Presented for another bash at C grade today.  I don’t mind the Dog Hill circuit, it’s pretty flat and usually fairly fast.  Roads are a little rough but not as bad as the Serpentine course.  A dozen or more punters in C including fellow SPR stalwart Lisa (who had already smashed out 80km or so in the Hills this morning!)

It was a race of fits and starts with a solid core of riders doing most of the work.  Elliot seemed to have ants in his pants and seemed keen to get out in front and Clint wasn’t much better, both of them having short dashes off the front.  Geoff (KD Cycles) was also involved in some good pulls but seemed to have a bit more patience.  Lisa had a small dig on one lap which seemed to take a few riders by surprise but it was short lived.

Nobody was able to get away with everyone generally chasing down any accelerations.  In the second half of the race Lisa seemed to be a fixture on the front with nobody really coming through.  In fact for the whole race there was never any organisation or roll through – it was more a case of just waiting for the rider in front to drop the speed before doing anything about it.

Completing the third (or fourth – can’t remember..) a selection of 3 or four guys got a gap of about 50 metres.  Pretty sure it was Clint, Elliot and 2 other stronger riders so it was certainly a danger.  In my mind I felt it could’ve been the critical move of the race if they were allowed to get away.  I had a plan and was prepared to chase them later on in the lap if they got away but my hesitation (did I say that?  I meant well considered risk/reward decision-making process….) paid off.  The bunch chased and brought them back not long after.  In hindsight here would’ve been a good spot to have a dig myself but it honestly never entered my mind till now.  Knowing what to do and having the legs to sit off the front for a lap or two are two different things….