Breckland 4-up (23/03/03)
As a warm-up for the BUSA 3-up TTT in a fortnight's time, we entered a CUCC
team for the CC Breckland 4-up yesterday (Sunday). Alex Higham had been
struggling with a cold last week, so stood aside to give John Barry the ride
alongside Tim M, John Tuckett and myself.
A superb sunny day, with a gentle breeze set the scene for a pleasant ride
over 50km north of Thetford Forest. We started the first (downwind) section
together as a four, rarely dropping below 30mph for the first 8-10 miles.
Unfortunately, John T (who had said to me prior to the start he'd be riding
with 3/4 of his lung capacity after a cough last week) found the pace a bit
too much, so we rode the rest of the course as a 3-up. Sorry John!
The final two-thirds we're a bit tougher on the rolling roads and head/
crosswinds, but the tenacity of John B (surely aided by his road racing
pedigree) and Tim's good early-season speed brought us home in 1.10.53 for
the 50k. This was good enough to beat a tidy-looking Wisbech Wheelers squad
to second place behind an awesome APi Bikes outfit (which included multiple
competition record holders Zak Carr and Glenn Taylor and 48-minute 25 mile
man Sam Barker) who did a 1.05.
Thanks to Alex who showed up to lend support (and take some photos I
think..?)
Bring on the 3-up...
Rob Driver |