Classic League Evening Tens |
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March - May |
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Brighton Mitre (Hilly) 10 miles (GS/995)
Report by Jim Cheek: A relatively new course, this time trial is basically a flat 9 mile run-in with a nasty sting in the tale -an ascent of Steyning Bostal! Climbing the Bostal at the best of times is hard enough but when you've already been riding flat out along the A283 for 20 odd minutes you remember what it's like to suffer... That aside, it was a lovely morning with hardly any wind. The organiser, Robin Johson, was pleased to get 47 entries, as in previous years it has been nearer to half this. I was dissapointed to be the only Wanderer on the start sheet, which saw entries from over 17 clubs/teams. Hard-core veterans Michael Coyle and Tim Stevens were primed as the fastest on paper, and this is exactly how it resulted. Coyle got a new course record, breaking the 25 minute barrier for the first time, with 24-42, whilst Stevens also sneaked under with 24-58. I was hoping to break 26 minutes, but was 4 secs outside. However, I was quite pleased with 6th place overall - another 5 seconds faster and I would have tied 4th with Tim Mardall and Mark Jones. The most amusing thing about the whole event was hanging around on the bostal afterwards to see the other cyclists suffer - I've never seen so many disk wheels turn so slowly!
Tooting BC (Sporting) 37.3 miles (GS/486)
Report from Jim Cheek: The event is called the '42' but in actual fact the distance is currently 37.3 miles, on a revised GS/485 course. Well, it was a nice sunny morning, if not a bit blustery, and most people moaned that it was too cold, but that didn't stop Mike Coyle from roaring round in a ridiculous time (1.25.43) and catching everyone else. Three Wanderers were entered for this one - the usual suspects, John, Jeremy and myself, but surprisingly no Mark. The perfect opportunity to get a few more points in the bag for the Classic League! As my Trek more or less officially snapped in two during last week's Danehill, I was on my Corima, which is a little uncomfortable for Time Trialling, but still not bad. Generally I felt okay, but was a bit annoyed to have no speed gauge and also that my heart rate moniter went to pot half way round. The other unusuall thing that always seems to happen is that I lose a single contact lense. I was a bit alarmed to lose my left lense after only 2 miles, and even more alarmed to see it dangling in front of me on the viser of my new aero helmet for the next 10 miles. Luckily I maintained vision in my right eye for the remaining 35 miles! Generally it was fast going on the way out, but I think everyone struggled with the cross-winds on the return (particularly up the A29 home). I was pleased with 9th, but didn't get the chance to chat to Jeremy or John afterwards.
Total Entry: 47 Riders Fastest Rider: Mike Coyle
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Other Wanderers going fast
Colin Harris Reports: managed a PB in the Addicombe 25 on 1st May on G25/53. Time was 57m46s my previous best was 59m06s on the same course. Let’s hope I can keep it up for the rest of the season.
Circuit of Danehill 18.11 miles (GS/891) Jim beats Club Record by 7 seconds
On a beautiful warm morning Jim Cheek continued a remarkable season of new records with the fastest ever Danehill ride. Jim beat Shane Faulkner's record set in 1999 by 7 seconds. Mark Winton who himself had set new Club Records in the first two Club Championships this year, finished 1minute and 22 seconds faster than his winning time of last year but still 45 seconds behind Jim. John Mankelow finished best of the rest in a respectable time, but Jim and Mark were so far ahead of the rest that they also took the handicap awards. Now as a retired (ex) racer I don't mind getting out of bed to do my bit to help the sport. But when two unmentionable (non-racing cyclist type) people comment on my 'new gut' and an over tanned 65 year old semi-slow-pro tells me I'm balding! Well should I have stayed in bed or gone out on my bike and should I wear a hat for pushing off duties? Talking of hats I was pleased to give Jim my old Briko aero hat, it had served me well for some years and I was glad to see it used again. And as Jim kindly mentioned in an email, it could have produced the 7 seconds that gave him a cherished club record. But I wouldn't want to take any credit for an excellent ride by Jim would I?
Jim Cheek |
Mark smashes Club Record by 1 minute and 1 second
Mark Winton was quickest in 56:52, beating the previous championship record of 57:53 held by Dave Pollard (1999). Jim Cheek returning from some fun in the sun, and still suffering the consequences with a trip to the bushes, almost got under the hour, beating Roger Watts to second by just 6 seconds. Peter Baker in his first race of the year was fourth. If my scribbling is right, John Mankelow got the better of Jeremy Meades by just one second, I am sure they will be searching out aerodynamic advantages ready for next weekends Danehill Circuit. Peter
Tadros was quickest (53:12 or was that his fixed gear ratio?)
Total Entry: 97 Riders Fastest Rider: Peter Tadros
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Newhaven Beddingham 9.93 miles on Sunday the 3rd April Mark smashes Club Record by 29 seconds
Mark Winton broke Dave Pollards 1998 course record by a very impressive 29 seconds to secure another win and repeat his victory of 2004. It's going to be a tough season for anyone trying to challenge Mark over the shorter distance time trials. Felix English (12) and his Dad Bruce (older) took the first and second Handicap awards for a family clean sweep.
Classic League roundup: After the four early season events seven different riders have scored points, this is the best start for many years. We also have two riders in the 40 point zone, this score would normally have been a winning total in previous years. We can therefore look forward to a good battle for overall honours between Mark and Jim. They have a break now until the next event on the 8th May the Tooting BC Hilly 37.3 miles.
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Brighton Mitre Hilly 25 miles (GS/999)
Report from Mark Winton: A Day of Signs!! This was the first early start of the year for me so I set my alarm for 6am, ready for my 7:51 start. Despite being tired I couldn’t get to sleep, maybe this was the first sign, as I hadn’t set the alarm properly as at 6:28 the next morning I looked at the alarm clock and realised I was late! I bolted from my bed and loaded the car whilst trying to sling some weetabix down my neck. The car loaded, I drove to the start, narrowly missing 2 magpies eating breakfast in the road. I arrived at the start in time for a quick warm-up and it was time to face the time-keeper, it was a pleasure to see Mick Kilby on duty again, as the final seconds ticked down I commented that the temperature was warming up (whoops). The course starts at the top of the hill by the junction of Dyke Road and the A27 and darts down to the round-about at Poynings, it soon became clear that conditions at the top of the hill were very different to those at the bottom, with a heavy fog it became very difficult to see and got colder. After following the road through Fulking and Edburton, the route turns left and heads towards Shoreham, before re-tracing and heading North. Through Small Dole the fog got worse and I considered packing, but decided it was safer to stick to the race route as car drivers would be used to seeing cyclists every minute or so. Riding in such thick fog was a strange experience, I hadn’t ridden the route before and it was difficult to tell whether I was going up or down hill (it really was that bad) so I often found myself in completely inappropriate gears. After the right turn at Henfield I found myself getting very disorientated by the fog and kept seeing bends in the road that weren’t really there, all very odd. It was almost a pleasure to see the final gruelling climb back to the start up the side of Devils Dyke, as for the first time we headed out of the fog and into the sunlight. I finished in 1:06:08 to take ninth, just a minute ahead of Jim Cheek (on his training bike – see Easter Saturday Report). Pete Tadros was fastest and finished just under the hour. Between Jim, John Mankelow and Myself we took the second team prize to earn a bottle of wine each, to ease the pain of going back to work the next day? I wasn’t overly happy with my time and wondered why I hadn’t got the benefit of seeing the two magpies (one for sorrow, two for joy…) until I won the lottery prize and took home a lovely USE carbon bottle cage. Jeremy Meades and Peter Barling, following his first excursion at Goodwood the previous day also braved the conditions to finish in respectable times. Discussing the rides afterwards it seems that all riders had similar problems with the fog and cold, which descended after the course inspections, but it wasn’t till afterwards that I realised the main sign I missed, when the alarm didn’t got off - I should have stayed in bed!
Total Entry: 53 Riders Fastest Rider: Peter Tadros
Brighton Mitre Hilly 10 miles (G10/44)
Report from Mark Winton: I arrived at the HQ for the infamous Brighton Mitre Hilly 10 near Petworth just in time to see Jim Cheek heading out for his warm-up, during our brief chat I looked down to see a small crack in his new frame. I pointed this out to him, and he shot off to In-Gear to sort out a replacement under warranty – one rival down!! As I prepared for my warm up I was pleased to see the temperature (according to my car) up to 18degree C, shorts and short sleeves for the first time this year. After a leisurely warm-up (I was really early) I took the start line and off I went. Continued...
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Brighton Mitre 10 Continued.....
The circuit wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be, pretty rolling although the main climb up Fox Hill was much harder than I realised and I struggled up in the 39X23, though the descent the other side was pretty good. A newly surfaced piece of road to the finish was a welcome relief and I was really pleased to finish fourth in 23:41 to win a bottle of wine to have with dinner, just one second behind third (and I would have got a USE seatpost). Ben Instone (A3CRG) was quickest in a new course record.
Total Entry: 48 Riders Fastest Rider: Ben Instone
Crawley Wheelers 41 miles (GS/196)
The classic Good Friday challenge that is the Crawley Shoreham is back on the calendar after a years absence. Jim Cheek produced a good ride for 10th place and Roger Watts picked up a point towards the Classic League with a respectable 20th place. Report from Jim Cheek: Other than some bank holiday traffic build-up around a few roundabouts, this event was fairly smooth and incident-free. The weather was perfect with hardly any wind. The field of 65 riders included the usual fast guys, and I was quite pleased with 10th overall. Myself, Roger and Mike got the 2nd Team Prize!
Total Entry: 65 Riders Fastest Rider: Tim Stevens
ESCA Hardriders 15.8 miles (GS/895)
Seven Wanderers scored points in the Classic League i.e. finished in the top 20 overall and we won the Team Prize. This is the best performance by the Club in this traditional ESCA season opener for some years. From Mark Winton The ESCA event went really well for the team, in short Steve Dennis won in 38m05s. I was third 40m06s & Jim was fourth 41m11s. Jim was third on the hill climb just 2 secs behind Steve Dennis, I am too fat to get up steep climbs quick!! Roger Watts was 7th in 42m14s - which gave us the team prize.
Total Entry: 58 Riders Fastest Prime: Mike Coyle Fastest Rider: Steve Dennis
Send me your results. Another new season is upon us, this is the eighth year that I have been producing the results service for the Wanderers website. Each year I ask for members to email me results, reports, photos etc. So please make my life easier and have your results on the web. This year I intend to report on Club, Classic League, ESCA and Sussex CA events. I will add other results and reports that are of interest. - Chris Martin
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