On a very hot Saturday afternoon, with temperatures just below 30° C, 15 Star riders took part in Coventry CC’s Open 10-mile TT. The event attracted a large 170 rider entry with again Banbury Star providing the largest visiting entry.
Seven of the 15 Star riders that took part
The K11/10T course is held almost entirely along the A45 dual carriageway. The start was fast with a tail wind and a very slight downward gradient. After passing the first roundabout the road drops away with a very fast one mile segment where you can hit speeds of 35-40 mph. Just after the descent you make a 180° turn at the roundabout tracing your steps back including the hill you have just descended. After the hill it’s a four mile slog back to the finish with only a small gradient, but it’s quite energy snapping and you’re trying to hold onto the gains from the outward leg. A quarter of mile before the end you peel off the dual carriageway towards Dunchurch and the finish is hidden behind a corner and you don’t see it until the last minute.
Only 4 seconds separated Star riders Luke Norris and Tobias Wiesand at Coventry
Overall winner was Travis Bramley on 19.10. His handicap time was 15.51, but our own Steve Goddard managed 15.48, taking first place in the Handicap event. Our women riders, Ila Pearson, Sian Marsh, Moira Goodway and Fay Barrington took the Women’s team prize.
Times throughout were very close, as illustrated by the times of the club’s top three riders; Luke Norris (15th) on 20.29, Tobias Wiesand (18th) on 20.33 and Simon Bull (28th) on 21.22.
In spite of the weather, the following members reported setting 10-mile personal bests; Sian Marsh, Ila Pearson, Richard Collier, Mark Davis, Luke Norris, Tobi Ng, Matt Norris and Will Morgan.