ECCA Scratch Championship Weekend 5/6 June

[Andrew G]

Off to the E2 courses for the first time this weekend, it's a bit of a schlep so stayed over at the B&B I used for the 12 hour which was less than half an hour down the road.

ECCA 10 - Saturday pm
Driving to the HQ I saw early starters parked up and warming up in a lane by the start. As I drove on to the HQ I decided to do the same as it was about 4-5 miles away and I didn't want to risk a puncture 4 miles from a spare wheel riding to the start, I was learning from Jon's woes of Thursday.

It was actually really nice with a whole lane chocka-block with riders parked up and warming up, a real sort of cycling festival appeal to it with a full field of 120 riders. I spotted Ivor about to start as I was putting my bike together but couldn't wish him well without bellowing at full tilt. had a chat after he finished as I was warming up and he was pleased with things.

My race. Boy was it warm. I lovely temperature to race in but so muggy the air was chewy and after 4 miles I almost felt like I was gasping to try and get some oxygen in. All went well and I knew I had a PB when I got back. Pack up and drive back to the HQ for tea and a chat with t'other Addiscombe, and provide Ivor's son with some entertainment as he did the maze on my t-shirt.

Ivor Hewitt 23.02 - new PB
George Brent - 21.16
Andrew Green - 22.31 - new PB
Jon Hemming - 22.55

Race won by Richard O'Rouke in 19.37.

Back to my B&B for a shower then pub for some Speckled Hen and a very nice sausage and mash dinner.

ECCA 25 Sunday am
Dominic was due to join us today but was a DNS, Paul was out to tandem with George and as the only tandem on the startsheet they were guaranteed the Championship medals if they finished.

A different day today, a nice morning temperature and the air was okay, still a bit muggy but not a patch on yesterday. I didn't feel as good this morning and wasn't sure how I'd go on the course. It's pretty quick...if you can stay awake.

The plan: average 25mph to the turn and then bring it home faster (which I normally do) to go under the hour again and get a PB. Easy in writing but didn't go to plan.

It is the most boring race I have ever done, straight down a big barren featureless road for 12.5 miles, turn and come back. I just really struggled to get my race head on on the way out and the tedious road was driving me nuts. In a TT you should be focused on what you're doing and not gazing at the scenery, but it's nice to have something in your peripheral vision to show signs of life, or a roundabout to go straight over as it doesn't slow you down but breaks it up.

I got to the turn with an average of 24.3mph, oops, oh well I didn't feel at all tired so I'd nail it home and try and claw it back. Should be doable as having hit the turn I could, figuratively, see the end of the boring road in sight. I did go well on the way back and caught two people, the only problem was there was a bit of a nasty head wind which was rising. Although I was now going full bore I couldn't actually reel back any of the time as the head wind knocked the speed back enough to stop me pulling it back. Not a bad time but not what it should have been on this course and I was a bit annoyed that I couldn't overide my boredom on the out leg as I was really hoping to get under again. Jon was off a fair bit later so the wind would have picked up a bit more for him to slog back through.

I liked the 10 but it's too far to go on a regular basis for me just for a 10, and I don't fancy the 25 course again as it was just sooooo boring.

Paul Tunnell and George Brent (tandem) - 52.44 Absolutely flying and a new Club Record, congratulations.
Ivor Hewitt - 1.03.37
Andrew Green - 1.01.26
Jon Hemming - 1.01.30

Race won by Richard O'Rouke in 51.51. I've never heard of Richard before as I don't race in that neck of the woods but he's clearly a top man with the times he put in this weekend.

[Ivor]

Actually still a PB for the 25 Andrew, I was being overly glum after all.

Checking the stats I hit the turn at 30:30 with an average of 24.6 and had taken it easy on the way out planning caning it on the way back.
Interesting the calorie burn shows as 9% higher for the return leg too.

[Snoop Doug]

wow - great times folks and congrats on the record

Got some super flying testers in 2010

[Jon H]

Phew, what a scorcher on Saturday. Riding a 10 in that heat is OK, but I wouldn't have wanted to do any more than that. As soon as I'd finished I whipped off the helmet and top half of the skinsuit in a bid to cool down. The 4 mile uphill ride back to the HQ didn't held with that. Wish I'd stayed up there, as it took 3 hours to get home on Saturday evening due to nightmare traffic all trying to find an alternative way across the river as Blackwall tunnel was closed.

I was thinking of putting a bottle on for the 25 on Sunday, but as it was considerably cooler I didn't bother (and I'd forgot to bring a bottle cage anyway). The wind did get up a bit; I averaged a smidge under 25 mph to the turn so must have lost more than Andrew on the way back.

Well done to Andrew & Ivor on their PBs, and to Paul & George on the new club record.

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Andrew G"]Speckled Hen and a very nice sausage and mash dinner.

[Sylv]

Good results guys

How close are Andrew and Jon these days!