10th Overall & 2nd on Standard
And so....the penultimate race of the season, the "Leo 30mile TT " on the fast E2 course, to the layman, the A11 and the A14 in Cambridgeshire. Hesitated in making the drive as the forecast was blustery to say the least....main targets were two fold: break the National Age record and also break the Sheffrec CC club (agreed to represent by all parties ) record to finally rid the club record books of a suspended rider 💉
Tailwind out - plan was to take full advantage, going through 10 miles in 19-06 and hit the turn and half way in 29-02 - so on for an incredible and unexpected sub hour? Could I keep it going?
At 10 miles to go I'm hit by a power shower, thankfully short and sweet - passed the 25 mile mark in 49-09 (an unofficial PB) but that extra 5 miles notoriously catches riders out - dying with 2 miles to go, normally smashing the average power on the home stretch, but just holding the average, will it be enough?
The chequered flag is welcome relief, I stop my Garmin, look down and see 59mins 45 seconds - I've broken the hour, exceeded 30mph ....reports of a mad Lancastrian on the A11 punching the air, and whooping like a demented dog are totally true, and no apologies 😜
Super chuffed - achieved my objectives, broke the Sheffrec record by 3 mins 25secs the National Age record by 2mins 45sec; broke all age records in my Group and finished 10th overall in a top class field (also taking 2nd in the age adjusted gubbins)....
So a happy dash north to Nottingham to meet pals for a gig, banging out the excellent Soul and Funk show on 6 Music with Craig Charles - followed by some Cream Anthems - but then a mega contrast to endure over two hours of gratuitous Prog Rock with Focus (I'm only joking, but I'm def done with drum solos for the decade)
On to the final race (unless I can find anymore) at Thruxton race circuit for the National Circuit TT Champs next Sunday - a TT race with no traffic? How will I cope??
[April 2020: very rarely raced this distance, and this is THE fast one...so one chance in a season..breaking the hour is the target (30+mph essentially) - so no exaggeration with the description of how pleased I was when I crossed the line, and to rid the club of a druggy record holder added to the euphoria!]
