First one was late Saturday afternoon, Stockton Wheelers CC event on the T102 course, a reasonable looking dual carriageway course on the A19. Rode the course before the event for a warm up and to check it out. A bit rolling, and a fairly rubbish slow turn up some minor roads. Got back just as the heavens opened, so hid in the car until it stopped, luckily 20 minutes before my start time. The roads were a still a bit damp, and it fairly cold a bit breezy, so was reasonably happy with my time of 22:37.
Second one was on Sunday afternoon, very unusual for a TT. Now this was why I'd arranged to go up there this weekend, to ride the new version of the V718 course. In my first couple of racing seasons (2000 & 2001) when I lived in Leeds, the V718 was THE 10 mile course to ride in the area, and I did my first 23 minute rides on there. Then traffic lights were installed at the turn, so the course died. Well now there's a new intersection built a bit further along the road, which means it's been resurrected.
The weather was looking a bit dodgy, and I think some people got caught in a shower, but it stayed dry for me. On the outward leg I saw 29mph on my speedo twice; once as I accelerated down the sliproad from the start, and again as I went up the sliproad to the turn. The rest was 30mph and over. Return leg was into a breeze which went some way to explain the outward speed, but nothing excessive so I didn't drop below 25mph.
Stopped my watch at the line, 20:46 which was confirmed on the finish board. New PB by 5 seconds, so worth the trip.
