SCCU 50

[Mike I]

It was lashing down when I got up at 4am for this one, but it had cleared up (sort of) by my 6.32 start. Far too windy for a decent time this morning, but I felt after the first lap that I could push on in the second half and at least achieve mid-table respectability.

But with a following wind taking me faster than usual through the Great Daux roundabout, I over-cooked it on the wet tarmac and skidded (rather stylishly, I like to think) on elbow and ar$e (can't work out which is which of course) to the gutter. Discretion being the better part of valour and being close to HQ I decided to call it a day and record my first ever DNF .

Thanks to Ian M and Chris W for tea by way of first aid. Proper medical treatment - leeches and rum - have now been adminstered, and I should have some decent scars ready to show off at the TdF.

[Jon H]

Oh dear Mike, hope you didn't do too much damage to yourself or your bike.

I looked out of the window this morning, and there were far too many cats and dogs falling past it for my liking. So after texting Linda to say I was a DNS I went back to bed. Annoyingly, I was then wide awake so I got up again to see the weather improving, but it was too late to change my mind.

How did eveyone else get on?

[Dominic]

Pretty much did the same as you Jon except I managed to go back to sleep until my eldest woke me at 6.30am.

[richv]

Mike glad to see you've taken enough 'medicine' to be able to type now. Sorry to hear about your off. I fishtailed badly at the same place on my second lap despite backing right off at all the roundabouts and felt fortunate to stay upright. Hope its nothing too serious. Pity the sun came out at the start as I was pretty committed to DNSing when I got there.

Insofar as I can remember after 1.5 hours sleep and a horrible wet ride details were:

Jon DNS
Dominic DNS
Mike DNF (fall beginning of second lap)
Rob RE DNF (puncture second lap)
Tamar 2.20.??
Me 1.59.44 (4th)

Event won by Steve Dennis in 1.50?? with Dominic Hill pipping Keith Coffey for 2nd and 3rd respectively with 1.53s

Don't quote me on the times (even my own) I was more concerned about getting back to bed

[Andrew G]

Sorry to hear about the off Mike, hope nothing but pride was injured.

[tel]

I think you guys were brave to start. Hope you have started to heal Mike, it`s a horrible shock when you come off.

I wasn`t so brave Sat p.m. at the KPRC 15. Rode to the start in drizzle after a horrendous down pour. The roads were pretty wet and there was plenty of spray. Getting paranoid in my old age.

Decided to Dns but felt pretty wimpish when I saw Lisa Scarlett getting ready to ride at the hq, she looked pretty focused, bet she went well.

Terry

[Tamar]

Sorry to hear about your off Mike. Was horrible conditions.

I was actually feeling really enthusiastic after Saturday's efforts (more in a separate post on that shortly) and couldn't wait to get to the start line for some 50 action....but then it all went a bit pants. I just could not get my heartrate up and felt utterly miserable and close to having a tearful strop as my legs refused to go fast no matter how I cajoled and pleaded. I think my legs were still in bed.

Went home and back to bed v despondent.

[Tamar]

Oh and I forgot to mention - big thanks to Ian Munnery and Big Mike who made the most Agreeable Tea Ladies.

Thanks also to Joyce for her roadside shouts of encouragement and also Chris Watts who I think was also helping with teas.