Ben Hardisty writes…
Saturday 14th Feb was going to be a busy day for me what with the kids sporting activities in the morning and me cooking the Valentines day dinner, but nevertheless I squeezed in an afternoon’s worth of TTing.
This was the earliest event of the year I have ever entered and it was suitably chilly, but to be fair, an improvement on the recent weather we’ve had. The sun was out briefly, there was little wind and there was no ice on the road.
The GS/985 course is three legs of 17½ miles of rolling terrain, the first section being the most testing, running up the B2135 from Steyning to the A24 via Partridge Green, then a flatter section of the A24, finishing with the A283 with a couple of drags back past Steyning.
Thankfully I had decided to wear a thermal layer along with arm and knee warmers which felt just about right for the conditions. I was off number 3 and was soon caught by number 4 Mark Bernhardt who was sporting brand new Zipps (he told me afterwards over a cuppa), I caught number 1 about halfway round the course and managed to finish without seeing anyone else.
A good early season blast was just what the doctor ordered for me, making the most of the improved weather. I finished in a modest 48-18, but very much enjoyed a spin out on the TT bike.
On paper the event was a tussle between Pete Tadros and Ben Instone, clocking 37-01 and 35-23 respectively, both very impressive times considering the rolling nature of the course.
Results Ben Instone Scientific Coaching 35-23 Pete Tadros In Gear Quickvit 37-01
