Thanks to Jon and all of Team ACC for running today's race, top work. Lots of folk at each marshaling point, no-one was taking a wrong turn today .
Nice blue sky and not a lot of wind was evident so looked like it would be a decent day for time trialling, even on the rolling course that is Holmwood. The most shocking sight of the day was when warming up seeing the bloke who was starting 2 minutes ahead of me, he was wearing a completely white skinsuit and causing quite a bit of alarm amongst those of us warming up and at the start. Fortunately he was a seeded rider so would be fast enough to stay ahead of me and I wouldn't have the terrible sight of riding up to him out on course.
Rob pulled a long straw and got to push me off, I don't prevent much of a problem compared with some of the heavyweights you have to hold up . Just as I was about to start a car went by and then I was 5,4,3,2,1,Go from Frank on the stopwatch. Straight to the end of the slip road and had to nip up the inside of the car as I accelerated away as it was still suck there, fortunately enough room to nip inside.
Up towards the first roundabout and was going quite well, passed the army of marshals and on to the exposed section. As normal, bang there's the wind. You often get a bit of a whack in the face from it here but I was still pushing along well. I saw a couple of riders who were struggling a bit going the other way which was odd as I didn't expect there to be a head wind over there.
Round the turn, waved round by TimNick I think doing as efficient a job as any traffic directing policeman could do, and back for the return leg. The first bit from the roundabout is always a nice way to get the legs spinning and the speed up again before it starts to drag up.
Legs going well and only had to nick it down a cog or two for the drag to the middle roundabout, nice no cars coming through so straight over, albeit with a wiggle or two round some of the cracked up road surface there. Didn't get slowed much on the first of the drags up which shot by, then on to the nastier of the two up to the Red Chilli restaurant. Caught two people here, but not Mr. Frightening Skinsuit, and rolled the gears over at the brow to pick up speed again.
Home run from here, mainly downhill, actually I always think it's downhill all the way and forget the false flat in the middle. Had it in 53x11 and shifting along well, hit the false flat bit and had to knock it down a sprocket but spotted Kate and Chloe up ahead cheering which helped me gurn through it to stop the speed dropping below 30 before back to 53x11 and bury myself on the flying finish to the line.
Happy bunny as I knew I'd got my best time on that course. Back to HQ, change, pack up bike, cuppa tea . Plenty of chatting and eventually made it the results board to see I'd done 23.50 and was fastest Addiscombe rider, which was nice, beating Steve Davies for the first time.
Quick rest up for a few hours before slipping on the penguin suit for my cousins anniversary do, behave myself and get back as early as possible to be up for the SCCU 25 tomorrow morning.
Thanks to everyone for their efforts today, the best organised and marshaled TT I've done this year .
Addiscombe Results:
George Brent and Paul Tunnell (Tandem) 21.30
Steve Davies 24.14
Andrew Green 23.50
Jon Camden 28.28 (well done on breaking your Open TT cherry today)
Sadly Ivor and Sam were both DNS being crocked with injuries. Winner clocked 21.03.