manchester track league

last friday i managed to get myself down to manchester track for the friday night league. with lack of time and other commitments, its been around 4 months since i was last down, and this happened to be my first racing of the season!

it all went really well... well, after the enitial worry that i had no wheels for the track bike i was using! i managed to get hold of some so once they where in, i was ready to roll! i warmed up and the first race; an unknown distance race where the commasaire rings the bell for the last lap whenever he wants, was soon under way. the bell rang, and i jumped onto the guy who had been watching the commasaire. my first track race, and 4th.

it was then back to the rollers before a 20 lap points race. it all started fairly calmy until the first points lap. the whiste blew and i found myself wmaped by riders all charging for the line. i had said to myself before the race that i would just see how it went, as id never done a points race before. however, i had a good go and managed to get off the front for 4 laps but didnt manage to rack up enough points to make an impact on the race.

the third race was a 1km sctrach. i knew form the start it was going to be fast and furious with evryone fighting for possition. with this in mind i quickly made myself a front rider. 3 laps gone and the bell ringing, a man jumped from behing me and took to the front. i followed but only managed 3rd, but for such a sprinters event, i was happy with the result.

the night seemed to get better! the 20lap sctratch followed and agin i was off the front, this time with another bloke. unfortunatly, as he pulled up and i rode through i didnt realise he never got back on my wheels, so it was time trial time. 6 laps to go and i was still off the front. the legs where starting to screa by now and again i was caught, but i stuck in and managed another 4th!

the last race of the nogt was a devil. my tacktics where... stay in as long as i can! this worked really well up until some guy swung up without lucking and hit into me. i managed to stay up, but recieved a nice tyre burn on my hand, that hurt a lot! i carried on but only managed 5th before being "tacken".

all in all it was a really good experience and some great fun. il be back again next friday, hopefully this time with some better results... targets: scratch and devil!