Hounslow & District Wheelers 10 15/5/10

[Andrew G]

I was down at the Bentley course again this afternoon, with Terry and Steve also out from Addiscombe.

I've ridden Bentley 25 and 50 courses but this was my first time on the 10, which is basically the last smaller half loop of the 50 course. Arrived at HQ in sunshine and warm weather . Oh joy I could now race in mitts and without thermals and limb warmers for only the second time this year.

There was a bit of a cross / head wind on the out leg with cross/tail on the return, although it was more cross than anything particularly at the far end of the course. This came as a bit of a surprise as it was calm as a mill pond at the HQ, but it was only a breeze.

The race went well although as I was nailing it for home I couldn't help but wish I'd pushed harder in to the breeze on the out leg as I had too much left in the tank in the final couple of miles.

I like the Bentley courses - 10,25, and 50 - and think this 10 will be a quickish one on a completely calm day or with a couple more runs to get to really know it, the little drags and rolls on it would be reasonably easy to flatten out if you were really on it.

Addiscombe:
Andrew Green = 23:25
Steve Davies = 23:24
Terry Hill = A day to forget combining a puncture waiting to start, then a late start, and a DNS/DNF combo to finish it off. Hopefully that's your season's bad luck all out the way in one go, at least you could enjoy the second half of the Cup Final on the radio on your way home .

Race won by Wouter Sybrandy with 20:05, boy is he quick; and the women's race by Julia Shaw with 21.19, girl is she quick.
Of interest today was a tandem with a disabled stoker (wheelchair bound lady) which had the rear of it converted with a seat and hand cycle for her to operate. Great ride with 30:56, a hand cycle 10 can't be easy even with an able bodied tandem partner.

[George]

Andrew sounds like you didn't really get your teeth into it this afternoon goodluck tomorrow on the H25/2 wish I'd sent my entry off for that one

[Andrew G]

Took a fair bite George was only half a minute off my pb. I basically red lined it for the last 3 miles and picked up a bit of time, would have been quicker if I'd pushed more on the way out for a more even race but probably only about 15 seconds. Wouter's victory was safe .

[SteveD]

Nice to pip an on form Andrew by the odd second after a run of really mediocre 10s. I'm blaming the cold as the temperature for this event was a good 5 or 6 degrees warmer than the previous ones. We also both beat the 73 year old John Woodburn - result!

[tel]

Just a quick thanks to Andrew for the loan of his rear wheel albeit for about a min. as I pulled it over at the start. Never mind worse things happen at sea and all that.

Maybe a float day next week.

Terry