Time Trial / Time Trialling / TT

This is nothing much to do with single speed, but when anyone who has posted on the forum (even if only occasionally) wins something, I think it's worth mentioning.

This is my report for the local papers.

Redmon Grand Prix des Gentlemen – 16th October 2011.

The president of the Hounslow and District Wheelers has just demonstrated that his role is not just ceremonial. Last Sunday (16th October) Jeff Marshall, partnered by Wouter Sybrandy, won the Redmon Grand Prix des Gentlemen for the second year in succession.

This event is an end of season classic which attracts a high quality field. The formula is that a veteran (or ‘gentleman’) is paced by a younger faster rider and the result is decided on veterans’ standard (i.e. a handicap by age); so a competitor should be as old as possible but still capable of following his pacers wheel closely at speed. Additionally, negotiating skill is helpful in order to obtain the services of a good pacer.

With a full field, and as last year’s winner, Jeff carried the prestigious no. 120 on his back and must have felt under pressure to produce a good ride. By contrast, Wouter, the winner the previous day of his event in the Rudy Project Time Trial Competition, could face the start time keeper with serenity; his main task was to make sure he didn’t drop his ‘gentleman’.

The 15 mile course starts just south of Dorking with a fast stretch of the southbound A24 and the turns onto the undulating country lane from Newdigate back towards Dorking, making it much harder to follow a pacer. The photo, taken about half a mile before the finish, shows the stress on the older rider.

John Woodburn is a prolific winner of veterans’ prizes and may have been seen as the favourite here. However he was disadvantaged by an early start when the temperature was still low.  “How did you get such a fast pacer?”  Jeff was able to point out to Woody that Wouter had started his career with the Hounslow and still retains his second claim membership.

 Wouter commented “We worked pretty well together – Jeff did call for me to slow a couple of times”. Jeff said “I was on the rivet, I must have asked him to ease off at least twenty times”.

Result:

Veterans’ Standard:

• Jeff Marshall (Hounslow) / Wouter Sybrandy (Signa Sport) 38mins. 21secs. Vets’ Plus 10 minutes 21 seconds.

• D. Hitchcock/ J. McLaughlin (North Hants RC) 39.26, Vets plus 9.39.

• John Woodburn (VC Meudon)/Stan Maciak (Didcot Phoenix) 40.47, Vets Plus 9.30.

Actual Time:

• Chris Yates (East Grinstead CC)/ Conal Yates (In GearQuickvit) 35 mins.16secs.