Sam Wootton and Mike Kirby, took part in the Charlbury 36 Hilly Time Trial on Sunday, organised by Oxonian CC. The roughly triangular course, taking in Charlbury, Chipping Norton and Shipton-under-Wychwood, attracted a strong 55 rider entry. Comprising 2 x 18 mile laps, the course and conditions were described by both riders as pretty brutal. Mike won the Vet 60+ category with a time of 1.49.13, finishing 28th overall, while Sam set a time of 2.09.19.
Simon Bull entered Birmingham Midland CC’s Cat 3 road race on Sunday at Solihull Parkway, which had a 60 rider entry. The somewhat novel course comprises laps, completed during a 1 hour duration, of Birmingham Business Park’s perimeter roads. A great venue, which apart from being very flat and fast, contains very little weekend traffic. Simon’s race went well, as he managed to stay with the bunch the whole time keeping pace with any surges that others made and staying on people’s wheels and out of the wind. The race ended in a large bunch sprint and whilst the results have still to be published, Simon thinks he was in the top 20.
There are two further events at this venue on 28th June and 15th September for anyone who wants to give it a go.
Simon Bull (right centre) in the bunch at Solihull
Matt Sleath and Lee Heron, ventured down to South Wales on Sunday to compete in a 25 mile time trial on the UK’s fastest course R23/3H.
The weather was a bit fresh with consistently strong winds which caused a few hairy moments on the long descent early in the time trial. A ‘tank slapper’ front wheel wobble at over 42 MPH can cause a little bit of an adrenaline rush. This wind became a significant factor on the final 10 miles after the turn and run in to the finish line, seeing speeds reduce from around 30 mph to 20 mph.
Both riders posted personal bests with Lee taking over 40 seconds of his previous record and Matt taking a whopping 4 minutes off his previous best time for a 25 mile time trial. Matt also managed to get the roundest possible finish time with 1:00:00! For those that ride the Laiden Plaque, that’s the target for the scratch prize.