Evening 10 #2 Report

With high winds over the weekend making cycling a most risky enterprise, it was nice to see that the forecast for the following Wednesday and the second evening 10 tt was looking almost perfect, but as usual, it would be a case of ‘wait and see’ if the medium range weather forecast would be anywhere near accurate. The last few seasons have seen the early season time trials blighted with poor weather and we are surely owed a good early season weather window or two. This one turned out to be an almost perfect evening and more than we could have hoped for at this time of year. A float night? In May? Who’d have thought it!?

It was our largest ever start list for an evening 10 and even with a few non-starters, a few private time trial riders bulked the field out to 29 riders. For a relatively small club that’s a fantastic turnout and it’s great to see so many members actively racing this year and making the club points harder to earn.

Stuart Pearce was riding for the first time this season and we were hoping to see a battle between him and Marcus Edwards for the top spot. Unfortunately, this did not materialise owing to Marcus puncturing before barely leaving the car park. At least that meant we had his services at the start to push off but on what turned out to be such a fast night this must have been particularly annoying for him. It was a pleasure to see Ken Williams starting his first tt in a while as well as a field of seven female riders including Robyn Williams from the Addiscombe Club riding one of our events for the first time.

The excellent conditions were highlighted by the 9 personal bests achieved, including Stuart’s stunning 21:50, to take the event win. I would think that on a faster course and a bit later in the season Gary Dodd’s 18 year old club record at 21:24 could be broken. Russell Williams took the second spot with his pb in 23:28. Another fantastic performance, remembering that he’s riding a road frame. In full tt set up I am sure that he could comfortably go sub 23. That said, the way he’s riding at the moment he probably doesn’t need it. David Watt took the third spot with a very impressive pb in 23:34. Simon Trehearn continued his consistent form also ducking under 24 minutes with a 23:52 to keep the lead in the Club Scratch Championship.

Jake Dodd made use of the hilly miles that she completed in Majorca to take the win in the female race with a 26:21, with Florence Hallett and Rachel Watkins coming home in second and third, both getting in under 30 minutes.

The other pb riders were myself, frustratingly shy of sub 24, and Simon Tottle, frustratingly shy of sub 26, James Roberts, Jenni Chapman who was 2:04 faster than her first ride over the course a fortnight ago, Patrick Ryan and Rick Opie, despite shipping his chain again! I know he's getting quicker at putting it back on but maybe getting his indexing sorted out, he'll go even faster next time!

A special mention should go to Simon Waller who is putting in some serious miles for his attempt in next month’s 24 hour event, who cycled from Bognor, completed the tt and then cycled back again to complete a very solid day’s training.

Thanks again to James and David for putting out and retrieving the signs, Marcus for pushing off and to Frank for his usual sterling work with the watches.