Update 28/3/14 - we will be running the event on the course described below.
This week's event was to have been on the 22 mile hardriders course (F5w/22 - course description). This course begins at the bottom of the Bow Brickhill climb and after two laps finishes at the top of the climb. However, the recent installation of traffic lights at Kelly's Kitchen roundabout has meant this course cannot be used. Richard Wood has suggested the following course, approx 20 miles.
Results
Quite a nice morning, if a little cool! I couldn't face hauling my highly geared TT bike up the hill at Bow Brickhill twice, so turned out on my road bike. By the time I reached Bow Brickhill, I was in awe of the TT champs of yesteryear before tribars were invented! I got caught by the eventual winner just after I crested top of the climb (while I was fannying around trying to persuade my unshipped chain to behave). Not that that was any kind of excuse, I found time trialling on a road bike to be really uncomfortable and inefficient. One by one all the guys who started behind me caught me and vanished into the distance (though I could see I was scaling the Bow Brickhill climb a bit quicker than at least one of them!)
Hats off to Richard Wood for an excellent ride - and also for devising the replacement course at short notice. The new course is actually better than the one it replaced. Thanks also for Tony and Steph for dealing with start/finish line duties in the cold.
| Pos | No | Name | Club | Time | Time | Cat | Vets Std | .+ / - | Vets Std |
| 1 | 5 | Richard Wood | Arbis-Colbert Cycles | 25.16 | 49.40 | S | |||
| 2 | 7 | James Fox | CC Luton | 25.18 | 49.55 | S | |||
| 3 | 3 | Jon Friend | Bedfordshire Road Club | 25.58 | 51.55 | V48 | 53.48 | .+1.53 | 1 |
| 4 | 2 | Jordan Mackie | Loughborough Students CC | 28.01 | 56.12 | S | |||
| 5 | 6 | Jason Lee | TeamMK | 27.51 | 56.15 | V45 | 53.20 | .-2.55 | 2 |
| 6 | 8 | Lindz Barral | www.twenty3c.co,uk | 28.13 | 56.54 | S | |||
| 7 | 1 | Graham Mackie | Club Corley Cycles | 28.37 | 57.29 | V52 | 54.26 | .- 3.03 | 3 |
| 8 | 4 | Robert Saunders | NBRC | 30.28 | 62.59 | V57 | 55.19 | .- 7.40 | 4 |
| Time Keepers:- Steph Cousins & Tony Farmborough NBRC | |||||||||
Course Description and Risk Assessment
F5w/20
Bow Brickhill/Woburn Circuit – 2 Laps
Course Description
Start In a gateway on the Woburn Sands Road approx. mid-way between Woburn Sands and Bow Brickhill opposite Public Footpath sign/unnumbered telegraph pole. Proceed towards Bow Brickhill where turn left onto Church Road and up the hill. Continue to crossroads where turn right past the entrance to Woburn Golf Club to next road junction where turn right in the direction of Little Brickhill. In approx. 200 yards turn left onto slip road down and onto A5 south bound carriageway. Proceed to Flying Fox RAB where turn left onto Sheep Lane. Continue to crossroads at Woburn where turn left onto A4012 towards Woburn Sands. At double mini RAB turn left on 2nd mini RAB onto Hardwick Road. Continue to start finish point (10.1 miles) and continue for 2nd lap to Finish at start point in 20.2 miles.
Risk Assessment
1. The road surfaces are in general in good condition, except as noted below.
2. The majority of the course comprises minor, unclassified roads with very little motor traffic. Whist few of these roads are straight, they do not present a hazard, except as noted below.
3. There are numerous entries to farms, fields and houses, which, due to negligible traffic flow are not listed in this assessment.
4. Several road junctions with the course are listed. Unless specifically noted, traffic on the course has right of way. Traffic levels entering the course from these junctions appear to be low.
5. The course passes through 3 villages.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A CLUB EVENT ONLY AND RIDERS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE COURSE.
|
Miles |
Course Description |
Identified Hazard |
Risk Level |
Rider Action |
Official Action |
|
0.0 |
Start in Gateway |
|
L |
|
|
|
0.6 |
Turn left onto Church Road |
Houses, parked cars on hill. Occasional horse riders |
M |
Riders to be alert |
|
|
1.7 |
Right turn at x-roads |
Possible on-coming traffic. Pot holes in road surface. |
M |
Riders take great care. |
Signage to notify of turn. |
|
2.0 |
|
Golf Club entrance on right. |
L |
|
|
|
2.5 |
Right turn at Give Way sign. |
Possible cross traffic at T-junction |
M |
Riders take great care. |
Warning signage |
|
2.6 |
Turn left onto slip road joining A5 south. |
Traffic on main carriageway |
M |
Riders take care |
|
|
4.3 |
|
Lay-by on left |
L |
|
|
|
4.6 |
Turn left at RAB onto Sheep Lane |
Traffic on RAB |
M |
Riders take care |
|
|
4.7 |
|
Road junction on left |
L |
|
|
|
4.9 |
|
Road junction on right |
L |
|
|
|
6.1 |
|
Road junction on left |
L |
|
|
|
6.7 |
|
Road junction on left |
L |
|
|
|
6.9 |
Turn left at x-roads onto A4012 |
Traffic on other roads |
M |
Riders take care |
|
|
6.9 |
|
Zebra crossing on High St. |
L |
|
|
|
7.1 |
|
Road junction on right (A4012) |
L |
|
|
|
7.2 |
|
Road junction on right |
L |
|
|
|
7.8 |
|
X-road junctions on right and left |
L |
|
|
|
8.1 |
|
Large lay-by on left |
L |
|
|
|
8.9 |
|
First mini-RAB. Roads joining on right and left |
M |
Riders take care |
|
|
8.9 |
Turn left onto Hardwick Road |
Oncoming traffic from High St. |
M |
|
|
|
9.1 |
|
Road junction on right |
L |
|
|
|
9.2 |
|
Cars parked on Right |
L |
Care |
|
|
9.3 |
|
Road junction on right |
L |
|
|
|
9.4 |
|
Road junction on left |
L |
|
|
|
10.1 |
Start/Finish point |
|
|
Proceed for Lap 2 |
|
|
20.2 |
FINISH |
|
|
|
|
RIDERS MUST NOT STOP AT THE FINISH OR PERFORM U-TURNS ON THE CIRCUIT
Note this event is on a Sunday, and starts at 9am. This is British Summer Time, the clocks will have changed! I leave it to members to figure out which way the clocks change. Meet at the start. £2.50 (members), £3.00 (non-members).