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@andyp
I rode the Eastern League race at Davy Down, near the Lakeside shopping complex today. A really good course, with a mix of tricky technical sections, a short hill, a couple of 10 step run ups, a short, but very steep and muddy descent, and another descent on a wooden bridge over a pond plus some field and singletrack sections. The course was, somewhat understandably, very muddy and slippery so it was a day for 25 psi front and rear.
Somewhat annoyingly, everyone gets gridded at the Eastern League so, having never ridden a round before, I started on the back row of an approx 80 rider field. I had two goals at the start line, don't get lapped and see if I could catch Phil Murrell, who I had many great races against in the London league last year. I thought it was a long shot, but it meant I'd be motivated to keep the pace up.
From the gun I got a clean start and was following Andy Snowball from the VCL as he was making good progress in getting past a lot of the slower riders who started in front of us, so we probably made up at least 20 places in the opening field section, before hitting the first of the run ups. We kept the pace up and got past more riders on the opening lap, before I had one of those embarrasing unclipping moments at the run up the second time around, and squased some poor bugger as I landed on his bike after my left cleat failed to disengage. Doh. I was straight back up and caught Andy again shortly afterwards, only for him to lose his chain at the top of the same run up a lap later.
I'd settled into it now and spent the next few laps picking off those who'd started ahead of me, probably picking up 5 places each lap. I had one coming together with someone I was trying to pass as his momentum on the uphill, muddy slope took him in a straight line as I tried to go around his outside. I caught him again shortly afterwards and made sure I got through cleanly. Then, with two laps to go, I could see Phil Murrell about 20 seconds ahead, so put my head down and closed the gap just as we started the hill for the penultimate time, I kept the power on, got past him, stuck my head down and gave it everything over the remaining lap and a quarter to ensure he couldn't come back. I kept looking for the leaders but the nature of the course meant you couldn't really see how the race was unfolding ahead, so when I hit the bell without being lapped I knew I had a chance of avoiding it. Which I did. I rolled across the line and rolled onto the pits to get my spare wheels. Here I noticed quite how much mud I was carrying on the bike, with huge lumps around the bb, the chainset, the front mech and both brakes.
I've no idea where I finished but enjoyed it the race immensely so don't really care.
Added: results are up, I was 17th and second vet.
http://ukcyclesport.com/results/cyclo-cross-uk/item/7960-elmy-eastern-cross-league-7-2012-13
Next stop - Muddy Hell!