Uncategorised

This was my first ride on the Stony Stratford course in 2012: of the two prior outings in the NBRC calendar, I didn't ride the first because of an open event, and the second was cancelled due to rain.  So I hadn't got a clear picture of how the roads had survived the winter (the course normally has some pretty dreadful stretches of tarmac). In the event, I did reasonably well - slightly faster than this time last year. My ride out the the event was rendered slightly alarming by traffic volumes - indeed I retreated to the redways for part of this ride. The experience was  alleviated a bit by being merrily peeped by a passing Mavic car. And, no, they weren't offering puncture repair assistance! I arrived in time to sign on as #18. To my chagrin, Tony turned up and singed on a minute behind me. Still, I thought, that can only persuade me to put some back into it... I started off down the road behind some bloke on what appeared to be a single speed mountain bike - I passed him right on the first bend. I found it heavy going on the ride out to Beachampton (successfully avoiding some serious road imperfections), but that was nothing compared to the climb up to and through Nash - here my excess body weight told, and I felt like I was dragging the bike through deep treacle. Once through Nash, I found myself rolling along pretty well. Or so I thought until Tony came rumbling past just before the turn. I was horrified by this and decided I just had to put some back into it! Coming out of the turn roundabout, I was about 30m behind, a gap which grew slightly on the run back to Nash. But on the descent, my excess body weight became more of a benefit than a hindrance, and this coupled with my monster top gear started closing the gap on Tony.  Of course I never quite made it, and he began to draw away from through Beachampton and on to the finish. All in all, a reasonably encouraging effort. I finished with 27:49. Results (at the NBRC website)  

  Finally, some good weather!  The wind dropped to more modest levels than of late, the rain went away, and this strange shiny thing in the sky illuminated us all and raised the temperature to more satisfactory levels. Oh, and I am finally beginning to feel like a bike rider again, as I recorded my best '10' time so far this year. Breaking with tradition, the Bossard Wheelers '10' moved this year from the F12/10 on the Leighton Buzzard bypass, to my local course near Brogborough (the F15/10). The Bossard Wheelers are on a bit of an upward trajectory at the moment, and seem to have an influx of riders, a new strip, and a website. The F15/10 has been much-touted as a quick course, featuring a descent from the start that riders don't need to ride back up. A number of test events used the course in 2011, but it's not been until this season that I've had the opportunity to have a bash at it. My experiences prior to this event had been less than satisfactory. I was still ill for the Team Salesengine '10', where I recorded a career-worst 24:48, while my supposed 2-up ride at the TeamMK event left me distinctly deflated. Seeing as how this is a local course, I did of course ride out, taking a longer route through Ridgmont. I noticed many groups of kids with unfeasibly large rucksacks congregated at various points along the route. One such gang passed comment on my bike - in return I asked what they were up to. Apparently it was some Duke of Edinburgh thing, though I'm uncertain why Phil the Greek would be so keen to have groups of teenagers looking baffled in the countryside. Still, at least they had decent weather for it. The HQ for the event was in the Marston Social Club, about 3.5 miles and two level crossings from the start. Signing on was in the bar, and a succession of lycra-clad old blokes (as usual for a time trial, the majority of riders were veterans) must have entertained the drinkers there! Once up at the start, there's little scope for riding about, and I ended up chatting to some of the other riders, and not actually focussing on the task in hand. I was a bit remiss in not getting the computer started exactly as my minute man started. Anyway, after a bit of jibber jabber with Richard and the timekeeper (which seemed to focus on the recent deflationary debacle at the TeamMK 2-up), off I went as fast as I could down the starting slope. Once on the course proper, things always get a bit more interesting - it undulates a bit, and there seemed to be exposed sections. This made my speed seem to vary quite a bit. I did spot David Jones taking snaps out on the course, and I had my very own tifosi out to support me! [caption id="attachment_1893" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Having spotted the photographer, it's always good to hold one's stomach in! Photo: David Jones"][/caption] Crossing the first roundabout seems to need a bit of attention as the entry and exit roads are offset. I maybe could have taken that a bit faster, but I'm naturally a bit cautious. I took the turn roundabout reasonably well (though I did thank the marshals, so maybe I wasn't going hell for leather). The return leg was a bit tougher I thought. The wind seemed to be a bit blustery and sporadic, and didn't really give consistent assistance. But I suppose the counter to that is that it didn't give consistent hindrance either. The last half mile seemed pretty hard. I finished with 22:39, my fastest '10' so far this year. Despite Geoff's efforts at the results board to offer me a 21:22, honesty prevailed! Still, I made it to 10th place - at least some form may be returning. Overall, the course doesn't seem as fast as claimed. But it's an improvement over the F12/10 as its traffic levels are quite low. Results (top ten places)

1	54	Ian Knight	Team Corley Cycles	21:18
2	70	Luke Clarke	Team MK	21:19
3	40	Tony Ball	Team Swift	21:22
4	50	Simon Cannings	www.twenty3c.co.uk	21:30
5	45	John Lacey	Hemel Hempstead cc	21:38
6	5	Alistair Sponel	The Pony Shop ( USA )	22:03
7	55	Andy Sharman	Baines Racing	22:13
8	66	Ian Baynes	Hemel Hempstead cc	22:25
9	17	Nigel Hale	CC Ashwell	22:27
10	30	Robert Saunders	North Bucks Road Club	22:38

 

As I write this, I'm looking out at the weather, which seems to me to be a glorious morning for a time trial - brilliant sunshine with a gentle breeze, albeit a little chilly judging by the frost on the grass.  And about now (8am), I should be getting the last of my kit together before cycling over to the race HQ.  So, what's the problem?  Another blasted cold, that's what - I learnt my lesson about training and racing with a cold a few years ago.  This gave rise to Team Grumpy's fifth rule:

Never train or race with a bad cough - it will destroy your entire season.

As you might gather, I have indeed caught another cold. It's intensely frustrating, particularly as the Icknield 30k is my usual season-opener open event.  I do hope this doesn't foreshadow another wretched season beset by illness.