Sussex Nomads Hill Climb and cyclo-cross
The 8th and final round of the Strada Wheels - TMC South Downs Hill Climb series took place on the morning of Saturday 21st October. The event was promoted by Sussex Nomads CC and held on the testing slopes of Ditchling Beacon familiar to anyone who has ever tackled the London to Brighton cycle ride.
Sadly the contest was conducted in blustery wet conditions that were far from ideal for securing traction and fast times. His finishing time of 6 minutes 37.31 seconds may well have been far outside of his best, but Peter Baker’s 42nd place from 69 finishers was more than enough to secure the series victory among men over 65.
Dan Street by Joe Benians
The worst of Storm Babet had blown over by the following afternoon, but the leafy grounds of Somerhill School in Tonbridge were slick and muddy for the prospective cyclo-cross racers. Southborough and District Wheelers were the promoters of Round 6 Challenge Tyres London and South East Cyclo-Cross League and had devised an epic course utilising grassy slopes, twisty wooded sections and a short stretch of tarmac for the fifty-five men in the race for those over 50.
8th on the grid for which was Dan Street who forged his way up to 7th on the opening lap. Another fast circuit kept him well placed, but he was unable to keep up such a rapid pace and as his lap times increased he found it hard to maintain position, although still secured a strong 10th place at the conclusion of five laps.
Dan was back for Round 7 of the London League on Sunday 29th October and he was joined by Stephen Burgess in the race for men over 60. The event was promoted by Dulwich Paragon CC and held at Canada Heights Motocross Circuit near Swanley.
Sadly for them, and the sixty-seven others who also lined up on the grid that afternoon, torrential rain in the preceding week had left sections of the course slick with treacherous mud. The most skillful riders could attempt to ride these stretches, but for the vast majority it was a case of a controlled dismount before the limits of adhesion were exceeded and a less stylish separation of rider from bike.
Dan lined up in 10th place only to lose a place on the opening tour. He settled into his rhythm by the third of five circuits when he improved back to grid position. He made up a further place on each of the remaining laps to be the 8th of 50 riders to greet the chequered flag, with two failing to finish.
Stephen’s race was far less eventful. From 57th on the grid he was 16th of the 17 in his category at the end of lap 1; a position he held to the end of four laps, one down on the victor.
