Good luck to all those racing this weekend, particularly those doing the “100″. I wish I was doing that (no, really) but am off to Wakefield for the National Tri champs instead. All that wind and rain and horrendous hills to go with it!
May not be at the 10 on Monday.
Debs
Anyone got a sowester? Perhaps a wetsuit might be more appropriate.
The weather for Sunday promises 25 mph winds and full on rain, oh well, at least it should be warm.
Do fit a rear light all of you.
Come on Wanderers - prove we are tougher than the others by turning up and finishing.
Simon
Too right! I’ll be going down the Broyle on Sunday, if I am going up I’ll be going the wrong way.
Mark W
Quite a surprise to find the speed merchants brigade of Cox and Winton on the ESCA 100 start list.
Still with 5 Wanderers and 5 Eastbourne Rovers competing it will be a hard slog win the Team Competition. Let us hope for a still day for us all.
Mark - you won’t be doing 35mph up the Broyle on Sunday.
It will be interesting to hear their comments afterwards.
Simon
That didn’t work, I’ll try again later
| No | Rider | Club | Time | Notes | 25 |
Mark W
The Kingston Phoenix 15 turned into a 10 on the Holmwood course due to roadworks on the usual 15 course. Standing at the start I couldn’t work out what direction the wind was travelling, after the start (which has been re-surfaced and I swear I lost a couple of fillings on the crappy surface) I decided it was so tough going South, it would be a stunning tail wind back - WRONG! It was just tough everywhere, the warm weather made it even harder and I finished in a big pool of sweat.
Beforehand, I thought the Wanderers might be in with a chance for the team prize, however I rode like a lemon and was way off the pace, in the end we only lost the team prize by a couple of seconds so I was gutted I didn’t dig just a bit deeper. Andy did a cracking ride to get into the top 8, Spencer was also pleased with his ride. Martin went briefly off course and decided not to continue, pretty good call given the conditions.
Mark Winton - 22:28
Andy Cox - 23:21
Spencer Coleman - 25:45
Martin Phillips - DNF
Sunday was another Kingston Phoenix promotion, this time for the SCCU. I was amazed at how many riders they had out helping, marshaling and watching, impressive to see so many club members out over 2 days. Of course, it wasn’t all Kingston marshalls, Peter Price was marshaling at one roundabout and was incredibly generous with plenty of cheering and applause as we rode past (the second time a little slower than the first).
I had never ridden this 50 course before and so, the night before I drew and memorised a map of the route, not particularly complicated but I like to know where I am going.
From the start there was a nice tailwind section and I caught a few more riders than I expected, clearly saving themselves for the later miles. Considering this was a 2 lap event over 50 miles I expected to be caught and to catch riders on their second lap, I couldn’t quite work out the logistics of who I should see, but I only saw 2 riders on their second lap (one of these I saw twice as you miss the climb of Colgate Hill on the second lap) this seemed really odd, if I was a maths genius I am sure I could work out why I only saw a couple, but my brain has pretty near shut down after the efforts this morning.
To the top turn and it was time to start paying for the tailwind section and time to start grinding (not in a hip-hop manner), up Colgate back down and then headwind all the way to the bottom turn.
Over the resurfaced section (not quite as bumpy as yesterdays course but still horrible) and then I could make out Mike Levett in my sights, I caught him about 3 foot before the halfway mark (he later told me he was gutted as he was hoping to hold me off until halfway). I went through in a long 57 and new there would be no PB today.
So far this had been the usual 25 course, but this time a change, turn left past Tesco, I knew this was the way and so I took it, but after a hundred yards I started doubting myself, I didn’t look at the Marshals signals either, I carried on down the road for a bit and saw a couple of riders coming the other way, realised I was on the right path and got my head down.
The next section was once again tailwind, then turn (don’t go back up Colgate - thank (insert religious leader here)) and grind it back to the bottom turn, at this stage I hit a bad patch, I was stuffed and the headwind was not helping in fact it seemed to get even worse than on the first lap. I developed a case of Tourettes, I was shouting and swearing at the weather, as I passed the HQ for the last time I seriously thought about DNFing, but with 8 miles to go it seemed like wasted effort up to this point, I pressed on eventually getting to the time keeper, it was all I could do to get back to the car.
Andy Cox started a few minutes behind me and looked even worse then me at the finish and would later struggle with a serious case of pain in the perineum.
John Mankelow was back shortly after, looking as fresh as a daisy - very impressive after a monster ride.
At the finish, Graham was the first wanderer to finish, but his time still wasn’t on the board, so he had to wait until the timekeeper returned before seeing if his time was recorded.
Laurence Harding was quickest with 1:49:45
Mark Winton - 1:55:48
Andy Cox - 2:4:39
Graham Jeffs - 2:09:23 now confirmed
Mike Levett - 2:10:59
John Mankelow - 2:17:02.
Mark W
For anyone interested in doing something energetic with their late season fitness this is just the event for you. A cyclo sportive in Picardy, starting and finishing in Abbeville. For the last few years a group from the Wanderers has made the trip over and always had a good ride and a good time. Usually we leave on Thursday, sign up on Friday, ride the event on Saturday and return on Sunday. If you’re short of time though it is possible to leave on Friday and still have time to sign up later in the day.
There are 3 distances but forget the short one, you need to do the 135km or 187km events. These are run off on roads that are fully closed for the first 50km or so and subsequently patrolled by motor cycle outriders. All junctions are marshalled and there are feed stations en route (if you don’t want to go non-stop for a fast time).
Graham Jeffs and Ian Burgess are looking for company and Stephen Long is interested. Would anyone else like to give it a try? If so, get in touch with us soon.