Addiscombe Open 10 TT

[Snoop Doug]

Number 38 please.....that's me, Number 38. It's windy and the sky looks heavy - ready to rain. 18th September 2004 2.38pm and I've just been called to the start line for my very first Open 10 mile Time Trial, I'm crappin' me pants. Phil Nash holds the bike so I can get locked into the pedals. They know it's my first time so a bit of gentle encouragement follows, "go out as hard as you can and kill yourself". Gee thanks folks! Phil man tells me that on the count of five he'll begin to rock the bike back and forth and give me a gentle push off on.....Go!

I'm off - a short spurt down the sheltered slip road and onto the dual carriageway. For those few seconds before joining the main road I think hey - this ain't too bad. Then it hits me - a stiff wind right in my face and almost immediately the road begins to rise into aseemingly endless upwards drag.

Pedal pedal pedal - puff puff puff - short of breath - no rhythm - I get to the first roundabout and I'm feeling really sick. What's more I've covered just 2.67 miles of the circuit and I'm crawling. As a newbie to this malarkey - there seems to be an unwritten rule that you need to "go better than evens" which I find out means you'd better crack sub 30 minutes or you ain't diddly. This is my goal - for me and the rest of the club who've turned out to watch - I bet it's been years since a newbie failed to go better than evens.

Onward to the turn - I'm mashing the pedals but I still ain't going anywhere near fast enough. Oh great - the rain's started. For a few seconds it just spots down and then as the turn point looms - the heavens open. I reach the turn, 4.91 miles completed, in 15 min 44 sec. Do the math - I am way off the pace.

The race of truth....contre la montre....me and the clock....me and the clock....

It's grit yer teeth and go time - what goes around comes around and the wind which pushed me so firmly backwards now obligingly assists for the first time today. I'm getting soaked but hey - I'm starting to move on too. The return leg is slightly longer than the way out but.....surely not....could I make up enough time to go better than evens...?

I thrash on and lose track of everything except my feet locked in combat with two chunks of metal - pull/push..pull/push..there's spit running all over my face and I'm gasping - it's pissing down so hard I go right past the finish line and don't even see it!

A couple of hundred yards to slow down - turn off the road and stumble into North Holmwood village hall. I can barely stand but I make my way over to the results board......and wait. Finally my time is announced......29 min 26 sec. Whadd'ya know I did it - I went better than evens in a strong wind and filthy rain - I'm soaked but a change of clothes followed by a cup of sweet tea and a slice of cake and I'm feeling well chuffed.

Ah - but it is Gud!

Snoop

[richv]

Relevant results were:

1. S Smythe (PCA Ciclos Uno) 22.02
4. M Cole (ACC) 22.53
13. R Royle-Evatt (ACC) 24.48
21. T Hill (ACC) 27.05
29. D Shaw (ACC) 29.26

Team prize ACC - Cole, Royle-Evatt, Hill

Particular thanks must go to everyone who helped out on the day. Without them these things wouldn't happen and all too often it is the same people who end up helping out.

Congratulations to Doug, breaking 30 minutes on his first 10 on Saturday was pretty impressive with most other people 1 to 2 minutes down on their best times.

[Elliot M]

Good account Doug!

I still haven't gone better than 30 mins!

(I have an excuse though... 1st TT on mountain bike, 2nd attempt (not ACC event) my result was lost!)