Lea Valley 25

[Jon H]

Back up north of the river to Ugley for the 3rd week running, this time for the Lea Valley CC 25 on the E1/25 course.

Two goals today - improve on last week's 13th to pick up some more Spoco SE points, and go under the hour for a 25 on a sporting course.

Unlike the previous two weeks it wasn't windy, but blimey it was cold. First time for months I've resorted to wearing knee-warmers for a time trial. Started my warm up 40 minutes before my start time, but was still cold as I set off. I was number 21, and caught 19 & 18 on the way out, and got to the turn (12.25 miles) in just over half an hour. So, knew I had to pick up the pace a bit on the way back but the legs had other ideas. Caught another couple of people, 14 & 2(!) on the way back and finished in 1:02:38. That was 8th with about half the results on the board when I left the HQ, so I guess I came about 16th.

Oh well, going under the hour in a Spoco 25 will have to remain as a goal for next year.

[Andrew G]

Under the hour on a sporting course, blimey that would be setting a standard but I bet you'll get there soon.

How's the defence of your SPOCO title going, are you bringing home the gold again?

Are you towing PVT round the Redmon? Boy will he suffer .

[Jon H]

Under the hour on a sporting course is a realistic goal, I did 1:00:33 in the Colchester Rovers 25 last year.

Defence of the Spoco trophy I won last year is an almost impossible task. As it's done on handicap based on the previous year's performance it would mean making a huge improvement two years running. Last year I got 668 points, so this year I've got a handicap of 52. Now, if this year I'd won 6 events and got a maximum of 720 that would put me on 772. The bloke who's winning it this year did rubbish last year and has a handicap of 143, has done OK this year and is on 791 points on handicap.

No, not doing the Redmon, I'm riding a fast 25 course instead; last chance for a PB this year.