a3crg 50

[Jon H]

Mixed fortunes for Rich, Rob & myself this morning down on the A3.

Well, the weather was a lot better than last year at least. Last year it was cancelled due to bad visibilty from the amount of spray on the road, but this year was dry, calm if a little chilly first thing this morning.

Rob was off at number 5 (6.35am) having requested an early start as usual. I was off at number 30, and Rich 95 at the back end of the field with the rest of the fast blokes.

I didn't seem to get going today, it just felt damn difficult all the way round. The A3 is a bit rolling with some super fast bit where you can roll along at 30mph+, but super fast bits turn into super slow bits going the other way if you can't keep it going up the drags. That was me today, I was struggling to hold 20mph up a lot of the drags.

Around an hour and a half in I started getting really cold, despite working hard and sweating loads. I've noticed this a few times when riding 50s this year, I think it must be a physiological effect when my glycogen stores start getting low.

This being a 2 lap course, I'd figured out that Rich would be on lap 1 a few minutes behind me on lap 2. I held him off until about 5 miles to go when he came past going like a train.

2:03:19 for me, some way off the sub 2 hour ride that still escapes me.

1:51 something for Rich, a new PB and tantalisingly close to the club record.

DNF for Rob after the rim of his disk parted company with the rest of the wheel.

[Snoop Doug]

Well done Jon - double well done Rich, damn bad luck Rob.

Snoop

[Robert]

Yep started well, was on schedule at the first turn, had caught the two riders off directly in front of me. Went to get out of the saddle to find that the disk had parted company with the rim. Long walk home! A few bad luck mate from riders passing me. Even Mr Kevin"BBAR" Dawson asked if I was okay as I passed him getting ready on my way back to the HQ.

Getting it repaired is going to be the fun part, as it has been suggested that it needs to be sent back to Mavic!! Its not even my wheel, loan from Mr V until I beat him then he wants it back!! Never at this rate!! ie me beating him that is.

[Andrew G]

That must have been a tad alarming Robert.

A Mavic disc seperating from the rim, just like Millar's in the TdF, and also Dave Palmer had one where the carbon sheet popped from the rim in a section and pulled it well out of true.

Probably worth making a big deal about this to Mavic as it's not exactly showing it to be a rare occurence.

[Tamar]

Whooo - get Mr Speedy there. 1.51!

Bad luck Jon and Rob.

Note to self - cross mavic disk off wish list.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Jon,
Isn't your disc a Mavic?

[Tamar]

I'm going to buy Zipp 909 wheelset! I'm off to the States in a couple of weeks and they're WAY cheaper over there. Whooooo! Can't wait to race on 'em....although I guess I'll be waiting until next year as the season will pretty much be over when I get back.

[Jon H]

No Paul, mine's a Corima.

Tamar, watch out for those nasty customs people on the way back, you might have to pay duty & VAT. But if you've factored that in and it's still a bargain go for it, and if they don't catch you it's even more of a bargain.

I've just been reading about a new Zipp disk that has negative drag; http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/2007/sh ... urobike072

[Tamar]

Mmm, I haven't worked out how much I might have to pay at customs yet...

[Tamar]

Ooooh, that new disk sounds the business. Practically cheating really.

[Ian A4size]

Tamar are you going to stay with someone in NY?
If you are get them to buy the wheel and if you buy it from them it's second hand, and so (i have been told) exempt from duty and VAT. it would be worth checking out.

Joanna

see you soon I hope.