Redmon GP 2008

[Andrew G]

A fine turnout today from Addiscombe for the Annual Redmon GP.

My Dad wasn't going to do it this year as he doesn't want to do a race if he can't race it, and being a social cyclist in his vintage certainly doesn't want to train for an event. I have to say I can't blame him. However I came up with the idea of doing it as a final swansong for Team Green and just to ride it for fun, with both of us on fixed wheel and not to worry about any time.

I'd rebuilt the Holdsworth up and after a few spins he decided to go for a gear to match his age 72" . I went a bit bigger to give me more control on the very undulating course.

It really struck me this year (more than in previous years) that this is certainly not a vintage veteran friendly course as it has a number of hills and a lot of drags that go on for quite a while, hills of any sort are not much fun apparently once you advance in years.

He got round in 54 minutes (so an average of 17s) which if I can do at 72 on fixed wheel and no training I'll be very happy. Good fun and I've really enjoyed these end of season TTs with my Dad the last few years. A fine way to retire from racing, and I shall now be on the lookout for a new vet next year.

The A team of Dominic paced by George really flew, and PVT/Jon H and John L/Tamar did some great times too.

Thanks to the great and good of ACC, Joyce and Jim, for their support on the course.

As a final note the winners were the expected pairing of Prebble and Instone who are both right at the top of the pile Nationally. The staggering thing is that they did 33mins something which if I've read the info on the startsheet correctly is a new event record by over a minute, and that's taking the record previously held by a couple of nobodies called Sean Yates paced by Bradley Wiggins!

[Jon H]

I was teamed up with PVT this morning, and I knew I had my work cut out as we've been doing comparable times all season. If there's anything Paul has learned from his 40+ years of bike riding it's how to follow a wheel, so I wasn't too worried about whether I would drop him. My plan was to go as hard as I could as if I was riding solo, and glance back every so often just to make sure he was still there. Well every time I looked between my legs there he was six inches behind me (steady Finbar ).

We had a "pretty in pink" Pearson ladies team two minute ahead of us, and caught them at Beare Green. Apart from them we were on our own all the way round, so it was difficult to judge how we were doing. At times I was wishing it was a normal 2-up so Paul could come through and do some work, as I was suffering on some of the drags. Sooner than I was expecting we were at the final left turn into Inholm's Lane. I made one final effort to the "200m to go" sign, then shouted "Go on Paul". My work was done, and he came round and sprinted for the line.

I didn't note down any results as I didn't have a pen, but if I remember correctly George & Dominic 36 mins something which would have put them well into the top 10. PVT and I did a 39 which was around 12th; quite pleased with that placing out of 55 teams on the start sheet. The other ACC teams of Mark Bayliss & Rob R-E, and Rich V & Terry, and semi-agreeable Dave P & Nick M were around 42 minutes, then Tamar & John in 45 minutes.

That's the first time I'd done that event. Next year I'll be a vet so I can do the wheel-sucking.

[Dominic]

George and I did a 36.33. I think that was good enough for 4th

It was real eye opener racing with George. We just ride completely differently. I sort of like to build up and George is just BANG and on it. Apart from touching wheels on the first drag, which is pretty scary on tri-bars, it was superb.

I felt guilty at times because my instinct was to come round George when he was struggling and give him a tow but that was against the rules

We were off 41 and caught 39 and 38 and I have to say we went past them like they were standing still.

I think George gave the marshalls at the left turn down to Henfold heart failure when he came a bit close to a caravan coming the other way.


All I can say is thanks George a really good way to end the season, roll on the next one!!

[Dominic]

Full result here:
http://www.redmoncc.co.uk/html/r191008.html

[George]

This was something really different today.

I knew I was in for some serious pain this morning because we are fairly equal riders so I had to work flat out
Whenever I looked between my legs I could see the front of Dom's wheel always there, no matter how hard I tried I could not drop him, and believe me I tried

We touched wheels as I got out the saddle on one of the drags, felt ok for me, well held Dom

[quote]It was real eye opener racing with George. We just ride completely differently

[Andrew G]

[url=http://www.pjwphotos.co.uk/WebSite/191008/index.html]Photos from PJ Wright[/url]

[Mike I]

"... George ... struggling..." It's not often you see those words in the same sentence.

First One-club team though, so surely worth the effort .

[Jon H]

Spot who's trying to set a new trend of wearing different coloured armwarmers

[Sylv]

Well done guys. Must've felt a bit like a tandem ride except the effort wasn't shared so fairly!

[Roy Green]

Kind thoughts from Andrew above. Time for me to pay a tribute to a splendid pacer. Any successor to me following his very steady wheel is guaranteed 15+ miles of nurture and encouragement at just the right pace level. Riding fixie in the Redmon was tough. I always did best on fixed in short distance TTs in the dim and distant past. But a different matter now, on such a course; over 5 minutes slower than my time last year on gears. Should have stuck to the initial 68-inch gearing trial choice … But curiously, I did enjoy the fixie experience again.
Fact is, after progressing (regressing?) from my first-ever TT, the Withington Wheelers Novices 25 in April 1953 to this (wonder how many total time trialing miles that would make?) I guess it really is time to pack in with signing on sheets and take a more leisurely line in riding. Curiously, I find it a mite difficult to square with that; but guess I should just be content with pushing myself on lone rides or out with the club run!
Really mixed feelings though. I had a sense of relief passing the timekeeper at the top of that final agonising grind up to the North Holmwood woodland car park, and one of sadness walking away from the HQ tea, cakes and chat session that is the best part, surely, of any TT. But heck, I can still enjoy the latter as a supporter in years to come, and leave the suffering to the young ‘uns. John Lovell is one not so young who did a blinder of a Redmon ride, 45min 04secs behind the queenly Tamar. Super ride, John!
Roy

[Snoop Doug]

Some great posts here - and blimey - coach Viney on a bike in the photo gallery

[John the old'un]

Roy,
It will seem strange knowing you won't be waiting for the 5-4-3-2-1-go any more.
Sad that you have decided to call it a day, but what a fantastic thing to be able to look back over the years and remember all the good times that TTing has brought you.
As for my ride there is some doubt about my time on Sunday as Tamar reckons it was a minute slower. However I asked them to check it and they have confirmed it as 45.04 and that is what they have put on the result sheet. It cetainly felt a fast one and we seemed to be going much faster than last year.
We were so lucky with the weather, and I like the pictures of you and Andrew on Paul Wright's website. Worth getting I reckon as a memento of your final effort.
Well done Roy.Top banana.