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More Ears Than Gears |
Our society goes from strength to strength, and alongside
the growing numbers on our regular rides, last weekend saw the completion of our
inaugural time trial championship.
There’s been whispers of a new Shifnal based ten mile time
trial course for a while, so when I heard that the SCCA season ending TT would
be the first event to use it, it was too good an opportunity to miss. The plan
was to high jack this event, without telling the organisers of course, and to
make it the society’s very first Time Trial Championships.
Even with a couple of late withdrawals the turnout was good
and 8 of us, including two from our ladies section, rolled out of Shifnal
heading for the start line. The pace was gentle as we all balanced the need to
warm up cold muscles with the desire to save our energy for the main event.
Signing on was our first hurdle, as we immediately seemed to
incur the displeasure of the rather fearsome lady running the entry process. Amazingly she’d
never heard of the society, and refused to recognise our existence. Ignorance is no excuse, but she wouldn't budge, and instead we signed on under the ‘Come &
Try’ banner.
A quick espresso in the excellent Horns of
Boningale, and it was time to line up at the start. The nerves were making
their presence felt as the first few riders rolled away from the line.
To capture this momentous occasion we had not one but two
official photographers out on the course. Both society fellows who couldn’t
make the race itself, a big thanks go out to Adam and Simon for the pictures.
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Get those elbows in! |
So, to the race itself. The course is certainly not flat,
and the windy conditions on the day didn’t help matters. The consensus amongst
the other riders was that this was a power course, and would reward riders who
could maintain speed up the long drags which were its defining features.
My own personal low point was the last hill with about a
mile to go. It felt like I was down to a crawl as I laboured up the climb, and
all I could think of was trying to leave something in the tank for the downhill
run to the finish. Round the final corner, and one last effort to get over the
line. The encouragement from the other riders was greatly appreciated. Pain and
pleasure in equilibrium.
The thing that appeals to me so much about time trials is
the fact that is makes no difference where you come in the final standings,
it’s about you and the clock. For some of our group it was a first ever taste
of time trialling, and for us all it was the first time on a new course.
A special mention must go to the ladies, Anna & Annette,
both riding their first ever TT and giving it all they had on the day. Anna was
convinced up until a couple of hours before the start that it was only 10
kilometres and not miles. However, this didn’t stop her from taking the spoils
just over a minute ahead of Annette. Just don’t mention the fact that she was
caught metres from the line by a charging Johnny. A great ride from both Ladies; chapeau!
Chapeau also to Shaun and Max for popping their TT’ing
cherries, and to Scott, for dipping under the magic 30 minute mark by the
narrowest of margins.
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Every Second Counts |
A great afternoon all round, and the full results are
included below.
Course K21/10B - New Course(Shifnal)
Position No Name Actual
Time
1 22 Andrew Loveland 26:31
2 19 John Sanders 27:33
3 18 Scott Jackson 29:59
4 14 Martin Brown 31:10
5 20 Max White 31:45
6 13 Anna Loveland (L) 33:34
7 17 Annette Lawrence (L) 34:27
8 21 Shaun Hanson 34:49
Vive la Velo
936ADL