Slow Start - Slow Finish

A bit of a slow start to the season but I decided to try and get a few more races under my belt before the Masters Track at the end of June but the weather seems to be very odd this year and we have had a bit of trouble with roadworks affecting courses as well. My local 10 course (which is being used for the National '10' in August) has had lights on it for a few weeks now so we have missed a few although I did reasonable 23:17 and 23:25 using 54 x 16 (90") gear which was well up on last season

Starting Effort (All Pics Brian Hall)

I used 54 x 15 (95") for my first Open the Nott's & East Mids VTTA '25' on the A46 course between Newark and Cotgrave home to the Stilton triangle of Closton Bassett, Cropwell Butler and Long Clawson More Cheese Grommit? It was a very blustery day on this new DC open and exposed to the elements and the fearsome Saxondale intersection to cross at Bingham, needless to say it was hard work going south 12:29 and 13:18 for my first two 5m splits but downwind 10:35 and 10:13 as the winner Matt Sinclair (Lutterworth) caught me for 5 minutes. This section included descending from the Bingham flyover at 44mph while I held onto my aero bars for dear life as I did not dare look at my computer until the end which registered an amazing 162RPM something I have difficulty achieving on the 'rollers'
The finale only spoiled by a flatting tyre for the last five miles 10:54 giving me 57:31 for 20th place but 6th on standard 83 year old Ron Hallam (S Pennine) had the biggest plus
The next weeks VC Long Eaton '25' was commuted to 12.6 miles because of roadworks on the two lap course, my 28:18 was good enough for 9th but we all took a beating from Matt Bottrill (drag2zero) on his local roads near Coalville 24:53 with Madisson Genisis stagiaire Joe Evans 26:00 in second
Matt Bottrill got the beating of everybody the next weekend in the South Pennine '25' on the A50 at Etwall, his 47:31 more than two minutes clear of Matt Sinclair and Andy Jackson (Swift) a further 3 seconds back in terrifically windy conditions that seem to have no effect on this man! My 54:12 good enough for top 30 with riders travelling form all over the country for this uber fashionable course many went away disappointed, I missed out on the 50+ vets prize by 3 seconds.

(much like the) Finishing Effort

This past weekend I had the Stone Whs. '25' on the same road but down to Doveridge from Blythe Bridge near Stoke on Trent, more windy conditions plagued the day as it did Bradley Wiggins trying to break Competition Record on the other side of the country at Hull but both these courses run West to East and consequently a flying start is followed by a grovel to the finish line, ours up the feared Concrete Mountain which sees your good early efforts melt away. My splits were the fastest I'd ever recorded on these roads 9:56 followed by a 36mph Av! 8:21 should have been a warning but these were the speeds that Brad was expected to keep the whole way, 11:37 was not terrible but 12:10 is not even 25mph and the final five miles 13:22 not even 22.5mph and in some places allot worse. My time 55:27 good enough for 17th place. Charles Taylor (S Pennine) had less issues winning in 51:13 from Mark Turnbull (TORQ) by exactly a minute. For me these are still rides to test out my fitness but when it's so hard that all you can think about is getting it over and done with there no opportunity to finesse anything or ride to any type of strategy. I've practically packed my fixed away until this weather sorts itself out

As I was not satisfied  the next day I went out and did 100 miles in five hour as I have the Anfield '100' coming up on the Bank Holiday and if its windy there it will be a grovel and not for the last five miles!

Supreme effort - Matt Bottrill wins the S Pennine

Stone Whs. '25' - Result

Nott's & East Mids VTTA '25' - Result