Since its return to the local winter calendar in 2013 the Bournemouth Arrow CC 50 mile reliability trial has proved to be a great success. Eighty four riders left Bisterne village hall on this latest edition, the final Sunday in November offering dull, listless conditions. Heading north to Crow and skirting Ringwood, the fords at Poulner & Moyles Court were thankfully dry, the race bikes, deep rim wheels and tri bars, a sign of the times rather than a reflection of the weather. Up to Sandy Balls & the Fighting Cocks public house, there is a joke there but i wont bother. The climb out of Woodgreen goes on a bit and things go quiet through Hale, Woodfalls and Lover, the grippy parcours reliably tough. The grovel out of Nomansland is equally reliable but the pace picks up across the old aerodrome at Stony Cross, chewing bar tape trying to get back on. Fast down Bolderwood drive to the A35 then the Ornamental drive to Brockenhurst, the group is still large but the riding is disciplined, in twos, rotating the front. An easterly breeze blows us briskly to Burley and across Slap Bottom (go on then, if you must) and a wave to the Sotonia cc coming the other way. Lined out down Braggers lane, we can smell the homemade cakes and the hole-strewn Dragons lane is ridden a bit too fast but it was good fun. The usual steamy, endorphin fueled chatter at the HQ is kind of what its all about, a big thanks to all at the Arrow who allowed us to indulge ourselves!
No comments:
Post a Comment