Hillingdon CC 25

[Jon H]

I had planned to stop racing at the end of September, but then spotted another 25 to have a go at, so extended my season a few weeks more.

I hadn't ridden the H25/2 course before, but had heard rumours of a gift downhill start that you didn't have to got back up. Starts on the A404 dual carriageway near the M40, heads south, onto the A4 single carriageway west, out and back on there then back north on the A404 to Marlow to finish.

A bit breezy this morning, but at least it was dry, so reasonable conditions for the middle of October. Started well enough, topped out at 42.1mph on the downhill start, hoping I didn't catch any unexpected sidewinds whilst doing that speed on the tribars. Was going pretty well along the A404 in the high twentys, then turned off onto the A4 and onto some fairly grotty road surfaces which slowed things down despite a tailwind. Got to the turn and back into a headwind. The left turn onto the DC couldn't come soon enough to get some relief from the headwind, then the finish appeared sooner than expected.

58:45, not bad I suppose given the conditions, but still six and a half minutes slower than the winner Danny Axford. If they re-surfaced the A4 this could be a really fast course on a good day.