Epsom CC 25 TT

[mark mclaughlin]

5 of us entered the Epsom 25 this morning,

Was getting a lift from Jon when I heard a tap on our window- realised my alarm hadn’t gone off so completely over slept!!
Didn’t keep Jon waiting too long all ready packed the night before.

The fog was pretty thick as we approach the HQ and we were wondering if it was going to be cancelled, No mention from organisers so we were on.

The fog was very patchy in places and it was brass monkey on my warm up!
Fingers were frozen but the time I got to the timekeeper but the sun was showing its face, little wind - this was going to be a floater!

Kept it smooth and controlled, legs were feeling good, great to get a shout from Paul T on the Rusper bridge. Thanks Paul.
Rest of the ride was keeping the concentration and rhythm together, the sun was feeling warm and pushing it up to the final southwater turn was getting it in top 50 x 12 on the decents. The last drag was approaching and legs were still good, could see the finish getting closer and the wind was being kind.
Felt satisfied with my effort but even more when I got back to the HQ

New PB: 58.49 ! thats 54secs off.

What a day, great way to end the season for me and maybe my last TT ride on my trusty Ribble, did me proud today.

Dom was storming, won’t give it away!
Jon Hemming :1.1.58
Robert :59.34ish? Good on you Rob
Andrew DNS/ where were you?

Steve Dennis won : 51.55 jeez

[Andrew G]

Fantastic ride Mark, congratulations that's damn fast. Like the A Team it's all come together for you this season .
I'm dog sitting this weekend and also handing over my car to its new owner so it was all going to be a bit too hectic fitting this in too. I let the organiser know last week though so one of the reserves could get a ride.
[quote="mark mclaughlin"]this was going to be a floater!

[Dominic]

It was a bit nippy even at 9am and I had to warm up with my jacket on. I was I have to say fairly relaxed about the whole thing after last week. If I am honest I mucked the opening miles up and my legs felt like lead heading up the first drag just before I saw Mr PVT!!!

I was 92 and the guy who was off 91 had a power tap and all the gear. I caught him within about 3 miles from the start and I started to worry that he was riding to power and would come flying past me later and I had started too fast. Ha Ha Ha

I can honestly say I have never, barring the first few miles, ridden that course better and my philosophy was simple. Keep off the big gears and pedal the ones that I was using. I was in 53x15 for 90% of the time. The lowest was 53x17 the highest 53x13. I made sure that I changed down rather that rolling the gears. I started my push for home a lot later and the difference going up to the Southwater roundabout and back was amazing. Even if I hadn't done a PB I couldn't have asked for more. Mark was off 87. With the exception of him and no 90, I caught 91,89,88 and a couple of others who were obviously struggling.

Thought I had done a 57 when I had finished but was rewarded with a 56.50!!!

Very very happy

[George]

Well done indeed Mark and Dominic 2 pb's now that's magic

Mark I can't wait to see what your gonna do on a TT bike next year.

I was thinking of you yesterday morning Dom, I could see it was a float day and was worried that you were gonna take away the 25 trophy, boy it was close

[Dominic]

If I had realised there was a trophy involved I would have tried a bit harder

[Jon H]

I was amazed that the event started, as visibility in the fog was pretty bad between Great Daux & Rusper; the previous day PVT & I went up to the E2 course to marshall an ECCA event which ended up being cancelled because of the fog.

Obviously the extra adrenalin rush Mark got when I woke him up did him good and helped get that new PB. (Mark at 6.15am; )

So; PBs for Mark & Dominic, a season's best for Rob, and another mediocre result for me. Still, 3 out of 4 aint bad. (Us at HQ; )

Andrew, dog-sitting is a DNS excuse I've not heard before, you've excelled yourself.

[Andrew G]

Sub 57 crivens that's nippy, just think if you'd have got the start right .

Jon - I've said before that I have a very big bad of excuses to dip in to (wait until the hill climbs ). Not trying to dodge this one though as my Dad said he always did a quick 25 after he did a 12hr and this was going to be my only chance (after the 2-up option went) to find out if this performance trait had dripped through the bloodline.

[Dominic]

To be honest Andrew I think mucking up the start helped immensley as I THOUGHT I had bad legs and didn't push the first half of the race as hard as I usually do!!

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Dominic"]To be honest Andrew I think mucking up the start helped immensley as I THOUGHT I had bad legs and didn't push the first half of the race as hard as I usually do!!

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

It was certainly nippy when I sneaked out of the house at 7:00am to give the Agreeables a good shout.

Mr Hemming looked cool as he descended Tollgate (or wa that the temperature?), then over the roundbout to see Rob moving swiftly over the roundabout, and wait for Mr who was either (a) very slow, (b) disguised as a tall Epsom rider or (c) DNS - answers on a postcard....
Then I moved on to the tough climb (for me anyway) over the railway to give encouragement to Mark - who was grinning too much, it obviously wasn't hurting enough and Dom who was only 40 seconds behind his minute man (90) with a Cervelo, disc etc - had to double and triple check the watch - he was definitely on a blinder, and I also got a grin as he went past.

Sorry I couldn't hang around to the finish, but I had to get back before Mrs T realised I was missing

Just read the times you posted - top rides.

Guru P