GS Invicta 25

[Andrew G]

I was off to Kent (Challock, near Ashford) today for a 25. The day didn't start too well as I unavoidably ran over a rabbit on the way there, not nice when you've been brought up on Beatrix Potter books. Riding down to the start I passed a house with a sign outside, "Baby rabbits free to a good home" .

I rode this course twice last year and wasn't happy with my performances. It's sometimes a SPOCO qualifying course, although it's not really that sporting. It's a Y shape on single carriageway A roads, with a downhill start and then a slight drag to the first turn, then back towards the start and left down the other bit of the Y. This is the longest leg and has a lump and a couple of niggly drags in each direction before you return back and left to the finish. I ballsed up the lump and drags last year and suffered recovering just after for a few minutes.

There's an old time trialling line that you can tell when it's a good day as everyone says it was a headwind in both directions*. Well today it was a headwind in both directions , a good temperature for me too not being too hot but just nice when you're racing.

I rode the course right today, had good legs (freshly shaved so looking mighty fine as well ) and powered up the drags and over the lumps well, keeping the speed up but not killing myself on them so I'd pay for it afterwards. I knew I was on a good ride but still pleasantly surprised when I checked my watch after passing the finish. I did a 1:02:38 and a new PB, by a reasonably healthy margin too . I hoped to go well here as I like the course as it's got a bit of interest on it. Back in a few weeks for the Thanet 25 so hopefully nice weather for that too.

Pete Tadros won with 53:38 and fastest woman was Deborah Percival in 1:06:22.



* [size=85]calm in case you hadn't worked it out so you go well and create a headwind of your own all the time.[/size]

[Dominic]

Nice one Andrew. Always nice to PB. Congratulations

[tel]

Well done Andrew-I reckon you`ll go `under` sometime soon.

Terry

[Antloony]

Great result, as Tel says you'll get that 'under' time the way your going.

[Jon H]

Good stuff Andrew; getting the miles in and eating flapjack seems to be working for you.

[George]

Nice ride Andrew, take it in steps one at a time first sub 1 for a 25 then a sub 2 for a 50 and then sub 4 for a hundred. Doesn't look too bad on paper

[Snoop Doug]

Top ride mate, you must be feeling rightfully righteous dude

Confession time. Last year, when I was making big TT improvements, there were two people I was after (time-wise...). First was Tamar, then Mr . I never caught you Andrew, but I enjoyed trying and I always look forward to reading about your progress. Maybe one day I'll be catching you up again. Keep it going dude.

[Andrew G]

Thanks folks, although going under is easier to say than do, hope to get there one day though. I seem to have got my head sorted better this season, of late anyway, and have to say thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Lowe for this. Rachael's talk gave me some very helpful pointers about using triggers if I feel my mind starting to wander, and then I hear Dominic in my head saying "if your legs aren't hurting you're not trying hard enough" . Hopefully I won't drift off with the fairies so much anymore.

One way to find out Sean , the Thanet 25 on 5th July's on the same course and I'm doing it so could give a lift if you want. It's single carriageway A roads Marco but not very trafficy and the surface is pretty good too, just a couple of d-dum, d-dum stone sorter bits.

Oh I was well aware you were getting hot on my heels Snoop, gave me a kick up the bum in a couple of races I can tell you.

[Mike I]

You're getting mighty close to my pb there Mr . A calm day for the Farnham RC 25 should do it I reckon.

[mark mclaughlin]

Well done Mr Green, shows you your finding your race head and chipping away your PB's nicely.
September always seems the month to get the calmer mornings.. still plenty of time to get under.

Thinking of entering that 25 on 5th July if I can bag a lift?

[Andrew G]

[quote="mark mclaughlin"]Thinking of entering that 25 on 5th July if I can bag a lift?

[quote="mark mclaughlin"]Thinking of entering that 25 on 5th July if I can bag a lift?

[Ivor]

[quote="Andrew G"]The day didn't start too well as I unavoidably ran over a rabbit on the way there,