>The Edgware reliability is the flattest of the Chiltern Classic series. I like it.
Today’s event took place on a messy day – starting in flurries of snow and then persistent drizzle through the day. This made the roads very messy. Naturally several people (self included) decided to take out their non-mudguard bikes.
I started with the slow group (4-4.5 hours for nearly 100km) and we started at a sensible pace (all on the 39 ring). I even managed to do some turns. At about half way there is the only steepish hill (Honey Lane?) on the course. The effort increased and the gaps opened. I started the hill slowly, but kept going and had the lead bunch in sight over the top. I clicked across to the 53 ring and started chasing. Groups formed and split for the next 30 minutes or so before a working group coalesced and the effort needed dropped. I was well pooped.
The ride to the finish was a bit up and down in pace (not so down that I could do a decent turn) but we still kept it going to finish in 3h 30m for the course. Not many of the later starting fast group caught us, so it was a good ride (about 75 miles door to door).
I was so covered in road dirt that a customer at the finish cafe asked me if I’d fallen in a ditch. Oh for a camera.
Thanks to the Edgware RC for organising the event (and using it to raise funds for the Alzheimers Society).
Lance Woodman 