Early Season Fair

Chasing with Giddings (MI Racing) +1

I was determined not to rush into the season without a few base miles and it was hard work doing a long ride at the weekend and racing midweek. Then I had to transition into a bit of racing without a break and I was feeling a bit jaded so I didn't rush into things just a few short 'Tests' mostly on fixed and my first Road Race for a few seasons, The 'Fleche Waltonne' on local roads always a good race, exposed and often cold. Andy Hicks had come up as it was the first of the Percy Stallard series of races so a good quality field in all the races and everybody keen in the cold morning air (sods law beautiful sunshine the day before)

Andy on the E-F-G

 Eventual winner Roy Chamberlain (Corley) and runner-up Richard Edwards (CC Luton) went up the road after a few early skirmishes and a small group of seven formed behind, when they were 20 seconds up the road a couple went after them and I got across on my own. Unfortunately one of our number refused to work but everything looked fine as we closed in on the chase group and just as we got to Walton hill the 'passenger'  decided to attack us leaving us dumbfounded and breathless. He could not make it on his own so came back to us and we gave him a bollocking but we chased on regardless even though we were now somewhat distanced from the chase group and not putting so much into the chase and I got cramp on the last lap and I remembered why I'd not done a RR for a while

We trailed in at the finish ahead of the bunch (myself 12th) Andy won his G category race to set him up for the season

I had a series of short local TT's just to blow away the cobwebs before getting my season proper up and running.

The Beacon Hilly '39' is one of the CTT 'Classic' Series, I'm not riding them all but I like to ride one or two a season to get a feel for the riders I'm up against in the National TT events. Always keenly contested and on hard or hilly courses so not really my thing but it fits into my training program. I was shocked to find it was nine years since I'd last ridden, the first year was in the pouring rain and I ran off the road at one point and could not get inside two hours, the next year I used my road bike and was caught by the eventual winner Gethin Butler going up one of the climbs on his aero's (in the saddle!) Now I never raced against him in his prime but he was impressive even in this brief reunion, as a boy I remember seeing Gethin sitting with his sister Alison swinging his legs on his grandads cycle shop counter (Allin Cycles) while his parents went shopping in nearby Croydon but that was back in the 70's

Views are lovely through Elgar country

Back to this year, I'd been down to ride my local VTTA 25 the day before but in their wisdom the organiser of the Beacon had put me off last so a bit more pressure to do a good ride. I 'scratched' from the 25 and made a special target of this event, I was on my TT bike and thinking I could win my age group and maybe get on the podium

Podium Ambition 1-2

Fiona made me aero arm number holders for Xmas, today was my first opportunity to use them, I'd forgotten how hard the start was (always beware of the starting line where they put a brick behind your back wheel!) it was fairly early and briefly chilly but  a shock to the system. I took it a bit easy on the first rolling section to 15m and kept a reasonable 25mph, you pass the HQ again and head out on the hilly part of the course. I had fitted a 53/44 for the purpose as I'm usually a 56/50 The climbs are long and draggy and I just about managed but I could have done with a 39 inner on the 17% Ankerdine which is eight miles from the finish and I'd dropped my bottle on a decent a few miles back so I just had to press on and make the best
In the end I was 5th 1:48:36 (21.8mph Av.) a six minute improvement on my best and good enough to win the 50-55 and second on Standard +2:12 Mark Turnbull (TORQ) was fastest 1:40:30 and leading the series from Mark Holbrook (Stone Whs) 1:43:49

Winner Phil Graves is expected to go to the Olympics
with the Brownlee's

Clair Rose lived up to her sponsors name (Podium Ambition) won the ladies 1:43:32 from her team mate Dame Sarah Storey 1:48:24 and the Men's won by (injured) Triathlete Phil Graves (Clifton) 1:32:35 now seemingly a full time bike rider and only 6 seconds off Matt Bottrill's course record. National '10' and Hill Climb Champion Richard Bussell (Aerocoach) was 2nd 1:35:13 with Matt Clinton (MV Cycles) also a Hill Climb Champion 1:35:16 just behind more suited to the course o7ò

SWRC In the money 50-55 Winner and 2nd on Standard

Veteran & Lady Result

Beacon Hilly CTT Report