Court is in session at Race Inside

Week six and the final week of the current season have the legends from TR-C lining up against the Health team.  Still smarting from their loss in week 4. the legends have pulled out all the stops on the phones during the week and tonight three of our  favourite Princesses have turned up.  It’s been a while since so much royalty has been seen anywhere in one spot.  Jess who is fresh from a trip to ‘BrisVegas’, Janie ever dependable Para Olympian, and Kristine who has come out of retirement for one last race, have answered the call. Mark and Steve round out the furious five.

Health is short two riders so races will be decided on a nominated position in the race finish.  Race one will be raced for points, all riders count.

Race 1. Beginners Mile.

Under starters orders and it’s a downhill run to the finish, all riders are away in a furious start, legs pumping, gears getting bigger, bikes getting quicker,  Steve and the two Health riders in - Ewan and Doc (he might have a name his mum gave him) get a mini break on the field and start to apply some pressure to each other.  On this course the first to blink is lost.  Mark and Jess with Kristine and Janie form a chase group and less than a wheel separate them as the tempo builds to launch one final assault on the Health riders.  Steve hits the line closely followed by two highway patrol cars. Health in shortly after and the TR-C chase group managed to close the gap to under a second.  With the Health team’s points having a generous multiplier, they take race one, 26-20.  Health goes one up and the week 4 epic looks like repeating itself.

Race 2.  Hillcrest 2.5 km.  Second Rider home scores the victory.

Once again on the start line, Janie takes a rolling start.  The Health team; Kristine and Jess are counted off on a 10 second delay, while Steve and Mark leave a further 15 seconds later.  Mark and Steve take off at a furious pace to join both Kristine and Jess and form a chase group.  The benefits of five riders in the race to draft off cannot be understated.  All riders accelerate in an attempt to catch Janie and maybe break the Health boys while we are at it.  The gap has closed to 10 metres going into the first climb, seven riders hit the hill and accelerate, with less than a kilometre to travel Steve, Ewan, Mark and Jess gain a mini break and continue to power,  Kristine, Doc and Janie continue to keep the pressure on.  In a blanket finish Steve, Ewan and Mark hit the line and miraculously Ewan picks out a valuable point for Health by finishing 2nd.  Health goes two up.

Race 3. Test Track 320 metres.  First past the post.

The first of the “Go Hard or Go Home” races.  Janie again off a rolling start, big gears are the order of the day and the chase group are released. It’s over in 24 seconds in the fastest test track race of the season. Point  4 of a second separate 1st through 7th and TR-C gets the points, Steve edging out Janie with five other riders under the blanket finish.

Race 4. Advanced Mile.  3rd place takes the point.

Possibly the hardest track to race on, no respite on offer and a climber’s leg strength and skill paired with a sprinters heart is required to get you over the line.

Janie gets a rolling start, soon followed by Ewan, Doc and Kristine.  Steve, Jess and Mark take off 20 seconds later.  Mark is heard muttering something about “five Latte’s” and in 3:30 he hits the finish line.  Jess in shortly after and Steve in 3rd a long way off the pace, closely followed by Ewan, Janie, Kristine and Doc. TR-C square the night at 2.

Race 5.  Intermediate Mile.  4th Rider in scores the point.

An up and down course that is over in 2:30.   Mark and Jess clear away with a nice break with the Health boys, Janie, Steve and Kristine in close pursuit.  The TR-C riders in the chase group are drafting nicely and keeping both Ewan and Doc in check.  With the first two places assured, the point was going to come from one of the five in the chase group.  There was definitely a game of “fox and the hound” happening as each rider was looking to do well, but not too well in trying get that 4th place.  In one of the most unusual finishes ever seen five riders hit the brakes almost simultaneously trying to hit the line in that valuable fourth spot.  Steve, Kristine and Janie would lament not having great brakes, as Ewan sneaks a 4th place coming in under the radar and gets Health a valuable point to go 1up again.

Race 6.  The Rollercoaster 500m, 5th place gets the point.

In the 2nd “go hard challenge” Steve and Jess take Ewan out in an effort to isolate Doc. it worked a treat, over the course of 48 Seconds, Kristine, Janie and Mark, work over Doc and in a smart piece of racing are able to raffle off the 5th place between them.  TR-C are back in the game - all square and moving to the nights decider.

Race 7.  Test Track 320m revisited.  First past the post.

In the final race of the current season, TR-C put the call out amongst them for one last effort.  One last sprint of 320m - better than 25 seconds will get you home.  All riders are away, Janie off on a rolling start and the pace is incredible.  Given that this is the 7th race in 30 minutes, the fitness of the riders is impressive.  Less than 15 metres separate all riders.  Moving into the last 160 metres and all uphill, the power switch has been engaged in all riders and the drive through the hill and all post a sub 26 second time.  Steve takes the point for TR-C in a touch on 25 with only 8 metres separating 1st through 7th.  TR-C gains the valuable point on offer and square the series against a valiant Health team and take the night 4-3.

Season Two of Race Inside commences on 15th July , there’s a pretty good chance we can be conned into writing some more of this stuff.

Real Weights at Race Inside

Week 5 arrives and the TR-C Legends match-up against the Fun & Fitness boys in what promises to be some quick powerful racing.  Dave informs us we are racing off real weights which is a blessing in disguise, perhaps Dave is weakening in his old age.  After a quick headcount, the TR-C legends fail the Aerobics instructor test as we can only count to 3, a quick head check over yonder reveals the F&F guys are down two riders.  Oh well no ‘seagulling’ tonight!

Race 1.  Compu-trainer 10Km Time Trial.  Raced on Team Averages

Janie takes off on a rolling start and is intent on building a lead, the course is interesting as it has five 7 Deg climbs in it, the four remaining riders are out of the stalls on a static start and the chase begins.  Both Steve and Joel from TR-C are drafting off each other and pick Janie up on the way through and all of us are intent on delivering something special, our F&F opponents also out of the stalls and equally intent on delivering something special, TR-C as a group take a slender lead going into the first climb.  Steve and Joel try their first attack and get themselves a mini break with Janie given the task of covering Bricey from F&F, Ian still clinging on, only 15 metres in arrears.  All five riders are still very much in the contest moving well into the 4th kilometre and as a group and prepare to take on the 2nd of the climbs and disaster strikes, Steve drops a chain trying to maintain a big gear going up the hill and loses 40 seconds reattaching the chain and falls 500 metres off the pace.  Steve in his calm state teaches the gym some new words and his command of the French language has been widely viewed as exceptional. 

Chain back on, Steve starts the difficult task of winding the lead group in.  Janie and Joel are still well and truly in the mix with Ian,  Bricey is hanging tough but the hills are starting to take their toll.  Meanwhile…..  Steve is making up ground at a rapid rate and manages to pass Bricey at the 6.5K mark by staying out of the saddle up the 3rd hill and hits the summit still doing 40.  At 7km Steve has passed Janie and is closing the gap on the lead group, still behind 200 metres in arrears of the lead, the task is becoming more difficult.  Both Ian and Joel are going hard at it, the 2nd last climb takes its Toll on Joel and is dropped off by Ian.  Steve passes Joel with 1,500 metres to go and sets his sights on Ian, 100m in front and starting to weaken.  Heart rates are through the roof with 175 bpm being a common number, who would think you would do stupid things like this and call it fun.  Steve stays in the big gears at the start of the last climb, 600m to go, 70 metres behind and unleashes everything in one last effort, passes Ian half way up and continues to power through to the finish line in a pretty fair time of 15:40.  Ian in 7 seconds later Joel and Bricey in a minute after and Janie coming in shortly after,  given their two rider setup,  F & F take the race with an 18 second win on team averages.

Race 2. Hillcrest 2.5Km Climbers Course.  Raced on Team Averages.

Five riders are still visibly struggling to get air back in their lungs after such a difficult first race and forsake fluids in an attempt to get their breathing under control.  Janie is given a rolling start, while the group is counted off behind in a staggered start, all four remaining riders take off and with less than five minutes of racing all focus is on joining Janie who is well out in front.  The first Km is a mix of flat and downhill runs, so the speed is on and riders are in the mid 40’s and accelerating,  at the halfway point the five riders become one group and ascend the first major climb and lightening strikes twice,  Steve drops another chain and is giving everyone whose prepared to listen his free medical opinion of his chain.  Chain back on, 30 seconds lost and no hope of the repeat of race 1,  his only job is to limit the damage to the team average,  Janie and Joel, both take it up another gear and accelerate through the 2nd Km,  with 400 metres to go, three seconds cover the lead three riders,  Steve and Bricey doing what they can at the back.  All three touch in around 4:40, with Ian getting a well deserved victory, Steve in 13 seconds later and Bricey in shortly after,  amazingly F&F go two up with a 6 second victory.

Race 3 & 4 Sprints over the 320m Test Track

The test track is an old favourite and there is only one way to combat it, go hard or go home!.  All riders are away cleanly and Joel takes charge and is never headed although Janie was making sure hit didn’t put the brakes on in what was a really good effort , both riders hitting low 25’s for a time.  With 1 second covering all five of the riders TR-C pull one back with a .2 second victory.  Joel’s victory also earned $143 fine and 3 points for doing 62 in a 60 zone.  We love your work Joel.

The backup sprint was equally as torturous; Steve got a good start for a change and ripped through the course in 25 seconds with the remaining 4 riders again within a second of each other.  TR-C sneaks in with a .1 second victory and square the evening up at 2 each.

All riders were making eye contact which each other looking for a weakness in each individuals resolve, but the spirit was still willing, so “where to go” from here,  given the work rates and the legs still on fire from the lactic acid.  All riders didn’t need much convincing that 2-2 will do nicely and while none were keen to take a backward step, no one was in a hurry to go forward either.  The first draw of the season is agreed, the eyes may have had it, but the legs were certainly thankful there was no race 5 tonight.

TR-C meets Health in the final week of the Inside Racing season.  See you then.

Week 4 on the Wednesday comp sees the Legends of TR-C take on the Belconnen Soccer Club, although the there is a buzz in the betting ring that 4 riders masquerading as footballers have fronted for the challenge.  Its all true.  BSC have ‘wagged’ the night so a hastily formed team have fronted in their place.  A rather fit looking and debonair team at that!  Richard and Geoff from the TRC Legends Monday side have lobbed to try their hand on Wednesday, and a rather smooth and fit looking Ewan from the Health Team and Ian from the Fun Fitness group round out the 4.   Ewan and Ian are in for a tough outing backing up from their 6pm race schedule.   The legends welcome Joel and Peter K on a rotation, with Steve and Princess Janie rounding out the 4.

The night is raced on real weights for the first time this season and the mule train is looking forward to losing the saddle bags and an opportunity to race smart, rather than rely on brute strength and courage which has become the traditional tactic.

Race 1.  Team Averages, on the intermediate Mile.

What a difference.  No weight penalties with the whole team weighing in at 570lbs.  Interesting to note, individual riders have been carrying that amount as a weight penalty in single races.  All riders are away with a very clean start.  Its pretty obvious to everyone that 8 skilled riders have turned up to play, and what a game!  Steve leads from start to finish and cracks the group on the first major climb.  The clock is stopped on 2:30, with the rest of the riders from both teams sharing the minor places evenly and coming in 12 seconds later.  TRC go one up with a 6 second win.

Race 2.  8.05 km over the Athens Paralympic Course.  2nd riders time to count.

A real rollercoaster ride with two climbs of 11.2 degree gradient and they are back to back. Ordinarily it’s a heartbreaker to get one on your ride.   Two is definitely a challenge!  Once again all riders away cleanly.  TR-C start drafting early and settle in with a nice pace.  With the ‘ring ins’ taking a handy lead, the race group soon break up into two sub groups on each side as the climbers ascend the first intermediate hill.  Steve and Janie hanging tough and join Ewan and Ian.  It’s now a race where being clever will win the day.  It is all too easy to drop a chain and lose 30 seconds on these steep inclines.  Everyone is cognisant that only the 2nd rider from each team will count for the score and each is doing their bit to place their rider in a good spot.  The group is further split as Steve and Ian break clear on the first murderous climb.  Steve takes charge in an effort to break up the ‘ring ins’ drafting and cracks Ian, (remembering Ian is already on his 2nd outing for the night) and manages to hold the 15 second gap to the end, finishing in 14 minutes and change.  The real interest revolves around the battle between Janie and Ewan and a fast closing pack, remembering only the 2nd rider scores.  Ewan breaks clear of Janie on the 2nd 11.2 degree hill and takes a 40 metre advantage that would be telling in the end, no matter what tricks Janie whipped out Ewan was able to cover and get the time that counted the most.

Scores level with the ‘ring ins’ claiming a 4 second win.

Race 3.  Rollercoaster 2.5k and a team average score. ,Well, so we thought.

Racing was intense with little time for recovery and what was looking like a 7 race card.  Once again the Legends this time with Peter and Joel mixing it up, with Geoff and Richard stepping up, Janie and Steve in range with Ewan and Ian taking an opportunity to catch their breath.  It’s a pretty uneventful course so speed and the ability to hold the gears on the slight inclines will get you home.  Steve makes a move 500 metres from the end and PK hangs on with both Richard and Geoff tagging.  A tight group of 4 hit the line with Janie and Joel, Ewan and Ian sharing a blanket finish just 2 seconds behind.  The legends thinking they’ve done enough  find themselves 1 down as Geoff’s time is enough to pip PK on a 2nd rider finish.  Love your work Dave!

Legends are 2-1 down and busily regrouping.

Races 4-5.  Sprints over the 500m rollercoaster course on a team average time.  1 Minute rests between.

These races are over so quick its unbelievable, with a slow time at 44 seconds.  Janie is off a rolling start with the rest of the group static, poised and ready to launch.  TR-C take race 4 and 5 with only .1 and .2 of a second separating.  Joel leading the way for the Legends and Geoff and Richard putting on a set of great sprints for the ring ins.

TR-C go 1 up and struggling to catch their breath during some intense racing with power outputs in excess of 550 watts for each of the riders.

Race 6. On the test track over 320m

The closest race I have ever seen, the “ring ins” taking the race with a 1/100th of a second difference.  The racing was so close that .15 of a second covered 1st through to 8th and the distanced covered in 22 seconds.  Simply outstanding racing and the power outputs would light Sydney for a week.

The Ring ins home and we’re all square at 3.  Wondering what to do next.  The legends cajole Ewan and Ian into a decider and race 7 is set up for the 160m course. To add interest we ride blind without a display.  No-one has the slightest clue as to the placings, relying on pure power to get over the line, hopefully first.  Its all done in 14 seconds with Janie slaughtering all comers with a 2 second win and a blanket covers the rest of the field.  The legends take at .2 second victory in race 7 and carry the night 4-3.

Thanks to Richard and Geoff for their great efforts on the night and a special thanks to Ewan and Ian for showing what ‘hanging tough’ really looks like with 2 hours of great racing under their belts. 

Week 5 sees the Legends take on the Fun Fitness team.

See you then perhaps.