Competition News

Despite it being yet another windy afternoon. Merv rode this event on a new course west of Bedford.  His time was 26:13.

Nick Cramer took part in the Easterley CC " Falling Leaves Road Race " on 2nd September. This is involved a 50 mile, 7 lap circuit, on a course he had ridden earlier in the year. Nick reported " The circuit took us riders past the smashing Audley End House but then terminated into an awful hill that big riders hate! "

On a windy day that made the return much faster than the out, Phil continued his excellent form with 22:13 whilst SteveW did 24:20, Peter did 24:36 and Merv completed the set with 25:15.

The rain stopped but it was cool and breezy at Panshanger. This is a tough course combining some steep hills and tricky surfaces - congratulations to the four riders who braved it!

Nick Cramer rode the London Phoenix Grand Prix (cats 2,3 and 4) - the latest round of the Eastern Road Race League. He reports a return to form after a couple of disappointing results.

An excellent evening at Cole Green; warm enough and with a very light breeze.
There was an excellent entry with two riders - Michael Jewis and Mark Tappenden - making their debuts. Both were comfortably inside 30 minutes so there is obviously more to come. Chris Wells also had a good ride with a PB for the course. Mike East had a less happy evening as he had a mechanical problem on the first lap.
At the top Tony Marriott was comfortably ahead of his rivals with Alex Powell, (his form honed in the Pyrenees?), just pipping Nick Cramer for second place.

With his time of 27:52 Merv won the King Vet Award on the Leaden Roding course.

It was a warm but windy afternoon when Merv recorded 1:13:37.

Phil and Merv rode in the Bedfordshire Roads 25 on the slower course on the A1 from Tempsford to Baldock and back. Phil recorded 59:46 and Merv managed to improve slightly, recording 1:5:52.

It was a damp evening but the wind was fairly light and from the south-west. Some excellent times were returned including PB's Tony, Richard, Ian, Chris and Mike.

Wheelers

To cap an exceptional season, Tony broke through the hour barrier for the first time with a 59:07.  Merv's time in this event was 1:06:21.

Merv rode in the Eastern Counties 10 on a course near Leaden Roding. This was an an alternative course due to roadworks on the intended course. He recorded a 27:00.

.
A reasonable evening on the E64 (A414 to Harlow).  Great ride by Tony to go under 23 minutes.

.

After a 22 year interlude Tony Marriott returned to bunch racing in a Ford Cycling Club event on 26th July. The race was one of a series of 1 hour Cat 4 and Novice races on the Ford Test Track at Dunton near Basildon.
Tony thought he had won a prime only to find out at the end that someone had been off the front! At the finish he contested the sprint until about 200 metres to go then "POP". Maybe he had a crystal ball as two riders collided at the front and he managed to swerve round them to finish 14th out of 38 starters.
The race was won by Mick Bath of API-Metrow.

  
     
. 
Lovely sunshine, but a bit windy going up the A414.  Nick Cramer was head and shoulders above everyone else!!
  

.

Merv and Phil rode the Verulam 25 on the F1 course. A rising wind from the south made things difficult on the final 10 miles. Times Phil 1:0:23 Merv 1:6:48.

An incredibly fast course with the right conditions.  And these were the right conditions.  Sadly, Peter wasn't.  Did 2:07:29.  Should have got in faster than two hours.

Merv rode this event at Leighton Buzzard in torrential rain and recorded 26:48.

No roadworks, no rain - so we have a result!

Wheelers

On a circuit just north of Holmes Chapel, Peter started the 100 in good spirits and full of hope.  And for the first 40 miles everything went well.  Sadly in his preparations he had forgotten to eat and he had no food with him.  So he "hit the wall".  He struggled on to the 75 mile mark where for the first time in a race he stopped due to exhaustion.  A rider passed him and offered some food - gratefully accepted.  This got him through the next 10 miles when he stopped again - totally spent.  A spectator took pity on him and fed him with enough to get him to the finish.  With about 14 miles