Having deposited valuable hours following the team camp it
was back into racing for the Dynamo
Winter Series. With three rounds in as many weeks, the fun rides take one
and all for a fast paced tour around the Waikato.
My goal for the series was to walk away having gained the form
I was severely lacking in July. For new readers the entire month was bad; so
only a protean shift would suffice.
Preparation
Returning from injury, I struggled at the camp but
came out the other side motivated to pick up the ball. This meant not only
preparing to race through training, but also ensuring my equipment was up to
the task.
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| Avanti Bikes Corsa DR in for some TLC with Richard and the team at A+ Newmarket |
Step one was a quick trip to my local bike store in
Newmarket for a drivetrain clean and to fit new cables. I’d persevered with
shifting worse than 8 speed Claris
for far too long through no fault but my own laziness. Not only did this betray
the elegance of my shiny Dura-Ace, it
was becoming an annoyance of the highest order. So after a quick pit-stop and
helping hand from the team at AvantiPlus, my shifting woes were a thing of the
past.
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| A well organized workshop exudes confidence and the promise of a job well done |
Round One started
in Matamata on a fine day for the time of year. Alex, Connor, Harry and myself
comprised the team for the first two rounds with young Kiaan riding as an
ambassador for Nature Valley. At just 14 years of age I’m sure he’ll make an
appearance in the squad over the next few years.
Writing in arrears very little happened throughout the day with a number of determined riders prepared to keep things together. Jack Sowry and Steve Furminger made a valiant effort to evade the bunch early on without reward. It was impressive to watch but a fruitless expression of power on a course which denied even the most concerted of efforts.
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| TRR at Round One in Matamata |
Writing in arrears very little happened throughout the day with a number of determined riders prepared to keep things together. Jack Sowry and Steve Furminger made a valiant effort to evade the bunch early on without reward. It was impressive to watch but a fruitless expression of power on a course which denied even the most concerted of efforts.
As things panned out we had two viable options to win; one
with myself in a sprint and two, by launching an attack. The finish suited me
well with 500 meters (thereabouts) to go after the final corner. This minimized
the importance of positioning/technical ability (a couple still managed
to find a way to fall off!) through the last turn, allowing ample time to
negotiate the pack.
Both situations were advantageous in that we could take a free ride if we had someone up the road or engage in the kick if the latter failed. While we
didn’t set out with a firm strategy at the start, we were all aware of what was
likely to occur and communicated well. As far as I was concerned, I
wanted each of our riders to have the freedom to enjoy the race and try their
luck; as long as we didn’t work against
each other.
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| Alex and I heading into the final turn - right in the middle of the madness. Credit - Bob's Bikes |
With a couple of kilometres to go Connor attacked after
three riders were reeled in. He held it to the line taking Waikato youngster
Jared Gray in tow. I wasn’t far behind leading the bunch home for
third.
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| Connor wins Round One - 1st and 3rd for TRR. Credit - Dynamo Events |
Round Two was strides ahead as the most enjoyable of
all three. Leaving Hamilton bang on ten, the route out was mostly flat followed
by two laps of a circuit that featured a small climb before returning to the
start/finish. Still unsure of form after the previous week’s cushy ride in the
pack I thought it better to get going early. Myself, Logan Griffin, Steve
Furminger and Josh Aldridge forced a small margin from the gun, continuing to
rotate until being caught a few kilometers out from the climb. That set the
benchmark for a positive day of racing with most riders having a dig at some
point. I had a couple more cracks on the second lap but missed a later split
that appeared to have the win at arm’s length. Feeling a little worse for wear
I was contemplating packing it in last time up the climb but decided better of
it, seeing the lads on the front. Steve chipped in as well and together it came
down to another bunch finish. Although we wound up slightly too far back
through the roundabout, Connor did a commendable job helping me scoop up a few
places for 2nd (he came home in 4th).
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| TRR at Round Two in Hamilton. Alex (second from the left) rode impressively and was dependable as usual helping me make my way around the bunch. |
The final round was
held around the emerging cycling town of Cambridge. Once again, the weather
played ball with no rain and a touch of wind.
 |
| Stephen Cox and the team at Dynamo Events never let the riders down - 'fun, friendly, safe and affordable'. Credit - Dynamo Events |
Cambridge was another slick event, run professionally with the competitors in mind but mirrored the frustrations I felt in round one. The high average speed was due to the terrain, which sympathised with those aiming to ‘hang on’. No shame here as I’m often in this boat myself and it helps to create the type of finishes I usually enjoy. Such a scenario however, is as much a double bind as a blessing in disguise. That is, any attempt to breakaway becomes very difficult!
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| While pace was hot on paper the reality tucked away in the bunch was vastly different. Riders surging through to the front on small undulations made a fast pace, an axiom of the series. We weren't where we needed to be at the finish of Round Three. Credit - Dynamo Events |
The result in Cambridge was a disappointing 4th where I was never really in the game at the end. Round 3 was won by Speedwork’s Josh Kuysten who used astute positioning and an excellent blend of flat out pace and technical ability to take the win.
In spite of this, it was a mostly successful series for the team. I left
happy with the sensations and aware of the improvements necessary to go one
better.
Where to from here?
Through September, October and November TRR will be involved
in a wide range of domestic races. Towards the end of next week we’ll line up
for the first round of the 2015 Trust House North Island Series.
I’ll let you know how we go.
Thanks for reading!
MM
