Stagsden '10' 20/7/11

The recent weather patterns were forecast to continue for this event - heavy showers were to be the main feature.  As it turned out, despite the glowering clouds, all we got was a little light drizzle for a few minutes. The Stagsden course (see map below) isn't a very frequently used course, so it made a bit of a change from the regular events.  Unfortunately, I rarely ride on the course, as in my annual cycle of work, I'm generally working away from home at this time of year.  I put this lack of 'course experience' down as the explanation of my lousy start in this event.  Shooting off from the start in decent style, my rheumy old eyes couldn't believe the 29.9mph my computer was showing.  Unfortunately, the road then went upwards - not as who should say a mountain, but a significant impediment to a rider in an inappropriate gear!  I found myself plugging up this gentle undulation at embarrassingly slow speed, before reaching Astwood and lifting the pace significantly.  I suspect this, and the ensuing oxygen debt cost me quite a few seconds, and indeed made me wonders what I was playing at. Fortunately, things improved from there, as I picked up speed between Astwood and the small climb to Chicheley, and made it to the turn roundabout in decent style.  Coming out of the turn, I could see Tony (who started a minute behind me) was gaining on me.  This spurred me on, and this together with a gentle tailwind no doubt lifted my pace for the return leg (you can see this in the Garmin trace below).  Despite getting stalled a bit by a motorist who was being excessively cautious in passing riders I was about to catch, I felt pretty good about the return leg, finishing in 22:48 (I think).  Results to follow. I was of course beaten by Tony (and also a visitor from Finchley RT), but that's kind of to be expected, I think, and at least he didn't catch me.  So, second NBRC rider in a League event.

Pos	Name	Club	Time	Cat	+ / -	Vets
1	Andy Hastings	Finchley RT	21.35	S
2	Tony Parks	NBRC	22.30	V46	+4.12	4
3	Rob Saunders	NBRC	22.49	V51	+4.57	2
4	Trevor Hook	TeamMK	23.43	V53	+4.29	3
5	Anthony Batt	NBRC	23.52	S
6	Ian Markham	Chronos RT	24.35	V42	+1.19	6
7	Alan Crane	Chronos RT	25.14	V42	+0.40	7
8	Clive Faine	TeamMK	26.02	V65	+4.58	1
9	Graham Line	NBRC	27.38	V46	-0.56	8
10	Gilbert Wheelwright	NBRC	27.49	V68	+3.56	5
11	Alan Lawson	NBRC	28.03	V43	-1.57	9
12	Tony Brunton	NBRC	29.18	V46	-2.36	10
13	Dave Crane	Chronos RT	32.55	V46	-6.13	11