Having had a poor start to the season (already 8 weeks off the bike before April), and only one race to my name this year, I thought I should go and test my form and so headed to Chertsey – my favourite circuit so far!

Around 90 or so riders lined up for the 3^rd Cat race although there was some delay after mopping up the claret that had been spilt during the last lap in the 4^th Cat race!

Anyway the large bunch of E/1/2 riders went off a minute and a half ahead of us and then we followed! It seems there is a growing trend for riders to want to try and lap the bunch right from the gun and although this can work on a small circuit you have to be very strong to make it work on a circuit like Chertsey!

So from the off the going was very fast – in fact by the 2^nd lap my heart rate was 198 and my legs were fading fast! Fortunately the pace eased off enough in the 3^rd lap to let me recover a bit, but then come the 4^th lap the pace rocketed again! it was pretty much like that throughout the race. The quality of riding was very good and there were few shouts to ask people politely not to move off their line ; )

I was able to just about hang in the bunch until a mile from the end where I got caught in a very bad position and was slowed down too much to jump back on the bunch. This may have been a good thing though as if I had tried to battle it out at the finish I may have been caught  in the pile up at the finish line, (see DGS-photography.co.uk for photos).

Again I only feature in the background of the photos! If you look hard you might see my red overshoes!!!!! (there are 3 photos -  feel there may be a “Where’s Wally competition due to unfold!!). Anyway I eventually clocked an average of 25.4mph for 40miles so a great workout but I’m still well off the pace of the stronger lads.

Dave C