Recovery after the effort

Winter Miles mean Summer Smiles

It’s been a long tradition with cyclists that once the weather turns and the days shorten the real hard work starts. Looking out of the window on a cold and windy winters morning and deciding to head off for any ride rather than stay in bed can make the difference later on in the season. We have already enjoyed the long ride on the shortest day, just three riders to Rivington (no gold, frankincense or myrrh), the Christmas Eve café run and the icing on the cake, the Boxing Day Time Trial.
Time Trials pit the rider against the clock, it is not a traditional race rather more a labour of mind and body often with an inner voice telling you to get off the bike and go home for a cup of tea. This year the weather was kind, the temperature albeit low wasn’t freezing and the wind and rain far to the east so it should have been a well-attended event, however there were a total of ten competitors and only nine bikes.

Controversy started immediately when 3 riders turned out in full aero kit, including skin suits. This gave rise to plenty of comments from the other competitors and ultimately a post-race disqualification by Allan Stark, the official for the day. The other riders armed with standard road bikes and one tandem (novelty leggings from Dave Cockram) numbered only seven so the TT’ers were allowed to race just to bring up the numbers, after all we are an inclusive club.
In order of the push off, Chris “chopper” Stone (TT), Ray “the brickie” Lyons, Neil (the elder) Robinson, Graham Norton (TT), Jim “The hill climb” Henderson. Ian “Santa hat” Bailey (TT), Josh (and Dad) Reid, Allan “the chairman” Taylor and Dave and Liz “Daisy Daisy…” Cockram on the Tandem.
The route from Weld Road down the coast road to Pontins and then back to Weld Road was mostly dry and with few cars on the road, the whole event was without incident and nor did we lose anyone en-route. The distance, a little over 5 miles, can be tricky to gauge the effort required as it sits somewhere between sprint and endurance, I am sure all had a little left in the tank by the end.

The results, including adjustments for trying too hard and turning out in full TT kit were as follows:
Jim Henderson, riding a fixed gear bike, 1st place: 14 minutes 12 seconds, Neil Robinson, standard road bike 2nd place 15 minutes 29 seconds and Dave and Liz Cockram, tandem 3rd place 15 minutes 52 seconds.
Josh took the quickest junior time in 18 minutes 10 seconds. As for the skin suit’ d, funny shaped helmet headed TT riders, Graham Norton 12:57, Chris Stone 13:55 and Ian Bailey 14:14.
As always any event cannot run without the willing and selfless help from other club members, Alan Stark ran the proceedings with road side marshalling by Mike and Gill, pushing off by Eddie and timings by Dave. Thanks guys.

See Images here for more pictures

Neil Robinson

Official Result