SCCA Spring 10 No.2

A 17 year-old visiting rider surprised everyone in Round 2 of The SB Sports Injuries Series, Shropshire CCA’s second Spring 10 at Waters Upton in tricky conditions with a dominant performance as Beeston CC’s George Bromley took a commanding win in 20 minutes 48 seconds. Bromley had a first outing on a new time trial bike to look forward to, and he was certainly warmed up by event start, getting dropped off and riding over from Cannock. With deeper section time trial bike wheels potentially more susceptible to poor conditions this might not have been the day for a first go, as Bromley explained: “I was pleased as it was the first time I had used the time trial bike. However, I was a bit nervous during warm up on the course as the weather conditions made it sketchy getting aero. I went out with a plan to ride at about 80% on the way out, and full effort on way back. I misjudged the finish as I thought it was further up the road, but I was on the limit anyway. I’m very pleased with my time, and am looking forward to some more events on the new steed”.

Strong, gusting crosswinds affecting the exposed opening half mile saw five riders decline their start; although those who did start commented that whilst tough, the slight bend in the road at Cold Hatton bowled them along to the turn at Hodnet, with some shelter offered courtesy of the trees at Peplow – before the war of attrition to get back south into the teeth of a 22mph block headwind gave the event a sense of character building. The wind chill factor added an extra dimension on a decidedly un-spring like afternoon. 

Taking overall runner-up spot and the maximum 20 points available to SCCA affiliated riders, Paramount CRT’s Mitchell Fletcher stopped the watch on 23:16, 10 seconds ahead of another visiting rider, Clive West of Chester RC. Fletcher had no issues handling the bike after pulling away from the start/finish area, and is clearly looking to improve as the season progresses: “After a strong opening performance at Round 1 I was looking to continue my growth into the season and put another strong performance on the table. With a higher wind and trickier conditions than in Round 1, the 10 miles of road ahead looked increasingly tough to pace. I needed to save some legs for the returning 5 miles from the turn point. I felt I paced the first 5 miles to the turn well, keeping power steady and speed high to counter, knowing what was to come after the turn. On the return leg we all had to deal with a tricky front-cross wind, but I had enough in the legs and the bike felt stable to get the job done and for me to end as overall runner-up and SCCA winner. I look forward to building on this into the season and keep setting performance records on the bike”!

In the Veterans competition West took the overall win in +4:06, with Chris Riley taking the maximum 20 points with +3:53 to head to the top of the SB Veterans Championship. His 18 points in the overall for finishing fourth in 23:31 saw his head to the top of that table too; but he had to work hard for it, as he explained: “An opposite headwind challenge to the previous round. The blustery run for home was torture, but at least being first off I avoided the rain shower. It was a very friendly atmosphere, and welcome tea and cake to follow. Thanks Wrekinsport and Ellerdine Village Hall”.

In the SB Road Bike Series Aerologic RT’s George Coombes had finished behind North Shropshire Wheelers’ Richard Simpson in Round 1, but reversed that situation in Round 2 with 24:03, 7 seconds ahead of Simpson. This meant a tie at the top of the table between the pair, which looks like a good battle shaping up for the season ahead. Coombes’ post-race comments show graphically how getting the pacing wrong can see you pay later: “I tried to take it relatively easy on the way out to the roundabout to save something for the block headwind on the way back. However I think I went a little too hard out and got carried away with the tailwind, so I suffered quite a lot on the way back. I was aiming for sub-24 with those conditions but just missed it in the end. Still a great event put on in pretty horrible conditions”.

Just one female was in competition, the other two being among the riders declining to start; with Fenwicks Fibrax Wrexham RC’s Tanya Samuels averaging 20mph after finishing in exactly 30 minutes.

Veterans:

Road Bikes:

Females:

Cumulative Standings after two rounds

Overall

Veterans

Road Bike

Females: