ECCA 12 hour tt

[George]

Paul T and I rode the ECCA 12 hour on Sunday. Early start for some as they had to use lights for the first bit. I was off 33 minutes behind Paul. I was flying along nicely for the first 80 or so miles of dual carriageway and averaged 25mph to the six mile bottom circuit.

This next circuit was a bit lumpy with a long drag up towards Newmarket but Andrew, Joyce and Eddie my brother were keeping me well fed and watered. caught up with paul at around 100 miles and he was flying along!

Then onto the transfer to the 3rd circuit and it was into a slight breeze which scrubbed the speed some what, this 3rd circuit i was really starting to suffer with cramps with my inner thighs so my brother shot off to Mc Donalds for a few sachets of salt which seemed to help a bit.

I could see my average speed was plummeting and went through a really rough patch which lasted for 2 or 3 hours, then finally onto the finishing circuit with 2.5 hours to go i knew I really had to up my game if the club record was on. I took off my helmet as it was getting too uncomfortable.

Then on the finishing circuit I had a second wind, all the pain just went away and for the last hour just buried myself for all I was worth even refusing to feed at the last time past my helpers just to give myself a chance at that record mileage as I could see the finish line way within reach.

Did I do it, no just missed it again this time by a mile, I felt so rough half way through i was surprised i got so close to be honest, but no cigar this time around.

Paul T 213 miles
George 261.45 miles

Thanks to all my helpers

Andrew
Joyce
Eddie
[img]http://i55.tinypic.com/34qut7p.jpg[/img]

[John the old'un]

Good ride George. Record next time for sure.
Well done Paul too and chapeau to all the helpers.
John.

[Andrew G]

Thanks for a cracking day out George .

Massive congratulations to George for yet another stunning ride, to ride over 260 miles in 12 hours is a phenomenal achievement that not many people can do. Oh and let's not forget to mention 6th place on the leader board .

I think George's two 12 hour rides are the 2nd and 3rd best 12 hours ever ridden by an Addiscombe rider in the club's long history, amazing.

Congratulations also to Paul who was hoping to get the 240 he has been trying for for so long, he was on schedule for 8 hours but then said his legs just went, he had a rest with his family for a while and then got back on the bike to finish, which is no mean feat. Well done.

George was going really well early on and was up on schedule (I was clocking his progress and calculating his lap and overall speed) and looking very comfortable. he was riding a very even pace with just the planned and expected gentle slide in speed up until his bad patch. As he says this happened on the 3rd circuit the course uses, he arrived calling for salt and more electrolyte to try and keep his cramps at bay. I started to get very worried about his continued progress as his averages slid off and the bad patch continued and also the effects it could have if it prolonged. 8 hours is a long time to be racing a bike, but when you still have 4 hours to go you're far from seeing the finishing line.

Once on the finishing circuit after ditching the helmet (the heat had really got up by now) and looked back to his old self and really pushing on again. After the final time by us we packed up to start chasing him down and predict his finishing mark so we could meet him. Wow what a chase, he was flying along and we really had to motor to catch him, we then stopped at a time keeper only to have George fly past a few minutes later with time still to go. Er, right better get a move on then, so we drove on another two timekeepers and cheered him over the line.

Congratulations to George, the 2011 club 12 hour and Club Champion. Also well placed in the BBAR (British Best Allrounder) competition which is a combination of 12hr, 100, and 50 average speeds.

I managed to grab some pics between the action.

"Wish I had one of these when I was racing".
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/2011%20ECCA%2012hr/P1000669bJoycewithP4atstart-Crop.jpg[/img]

Nervous tester, proud President.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/2011%20ECCA%2012hr/P1000673GeorgeandJoycestart.jpg?t=1314031535[/img]

Off you go, only 12 hours left.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/2011%20ECCA%2012hr/P1000677Georgestarting.jpg[/img]

Joyce and Eddie at our feed stop on the second circuit.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/2011%20ECCA%2012hr/P1000686JoyceandEdcircuitB.jpg?t=1314031515[/img]

Paul not enjoying a drag on circuit 2.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/2011%20ECCA%2012hr/P1000697PaulcircuitB2.jpg[/img]

Paul on the finishing circuit.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/2011%20ECCA%2012hr/P1000707Paulfinishingcircuit.jpg[/img]

George flying on the finishing circuit as we tried to get ahead and predict his finish point - wish I'd put the window all the way down.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/2011%20ECCA%2012hr/P1000721Georgefinishingcircuit.jpg[/img]

I'm not stopping at this one guys.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/2011%20ECCA%2012hr/P1000722Georgefinishingcircuit2.jpg[/img]

12 hour and 261.45 miles later
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/2011%20ECCA%2012hr/P1000723Georgefinishing.jpg[/img]

Some more photos from the day with other riders are - [url]http://photobucket.com/ECCA12hr2001[/url]

[Ian A4size]

Brillaint effort George and what bad luck to come so close.

I think there are only a few club members who really know the effort and pain of what you and Paul went through- I'm not one of them!

- you had your ND grad on upside down

[joyce]

Congratulations George on a fine finishing.It was amazing to watch George in full flight when he so easily could have said s#d it and sat up. I had a wonderful day out with Andrew,who was excellent at telling us when George was coming for his feed.,Eddie who was our driver had to show fine skill to catch George when he was in full flight so I had a super day out.I was very pleased that Paul finished ,he has certainly been bugged with ill health this year.
You are a worthy Champion George no doubt about that.
joyce

[Toks]

Thats simply brilliant George, well done mate

[Sylv]

Well done George! Shame to miss out on the club record by so little. It can only mean one thing - next year

[mark mclaughlin]

Well done again George,
another top ride from many this season, what might have been without that bad patch??.... next year!

Big Cheer for Paul too!

[carl f]

exellent ride George! bad luck on missing out on the record though next year its your for sure

[John G]

Cracking effort George! Well done, next year you will smash it!

[Andrew G]

Final official results:

1 Nik Bowdler Team PedalRevolution.co.uk 299.68
2 Scott Povey I-Ride.co.uk 281.40
3 Mark Arnold Team PedalRevolution.co.uk 276.15
4 Antony Stapleton Chelmer C.C. 270.58
5 Ken Platts Cambridge C.C. 268.67
6 George Brent Addiscombe C.C. 261.83

29 Paul Tunnell Addiscombe C.C. 211.99

[John G]

[quote="Andrew G"]Final official results:

1 Nik Bowdler Team PedalRevolution.co.uk 299.68
2 Scott Povey I-Ride.co.uk 281.40
3 Mark Arnold Team PedalRevolution.co.uk 276.15
4 Antony Stapleton Chelmer C.C. 270.58
5 Ken Platts Cambridge C.C. 268.67
6 George Brent Addiscombe C.C. 261.83

29 Paul Tunnell Addiscombe C.C. 211.99

[George]

[quote="John G"]

Who is this "Nik Bowdler"? what a cracking distance!

[Andrew G]

Nik is one of the best time triallists in the country famed for using massive gears. His team mate in 3rd rode fixed wheel.

[John G]

[quote="Andrew G"]Nik is one of the best time triallists in the country famed for using massive gears. His team mate in 3rd rode fixed wheel.