Becontree Wheelers Cycling Club

It was the day of my 50th birthday and I had a new bike to ride; so I did but I found I couldn't ride it slowly or for a short time. That evening friends and family joined me for a meal out, followed by a further gathering back at my place, where I told every-one (who would listen) that I would be riding a 50 mile TT the following morning. The following morning at 5:00 am it was dark and raining heavily. Shall I go back to bed? that thought was so attractive but I would have to manfully brave all the jibes about failing to race. So instead I wimped-out by going to the race, possibly it would be cancelled and I'd be able to hold my head up high again. So I ventured out through the appalling weather. My troubles were not yet over. Not only was the race still on, but I could not find the HQ. So spending 40 minutes searching really cut down my getting ready time which was reduced to 10-15 minutes, so no warming-up time either. I got to the start with 4 minutes to spare completely forgetting I had harboured unworthy thoughts about cancellation.

10...5,4,3,2,1 OFF. The ride out from Ugly to the Newmarket racecourse roundabout was really quite pleasant and I 'd saved something in the tank to get back! Around the roundabout and straight into a headwind which I had failed to appreciate riding to the start. That something I had left in the reserve tank now evaporated like the morning dew (unlike the wet roads which had gone from very wet to damp to drying-out). After a total of 35 miles I'd had enough. I really wanted to climb-off, My legs ached as did my back and backside. Every push of the pedals was an effort of will, energy levels faded to nil. What do you do if you climb-off? Sit by the roadside in the hope that some marshal might pick you up. No thanks! It was this thought that kept me going into that grueling wind. Then the unexpected happened, at about 47 miles a "second-wind" graced itself upon me. Suddenly I was riding with "gusto" and strength into that wind and beating it down. Around a corner and there was the roadside checkered board....and passed it. I had finished. The road had dried-out, the sun was shine warmly down upon me, I had finished strongly and had won the BWCC 50 Championship. The time didn't matter, nor the fact that I was the only BWCC rider. I had faced the down side of racing and experienced the positives too. What a good race, I'm glad I took part.

Event Report

Result