[Event] Rand Water Race for Victory 2018

[scotty]

Had a lekker ride in BL, except for the crash that resulted in a bent derailleur hanger bracket - I guess that’s what a hanger bracket is for... to tale the fall for other components. Luckily it happened at the start of the Walkerville hill, so I had time to get back to the group without burning too many matches - and luckily no other damage (bike and body). Only had 8/10 gears before the derailleur hit the spokes - but being a flat race, I didn’t need the 21 and 23 sprockets.

 

Hope the rider I rode over, before falling, is okay. Looked like a touch of wheels (half wheeling) that caused the crash.

 

Our red train plan worked to perfection, with an attack at the left turn after aerials. 1st and 3rd place, plus a few in the chasing bunch. I see AL had a similar time and attack at the same place. Hopefully all our members will be seeded AL soon, and we can all race in AL.

 

I attacked at the right turn just before the 10Km to go point and got a good gap, but turning left into the head wind to the finish was like hitting the wall (bonk). Sat up with about 2Km to go, knowing they would catch me before the 1km, and hoping I had something left for the sprint for 5th. It didn’t work out and had to be content with last place in the bunch.

Recognize a number of names of GW riders in BL results, that's quite a pedigree. 

[Frosty]

Your crash happened a few bikes in front of me, I managed to go around to the right however. I got dropped after that left turn when the bunch was blown to pieces in the crosswind/echelons/gutters. Brutal conditions yesterday. Well done on a decent ride!

 

PS: I hope you guys move up to AL so that BL becomes more palatable again

Some of us (Wheelers) are on the wrong side of peak form, so racing with youngster half our age is a challenge on it’s own.

 

Hopefully the last few guys will be seeded AL, then we can all race together, in A.

[Underachiever]

Had a lekker ride in BL, except for the crash that resulted in a bent derailleur hanger bracket - I guess that’s what a hanger bracket is for... to tale the fall for other components. Luckily it happened at the start of the Walkerville hill, so I had time to get back to the group without burning too many matches - and luckily no other damage (bike and body). Only had 8/10 gears before the derailleur hit the spokes - but being a flat race, I didn’t need the 21 and 23 sprockets.

 

Hope the rider I rode over, before falling, is okay. Looked like a touch of wheels (half wheeling) that caused the crash.

 

Our red train plan worked to perfection, with an attack at the left turn after aerials. 1st and 3rd place, plus a few in the chasing bunch. I see AL had a similar time and attack at the same place. Hopefully all our members will be seeded AL soon, and we can all race in AL.

 

I attacked at the right turn just before the 10Km to go point and got a good gap, but turning left into the head wind to the finish was like hitting the wall (bonk). Sat up with about 2Km to go, knowing they would catch me before the 1km, and hoping I had something left for the sprint for 5th. It didn’t work out and had to be content with last place in the bunch.

Was also part of the (famous) red train.  On the old Giant TCR with Red Jacket and Dark Navy bib/knee warmers.

 

A frustrating ride - I just could not get going with a low HR, but legs felt dead and continuously wanted to cramp???

 

Luckily the pace was easy most of the race so I could hang on and contribute to the red train's ambitions.  Could follow Frosty's attack at the left turn, and opened it up some more with the guy in the Lynskey, but the lights went out just as our two red train members and two others went for the win.  Wanted to follow, but there were just nothing. 

 

Waited for the bunch and from there is was just to defend our winning position - not that I could defend at all, the legs were now completely shot.

 

Next stop is going back to VC racing.