PTW

Only over 40s need to read on.

Mark H recently mentioned this LVRC event which is this weekend. Nice and local comprising of:-

Saturday: Stage 1 TT (3.5 mile) followed stage 2 road race.
Sunday: stage 3 road race.

Just spoke to Austin the organiser and entries still being accepted if anyone interested.

http://lvrc.org/latest_news.asp#news703

You still have to be a member of the LVRC and not sure whether you can join on the day you need to check with Austin

The Squadra dei Veterani were active on the weekend, with Big Kev, Jeremy Jones, Mark Hillier and myself taking part in the LVRC Dragon 2 day stage race at resolven.

Stage 1 on Saturday morning was a 3.5 mile TT from resolven village to the finish of the Presidents Road Race. Big Kev recorded a 8:50, Jeremy Jones recorded a 9:08, Mark Hillier 9:31 and yours truly 9:35. For those wondering why my recent loss of form, Its nothing to do with the 12 hour....... I have been to the Doctor and I have been diagnosed with Shingles...... No wonder everything hurts when I try hard on the bike....

Anyway stage two on Saturday afternoon was scheduled as being 43 miles, 5.5 laps of the Resolven to Aberdulais circuit. Attacks came and went and the speed ebbed and flowed accordingly. Big Kev and Mark were active at the Front, I was sat in the bunch with Jeremey Jones who looked Comfortable for the whole trip. Chapeaux for what I think is your first road race.

Finally the break that mattered got away and the bunch settled down for the sprint for 4th place.
I finished around 10th in the bunch sprint, with Kev Mark and Jeremy not far behind. Checking the stats on the Garmin the race was in fact 53.43 miles which we covered in 2:08:36... Sweet

Now if Saturdays stage two was quick, Sundays stage 3 was an epic...... With the bunch afraid to let anyone go the pace was high and stayed high. From the start Jez and Kev hit the front hard..... a little too hard and first time up the rock a big attack went and the back door opened wide.... exit stage right.... Jez Jones.........

Big Kev, still mixing it up the dual was looking strong even when the pace was showing sections of between 33 and 35 MPH. Having a rest trying to recover... I lookd down at the Garmin...... still doing 28MPH. The 2nd lap was even quicker, and the 3rd lap was quicker still. Unfortunately half way around the 3rd lap, big Kev hit one of the many potholes on the back road and punctured thereby ending his efforts. Then there were two.

On the last lap the pace was quick up the rock, it was even quicker to Ynysygerwyn cricket club, and a couple of stragglers got tailed off including me. A bonkers ride through the junction and down the hill meant that I just managed to get back on on the slip road to the dual when all of a sudden....... the pace eased.... thank god.... I'm gonna make it.

Up the dual was brisk but no where near the speed of the previous laps as the main contenders rested their legs for the finish at the Resolven Village. Down past Rheola ponds I moved up to slot behind Ian Fagans Wheel and as we wound it up with 1k to go he put in a big kick. with 250 to go I stood up to put in my kick....... only to go backwards........... nothing left........as for Mark Hillier, He also tried to kick only to find the cupboard was bare we crossed the line together in the top 20. The Garmin shows 60.38 miles covered in 2:18:36

How weve done overall, I have no idea and for once I don't really care. It is a great event that we all enjoyed. I can recommend it to all the weekend warriors over 40 years of age. For the record Chapeaux to Jez who did finish the last day having timetrialled the last 58 miles or so. Can't wait to do it again next year.

Chapeau to all!

Take it easy with those shingles Les. There's no shame in easing up for a few weeks...

Well done guys, sounds a tough weekend.

Good write up Les now as you enjoyed it so much what about the Welsh Masters (over 40) championship on September 11th around Llantwit / Cowbridge (The Betty Pharoah race circuit) now that you Mark and Jez have had a taste of vets road racing my entry is in

+1 Les nice account of the weekend action.
Also it was good to see some of the boys out on Sunday showing support while having a burger or two.
The format of the events was great, just a shame I was sucked out of the back so early on Stage 3.
Masters in September sounds tempting, any others interested?

Big Kev wrote

Good write up Les now as you enjoyed it so much what about the Welsh Masters (over 40) championship on September 11th around Llantwit / Cowbridge (The Betty Pharoah race circuit) now that you Mark and Jez have had a taste of vets road racing my entry is in

Sorry Kev No Can Do.

The 11th is the day of the Port Talbot Wheelers 25 on the R25/3l Last chance for a quick 25 so I'll be hoping to do that