Race Support with Matrix-Vulpine

A few weeks ago, knowing that I was not working for a bit, I asked Matrix-Vulpine DS Stef Wyman if he needed any mechanic help at the London Nocturne (a (obviously) night time crit in central London, around Smithfield Market). He said yes....

It was a little strange heading to the Nocturne as it basically re-enacted my old commute. Cycling to the station, train to Waterloo, cycle up through Smithfield... though leaving at 2 in the afternoon was a weird timeshift (and it's the first time I'd taken the Major into London).

Arriving at Smithfield, the support races were already on the go, and after a brief and confusing conversation with a marshall about getting to the pits (you can't.. you have to sign in.... but you can't cross without accreditation) I spotted the Matrix-Vulpine team car and got a wristband passed over..

A few of the riders were already around, relaxing and enjoying the day. I parked up the Major, next to Helen Wyman's race Kona. and got ready...

The Major in more exalted company 

The day itself was a riot of noise and colour, and I mean RIOT....the PA was kicking out music at ear bleeding levels making any conversation in the pit nigh on impossible though apparently, a quiet word from a world no2 ranked CX rider to someone got the nearest speakers "accidentally" unplugged... nice one.

TV crew grabbing a few words with Baz

The support races were an interesting diversion, none more so than the Boris Bike race which, on the slowing down lap, took a turn when someone (who may or may not be a Radio DJ) decided to sort her hair out, riding no hands.. wobbled and headed straight for us... she missed the car next to us, Emma Borthwick jumped clear, and it hit Stef and the team car.. 1 bike and a few wheels skittled and one DS with a gronked wrist...

The team gathered and we prepped the bikes.. (major front end adjustments for Harriet and Jo's bikes) and then the riders began to warm up. We'd scored a great spot with enough room for the whole team to warm up on rollers/turbos and be seen by the fast growing crowd.

Warm up time

It was good to chat to the riders and learn a few of their set up preferences, and basically be there to catch things, hold stuff and make their evening easier.

"And they are off..." DS Stef Wyman and Nick Hussey of Vulpine make sure online fans are kept up to speed on the race.

The race was fast and hard, it looked like Katie Archibald (Pearl Izumi-Sports Tours International) was going to ride off the front until she arrived in the pits having had an off, getting caught in the barrier on the other side of the circuit out of our view. In the end, the team's best finisher was Jessie Walker in 11th.

Not the best results, but a great shop window for the team, with many people taking time to say nice stuff about the team. Penny Rowson mentioned that the NFTO guys had said it was cool that Matrix-Vulpine had a female mechanic (which is nice) and it was good experience for me.

After getting the timing chips off and loading the bikes on to the car, we sat and watched the Elite men's race (won by Tobyn Horton - Madison Genesis) and I set off into the warm london night (around half 10 to head home) A slow trip (with no loos and a half hour wait at Ascot) and The Major and I arrived in Camberley around 01:15 am for the ride home, in shorts and a short sleeved jersey...the roads were quiet.....the moon was out in full... excellent.

The Major sitting on a train at Ascot waiting to get home - ignore the lights, especially the impromptu green "bracket" at the back :)

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A few days later and we did it all over again, this time for the Matrix Fitness GP series race in Woking. An easy 30 minute drive from the house. I arrived nice and early, worked out the circuit and chatted to @argyle_panda who invited me over to the WWF offices in Woking for a quick tour.. very impressive building, a lovely space to work and imaginatively constructed for minimal environmental impact. 

I may have picked up a little friend at the WWF offices - He's now in Belgium !

The afternoon wore on and the teams had a major struggle to get down to the pits area. The riders rode down to the circuit, so whilst we waited for Stef and the car, I got the timing chips fitted to each bike (thanks to Rapha Condor-JLT mechanic for the pair of snips I proffed) and FINALLY the cars arrived, it took about an hour to get the cars from the parking round and on to the circuit. Bikes prepped and we were off again.... Helen only needed to secure one point in the sprints competition to secure the overall jersey win, and duly delivered at the first sprint... hereafter she is to be referred to as "Top Sprinter" Helen Wyman...

It did look like the team might get a decent result, but unfortunate timing meant that the front group caught a, as yet unlapped, group right on the final VERY tight hairpin, throwing the group into confusion and allowing Eileen Roe (Starley-Primal) to get a jump and take the win. Frustrating, but... that's bike racing...

The teams had to clear out quickly to allow the men's team cars in, so as soon as we'd got the bikes loaded, Stef shot off (on the long drive back home to Belgium, pausing only to collect Helen after the podium ceremony, and in possession of a small, panda shaped, passenger) and I met up again with Ade (aka @argyle_panda) and we watched the men's race from the Hospitality area by the finish... which was a nice end to the day...... 

Two days later.........New job kicked in..... but we will get to that soon.....

Thank you to DS Stef Wyman for the chance to help out the Matrix Fitness-Vulpine Team 

To (Top Sprinter) Helen, Jo, Penny, Baz, Louise, Jessie, and Sigrid for being a pleasure to work with.

To Nick Hussey of Vulpine for being dapper personified at the Nocturne and a top sponsor chap,

and to Emma Borthwick for the company and chat at the Nocturne.

Thank you also to Ade (@Argyle_Panda) and Adele Mitchell for the great company at Woking.