Eastern Cyclo Cross League Team Championships - Sat 4th Feb 2012

With a hiatus of cyclo-cross races since December the North Road gang got back together to enter the Eastern Cyclo Cross League team championships at Bury St Edmunds, hosted by the West Suffolk Wheelers and Triathlon Club.

It seemed fitting that having started the season with un-seasonably warm weather it should end with the country in the icy grip of a Siberian cold spell.  Indeed the temperature hovered around zero degrees and meant the majority of the field eschewed ‘normal’ cyclo-cross wear of skinsuit, arm warmers and perhaps a warming embrocation for more substantial winter style clothing.  Indeed, Steve James resorted to what looked like falconers gloves, ready to receive a diving bird of prey, but where actually heated motor cycling gloves!

The course was set in the grounds of a secondary school and was mostly flat with some tricky off camber sections.  As is usual what looks flat and un-testing in warm-up, actually proves tougher in the heat of the contest and this course proved that again. Also, as sometime happens the character of the course changes as the race progresses.  The ‘tricky’ off camber sections become more like a skating on ice experience as the ground became a little bit more greasy and iced up as the riders raced.  

Tim ‘Van Der’ Brown started on the second row and got a good start, avoiding a crash on the first bend that all the field where fortunate to avoid.  Tim rode a highly combative race, that included a number of crashes and slide outs, and even lead the race before finishing second for his best cross result of the season.

John McDowall, lacked a little race fitness, and had a couple of ‘oh-er’ moments but still finished where he generally finishes in 22nd place, just agonisingly outside his target of a top twenty place.

Dave Kiely finally rode his ‘perfect race.’  He stayed upright, nothing fell off his bike, he didn’t stop for a phantom puncture, go off course or trouble any of the non-course based sections of the field, and therefore achieved his best result for the season of 27th (worryingly close to John and in front of bitter club rival Steve) 

Steve James battled manfully round for 36th place.  Encumbered by the bulk of his toasty warm gloves that ensured he didn’t suffer from the circulation problems in his hands that cold weather can bring on, but that had the side effect of making any sort of gear change so difficult that he swore he rode the whole event in one gear.

The winner was a very deserved Phil Buick of Iceni Velo who completed seven laps in 36.27.  Tim was second at +1.02.  John 22nd at a lap and 04 seconds.  Dave 27th a lap and 0.23.  Steve James 36th, a lap and +1.51.  Fifty one rides started with one DNF.

Full results can be found here - http://www.easterncross.org.uk/race11-12-m1.htm

In the team championships the North Road, in the vets category, came sixth out of eight teams-

1	Newmarket Cycling &Tri Club	123
2	Ipswich BC	122
3	CC Ashwell	103
4	West Suffolk Whls	94
5	Bedfordshire Road Club	93
6	North Road CC	90
7	Lee Valley Youth CC	61
8	Colchester Rovers	60