Hello everyone! Hope we have all come out the other side of what has been a trying year and are looking forward to happier, healthier days.
The Time Trail season is underway and lockdown restrictions have seen a number of events moved back a few weeks from their traditional early spring slots. Despite this later start – the weather has definitely had a typical “Spring Classic” flavour with wind, rain and hail adding to the fun.
Christine represented the Phoenix over the Easter week-end and was the first rider to grace the G10/42 riding the Epsom CC club event. Earlier in the day – I paid the price for entering the Brighton Mitre Hily10 – in a start that was moved to the morning and took place in arctic conditions.
The Kingston Wheelers Sporting 14 was held in near perfect conditions. Running two months later than usual – a number of course records fell on a fast day. One hundred twenty riders entered and the Phoenix put in a strong team performance with Alex Kew breaking his course PB with a lightening 36:23. Gavin Hughes posted 36:49 and Simon Trehearn finished with a 38:21.
The Dorking Hard Riders TT was truncated to 25 miles and the weather reverted to more appropriate Hard Rider conditions. Three Phoenix riders took home the first prize money of the season winning the “Fastest Team on VTTA Standard” with the two Simons, Crook and Trehearn and Gavin Hughes finding their bank balanced enhanced by Sunday evening.
The first evening 10 of the Summer Series was postponed due to roadworks and the second only went ahead due to the extreme determination of riders, timers and marshals – of whom a special thank-you must go out to Patrick – who on discovering he had left his shoes at home – volunteered to spot in horrendous conditions. It was not lost on anyone that riders have the choice to ride or not ride – and that decision can be commuted as late as possible. The volunteers – on the other hand - have no such choice – and last Wednesday, the timers and marshals were the champions who deserve the thanks and appreciation of all.
Official results are not yet published – so I only have Strava and my own obscured sense of what was going on between the downpours and hail storms from that evening. Rick Opie introduced Ellie Melbourne to her first TT and both showed extreme courage and determination in riding the course when the conditions were at their harshest.
I was vaguely aware that Matt Schulz’s rear light that was once ahead of me stopped flashing at some point around Beare Green and the soggy figures of Simon and Elliott appeared on the outward bound leg at one point. Joe Shepherd led the Phoenix back to dry land followed by Simon T, Gavin, Elliott and Ellie. If I have missed anyone out – I do apologise. It was an exceptional evening and everyone involved embodies the strength and determination that personifies the spirit of the Phoenix! Ride safely.
