API 50 - Record Breakers R us

[Jon H]

RichV had rounded up a posse of Addiscombe riders to head up to Cambridgeshire for another attack on the club 50 team record. This was a Saturday evening event on a new course based on the A11 & A14 with a little twiddly bit on a B road to make up the mileage.

It nearly went wrong before it started, with Rich & Rob getting stuck in traffic and arriving at the HQ 20 minuted before Rob's start time. Some rushing round ensued and they made their start times OK.

Meanwhile Mr PVT & I had been sitting around in the evening sun, remarking that if the wind died down it would be a very nice evening.

Well, it didn't, so we had 4 miles to start with into a headwind, which wasn't too bad because we were fresh. Turned round and wow, screaming tailwind for the next 18 miles. If only 30+ mph was normally that easy. Then came the B road bit, with about half a mile on a truly dreadful road surface. No way of picking a smooth line, so just had to ride over it and hope nothing rattled loose.

Back onto the main road, and a battle into the headwind for another 18 miles, watching the average speed dropping from 27 mph to less than 25 at the final turn. Tried to pick up the pace to the finish to get under 2 hours, but just missed out, 2:00:12 for me, a new PB by just 10 seconds.

Rich did another storming ride for a 1:53:20, and Rob did 2:00:46. Adding up our times gives 5:54:18, a new club team record beating the 1976 record of 5:55:22.

PVT was our 4th man, with a not too shabby season's best of 2:02:57.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

After years of trying to get 3 people together who could do this, Steve Davies and I once did a 1:58 and 1:56 respectively, but didn't have a third rider, it happens and I wasn't fast enough to make the team. Gutted, but congrats to the Rich Rob and Jon to make it happen.

Luckily RichV was an early starter and had it easy without having to contend with the rising headwind

tamar, where were you

[Tamar]

Fantastic riding guys! I just couldn't face it I'm afraid. I've done three terrible 50's this year, each slower than the previous, and then I rode like a total muppet at the track on Wednesday....I dunno...I've just lost my competitive streak and can't seem to be bothered any more. If it hurts, I slow up! Anyhow by Friday I was in a right state absolutely dreading doing another pathetically slow ride, and it got to the point where I'd rather miss out on the chance of a fast ride just to avoid the possibility of a slow one. I know I am mental but that's just how it is and I felt soo much better once I'd decided I wasn't going to do it.

Anyhow, chapeau to you all. New club record and good times all round.

[Toks]

Respect is due! Well done fellas

[SteveD]

Well done chaps! This demonstrates some serious strength in depth.

Tough luck to Paul again - we didn't quite have that strength in depth a few years back. I've a feeling we even managed 1:57 and 1:55 together on the Oxford course without that third counter.

[Andrew G]

Well done guys. Congrats on the PB Jon, soooo close to the magical 1:59.

[Mike I]

Well done chaps! Now, how about an assault on the 100 team record on the 29th? (And no, I don't expect to be fast enough to make the team.)

[richv]

I think we'll have a teamful out for the SCCU 100 but not sure it's the event we'll break the club record on. Too many bl@@dy hills for my liking.

It would be nice to have a nice day for a 50 sometime this year. This was my fourth 'target' 50 in the last few weeks and we've still not had a decent day (despite what Paul may think ).

If anyone's interested there's another fast 50 (A3CRG) down at Liss/Petersfield on the bank holiday monday at the end of the august which is my last target 50 for the year (assuming I can get over the 12-hour in time ).

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote]bank holiday monday at the end of the august