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Hundred Plus Flock to Hillingdon for Winter Racing
January 30, 2010; by Larry Hickmott | Report and Results |
Larry Hickmott writes: Whilst the road season proper is still a few weeks away in Britain, there is still plenty of racing going on in the country on tarmac. In Upavon, there is circuit racing when the weather allows, as there is at the new cycling circuit at Redbridge in North East London. Winter circuit racing also has a long history at Hillingdon in West London and on January 30, well over a hundred cyclists converged on the circuit to get their fix of the sport.
Whilst it was cold, very cold, with the sun out and the circuit full of riders ready to race, it almost felt like summer at Hillingdon on January 30. Over 100 riders to part in the racing, perhaps closer to 150.
After attending two team launches in as many days, events which suggest 2010 may be best road season for many a year, my journey in the south of the country took me to Hillingdon to revist a Winter Series I once competed in.
Thanks to the Collins family, led ably by one of the most well known organisers in the South East, Doug, supported by Richard and Lucy, the Winter series has been running at Hillingdon since the middle nineties and is bigger and better than ever. Today, I made the journey I used to make every weekend a decade ago when I was quite a few stone lighter and was able to call myself a racing cyclist. Travelling down through the lanes via Aylesbury and Amersham, I arrived at the circuit in time to see the youth racing at 12.30.
Elite/1/2/3 Flickr Slideshow
In my day (don't you just love that phrase?), the reasons for doing the winter series were simple – I wanted my fix of racing and the Winter Series provided it.
Judging by the yells of joy from one rider who won today, winning is always a great occasion and with well over a hundred riders out chasing that win, why not celebrate. But why so many? The weather perhaps, as it was sunny and dry. Or perhaps it was because the pro season has already started in Australia and riders are eager to get out and race too. Whatever the reason riders were racing: how great it was to see so many riders out there enjoying themselves!
Look at the jerseys on display and you realise clubs from all over the country are represented, including Scotland and Wales. I’m not saying they all travelled down for the race on the daym but I know some do travel for two hours to get there. I used to travel for an hour from Milton Keynes and thought nothing of it.
Closed circuits like Hillingdon, Redbridge and UpAvon that hold Winter Series, provide the chance for riders to enjoy the thrill of the race all year round. The resistance from those who would mock winter racing seems to be abating. Hillingdon is especially popular. Perhaps that is down to the history of the series and two riders, Jason Streather and Vince Halpern who I raced with so many years ago in the series, are still doing so.
Category 3 and Category 4 Races -- Flickr Slideshow
Or, perhaps Hillingdon is popular because the circuit is kinder to riders, less physically challenging with its gentle corners and gradients. It gives riders of all ages and all abilities the opportunity to get the experience of racing in a big group, cornering, making explosive efforts and so on. The social atmosphere too is also something to enjoy and many clubs had groups of riders racing there and they were then swapping stories afterwards.
The racing today, (report from Lucy Collins) wasn’t all fun as there were some crashes and at least one rider broke his collarbone during a pre-sprint crash, while others ended up with some road rash. Which reminds me of a glossary of road racing terms, which I saw Lucy Collins had with her. Terms like "road-rash" may be well known to most riders but the Imperial club who host these events, and who put so much time into them on the day and during the days that follow, are also keen to help riders learn the art of racing.
During the season, it is common to have bunches of over a 100 riders together in road races and on circuits and so having winter racing with groups of 40 or 50 is a learning experience and one that is proving popular with men and women. As one ‘old’ hand explained to me, it can be a twitchy out there but if you have the legs, you can stay near the front and out of trouble or just sit up in the sprint if you don’t want to take the risks.
Youth Races -- Flickr Slideshow
One rider who did tackle the sprint today, a three up one mind you, was the winner of the Elite/1/2/3 race, John Heaton-Armstrong (pictured below). He had been part of a big break for much of the race but with plenty of attacking in the closing laps, the break split and three riders escaped to fight for the victory which went to Heaton-Armstrong. It was a fitting end to an afternoon of racing for all ages and categories and in two weeks, February 13, the series will have its final round and presentations.
If you want to learn more about the Imperial Winter Series, check out the club’s website (http://www.imperialracingteam.com/) and contact them with any questions you may have. If you are not yet a member of British Cycling, then check out this page to learn about membership and racing licences.
Signing on is in the huts at the end of the road you take when entering the venue.
Another race, another sprint for the victory, this one for the Category 4 riders.
This was the finish of the Category 3 race and the winner is milking his victory for all its worth and why not!
Riders of all ages were racing in the sun today at Hillingdon.
