Rode this event yesterday, the only agreeable down to ride. It’s normally a really good course but the strong head wind nullified the normally fast start down the hill. Average speed pegged back to around 30 mph on the descent. Had to fight hard to carry any form of speed into the wind until the 90 degree turn at Maidenhead Thicket roundabout. The road from there to the turn (about 13 miles at that point) undulated and fluctuated between head wind and slight tail wind, by this point average speed had dropped to 23.4mph.
It had taken 33minutes approx to that point - quick glance at the watch
Cleared the turn and picked up the full effect of the tail wind and fast spinning to carry me over the undulations back to thickets - felt good. Left turn, down the slip road followed by a drag up round the bend, speed now 23.7mph. Caught my two minute man and kicked again, not at him!! I was so focussed on trying to get the average speed up, in next to no time I was barrelling along past the finished line, 1:02: 50
Fastest 25 this year for me, though I haven`t ridden many to date. I don`t recall the fastest time but there were at least 15 riders sub hour out of a field of 80+. Very fortunate it stayed dry, got home about 11 am to have it rain frequently for the rest of the day.
