Hemel Hempstead Cycling Club

Hi folks,

We started tonight on the shortened course (approx 7.3 miles) due to the road works that will result in a nice smooth surface for the fist mile or so on the normal course. The roadworks are scheduled to last 3 weeks so we will be using this course and the earlier 7pm start time until then. It is important to note that it will take over 5 minutes to get to the start from the HQ - so leave at least 10 minutes beforehand - traffic lights can add an extra couple of minutes!

The weather was great - bright sun, warm (probably around 24ºC) and a very slight breeze giving a bit of help out to the turn (and strangely it seemed absolutely still at the HQ and start/finish points!).

Due to the short course, naturally the times done are quick - and even if extrapolated out to approximately full distance may seem quicker than reality as the fist and last miles that we missed out are slightly slow in comparison.

However in saying that, the fastest on the night was a fair way clear - John Lacey taking advantage of Matt Meadows not feeling up to par and pulling out during the event and thus having a winning margin of almost three-quarters of a minute over Steve Hewitt. Steve had an almost identical gap to Stuart Turner and 10 seconds slower still came Simon Hemington in 4th. Fast improving Ian Baynes was a close 5th just 6 seconds back.

Handicap allowances have been adjusted for the shortened course, naturally... but it still will make things interesting and also highlights those riders still improving - and Steve Roffe is one of those, coming in 10 seconds clear of Ian Baynes, another improver and in 3rd was John Lacey a quarter of a minute back and Steve Hewitt another 4 seconds further. All seemed to be improving if the times are worked out on the full course - by between 40 and 10 seconds.

For interest I have extrapolated the times out to roughly full course distance.

Thanks to Andy Murray and Jon Barkworth for marshalling and Stewart Boucher for the pushing, with Bob Clark doing his excellent timekeeping - with the start and finish opposite each other he was sending them off and timing the early ones back at the same time!

Next weeks marshalling rota shows it is the turn of Jonathan James, Matt Meadows, Dave Taylor and Stuart Turner.

Simon North had his stall out of Torq products at discount prices this evening, and has promised to have the stall out next week too - so anyone taking a trip soon, or in need of Torq nutritional products then please come and talk to Simon and purchase the goods!

Also next week - bring along any entry forms for the club open 10 that I am running on 7 August. See here for details: http://www.hemelcycling.org.uk/event/open-10-mile-time-trial

Cheers,

Paul