Dave Millson’s report of Round 3 on Wednesday 8th October, and Round 4 on Saturday 11th October, 2014.

 

Round 3 on Wednesday 8th October, 2014

 

The final two in the autumn series came in quick succession.

 

The last evening was a very wet affair, it had been lashing down all day and continued all night. There was still a big field in the seniors’ race with 50 starting and, quite surprisingly, 46 finishing; mostly in one piece.

 

 

The usual bunch start to get into the first few corners were fast and furious, with as many bodies on bikes as were on the ground.

 

The course was a test of bike handling skills as much as speed, if you could combine both you were on to a winner.

 

Nathan Wilson and Pete Fielding-Smith were the best of the local riders coming 5th and 9th respectively.

 

Richard Dean lost count of the amount of times he and his bike separated company.

 

I managed to stay upright but had some hairy moments, finding it difficult to ride a bike when your saddle is a slippery as a bar of soap.

 

 

Shaun Nicholson had watched the first two races while waiting for his beautiful Colnago bike to arrive from Italy, not really the race you would choose to give it a first ride in anger, but, as with most of us, you couldn’t wipe the smile of his face at the end.

 

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Round 4 Saturday 11th October, 2014

 

36 senior riders had dried out from Wednesday’s race and were back for more.

 

The course had a few alterations; to give some grass areas a chance to repair and with the still wet ground a new safer route through the tiered area.

 

 

Now we entered from above into a sharp corner and looking down to the levels below, the short off and run section remained but going down instead of up. Change is as good as a rest I say.

 

The race for position into the first corner got the adrenalin going and with Richard Dean close on my coat tails I pushed it a bit too much and had a disagreement with a tree stump then my bike, which I had abandoned, was taken out by the rider behind.

 

By the time I had retrieved my bike and got my chain back on I was a good distance behind Richard. He pulled away a little further and I could only hold him until the end of the race. Richard also managed to stay on his bike; which, perhaps, may be the secret of a good ride!

 

Sean was back for more action and improved on his first cyclo-cross event pipping the ever consistent Paul Scott.

 

At the front of the race Nathan Wilson was having a good battle with Max Williamson but proved too strong for him and took a well-deserved victory.

 

Shaun and Richard are intending to do some more local (ish) events over the winter, hopefully I can join them on a few adventures.

 

Riding the event in the day light was a novelty, sometimes it’s better not to see where you’re going as you then don’t think about the consequences if you get it wrong!

 

 

I was ‘well chuffed’ coming 6th overall in the vets’ category for the series and I am looking forward to the return of the spring series next year.

 

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Dave Millson