Blackmore Road Race LVRC - Mon 3rd May 10

One of the few plus points of turning 50 is promotion to the C category with the chance for a while at least of being one of the youngest in a race. And so it proved on the May Day bank holiday when I lined up in the
rain  with about 40 other hardy C and D souls for 48 miles round the well known Viper circuit near Blackmore in Essex. 

As we rolled off the rain got heavier but this didn't deter a number of optimists from trying their luck off the front of the race.  None of these moves succeeded however until Malcolm Whitehead rolled off the front of the bunch, to be seen again only at the finish; I don't know how far in front he was at the end but at some point on the 6th and final lap he was over 2 minutes up. 

Anyway, the rest of the peloton settled into a pattern of attack and counter attack but there was a distinct lack of willingness to work as a coherent group especially when we turned into a strong head wind. I did my bit - honest!  Eventually as legs tired a few moves stuck and about 4 or 5 riders managed to stay away.  In the bunch sprint that followed a  few seconds later I placed about 5th which gave me I think 11th overall.  All in all not bad for my first competitive outing of the season. 

Thanks to former North Roader, Trevor Burke and his Finchley RT club mates for a well organised and marshalled event.