Lovely morning for a TT. Well done Ian Bailey for making his first effort.
Riding restricted
Steve Watson 27:35
Peter Walton 28:09
Not restricted
Barry Page 26:38
Ian Bailey 33:11
Barry's win and failure to participate in any earlier events wins him the coveted scrubbing brush. Steve and Peter survive to compete for the out of season best all-rounder trophy at the hill-climb on October 6th.
The category 2 team of 5 riders covered 60.2 miles on their tour of Essex at an average speed of 18.9 mph. It was a good testing ride, and the team team worked well together.
On the category 2 ride out to Gamlingay, Bedfordshire, we covered 80.2 miles, averaging 18.2 mph with 3400 ft of climbing approximately. It was a very windy ride, especially going out to Gamlingay, but the team worked well together. We had one puncture at the top of Coombe Road, Therfield. Overall, a good day in the saddle.
Nine riders met at Ware for a rather hot ride to High Easter. We lost one due to a chain gremlin but the rest carried on through Essex on good roads to our watering hole. We then lost another one who had a better offer of a BBQ in Halstead. The last of us rode back in temperatures equal to those in the Vuelta!
I was not expecting that many today because of holidays and the TT. I was therefore surprised as the numbers amassing at the start grew and grew. By the time we'd reached the end of Ware High Street we were numbering fifteen.
The good conditions prior to the start attracted a lot or riders to this popular course. Alas only 5 were Wheelers, but these included new to racing Will Bowen, who showed the benefits of his week of training in the Derbyshire hills by posting the impressive time of 27.13 for his first ever TT.
After expecting some sunshine for today's ride, it was disappointing to wake up to the sound of rain. I was amazed to be met at the start by none other than the bionic man himself, Franco Fiorentini. Not fully up for the club ride but back on his bike and making a great recovery. It was great to have another of our regular riders back today. It's been a long time Kev, hope to see you again next week, mate. It's a short ride back next week too.
