This year the NATIONAL 24 HOUR TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP is being held in the South East on the weekend of 25th-26th June, it runs midday to midday see . It’s a TT that runs for 24 hours, you cross the line at your start time and then you’re told you can stop 24 hours later and the distance you’ve covered is calculated.
Normally there is only one 24hr a year and it’s held oop North, so to celebrate the fact that there is one daarrrn Sarf for the first time since 1999 three of us are signing up.
Representing Addiscombe the trio of myself, Paul Tunnell and “Mad” Graham Axford are removing our brains for a day and taking to the start.
Graham has done a couple of 24s before, the last one down South and one of the Mersey Roads ones. He rode unsupported and intends on doing so again this time. I didn’t know him at the time but this may have something to do with how he acquired him moniker .
Paul and I have decided to share support crew / helpers as this will mean we won’t need as many and it will hopefully make life easier for them.
Now the begging bowl moment you’ve been waiting for .
Our families are going to help us but we will really need some additional help from the family of Addiscombe CC too.
Being support crew is incredibly important and greatly appreciated. It will involve preparing drinks (either carb/coke/water or tea/coffee on a camping stove) and food to shove in our faces as we come around each lap from a big box of prepared goodies. Support crew also hold spares for the bike (wheels, tubes, etc. spare bike if possible).
We are likely to appear in various states during the course of the event from chirpy and smiling to a drooling mess but just shove food and drink at us when you see us .
The course is based on 3 circuits (each is approx 20 miles in length), 2 used during the daylight hours based at Little Horsted and Pevensey, and a night circuit at Henfield. Riders are switched from one circuit to another via transfer / link sections at defined cut-off times and the organisers will try and make sure as far as possible that all riders are on the same circuit.
As you can tell from the food / drink carrying and different circuits used there needs to be a car amongst the support crew at all times.
In these long distance events there tend to be favoured spots for support crews and they will tend to be on the same bit of road as this gives the riders a lift when they see everyone each lap, but also allows the support crews to mix and mingle whilst their rider(s) are doing their lap. During the night circuit hours Ashurst village hall is due to be open to provide shelter and hot drinks and support. I think that village halls will be open at the other circuits as well during the event.
If you are able to help out and be part of the support crew then please can you let me know. I’m happy to answer any questions, if I can.
If you can help please can you let me know if you would be able to cover some of the “night shift” or if you are only able to help during the day, and if the day if you are able to help on either day or only on one or the other, and for how long you could help.
Thank you.