Six Ashes. Yesterday... I’m sure you will be delighted to hear I shall make this report as brief as my race was last night.
…
Did you enjoy that?
No, not really, my race actually lasted 29 mins 11 seconds but more of that later…
It was a Thursday evening so, yes, after a week of warm sunshine it was raining, dull and cold. A thin field (literally and figuratively) were at the Village Hall where all Enville races will definitely now start from, unless it’s at the airport. Salad dodgers, yours truly excepted, were notable by their absence for what is a climbiest of courses used by the league ascending the mighty Mt MoFo four times. I guess the prospect of the race being postponed by road works and the lousy bloody weather put a few off making the trip too. Last time the organisers had to cope with road works it meant the Six Ashes climb was avoided, this time, although the course had to be altered, the climb was very definitely in, it just meant the descent was through the rather unimaginatively titled Four Ashes. Presumably if you looked carefully enough, you'd find One Ash, Eight Ashes and Twelve Ashes somewhere around too...
…
Did you enjoy that?
No, not really, my race actually lasted 29 mins 11 seconds but more of that later…
It was a Thursday evening so, yes, after a week of warm sunshine it was raining, dull and cold. A thin field (literally and figuratively) were at the Village Hall where all Enville races will definitely now start from, unless it’s at the airport. Salad dodgers, yours truly excepted, were notable by their absence for what is a climbiest of courses used by the league ascending the mighty Mt MoFo four times. I guess the prospect of the race being postponed by road works and the lousy bloody weather put a few off making the trip too. Last time the organisers had to cope with road works it meant the Six Ashes climb was avoided, this time, although the course had to be altered, the climb was very definitely in, it just meant the descent was through the rather unimaginatively titled Four Ashes. Presumably if you looked carefully enough, you'd find One Ash, Eight Ashes and Twelve Ashes somewhere around too...
An A4 only nicer than Andy's. And without rollers underneath It was good to see Dan Lambsdell (Stans – Paramount) making a return to racing after a nasty knee injury sustained in a crash at Sundorne a few weeks back. Andy from Clee Cycles made it an especially memorable night for Dan by running over his rollers in his Audi A4 putting him right off his warm up. Thankfully Dan was not using them at the time and as Andy owns Clee Hill Cycles all will be put right!
There was probably only a dozen or so riders in each of the four groups this evening – some of us being lucky enough to be buzzed by a guy in a Ferrari. He didn't seem that happy for some reason although you’d have thought you’d be happy if you had a Ferrari right? Wrong. Money doesn't buy you happiness. Or hair apparently…
On the second lap of four, we were greeted by an irate farmer who was standing in the road trying to ask each rider if it was his car parked partially blocking his farm gate. Even with limited rider numbers he was never going to be able to ask each and every one of us, but fair effort for giving it a go and top marks for frantic arm waving skills. He joined his Ferrari driving mate in this evening’s ‘angry man’ competition. In fact he became so angry he flagged down Commissaire Watts and removed the wing mirror from his Mini – I'm really looking forward to when Mr Angry Farmer discovers Commissaire Watts is actually Sargeant Watts of the West Midlands Constabulary in the real world.
On the second lap of four, we were greeted by an irate farmer who was standing in the road trying to ask each rider if it was his car parked partially blocking his farm gate. Even with limited rider numbers he was never going to be able to ask each and every one of us, but fair effort for giving it a go and top marks for frantic arm waving skills. He joined his Ferrari driving mate in this evening’s ‘angry man’ competition. In fact he became so angry he flagged down Commissaire Watts and removed the wing mirror from his Mini – I'm really looking forward to when Mr Angry Farmer discovers Commissaire Watts is actually Sargeant Watts of the West Midlands Constabulary in the real world.
A goose yesterday. Back at the race, if my goose was defrosted when I realised the Wrekinsport road race team this evening consisted of, well, me, it was nicely warmed through when Herr Goering made the decision to combine groups 3 and 4. It was thoroughly cooked at the top of Six Ashes climb when on the second lap a couple of scratch riders went round us faster than a guest beer through a digestive tract.
The scratch group contained a number of the NFTO team, race leader Dave Starkey (Freds) and a good number of young bucks ready to shred the unsuspecting earlier group riders up Mt MoFo. It’s pretty standard for this course but riders were getting blown out pretty quickly and G 3/4 were picking up stragglers even on the first lap.
The scratch group contained a number of the NFTO team, race leader Dave Starkey (Freds) and a good number of young bucks ready to shred the unsuspecting earlier group riders up Mt MoFo. It’s pretty standard for this course but riders were getting blown out pretty quickly and G 3/4 were picking up stragglers even on the first lap.
There was no Mike Jones (Stans Paramount) or Karen Summers (Wrekinsport) so the red and pink jerseys were absent but Ben Manfield (Wolverhampton Wheelers) the leading junior and Dave Starkey (Freds) were in white and yellow respectively. I wasn't there at the end (like I said 29 mins and it was all over me). By the time I was giving young Adam Howells (Freds) a lift back to the HQ with a rear wheel puncture there was a (small) bunch finish outside Wolverhampton International Airport. I don't think the jersey's changed hands.
This week, big big BIG thanks to the organisers for getting this race on. Last minute course alterations, HQ changes, irate farmers, crazy drivers, lead car wreckers - all in a days work for the guys. They put a huge amount of effort and soak up a massive amount of grief just so we can race our bikes safely. Mike, Dave, Cheryl, Ian, Mark and the rest - you're all heroes. Thanks.
This week, big big BIG thanks to the organisers for getting this race on. Last minute course alterations, HQ changes, irate farmers, crazy drivers, lead car wreckers - all in a days work for the guys. They put a huge amount of effort and soak up a massive amount of grief just so we can race our bikes safely. Mike, Dave, Cheryl, Ian, Mark and the rest - you're all heroes. Thanks.
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