Warrington Road Club
Handicap Time Trial Competition 1st July 2023
(as part of the VTTA M&D Time Trial Event)
Back on the agenda for the first time since 1974 and in our 100th Year as a club, we brought back the Handicap Time Trial event for a fun race day with the intention to level the field. The idea being a Time Trail at a set distance in a race against the clock with all riders being given a time handicap based on their historical and suggested ability. Should all riders ride to their handicapped time, then all riders set the same time, hence the best performer on the day wins the event. (Should, of course, the Handicappers get the predicted times correct).
A popular race back in the day was continued on its return with 12 club entries and 10 starters on what was a very very windy day with speeds of 18-20mph throughout the race.
The day was likely more suitable for road bikes than TT bikes from a handling point of view, we had four starters riding road bikes on the day.
Distance Change
What was a 25 Mile event turned in to a 15 Mile event due to last minute road works on A50, so what was to be a usual lap of our local Queen circuit on the J2/9 circuit, was cut to 15 Miles at 11pm the night before. The course would start now be at New Platt Lane taking in almost one full circuit of J2/9 finishing at the layby before Allostock by the HQ for the day. The Handicaps had already been set to 25 Miles, so with a bit of jiggery pokery, the handicapper and his esteemed associate agreed the new predicted times for the 15 miles, as below.
The Handicaps
Race day and the rain came out just before the event, although this didn’t stop Barry George and Malcolm Horner popping out to taking some great photos around the course, with Malcolm on his Motor Bike passing all of us to his delight cutting through the wind with Camera and GoPro with ease.
Road Bike Riders set off first who had the pleasure of heading down Twemlow Lane with a tale wind and fresh legs. Many riders clocking PB’s on that section faster than their previous 4up times which goes to show how strong the wind was.
Fairley good going to Chelford Island, the hardest part would then be from Chelford with a Side Head Wind down the A537 and a block head down Seven Sisters.
Pictured above, Alan Ottiwell (bottom), Dave Fox (top left) and Eddie Monteith (top left) going up Twemlow.
Gruelling for all who road on the day, arguably the least enjoyable part, one of the club riders still managed to keep a smile on his face with photo of the day taken by our Malcolm Horner of Warren Giddins.
Warren Giddins, photo of the day !
Just of late Warren has been taking photos of other riders with him having a very similar and sinister look on this face much to his delight whilst watching to club member’s fall to the fate of what can only described as unfortunate swimming and hiking accidents. (If you know you know). Great to see this out on the course as well, great photo !
Back on to the A50, wicked side winds and the final drag towards Allostock and its eye balls out for the rest of the way back to the finish just outside HQ.
RESULTS
THE WRIGHT STUFF
Congratulations to to David Wright with a great ride in the day in difficult conditions, in particular for the ride on this TT bike as the bike handling on certain parts of the course were very tricky. Whilst the Handicapper’s could snoop around people’s profiles and previous times, the data available suggests David produced more power in this 15 Mile effort than on his previous 10 mile TT’s this year. Kudos to Mr Wright, a worthy winner!
David Wright, this years 2023 Warrington Road Club Handicap Champion
Other noticeable mentions, Eddie was the faster Warrington rider on the Day on TT Bike with a 35 Minute 13 Seconds time, Ian Haddock was 2nd over all on Road Bikes section with Warren and Phil respectively finishing in 4th and 5th for a good showing in that competition for the club. Warren and Ian will also pick up awards in the VTTA AAT Awards for there high finishes in the Open Competition on the day, great work!
PICTURES
Thanks to Katie Hughes, Malcolm Horner, Adrian Pennington and Barry George for all the photos above and below.
THE RIDERS
David Fox
Dave Friend
HOW TO HANDICAP
With many years of results from riders available to measure the possible times, as well as such tools like Strava, Cycling Time Trails, Spin Data and general sensible guess work, the general handicappers target would be to get as many people as possible within a minute of each other. However this isn’t always easy in case of recent form, illness, lack of data of those who have never raced before. More detail about the process is available on the CTT web Site. A tricky process, but one in this case we got fairly close to, apologies perhaps to Dave Friend, Alan Ottiwell and Rob Bagot who’s efforts we can now perhaps measure better next year. Better luck to Adam Hyatt and Steve Hilton who couldn’t start on the day, and also those that couldn’t make it to what was a great day and a lot of fun for the club members in the build up, on the day and following the event.
Hope to see more members at the event in 2024!
Ian Haddock
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