Local TT courses

[Dominic]

One of the things that is attracting me to TTing this year is the fact that if I keep the courses local I will not be away all day from home, hence hopefully doing twice as much racing as I did audaxing last year.

So my question is what/where are the local TT courses. Most interested in 25/50/100.

[Ian A4size]

courses for that distance are fairly local, ie nearly at the dual carraige way where we start the thru and off on the club run. Near Tescos on A264 Broadbridge (heath ) start for the 25/50/ dont know about the 100 tho, i don't doubt RRE, Rich , Jon or Tel or perhaps Tamar will be along soon to tell you the right info.
The start is about 30 /40 mins drive away from here, so if you get an early start -ride a stormer- bit 'o' cake- bit 'o' bull you could be home by 10, just right to do the ironing/washing/ beat the wife

[Dominic]

Aaah a man after my own heart Ian!!!!

[Jon H]

The 25 & 50 course described by Ian are the G25/53 and G50/53; the 50 is basically the 25 course done twice except for a couple of small dog-legs. The 100 starts further south on the A24, comes up to do the same roads as the 25 & 50, then goes back south onto some slower single carriageways for the second half.

Also worth a go are the H25/8 H50/8 & I think a 100 as well based on the A31 near Farnham (Surrey/Hampshire borders). Those are pretty good courses and not far away.

A bit further away but still within reach are the P courses based on the A3 near Liss. Not good if it's raining though, as spray is a major problem and events tend to get cancelled.

[Dominic]

Thanks for that Jon. Can't wait to get started

[richv]

Also if the roadworks have finished there is the Q10/19. Quickest close 10 course. On the A21 at Tonbridge, so just a short trip round the M25. Early morning starts. I've been back at home after riding by 8.15am Finishes so early you can go home, have a kip, do your morning chores and take in an afternoon race as well

Further afield you can get to some good events in essex/cambridgeshire/Bedfordshire (F1 courses) and still be back before lunch time. Worth the trip particularly if you're after some fast times (beware of roadworks this year though) or some more interesting sporting courses. If they're of interest I can let you know which ones I'm planning on riding this year.

Other events you should think about but you'll need a pass out for them:

National Champs 10 20/5/07 - old A1 near Peterborough. You may get in with last season's pb although I'm sure you can improve it early this year.

National Champs 50 17/6/07 - A1 near Bedford. On a new course which should be particularly quick and the bonus of being a National Champs as well. 50 is usually not full so you may get in without a time.

ECCA 12 hour 19/8/07 - riders needed to defend team trophy! Should be an easy day on the bike

[Dominic]

Cheers for that Rich.

Not sure how many 10s I will do but one of my goals is the National 50. My previous 50 time was a 2.08 but there is a story attached to that which is not for a forum. I will do at least a couple to try and get a better time for the national.

Might have to spend July doing some miles for 19/08 if riders are needed for the 12 hour

[richv]

Do tell?

If you want to try out the F1/50 before the Nat Champs there is an event on it on 27/5 which I'm planning on riding although I'm not sure whether that is after the closing date for the Nat Champs. It will be pretty close to it.

[Dominic]

It was a 50 on the A12. In the great traditions of TTing there were no facilities at the start. This was in 1989. I began to have a few twinges ,shall we say, just before the start. I thought that I could handle it and that the urges to evacuate my bowels may subside. How wrong I was, I spent about an hour and a half of the ride in agony and spent about 5 minutes by the side of the road debating "do I just jump into the ditch and do the deed" and then "but no I will make a terrible mess of my shorts when I pull them up" I think you may get the picture.

So 27/05 looks good

[Jon H]

My top tip for racers is always pack a bog roll in your kit bag. The typical race HQ toilet is often not geared up for 100+ people wanting to dump before the race. Getting there and finding there's no paper is no laughing matter. Doing your business and then finding there's no paper is even worse.

[Mike I]

'Local' of course depends on where you start, but you could also try the H1 just off the M4 near Newbury (J12 I think). Because the motorway is empty at 5am on a Sunday I can get there in about an hour - less than it takes me to get to G53, in fact. Fairly flat, but needs resurfacing .