So, training rides. What’s that about? Training for what? That 1% of me that’s actually competitive wanted to experience what it would be like to be in an event where it was mano-a-mano (womano-a-mano-awomano?). All those kilometres burning around South St, or Bold Hill. They had to amount to something.

Racing’s where it’s at! Armed with this new found revelation I did a bit of looking around and thought about entering a race. I wandered down to Collie a few weeks ago to check out the Tom Lowry Memorial. That was interesting. It all looked civilised, so I made the bold jump and registered for….E-grade in the Armadale Kermesse.

After an awesome training regime in the week before race (staying up late to watch the Giro, sleeping in and missing my Saturday ride, only riding my MTB due to rain and a crazy busy work trip to Sydney), I was “ready”.

Got the bike all polished up (Hey, if I’m gonna come last, I’m still gonna look the goods!) Rocked up on the day. Felt a bit pro pinning the number to my jersey and I was nervously excited.

The race itself was only 26km but quite technical. The fun came from concentrating on tactics, watching for breaks and doing your bit in the group. I found it a bit hard to adjust to the technical nature of the course and keeping up with a couple of younger guys AND girls who were far quicker than me out of the turns.

First lap was about settling in. We did take off at 40km/h though. That eventually settled down and the group did a good pace. Towards the end I found that the pace dialed back. I was feeling good in the legs and the group rapidly responded to a couple of breaks from a keen filly. We approached the ½ way mark of the main straight before the turn for the finish line, and there was a break!

I took off after him and got him! Oh no. I was heading into the last turn and he had cleverly tricked me into being his lead out man! I thought I was done for and I backed off as a another rider zipped past me just before we hit the corner. Hah! I had my lead out man. I leaned into the final corner, made sure I was in the right gear and booted it out from behind my courteous lead out man, put the head down, hit the drops and then I mustered my best Cav impersonation and crossed the finish line……FIRST.

My first ever race and my first ever win.

For me, I had well exceeded my expectations. All I wanted to do was experience a race.

For those considering a race. Do try it. I scored a win in my first outing. It may not happen for everyone. Won’t ever happen again for me. Being there with other riders wasn’t about looking down at someone because they didn’t have the latest bit of carbo-kevlar-lite-campimano whatever.

Everyone was united on the start line to learn more about his or her abilities. And that’s what it really was about. Our goal was to give it a go and experience a smidgeon of what people far more talented than us do for a living, and get paid lots of coin for, day after day on the pro-tour.

Luckily someone took a vid of my finish. So please enjoy my 5 seconds of fame.

Click here to view the E-Grade Finish video

Drop me a note, or have a chat with the race committee if you want to give a race a go.

A big shout out to Cycling WA, Roues Chaudes, PIHCG, Midland Cycle Club and the many SPR volunteers on the day. The whole Armadale event was well organised, safe and thoroughly enjoyable.

See you on the start line.