Category: A
Result: Mid-pack

I was looking forward to riding the track all day, and so it seems were lots of other people. There was a large turnout including 3 from FFBC, myself who rode the A's and 2 sandbaggers (Scott and Brian Z.) who didn't.

Prior to riding, I had the perennial pre-season debate with myself, "What gear to ride?" I plumped for the 50x15 which is what I spent most of last season upon, and happily, required no work last night to install on the bike.

Warming up today on 50x16, things felt good. I had no problem adapting to the fixed gear despite 7 months not riding one. I them put in my race wheel giving my 50x15 and then things were not quite so rosy - it felt a little heavy.

Onto the racing - there were >20 riders in the A field which was fun. Rather to my surprise, I was pretty competitive, though this being my first day at the track, I do not have the top end leg speed required to attempt to stay with people such as Dave McCook (McGuire) when they turn on the style.

In the opening scratch race, I found myself in a new situation - marked and out-foxed by the cunning Bob Muzzy. I didn't realise it, but I had taken a small group off the front of the bunch in pursuit of a lone leader. When I swung up the track for someone else to take a pull, Muzzy went up with me leading me continue to think that the bunch was right there. At that moment, the third person in our group attacked and I was left flat-footed as Bob jumped to go with him. I was only then that I discovered that we had a good lead on the bunch, but it was too late for me to get back up to them.

The second race was a point a lap where I mostly sat in. Third race was an unknown distance miss and out, which is always a bit of a lottery, as you never know when to commit yourself. I did try to get off the bunch at one point, but was strongly marked by a Morgan Stanley rider followed by the rest of the bunch.

The final event, as ever, was a points race - this time only 25 laps due to time constraints. Almost from the gun, a couple of riders attacked. Once two more had gone across, it looked like the break might be worthwhile, so I also attacked the bunch and bridged across, giving 5 in the break. We worked together pretty well, and I managed to get second place in the second sprint, having joined them just before the first sprint, and therefore in no position to contest it.

After the second sprint, we were caught, and I was then trying to stay with the sprinters. At the sprint with 10 to go, I was gapped a little, but managed to do enough after the sprint to get back on, even though they didn't slow down that much. Once I was back on of course, they slowed up!

I was there as the final sprint was set up, but discovered to my cost that I was on the only wheel which went backwards when the sprint started, which cost me any slight chance I had of scoring more points.

Overall, I was surprised with my riding - I was competitive and definitely ahead of where I was at this stage last year when I joined the A's and was barely hanging on.

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