Merv rode in the Eastern Counties 10 on a course near Leaden Roding. This was an an alternative course due to roadworks on the intended course. He recorded a 27:00.
After a 22 year interlude Tony Marriott returned to bunch racing in a Ford Cycling Club event on 26th July. The race was one of a series of 1 hour Cat 4 and Novice races on the Ford Test Track at Dunton near Basildon.
Tony thought he had won a prime only to find out at the end that someone had been off the front! At the finish he contested the sprint until about 200 metres to go then "POP". Maybe he had a crystal ball as two riders collided at the front and he managed to swerve round them to finish 14th out of 38 starters.
The race was won by Mick Bath of API-Metrow.
Sixteen met in Hertford and split into two equal groups in order to do the medium\fast and the easy pacer. The faster group did a nonstop tour whilst the easiers took a more sedate pace and smelled the roses. A stop at Emily's proved to be a welcome break and all returned safely. Meanwhile the four on the Ely tour did not have any problems until about 2 miles from the end when the heavens opened. Probably saved having a shower later.
Eighteen set off from Ware, soon to be joined by the speeding RichardH. After heading out via Fanhams Hall the group took in Much Hadham and Puckeridge before blasting back down the old A10.
Again decent weather. Again an excellent turnout. Again a warm welcome to all those out on their first ride with the club. After the Old Skool TT fourteen riders took off for a slightly roundabout route to Wandon End. Away from the race Danny led about ten on the easy pacer to Buntingford. Neither group encountered any major difficulties and all benefitted from the good rides and good company.
Merv and Phil rode the Verulam 25 on the F1 course. A rising wind from the south made things difficult on the final 10 miles. Times Phil 1:0:23 Merv 1:6:48.
An incredibly fast course with the right conditions. And these were the right conditions. Sadly, Peter wasn't. Did 2:07:29. Should have got in faster than two hours.
Nineteen took to the hills on an occasion when it did not rain. From Ware to Hertford, Bayford, Tylers Causeway, Essendon and back to Ware. Twas a good ride on a good evening.
A decent day. It didn't rain! Not too windy! Big yellow thing in the sky! Can't last? And so HWCC took full advantage with over 30 riders out on the roads either on one of the clubruns or a charity ride. Ten rode from Ware to Hatfield Heath on a fairly painless journey whilst nearly twenty met at Hertford. Fortunately this group split with a dozen off to Hudnall Corner and the rest on the medium\fast trainer. The Hudnall Corner group only suffered two punctures and most had a good day out although there were still some major "lakes" to negotiate especially on the 250 yard off road b
On a circuit just north of Holmes Chapel, Peter started the 100 in good spirits and full of hope. And for the first 40 miles everything went well. Sadly in his preparations he had forgotten to eat and he had no food with him. So he "hit the wall". He struggled on to the 75 mile mark where for the first time in a race he stopped due to exhaustion. A rider passed him and offered some food - gratefully accepted. This got him through the next 10 miles when he stopped again - totally spent. A spectator took pity on him and fed him with enough to get him to the finish. With about 14 miles
This event was on the E2 course near Newmarket. The first half of field had torrential rain and most did not ride. The other half had no rain and good oxygen levels, seven riders were inside 50mins and one of these was 60 years old!
Phil rode in the first half but still managed to record a personal best and club age record of 54:49. This time bettered his 55:12 recorded 20 years ago!
At 19:00 seventeen riders turned up for the Weds evening tour. Alas the foul weather turned up at the same time. From standing around in goodish weather awaiting the start, by the time we set off it was raining hard. As we made our way up the A10 we encountered a storm. Was a tad scary!! Riding down the road from Levens Green to Dane End would have been easier in a canoe and at the bottom of the descent there was a deep lake. We had to ford it as there was no return back up the hill.
The appalling conditions prevented the nine strong medium group from getting to the appropriately named destination of Rayne. At about the halfway stage the group negotiated one lake too many and the decision was made to retrace their steps - back through all the lakes and rivers that would have been much more enjoyable with MTB's. A small group of four eventually took refuge in a pub at Much Hadham. Despite everything nobody had any mechanical problems. Contrast this to the easy group where Chris continued his attempts to take the puncture repair record:- and Bob had a diction slip.
