Doing I write up isn`t the norm for me so here goes. I left it too late to chance my arm in the National 50, and as I haven`t done much racing this season I figured I would give this one a go. I`ve done it at least twice, three times before, each time I don`t enjoy it because its always blowing a gale, so just my luck its doing the same today. Up at the crack of dawn to head into Kent just south of Ashford. Didn`t get the early start as requested, though I did get to watch the early ones preping and complaining it was cold. I did notice one guy, compression stockings , I think that is what they called, lot of them about, and ridley tt which gibley disc - must be quiet good I thought to myself at the time, especially as he was number 43, placed 12 mins in front of me and so I doubted I would see him. The field was divided into two, the first 15 off from 5.30am followed by a break of 12 minutes before the faster section of the field 37 - 71.
So under orders headed off onto the course. Its made up of two laps of 30+ miles followed by two laps of a smaller circuit which made it up to the 100 miles, all four laps had one stretch of road - Ham street - long and exposed - and not the best road surface in the world. First lap 1:18 there abouts, 13 mins to do ham street (road to hell). Felt relatively good spinning into the wind and powering a long on the descents (max 38mph) and when I had a tail wind. Second lap pass a car at the side of the road with 50 miles to go in the window, quick time check 2:08 - must be going great guns! No check avg speed 22.5 hmm something doesn`t stack up. Later found out at the HQ car had been parked in the wrong place. Third lap came and went, neck and shoulders starting to stiffen, only riders 60,61,62,63 and 70 (who won the event with 4:07 I think) by this point the number of riders passed by me was into double figures, this included a good number of the faster field, this made feel good and that I was coping with conditions. Fourth lap starting to really suffer coming upto the road to Hell 4.30, I knew it had taken me approx 13 mins on first lap and I`m sure slower on the subsequent ones, so I burried myself into the wind spinng my legs like my life depended on it I wanted to at least 4.30 something. Passed 43, thats 12 mins into him, appearances can be deceiving. Crossed the line with 4.40.2? I`m sure this is also one of my better times for riding this event.
Though I have a pb 4:16:? under the conditions I was happy as I had survived bring on the SCCU 50 next week