50@50 TTT: Us vs. Æolus
Posted on Monday 7 February 2011 by Martin Hayman
Stephen, ever-popular, had invited 3-star riders to join a hubristically-titled ’50@50 Team Time Trial’ for his 50th birthday ride.
We detrained at Knebworth and after some delay and low-rent banter at Dr Bob’s expense, nearly a dozen set off for an anti-clockwise loop around Stevenage (geddit?) and Baldock, to end at Emily’s tearooms in Whitwell. The aim was to complete the 50 miles in 4 hours, a mere bagatelle for real cronometrists but a proper challenge for our crew.
It was windy, and as we turned north at Watton-at-Stone, the full force of the gale made itself felt. With Roger leading the charge, we were soon flying along at well over 40 kph. Several of our number had taken the trouble to wear the club colours and on the wide lanes through Walkern, Wallington and Ashwell, in double file and swapping the lead around, we could almost have been mistaken for a sporting club.
Our ambitions were put into perspective when a small squad of Hertford CCs eased past us. And when we reached the turn just beyond Hinxworth and came up into the eye of the wind, oh dear! Now we were grovelling. There is no other word for it. On a steady rise to the exposed bridge over the A1 at Edworth, our progress was scarcely better than walking pace. In fact just staying on board the bike was challenge enough.
A brief turn northwards through Langford offered some respite, but then the westerly struggle resumed. Our squad strung out and fragmented, all pretence of a contre-la-montre experience abandoned. A faction even lobbied for a tea stop at a lay-by snack trailer: permission denied!
As the route bent southwards, the wind moved to our quarter, and we were able to regroup. But an outcrop of the Chilterns lay between us and our destination and caused another fracture as the more bloody-minded stomped up Gravel Hill. Their number did not include our birthday boy. But the high ground once overcome, Stephen put in a late surge to lead the group in and take the village sign at Whitwell, as was right and proper. Overall time for the parcours was a surprising 3:30, allowing plenty of time to loaf around at Emily’s tearoom congratulating each other on our day’s defiance of Aeolus.
Riders: Stephen, Keith, Naomi, Roger, Kay, Jon, Brenda, Andrew, Mike, Bob, Martin
Route map here.
Birthday tea in the shed: (L–R) Stephen, Martin, Keith, Naomi
L–R: Jon, Keith, Stephen, Bob, Mike, Andrew, Brenda