The Nick Beale Road Race Diaries
1 March, Milton Keynes Bowl #1
First of a series of three early season circuit races for 2/3/4 cats (55km) at the Bowl. Three riders escaped early on
and remained clear. In the sprint, I finished 8th (11th overall) and Rupe 11th.
8 March, Milton Keynes Bowl #2
Rupe rode the second MK Bowl race and finished a credible 7th in the finale. I opted to ride the Spring Chicken race near Chardon. Turned out to be a fast early
season race; I finished safely in the bunch.
15 March, Milton Keynes Bowl #2
We both rode the third race at the Bowl. Again, Rupe sprinted to a well deserved 7th placing.
16 March, South circuit league, Thruxton circuit
The following day I rode the circuit race at Thruxton motor racing circuit. The usual 'attack and chase'
[do I detect a rant here? - ed] tactics of the third cats. The race stayed together. I took 4th in the sprint.
24 March, Castle Coombe circuit, Chippenham
An uneventful race on Good Friday, finishing in the bunch.
SICK (Bronchitis) - off the bike for four weeks (Rupe for six weeks)
27 April, Reading road race, Goring-Woodcote circuit (80km)
First race back for me after the sickness. A bit of a shock to the system but I managed to hang on and only tired in the
final 500m. I finished in a small second group (just 10 seconds behind the winner).
1 May, MK Bowl Evening series#3
I rode the 3/4 race, the third in the series. We caught the elites after three laps and both races stayed together for
the duration. I stayed near the front all race and took 8th in the sprint.
3-4 May, Plan B 2-day
This stage race for 2/3/4 cats held on a circuit/road course on the edge of the Peak District was quite eventful. Both Rupe
and I recorded identical times for the 2km prologue, which left us 24 seconds off the leader (as most folk had TT bikes
the times were not so bad I suppose). There then followed a 65km race round the Darley Moor motor racing circuit. With
both of us still feeling the effects of bronchitis (Rupe more than me, and him still being on antibiotics) we rode round
steadily near the back of the bunch; somehow (and I still can't understand how - they didn't even attack strongly) 15
riders eased clear and kept a 45 second lead. Unfortunately I punctured with 4 laps to go; I got a wheel from neutral
service but couldn't get back-on. Rupe finished in the bunch. It was raining hard for the 65 mile road stage on Sunday
- a small group went clear early on but also riders were dropping off the back with the pace and the cold. It was all
going OK for 1.5 hrs until Rupe said he was getting cold and asked for the car keys. I got them out of my rear pocket
and promptly dropped them in the road - well, I had to stop and go back for them and so, with the rain and cold not
abating, quit the race. In sympathy, Rupe stopped at the top of the next hill.
7 May, Eelmore MOD driver training circuit evening series (51km)
The mid-week race series at the MOD circuit near Aldershot started on 7 May. The stage race must have given me some
form because four others and myself were in a break for the entire race (and no, we weren't the only five riders in the
race)!. Nevertheless, I managed to cock-up the finale (only taking 5th).
8 May, MK Bowl Evening series#4
A surprisingly high turn out for this race, with over 40 starters in the 3/4s - must have been glorious sunshine! The
race stayed together for the first 30 minutes on the inside circuit, but after the perimeter gates were opened, the speed
picked up and the weaker riders got shelled out the back. Then with 20 minutes to go, at one of the tight right handers,
a few riders decided to launch themselves through the hedges and along the tarmac. Five riders at the front were not
held-up and got a small lead whilst the rest of us chased like fury for the next few laps. I got back to a main chase
group of 20 or so riders and won the final sprint, so a 6th placing.
15 May, MK Bowl Evening series#5
A combined E/1/2/3/4 race tonight, staying inside the Bowl. Rode strongly throughout, but couldn't get to the front for
the final sprint.
18 May, CC Ashwell road race, 100km, 2/3/4
Both rode this one on the rolling circuit near Cardington, Bedfordshire. A full field of 80 riders, on a fast, twisty
circuit with narrow roads, so difficult to move up in the bunch. A handful of riders gained about a minute early on, so
the pace was high throughout, apart from the finish run in which was painfully slow and spread across both carriageways,
so no room to move up and there was also a crash with 500m to go at the foot of the finish climb, so ended up cruising
across the line in about 20th, not even contesting the sprint. Form was good though.
21 May, Eelmore series #3
Myself and Paul Nichols rode with the 3 /4 s, Rupe charged round with the Elites. In the 3 /4 s it was mostly attack
and chase. A group of about 15 edged away after 20 minutes; I managed to jump across from the second group, straight on
to the front and did a lot of the pulling during the race, only helped out by a couple of others while the rest just sat
in and waited for the sprint. I got 8th in the sprint. Paul left it too late and despite a valiant attempt to bridge
the gap to the first group, failed to latch-on. Rupe rode well with the Elites and came home ~20th in the sprint.
22 May, MK Bowl Evening series#6
Another good evening race at the Bowl. As usual the race stayed together for the first 30 minutes on the inside circuit,
with the Elite bunch overtaking the 3/4s early on, but then we caught them up just before we were all unleashed on the
'lower' narrow outside circuit. It was a bit confusing with the Elites just in front (and with some of the 3/4s latching
on to that group) but I made a conscious effort to get nearer to the front with 5 laps to go, and ended with a 4th
placing in the sprint (the three ahead having ridden round in the Elite bunch for the last five laps!).
[warning! more strong opinion - ed]
25 May, Castle Coombe
It was a miserable bank holiday weekend weatherwise but decided to race despite the rain. The Elite race went hell for
leather right from the gun and Rupe managed 5 laps before being shelled out the back and off to the comfort of the car.
In the 3rds, it was also quite a fast pace and
6 riders broke clear midway. I felt OK and sprint across the gap of about 20 seconds and joined them. This had to be
the race winning move or so I thought as the other six guys were all the strongest in the race. But no (and here comes
the rant) because the bunch latched on to the fast passing elite group and then were actually brought up to us by the
commissaries car that was trying to keep the races apart. Well, another race done and no cigar!
29 May, MK Bowl Evening series#7
A combined E/1/2/3/4 race tonight, staying inside the Bowl. It was raining throughout the race but no major incidents.
Three riders rode very strongly to stay clear for the first 30 minutes; after they were caught there was a lot of riders
trying to get clear but no one managed it until a few laps from the end when two lots of two escaped. I rode a lot
near/on the front and paid for it in the final sprint. When the results were published, the organizers had split the
categories and I was 9th but (another rant here) they had said on the start line it was just one race so everybody rides
with this in mind - you can't change the rules after the event!
1 June, Central Divisional Champs
Another rant [another? surely not - ed] - having not pre-entered we'd assumed the HQ was as advertised - it was not. After driving round the whole
course for an hour, checking out the usual HQs for the course, exchanging expletives with fellow EoL lost soles we
finally found someone to ask and arrived at the HQ (off the course) in Wing. Unfortunately we were too late and everyone
had already assembled for the off. Probably a blessing because from talking to other riders since the event, the 3 / 4
race was a bit of a farce. Apparently, the lead cars lead the 80 strong peleton in the wrong direction towards Leighton
Buzzard; a quick U-turn and they finally reached the course, but were then stopped to let the main Elite race pass.
Then, with riders still roadside, the lead cars shot off again and had everyone chasing like fury and this was when the
race was supposed to be neutralised! [The next sentence was particularly libellous and has been edited out - ed]
4 June, Eelmore series #5
Myself and Paul Nichols rode again with the 3/4's and Rupe charged round with the Elites. A faster pace than normal
and no one ever got a lead. Felt really good at the end but should have got to the front sooner to be in the mix for the
sprint; ended about 11th and Rupe about 20th again.
5 June, MK Bowl Evening series#8
Another rant from an increasingly 'grumpy old man' [you all noticing the pattern here? - ed]. Two races tonight and
the second half using one of the outside circuits. The elites passed us after a few laps but then really stopped racing,
consequently we rode the next 20 minutes or so trundling behind them and not racing. I sprinted across to the back of
the elites a couple of times in a form of protest but conscious of being DQ'd drifted back to our race each time. Then
as we neared the time for the outside circuit, I head off again to make sure I was near the front for the first laps
outside. By doing this about 15 of us caught the elites and rode amongst them for the next 15 minutes putting a large
gap between us and the 30 riders left in the main 3 /4 bunch. Then with about 15 minutes to go, the commissar ordered
the 15 of us to stop racing and let the elites ride away. This would have been OK but we rode so slowly for 2 laps, the
30 riders behind us latched on and it was just chaotic for the final few laps. I had a few more digs and even nearly
took everyone down in the run up to the final sprint when on the front my pedal hit the ground whilst pedalling round a
tight right hander - serves those wheel suckers right! Finished unsurprisingly outside the top ten.
7 June, South Circuit League, Portsmouth
A venture down to Portsmouth track paid dividends and both got in the points. With a headwind down the back straight, the elite race was controlled by the elite riders from VC Raphael, with a trio of riders gaining a lap on the field early on. Despite a crash in the bunch that took out three riders, Rupe hung on in the chasing group and was rewarded with a 12th placing. The 3 / 4s was less eventful and I got 7th in the sprint.
11 June, Eelmore series #6
Very attacking and although nearly splitting on several occasions, the 3/4s ended in a bunch finish. Poor positioning
again and I finished around 17th I think. Rupe finished in a similar position in the elite race. Paul Nichols had bike
problems and didn't race.
15 June Susies Circuits, Thruxton
Rupe finished well in the chasing group of elites after a fast race throughout. In the 3/4's a strong wind up the hill
to the chicane put paid to most attacks although a few small groups did stay ahead for a lap or two during the race.
I was in one them with 4 laps to go but the effort came to nought - killed my legs for the sprint and ended in 21st.
18 June Eelmore series #7
A good race this one. Me and Paul rode. We even had a fan club cheering us on (thanks Kelly, James and Emily).
Inclusion of a prime midway through the race caused some confusion for the boys in orange and blue. Paul led me to the
front for the prime lap sprint but I was totally unaware of the situation and didn't sprint, however, we did stretch out
the peloton and a further kick from Paul had the gaps appearing. I then attacked and took 5 others with me and we were
away, with Paul suffering from his efforts at the back of the bunch. We worked well to stay ahead although with 3 laps
to go a trio of riders bridged the gap. Despite the efforts I ended with 5th in the sprint which was quite
satisfying.
22 June Ickneild RC, Cardington, 65 miles
A tough race this one, with only 29 finishers of the 80 starters. Me and Rupe rode and both ended in the chase group.
Not that difficult a parcours [Parcours - a poncy word for a race route - ed] but the strong winds made the going
very tough, especially for those caught at the back on lap 1. Fortunately we were fairly near to the front on the first
run in to the finish climb as the field was decimated behind us, suffering in the cross winds. However, a group of 11
escaped first time over the climb. Having climbed from mid-field to the front on the climb I couldn't then quite get
over to the break despite myself and another rider putting in a big effort. We were soon caught by a chasing group of
about 18 riders. Spent the next two laps on the back before doing some strong turns on the front in the remaining three
laps, and tried to control the run-in to set Rupe up for the sprint. Rupe and I finished 19th and 26th overall.
25 June Eelmore series #8
Another good race with vocal support again from Kelly, James and Emily. Paul and I in the 3/4s and Rupe with the Elites.
Having just necked a Red Bull within half an hour of the start Rupe had to pull out the Elite race after about 30 minutes
with stitch! Meanwhile, Paul and I and a couple of Python RT riders were off the front, only to be recaptured after 10
minutes of freedom by the bunch. However, a few laps later six of us were again on the attack and this time our lead
held firm. Paul was suffering by this time and still recovering from the earlier effort - good preparation for La
Marmotte next week Paul! Ended with 4th and enough points for my 2nd cat licence. [You should notice a change
in demeanor now - ed]
28-29 June Certini Tor 2-day
We entered this race on the edge of Dartmoor with high hopes, having finished 22nd and 23rd overall last year on the back
of poor form. However, it turned out to be a short-lived experience second time around. The race started with the same
6km prologue, using three quarters of the stage 2 road race circuit. Rupe recorded 9m47s; I was three secs back. This placed us 32nd
and 34th of the 60 starters, just over 1 minute back on the leader - not bad considering all the fast boys were riding
TT bikes not road bikes like us. There then followed 12 laps of a 9km circuit with a bonus of 15 seconds every lap
across the finish line. Well, we managed to hang on for three laps before both coming to a virtual standstill - just
nothing in the legs whatsoever. I think the high pollen count had done for us or a summer cold - that's the only
explanation especially given the good form in the preceding weeks - and we abandoned the race. So, instead of racing we
spent Sunday morning scrambling over some of Dartmoor's real Tors.
6 July Oxford City/OUCC Road Races, Beckley
Not ridden since the previous weekend, still not 100%, but both had pre-entered these races so decided to ride to see if
performance was up from the previous week. There was heavy rain for the first hour but this eased and it was quite mild
conditions for the second half of the races. Rupe felt a lot better than last week but only lasted 2 of the 5 laps of
the 15 mile Horton-cum-Studley circuit with what was a high quality elite field. I had pre-entered the 3 / 4 race (a 4
lap race) before becoming a 2nd cat so could still ride the race - a wise move given my condition I thought - still felt
heavy legged and not very lively but managed to haul myself up the final climb to end with 11th (although missed by the
finish line judges and didn't officially finish?!).
12 July Oakley Village Road Race, 52 miles
Both had pre-entered but Rupe was still not fit enough to race so he gave this
one a miss. It was a fast race (27 mph ave) on a flat, narrow course. Surprisingly I felt OK and even managed to
animate the race a bit but to no avail. Then with only a few km to go a small group of 4 or so slipped off the front and
none of us wanted to take up the chase. Race over and I trundled over the line in the bunch.
20 July National Masters Race (30-40yrs), 82 miles
10 laps of an undulating circuit near Winchester. Another short-lived experience for us. Hung on for 1.5 laps before
coming to a virtual standstill - legs just seized again, so home well in time for lunch.
27 July Thruxton E/1/2 circuit race
Both felt better than the previous week but still not the good form of May/June and legs not recovering well enough
between attacks to cope with the pace changes in an Elite race. A very small field so road on to finish in the points
(13th and 14th).