East Surrey Hardriders

[Dominic]

I am guessing by the lack of write ups about this then everybody else found it the same as me, bloody hard.

Wind into your face along the A25 to Dorking. Side to head along the A24, then a lovely bit of wind behind along the A264 then side wind again up through Rusper to the finish.

Did I mention that I thought it was hard I had Pete Tadros off 4 minutes behind me so wasn't too suprised when he caught me just before the second roundabout on the A24. I know it has been said before but it is amazing to watch. I thought to myself as I was suffering like a dog, 'he's not going that much quicker than me'. Quick enough to take another 5 minutes out of me by the finish. He averaged about 26.5mph and I average 23.5mph.

Really suffered on the little hills and the big ones. Little ring climbing on the A24 and a massive 39 x 23 on the climb just after the Rusper roundabout. I was suprised that I was only caught by Mr Tadros. Can't have been by much though as I was off 66 and last man off at 75 was Richard Prebble. He also did a 1.07 along with Mr Tadros.

I did a 1.16.03 (I think) Over 2 mins slower than last year

I can't remember wether Tadros or Prebble won but which ever one it was, it was only by 2 seconds.

[Andrew G]

Yes Dominic hard, but I actually enjoyed it...well after the murderous head or head/cross wind slogs up to the single carriageway section of the A24.

Like the Wise Woman of Putney you are indeed wise Dominic . As Dom was only off a couple of minutes behind me we had a chat at the start and he warned me from last year's experience to take it easier until the turn roundabout on the club 10 course as it's a tough start.

Everyone in the club will know this course. You start in Leigh village and retrace the club run route up the drags and past the golf course to the A25 by Reigate. Then roll up and down along the A25 to the Deepdene giant cock, shortly before which Mr. Lowe duly caught me with a quick shout of encouragement.

Left at the Deepdene giant cock and in to the small ring to spin as much as possible up the horrible draggy rolly climby road to Holmwood. Pete Tadros caught me just before Holmwood on a slight descent, I looked down and was doing 31mph as he cruised passed and off in to the distance . The club 10 section of the course up the A24 to the 10 turn was in to either a strong head wind of a strong cross/head wind on my left shoulder, I don't think I've ever ridden along that stretch of road at such a slow pace.

Straight on at the 10 turn on to the really nice surface and fast single carriageway section of the A24. I was going along here at a fair lick and getting the bike rolling along nicely, when all of a sudden another rocket shot passed. That'll be Richard Prebble then . Again I glanced down as I knew I was flying along, again on a slight drop, and was doing 33mph so he must have been nudging 40mph and was closing in on a horse box up ahead which I hope didn't get in his way or hold him up.

I was enjoying myself now and the tiny bit of A264 was over all too soon before heading up to Rusper. Approaching the hill I caught my 10 minute man , then dropped down to my bottom gear (39/21) for the climb. It wasn't too bad and it's short enough to just climb it out the saddle anyway.

Once at the top and it was fun, fun, fun time. A fast finishing run in which follows the club run route through the lanes back down through to Newdigate and then back to Leigh. I caught my 5 minute man along here. One moment of excitement when pedaling full tilt through a bend the back wheel gave a little shimmy on a damp patch but I just eased off for a couple of seconds and lifted the bike up a bit and it all sorted itself out fast enough.

I'd been hoping for a 1h25m as a rough target for my first time on this course, which would be about 21mph average. On the slogging A24 in to the headwind I started thinking I'd be happy to beat 1h30m but a check on the fast run in showed I was doing pretty well, so I gurned a bit more and buried myself for the final 3 miles. A rough check and it looked like a short 1h24, woohoo . Riding back to the HQ I saw the other Andrew Green who I'd managed to beat again today as he 'd done a mid 1h25.

Addiscombe Results:
Douglas Shaw 1:39:24
Robert Royal-Evatt 1:29:13 (think Rob was a bit flustered at the start as he'd ridden down and was cutting it a bit tight for time)
Matthew Chapman 1:19:45
Andrew Green 1:24:05
Dominic Lowe 1:16:05

Other Results:
John Woodburn 1:25:13 - Fastest Vet on standard

Pete Tadros 1:07:36
Richard Prebble 1:07:34
When collecting his winner's trophy Richard said that he last won this race 10 years ago. The team he was riding for then had a sort of fixer and all round helper who'd sadly died on Friday whilst still only in his 60s, so he dedicated the win to him.

[Antloony]

Great going guys, it must have been hard work into that wind, was bad enough racing in a bunch being sheltered from it

Good write ups as well, keeps me safe in the knowledge that reading about your pain and suffering will never tempt me to don a pointy hat and ride a bike with a dustbin lid for a back wheel

[Serge]

Top job guys I saw you all out suffering in the wind as I made my way out to Cranleigh. I crossed your paths at reigate heath and just past Capel on the A24, It looked like HARD work.
Well done.

[Andrew G]

[quote="Antloony"]with a dustbin lid for a back wheel

[Snoop Doug]

Mixed feelings for me today. I don't like this course, even less so in these conditions

I did a 1.35.13 last year and being an unfit so and so I was aiming for anywhere between 1.35 and 1.40.

Arrived in time for a half decent warm up on the turbo and no port in my system from the night before Rob RE and I rolled off to the start and had a quick natter with Dominic before getting ready for the off. At the start I was feeling much better than the Redhill 18 and (almost) looking forward to it. I like the start of this course, flat n easy. Few grotty bits heading back towards Reigate and then over the heath. The wind really hit me here, hey ho, me no like. Got onto the A25 and mentally, pretty much fell apart. The wind really rattled my cage and it was all I could do to relax enough to keep going. Flats or ups, great. Downs, no thanks. I was crawling down any decline, braking. For goodness sake!!! My confidence was all over the place I well and truly had the wind up me. I thought of bailing more than once but no.

I really enjoyed the A24 climb and I was actually reeling people in on the hills but the minute the road fell, so did my speed. I did this event with no gadgets I'm glad to say as the downhill speeds would have you all in stitches.

I wibbled and wobbled my way round, thoroughly enjoyed the short squirt along the A264 and huffed and puffed up the rusper hill. I was hoping the lanes might provide me some shelter and allow me to push harder for the last few miles. Nope, I was having none of it. I wussed my way home, hard on the ups, even harder on the flats and ridiculously cautious on the downs.

So - a horrible (tortuous even) ride, bizarrely finishing just inside my target range (1.39.24). Trouble is, if I could shake these demons I know I'd have been a lot, lot faster today.

Somebody get me a Doctor.

[quote="Andrew G"][quote="Antloony"]with a dustbin lid for a back wheel

[Paul H]

Well done all.

After doing a TT and RR in the last 2 weeks, I have decided its far more fun suffering in the company of others.

[Jon H]

It's quite interesting comparing the results of that race with the Hainault hilly results. The East Surrey hardriders is 1.1 miles longer, but the winner's time was almost three minutes faster. So I reckon the Hainault hilly must be harder than the hardriders.

Anyway, on my results spreadsheet I compare my result against the winner in terms of percentage to gauge how well or badly I have done. In the Hainault I was 12.6% outside Dean Lubin's winning time. In the hardriders, Dominic was 12.6% outside Prebble's winning time. Spooky or what?

[George]

Wonder why they call it the Hardriders event

[Roy Green]

[quote="Jon Hemming"] I reckon the Hainault hilly must be harder than the hardriders.

[Snoop Doug]

Paul J Wright has snapped some beauties again. Team ACC giving it loads. Even tho I say so meself, I look almost aero - ish in these

[url]http://www.pjwphotos.co.uk/WebSite/080309/index.html[/url]

[Jon H]

Yep, looking nicely aero there Snoop. Just need to ignore those demons and stay tucked into that position while you're caning it down the hills.

[Dominic]

Well what a pleasant surprise the postman brought this morning!

The results for this with a cheque for £30. £15 for being 5th vet overall on scratch and for being 1st from a club belonging to the now defunct CDCA.

Gave me a completly different view of what I considered to be a crap ride


Have to go someway to reach Richard Prebble's winnings of £175 for the event