Monday, May 28, 2007

Hounslow 100

I'm not sure of the genesis of this plan: Jake needed an alternative 100 to the SCCU one as she is unable to ride, Jackie was keen to try her first 100 and Ann is always up for rides that make the rest of us wilt.

So it came about that the three of them entered the Hounslow 100 on Sunday May 27th, in preference to the mere 10 miles of the Interclub 10 that the rest of us wimps were riding. In theory is was an attempt on the Club Team Record of 16-0-47, requiring an average time of 5 hours 20.

As can be seen by the times of the 10 (previous post) the cold wet morning was not to the liking of many of us. Frank decided that perhaps timekeeping really was the lesser of the evils, David was the only rider to improve his 10 time - compared to the balmy evening the other week - and Tony finally managed to get round without puncturing (if I'm not mistaken, the first time he's actually crossed a finish line this season!). The Wheelers had Naz as their sole representative and Trevor likewise for the Festival so, as has been the pattern of recent years, the Interclub aspect was a washout.

With the cold and damp, the majority opted for a warm, dry breakfast at Wetherspoons in Leatherhead, but Pete and I drove over to join Andy and Brian at the 100 on the basis that I like to see people out when I'm getting my money's-worth in a long distance event.

Andy had foregone points in the club event to help Jackie, and Brian, with time on his hands due to the impending redundancy, was out to help Jake; and both were offering assistance to Ann who, as usual, had planned to ride unassisted.

Ann was off first at no. 12, Jackie at no. 14 and Jake at no. 17. As we joined the course, at the Farnham end, we saw Jackie coming the other way having covered around 45 miles and going strongly. Ann was some way back and we must have crossed with Jake where you can't see across the central reservation, although we did catch a glimpse of Andy's cap as he rode the other way. Having sussed where our riders were we turned at the 10 turn and retraced to the HQ in an effort to find a start sheet (no luck) and some breakfast (success, the event tea team were just ramping up). Heading back down the course we met Andy and Brian in the bus stop at the top of the Bentley slip road. They reported that Jackie was motoring along just shy of evens despite the unpleasant conditions and Jake was gaining slightly on Ann, both plodding on steadily and all looking somewhat bedraggled.

On a wet day, especially for a distance event, the problem is that you get cold and the hands stop working, even if the legs can be relied upon to push and the body temperature is just warm enough. Changing gear becomes harder, getting into the food in your pockets becomes a challenge - and worst of all - even when you get the food out the packets stubbornly refuse to open.

Between 50 and 75 miles Jackie continued to surge ahead, her focus changing to a battle with Jill Bartlett of the Hounslow who was riding at a similar speed having started 2 minutes behind her; Jake caught and passed Ann and began to see no.13 ahead (Ginny Henderson of the Didcot Phoenix, also riding steadily in her first 100. She started slightly faster than Jake and began tailing off, where Jake has a reputation for starting steadily and getting faster the longer she rides). As always Ann looked uncomfortable on the bike, but she was ploughing on steadily and feistily notheless.

With the HQ in the middle of the lap, the riders were dropping like flies, unable to resist the lure of the Bentley slip-road passed twice on every lap. After the 4th time past the finish point Jake stopped with Brian where he was waiting at the Hen & Chicken. Having covered over 80 miles she was finding that the usual problems with cold hands were made worse be the nerve problem currently affecting her right hand. Unable to change gear for the last 20 miles, nor get the food out of her pocket, she couldn't face a further 20 miles of the same. Sopping wet, she was soon getting cold, and while Brian loaded her bike and her stuff into his car she enjoyed the full warmth of the fan in my car (which we still needed after our soggy start to the day).
While we sat there Jackie came and joined us having finally finished in under 5 hours - an excellent first 100 under any circumstances, but worth a faster time in better conditions.

Ann continued doggedly on, passing the Hen & Chicken with around 10 miles to go as we all decamped to the HQ, finishing with a time of 5:43:47.

Congratulations to all three, whatever the result, for soldiering on under the conditions. Although, writing this on Monday morning, the wind that was forcast for yesterday is blowing strongly and I think we can all be thankful that it didn't come yesterday.

Split times:
100 25 50 75
12 Ann Bath 5:43:47 1:21:07 2:44:59 4:15:40
14 Jackie Townsend 4:58:08 1:14:57 2:29:32 3:41:57
17 Jake Dodd DNF 1:21:26 2:42:35 4:05:15
16 Jill Bartlett 4:57:25 1:12:29 2:27:06 3:42:05
13 Ginny Henderson 5:41:18 1:19:04 2:41:34 4:08:41

Lisa

1 comment:

  1. Congrats Jackie and Ann on a completing a ride in such tough conditions. Jackie well done for showing such grit a determination and a time you can be proud of.

    Jake, so close.... well done anyway for perservering, the weather could have been kinder. I always carry toasti toes - in your case maybe some toasti handwarmers would have done the trick.. anyway sorry to hear you are having some problems with your hands-hope they get better sooner.

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