SERRL - Frant - 11th May

[Keith]

[quote="Sylv"]What was that noise early in the race - it sounded like someone's back wheel had disintegrated, and a big pile-up narrowly avoided.

[Michelle]

That looked so tough. You all looked like you'd been vying together in the ' who can best immitate a salt pan' competition.

Really good write ups everyone. Could only see the pain on the finishing hill so good to get a description of the pain round the rest of the circuit.

Bad luck Paul with just missing getting placed. You are an inspiration for all us vets!

[kieran]

Well, here is my report. Turned up in time thanks to a lift from Sylv. Signed on as Number 1 (bad omen) and got ready (Two 750ml of weak energy drink and 4 or 5 gels). We all lined up behind the lead car, which then lead the 80 or so of us to the start. And away we went! I managed to position myself somewhere in the first 1/3 or the bunch, but on the inside (left hand side). This then meant I was trapped there and couldn’t move up, which seemed to take place on the outside; where there was a constant stream of riders moving up, using the other side of the road. It was a bit hairy bombing down the hills on unknown roads trying to keep an eye on the riders in front and also on the edge of the road. Managed fine for almost one lap and then got a rear wheel pinch puncture on a pothole. Stopped and watched the bunch disappear, moving quite rapidly. A neutral service car stopped and I got a wheel change (thanks to whoever’s spare wheel it was). As I got pushed off another rider passed by (Dulwich) and I latched on. We then started to try and chase back over the next lap, passing some lone dropped riders and eventually caught a small group of dropped riders who then kept with us for the next three laps. We never managed to catch the bunch, which I later heard was strung out in a line by the pace up front, so we probably had little chance. The Dulwich guy did more than his share of the work, then me, whilst the others we caught did little, until the Dulwich guy dropped out with one lap to go. I managed to finish the race and got a good work out due to the chasing and turns up front on our little peloton. I think I got the food/drink about right. No toilet stops required! Actually, given the heat, I needed the opposite and had two great cups of tea in the HQ afterwards.

Oh, my quesstimate (as I had a rear wheel change my sensor didn't work anymore so had no idea of speed during the race) on speed; 5 laps at 12.8 miles a lap according to Gmaps Pedometer, so a nice round 64 miles. It took me 2h55min15s so an average of about 22mph, as it is quite a rolling course I am fairly happy with that but next time I’d like to not puncture). From Sylv's report, another quesstimate puts he bunch speed at 24mph and a time of 2h39min. That puts us at 16 min behind or 1/2 a lap or 6.4 miles! A total of 75 miles adding in the ride to and from my lift. Thanks to Keith and Michelle for the support as well.

[Sylv]

brilliant i don't even get a finish ... wasn't i ahead of Phil S?

1st Gareth McCullogh Medway Velo
2nd Kevin Knox Dulwich Paragon
3rd Ivan Jordan Medway Velo
4th Tom Crouch Felt Racing
5th Joe Godding SFA CC
6th Robert Bordi Beyond Mountain Bikes
7th Ishmael Burdeau Agiskoviner
8th Daniel Felsted Dulwich Paragon
9th Will Hayter London Dynamo
10th Steven Saunders Kingston Wheelers
11th Paul Hone Adiscombe CC
12th Andy Waterman Norwood Paragon
13th Phil Sheenan Finchley RT
14th Tom Spreckley In Gear Dev RT
15th Neil Archibald VC Elan
16th David Jones Dulwich Paragon
17th Matthew Smith Gemini BC
18th Malcolm Davies Kent Cycles
19th Tony Upson VC Deal
20th Lewis Earthrowl-gould In Gear Dev RT
21st Kevin Tye O.D.L.S.com
22nd Simon Fox Team MK
23rd Niall Digby Sigma Sport
24th Jean Luc Magguilli Dulwich Paragon
25th Luke Anderson Wigmore CC
26th Daniel Clark Brighton Mitre
27th Andrew Eagles Dulwich Paragon
28th Philip Glowinski VC Londres
29th Ben Malland VC Meudon
30th Neil Pearson Colourtech
31st Marek Siwiki Addiscombe CC
32nd Jake Butler In Gear Dev RT
33rd George Brent Addiscombe CC
34th David Seager SFA CC
35TH David White Private
36TH Rob Robbins Sydenham Whlrs
37TH Valentino Fontana Gemini BC
38TH Fraser Wildman O.D.L.S.com
39TH Steve Atkinson G.S. Stella
40TH Brad Lamb Victoria CC
41st Cameron Carthen Medway Velo
42nd Andrew Morley VC Ingear
43rd Martin Kelly Gemini BC
44th Philip Webb San FAiry Ann CC
45th Phillip Murrell Finsbury Park CC
46th Robert Jackson VC Deal
47th Kieran Brennan Addiscombe CC
48th Mark Hill O.D.L.S.com
49th Neil Bradford Twickenham CC

[George]

[quote]brilliant i don't even get a finish ... wasn't i ahead of Phil S?

[Sylv]

Brent, you were eyewitness to my latest attempt to purchase a blasted jersey

Hell I had more club kit than Paul H did!!!