What a week!

Last week was perhaps the best week I've had a on a bike - ever!!
After the learning curve of Perth, and a couple of weeks of training I felt ready to tackle the next event in the CDNW Women's Road Race league. The race on 21st April was always going to be something bit special for me as it's organised by Manchester Wheelers, and the closest to home of the league. I had offered to help with the general organisation which did mean I was there at the crack of dawn before the mens race in the morning, but maybe that was a good thing - made sure I was fully awake!

Getting warmed up - Photo Ed Rollason

The women's race was taking place in the afternoon and the forecast was for the rain to start about lunchtime - as predicted it started to fall shortly before we rolled out - but contrary to predictions it stopped and didn't turn into a monsoon - result.
I'd been pretty psyched for this race and was determined to do a better job of getting up near the front for a lot more of the race. Starting at the back for the neutralised zone wasn't exactly the best way to kick that resolution off! But I managed to work my way through the field and was up to the front on the first incline. Somehow a lap or so later I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and a small breakaway of 5 riders got clear - bugger! A few of us tried to work on the front to close the gap and we got closer at which point I decided I'd make a big effort and try and bridge across. This was something that Andy and I had been talking about only a few days earlier and it felt good to give it a try. I pedalled hard and was a bit disappointed no-one came with me. I got closer and closer and almost within sniffing distance - but I just couldn't make it across - the road changed direction, wind and downhills appeared and I knew the game was up, so I sat up and waited to be reabsorbed into the group.
The group wasn't working well together and a couple of laps later the gap had gone up to over a 1.5minutes, game over. This then meant that by the penultimate lap we were all thinking of a sprint finish for the minor places, the pace went right out of the group  until the final ascent of the short sharp lump about 2/3 of the way around the loop. I attacked the climb with gusto and found myself off the front with one of the Maxgear girls - we put our heads down and tried to keep away, but I wasn't strong enough and after about 1km we got caught. So it really was going to be down to the sprint. Now, I know I can have a good turn of speed on occasion but I was worried I'd used up too much energy earlier in the race. I also knew that the wheel I needed to follow was that of the other Maxgear girl in the group, so I made damn sure that's the wheel I was on and I got towed at top speed towards the line. She kicked sooner than I was ready and I didn't manage to stay on her wheel, but I did give it my best shot and lead home the rest of the group for a 7th place. Soooooo chuffed!
The winner overall was Annie Simpson - good ride!

Looking like I'm wining - but actually 7th - Photo Ed Rollason

I'll let you into a secret now, at the start of the season I'd set myself the goal of getting a top 10 in the league so I was really excited to manage it having had no real idea whether it was possible. Looks like I'll have to try and get more than 1 now!
What my 7th place also meant was that I earned myself 10 points and that took me up above the magic 2nd Category line - new licence please! Photos thanks to Ed Rollason
All in all it was a great day, loved the race, was really proud to be involved with running the event - we had so many people who came and helped out and the most amazing array of yummy cakes too - thanks mostly to my Mum - thanks Mum!!


Barely had the dust settled on the weekend and then next event was upon me - my first outing with the TLI races. The Dave Astles Memorial Series based out at Lower Withington. I'd had the race sees recommended by lots of the Wheelers so I'd gotten myself signed up and Tuesday was the day. As a women we raced in the 3rd race - it's all split up by age-group. This was the oldest category of riders but to be honest I was still a bit worried it would be super quick and I'd be left hanging onto the back by the skin of my teeth! As it turned out this wasn't quite how it turned out! I actually found myself being one of the stronger riders in the group, and spent the entire race around the front of the group, chasing down people trying to breakaway, having the odd dig myself, taking at least my share of turns on the front yet still having to work really hard to stay on some wheels. All in all I absolutely loved the process of racing - felt like I was really part of the sharp end of the racing rather than being there and surviving. As we came into the last half of the final lap, there was 1 guy who'd sneaked off up the road, another chap attacked off the front and I decided to go with him, taking along a young lad for company. The 3 of us got clear and we all worked hard to make sure we stayed away from the group, the older guy made his intentions clear, if we stayed away he wouldn't contest the sprint - which left me to deal with the youth! As we came towards the finish I found myself on lead out duty, I upped the pace, clicked up a couple of gears and just kept going, I was poised to get out of the saddle and really bury myself, but after several checks over my shoulder it became clear that the youth wasn't or couldn't respond - blooming crikey I was second!!! And as it turns out, that second place in the race earned me the 1st prize in the category - my very first prize money and an envelope with 1st written on it - super psyched!

Getting warmed up with Lizzie

The very next day I was off again and this time over to the Litherland League with Lizzie - a closed circuit after the previous 2 road races.  The previous week had been my first visit over there and it had been WINDY - so windy that I was mostly riding at about 45 degrees. Not a fun race and I'd had a bad start behind the wrong person, tried to sprint out of the saddle to rejoin the group and nearly been blown off. So I was determined I was going to put in a better showing this time.  These races re run 4th Cats + women - so similar to the ones I did at Tameside last year and struggled so hard to get to the point where I could stay with the bunch. This year I think I must be stronger, I stayed in the bunch, moved around not staying at the back and only after a slight swamping on the last lap and getting leaned on coming through the chicane section did I end up near the back of the bunch coming towards the last turn around the hairpin. Not ideal as the finish line is about 200m after, but I decided not to panic and stayed close up on the wheel in front to get dragged out of the corner and then I sprinted for all I was worth - weaving up through the field and coming a very close 7th. I have to say I was quite pleased with that - getting me some more points and "man" points at that.

Somehow I don't think the next week will live up to the same standard - I think that somewhere along the line everything aligned perfectly - but I can hope for another week soon.