Race Reports

Every Wednesday night at 19:30 this aptly named ride takes place.

It is basically an hour's ride of multiple laps faster than is humanly possible going up every hill in Hayward's Heath, some of these guys were going up the hills quicker than I could go down and they truly were 'Riding like they stole it'

I thought I would start this week after most of the guys have either just got back from Wimereux or just competed in the Brighton Marathon, easy ride nice and gentle just to get the feel of it..12 Riders Started 10 finished the other 2 still have not been found. I got dropped on most laps but the secret is just to keep going as hard as possible and you will get back on the pack.

• Was it one of the hardest rides I have done - Yes
• Distance covered - approx 23 miles
• Did I feel sick - Yes
• Did I get dropped - Yes
• Was it fun - Most defiantly
• Will I do it again - Most defiantly

Great fun and I would recommend it to all, many MST members already do it (Ant, Dave, Kev and myself), if you don't think you can keep the pace or are significantly slower start your own group and do it.

Tour of Wimereux

The ride sets off from Plumpton and heads out to Dover where there is a slight rest and a ferry over to Calais then onto Wimereux, 100 - 120 miles. Day 2 Wimereux - Dieppe approx 100 miles dependant on the navigator.

Quote from one exhausted rider "It is by far the hardest I have ever cycled in my life"

We managed to stick together for the most part in one peloton, but some of us were literally clinging on for dear life at times!  When Steve Dennis (noted as the fastest rider in Sussex) got on the front, the pace really took off!  The hardest bits were cycling into a pumping headwind in Romney Marsh and along the Kent coast.  And then those long drag hills after about 60 miles on day 2.  We went up there at 20 miles an hour!  I think the average speed for the whole trip was about 20 miles an hour!

There was obviously lots of beautiful scenery along the way (e.g. wide open expanses of yellow rape fields), but these went past in a blur!  There wasn't much drinking on the Saturday night - we were all too shattered.

There is genuine concerned that we didn't get the balance right - too much cycling and not enough drinking!