After the 81"\Scrubbers\Unrestricted race around Cole Green, three Wheelers set off for Puckeridge via Walkern. The first puncture was outside Watton, the second at Moor Green. Mine was the latter and after changing the inner tube and being unable to pump it up I had more difficulties as I couldn't get the tyre back off. Ian saved my day! After advising the others to "go on ahead" I eventually got myself sorted and got to Puckeridge. We rode back together to complete a moderately Cat 3 short ride of about 35 miles.
Thirteen set off on a glorious Indian Summer morning via Bramfield, Datchworth, Aston and Walkern for the café stop at the very welcoming Mill End Garden Centre. Lots of baked goodies thanks to Cathy’s tip off to them that we were coming; my apple pie contained apples that had been minding their own business hanging about on the tree earlier that morning. How fresh is that?
Back home via Benington and High Elms Lane to Watton, then straight home along the A119 after we’d collected Bruno from the road up to Datchworth.
With a choice of events, either on the A63 (Hull - V718) or the A11 (Six Mile Bottom - E2), I went for the former as I'd done the E2 many times (never quickly) but had only been to South Cave once before. The weather was not good as I made my way north. What I hadn't realised (in the car) was the strength of the wind. Got there to hear various tales of woe from the early starters about the rain, the difficult return into the wind etc.
I've never enjoyed early morning racing and this event did nothing to dispel that thought. I entered as it was a local event, with the HQ at Thundridge. Then found out that we needed to supply some Marshals for the A10\A120 Puckeridge RBT. Fortunately 4 club members stepped into the breach thus fulfilling our club requirements - many thanks to them. There weren't many entries at the foggy start but within minutes it had brightened so for me it was clear once I'd made the aforementioned RBT. Then a whizz down to Turnford. Except that I didn't whizz. I just couldn't get going. And I n
The sky was as black as a black thing as I waited at the start of this event. With a few seconds to go I was as ready & raring as I'm ever going to be, but it wasn't raining. Then I was off. And I was totally soaked through within 100 yards as the heavens opened. As I was drenched, I thought that it wasn't worth stopping but came off the tri-bars as a precaution against being buffeted by the wind. Eventually found a bit of shelter on the A11 and rode down a river that by now had formed. After a couple of miles the rain eased down a bit (ie from torrential to not quite so torrentia
Bit cold first thing, but soon warmed up to something comfortable. Out from Henham to Debden, Greenstead Green (where I missed the control thus adding 15 kms by the time I got back to it), Coggeshall, Gt Leighs and back to Henham. That was the first 110kms (plus the extras). Then came a further 50kms as I rode via Hare St & Elmdon back to HQ followed by the last 55kms via Takeley, Much Hadham & back.
After missing a chunk of the season, I decided to give the super-speedy Hull course a visit. My feeling was that as it was on flattish terrain that I would just have to rest lightly on the tri-bars thus not causing myself any injury or aggravation. I also wanted to see if I'd still got the nerve to ride my TT bike, in the tuck position.
I passed the timekeepers at 23:17, my fastest this year. Whilst I was happy with the time, I was more than happy with just the taking part and look forward to trying again before the season closes. =71\112. PW.
Ready to leave Sawbridgeworth at 07:00, and that's when I found out that my Garmin wasn't working properly - I had no track to follow. I knew the journey down was about 45 kms and I knew about 90% of it. Still left just over 4 kms to get lost in. Eventually got down there about 08:40 and met up with John Mac. After about 10 kms of the Audax I'd finally got myself a working system re the routesheet and we completed the remaining 97 kms quickly and efficiently. We parted company so that I could ride back the 70kms to Hertford, thus completing the ECE part.
Ten riders set off bang on 9.30 from Allenburys, bound for Thremhall Park, Takeley, right next to Stanstead Airport runway. You might detect a trend here as we were next to Luton Airport last week!
We took a similar route as the one to Hatfield Heath, before turning off on the long straight road for Takeley.
Seven gathered in sunshine at Hertford for a ride to the Chilterns. The initial chill was soon dispelled and gilets and arm-warmers were dispensed with along the way. The route was more-or-less straight out and back to Harlington, though with minor deviations to add variety. One such was an unintended stretch of the A6 as a result of mis-navigation by the leader. This might be presumed to be creeping senility - though the leader maintains, after consulting Street View, that the sign for Hexton had been removed.
