.Today's event was the third in my SPOCO SE Series programme. Jon had informed me before that the course was a drag and roller on single carriageway A roads sporting course, rather than one of your proper hilly numbers - good.
Rather cruelly the organiser had put me as 3rd rider off despite (judging from the other club names on the start sheet) I'd be one of the furthest from home
. The trip there didn't go to plan as I couldn't read the map on the passenger seat in the dark and coming off the motorway took a wrong turn 
. This sent me off in the wrong direction, but through some very nice villages. In fact from what I saw of them Challock must have got a sympathy vote in 2004 as it was not as nice.Having worked my way back on track I got to the HQ about 30 minutes before my start time, with the start 2 miles from the HQ. Not ideal as it would mean a negligible warm up after signing on and getting me and bike ready. I can faff to Olympic standard and not having any time left for this now didn't please me.
Had a bit of a chat to a nice guy from Medway Velo who is organising their event on the same course later in the year which I'm also due to ride for the SPOCO. He was off behind me so we rode down to the start together. The start was really nice today, us early starters were all pretty relaxed and having a bit of a laugh and piss taking while we all ponced about cleaning tyres of grit (which we'd pick up again after 10 yards
) and trying to out sandbag each other. I have quite a deep bag of excuses so held my own (Ian!).The start is a gift downhill and then levels and heads towards Canterbury, turning at Thannington. Back where you've just been but left part way along it towards Ashford. This stretch to Ashford was the longest and toughest. It was a bit head windy and had most of the drags, some of which were quite long, and a couple of rolling lumps that were just enough to haul my speed down to an annoying level. I was passed at 9.5 miles by number 5 who went on to get a 1hr dead. After 11 miles I was in new territory on the TT bike. I guess it takes a while to get used to riding in that position as I had a slight muscle niggle around my hip area. I eased this off by sitting up a bit on the rolls when my speed dropped below 18mph as I guessed the aero effect wouldn't be much at that speed and it helped ease the ache.
Turned at Ashford and back on the up-down drags and rolls again. Not so bad in this direction as it was probably a slight net downhill, and also had the wind behind now. I was passed by number 11 at about 19 miles and he was absolutely flying. At the end of the road it was left again to re-join the start road for a couple of miles to the finish, but thankfully not back up the big hill
.Spinning back up to the HQ and number 10 rolled up behind me, although he said he'd not had me in sight, so we had a good chat on the way back. He was a Scottish chap riding fixed wheel, very Obree
.Today's weather was a lovely blue sky with a bit of sun, bit blowy in places, and chilly enough to be able to see your breath once you got panting. Once racing it was warm enough though and compared to recent weather can't have any complaints.
The usual cuppa and flapjack at HQ, plus a ham and tomato roll which all slipped down rather easily.
I was the only Addiscombe rider on this one so no great list of results. I did a 1:07:52 which is 48 seconds off my PB but that was on your standard DC course. This was a tougher course and only my second race on the TT bike so I think ticks the box of "Okay" but probably no more. Fingers crossed the PB can start coming down on normal courses and once I'm more used to the position on the bike. It'll probably take a few races for my muscles to adapt to it as I climbed off and was walking like an old man with a wooden leg for a few minutes
. Number 11 was leading when I left with 57:41.Jon, how does your time on this course compare with say the G25/53 so I can try and get a better idea of how I went. I wouldn't have thought this one was that much slower, maybe a minute or so.
