The first bit of action came on lap 2 from Jason Smith (Iceni Velo) taking the prime. Once caught by the group the bunch remained together until lap 4 when the Iceni plan started to unfold. At around the 20mile mark 3 riders made an attack (Iceni riders Shaun Aldous, Tim Guy & Cameron Toms) which went clear and quickly made ground on the bunch. A young rider from St Ives (Luke Hattersley) made a real effort and bridged the gap to the break away trio.

That was to be the final (and winning) move from the group which worked well with all riders contributing to make the break stay away from a surprisingly settled bunch.

The lap 9 prime was comfortably taken by Shaun Aldous (Iceni Velo) who had started to ramp up the pace to try and dislodge the strong and very persistent St Ives rider. In the final sprint it was always going to be a tall order to get past Aldous and it proved to be too much for Hattersley with Aldous comfortably taking the win (and not forgetting the important King of the mountains accolade on the popular online training tracker, Strava!!)

Third place went to race organiser Tim Guy (Iceni Velo) followed by Cameron Toms (Iceni Velo) who earlier had suffered a mechanical issue and forced to fall back to seek attention before making his way back to the front of the race before getting into the winning move.

So an Iceni 1st, 3rd a& 4th which is an end to a great day. Our thanks go to all out helpers in the HQ and out on the circuit and our sponsors Duff Morgan for providing some pretty cool race convoy.

Click here to visit a full gallery of photos from the event on Mark Cozens’s website.

However, the location for the first round on 24th March, Sherwood Pines has hosted the opening round for the last 3 or 4 years and although not universally liked by the racing fraternity – particularly the gritty Northerners who favour proper hills and hard rocks – it always attracts big fields and some close racing.

After officially retiring from racing last year or possibly even the year before, at some point around Christmas I thought I might give it a go again in 2012, proving categorically that it is a woman’s perogative to change her mind (as many times as she wants!). After much soul searching, wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth (still all my own) I eventually bought my race licence and entered BXCS round 1 on the day that entries closed.

All that remained was to taper my training – which is a bit of a long standing joke because in order to taper one has first to train. But this Winter, my riding has been more structured and thoughtful than in any of the previous 30 years and has included lots of base miles and more recently some speed and hill sessions. So, taper I did.

Saturday afternoon saw me re-acquainting myself with my bike and I set out for a gentle practice / sighting lap of the course. Actually, to say ‘my bike’ is wholly inaccurate – I don’t own a hard tail race bike so I ask nicely if I can borrow one from daughter #1 or daughter #2 – on this occasion daughter #2’s bike obliged, mainly because it had the right tyres on!

The lap was classic Sherwood Pines – much like Thetford Forest but with a little more in the way of climbs. The course designers took the course to some of the more technical areas of the forest but in reality there’s nothing much to test your nerves. That said, I did have to run up the two steepest banks and chose to dismount over the biggest of the fallen trees. One lap was enough to tell me all I needed to know so I returned to the arena area to relax for the rest of the afternoon and evening. A couple of carb loading small beers helped me nod off to sleep … despite concerns over whether the phones would self adjust to the clocks changing and the prospect of losing an hours sleep.

Unsurprisingly, I woke without the need for an alarm and spent some time laying in bed reminding myself why I had decided to stop racing a year or two ago and trying to remember why I had decided to start again. It was a one sided mental argument – and I wasn’t winning! The reality is that I race because I really enjoy it, but on race mornings that enjoyment is buried so deep that I truly wonder why I ever pin on a race number.

Pre – race preparation was all pretty straight forward – breakfast, mix bottles, phaff a bit, be really interested in what everyone else is doing to pass the time, put on cycling kit, go for a warm up, mill about waiting to be gridded.

The gridding process at National events is well organised and there’s no need to stress about fighting for grid position – especially when there’s only 5 in your category – you just wait patiently until you are called to the grid. What does change from year to year and sometimes from race to race, is the order the categories are set off. There’s no easy way to get this right because of the mix of ability in some categories and this race the Grand Veteran Women were at the very back of the grid. I wasn’t particularly concerned about this as I had no great aspirations for the race so I rolled up to the start, took of my jacket and arm warmers and leant over the barriers to get a good luck hug from daughter #2 – it was at this point that the exceptionally loud starting pistol went and everyone apart from me started racing!

Not the most auspicious of starts but it did guarantee the Iceni Velo club jersey maximum exposure as I was properly on my own and off the back as the race left the arena area!

Never one to be backward in moving forward, I made up a few places by shooting through the rough as the course hit the first left hand bend and then, on the first section of fire road I got past a few of the younger and less experienced youth riders. By the time I got to the first proper section of single track there wasn’t much I could do about passing riders so it was a case of sit tight and try and recover a bit before the next opportunity to overtake.

By this stage I was pretty sure that I was in front of three other women in my category but thought that one may be ahead of me. I managed to sneak past a couple more youth and sport riders in the singletrack and this was enough to start building a buffer of time over the women behind me.

Luck was on my side on a couple of the more technical bits – although other riders were off and walking I managed to find the space and line to ride all the descents and trickier sections and this kept me moving past people. The more riders between me and the other riders in my category the better – and not only that, overtaking riders is good for morale!

On the way back to the arena there was a large log that I had no intention of riding, but I knew there would be spectators there, so in the morning I’d been practising my cyclo cross dismounts so I could look uber cool as I smoothly clipped out and hopped over the log. Ha ha, silly me! My ability to even contemplate a CX dismount had vanished completely by the time I reached the log and the best I could manage was a very ordinary clip out and climb off – on the plus side it did give me time to smile at the marshals and hear my friends cheering me on!

Lap one completed – one more to go. Still working on the basis that there was a rider ahead of me I tried to keep the pressure on all through the second lap. I rode the lap pretty much alone which may explain why my lap time was slower – with hindsight I could and should have pushed on a bit harder. Into the arena to finish, a quick look over my shoulder to make sure no one was sneaking up on me and then the fantastic feeling of hearing the commentator announce me as the winner of my category. I momentarily contemplated a two arm victory salute but instead opted for the less flamboyant but infinitely safer, one armed version!

To say I was chuffed would be an understatement and it goes down as one of my top three racing moments of all time …

The next round is at Dalby Forest in Yorkshire – am I going to race there? Well, yes, despite all my anxieties I am, because riding at Sherwood reminded me just what a buzz racing is. If I can minimise some of the self doubt and anxiety and maximise the enjoyment then it may be a year or two before I retire again!

Sara Flatt

Despite a few last minute stake related issues, by the time the first riders appeared to pre-ride the course it was fully marked out and, despite a sunny start to the day the ground was still frozen and covered in a layer of frost.

As it became fully light, more club members arrived to deal with signing on, to help with judging, to marshall and most importantly to run the kitchen. Belgian cyclo cross races may be fuelled by beer and frites but here we still run on tea and cake!

In the veteran’s race, club member Phil Buick was hoping to secure his 8th win of the year and guarantee first place in the league. Also representing the club were Alex Watts, Tim Leary and Geriant Thomas (or was it Arwel Davies?). The race got of to a trouble free start and a small group quickly formed at the head of the race led by Andy Manning CCN but including, Phil Buick, Tim Butler, Bruce Robinson and Tony Wilkins.

As the old chaps were sorting themselves out the women’s race got underway. The Eastern League is possibly the only one in the country that gives equal coverage and recognition to women competitors with a separate start (introduced this year) their own League table and a generous prize list at each round. Missing from the start line was league leader Joolz Halpin which gave Emma Johnson the ideal opportunity to score big points and move to the top of the table. As the race got underway Emma moved to the front with only Anna Buick for company – Johnson has been improving throughout the season so it had the making of an interesting contest.

The leading veterans stayed pretty closely packed together for the first lap but by lap two Buick and Manning had moved clear and stayed together until lap four when Manning started to ease away, eventually taking the win by 44 seconds. Buick crossed the line in second to take the Vet 50+ win and the League title with one race still remaining.

Further down the field, Tim Leary was probably enjoying his disc brakes more than Arwel was enjoying his mountain bike … but at least there weren’t any hurdles! The Iceni tribe finished 34th, Alex Watts; 50th, Tim Leary and 57th Arwel Davies.

In the women’s race Anna Buick had a comfortable win over Johnson – attacking on the first lap through the first rooty section and never looking troubled from that point on.

As the first riders returned to the village hall to refuel on leek and potato soup, bacon sandwiches and the all important cakes, the judging team and officials stayed out in the cold as racing continued with the youths and the under 12 races. Gt Yarmouth CC made this event their club championship and won the award for the most riders even if they didn’t claim any podium positions!

By the time the senior race started, the sun had disappeared but the ground had thawed – the sandy hill was now very soft under foot and some muddy sections were appearing around the course.

The club had great representation in this race – Tim Guy, Chris Guy, Santa #1 (Ben Nicholson) and Santa #2 (Tim Bonnett), Lewis Grimes, Glyn Thomas and Simon Millard.

Whilst Andy Nichols (PCA Ciclos Uno) had got the League win sewn up there was still plenty to fight for and Tim Guy was definitely hoping to put his local knowledge to advantage and score his third win of the season.

The 50 rider field got away cleanly and as they disappeared out of sight all the usual suspects were at the front with Richard Dunnett (Diss CC) leading the charge. A leading group containing Nichols, Guy, Ross Tricker, Glenn Standford, Hayden Wood went through the end of the first lap pretty much together, with Dunnett, Phil Roach and Robert Hunt just off the back of them.

By the end of lap two, Tricker and Dunnett had dropped off with Roach moving up to the leading group. These five looked pretty comfortable in each others company – with Guy looking to have the advantage over Nichols on the run up the sandy hill.

However, as the riders came into view of the pits on lap four it was all change on the front with Roach in the lead, 8 seconds clear of second placed Stanford, with Guy and Nichols a further 6 seconds behind. A fall on slippery roots had knocked the stuffing out of Guy and delayed Standford and Nichols allowing Roach to move into the lead.

As the leading riders fought to get back up to Roach the other club riders were having their own battles further down the field. Santas #1 and #2 were having battles with their facial hair and Lewis Grimes was showing his usual commitment and determination – starting at the back of the grid he was carving through the field on his mountain bike – encouraged by plenty of partisan support from family and clubmates.

At the front of the race, Roach held his lead for all of the fifth lap with Nichols the first to get back to him and move into the lead. Guy and Standford tried all they could to bridge the gap but couldn’t make contact and the race finished with a win for Nichols, from Roach in second and a relieved Guy holding off Standford for the final podium position.

Chris Guy rode a consistent race to finish 11th, Santa #1 came home with his fairy lights twinkling in 17th, Lewis was an impressive 22nd, Glynn Thomas was 36th and Santa #2 held on for 40th. Simon Millard opted for an early pasty after 2 laps.

And so, after the racing was finished and the prizes presented all that remained to be done was to collect 140 white stakes and 4km of marker tape and return Shaun’s wheelie bins in time for Christmas!

Many thanks to everyone who attended in whatever capacity – you all helped contribute to a very successful Iceni Velo race promotion. But a special mention to the kitchen volunteers who had a permanent queue from about 9.30am until 4.30pm – what an incredible achievement to keep so many people fed and watered on such a cold day. After that, Christmas lunch will be a piece of cake!

Thanks to John Swindells for the above videos and Sara Flatt for all her help and the above report. Photo Gallery coming soon!

Now.. what to wear?? – may be a slightly odd thing to think (avoided the sexist statement of sounding like a woman there!)but if I was going to ride, I didn’t really want to make an idiot of myself – so the ballgown was a definite “no no”..

So, under my wife’s instruction, I wasn’t allowed to dress in my retro jerseys and shorts, instead, had to go undercover in jeans.. Managed to find a cycling related jumper though – don’t get to wear that one very often, so off we went.

I should add at this point that today had been a hectic one (here’s where I start to stack up the excuses) with a cyclo cross event in Colchester – an hour of full on racing, totally draining my weak and feeble body of strength and energy (that oughta do it – message across: “I’m tired and weak”)

The rush home from the race, dropping off the kids (not a euphamism), then on to Norwich to pick up some friends, and spend 15 minutes driving round looking round for a parking space – we should realy have ridden too, as there were a good assortment of bikes outside the pub, but 20 addtionbal miles would have gone down like a glass of cold sick with my wife.

After getting a drink (not of sick), we proceeded upstairs where the compares were just starting the proceedings with the first qualifying heats. The place was already heaving, with the rig at one end of the function room, and everyone else watching. The compare was doing a great job of whipping people up, to get behind their riders. There was a bit of added rivalry with 2 major clubs from Norwich well represented: Iceni Velo had organised the event, and VC Norwich had good representation – nothing like a bit of friendly rivalry! I should at this point explain what Rollapalza is, I suppose: It’s Roller Racing, and (as I’ve been failing to explain to my work colleagues), it consists of 2 bikes, connected to static rollers, and riders attempt to complete the 500m course as fast as they can. The progress is indicated by a large clock behind them (for the spectators to see), with the clock hands indicating progress of each rider.

After watching the first few riders spinning their proverbials off, I started to get nervous – not the best time to have second thoughts, but what the hell – just have a laugh, and i’d dragged my wife and friends along for the evening, so I ought to at least give it a go – after all, how hard could it possibly be? – standby for gratuitous story of how I was much better the longer ago it was: I used to be able to sprint on junior gears at 40mph, and once followed a truck at 53mph (before the computer on the bike stopped working). So I knew (well I hoped) I wouldn’t be last – the thought if the cross race kept creepign in though…

So – I signed my money, and got a stamp on my hand (which after 24 hours, and several hand washes and a shower, still hasn’t faded), and put my name down.

I was drawn against a team mate, but this first round was just about going as fast as you could, to qualify for subsequent rounds. I sat on the bike, and waited to be adjusted – facing a sea of faces, offering encouragement and banter about what we were about to do to ourselves. The countdown – overwhelming anticipation – last minute thoughts of ride on the tops or drops? – pull forward on sit back?? – can I remember how to even pedal?? – 5-4-3-2-1 GOOOOOO! – got the gear going ok, my trainers helpd in tightly by good old fashioned toestraps – phased out in the late 80s by the introductions of clipless pedals – still very popular in track racing though – I should add that I wasn’t thinking all this while I racing, I’m just going off on a tangent.. The two helpers were shouting in our ears how far it was to go – it wasn’t about winning, although it would have been nice to take a scalp to boost my confidence, I was up against a super sprinter, although he hadn’t been riding too much – I on the other hand had RIDDEN A CROSS RACE – did I mention that??!

“100 metres to go” – god, it seemed like i’d be pedalling for ages already, and I was starting to die – couldn’t keep the gear going… – managed to creep across the line, and lost by about 5 100ths of a second.. would it be enough to qualifty? – WHO CARES – I was simply trying to stop the gear, and climb off the bike and try not to collapse.. My legs had turned to jelly, and as I rejoined my friends and wife, the breathing and heat caught up with me [stand under the fan].. I watched the next few heats, then got another pint. The last of the competitors finished their heats, and a few more people beat my time – although my legs were shot, I was hoping that I’d done enough to qualify…. As it turned out, I had done just enough (helped by the fact that my rivel who’d beaten didn’t feel at all well after out bout, so pulled out)

The wait for the heats intensified, and I discovered I was drawn against “Smiley” – someone i’d ridden with and against since we were juniors – in 1989! He has an awesome turn of speed (although he’d done the same cross race as me – finishing higher up). He once offered to lead me out in a race and dropped me in the process before sprinting as I gasped for breathe – he was the record holder at Bob Whitear’s infamous fitness test – so I didn’t fancy my chances..

5-4-3-2-1…………..(a surprise start): GO – off again – oops, false start – think someone in the crowd shouted go, so I GOed!! – off again [properly this time], and this time my legs felt better than in qualifiying – I whipped the gear round, and wasn’t dying, but couldn’t go any faster – my helper was shouting in my ear “you’re level – keep it up – push push push” and I pushed!!…. We finshed – I was only three 10ths of a second behind him.. – so close, but i’d given my all and lost out to the better rider.

Even if i’d made that round, I wasn’t sure I could have done many more – especially as the final was held over 1km – twice the distance – that wouldn’t have been pretty – cuppa sick anyone??!

With the planning already started for the next event i’m already thinking of what training I can do to get faster (short of losing 15 years) – sad, but that’s the competitive spirit in me..

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The turn out was better than we could have imagined and at some points it was difficult to get upstairs let alone the event room. Great to see so many faces some old and some new and we hope you all had as much fun as we did. A massive thank you to Andy from the York for his support and generosity in running the event and of course to Rollapaluza themselves for coming over and making it all happen. Thanks also to one of the fastest men of the night Ton Donhou for his support of offering prizes for our first placed riders in each category. Big congratulations to Kelly Davis, Emma Fox & Claire Martin for producing some great times in the ladies category and my eyes are still blurred from watching Mathew Sillis and Ben “scooby” Osbourne turn their legs at some ridicules rpm in the mens final.

Full results here, but the top places on the night were as follows.
Women’s Category
1st Kelly Davis
2nd Emma Fox
3rd Claire Martin

Mens Category
1st Matthew Sillis
2nd Ben Osbourne
3rd Tom Donhou

To remind your self of the night take a look at our image gallery and video gallery. There will be more content coming so be sure to check back. So hope to see you all at the next one.

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If your not sure what this is all about then take a look at the Rollapulza website. Be quick as entries are limited to 70.

The few of us sat round that table, could only have dreamt that we would ever get to 100 members in the club, let alone within it’s first year. Iceni Velo has grown beyond our wildest dream, thanks to everyone who has joined. You are the people that have enabled us to host a round of the Eastern Road Youth Race Series, enabled us to host our own road race part of the Eastern Region Road race League and have the manpower to hold a cyclo cross race in December.

It’s been great to see the number of people turning up for the Sunday club run. Sure it’s early at 07:30 but we’ve seen up to 40 riders turning up of all abilities from seasoned racers to new riders. Most with a smile on their face, usually at the cafe stop or the end of the ride!

There have been members taking part in various events, Matthew Thurston took the win in the Lotus Cars Cycle League, Chris Guy won the VC Norwich Road Race, our youth category riders have also been sharing the spoils with Imogen Buick & Cameron Toms taking numerous victories in their respective classes. We’ve had members undertaking some very hard sponsored rides as well, Johnny Vaughan & Ian Read rode from London to Norwich in a day, Rob Bacon rode all the way from Holland to Norwich in three days and plenty of other members challenging rides and events so far this year.

There’s been a whole host of new riders join the club and it’s been a pleasure to welcome them along and see them become part of the club.

We’re always on the look out for more members so if you fancy it, come along, join the forum and get involved. Join in one of the club rides. We’re a friendly bunch.
Here’s to the next 100 members.

cheers,
Murray (Club Chairman)

As the Dragon usually clashes with the Norwich 100 i did think about giving up my ride to support the IV members in our first year at Norfolks largest mass particpation bike ride although the lure of the stunning scenery, ten mile climbs, 50mph decents and a 124mile test of endurance was to much to turn down

This was my third sportive of the year and the one i was aiming to do well in this year. Although there was not as many riders from the club as there were last year we still had a healthy turn out from IV members, Dave, Big Rob, Andy Eddy, Paul Asplin, Big Si and Stef where out in force and sporting the Kit. It was unfortunate that Si and Stef arrived late and didn’t make it in time to ride together with us

We meet the night before in a local pub for a meal together, Me: Chicken and Chips = Carbs, Dave: some veggie stuff with a stick of something limp and green = healthy,  Andy E: Salmon and spuds = healthy and carbs, Big Si: Mixed Grill = fatty, greasy and massive, but boy did i wish i had of ordered that

Things looked ominous when back in the hotel room and getting the bikes ready i was pumping up my borrowed wheels as i had melted my ones in the Lakes only to get a puncture pumping the tyres up, great! Luckily i had bought some more borrowed wheels to swap the tyres over

Any way back to the ride, we joined the cue at 7.15am for the off at 8am, this was wise as very soon we had about 400 in front of us and another 3,000 behind us on this cold Welsh morning. The organisers let us away 100 at a time to the annoying soundtrack of the Pirates of the Caribean movie, this did start to wear a bit thin after the fourth time

All to soon and we where away, turning right and 400 yards in to the ride and already the preorganised plan of a steady pace until the first feed station plan was out of the window with Dave snapping away up the first little climbs. Navigating our way through the hords of riders sometimes four and five abreast was interesting with some equally intersting riding styles in view. I remember one random rider shouting to warn us that it was a long way to go, i have to admit i very nearly shouted  back “well get a f**king move on then”

Concious that the first feed stop was only at about 30ish miles i dug in to keep with the IV group knowing that the longer i could hang in there would dramatically reduce my overal time. Dave was setting the pace and the IV steam roller was reminisant of a pro team trail with us five line a stern with some excellent through and off going on, great to look behind to see a masive line of stranger cyclists hanging off the IV train

The terrain was undualting out to the coast and a mile from the first feed station i slipped off the back of the other four up a steep little climb, knowing that the stop was around the corner i didn’t push to hard to get back on knowing i would roll in within seconds of my club mates. As there was no attempt from my club mates to ease the pace slightly when i was distanced off the back i knew i was on my own today and i had to ride for myself

This was indeed the case and i was rolling to a stop about ten seconds after the rest, i quickly made up my mind that this would be a splash and go stop and the intention was to leave before the others as my thinking was to get a jump on them to limit the inevitable dropping that would happen sooner rather than later

Surprisingly i didn’t see them for some time and about 20 miles later half way up the Bwlch climb for the first time the inevitable happened with Dave passing me and then very closely followed by Andy, Rob and Paul, not able to maintain their pace they disapeared up and away to the summit of the Bwlch. Knowing we had to ride this again at about 100 miles in today was a sobbering thought. Not silly steep but extremley long for a UK climb the Bwlch is probably my favorite climb so far. On a good day you could easily pull out 20 minutes on your competitors (as i found out to my detrement) (twice)

The route was made up of a mixture of long climbs and long decents, with scenic country lanes and not so scenic run down ex mining villages and towns. It is sad to see what was once a thriving economy turn in to towns where the only businesses doing well are the building maintenance companies boarding up shop windows and houses. Although i am glad i didn’t have a repeat of last year when a local threw a can of special brew at my head

Thanks to Big Robs ingenious map that we taped to our cross bars i knew when the climbs where coming and this helped to pace my self. This was needed as at about 80 miles my legs had nothing left and i had vowed that this would be my last hilly sportive ever. I was quite serious about this and i may still see this through as i get my enjoyment from riding with my friends and riding 80 miles on my own around Wales wasn’t if i am honest all that fun, i can do that any day of the week for free

Anyone who has ever done a long ride or sportive will know what i meanwhen i say that all i wanted was for the ride to be over, especially when tackling the Bwlch for the second time that day. Unlike the year previous i didn’t seem to get in a group that suited my pace, i was either riding away from the group or being dropped of the back of another one, nothing in the middle

Once over the top of the Bwlch for the second time and you know you have about 18 miles to go of rolling hills although there was a little stinging climb shortly before the end where my energy left my body completely. A quick refuel with gels and a bar and i was rolling in to the finish with a few miles of a solo effort with speeds averaging 27mph, where did that come from? or was it just the will to finish and get home

Crossing the line i was pleased and proud to finish, although not as hard a ride as the Lakeland Loop or the Autumn Epic it was a hard day out.

I was pleased that i did it but more pleased to finish it

My club mates had better expiriences then me with Dave first one home in an impressive time of just over 6.30 with Andy Eddy close behind very closley followed by Paul and Big Rob. Big Si and Stef also rolled in in very repectable times

I would love to be able to ride this again but only if i was able to attack it rather than survive it

The jury is still out on this one although for anyone wanting to test them or complete there first real sportive then this is a great one to tick off

The ride was daunting undertaken over three days; a total of 320 miles with about 5700 meters of climbing around Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset and up onto Exmoor.

Rob and I stayed at a B&B on the A303. With heavy holiday traffic, which seemed to not let up all night, it felt more like Silverstone on F1 day!!!  The breakfast however was certainly a perfect foundation for a long day in the saddle and we needed it!

Jason like the student he is blagged free accommodation from Simon’s parents; like a typical student I’ve been told even got preferential treatment over Simon.

Day 1

Weather: Very windy with showers.

Rob, Jason and I finished stage one together and Simon struggled in behind with knee problems, which made his climbing really painful.  Luckily however before he blew up on the climbs, Simon had a star role as the Iceni lead out man and sacrificed himself for the team!   Only Jason stopped at the lunch break, as the other three of us somehow managed to missed the obvious day-glow signs for refreshments and more importantly missed the chicken coronation sandwiches.  We were gutted and that was the last time Rob Bacon smiled until he rolled across the line at the end of day one.  When Jason punctured, both Simon and I stayed with him whilst Rob spun up the road.  Once done the chase was on…….  Jason and I worked at 110% into a head wind to catch a large working group for a bit of shelter, however this was the point where Simon fell off the back with leg issues on the climb.  3 miles later a knackered Jason and I actually caught the group only to find that they pulled over and the work was for nothing………………….  We were gutted.

Whilst everyone carried gels and bars for consumption on the ride, Jason (Pikey Student) started collecting free gels and was finishing each day heavier.  He later revealed that he had ‘collected’ about seventeen or eighteen gels and about a dozen little Humzinger bars!  Jason is now happy to sell these and undercut the shop prices.

Punctures – Jason

Ian’s Garmin info – http://connect.garmin.com/activity/88507737

Day 2

Weather: Very, very, very windy.

The day started with Pikey Jason cleaning his chain and to our horror used an old CCN shirt to wipe the oil off with.  Personally from an Iceni point of view he should have used his new CCN shirt!  J

Jason stayed with the Iceni boys about 3.2 seconds this morning and didn’t see him till the end; however we did get a series of ‘I was here, where are you’ texts from the feed stations.  Simon didn’t start due to the injury from yesterday……..  Bloody light weight Iron man!  Simon had a day sightseeing, drinking coffee’s and basically avoiding exercise, whilst the rest of us where flying the flag for Iceni!

Punctures – Jason again

Ian’s Garmin info – http://connect.garmin.com/activity/88834341

Day 3

Weather:  Not too much wind, but loads of rain

The rain was just like the autumn epic for those who remember which was the last thing you need after two big days already in your legs.   The car park at start time of day three had only a small percentage of cars/riders unlike the two preceding days, as many riders must have thrown in the towel when looking at the weather forecast.  Rob and I had a great ride, however I haven’t ever heard him swear so much as he did at the top of the biggest climb of the day!  I sprinted ahead and stopped to take a picture of him whilst also chatting to an old couple of onlookers.  Rob shouts f**k off!  Who got me to do this f**king Tour of Wessex and followed by a second f**k off.  Yep the old couple were astounded by his outburst, but I quickly explained that he was from the flat lands of Norfolk!

Jason was in his usual relaxing mood and as we started buggered off for a cup of tea.  He came powering past Rob and I at about 15 miles and that was the last we saw of him.

Simon had a great ride and finished not long behind Jason, but I guess having a lazy rest day on day two helped him no end.

Punctures – Jason surprisingly again

Ian’s Garmin info – http://connect.garmin.com/activity/89165550

Simon threw together this quick video and uploaded this to YouTube naturally in a spare couple of minutes in the back of the van.

A great event and challenge in a wonderful part of the country and hope that more people will get to this one in 2012 to help flying the Iceni flag……..

Events for Elite riders, club riders, under 16s and all comers on all sorts of bikes.

For more details click here or visit www.norfolkcycling.co.uk

Entry closes 17th June