CYCLING STORY
Last December I entered into my second pre-season race (C Grade). It's my first race on this hilly circuit, and got dropped on the first hill. However, though I dug in deep and was not able to close the 200yd gap to the bunch . I came last in the race.
After the race we were having refreshments at the cafe. One person, Bruce, asked what happened to me. I explained, and said: "Don't worry. One day I'll catch you and beat you to the line". Bruce replied: "There is no why you could ever beat me on this circuit, your body is not suited for this hilly course". I thought he was just teasing me, but I soon found out that he was very serious. He called the race commissaire for a witness to his statement. Well, he threw down his gauntlet, and I accepted.
Next race was a graded handicap, on a flat circuit. Half way through the race, there was just Bruce and I left in our grade. Bruce was stalling the handicap and trying to make me do most of the work by leading. Though I pulled reasonably hard up front, I only took short turns. Time was running out for us to catch the slower guys. I soon had to break away from Bruce and time-trial it to the finish. After my turn up front, I got behind Bruce, and had a quick drink. Throughout the race I learnt Bruce's body language as to when he wants me to take the lead. While watching him, I drifted back several bike lengths. As soon as I saw the tell-tale sign, I accelerated as fast as I could towards his back wheel, in his draft. On the last moment I flicked around him at 45 kph. It took him by surprise. I could hear 'click' 'click' click' of his gear changes - a big mistake. He put himself into such a big gear, he had no chance of winding out his bike to catch me.
Though I did not catch the winner, I finished second place overall, and first in C grade. Beat Bruce by over a minute.
The next race, was last Sunday, on that hilly course. It was raining, and it had been raining for a few days now. Not many riders turned up for the race. Only three riders for C grade. Bruce was one of them. It was another graded handicap race. However, as soon as our third rider broke away on the second hill, it was just Bruce and me left. It was no longer an handicap race between us. Now it was a race of tactics to see who beats who.
I learnt from the last race that Bruce likes others to do most of the work. So I decided to play his game. I never let Bruce get behind me. He knew I was faster than him on the flats. So all he could do was try and drop me up the hills. He gave two attempts in doing this, but I was able to stay with him, but I felt I was about to have a heart attack on each attempt.
The finish line is at the bottom of a long sloping hill. At the top of this hill, Bruce almost came to a stop. We stalled for three minutes, to see who would go for the final dash. I was able to stall better than Bruce, so he was slowly opening the gap between us. Just before I was about to launch an attack, a D grade rider passed me in a sprint to the line. Bruce took this opportunity to jump in front of him, and sprint also. As I accelerated towards them, the D grader was falling back. So I passed him and now it was just Bruce and I. Bruce kept looking back. I knew if I got on his wheel he would flick around to get on my wheel _ in the hope I would lead him to the finish. So I kept a gap between us, to drive him on. At 200 yds to go I sprinted passed to the line.
On the way back to the car park, Bruce rode up and said: "You did very well." I thought that was very gentlemanly from him. Though the commissaire knew we did poorly for a handicap race, he also knew it was a personal race between ourselves. We sat around having refreshments and nobody said a word about it, which was good to witness.
Over the next month of racing weekends, Bruce and I will be setting up the traffic control signs. This will give us a chance to know each other better, and hopefully develop a good friendship.