Well, I was set up like a kipper. Julie asked Taff on Friday night, “Where’s a nice walk for me and my hunky man Paul?” Giving the question a ¼ hour to think about, up the side of one of the black Mountains came the reply.
It was just one of them weekends, the alarm set for 6:35 (ok so it was 6:45), it failed to go off, did I turn it off and go back to sleep or did Julie fix it for Taff, were they conspiring against me when I went to the WC? I just about managed to get there for 7:28, only to see 18 smiling faces, not the sort of thing I like to see at that time of the morning. I somehow managed to get a mid field start knowing all was not well; maybe I could bluff the first half out!
Conditions were good, with only a light breeze to contend with. Cookie back up to full fitness (gave him a real work out on the hills during the week), absolutely annihilated the course record covering the 47.5 miles in a time that only he will probably be able to beat for the next couple of seasons. Dave Constance, in a bid to capture his times of yester year put in a good steady controlled ride, starting gently before enjoying the flatter sections on the return journey. Jerry started quite quickly, but reined himself in after assuming he’d started far too fast. He seemed still in a state of shock after the event at both the point and the speed at which Cookie had passed him.
Matt put in another good performance, which must make this season one of his best to date. Dave tried the same experiment as Cookie with a new streamlined water bottle. Alas, his too disappeared from its cage during the event. If seen please return to Dave. I reckon it’s down the hill after the downhill from the St. Owens cross public house.
Martin had the disappointing news he’d failed to get into the PTW 25, but was pleased he still had an option “B” for the day – our event. In his first ride on the course, I’m sure he was happy with it as it suited his style (hills). Alistair told me via e-mail he was going to give me a good whooping, if I had not been sabotaged the day before I would have been closer to 2:10 I think!
Wobbly Bob found the ride hard work, but once he’d seen everyone’s times was happier, with Graham on the new TT bike not far behind. I watched as Graham’s legs buckled in the last 4 miles, the last climb up to Pencraig doing a fair bit of damage.
Next up was that scarab Lavington knew what he was doing sending me up that mountain, just squeezing home in front of me. I’m still hurting badly today.
Young Alistair showed a lot of guts attempting this event, as it’s most definitely not an easy course. He decided to take the scenic route home through the centre of Monmouth, which did put a look of concern on Matt’s face as some of us had not overtaken him but had already finished. I could see Matt’s look of relief as he came into sight.
Thanks to John & Audrey for timing marshalling etc, and to Paul Fallon who got most riders up to Everstone before they had to turn a pedal.
Rider of the day this year is Cookie for smashing a record with such style. Dave Constance was very close contender for getting so close to when he was 18. I think another season might get him up to that point.
Clive did get in to the PTW 25 recording a time of 1:02:09
Deano has reported they had a cracking time at Dolgellau.
This was one great trip. Thanks to all for coming.Good weather was a Brucie bonus, and the fact that there were noequipment issues and only one puncture was, well, unusually lucky.And with only a few off's, pretty much injury free as well.Cracking.For those who like to know the details of the rides. Here’s the info offof my computer.Saturday's figures
RDFCC's 2009 Forest of Dean Mountain Bike Enduro.This Sunday, Sep 27th, see's the 4th staging of the RDFCC MTB Enduro. Already race secretary Trevor Hyde reports 250+ riders have signed up forthe event who can tackle one, two or four laps of the challenging 10 milesingle track circuit based in the Sallowvallets area of the Forest. The course building is now complete on a slightly amended route to 2008 and has been ridden and tested by Club members who
enjoyed the circuit. Spectators are most welcome and if anyone wishes to help marshal please call Matt Heaman on 07765 404709 or turn up on Sunday morning at 8.20am to Pedalabikeaway,Cannop to the marshal’s briefing. The action kicks off at10.30am.Entries officially closed on September 23rd any late entrants can call Trevor Hyde on 01531-822889 to check if acceptance to the event is still permissible.
It was just one of them weekends, the alarm set for 6:35 (ok so it was 6:45), it failed to go off, did I turn it off and go back to sleep or did Julie fix it for Taff, were they conspiring against me when I went to the WC? I just about managed to get there for 7:28, only to see 18 smiling faces, not the sort of thing I like to see at that time of the morning. I somehow managed to get a mid field start knowing all was not well; maybe I could bluff the first half out!
Conditions were good, with only a light breeze to contend with. Cookie back up to full fitness (gave him a real work out on the hills during the week), absolutely annihilated the course record covering the 47.5 miles in a time that only he will probably be able to beat for the next couple of seasons. Dave Constance, in a bid to capture his times of yester year put in a good steady controlled ride, starting gently before enjoying the flatter sections on the return journey. Jerry started quite quickly, but reined himself in after assuming he’d started far too fast. He seemed still in a state of shock after the event at both the point and the speed at which Cookie had passed him.
Matt put in another good performance, which must make this season one of his best to date. Dave tried the same experiment as Cookie with a new streamlined water bottle. Alas, his too disappeared from its cage during the event. If seen please return to Dave. I reckon it’s down the hill after the downhill from the St. Owens cross public house.
Martin had the disappointing news he’d failed to get into the PTW 25, but was pleased he still had an option “B” for the day – our event. In his first ride on the course, I’m sure he was happy with it as it suited his style (hills). Alistair told me via e-mail he was going to give me a good whooping, if I had not been sabotaged the day before I would have been closer to 2:10 I think!
Alan’s first go at this course, resulted in a good ride, and is another I expect to remove some sizable chunks off his times next season. John saved the best of his season till the end. John’s another who likes the uphills; will he be a threat at the Vintage Tankard?
Wobbly Bob found the ride hard work, but once he’d seen everyone’s times was happier, with Graham on the new TT bike not far behind. I watched as Graham’s legs buckled in the last 4 miles, the last climb up to Pencraig doing a fair bit of damage.
Next up was that scarab Lavington knew what he was doing sending me up that mountain, just squeezing home in front of me. I’m still hurting badly today.
Young Alistair showed a lot of guts attempting this event, as it’s most definitely not an easy course. He decided to take the scenic route home through the centre of Monmouth, which did put a look of concern on Matt’s face as some of us had not overtaken him but had already finished. I could see Matt’s look of relief as he came into sight.
Bill put in a really good time, as he was not far off his Walford 10 speed but on a much harder course. He was one of the few who was really sociable chatting for about 10 minutes on course whilst I was side by side with him.
Unfortunately Will failed to finish with a small technical problem, but was going really well prior to that.
Thanks to John & Audrey for timing marshalling etc, and to Paul Fallon who got most riders up to Everstone before they had to turn a pedal.
Rider of the day this year is Cookie for smashing a record with such style. Dave Constance was very close contender for getting so close to when he was 18. I think another season might get him up to that point.
Clive did get in to the PTW 25 recording a time of 1:02:09
Deano has reported they had a cracking time at Dolgellau.
This was one great trip. Thanks to all for coming.Good weather was a Brucie bonus, and the fact that there were noequipment issues and only one puncture was, well, unusually lucky.And with only a few off's, pretty much injury free as well.Cracking.For those who like to know the details of the rides. Here’s the info offof my computer.Saturday's figures
Altitude Total climbed 4298 ft, Max alt 1835ft, Avg climb 5%, Max climb 17%, Total dist 39.84 miles, Ride Time 4.05, Avg spd 9.7, Max spd 33.2
Sunday
Sunday
Total climbed 2624 ft, Max alt 1143 ft, Avg climb 6%, Max climb 18%, Total dist 25.86 miles, Ride time 2.36, Avg spd 10 mph, Max spd 28.5 mph
RDFCC's 2009 Forest of Dean Mountain Bike Enduro.This Sunday, Sep 27th, see's the 4th staging of the RDFCC MTB Enduro. Already race secretary Trevor Hyde reports 250+ riders have signed up forthe event who can tackle one, two or four laps of the challenging 10 milesingle track circuit based in the Sallowvallets area of the Forest. The course building is now complete on a slightly amended route to 2008 and has been ridden and tested by Club members who
enjoyed the circuit. Spectators are most welcome and if anyone wishes to help marshal please call Matt Heaman on 07765 404709 or turn up on Sunday morning at 8.20am to Pedalabikeaway,Cannop to the marshal’s briefing. The action kicks off at10.30am.Entries officially closed on September 23rd any late entrants can call Trevor Hyde on 01531-822889 to check if acceptance to the event is still permissible.practice wasted, no unicycle section!
Don’t forget, The Vintage Tankard is on the 4th October Let me know if your riding. The Forest are running the event and the menu’s attached if you want food to go with our winning cask of beer afterwards.
cracking turnout. for the record I calculated that Cookie would do a 1.53 something
ReplyDeleteJooones!