Time Trials 2005

Reports

Ozzie reporting

Many of the reports below are compiled by Ozzie 'the Bard of Coney Hall'.  His style is eclectic eccentric with a dash of drivel and takes a bit of getting used to.  But perseverance will be rewarded. 

 

Club Hill climb and Downhill Sunday 6th November

Dangerous Dave reports:

Gary Bryant stormed to a very decisive victory on Ide Hill on Sunday with a 38 second margin over Keith Thornton who pipped Owen Brolly by a mere 2 seconds. The full result was as follows:-

1st - Gary Bryant 5.28
2nd - Keith Thornton 6.06
3rd - Owen Brolly 6.10
4th - Ian Jeffery 6.26
5th - Chris Ogilvy 6.40
6th - Dave Hickman 7.10
7th - Clive Jeffery 7.16
8th - Kevin Smith 7.36
9th - Nigel Waterfall 7.46

The downhill was once again won by Clive Jeffery followed in turn by Ian,
Kevin , Chris, Keith , Dave H and Lucky.

So, a convincing win by Gary and very good rides by all.Ian Jeffery wins the 'mystery' combine prize.
Despite a pretty rough day it was a good turnout so thanks to all and
especially Diplo, Sheena, Lucky Nix and Jake for shouting encouragement/abuse at the top of the climb.

We duly met up with Don for a beer in the Polhill Arms afterwards.The carpet
there is very absorbent I found. This just leaves the voting outstanding for clubman/clubwoman of the year and riders' rider.

Southern Counties 100 mile TT Sun 31 July,

Uncanny predictions come true!!   Fatherjac reports:

3 of us Old Poets waxed lyrical at the start, in varying degrees, about how much we were looking forward to the next 4 or 5 hours. "I think I will find it hard to finish" said Dangerous. "I'm going to blow up about 60-70 miles saids Bashers" "My minds a blank" murmured Fatherjac "but I'll Try to think up a nice droll story." Diplomat and Icicle turned up to do the feeding and watering which they did with great aplomb!, keeping us creaking athletes amused and full of liquid and comestibles and alan keys.

The day was dull and dampish but not wet, with an annoying wind blowing from some direction or other. The Met office again gets 'nil Point' after forecasting sunny and balmy weather!!.

Bashers was first off and, as usual, set off at a furious pace trying to make his 'blowing up' prediction come true as soon as possible. Fatherjac was next. Unfortunately he realized, just before the start that his handle bars were loose. He was seen adopting a crablike position as his handle bars started to point in a different direction to his front wheel!  "Suffering seat bolts" I can hear you all chant. " Feck!!!!" thought FJ.

Dangerous was last of us old Pets to hit the road. Muffled Cries of "What came over me to enter this bastard event?!!! and "Bugger!!!!!!" was overheard by one spectator soon after the start who reported him for profanity.

Bashers persisted with his Kamikaze strategy when, as if by magic, he blew up at about 65 miles. Uncanny really how his prediction could have been so accurate.

Fatherjac was heard abusing marshalls who refused to lend him an Alan key. This caused him to dismount frequently in the first 30 miles to point his handlebars in the same direction as his bike was going. At a feeding point he asked Icle for an Alan key. Sadly none was available but Diplomat, who had Fj's Car keys said he would go back and get some from his car.

At the 30 mile point a kind marshall actually took pity on FJ and the problem was solved. About 2 mins later Diplomat, true to his word waved a set of Alan keys out of his car window. "I'm awfully sorry, but I have had it fixed”, said FJ, breathlessly. " Thats OK Old boy" said Diplomat "I'm sure some other poor bastard will need it". And, do you know this was another uncanny prediction

Dangerous, meanwhile, was suffering greatly, "I'm going like a sack of shit!!" he thought to himself, an interesting concept which after he considered it, so disgusted him that he packed at the 30 mile point. Blimey! Another uncanny prediction. That left only Bashers and Fatherjac to do battle.

Bashers 'bonking' soon became evident to FJ as they passed frequently due to the vast number of turns on this meandering course. Bashers presented a sorry picture as he willed his legs to keep pounding the pedals. To FJ, however, this was a beautiful sight and encouraged him to renewed efforts. "You're catching Bashers" said Diplomat at the 80 mile feed. However in the end it was, for FJ, to no avail as he too succumbed to the dreaded "boom" at about 85 miles. And so to the bit you have all been waiting for ...the lap Dancer..Nooooo! I mean the results:-

Bashers: 4:35:34

Fatherjac 4:44:10

Winner Keith Coffey 3:59:summink, The only person under 4 hours

I hope you agree that this makes a "nice droll story" which was in fact fatherjacs prediction.  Uncanny isn't it?

So until next year when the sun will shine(yeah right!!) on yet another Club 100 mile Championship, Bonjour?...er ?

PS, Many, many, many, thanks to Icicle Diplomat and Oz, whose very presence
was a joy.

PPS, If 'Canny' means shrewd and Clever what does ‘Uncanny’ mean?

Whitewebs CC 25 Sunday July 24th

Fatherjac reports

At 'sparrows fart' we intrepid duo made our way via the Dartford Tunnel to the testing ground on the E4 course. A fast course on most mornings of the year, it proved to be a little 'treacly' due to a cool North easterly? wind, which blew down the fast section of the course on the A13 towards Basildon.  Fatherjac(i.e. moi) was first off and posted a 1:3:00 which, although slow as a slug, was done with the effects of a long ride(110miles)on Friday to Ditchling and home over the Ashdown Forest fresh in his legs.(one feels bound to make excuse)

Bashers tried very, very hard(he says) but was disappointed with 58:17. Only a short 58 eh?....I'm beginning to feel a bit tearful.

Result

Bashers     58:17

Fatherjac   1:3:00

Club 50 Mile Time Trial Championships July 5th

Bashers walks it!!   'Dangerous' Dave reports:

On Sunday, Bashers, Fr jack , Oz and Moi rode the Southern Counties 50 at Horsham - basically 2 laps of te 25 course and in theory the 2nd lap should be faster coz no climb up Tolgate which to us lesser mortals is worth a minute or so. Disco decided to stay in bed (sensible move!)

Having done the Raid (and it has to be said all 4 of us have beaten 2 hours for the distance on several occasions in the past) I did hope we would have given Bashers a closer run but it was not to be !! Pants down, it was 'pathetic sharks' for the Viz reading cogniscenti. It was a bit windy (parp) but no excuses. Hang on, I was up till 12 watching Pink Floyd and only had 3 hours sleep, just got back from hols with Carol, bad sciatica and full of pain killers and stuff (would have failed a drug test nodoubt!) Anyway, I digress...........

Bashers did a fine 2.2.50 (25 in 1.0.20) John did a 'workmanlike' 2.9.33 (25 in 1.4.50) for runner up I did 2.11.33 (25 in 1.4 20) (shitemanlike) Almost as good as my golf but that’s another story. Oz did 2.13.16 (25 in 1.3.20odd) Even more worserer)So Oz and me fell to bits on lap 2 and John held it together with a good 2 nd lap, I saw I was up on him at 1/2 way and thought, oh well we are racing for 2nd place - I should beat John by a couple of minutes - should do a 2.08 or so. That'll do. Wrong !! Rode like I was wearing my dad's y fronts back to front and round my ankles. Oz obviously got abducted by aliens and was experimented on in the 2nd lap. So Well done Bashers and John (bxxstard!)!! Anyway, me and Oz are going to do some road events (surrey/south eastern ) in next 2/3. months so will have a team meet soon at my place

Final result:

Bashers 2:2:50

Fatherjac 2:9:33

Dangerous 2:11:33

Oz 2:13:16

E.C.C.A. 25 Sunday 26/6/05

Oz reports

Moi and Bash entered this event on on the E4/25 , this starts near Bulpham near South ockenden Essex does 3+ miles to the A13 goes to Pitsea ,turns ,back along the A13 to Stanford-le-hope for a mile or so ,back to the A13 to finish near the h/q , it's a few years since iv'e done E courses and i'd forgotten the pleasure of sharing the roads with Essex man in his TURBO-NUTTER-B*****D passing close by so's to share ones bit of road , not to mention the slip roads where one finds one-self on a two lane joining another two lane and suddenly finding ones-self in the middle of four lanes pacing 18 wheelers (who said testing ain't 'fun'......anyway ,after the previous weeks heat wave the morn arrived all grey and chilly only the mid teens 'f' requiring the re-application of arm-warmers !! , a fastish bit to the A13 then a h/wind to Pitsey a flier back to s-l-h , a grovel on this leg and a real slog to the finish .....as previously mentioned , my 'sore-froat' had turned into tripple pneumonia and i'd spent the last few days coughing.....up a very fetching shade of Khaki ( i'm a sharing caring person )and being at my consumtive best i and managed to re-spray my bike and a/warmers, i struggled to do a 1.2.15 .....2 seconds slower than at easter !!! ,young Bash rose to the occassion and did an immpressive 57.06 !!!.....winner was K.Andrewartha 53.18,Phil Bull did 54.34 (last week he did 54.16 ).....so well done young Bash........roll on the club 50 champs next week ( did i tell you i've been sick????).......oz!

result

Bashers   57:06

Oz            1:2:15

Norwood Paragon 25 mile TT Sunday June 19

Oz reports

What started as a mistake turned into fiasco. Me and Dangerous and Disco had entered the Norwood par 25 on the Crawley/Horsham b/pass. Well, your hero arose @ 5 a.m. to be greeted by 25+ deg ,and an easy drive to the h/q leaving ample time to warm....up on the turbo and shead several pounds in the process , as one was off # 78 @ 7.28 or , so one convinced ones-self ......arriving at the t/keeper and gazing at ones watch one wandered off down the lane to attend to .....things , ( plenty of time ......init ) only to present oneself at said t/keeeper and discover one had 'done a Delgado ', as # 82 was sat sitting on the line ........in fact , one was off at 7.18 am , and one picked.....up a 3 and 1/4 min late start !!!!! ( iv'e only been doin' these things 40 odd years , i'll get the hang of it soon ) never mind , i'll ride and take the penalty off the amassed time ......init , all went to plan when ,with 1 mile to go , on a fast 30+ m.p.h. down-hill i was overtooked by a 'horse-box ' ....good one thought , i'll latch on the back ! ,as said h/b passed and one was 'giving-it-large on't tri bars ( oh ,one should have mentioned one had dug ones disc/tri spoke combination from the shed )the whole machine started to oscillate (wobble ,Nelly ) , taking to the 'drops' to 'sort it out ' didn't improve things so as one didn't want to 'do an O'Bree' and spread oneself all over the Horsham b/pass one decide tit was best to be 'prudent'and dis-mount and check what was falling off , on checking both tyres and wheels for faults on re-mounted (ooooer !) and flailed about trying to 'clip in' in 53x12 eventually finishig with 1.08.03 !!!!

Result:

Dangerous 1.3.15

Disco           1.4.16

OZ                 1.8.03

Norwood Paragon 25 mile TT Sunday June 19

Oz reports :

What started as a mistake turned into fiasco!!!  Me, Dangerous and Disco had entered t.  Well, your hero arose @ 5 a.m. to be greeted by 25+ degrees of temperature and an easy drive to the HQ leaving ample time to warm up on the turbo and shead several pounds in the process , as one was off # 78 @ 7.28 or , so one convinced ones-self ......arriving at the t/keeper and gazing at ones watch one wandered off down the lane to attend to .....things , ( plenty of time ......init ) only to present oneself at said t/keeeper and discover one had 'done a Delgado ', as # 82 was sat sitting on the line ........in fact , one was off at 7.18 am , and one picked.....up a 3 and 1/4 min late start !!!!! ( iv'e only been doin' these things 40 odd years , i'll get the hang of it soon ) never mind , i'll ride and take the penalty off the amassed time ......init .  All went to plan when ,with 1 mile to go , on a fast 30+ m.p.h. down-hill i was overtooked by a 'horse-box ' ....good one thought , i'll latch on the back ! ,as said h/b passed and one was 'giving-it-large on't tri bars ( oh ,one should have mentioned one had dug ones disc/tri spoke combination from the shed )the whole machine started to oscillate (wobble ,Nelly ) , taking to the 'drops' to 'sort it out ' didn't improve things so as one didn't want to 'do an O'Bree' and spread oneself all over the Horsham b/pass one decide tit was best to be 'prudent'and dis-mount and check what was falling off , on checking both tyres and wheels for faults on re-mounted (ooooer !) and flailed about trying to 'clip in' in 53x12 eventually finishig with 1.08.03 !!!!

The final result

Dangerous 1.3.15 and

Disco           1.4.16

Oz                  1.8.03           

.....now , taking this from that and .....etc , one calculated one would have (wooda-cooda-shooda ) dondid a middling '2' ( time-keeper out (42.5 mins plus 20 mins @ gas mark 5 )......oh what fun ....

Oz

Sussex CA 50 mile TT, SPOCO series 12 June

This event should have been on the G50/10, however due to roadworks on the course the organiser moved it to the emergency course used last year, it is a bugger as well, much more suited to the roadies racing around in a bunch! It starts in a lane between Dial Post and Steyning called Hole Street, to A283 left towards Steyning then left on B2135, continue on B2135 then left on A24 at West Grinstead, A24 to Washington roundabout then left onto A283. This is done three times, the finish being a mile or so after the final turn at Washington roundabout. I suffered like a dog, as the section on B2135 was continually up and down and the increasingly rising wind on the A24, was in your face.By the third time on that stretch of road, I had blown badly. My result was 2hrs 10mins 46secs for 16th place at 22.94mph. { This is the worst time for me at 50miles since 1997 }The winner was not Steve Dennis but Malcolm Cox of VC St Raphael in 1hr 55mins at 26.09mph. Steve Dennis was beaten into 3rd place, only the top four beat the two hour mark. Our old friend Nick P started but abandoned on the second lap.

Bashers

San Fairy Ann CC 50 Mile TT 29 May

Bashers reports

Tooting BC Sporting 37 
Fatherjac reports

The weather was cold and we were under it!

The Squire and myself ventured forth in The Tooting BC sorting '37'Time Trial. Starting a Holmwood where the '10' starts, it meanders down thro Beare Green round the Capel Bypass and on past Warnham Court to the Great Daux roundabout onto the 'Crawley' 25 course riding via Robin Hood RAB and the Southwater bypass sections and returning to the Broadbridge Heath RAB, where off, past TESCOS and on to the the five Oaks RAB on the A24 and back via Roman Gate and on up the A29 through Ockley and Beare Green to the finish just opposite he start. Well lumpy it most certainly was, particularly in the lanes off the popular courses. It was also cold , about 6 degrees at the start and bit breezy. Both the Squire and I suffered more than somewhat. I, having overindulged entertaining friends for the previous few nights as a little 'liverish' and hence went like a snail. Dave was also unhappy although did not offer an excuse as good as mine. Any way our times were:

The Squire 1:41:31 (21.8 mph)

Fatherjac 1:47:48 (20.6 mph)

The event was won by Mike Coyle in 1:25:20 (26 mph!!!)

I rest my case

Addiscombe CC 25 1st May   
Ian Bashford reports:

Bashers first 25 miles 'under the hour' in 2005

It was a warm morning with the sun braking through, there was a little bit of wind but it didnt seem to be in any particular direction. Three OPs entered

Result:

Bashers:      59:15 (25.3mph av) 29th place out of 120

Fatherjack   1:04:04 (23.4mph av) 65th place

Disco:          1:05:17 (23 mph av) 69th

 

The winner was Peter Tadros in 52.08 an average speed of 28.8mph!!!!

Ozzie was riding the Old Ports Road race at Crowhurst where he gained a creditable 10th place and gifted Bashers a welcome breathing space! 

Sydenham Wheelers 25 (SPOCO) 24th April

......."Be gentle with me Sir Percy "she said , He took her in his strong arms and roughly tore at the flimsy material exposeing her heaving.........there , thats got your attention ,......Sunday 24 th april me and Bash and the Squire and Father Jack had entered. The course was based on the old A20 between Harrietsham to Ashford and Leeds castle (kent ) now , as you may recall from last years report , this is not a very fast course , being mostly rolly/....uppy/downy having some 'dead 'drags which knock big holes in ones average ,

My journey towards the first turn at just short of 10 miles was going to plan averageing better than 24 m.p.h. which, as I thought , was gonna be the 'tough bit , quite pleased one , till one was caught for 1 min @ 9 1/2 miles , good one thought , at least it'll give one some incentive , 'sept , he was one of those annoying buggers who insisted on pulling away on the down-hill bits using a gear some 10 inches lower than what one was using !!! ho hum , so , to the turn ,10 miles was knocked off in 24.30 so was looking forward to doing a 'middleing 'ONE'........imagine how disappointed one was , in having to plough into an increasingly rising head-wind for some 12 miles.....the last 3 miles back to the finish having the added incentive in trying to hold off the rapidly approaching fast boys behind (ooooer misses !) so , the .....upshot ,

Bash            1.3.10 @ 23.7 av

Oz              1.4.18 @ 23.3 av (faster than last week ,and ,on a tougher course !)

The Squire    1.6.27 @ 22.5 av (workman like)

FatherJac   1.8.35 @ 21.8 av (rather pedestrian, but swearing he's still in 'training mode)

The event was won by Paul Mill in a rather silly 53. 31 @ 28 m.p.h. which made everyone else look even sillier

Southern Counties CU 25  17th April

...Dearest all , first let me preface this report by saying it was VERY bloody cold ...., on the drive down one drove thro' a country side enveloped in a heavy hoar-frost ,and one arrived tooo late to use the 'turbo' or do any sort of proper warm-up.

A quick 'sign-on and number collection' and cursory chat to the other members of the o.p's..... the widget on the dash-board was indicating "DANGER OF ICE " and was flashing 2 degs ,now, for those who may not know , muscle fiber is similar to knicker-lastic in that when it's cold it ain't very.....elastic and this only gets worse with age , and , if i tell you the elasticity of my muscles is very similar to 50 year old 'Y' fronts so to try and attempt any sort of exercise in perma-frost isn't advisable, so , by the time your hero had done the first couple of miles and was approaching the imfamous 'Col DU Railway-brige ' the will to live was seriously on the wane ,i was struggling to maintain an average of 22's and with the even more dickyfelt climb of the Alto de Tollgate to come i was seriously thinking of 'throwing in the towel' , but hey , it's all training ,,,,,in-it ?

Having made an assault on the previous mentioned climb, a time check on those in front and behind was taken ,no-one in front was close enough to catch but , my 2 minute man behind was rapidly approaching , it was a case of holding him off and then trying to 'latch on'......10 miles was passed in 27.11 meaning a 25 time of a very long '7' (shades of last season ) so one had to 'buck.....up-ones-ideas if one was to avoid humiliation , my 2 min man caught me at just short of 15 miles and , any vision of taking advantage of a tow was sadly mis-taken .....the long drag of Hop oast was next on the agenda , last week this was taken at 20's , this week it was 17's ....this left the final 8 miles or so to be suffered , the last ½ a mile is one of those " one-can see-the-finish- but-one-can-arrive-no-quicker " jobs being situated on an 'off-slip' and having the added pain of being counted down by 3x100 yard boards ......any-way the result , ..... when i'd finished the doo-da on the dash was now reading 12 deg !!! ,but , i couldn't feel me feet (what joy ).....

Bashers  1.0.20. (24.4 av)

Oz            1.4.31 (23.2 av )

Disco         DNF,(climbed off at the top of the railway r/about suffering four much and deciding that 'he who turns around and throws in the towel..’ .etc.)

the winner was Laurence Harding in a ridiculous 51.27 !!!!(29.1 av )( it was 18 deg when he rode .....honest

Redmon CC 25 Sunday 10th April

Bashers gets R'wengy on Ozzie

The morning arrived dry, but rather too chilly. For those that aren’t 'ente-nous'(?) with the g/25/45 .it starts at Kingsfold near Capel in surrey and travels through Ockley past the race h/Q (always tempting ) back towards the start 'u' turns then travels southerly 'u' turns again to finish near the h/q ...... , it is as they say in football parlence " a course of two halves "first half being mostly lanesish then dual carriageway so it was useful to have a tail-wind on the longest leg on the d/c-way now , there's a 4 mile ride from the h/q to the start point and can be used either as a warm.up or, as it's mostly .....up hill ,can just add to the pain. Anyway, 7 o'p's had entered Owen Brolley ,the Squire, Bash ,Father Jack ,'Oward ? ,Ozzie and Disco .....

Now , 'Oward ? was.up for it after a week of the 'lurghi' and the squire was a d.n.s. after a mid-night return of 'montezumas revenge

Results

Bashers         1.1.50 (ave speed 24.2 m.p.h. )

Oz!                 1.2. 13 (24.1 av ),

Disco             1.5.11 (23.0 av )

Father Jack   1.7.54 (22,0 av )

'Oward           1.15.32 (19.8 av ( and he rode out and home )

Owen             1.16.43 (19.5 av) (including 17 secs late start and a chain off when changing to the smallest ring ?!)

So , the conclusion , well done every one , ride of the day was by Disco , he's obviously been 'doing a bit.  Acording to my ready-reckoner my average was (point).15 m.p.h slower than Bash and , I improved 5 mins 12 secs and Bash ONLY improved 3 mins 07 ......wait till next sunday (....i'm not going on tooooooo much am I bash ?)......Oz!

Croydon and District CA Hilly 21  Sunday 20th March

 R'wengy is mine sayeth the Oz!!!

......Ah yes , isn't it em ? after the previous weeks spring-like weather ,we were looking forward to some balmy riding. As it was going to be a 'nice day' me and the squire decided to ride out to the start it being some 15 miles , it would serve as a warm.up. Now, like all great plans a fly in the works in the shape of a puncture to Dave half-way along 'pilgrims' forced me to ride out on me own (wonderous things these mobiles ) Now , just to complete ones warm up, the balmy weather took a down turn in the shape of cloud and fog , not the best of combinations , it was the sort of weather that keeps your legs warm tho', if riding over Botley moor (ba 'tat )

The start is about 1/2 a mile outside Godstone at the foot of the long climb....up ,thro' Bletch’, on over the M25 to Nutfield x roads, left the rolling roads to Smallfields ,left on a rather gritty/grotty corner then the climb of Scotts hill not funny ),more .uppy-downy then a nasty slog into Bletch’ ,then another circuit of the same to finish just short of the village . ..Well, the strange thing about mutiple circuit t.t's is when one is doing ones second lap one becomes entangled with those doing their first , and this can lead to some odd anomomomomalies , like , me being 'caught' for 32 minutes by the (eventual ) winner and giving lots of chances for wheels to chase and others to latch onto if so inclined ( perish the thought )and when i was 'caught' by a bloke 30 mins behind , he had a strange habit of tearing off on the flat bits leaving me in the dust then, every hill climbing like Bash with two punctures !..:-) ,this being repeated several times ( i can only guess he couldn't get his lower gears )

.....and so to the result , as has already been iterated (?) i managed to get the better of young Bash at last (according to my records ,the first time since 2000 !)first lap in () about 10.5 (tough crowhurst ) miles ....

Oz                         (31.13)1.00.39

Bashers                (30.52) 1.01.00

Dave Hickman     (31.35 )1.02.16

Owen Brolley       (34.51)1.08.04

the winner being Steve dennis (26.14 )51.22 , so , for next year the target appears to be to 'beat-the-hour' and although i fitted the 26 i found it not needed ,.....a thanks to those who came out to cheer/abuse ,they being both chris's ,kermit ( and i think someone else ,it's all a bit hazy ) disco lucky and nigle w , there then ensued a 'club-run home , just like the old days....we seem to be seeing a new improved revitalised Lucky ,after the abuse he inflicted .....upon himself in Eastbourne ,he's sworn to turn over a new leaf , he say's he's gonna "give ....up smoking , cut down on the booze and resist sex..........

East Surrey Hardriders 30miles - Sunday 13 March

First Blood of the Season to 'Squire' Hickman

.....cometh the hour .....etc , Sunday morning arrived and your premier racing squad prepared to do battle, them being the`squire, bash , oz! and fatherjac(I'm only doing it for training and I’ve got a sore throat and ,and etc, )

The Noodle-Meister was 'd.n.s.' due to Hillary’s exploits in presenting him with a new daughter, well done by the way!!

All Gathered at Dawes green school car-park ,now, as the weather man promised us " cold but sunny so ,I raided my cycling cupboard and took clothing for all circumstances from skin-suit to wooly-hat and after a quick conflab decided " full thermals 'was the order of the day ( at least one mad sod rode it 'sans arm-and-leg warmers 'so , off i set to the start

As aforementioned the course goes dawes green ,reigate heath,a25 ,dorking r/b...., a24 via Kingsfold ,Warnham, A264.....'HURST HILL !!'Rusper ,Newdigate to finish 1/2 mile from the h/q .....

Now , I feel sure that I can say without fear of contraception, that , it don't matter how hard the 'liability trials are , don't matter how hard you ride to work, don't matter how big a kicking you give yourself out training ,it ain't till you pin a plastic number to your back and try to 'find an extra 10 %......your only kidding yourself !!....so, by the time i'd reached the A25 , i'd been caught for a minute (under 3 miles ) by some young shaver (Tim Bayley ) and every thing was hurting ......it'll be o.k. i thought , i'll settle in shoortly .......NOT!!....the pain continued proportionally to the amount of times I was caught (.....oz's first law of motion ?)....and some of the small 'bumps' of my youth had turned into 'Alpe duez' ,and so ensued much fumbleing for the '23'....(what larks )....all went reasonably well till 'Hurst hill ' ,now , it's the hill near the start of the 'crawley 10 '(for the initiated ) and the road is used for last minute 'warming.......up' , but, ive never ventured 'round the corner ' to sample the delights of the aformentioned

.....HURST HILL ,.....according to the metal sign at the foot of the hill it's 'only' 1-in-10 'piece-a-cake' ( no thanks ,i'm on a diet )....Now ,I don't know how they measure these things in surrey but ,it appeared tougher than that to me and the 39x23 was used for the first time and more than once I considered walking !! but, being a racer i battled bravely.....BRAVELY on....on ,on the steady drop down from Rusper i slammed it into 53x12 and was 'giving it large' ....or , so I thought ,when i was caught by Peter Tadros for 16 minutes who passed me ,down hill at a great rate of knots and vanished into the distance !!!!!.....and , just for added fun , they'd marked the last 5 miles with boards , helpful for the tear-arses , but just pergatory if your just 'making......up the numbers , so , the .....up-shot was:-

The Squire ,1.25.06

Bash ,1.26.11

Oz! 1.27.41

Fatherjac ,1.32 09

winner Paul Mill 1.7.38

so thats just 20 minutes to find then !

Yours knackeratorised.........Oz!