18mph is the new black, and the choice of the discerning ACC winter rider.
There must have been about 60 who stepped up to the plate this morning, so we split into a few groups- i think.
I was in the first wave- with the iron fisted chanceller (sp) Grahame, and about a dozen others.
A puncture casualty early on saw Huw at the roadside, dunno what tyres he is on but advoid them like the plague ( unless they are contis).
You can now see why he carries his time trial bike about now, no punctures at all- but his PB times are sh1t!
Enuff banter now,
a fairly workman- like group it was as well- all doing turns on the front, the 2/3 min rotation seems to work quite well at this level- some of the riders doing a bit longer.
You only seem to have about 3 pulls and you are at the cafe.
A couple of times we got out of line and the chancellor(sp) waved his fist
(or clunked it) and we were soon bristol fashion.
On the run out to lambs green we were rudely accosted by a following 18mph group - who were either speeding recklessly, or had the run of the lights.
Clang went the hammer, much louder than the clunk
and I think Keith went off the front like a rocket, Andy, Rob T and I quickly on the wheel trying to get a gap.
The Shadow and Grahame were left trailing
- we sportingly left Keith on the front pulling us along at some 25mph and when he finally pulled over to let us thru , we slowed as well- why?
This enabled the sprinters to get back on- Keith kicked hard again, from a long way out and all the group came piling thru- ha but they all blew up
The final sprint was won by the Shadow with Andy 2nd and Keith 3rd.
Me- i gently cruised passed the dying group at about 700 watts and took a well deserved 4th
A great buzz in the cafe, they coped really well.
A super fast ride back - well we had to keep Alex's avg up- so 22/23 mph it was then.
Going home we employed the same 2/3 min rotation and we absolutely flew home- loads of people doing a bit and bit.
All this and sunshine too.