The weather forecast looked terrible; I could easily have DNS this morning. The roads were dry when I left home, but by the time I got to HQ on the Devils Dyke it was piddling down and the wind had really picked up
Race HQ was bizarrely in an old milking shed on a farm, the signing on sheet had scary info about cross winds and high speed wobbles ... after a chat with Robin, I decided to use the road bike.
Ride to the start was up the Devils Dyke ... and it was soooooo windy. Got battered on the start line, and I was off! Took it really easy, far too easy on the descent, I'm sure I lost loads of time there. The rest of the course wasn't too bad, got wind blasted passing gaps in hedges a few times. Actually enjoyed it, although bit twisty in the lanes. Got stuck behind a dustbin cart, so did Pete Tadros who had to lift his bike over a car!!
The climb up the Devils Dyke was slightly brutal, it was like hitting a wall of wind on the steepest section, a real battle to get to the finish.
So my time was a very slow 1:25:44, and my lowest placing ... but as the only lady I was awarded the 1st Lady bottle of wine and Easter egg prize
Pete Tadros won with a 59:7
G.S/999 : Not as bad as it sounds, if I can ride it in a gale then it can't be that bad!!