Bedfordshire Road CC '25', 16th August 2009

When we (Richard and I) left for the race, it was a glorious sunny morning, albeit with a rising wind.  Perhaps, I thought, this would be a morning when I'd have a confidence-boosting performance.  I arrived at Tempsford in good time, got set up and rolled off to warm up prior to starting.  No problems there.  The event was on the F1B/25, which heads south to the start of the A1(M), where we turn and return, finishing just north of Tempsford.  I had chosen to ride with tubs this morning - a Hed Stinger 90 front wheel and a Corima disc rear wheel, both with Tufo tubulars.  This makes for a satisfying rumbling noise!

The starting section up to joining the A1 was quite sheltered by trees - unfortunately once out on the A1, the headwind (which was quite a side wind) was quite apparent.  I felt pretty good, though I found some sections quite a struggle.  This didn't worry me too much, as I knew that the return leg is (overall) a descent, and with a tail wind should be quicker.

Over a few roundabouts I went, but after about 8 miles I felt the tell-tale bumping of a softening rear tyre.  Sure enough, I'd punctured the rear tyre. I took this quite philosophically, I thought, with no ranting or grumping.  I rode on on my softening tub, until I found a spot where I could safely cross the A1.  Unfortunately, the tub was flattening quite quickly, and I felt I shouldn't ride on it (I have in the past wrecked a carbon wheel by riding on a flat tub).  So I began pushing back towards Tempsford.  Fortunately, I was rescued by one of the Team Sanjan Design supporters, which was good, as otherwise I'd probably have had to wait for Richard to finish and drive back for me.  At least it wasn't raining.

From talking to those more fortunate than I was, it sounded as though the wind wasn't as much of a help on the return leg as one might have expected.  Not that it stopped the winner from posting a 52:01!  And Richard broke a spoke and had to stop to remove it - but at least he finished.

I've now stuck a new tub on that wheel (the puncture was due to a piece of glass), but frankly, I find clinchers are more satisfactory - at least they are easy to repair!