Told you you should have come out with the 19's Andrew, our ride sounds like the exact opposite to yours, everyone well behaved and riding sensibly. I was feeling a bit ropey after a week of very little sleep due to getting up at stupid o'clock to go fishing every day last week whilst on my parents boat up in Cheshire, what with that and being sat on my bottom 90% of the time and not going within 200 miles of my bike my legs felt really stiff. Add to that what feels like a cold starting then its safe to say I suffered a little, mainly my legs though. Luckily the pace was pretty even all through the ride and the thru and off was nice and smooth.
What with my legs being in poor shape I didn't feel like going flat out for the sprint esp when faced with the prospect of being up against The Shadow and Adam so agreed I'd give them a lead out. I hit the front on the last straight going past Gatwick and wound the pace up to 30+ mph round the bends and just used every last bit of energy I had in my legs to keep up the speed. Coming round the last bend before the straight to the sign I flicked my elbow, job done I pulled out the way and watched Steve and Adam battle it out with Steve just about taking the honours. Was thanked for my hard work which I have to confess I did enjoy, makes a nice change from sprinting.
BH route home, suffered on the way back as my legs really began to fall off.....till I got on to the 217 then picked up the pace...and more...and more and TT'd the last 4 miles home on my own averaging 27mph, work that one out though, its as though my legs suddenly decieded to wake up and start working....a bit to late in the day though.
Weather stayed dry thankfully to make it an enjoyable if not painfull ride at times.