Norland 50

[Andrew G]

I was on the F1 this morning for my first 50 of the year. Stayed at a Travelodge next to the HQ to save a long drive but the softest mattress in the World meant a far from perfect night's sleep.

Left at 6 for the HQ and had to scrape ice off the windscreen! It was cold, the car said 4 degrees as I was about to leave for the start so I was fully wrapped up, I hate racing in leg warmers but this was too cold not to.

The course is basically 12 mile runs up and down the A1 with a small overlap to make up the 50. Set off cold and struggled to get going and it took about 8 miles to start to feel like I'd got going. There was a bit of a southerly wind which made it more of a struggle than I'd have liked to try and keep speed even on the smooth road surface.

I'd hoped for a decent ride and a good time as it's a good course, trouble is it's a boring one and I struggled to try and keep my concentration. I knew I was off what I wanted but caught 3 people and was only caught by 3 in a pretty fast field.

2:07:36 for me which is 4 minutes off my pb. Not very happy with it but think the cold slowed me quite a bit at the start. Don't know who won as I left straight away but the times that were up were a mixed bag with a handful getting PBS but quite a lot about 3 mins off theirs.

Oh well a bit of a waste and wish I'd gone to Bentley. Not mad keen on the F1, it's too far away and too boring to keep me focused.

[carl f]

Sounds like you had fun up there Andrew.
Well done at least you finished it and on the positive side you got the 50 in your legs... and you know not to ride that course again

[Dominic]

I know what you mean about the course Andrew, I have always driven the day of the event. I actually quite 'enjoy' it! Never been there on a good day though. I have also done a couple of 100s based on that course.

[Andrew G]

To be fair I'd probably think differently if it had been warmer and I hadn't suffered with the cold at the start. One of those days when you have higher expectations.

[Jon H]

The F1 is the only course I know of with a sex shop on it

[Phil H]

[quote="Jon H"]The F1 is the only course I know of with a sex shop on it

[Andrew G]

No window displays to help alleviate the boredom though. Maybe I should have gone in, would probably have been made to feel welcome wandering in in a skinsuit.

[Jon H]

Phil, if you're looking for an alternative to that Adamo saddle, they stock all sorts of things you can sit on

[George]

[quote="Jon H"]Phil, if you're looking for an alternative to that Adamo saddle, they stock all sorts of things you can sit on

[quote="George"][quote="Jon H"]Phil, if you're looking for an alternative to that Adamo saddle, they stock all sorts of things you can sit on

[Amy]

OK, which one of you was it???

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-18073459[/url]

[Roy Green]

Just need to look around on next clubrun and see if there are any Happy Bunnies, Amy!