View from the back (of the 5 Day)

In a moment of madness a few weeks ago I entered the Surrey League Jaunts 5 Day. I could see one benefit of entering - it got me out of commissairing duties, but as the race approached I knew I was in for a serious kicking! - here's what happened ...

Day 1 - Friday - 7.8m TT
Gathering in a blustery and rainy car park on the top of Withyham we watched batches of twenty somethings fettling their expensive machines in preparation for the downhill start to the TT. Fortunately the rain had eased by the time the VC Meudon squad started at the rear of the field. I was due first off, to be followed @1 minute by Craig Wilson, then Duncan Hards and finally Gibbo. At around 8:30pm in the gathering gloom I was released by Keith Butler into an initial 6 minutes worth of rapid downhillness - it felt like the Cresta run as I forced my hands to stay away from the brakes. After a brief rise and sharp turn at Groombridge came the slog back up to the finish on Ladies Mile. I was expecting Wilson to come charging past any minute, but going into the final mile there was still no sign of him. Then a maroon jersey flashed past - it was Dunc having caught me for 2 minutes! I followed him over the line and looked back to see Craig coasting up behind - something was surely amiss. Gibbo and I duly took up our positions in 58th and 57th position on GC - a pattern was emerging....

Day 2 - Saturday - Big Bletchingly
A warm day to be riding Bletchingly and a massive shock when the lead car forgot what "neutralised" meant - I was in oxygen debt chasing back on before we'd even gone over the Motorway bridge. A breakneck descent preceeded a further shock as we sailed straight past the left turn to Outwood bringing the realisation that we were tackling the larger of the Bletchingly circuits with even more climbs.
Our first downer came on the second time up through the finish line when Craig found himself struggling for power. Grabbing different gears, nothing would help and Craig disappeared! The explanation for his below par TT was apparent - he'd come down with the lergy. I managed to hang on until 15m to go, when I went out of the back on the climb with 2 to go, had a mix up/rant with the DFL following car and chased like mad only to be blocked by the race convoy on the descent - the race disappeared off ahead of me. Dunc and Gibbo rode strongly to finish with the splintering pack up the finish climb.
New yellow jersey Richard Hoult - London Dynamo had gained almost a minute on everyone over the final few miles.
Overall GC now Dunc 27th @2:57 Gibbo 40th @4:57 Me 44th @16:01 Craig - on his sick bed, £75 poorer

Day 3 - Saturday - Ewhurst/Leith Hill
All the talk in the changing room before the start was about the finish up Leith Hill. Gibbo even made me drive him up there beforehand to reccy the 1.5mile leg breaker. I was only concerned about the preceeding 68miles - if I could just hang on until the bottom of the climb I'd be delirious. The race was full-on most of the time, including the strange sight of the Ewhurst villagers watching aghast as the race stormed up the high street with a pair of horses (complete with petrified riders) galloping along in the middle of the peleton. Gibbo complained of being on his last legs; we've all heard that from people who subsequently romp to victory but he was not bluffing and after a couple of all out chases to get back on Gibbo was finally history as the race turned onto the Ockley mile at half distance. He spent the rest of the race at the feed zone chatting up the mums of the junior DFL team - (hope mrs gibbo doesn't read this) Dunc and I stayed with the peleton, led by the Yellow Dynamo and his team, who chased down all attacks, until the foot of Leith Hill. It was here that Dunc and I went in opposite directions; he stormed up the climb to finish 15th, taking some big scalps on the way, while I soldiered up on reserve tanks to lose another 2 minutes.
Overall GC now Dunc 21st @3:13 Me 41st @17:41 Gibbo missing in action

Day 4 - Monday - Warninglid
Another warm sunny day, another manic start. No sooner had the lead car pulled away, heart rates were maxing out ( at least mine was ) - almost an hour went by before I dare take my hands off the bars and grapple for a gel (who designed those bloody pockets?!) The Yellow Dynamo was in action throughout - maybe he thought having the leaders jersey meant he had to stay in the lead all day - he was never off the front. Well, until Dunc eased into a 4 man break that bravely held out for 10 miles, until a mass chase brought them to heel. During the mellay I was despatched out of the back again with 10miles remaining. Gibbo who had been allowed to restart day 4 was riding refreshed and fancied his chances in the sprint finish. However dangerous riding and approaching double decker buses brought him to his senses and he sat out the dash for the line. Dunc had recovered enough to cross the line @8s in 38th
Overall GC now Dunc 25th @3:21 Me 43rd @24:59 Gibbo (back in action) 48th @1:05:18

Day 5 - Tuesday - Lingfield (or not)
An even warmer, sunnier day and race organiser Keith Butler was forced to switch circuits at the last minute due to roadworks. I had been fearing the Lingfield climbs and thought this was a blessing in disguise - Not so, Keith always has another challenge up his sleeve. We were to race straight from the HQ for 9 miles onto the Ladies Mile circuit, then complete 13 laps. This turned out to be a 9 mile hill climb followed by a high speed Crit - just what you need on Day 5. I don't know how I managed to stay in contact on the outleg to the circuit, it was touch and go all the way. Things settled down once on the 4 mile loop, but the up and down nature of the circuit was hurting more each lap and a surge through the finish spat me, and several others, out of the back at half distance. A steady 30mile ride to the finish followed - at last I experienced what normal riding was like again. Back in the race the Yellow Dynamo was letting nothing escape. His team rode a fine race until a Dulwich Paragon, who was @2:43 on GC, slipped the field. At the bell (as he lapped me) he had a minute on the bunch, but more chasing ensued and although the lone rider held on to take the stage, the Dynamestiques had reduced his lead to 11s and the Yellow Dynamo took home the jersey and first prize. Gibbo found his form again, stayed with the race and finished with the pack, while Dunc gave absolutely everything to stay in touch but found his legs wanting near the end and eventually had to let go - a shame after staying with the race for so long. But there was still joy to come as we searched our pockets for loose change - enough to muster up 3 shandies from a nearby pub before the 9 mile jaunt back to the HQ, feeling light headed but glad it was all over. Gibbo has already sent his entry off for next year!
Final GC Dunc 34th @10:09 Me 41st @40:59 Gibbo (still in action) 45th @1:05:18