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After my mammoth round up piece a few weeks back things have gone a bit quiet on the old racing front although not for lack of trying. As an example buoyed on by successfully completing Mr Haldens Century. YT entered a 50-mile time trial some time back. Based on the premise that if you can get round 100 miles in a day you can do 50 in an afternoon, rather naive for a rider of my experience (ok age). However I had a plan, entered a 25 the Sunday before the Congleton event the Tuesday before was also a 25 do the Macclesfield wheelers on the Wednesday, and then I’d be ready. Except the 25 got cancelled on Sunday the organiser taking the understandable move not to mix cyclists with folk going to a Truckfest at Astle Park. Then Tuesdays & Wednesday were cancelled as the Macclesfield – Congleton road had roadwork’s that started on the Monday for 4 days. In desperation I journeyed down to the A50 at Etwall one of the quickest courses if a bit of a trek. An ideal night rewarded me with my fastest time of the year at 56-12, however this was not only still way down on the winner Charley Taylor of the promoting club South Pennine who recorded 52-08, plus the ideal conditions meant that it would bear little comparison with riding round the pitted roads of Cheshire. Sure enough it was a struggle especially as the conditions at one end of the course was monsoon like, except colder. Now I expected to get caught by fellow Leekensian Mark Lovatt off number 50 who started 4 minutes behind me, and who did not let me down passing me around the closing stages of lap one on his way to victory. But had hoped to make it to the end before number 60 i.e. 14 minutes reached me in fact I still had around 5 miles to go when that happened, I did finish though albeit in 2-05-56, which reading the numbers of DNF’s could count as an achievement. Although just scraping inside the top half of the field at 19^th definitely was not especially with mark heading up a two riders who covered the course in under an hour and fifty at 1-49-11. In fact with all the top 10 getting in under 2 hours you would be forgiven in thinking it was afloat day.

Attempts to put the experience behind me on Tuesday in the Congleton 10 was thwarted as the 4 days roadwork’s were still going strong perhaps they meant 14 days. From the clubs point of view it was equally as frustrating as one of our newest members Gary Whiston, had borrowed Andy Bain's testing bike and was eager to make his debut, but with Macclesfield Wheelers running their 10’s on the same course things did not look well. A trawl on the web though revealed a 10-taking place at Chelford run by Westmead Team 88, with Gary duly informed we rendezvoused at the signing on point. Where yet another member Gavin Pringle also joined us, even the guy taking the names was impressed by the Leek CC/ Den Engel turn out. Although Gav's night did not go to plan having turned up at the signing on point at Macclesfield to discover it cancelled but was told about the alternative. He then rushed over to us in time to sign on, only to discover an absence of suitable footwear having left them back at Leek, mind we’ve all done it I even left my wheels behind! Gav did not miss a perfect night though the infamous Cheshire plains winds hampering everyone’s times. Even the event winner Peak road clubs Paul Dentith was down on his usual time recording 22-38, YT just scraped under 24 minutes at 23-54, with Gary less than 2 minutes behind at 25-54.

Finally bringing us up to date with the V.T.T.A open 25 that took place on Saturday the 6^th. Once again we were on the local open course at Chelford, and once again the conditions were shall we say a bit choppy, a nautical turn but so was the action of tacking down the A50. Team Den Engels’ was hoping for a trio of riders but a scheduling error by Mr Brookes left just Mark Poyser and YT, at least that meant I was the second fastest club rider. I must be improving though as I did not get caught, and nudged closer to the hour at 1-0-44. Mark was less happy with his ride as I think for the first time in the season he slipped outside the hour at 1-0-12. However it maybe something to do with being called Mark as another leekensian, Mark Lovatt was also unimpressed with his time despite taking the event by several minutes from his nearest rival. That said his 55-16 was slower than expected underlining the prevailing conditions, but it was still a “good ride”.

For those who fancy something a little different entries for the 12 hour time trial at the beginning of September are due in and rumour has it that Mr Halden, who will be taking part was trying to rustle up a team of three or more, by touting entry forms in the bar after the clubs social ride last week returned to Den Engel. Testament perhaps to our sponsors ales but I believe he even had a taker! Perhaps Gary should have listened to uncle Andy Bain who took part in a 24 after a similar incident, I will let them get on with the miles for yours truly’s operating time envelope is closer to 2 hours than 12.