Firstly I would like to offer condolences to all at the Severn Bridge Race. Our team riders Phill Reynolds and Andy Shackel where competing at the time and it goes without saying that we've lost too many good people who just wanted to ride their bikes. (Junior Heffernan killed in Severn Bridge race crash)
Test valley Weekend TT Race report from Harry Bulstrode:-
The weather for Saturday’s solo event was warm enough to get the legs shaved for the first time since October. Richard Prebble, riding for Node4Giordana, was runner up in 2012, and shaved seconds off this year, finishing in 22:01. I was feeling strong and comfortable in a new position with a bit more stretch, and set off fast, averaging 370 watts to the turn, where I had to do some London cycling to duck round cars queuing for the roundabout. After the dead turn and the sprint back up to speed, I was tiring for the return leg, and struggled to lift the pace for the finish, up hill and a few hundred metres over the 10 miles to boot! I was delighted with a 21:30, eight seconds better than last year and good enough for the win. Andy Bryson got held up behind a learner driver on his way down the start hill, and finished in 5th with 23.08. Oli Hitchings, adapting to a new position on a new bike finished in 24:45. The three of us took the team prize overall.
Sunday morning was overcast and cold, but there didn’t seem to be any ice around, and after the torrential rain in last year’s event we weren’t going to complain. Andy and I shared the lead in 40-second blocks, ‘looking comfortable on the wheel, their relays slick and smooth’ (Thanks Eamonn http://blog.sportsmassagebournemouth.co.uk/). After a lorry pulled across a short way in front, the adrenaline took my pace up a little as Andy tried to recover so that I shed him briefly, but otherwise the changes were faultless. We finished in 21:22 and weren’t sure it had been enough. In the event, we had taken the victory by a narrow 11 second margin over James and Steve behind. Phil Peters and Oli Hitchens put in a strong ride to finish 5th overall in 23.15.
In summary, a great weekend’s racing, and the Peter Hansford Cycles squad took home all the silverware, or will do if anyone can find the Chalky White trophy!
Test valley Weekend TT Race report from Harry Bulstrode:-
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| Harry shows the clock who's boss! photo by Jez Hart (Sotonia CC) |
After storming onto the road race stage last season, this weekend was a chance for the Peter Hansford Cycles team to put down a mark in the ‘race of truth’. Time trialling is racing at its simplest, and this Test Valley weekend, held on the P140 10 mile course running down the valley into Romsey and back, promised to be hotly contested. In particular Andy Bryson and I were looking to defend our 2-up victory from 2012 against local fast men and erstwhile Contre-la-Montre team-mates James Gilfillan and Steve Whitewick.
The weather for Saturday’s solo event was warm enough to get the legs shaved for the first time since October. Richard Prebble, riding for Node4Giordana, was runner up in 2012, and shaved seconds off this year, finishing in 22:01. I was feeling strong and comfortable in a new position with a bit more stretch, and set off fast, averaging 370 watts to the turn, where I had to do some London cycling to duck round cars queuing for the roundabout. After the dead turn and the sprint back up to speed, I was tiring for the return leg, and struggled to lift the pace for the finish, up hill and a few hundred metres over the 10 miles to boot! I was delighted with a 21:30, eight seconds better than last year and good enough for the win. Andy Bryson got held up behind a learner driver on his way down the start hill, and finished in 5th with 23.08. Oli Hitchings, adapting to a new position on a new bike finished in 24:45. The three of us took the team prize overall.
Sunday morning was overcast and cold, but there didn’t seem to be any ice around, and after the torrential rain in last year’s event we weren’t going to complain. Andy and I shared the lead in 40-second blocks, ‘looking comfortable on the wheel, their relays slick and smooth’ (Thanks Eamonn http://blog.sportsmassagebournemouth.co.uk/). After a lorry pulled across a short way in front, the adrenaline took my pace up a little as Andy tried to recover so that I shed him briefly, but otherwise the changes were faultless. We finished in 21:22 and weren’t sure it had been enough. In the event, we had taken the victory by a narrow 11 second margin over James and Steve behind. Phil Peters and Oli Hitchens put in a strong ride to finish 5th overall in 23.15.
In summary, a great weekend’s racing, and the Peter Hansford Cycles squad took home all the silverware, or will do if anyone can find the Chalky White trophy!
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