Sunday Morning - bored?

[Andrew G]

7 Agreeables in action on the Bletchingley / Outwood loop as we start our defence of the Rawson Shield. 2 laps of the 10 mile circuit starting from 9:05am (me) through to George starting at 9:53am.

If you're bored and want to shout at people without them being able to hit you, 'til the finish anyway . Nice lanes around Bletchingley if you're getting some miles in, just go round the circuit the wrong way to avoid confusion.

[Marky Mark]

Sounds like fun, but it's hangover day for me as that will be post birthday day
Best of luck to you and i'll keep my fingers crossed the weather holds out for you.
Marky Mark

[Snoop Doug]

I shan't be contributing a point on Sunday - but I will be hurling abuse at y'all (errrr I mean marshalling), watch yer backs near the White Hart Best of luck to the mighty ACC express

Snoop

[Sylv]

Could the helper in charge of pushing give a good one to George (no ...) so that he is still fresh for the afternoon race.

[Andrew G]

He's one of the last starters Sylv, next time if you want a longer rest George ask for an early start with your entry.

Take your brolly Snoop, looks like it might be a bit soggy .

[George]

[quote]He's one of the last starters Sylv, next time if you want a longer rest George ask for an early start with your entry.

[Ivor]

[quote="Andrew G"]2 laps of the 10 mile circuit starting from 9:05am

[Andrew G]

I know they run 2 events together - 11 mile or 21 depending on one or two laps - but I don;t know how this is orgainsed. If you're doing the 11 mile I'd check they know before you start so they can stop the clock for you.

Mind you my start sheet says 21 mile and has you on it . Don't know if the 11 starters are included within this.

Give the organiser a call and see what he says if you want to check it out.

[Ivor]

So that was my first TT! yay.

Turned up at Bletchingly Hall just before 9 and got organised. Weather a light drizzle and a bit windy.
Trooped into the hall to get my number and saw a couple of agreeables milling about. Too nervous to hang around and chat so strolled out to pin on number bumped into George on way out and said hi, joked that I'd wave as he went past later. (and he did near the end of my second lap )
Decided it was time, so rolled off down towards the start. Pulled up just as number 13 was called. I was #14, perfect timing. "Number 14" and up I rolled. held upright and ready to go. 10 seconds. go.
and off, up the drag through Bletchingly. Passed number 13 just as got to the top of the hill, heh perhaps this isn't going to be that bad after all.
Over the M23 and down towards the first turn, careful on the corner, sharp left and rough surface, then its a steady decline down towards Outwood. Felt quite nervous on the descents with the weather and after my recent crashes so took it easy.
Then #15 cruised past, uh oh perhaps I'm not going as well as I thought.
Never mind head down and steady progress, right down to the turning point, water and gravel all over the road, and loads of bright green jackets. ok basically just a steady climb up from here.
But urgh, the wind is in my face now and that rain is starting to get annoying. Legs feeling good though, star hill first, since its the first lap decide to drop down the gears and just spin up, ok that wasn't too bad. Levels off a bit and winds back towards Bletchingly, last little climb back up into the village, spin up again and past the line for lap one. ok maybe this isn't going to be too bad, right I'll do the two laps. Legs feeling good, left and charge up through the village, hammer over the M23 as hard as I can knowing its just down for a bit after the turn.
and now some big numbers start to go past #51 then #50 I think. eh whats going on. confused me at the time. but I may have been having trouble thinking at this point. my wife pointed out the obvious when I stopped, they were the later riders on their first lap. doh.
OK feeling better on the first part of the second lap and feel much more confident in my tyres going down the hills.
seem to be down at the turning point in no time and on the way back up.
Yuck, wind and rain in the face again. right first little climb - star hill - leave the gears higher and stand. and oh my what happened to my legs. ok sit back down and drop down the gears and spin up again.
Ok over the top nice and steady and push on harder along the flat. Hey! Whoosh, George goes past. He said something, sounded like "banana" but I may have misheard!
Then in no time at all its the hill into Bletchingly, right stand, nope no legs, back down, push halfway up, try standing again, nope can't do it. and there's the flag!! gosh. Past the line and start back to HQ. arrgh, forgot to hit stop on watch. says 1hr11. so something slightly less than that. ok that doesn't seem too bad at all. I hoped to be under 1hr20 so I'm happy with that.
Back to base and hand in the number.
Sit in car and head homewards, then the cold really sets in. Ok really should have made sure to bring a towel and some warm clothes. oh well, back and hot bath.

So all in all, great fun. if a little damp and blowy.

Ivor

[John the old'un]

Take my hat off to you Orv. Well done. Top banana.!
Nothing would have tempted me to race on a morning like today.

[Andrew G]

Well done Ivor, I've copied your post to the Results section.

We were all chatting (and demolishing cups of tea and big bits of cake) at the HQ afterwards wondering where you were. BTW always take a towel and some spare clothes to change in to. Even if it's not chilly and wet (which it normally isn't) then it makes the tea/cake quaffing and drive home a lot more comfortable and less smelly.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote]Top banana.!