PVT - KCA 12 & BAR

[Andrew G]

Paul was riding the Kent CA 12 hour today and I was there to help out Ruth and Mark (wife & son) for part of the day.

I arrived about 2.5 hours after he'd started, and with perfect timing. I'd just checked with Ruth where they were and started off round to them when I recognised the rider in front of me, PVT . I followed him to a small RAB and got a bit of a surprise to see him get off the tribars and move about in a strange way. What's he playing silly buggers for I thought, when he pulled in. I quickly pulled in and called out, punctured rear the reply, so I grabbed a spare wheel out the boot and he was off again with no loss of time.

The rest of the time was much less eventful, apart from me getting lost on an unfamiliar course. We split support at opposite sides of the big circuit before the transfer to a smaller one.

I left about 8 hours in as being on the small circuits now there was no need for a split support. Paul was going well and in good spirits.

The course seemed pretty flat apart from a few drags here and there, but this is about the only flat bit of Kent and makes up for it with the wind that whips across the marshes. It was brutal in places blowing a real hooley, not fun conditions for a half day race.

Unofficial result for Paul is 229 miles which is his best for 3+ years and good enough with his 50 & 100 times to qualify him for a BAR certificate this year, first time in 5 years for that too. A fine result from a cracking season for Paul. Very well done.

[Phil H]

That's not bad. Chapeau. I understand that the Kent course is not nearly as flat as the ECCA course.

I keep thinking about getting into shape and having a crack at a 12. Maybe next year.

[Andrew G]

I think the old Kent course was hillier, the current one is pretty flat as they moved it south but as I said it was windy, and I can't see a time when it won't be windy in that area. ECCA circuits are more "Essex SPOCO" after the motorway, which is to say lanes but Essex boys idea of sporting and ours differ somewhat. That said they aren't flat and can get windy on some sides of them, the finishing circuit has a couple of lumps and drags on it too. 8 hours in and gradients don't have to be much off pan flat to feel hilly/draggy.
[quote="Phil the Pie"]...I keep thinking about getting into shape and having a crack at a 12. Maybe next year.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Thanks for the report Andrew, pretty much sums it up......a really tough day on what should have been easy rolling roads, but the BIGGEST problem of all was the road surface - the Camber circuit has a 3 mile stretch where the road used to be concrete with expansion jonts and tarmac on top that has cracked and every 5 metres, ker thump ......then there was the Ivychurch circuit was best suited to an MTB with suspension, the A28 which should be good uses exceptionally large chippings and is like coninually riding on a rumble strip. The finishing circuit had some good sections and one horribly bumpy stretch. I was still on schedule for 240 at 9 hours, but the last 3 hours (entirely on a 10 mile finishing circuit) where painful as by then the wind had got up, and dragging along into it at 14 mph, couldn't make up the time on the wind assisted leg

All in all very pleased with the effort especially as only back for 10 days after a 3 week holiday without the bike .

Phil
The ECCA course is much hillier especially the second circuit, but you get the benefit of the first 80 odd miles on smooth dual carriageway, and the lanes once off the main road are much quieter and smoother. You have to do it now!!! or how about the 24????? [url]http://www.esca24hour.org.uk/[/url]