The Engine revs up at the N&DCA Round 2

The team were out in force again over the weekend. Saturday (23 April, 2016) saw 7 team members take to the start line of the Northampton and District CA Round 2 event.

With points on offer for the solo and team prizes, it was form man Sam Hayes who completed the less than perfect course in the quickest time for TSE.  Sam claimed 5th spot in the race with a time of 23.10 for the 10 miles.

Making his debut for the team was James Gomm. James is beginning his racing season in earnest now, so his rock-solid time of 26.20 bodes well for the future.

New boy James Gomm (pic Davey Jones)

Stuart Hocknell made a very welcome return to racing following a period off the bike. This was probably one of the best things we've seen in the team for a while and we are all collectively chuffed to see Stuart back in action.  Stuart came in with a time of 36.27.

Behind Stuart on the start sheet was his son, Hugo who recorded 25.42 for the distance. Steves Robinson and Franklin posted times of 24.45 and 25.33 respectively. Simon Doyle was last man off and despite destroying yet another skin suit came in with a time of 23.57.

Conditions were tough on the day with a brutal head wind to the turn and a really draggy road surface for about 6 miles of the course. Despite that, the team gave a good account of itself and bagged some good points for the relevant competitions.

Chris Rimes took the even more difficult option of running the results board in support of Fenland Clarion's Simon Pitchford.

Icknield RC - Interclub 10
As if racing in windy conditions on Saturday wasn't enough, Steve Robinson and James Gomm competed in the IRC hosted 10 miler around Ampthill. Representing their alma mater (Hitchin Nomads CC), James and Steve recorded great times of 25.20 and 24.10 respectively. Steve was particularly pleased to punch out some good power and speed. (n.b. times are provisional at time of writing).

Making his debut, Nigel Hale smashed out a 23.17 in his first race in TSE colours. Nigel's power and class on a bike is evergreen. We really look forward to seeing Nigel's season progress.

Nigel Hale in action on the IRC 10 (pic Mike Webb)

TSE on tour - today's post is brought you by the course codes F, E, C and K!

Several of the team clocked up some motorway miles over the last week or so as they spread their wings across the regions. Each time trial region in the UK is described by a letter, so this caused much consternation for the DS as we were planning our racing schedule.

TSE HQ working out which courses to ride in the next few months.

F is for 'Flipping hard even if it is shorter than it should be'
On Sunday 3rd April, 2016, David Ledgerton made his 2016 debut on the revised and foreshortened F12/30k, Icknield RC Hilly 13.8 mile course. David managed to record 39:49. We look forward to more to come from David as the season gets going.

C is for 'Cooking on gas for Whiskers'
Earlier in the day, in the Alford Wheelers 25 (based on the C25/10 course), Steve 'Whiskers' Franklin posted 1.05.07. The rolling course saw very few riders beat the hour. TSE alumnus Martin Jones (now with Team Bottrill) posted an impressive 57. Steve's time put him provisionally 2nd in his group and around 12th in the overall standings.

Steve Frankin - Alford Wheelers 25 2016

E is for 'eeeee, didn't he do well!'
On the preceding Saturday (2nd April), TSE fielded riders in two events. Roy Robinson took his winter form in to the Elite CC 10 on the rolling E91 course. The single carriageway course has a range of steady rises and drops. The cross-tailwind to the turn was complemented by an equally tough cross-headwind on the way back. Roy posted 29.33, which is a course PB by 74 seconds. 

K is for 'too be honest K is a hard one to make a funny-ish heading for'
In the afternoon, Dave Wentworth made his 2016 debut as first rider off in the VTTA Midlands K11/10T. He rode to a sub-25 minute, 24.55 in what was a tough old day. The headwind on the way back for the turn, which is the longer run by about a mile, made matters pretty tough for all competitors.

Dave was complemented on the start line by Sam Hayes, posting a 22.29 and Simon Doyle, recording 23.01. Both Doyle and Hayes were about one and half minutes down on their best times, thereby demonstrating how tough it was.

Steve Robinson must have run over a black cat, after smashing a mirror, whilst spilling salt as he sat under a ladder. He punctured in the first 100 metres. Hopefully this will be the nadir of Steve's season and it's onward and upwards as the N&DCA series kicks in.

Good Friday? Not bad at all actually
On the Good Friday, Simon Doyle was the sole TSE rider in the Welwyn Wheelers 50km Hilly. Despite facing some very strong local teams, Doyle rode in to the top 20 with a great time of 1.22.36.

Simon Doyle - Welwyn Wheelers Hilly 2016 (Davey Jones)