CYCLING Getting into gear

Jul 24 2008

Most time trial courses are on flat roads to allow for faster times.

But that was not the case in the National Championship 100 last Sunday, as Hounslow & District Wheelers' Paul Holdsworth found the hard way.

The course took in scenic mountain roads along the A40 in the Brecon Beacons, South Wales - fine for touring but hard work for racing.

In fact, 23 of the 116 entrants failed to start the race,perhaps not having checked a map first and thinking better of it when they saw the route.

Holdsworth said: "I used every single gear I had on the bike! "I was doing 40mph down the nine-mile descent to the Brecon turn, but knew it would be hard going back up into the wind."

Holdsworth eventually came ninth in a time of 3:57.30 hours, having set a steady pace in the first 25 miles and passed halfway in 1:59. Meanwhile,the same day, fellow Wheeler Paul Innes set a new personal best over 50 miles at the West London Cycling Association 50.

Despite a north-westerly wind making things tough on the Bath Road course,Innes came home in 2:05.12 hours to come 12th overall, shaving more than two minutes off his previous mark.

Teammate Rob Gilmour came fifth just 47 seconds after the two-hour mark, while other Wheelers to finish were David George (18th) and Neil Holdsworth (27th).

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