LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

Van · Joined: 10 Nov 2008 Posts: 227 Location: London

What a top event!

You couldn't ask for a better track - smooth and billiard flat.
I think we got really lucky with conditions - the wind was never more than a light breeze during the daytime, and overnight it was dead still. No rain. Temperatures were very pleasant - warm but not too hot in the afternoon - certainly nothing like the heatstroke temperatures in LeMans. Night-time did get quite cold and foggy, but it was easily manageable with a few extra layers.

It was an excellent strategy to skate in pairs - well done team captains! I had my doubts about how long it could be made to work, but everyone was excellent and very considerate of their skate partner. Unless you are chasing a podium, this must surely be the only way to do this type of race.

I love the way this event is so laid back. That's not to say that there aren't teams out there trying their best and skating their butts off, but the way you can sit trackside and just wait for your handover to come around before getting up to skate your next lap is very welcome.

The less physically demanding nature of the circuit also means that it could be a much more pleasant experience for any nutters who want to solo/duo. Just a thought.
Razz

The one downer was Andy's broken wrist. I was waiting for the changeover and saw him go down and immediately though that it did not look good, but I have to say that I've never seen someone with such bad luck remain so cheerful - GWS Andy!

RichardH · Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 210

I have someones white UK to European power adapter by the way.

ed! · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 4:47 pm Subject:

Now that I can look back on it, I can say that it was an enjoyable event!

Highlights and lowlights:

Thursday (travel day):

+ Triple Whopper at the Eurotunnel to kick things off (ok, not really the best thing nutritionally, but it sent positive mental vibes as I knew my nutrition during the race would be limited)
+ The drive there felt like the "old days" of going to race events. Mini convoy is the way to go....though maybe not via Antwerp during rush hour! Travelling with Tanya, Richard, Michelle, Richard, Sparky and Mozza was much fun!
+ Two pasta meals in Amsterdam the night before...yum!

Friday (race day):

- Not getting food until about 1pm, and even then, it was a croissant and a chicken baguette
+ The weather: sunny and dry, albeit a little windy. Quoted as one of the best conditions the race has seen
+ Witnessing the quality of camp setups from the dutch: army tents, full sized fridges, heaters!!!
+ The start of the race!
+/- My first lap: caught up with the leader (young kid who looked and skated like a greyhound), but in doing so, he sat behind me for the rest of the lap and wouldn't take a pull at the front. I tried to shake him off but couldn't.
- Overdoing it on that lap, similar to how I nearly killed myself at Le Mans 2 years ago. That said, I think that was my closest opportunity for as sub-7 minute lap
+ Yo-yoing between 1st and 2nd place was quite exciting
+ My next lap with the kid...exact same scenario except that rather than overtake, I sat behind him. He slowed, I slowed. He stopped, I stopped. I suggested we work together, he agreed :-)
+ Similar laps with skaters from eventual 1st and 3rd place teams...whilst we were rivals, there was nothing to be gained from trying to outdo each other given our similar speeds, so agreed to work together
+ Glenn's record breaking lap...which had to be voided as he only did 400m :-) The organisers were cool about it and sorted it, which really set the tone for the rest of the event...nothing as bureaucratic as Le Mans
+ Tanya's clever tactical rotation change that meant we could build up a lead in first place
+ Watching EdP go ballistic and almost nuclear at the then 2nd place team's skater who nearly took him out, stating it was an accident. Bygones were bygones and boys will be boys - no harm done!
- Andy's broken wrist
+ Getting a cheer from the London teams each time I set off on my lap
- Unknowingly racing a 14 year old to the finish line and losing to his hawk for the line!
- Losing 1st place as the eventual winners had brought in their 6th skater who wasn't there to start. They played their fastest skaters in succession for most of the evening / night

Saturday (race day cont.):
- The moist and chilly evening, which zapped our team for most of the early hours
- Getting my first > 8 minute lap
- Not being able to keep warm and dry...regretting not having brought a top baselayer. Being jealous of the luxuries of the other teams
- Time going so slow, with the halfway mark not seemingly getting any closer
- Wanting to pack it all in, feeling cold, tired and fed up
- Mist so low that you couldn't see in front of you
- Being overtaken and having to chase and then sit behind a skater with a bigger belly than me
- Going 2 laps down on the leaders
+ Halfway!
+ Daylight and signs of warmth!
+ Lap times increasing as time progressed
+ Text messages of encouragement from Liya, Adrian and George
+ Increasing our gap on the 3rd place team, easing the pressure
+ Friendly chats with the opposing teams in between, further cementing the positive vibes
+/- Glenn's stack during a botched changeover resulting in a "punishment" lap for Sparky, who averaged 8 minutes 20 secs - result!
+ Tanya and Sparky's fisticuffs, which wasn't so funny at the time
+ Having Dr Nic draft me for a section of a lap...the boy's not slow!
+ For my last two laps, pulling in times of sub 7 and a half minutes
+ Closing the gap on 1st place, though not enough to make a difference
+ My lame attempt to give Richard a helping hand on the team's last lap where I could only offer the odd push from behind rather than provide the draft I intended
- Sparky's last lap not counting
+ The end!!!
+ Podiums, and utter confusion at our prizes
+ A rather chilled night in Amsterdam, but is just what was needed
- The extortionate snack and drinks van near the hotel

Sunday (travel day):

+ Waking up with minor aches and pains
+ Two quarter pounder burgers and a strawberries and cream frappaccino for breakfast
+ Beer and cake for elevenses
+ Belgian beef stew for lunch
- Missing our tunnel slot
- Stuck in UK motorway delays
+ Big Mac, McChicken burger, fries and strawberry milkshake for dinner
+ Home!!!

It was definitely a character building race, with some really challenging moments to overcome, but it's good to have memories like that to draw upon in the future!
I'd say that if you want to do it competitively, you would really need pit crew to aid with timing and especially to "wake" people up for their lap during the night. We were extremely fortunate to have Annabelle who was a godsend!

IF I were to do out again next year, I'm not sure in what capacity. The skating pairs looked like so much fun - I was envious of the companionship!
We definitely to step up the organisation of it all to at least be on par with the Dutch!

A huge thanks to my team mates: Dan, Glenn, Richard, Sparky, Tanya and Annabelle - you were all great to be in a team with.
And to the other London teams / support crew who brilliant in their efforts.

matty · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:29 am Subject:

brilliant race comments/rpts guys..

between Ed and Van, I really want to go next year... it sounds like it'd be great....

Smile

Jan · Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Posts: 2 Location: Rotterdam

Jan · Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Posts: 2 Location: Rotterdam

ohh and by the way here can you find 330 pictures made by me and my team.

If you want a pic in full detail (3648 x 2736 @ 314dpi) just pm me.