Well, what can I say. I think we are all pretty much agreed that this was the hardest Kingston to Worthing ever, in 43 years. Certainly this year's event has the slowest winning time ever.
We slogged South, into the teeth of a strong Sou'Westerley wind. As the various bypasses twisted and turned it got slightly easier in places, but it was pretty hard all the way.
And in addition to the wind, we were treated to heavy rain showers - I counted 4 drenchings on the way down. I was adequately dressed and reasonably warm in myself, but my feet got so cold that they I could hardly feel the pedals; others, I know, got so cold that they were still shivering in the cafe after we had eaten breakfast.
The slower riders can take heart that pretty much everyone took a packet somewhere on the way down, it was by no means easy for Simon and Brian, they just did it in slightly less time than the rest of us!
Ann punctured pretty close to home and declined all offers of help on the basis that she was just going to get the tube changed and then go home, but she hadn't reckoned on the "support" that Pete gives. He produced a track pump, as the one she was carrying wouldn't work, and then pushed her on her way again, asking why she thought that she should miss all the fun and promising that if she had any further trouble he would scoop her up in the car if necessary. For some strange reason she claims to have enjoyed the rest of the race.
Andrew Hewett also fell victim to a puncture, shortly before the 10 turn, he fixed it and continued on his way. Joe was suffering with a slipping chain, but struggled on.
It is interesting to consider that grim as it was everyone who started, finished and all those who did not start knew in advance and had other commitments.
We enjoyed an excellent breakfast at Macaris, on the seafront, again, but the weather was enough to put us off from our usual game of pitch and putt followed by a picnic on the beach, the first time in 20 years that I have known it to happen (and we've done the English tourist bit and huddled on the beach in all sorts of grim weather over the years). |