The last few months of the season had been hectic and saw racing every weekend. I had some Nationals to compete in at both 25 & 50 mile distances along with a tandem in the workshop and most importantly some comp records to go at with my trike cohorts.....
1/8 Gbro Interclub - 22.52
Nice run out on one of my favourite courses, midweek event, didn't quite eek out all that I could and lost some composure, was minuted on the line by 'the Champ'. Still not a bad ride though.
5/8 RTTC National 25 - 55.18
A run out at the Nationals doen near Portsmouth on a misty Sunday morning. While I felt the performance was acceptable, I didn't feel that the watts reflected the ride.
11/8 Tickhill Velo 10 - 23.04
Just missed out on a 22 on the Hatfield 10 course. Road surface not as bad as made out. Fierce headwind out and good watts, died a bit on the return - 23.04 a fair refelection of a so so ride.
18/8 YCF 30 on trike 1.17.24
1st attempt at the 30 trike team record. Four of us took up the challenge with a new rider called Dan joining the team. The day was fruitless as although we all finished, it was a blowy and horrible day. Dan put in a monster of a time for the first effort on a trike.
25/8 Barton Wheelers 10 - 22.10
That was more like it although I really wanted a 21 if I'm honest - I almost got it but alas so near so far. Course short at 9.9 miles, a rode a consistent and composed ride. Much more like it !
1/9 BDCA 100 - DNF
I really wanted the club record of 3.58, and looked on course at 70 miles, however by 86 I was cooked on a really warm muggy day and was all I could do to stay upright as I quit in the layby on the final lap of 6 on the shortened course. That record will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine !
8/9 Jenny Noad 10 (trike)
9/9 Stan Spelling 25 (trike)
Trike National Weekend action up next, both held at Wolvey for the last time. Battled Ian on both days and just managed to come out on top of the exchanges - 2 secs on Saturday, and a minute on Sunday. Both were decent rides as I concentrated on my position. Very pleasing performances. Ians turn next year. Gavin obliterated both of us of course, but Gav is different gravy !!
15/9 CC Breckland 30 (trike) 1.09.57
Down on the old Norwich dual carriageway for attempt no.2, myself, Ian & Dan. Decent day but some hard wind sections. We all did PB rides to take the competion record away from Antelope RC who had held it since 1981. I briefly bettered the club record before Ian took it away with a stunning 1.08 ride. Job done, pressure off for...
22/9 Leo 30 (trike) 1.07.00
The record goes again !! Al of us PB'd on a bonkers day on the E2, it was fast, fast, fast - I took back my club record a week after losing it and we all managed to take nearly 10 minutes of the comp record we set last week.
29/9 RTTC National 50 & Wheelers Hill Climb 1.54.16
Another bonkers day - up early for an earlyish start in the National 50 held on the A46. New experiment position having gone high rise extensions, fast first 25, tired on the lumpy return and lost form - 1.54.16 a good return for 62nd place on the day. In the afternoon, I took part in the hill clim at Leadenham on my trike in fancy dress and came 19th - the least said the better !
14/10 Lincoln Wheelers 25 (tandem trike) 1.02.55
Partnered with Jon Moody, a first outing for the Barron. We faired well. Even with the stokers bars coming loose and stopping us for over a minute, we put in a competent performance, and managed to win the event on the day. That tandem is going to see more racing next year for sure.
Well that was the season that was ! A bit of a mixed bag, some wins, some losses, gained and lost club records, gained 3 more comp records, and committed to a couple of years of triathlon - looks like 2019 could be another busy year !
