Norwood Paragon 25

[Snoop Doug]

I'm knackered - got to lie down. Before I do let me just say:

[size=200]1.04.50[/size]

Another PB - this time by over 3 and a half minutes. I was flying and now I ache like f***

More later

Snoop

[Dominic]

Fantastic ride. Makes all the training worthwhile doesn't it

Cracking day for it aswell.

[Andrew G]

Summed it up quite well Snoop .

Another great day for TTing. Lots of smiling faces before and after the event. Had a slight oops before the start when I noticed my rear tub had a cut in it and when pumped up to 140psi the tube would start to show, so quickly deflated it and stuck it back in the car. A huge thank you to Jim B who lent me his spare rear wheel so that I'd be able to keep a deep rim on the back but also keep the same gearing (11-21) as my spare from my road bike has lower gears on it so wouldn't feel as good.

What glorious weather, the only problem with it being getting a bit hot under my pointy titfer on the drag up to Tollgate, but that was easily solved by flipping up the visor to get a breeze on my face for a few minutes. Coming down from Tollgate and in to the roundabout I'd forgotten about the craters at the bottom. Wooooaaaa, dodge, dive, managed to miss most but caught one a belter with my front wheel. Blimey that made a very scary noise as the carbon rim hammered in to it. I spent a couple of miles occasionally leaning forward to run a finger against the edge of the rim to see if it was cracked, but it seemed okay just my heart that suffered.

I was concentrating on keeping the average as high as I could and really trying to keep the pace up on the little drags. Heading for the finish I spotted my Dad (who'd ridden down) and crossed the line. Knew I had a PB (would have been a disgrace not to get one today), and had been thinking I'd chip a lump off to nudge under 1.05. Happy bunny when I saw I had a 1:03:52.

Back to HQ and the next bit of good news, when I got off the bike I could walk . I'd nudged the saddle up a few mil after the problems last time and it seems to have worked. Bit sore in the hamstring and hip but I'm fairly sure that's just getting used to the extreme position of a TT bike so fingers crossed a few more races and that'll be sorted.

Agreeables:
Mark Mclaughlin 1:00:04 - oooo so close. Knocked about a minute of his PB but must have braked a bit to early at one of the turns .
Doug Shaw 1:04:50 - big PB
Tamar Collis 1:05:51
Andrew Green 1:03:52 PB by 2m29s .

Still agreeable even if not racing in yellow.
Jim Burdett 55:45
Dave Palmer 1:00:20
Keith Coffey 54:03
Dave Kennett 54:31

Event won by Laurence harding in 51:17

[Jon H]

Good stuff chaps - some huge improvements there.

The Viney whip cracking at Snoop must be doing him good.

[mark mclaughlin]

OH SO CLOSE!!
Today was on for another attempt to edge nearer under THE HOUR

A great morning for the ACCs even though I’m sure there was abit of a breeze! Gave it everything, even got in to top gear 50 x 12 in some sections and was hitting over 35mph so it felt faster. The usual drags are what they are but did get out of the saddle on some of the roundabout turns to keep the momentum going.

To the last southwater turn and I was realizing this is going to be Orribly close. Caught my 4min man as that road dragged up, just hate that last bit, could see the time keeper slowly getting nearer and just had enough for a sprint across the line.

Have to be pleased with another PB, 1:0:04 another minute off from 2 weeks ago.

Now I can mull over all those secounds which could have been?
Jim B reckons an Aero helmet would have helped.

Thought I Started off a bit too steady, riding a road bike with tri-bars of course and a compact also might be a factor??
Well done to Snoops especially and Andrew, both getting PBs again.

Good steady 2hr ride home, don’t know which was harder, especially over the south Norwood hills - didn’t help with a big bag on your back!

Off for a nap, Cheers.

[Snoop Doug]

My 4th PB on the trot at this distance. Holy Moley - I'm starting to know what pain is all about. I've had a lie down and I still ache big time. So - how did that happen eh?

I had a reasonable warm up this morning and the conditions were looking very good. I tootled out to the start wearing my secret weapon . A brand new ACC skinsuit. Boy is it tight or what I think I get an inch shorter once I get the damn thing on. Anyhoo....

Off I go - applying all of Coach Viney's top secret tips to the letter. I have my Garmin Edge on the cross bar tucked almost out of sight so I'm going mostly on how I feel. The first few miles pass uneventfully tho I can feel I'm doing good. Tollgate arrives and I'm up that quicker than ever before (no science mind, just feels quicker ) Got 35.6mph coming down the other side - so I know I can get quicker down there. Had to brake @ the bottom for traffic so scrubbed my speed. Never mind, back on the case and I push hard to the railway turn. I glance down and clock 30 something mph along the flat which I know is good.

Pain increasing so I recall a Beth Orton/Chemical Brothers tune to distract me from the hurt. Also mindful that Carole's Mum is going through hell @ the moment so - if she is, then why can't I type thinking.

Up and over Farthing interchange push hard down there and then cranking a smallish gear I keep the speed over 20mph up to the service station. On to the final turn, I'm really hurting by now - push push push. Flat out after final roundabout, finally dropping back a gear to keep the pedals turning before the finish. I'm spent. When I looked down and clocked a sub one oh five I nearly fell off in shock

I am chuffed to bits with my time. It's worth a moment to reflect on where I've come from in the past year:

22nd April 07 - SCCU 25 in 1.15.41
9th Sept 07 - SCCU 25 in 1.11.10 (PB)
20th April 08 - SCCU 25 in 1.10.15 (PB)
27th April 08 - ACC Open 25 in 1.08.32 (PB)
11th May 08 - NP 25 in 1.04.50 (PB)

Well done to everyone - particularly other members of the PB club

Thanks to richv - without his training regime through winter I couldn't have made this progress. What felt like a complete pain in the ar5e is now proving to be a great investment. Watch out folks - if I can continue to develop my relationship with pain - then I think I'm gonna start catching some of you

[John the old'un]

Well done Snoop, Andrew and Mark too. Fantastic effort.
Soon under the hour Mark I reckon.

[George]

Absoloutely Snooptastic that's gotta be one of the best improvements of the day well done.

Mark sooooo close, lets get you some decent kit and you'll be well under next time.

Andrew that's so much faster than before well done sir, indeed you'll be knocking on that Hour door soon I'm sure

And Tamar are you happy with that? That's getting on for 3 mins faster than last time hey.

[richv]

Well done everybody.

Mark we all know you would cruise inside the hour if you ever kit yourself up. Hope to see you crack it on your present gear though that would be a top achievement.

Very chuffed with Snoop's performance. No more playing the "I'm here to make everyone else feel quicker" card now. Unfortunately the next target is the hour and I'm sure there is a lot of pain to enjoy getting there.

[Toks]

Brilliant brilliant well done evryone. Snoop, I watched your Doppleganger on MTV performing with the human beatbox Doug E Fresh this morning . Hey Andrew (the systematic and structured trainer ) like Snoop its great watching you get PB's in nearly every race now. Keep it up. Who knows under the hour before the year out. Mark stop teasing and do the job

[Keith]

Well done guys and gal.

Mark, when's your next attempt at cracking at the hour?

[Michelle]

Fantastic results for everyone, a really good weekend for the Agreeables on the TT front. Brilliant news!

[Tamar]

Yes, brilliant results by all (except me - no George I am not happy with that but there you go - I should eat less and ride more and there's no-one to blame but myself).

Absolutely delighted for Snoop and Andrew - both deservedly excellent times.

And Mark...oh so close!

[Andrew G]

Piccies = [url]http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.com/viewdir.tlx?albumid=150598[/url]
Stick the race number in the search box and it'll grab all those lovely shots of Agreeables in skinsuits and/or funny hats.

Mark 52
Snoop 54 (only 2 pics but fine tongue work. Not overly aero there though )
Tamar 86
Me 94 (don't know what I was doing in 4 and 5, sit up and beg on tri-bars . Presumably I was about to move to brake.)