So, it’s safe to say the first edition of De Eendaagse van Alkmaar was a huge succes. 30 participants showed up last Sunday and got to know what it’s like to ride the track. Here’s how it went down.

Sunday morning at around 10:30 the group travelling from Rotterdam met up at Rotterdam Central Station to head out to Alkmaar. Erik E, John the Proper Pirate, Saskia, Saar, Peet the Great and Peter The Falconma were all waiting for me to arrive. We got some coffee and got on the train. As usual, the “geouwehoer” hit the fan.

We picked up Rien de Haagse Hercules and Cenny along the way and before we knew it, we had reached Alkmaar. Bruce was also waiting at the station, he was actually on time for a change.

We stacked up on food and supplies at the local Appie Happie and walked to the Velodrome. It’s about a 20 minute walk there, so plenty of time to think about the “koers” and get mentally prepped.

Locked bikes, locked doors

Sadly, when we reached the track at around 12:45, no one was there. Well, the cafetaria lady was there, but she was definetely not feeling her menopause. Cranky as hell, she told us the track was actually rented out from 3 til 5! So we were about 2 hours too early!

Fortunately, Taka, Fish and Captain Redbeard came rollin’ on twenties in Fish his bus and soon, Fish had arranged for us all to wait inside in the cafeteria. Within half an hour all participants started showing up. Some by bike, others by car. People from Amsterdam, Eindhoven and some people… Well I didn’t get to talk to everyone, so I don’t where some of you are from.

After everyone signed up, Fish – being a former track cyclist – explained the basics and took us through the programme for the day. First up getting to know the track, than getting to really know the track and how it feels to relieve each other, thans ome scratch races and finally teamsprints. I actually found out I was chosen to lead the first group in the introduction laps.

Fish telling everyone what's up

We headed to the dressingrooms, changed to our euro style spandex, cleaned the bikes and entered the Velodrome. Team Realenger got a couple of laps in before the introduction started. The boys from Cycloon and Infinity also joined in on the fun, seeing that they also had experienced racing track before.

Check out the buns on that fella!

When everyone was well and ready, we split the group in half. I led the first group of 15 men and women round the track. It’s really hard to keep a group of newbies together, I know, because it’s not so long ago Team Realenger were a bunch of newbs (not you Cenny, you rule). Riding track the first time is pretty hard, you feel you’re going to slow all the time, you think the track is way too steep, you’re not man enough to really get behind the person in front of you, you’re not used to the gear, etc. etc.

Me leading the first group

Anyway, after a couple of laps people started to get the hang of it and I slowly increased the speed. Not everyone could keep up, but still things were rolling pretty smoothly.

After about 15 minutes, it was Rien’s turn to lead the second group. He was way more straightforward, taking the group up to the blue line within no time. Of course, he IS Haagse Hercules.

Rien leading the second group

Second part of the introduction was getting high up on to the track, way up there in the corners and feel what it’s like to drop down and steer up again. To get to know how steep the track can be and how you can gain speed by using the track’s banks. Pretty hard riding up front all the time. After about 10 minutes we tried to some relieving and following but not everybody understood what the idea was. So we just rode around in circles a bit and the group fell apart. In the end we did get the hang of it and everything was fine.

Rien’s group was a bit more rebellious, well, Erik and Cenny were. They sped off and soon the entire group was riding Kriss Kross. The most important thing was everyone getting the hang of riding track and that worked perfectly. The great thing is, we didn’t have to teach anyone what it’s like to ride a fixed gear bike.

Alright, time for the first event. A simple race of 6 laps. We split up the group in 3 groups to levels of experience. Low, medium, high. The low group went first and I’m sorry to say I don’t really know who won. I didn’t catch your name. I don’t have the results in yet.

Second up, the medium group. Tom, an Englishman living in Amsterdam took the win, Peter Valkema came in second and Ruudie came in third.  I must say I can’t tell you much more about the race. I was preparing for the next race, the High group. My group.

James prepping for the High race. Nice titanium bike, man!

Erik, Cenny, Rien and I did come up with a tactic to get the rest tired. But none of this plan worked out. Hahaha. Right after the start the speed was cranked up to maximum. I managed to keep up the first 4 laps, but than, after being cut off in the fifth, I gave up. I didn’t have any power left after the intro and decided to just come in last and not puke. I did manage to see Cenny, Rien, Kees and that one other messenger from Cycloon battle it out at the finish line from the corner of my eye. Cenny was the strongest and won the race. He has more experience in racing than anyone on the track and he definitely has the biggest cojones when it comes to taking chances. You make me proud to be part of Team Realenger!

The Cycloon team getting their teamsprint on

Last but definitely not least, we did teamsprints. This means you form a duo, do two warmup laps and than let the first sprinter do one lap and keep the other out of the wind before he takes over and finishes sprinting through the second lap. Definetely a kickass event. I formed a team with fellow nerdlord Erik, Rien teamed up with Cenny, Daniel formed a team with Chaim?, Frank formed a team with Gijs and Kees formed a team with ??? Again, should have taken notes.

It was so impressive to see Rien and Cenny come tearing down the tracks. As some of you know, this duo has been training at Alkmaar every Wednesday for the last two months. It showed. No surprise they came in first.

Allround winner Cenny rollin till the wheels fall off

I must say, I was very pleased with the lap Erik and I did. We built up our speed slowly and waited for the last turn to really get up high in the bend and come thundering down to hit the first lap. I was really giving everything I had left and when I steered to the right after one lap to make way for Erik to finish the second lap, I felt my legs cramping up. We set the third time, but eventually were beaten by others. Next time I definitely want to use the timing equipment of the track, to get accurate times and to try and improve previous times.

Watch out Taka, behind you!

We had some time left to give away the prizes. Many thanks to all the sponsors, because Taka’s goodiebag was well stuffed with clothing, parts and of course the nicest jersey in cycling history – the RFG jersey. Cenny walked away with the most prizes and the title of Allround Winner. Or, the title of Someone, as Taka called Cenny.

The Medium race winners, Peter Falconma, Ruudie (yes he can do more than 1080 spins) and Tom

Two of the fastest cats out there, James and Kees.

Time to hit the showers!! After a hot and steamy shower, you just feel so nice and woozy. Shame we had to walk back to the station through the pouring snow… There goes that woozy feeling. We couldn’t eat the pasta Taka and his girl made at the Cafeteria, so that’s why we took the afterparty to the station. I must say, the pasta was FUCCING AWESOOMEEEE MAAAAAAYN. Thanks to Taka and Fish for serving it up!

"Ok, everyone eat pasta outside..." Arigato Edo Taka.

With food in our bellies we all parted and took our separate ways. The RFG posse travelled back by train, via Haarlem. We actually got to ride an old school “hondenkop” type train, which got some of the boys excited. Shame it was jam packed though. After a couple of stops everyone found a seat though and the BS talking started again. Classic.

Within no time we had reached Leiden and said goodbye to allround winner Cenny. Rien was next and Saskia, John and Erik were up at Rotterdam Central. I got off at Blaak and poor Peet the Great and Saar had to travel all the way to Breda. I felt sorry for The Falconma who actually had to get on another train at Breda to reach Tilbur, his hometown. I hope you got home safe, buddy.

I came home, emptied out my bag, drank a nice 9,5% Westmalle Tripel and crashed the couch. What a nice day.

I wanna thank Taka and Fish for doing most of the organising, the kind people of Sportpaleis Alkmaar for letting us rent the track, all the people who showed up, Pier, Taka and Santina for taking pics, Team Realenger for being Team Realenger, Chaim for showering with Team Realenger, Frank for not stealing Cenny’s Ghibli wheel and Saar and Peet the Great for being such a cute couple out on the track. Shame you didn’t hold hands.

See you ALL in two months!

All pics taken by Pierski One uut Hengelooo.

P.S. If you have pictures, please post a link in the comments.

P.S. 2 Did anyone out there find a pair of brown gloves? Peter Falconma lost his.