.First race of the year for me and very much a training one, I rode the 30 miles out to the HQ at Handcross in rather chilly conditions with a headwind thrown in just for fun. Had a brief chat with Carl and changed my jersey and pinned on my number and rode off to the start in time to give Carl a shout as he set off.
Steve Dennis organises this event and was warming up for his ride by pushing off 50 riders before doing a quick shoe change and taking his coat off, grabbing his bike and his helmet and then chasing everyone down! Speaking to him afterwards he didn't quite have time and had a bit of a late start but still rode an amazing race.
I started off up the 1.5 mile climb back to Handcross and then left on to the nice flat / slightly downhill section. bit of a headwind along here so on my road bike couldn't cut through the air as well as with a TT set up but was going okay. After this bit you turn towards Cowfold and then through Anstey and Cuckfold. This involves a lot of climbing and I'd misremembered the course and thought I'd finished the climbs when there was still two left, needless to say my legs blew up quite spectacularly on these and I was happy to make the final turn on to the flat final couple of miles.
A very unspectacular time for me even though I felt that for most of the course I was going quite well for my first effort of the year. As I mentioned although a very pretty course I'm never going to do much on it with all that climbing, particularly when my legs blow when there's still a couple of hills to go
. Good training though, and then another 30 mile ride home so 80 odd miles with a hard 21.5 in the middle today. Fortunately although chilly it was lovely blue sky for it all, unlike from lunchtime on today.Judging by Steve's time I think this modified course (shortened finish road due to roadworks) works timewise similar to a 25, maybe a bit slower. I finished with 1.05.56 but Carl did a stunning ride in full TT set up for 57.58. Carl's always fast and superb on climbs, doesn't slow down at all, so I guess you liked the course
. With this and last weeks times I expect you'll knock out some cracking times this year 
.1st Will Mangar (InGear) 52.26
2nd Conall Yates (InGear) 52.45 - Christian and Sean also out racing today.
3rd Steve Dennis (East Ginstead) 52.47
I think even after all the pushing off Steve would probably have nabbed the win if he didn't have the late start.
InGear won the Team prize.
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