Fools on Hills 17_2_12

Fools on the Hills .........

Sunday 12th February and the hardriders were out getting the racing season off to an early (I hesitate to say, 'flying') start. Following on from successful runnings of the Winter Duathlon series Marc Laithwaite of The Endurance Store, based in Appley Bridge, has coordinated a series of short winter training time trials, and this was the last of the series (I did do one on the 8th of January, but I'm not sure if that counts as the start of this season or the finish of the last one). All slighty different circuits based around the Parbold area, this one started from the High Moor restaurant (on our way to the start Alfie Shaw and I rode straight past this as we didn't see it in the fog), the course then did a loop, descending the 'back of Hunter's', through the bends at Anderton's Mill, emerging at the foot of Hunter's and of course sending us up that lovely hill. The race was two laps, totalling 12 miles - I'm sure Southport CC riders will be familiar with the route. Roads were damp and muddy in places, the temperature a chilling 2 degrees, and the fog made descending a bit more challenging, so caution was in order.

Much was expected of Dan 'the Man' Burdekin but to his frustration he missed one of the turns taking the heart out of his ride, so he DNFed. We'll see more of him later in the year, especially as the lure of fast courses and fast times gets his adrenaline flowing. Alfie Shaw lugged his retro Raleigh around in 46:02. Richard Cary managed to throw his chain off on the descent of Hunter's but remounted to continue to 37:03 for second place overall behind organiser/coach/shop proprieter Marc Laithwaite who stormed round in 35:50. (Fear not folks, even without the chain derailment I wouldn't have bettered Marc's time). Interestingly, the previous day Marc had competed in the notoriously tough 7 mile Parbold Hill running race, finishing a very, very respectable 5th place in what is always a quality field. Dan's brother, Matt, former Southport CC rider but now with the CoverYourCar team burst his thighs on Hunter's, finishing with 40:36.

Southport's trio, Dan, Alfie and Richard are planning an assault on the infamous Nelson Wheelers Circuit of the Dales 50 mile time trial in April, and if others would like to join the merriment (it's the 50th edition), they'd be more than welcome to bolster the team showing. There were no photos from the event itself (which would, in any case, have looked rather like riders in white, on a white background), but here is a piccie of my latest build around a 1980s frame, the long distance/hilly TT special, armed with its 34-tooth inner ring to help old legs get up big hills. Richard Cary Southport's trio, Dan, Alfie and Richard are planning an assault on the infamous Nelson Wheelers Circuit of the Dales 50 mile time trial in April, and if others would like to join the merriment (it's the 50th edition), they'd be more than welcome to bolster the team showing.

There were no photos from the event itself (which would, in any case, have looked rather like riders in white, on a white background), but here is a piccie of my latest build around a 1980s frame, the long distance/hilly TT special, armed with its 34-tooth inner ring to help old legs get up big hills. (Click to enlarge)

Richard Cary Posted 17/02/2012

Website Designed by Taylored Web Solutions