Report from Div 5 rider taken from
http://www.bikesmoveus.com.au/showthread.php?t=4624&page=30So week 11 at RAW is now a distant memory
My Friday looked like this
Warm up scratch
No one wanted to lead out this week, so was pretty easily paced and at times there about 6 or 7 people deep up the bank. Everyone looking for a wheel. Settled down with four laps to go where I found myself a bit too far back so at three laps I made my move and lead out for about a lap but there people with more in the tank behind me probably waiting for someone like me to make the move. Note to self, either train harder or leave the silly moves with two laps to go where I know I can just about hold it. Not sure where I came 6 or 7 thereabouts.
Sprints
Good even group for my sprint. As with most of the sprint races, so much seemed to depend on your start. I think the majority of the sprints where won by whoever had the best start. I started at the top of the bank and didn't get a good start at all. Like that it was a lap and half though, gives you enough time to put more of an effort in. The guy who lead out held a good lead and the rest of us pretty much raced side-by-side for the rest of the race. Come in fourth with about a wheel between 2nd 3rd and 4th - good enjoyable competitive race, so more than happy with 4th and my goal for the night was to try and hit 55kmh in the sprint - registered 54.8kmh - so close, wished I had looked at my speed at that point so I could have just had one last push. Will save it for another week.
Madison/Paced
Div 5 were just paced out for 8 laps by a Div 1 rider, the idea being that he lifted the pace in an attempt to drop some, but not all of the field. The Div 1 rider rode it nicely with a steady build that started to create holes after 3 laps. I bridged the first gap and sat on fourth wheel and kept pace until the Div rider left us. Then with about three laps to go jamesrotates made the same move as me in the scratch, pretty much with the same result. Couldn't keep up with the stronger guys but wasn't too far off the pace at the end - again think I got 6th or 7th.
Div 4 and 5 combine
If you find yourself in a combine make sure you're up the front. I was 2nd last up the ramp and the guy in front unclipped as he was rolling out. When I hit the first bend I was already half a lap down. Pedalled around for a couple of laps and then pulled out. Bit disappointed as I'd sooner be trying to keep pace at the front rather than trying to close an impossible (for me) gap. Definitely try and get in position early next time.
Only a few weeks left. I really don't want it to end.
__________________
