on Friday night on Welwyn track league which brought down most of the riders. I normally ride on Friday nights but as it was cold and had this today decided not to - there but for the grace of....

Just goes to show the highs and lows of racing, I missed the points (let alone the win like Bob) BUT have all bones/skin in place unlike many people who I ride regularly against on Friday's on the track.

Cheers guys, yeah pretty pleased with that. I just felt better as the race progressed, but that's normal for me when I'm in good shape, it's just a question of weighing up the opposition, I race against a lot of the same guys but this week 2 of the 4 in the break i'd never seen before, especially the guy who finished 2nd, kinda had the style of a sprinter but i just felt i could take him.

Hey Summit7, I think someone up there is looking after you, You're right, in this game you just don't know, just a question of wrong place, wrong time, hang onto your skin matey, i've had my share of chutes the last few years, not nice, not nice at all. oh yeah, also, that's the problem in bunch sprints, you never know what the guy in front is going to do, if in doubt, lead it out !!! ;-)

okgo, £55 to enter a race, your kidding me ??? cosy 6 euros over here !

Good work. That's a good result.

I suppose 85 miles sounds a long way, but if the race is OK for you pace wise, then flying along at 25 mph + avg speed means its not actually too long in the saddle.

As an aside its a pointless category 1st, isn't it. No races for 1sts out there that don't have elites in them. Seems like 2nd cat races are the last of the races where you can ride against your level without being totally outclassed. I know Ed did well here. But it just seems as a general rule that they have done away with the old 1,2,3 races that I read about.

Can't recall the last time I saw a 123 race.

Broadly they break down to:

E12
E123
23
234
34

Various specialist categories such as Masters.

So, yes, being first cat could be construed as a bit of a waste of time

good start summit7, I used to love doing the track, I found it really helped with getting good road form as well. Shame about the news of the crash, not nice to see especially when so young. Hope she recovers ok.

Today was racing at Questembert, fairly local to me. Rolling circuit with nothing severe in terms of climbs. Well, the race was fast but negative if that makes sense. I was the sole representative from my club so no support, and boy can it make a difference, There were teams who seemed to just want to keep it all together, I attacked and got gaps with others on my wheel, but that was it, mostly they stayed on my wheel mmmm... ok so tried another tactic, let a small group get up the road, then give it everything in the 12 on a slope to get across, ok can do that, but when you get across they all started looking at one another like 'ooh what do we do now'? so you go again to maintain the gap, but no one wants to play anymore. Anyway the race had whittled the field down to about 35 with 2 laps to go, I thought it would be good to get into bunch sprint mode, then, on the narrowest section of the course, 3 guys crept off the front, and their teammates just eased off on the front, just shut the race down ! i was blocked in and when there was a chance to hit the front the 3 had got a good gap, so, seemed like no one wanted to spoil their show, the sprint was about to start, sharp right hand corner then 350mtrs to go, 3 guys went from the corner, ok good move, except the road gradually starts to rise and it does seem a long way to the line, I made the same error 3 yrs ago here, so with 200 to go flicked from the 14 into the 12 and try and immitate Cav (haha) but I was first over the line, placed 4th, could have been worse. I was pleased with the sprint form, shame about no podium but hey ho, there's always next week ;-)

Imperial Winter Series - Hillingdon - 3rd cat only - 12 races - 9th (raced 6/12)

Imperial Winter Series - Hillingdon - 3rd cat only - 12 races - 9th (raced 6/12)

Road Race - Surrey League - Dunsfold - 3rd Cat only 50 miles - 9th

Road Race - Surrey League - Milland Hill - 3rd Cat only 50 miles - 6th

Hillingdon 3/4 - 25 miles - 5th

Road race- Thames Velo 3/4 - 42 miles - 3rd

Road Race - Farnborogh and Camberley - 3rd cat only 50 miles - 5th (now 2nd cat!!)

Road Race - London Phoenix - 2/3 - 60 miles 33rd (missed break, finished in bunch fast race)