Tester – a cyclist who rides predominantly time trials [there seemed to be a lot this month!]
Words: James “sponsored by AeroCoach?” Smee. Edit: Adam Coppard.
The holiday season upon us, racing can be hit and miss but the month saw a fair amount of action from our riders, and it was the clubs TT series finale with the Open!
1st Aug – RCR Handicap race - Goodwood
The format as mentioned back in June, racers start in their categories with time gaps, with places given across the line not per category, so each group of racers looking to catch the groups in front (then the race begins!)
Larry was in the 3rd cat group with a strong/large group of 40+ riders and me off in the 2nd Cat group with just 16 riders, behind us the pro/elite riders, about 8 in total, however including Dowsett, Clancy and Bibby amongst the other bike racing machines!
Chatting to my fellow racers on the start line we agreed to ride hard taking a pull each to catch the 3rds ASAP. It all went wrong when a few didn’t pull, finding myself off the front with no one pulling through. Then the attack came, and I was sprinting to catch the back of the train, not long after someone let the wheel go, I moved up to try and close but it was too late, just 20mins into the race, gassed and dropped. Meanwhile, Larry had a strong race, often on the front working with the group to stay away as long as possible only getting caught with about 4 laps to go. All groups came together and into the last lap the speed wound on, unfortunately Larry shipped his chain at a crucial moment on the high-speed approach to the final corner and slipped out of position whilst he sorted it. A very fast one to finish racing at Goodwood this year, with some take away lessons.
6th Aug – Chichester City Riders TT – P901/10 - Fontwell
The hard work Larry has put into the club TT championship came to its final event, which was also our first ‘Open’ making times recorded official for riders and available for anyone to enter, the fast course would attract a few others keen to get a quick 10-mile time. The weather played its part (after a poor Saturday) and the sun shone as riders arrived at the HQ. Road bike and TT bike entries made for some good competition, not just in club championship ranking but the event overall at stake.
Larry was able to ride and topped the leaderboard taking the win, well deserved;) with myself, Adam, Rich, Nick G, Sam (Keith), Neil and Mark all competing. Fittingly we have winners from the club at our event and some great times achieved.
A massive thank you from myself again, to all those that volunteered on the day enabling the event to go ahead and Larry (+family) for the whole series. The results of which and the 2023 Club TT champ will be announced separately with Trophy presentations at the Christmas do!
Best on the day, a strong showing from CCR. Fixed, you say?!
9th Aug - a3crg – P917/10 TT - Goodwood
Just a few days later Larry, Adam, Rich, and I were at the track for the last TT in the a3crg series. Having missed a few of them we were out of the points for the series overall but had desires of PBs for the circuit. A cooler night, but no real wind to speak of, the times overall were slower from all competing (who knows why?) Times were tight with 21:33 JS, 21:38 LW, 22:22 AC and 23:13 RW – and worthy 3rd place in the team results for the club.
16th Aug – Omega Mountbatten series
Sam and Rich hitting the tail end of the season hard, worked together in the cat 3 race but didn’t come away with anything from this one except a bit more determination and a different plan for the next race.
17th Aug - FWCC – P829HC - Southwick
Early season Hill Climb with Mark L taking on one of the ascents of Portsdown against the clock. In the end the only CCR representative, however putting in a strong showing and completing the hill in 3:37. Nice warm up for the Hill climb season……
20th Aug – SDV – P901/10 TT - Fontwell
Back on the course used for our Open Adam, Larry and Rich used their previous experience to better their times from before and Larry took off over a minute from the previous taking 4th place overall.
22nd Aug - HRC – P841r – Weststoke
The last HRC evening TT assembled a strong CCR showing with 6 riders participating. Rich took the win on the evening with 22:27 on a closely fought evening. Larry 22:30, Adam 23:39, Nick G 24:37, Sam 23:47 and Olivia 27:28 on road bikes.
23rd Aug – Omega Mountbatten series
Making up for lost time Rich and Sam leant on the left tyre walls again. This duo is working out how to ride a race giving it the ‘one-two’ treatment. The end result saw Rich place 9th and pick a point for the efforts.
Rich, after his well earned victory 🥇
26th Aug – PNECC Summer circuits - Mountbatten
Well-rehearsed, the Rich/Sam combo worked over the group countering each other until setting up Rich who gave it a whack in the last lap to cross the line first! (Winner winner) his first crit win, chapeau!
TT photographers are ALWAYS non-drive side 🥲
28th Aug – a3crg – P881/10 – Men slower than 22 and scratch event
I was riding in the men slower than 22 min event, rescheduled from April due to poor weather and Larry rode in the scratch event. This heavily subscribed course is popular due to the quick times it can produce being an out and back on the A3. Having said that it’s not flat!
Rolling off the start into the unknown I settled into what felt like a decent start, keeping to power was difficult as the course rose and fell, but at the turn I was making good progress. After the final rise the run to the line was on… and on and on… I’m sure it was moving further away, but I got there eventually with a 20:22, PB and 1st place in the category competition, 17th overall.
Larry went out hard and continued to ride like that, pushing harder on the return with a 20:09! Cracking time and oh so close again to dipping under the magic 20-minute marker! He has the TT mojo, keeping it going through a long season.
30th Aug - PNECC – Summer circuits - Mountbatten
Enjoying their success, the duo were back at it again. Deploying the same tactic hitting the pack with the one-two combo. Rich found himself off the front in a small group, but without much help. Having made it across to the break Rich worked to the last lap but due to the workload put in got worked over by the others, however Rich still finished with a well earnt 4th place and a steady stack of points now accumulated so far.
August done and September stacked with events as the season changes the CCR colours are looking well represented. Hill climbing is set to get underway, Cyclocross is coming…. TT’s and Races still running, plenty to get involved with. Let us know about your races for Septembers round up and if you’re interested in any racing mentioned and would like to know more just ask!