Bec CC Open 25 - slow coach

[Snoop Doug]

Cor blimey. Well after my shocking debut at the Addiscombe Open 25 a few weeks back - I decided to have another crack at G25/53 Sunday just gone.

Sunny hot morning still quite a stiff breeeze out on the course. I went off at 06.44 and still managed to get sun burned knees! Although I use a completely standard bike, I tried a few things differently. A good old slosh of deep heat on the back of me legs and a quick spin on the turbo at race HQ for starters. I figured the much warmer weather would help and the fact that I'd been round once before.

So - off I went and this time I managed to get to the 6km mark before someone zoomed past me. I nearly had a disaster at the Breezehurst RaB. I was almost across it when this silver Peuguot 406 came belting towards me from the left hand side - I clearly had borrowed Harry Potter's cloak of invisibility. I spotted him and then heard a screech of tyres. Oh Sh*t - I'm about to get knocked off me bike I thought. He stopped just as his bumper nudged my left calf muscle, close!! I used this eye watering experience to dig in and try to zip along a bit faster. I saw Mark McLaughlin arriving as I went through Moorhead RaB for the 2nd time - thanks for the words of encouragement!!

As usual I got passed by a good few folk however towards the end I managed to find a small second wind and to my surprise - I caught some fully kitted out geezer and overtook him (he had already passed me a few minutes earlier). This part of the experience was interesting as the "chase" gave me the impetus to push myself hard.

I crossed the line, lungs bursting - muscles sore but not aching (thanks deep heat). I had a cup of sweet tea at HQ and waited. My time - 1.14.06. I know that's a slow time for most folk but I was chuffed to bits - I knocked 3 minutes and 40 seconds off my previous time. I put this down to knowing the course a bit better - hence knowing when to dig in and push a bit harder - plus the warmer temperature.

I plan to do at least one more 25 on that course this year (there's an SCCU event Sept 10th) - just to make sure yesterday wasn't a fluke. I spent the afternoon under a tree in Kew Gardens with some good friends, some good food and a nice bottle of white burgundy - recommended!!

Cheers - Snoop

[tel]

Doug-sorry I missed you at the hq. Yes it was a tad windy, everybody was complaining. And your experience at the RaB must have put the fear of God into you.
Anyway two more Agreeables were on duty:
Mark McLaughlin with a time of 1-01:42, a good solid time. I`m sure if Mark competed more he`d go under the hour, no problem.
Terry Hill-1-05:33, quite pleased with my effort as I felt strong towards the end, not a quivering wreck which normally happens to me.
After arriving at the hq after my ride, I did manage to fall off as I dismounted as my leg got rapped around the seatpost and saddle, much to the delight of the crowded carpark. Ever felt a dork.

Terry

[mark mclaughlin]

Having been offered I potential Lift from our man Tim, I declined thinking that was beyond the call of duty even for him. I decided that I would ride down to the event instead. Set off at 5.40am, a calm slightly cloudy but very mild for that time of day. So there I was passing CSS and following our well and trusted club route, down through Newdigate, where the sun started warming up and on through Rusper to join the course. Snoop passed me, so gave him a shout for a while before I made it the the HQ, took just under 2 hours and had 20mins before I was off.
This is now the 3rd time I've ridden this course this year, so it seems to help, felt I rode it smarter, ie using my gears better especially on those drags up to the many roundabouts. I was going well til that last turn, 4 miles to the finish where that headwind once again sucked the last onces of energy out of you. That time keeper couldn't have come sooner..1.1.42 . So a PB by over a minute! So maybe the ride down was a good idea.
Well done to Snoops and thanks Terry, did a good ride yourself.
Other riders Doug Rollins 59.08 and Stephen Hehir 1.2.12
Winner I think Steve Dennis 52.38!!

Finished the morning off with breakfast at Holmwood cafe with Doug and Steve, and a lift back with Doug. A Great Day Out.