LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

Natasha · Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 2973 Location: Basingstoke

And Kay too (5:27.43,61 and came 169th)

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

And Eric 4h27'9.54"

Kay and Roger had the same time....how sweet Very Happy

Etienne · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 1696 Location: Central Paris

Well, a very enjoyable week-end....
Starting with tourisme (Baden), a little bit of music with the pre-party at Zurich and of course the event itself.

Started en-masse and after 1 km or 2 started to have pace lines with Eric at the Front. A bit surprised again with the 1st downhill in St Gallen itself (I don't change with my scares). After a few minutes I had more luck with the pace selection as I passed Eric. Nothing major at the beginning except 1 very bad-evaluated change of pace line (stuck in a slow line, move in a gap with was really looking nice in a quicker lane, but the speed deference was too high - quite dangerous - Guy behind did hate me I am sure and for me it was nearly a fall !! Annoying because it seems that when you are stuck in a line, it is difficult to change, and the lines where very long at this time --- still learning, fortunatly without injury of annyone I think ....).
Then quite settled in a line....until the big downhill where I have screwed up with my confidence of downhill (e.g. was really thinking using the green carpets and finally did not though). I forgot how the down hill is long and not so straight. But went OK (First major scary bit done !). Still lost the pace line as I did of course not perform efficiently in the downhill... Fortunalty at about the 30st KM there was group of 5-6 skaters that was really efficient and to my level or maybe just above. After km 40 there was some beeps beeps from a mortobike behind...And zoooo ooo ooo, Motorbike went past at speed with Sebastian skitching (he obviously use the mortobike to move along the race and then interviw people).
A Bit further I catched up with Sabastien...Some greatings, then do not remember extactly what was said but was somethin like
"Hello One-Eleven, 2nd time, Franzosich in London, Enschuldigung [Sorry]". Sorry because my nice group had decided to speed up and I definitly did not want let them go without me and I was right as I did stick with them until km80. km 40/50... the left turn with the blocks of starws [yee, second and last scary souvenir of last year past!! (except the up-hills of course)]

There we joinned another line, and to pace bacame very irregular. slowdown - accelerate -slowdown [etc] and .... and at some point I did not accelerate again....
Alone for the remainning of the race where I could not stick with the 3 or 4 lines that overtook me... but I took it cool, knowing what was comming and in the hope to keep energy to catch the next line to overtake... tourisme mode with smile.
Isolated skater but not alone : Very nice cheering of the punters around while you are going up ... slowly.... Childrens to claps hands etc etc. The big Hill. A bit like the Lee Valley circuit but in longuer... 100km [10h32 or so...Can maybe do it under 4h00??? hu! 10km/h here seems feasable ???? hope that Eric will not overtake in a paceline I cannot catch], a bit of rest with uphill but too stepy...(good and large road, nice surounding). Last food station, people tell me "noch 7km" [10h47 or so....seem difficult for below 4h00, but I am nearly certain to do better time than last year]
"Noch 5 km"...Was waiting for it [11h52 or so ... will not make it under 4h00.... let's see for below 4h15]. and the bit after was still very long...long one, not too step but so long that it becomes ... hem ... annoying and you want to finish it as it is [the last one, nearly the end!!]. and at least the last left turn [the end of the suffering Smile

1 more km and done]. Happpy as I improved my time with 4h06'--'' but also so happy to leave my skates !!! Weird to walk again and really knackered.
Get rid of the guears, then rest a bit then strech (classic one as too knakered atm to do the yoga one) then at least could try the yoga one.....While doing it Eric arrived at 4h27'--'' knackered too off course ! Sit down in the stairs before the shower etc etc.
At the end, I ended only with 2 small blisters, quite tired and this morning a big back (bottom) ache as well as a bit the neck....

Nice little chat with all known londonners participants and Sebastien long after the end of the race where he did shown us the rollerbag video (for those os the 1st Eddy M session who did not see it) Laugths.

Rest in the Park, Walk, brasserie in St Gallen with Roger, Kay and Eric then train with Eric to the Airport [and zurich for Eric]

---

An Obvious lack of UK representatives.... This make me first from people located in GB....(aber ich bin Fransösich !). Do anyone know the 2 other england located perons ? ( http://services.datasport.com/2004/sic/mini04/rang/LANDGB.HTM )

See you soon...

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4107

Oh wow, Steve Hill was on the EM workshop no. 1 this year, and did the LIM last year as well.

Christophe · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 1652

Thanks for the little story and well done to all involved.

I'll try to find the guts to do it next year.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Since I am probably not working this year I might be able to train to do this too.