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Tony wins again! Excellent times from some others: Brian H, Karl W, Rikki H & Spencer S all secured PB's.

Many got out today, seduced by the thought of the warm, dry weather.  And for a while, all was good.  Then, sadly, the wind got stronger and stronger (depending how many miles you were trying to do) and even worse, it was a headwind on the way back.  At least that how it was for the meds.  With some trying (and failing) to ride to the start at Thaxted it was always about riding a 100+ mile day.  For many it was not to be.  For one unlucky rider, her bike's tyres did not match her ambition and she got as far as Elsenham before making her way home.  Another only intended to ride to Thaxted an

Brian Evans has begun his track season with a return to something like his form of a few years back ...

It was a day for dodging the showers.  However if the rain didn't get you, the wind did.  For much of the time it was blowing a near gale, a lot of it from the side.  Phil (59:10) coped the best with Peter (1:03:51) just managing to edge out the amazing (nearly 80 year old) Merv (1:07:40).  However their combined efforts saw them coming second fastest team of three on standard.

The weather is improving day by day and the large numbers out are at last beginning to get the benefit of their winter training.  Ian led a group of fifteen to Buntingford utilising a mixture of our normal routes and a few variations on the theme to create a most enjoyable morning out.  Mike led a group of a dozen to Emily's, whilst the fasties did what the fasties do.  For many it was the first occasion this year when it was possible to wear shorts and not worry about whether or not the weather would close in.

Three Wheelers; Brian Evans, Tony Marriott and Spencer Stratford entered this event on a new course. This covered part of the North Road Hardriders course but without any easy bits. Basically it was non-stop up and down and included the climb up Carbonne Hill into Newgate Street and Darnicle Hill up towards Hammond Street. Brian reports ...

A good turn out once again, with some fast times. Tony leads the way with Richard and Spencer in hot pursuit.

Over forty out on the three rides.  A strong southerly wind made the returns difficult although it was great to feel the warmth of the sun at last.  Despite the lack of necessity for many thermal layers of clothing, the meds encountered a frosty reception at the cafe stop.  Still, can't let someone else's bad-hair day ruin a good morning's ride.  A few punctures, but nothing unmanageable.

Tony Marriott rode this for the second year running. Conditions were opposite to last year with a strong head wind out and some tail on way home. He managed 1:03:43, some 5 minutes quicker than last year, so a course PB!
In the strong wind (~18 mph) he struggled to keep above 21 mph on way out but took only around 26 minutes for 12.5 miles on the return! He finished 15th. Winner was Tim Davies in 57:22.
You can view the stats of Tony's ride on Strava .

PhilY           23:50
MervP        27:23

A bit of a head wind on the Coach Road slowed people down. Tony's winter training has paid off and he took his first win of the year.

A bit of a head wind on the Coach Road slowed people down. Tony's winter training has paid off and he took his first win of the year.

Six intrepid Wheelers and one partner assembled at St Pancras International on Sunday morning, long before the clubruns were beginning, eagerly looking forward to a day of cycle racing and, well, France. The participants were Bruno C, Steve Wh, Bob B, Valdis B, Jane P, Jason T and Jason’s partner Louisa.
Having ridden the Eurostar to Lille, tourmeister Bruno spent 15 minutes negotiating a special group deal on tickets to somewhere out in the sticks called Orchies. This haggling was well worth it as it saved a packet on the fare.

With over twenty Herts Wheelers taking part in Audaxes, Sportives, Time Trials or going across the Channel to watch the Paris-Roubaix there would not be a great expectation for a good turnout for the club rides.  Wrong!  Thirty riders turned out including six guests.  Most took part in the easy with eighteen out.  Seven on the medium.  Six on the afternoon easy although one rider doubled up by riding the morning easy and the afternoon easy.  Compared with other days this year, today was a glorious day.  As the weather warms up it will probably be viewed (in retrospect) as a cold day.

Alex set the standard for everybody in the First Club TT of the year with a blistering 23:52. The time was all the more remarkable due to the gusting easterly wind and generally cold conditions.

Alex set the standard for everybody in the First Club TT of the year with a blistering 23:52. The time was all the more remarkable due to the gusting easterly wind and generally cold conditions.

Well that's March done with.  Despite the cold and strong wind, we have been getting good numbers out on club rides as people look to increase their winter mileage in preparation for warmer weather (it's got to come sometime).  Over twentysix took to the roads today with most supporting the easy ride.  Fourteen out on that one, with eight on the medium and four on the fast.  The only mechanical was on the fast, but they stuck together and got themselves sorted.

Three Wheelers rode this event; Brian Evans, Richard Clark and Spencer Stratford. Congratulations to Richard and Spencer who both got their first individual open TT under their belts .
Brian did a did a 1:04:17, Spencer a 1:08:48 despite a crash (see below) and Richard a 1:10:31 (on a road bike without TT bars).
Many thanks to Spencer for this account of his ride:

Nick Cramer rode his first "proper" road race of the season on Easter Sunday.
The race, run by Braintree Velo, consisted of 4 x 13.5 mile laps of a circuit just outside Sudbury in Suffolk. Nick likes this course but ice on the road delayed the start and gave him the "heebie jeebies"!
Self deprecating as usual, Nick reports " Did I learn from last years experience? No, it was a repeat performance and I rolled over the line 23rd out of 60 ". Most of us will be more likely to admire his determination to race at all in what passes for "spring" this year!

We were beaten by the weather.