SCCU 21

[Dominic]

Second race of the season for me. Good turn out from Addiscombe. Good to see Joyce and other faces I haven't seen for a while. I was off towards the end of the field at just before 11am. Was a bit chilly, mainly due to the wind and I wish I had put gloves on. The course for those that don't know doesn't really have much in the way of flat roads. It is either up or down to some degree or other and it is a two lap affair. Thought my saddle was a bit low riding up to the event and sure enough when I measured it at home afterwards it was an inch lower than my other bikes!

The first lap started off well, too fast as it turned out, and no real issues until just before the turn. Was catching up with an earlier rider just before the left turn onto Outwood Lane (I think) and had to ease off for a couple of hundred yards because the turn is dodgy and not one where overtaking is possible. Then starts a slight drag which leads upto Scotts Hill which is a bu**er. Down to bottom gear and out of the saddle as I pretended that I was fitter than I actually was. The next downhill section goes down past the Bell public house. It had been flagged as bad surface at the signing on and I know the roads are bad. But at 30mph plus on a tubs with 130psi in them it was awful. I had to come of the tri bars both times it was that bad. After this I was then stuck behind a car in the lead up to the next hill as the driver couldn't decide whether to pass two slower competitors.


On the finish hill for the first time got caught by Steve Dennis, who was off three minutes behind me, and who made it look really easy. He was soon out of sight. The second lap was more of the same but my wheezing got worse. Had no real issues until Scotts Hill which was wet after a shower which I had missed being at the other side of the circuit. Went to stand up again only for the my rear wheel to lose all traction and tip me forward onto the bars. Then had to sit down to get traction and even that was a losing battle for a couple of yards at the top. It was then try as hard as I could until the end, Passed a couple more slower riders and got caught for 8 minutes by Steve Kane at exactly the same point as Steve Dennis the previous lap. Really was going a snail pace up the last hill and not much faster going over the line.

Finished with a 58.45 which I was relatively pleased with but had to sit down at the HQ for couple of minutes to collect myself. I will let others tell their tales, or not, but Keith was at the sharp end of things.

Next race for me is the Redmon CC25 in two weeks.

[Keith]

Provisional results [url=http://www.addiscombe.org/members/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=14839&p=132746#p132746]here[/url].

[Andrew G]

Fantastic ride Keith, you really are flying.

Continued my record breaking start to the year, slowest I've been on this course by minutes . Zero training and very few miles on the bike do not make for a good combination so expected slowness. It feels odd on the road bike and not my race bike too, doesn't seem to put me in the right mood/mind set.

Oh well, always next week. As long as I can drag some fitness from somewhere so I can get a few decent races in during summer I'll be happy.

[Jon H]

I think that's a course personal worst for me, but I have a whole list of excuses, including:
1) Lack of riding in Dec/Jan due to injury.
2) Donating blood on Wednesday night
3) Four pints and half a bottle of red on Saturday night.
4) Being on road bike instead of TT bike.
I could go on...

[Phil H]

I knew I was in bad nick. Wrong choice of front wheel too. Felt good to get out and actually do an event though.

[Dominic]

Full results here:

http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/ind ... opic=88202

[Keith]

[quote="Dominic"]Full results here:

http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/ind ... opic=88202