A gloriously sunny day greeted those who rolled into Oxshott for the start of this 86km or 153km event run by SWRC. The 11 strong Viceroys group had a 15 minute puncture stop (Theo the unfortunate one this time just before Staple Lane) and we also had a fairly long stop at the 36 mile mark for coffee and cake (actual moving time was around 3h 30 mins ). While the majority completed the shorter route, a few hard core (Keith Russell, Dan Ellis, Carl Fisher, Lance Kesson) took on the long route.
Pete Kelsey recounts his race experience:
The May Flyer is a well-drilled local event, with chip timing, pre and post-ride snacks as well as a good food stop and simple but effective road markings (as well as Garmin maps for those that like tech).
I am lower than low tech, so no bleeping Garmin map or Di2 for me, as I hate mechanical issues.
Originally I planned on doing the challenge distance of 153 km but that looked like taking up most of Sunday and getting me in the doghouse, again, so I switched to the shorter route with instructions from my coach Jay McStay of: ‘go hard on the short course, the training effect is better than a long slower ride’
At the start I met up with Dimi Nicolaides, who Jay also coaches, and off we went. By Cobham I could already feel and hear a brake pad rubbing, and it was getting worse. My limited mechanical skills were called upon to stop & straighten my lop-sided rear calliper and open it out fully. As I said, low tech solutions suit me, besides I have a front brake.
In Sportives a fast time can be dependent on getting in a good group of riders to ‘thru and off’ and share the load. We messed that up and realised early on we were riding as a ‘two’. Size wise Dimi & I are not well matched, with Dimi being a powerful rouleur, and me a little mountain goat. I scuttled up Staples and then waited for him to catch up after descending Coombe, but now we were in his territory of flats and rolling hills. Having agreed minute on and minute off to share the load, I was delighted to see Dimi’s counting skills were on a par with my mechanical skills, as he regularly did 2 minutes of hard pulls. Those big V8 thumpers were Yeoman-esque, and I was pushed to keep on his wheel. My less impressive power outputs didn’t seem to make as much headway, but we were going nicely as long as we didn’t bonk.
We passed the food stop (without stopping) and were now the lead riders, but as we figured bigger groups would be going faster we kept up the pace, with simple but effective ‘car up’, ‘car back’ or ‘hole’ shouts from whoever was up front. The May Flyer route is beautiful, proper Surrey countryside with stunning homes and Sunday drivers gingerly emerging in their polished E types and Astons. The well planned and clearly marked course rolls really well up lots of testing little risers round towards Shere, and then Coombe looms up ahead.
By now Dimi’s counting skills were starting to hit home, and Coombe meant we backed it off a bit to stay as a two. I then pulled us down Green Dene into Horsley before we were again taking turns. By Cobham Dimi was tucked in and hanging on, but to be fair he had worked harder on the flats & rollers, so I now shuffled us along as fast as we could go, and in no time we were home 1st and 2nd, with him crossing the line closer behind me than he started, and edging me by 4 seconds! To be fair, he earned it, as it was his speed on the flats and rollers that made the difference.
What is great is that the next group back were all Viceroys, and all hitting Gold times, with Kim Bainbridge ‘chicking’ everyone below 3rd for 1st lady and 4th overall. In all 15 Viceroys taking part is a strong showing, and having now ridden the May Flyer for the first time I can see why it is so popular, a lovely route, well signed, great facilities and easy to get to. Perhaps more of us should do it in 2017!
Viceroys times:
Peter Kelsey 2:51:45 Gold (2nd overall/1st in AG)
Kim Bainbridge 3:03:58 Gold (1st Lady)
Steve Hobson 3:04:01 Gold (5th overall 2nd in AG)
John Kellett 3:05:17 Gold (6th overall 2nd in AG)
Bijan Tahan 3:29:42 (25th overall/6th in AG)
John Mackey 3:52:18 Silver (94th overall 27th in AG)
Lyndsay Fitzgerald 4:09:08 (135th overall 3rd in AG)
Steve Metcalfe 4:09:13 (136th overall 17th in AG)
Lisa Price 4:10:07 Bronze (142nd overall 9th in AG)
Tegwynne Goldthorpe 4:10:13 Silver (144th overall 7th in AG)
David Barry 4:10:18 (145th overall 44th in AG)
Geoff Read 04:09:36 (140th overall 43rd in AG)
Nick Christian 4:10:57 (148th overall 46th in AG)
Kristie Higgins 4:11:01 (150th overall 6th in AG)
Theodore Petronikolos 4:11:35 Bronze (152nd overall 41st in AG)
Lilly Morgado 4:12:51 (157th overall 7th in AG)
LONG ROUTE:
Keith Russell 5h 56m Gold (74th in AG)
Dan Ellis 5:56:31 Silver (73rd overall / 8th in AG)
Carl Fisher 7:16:55 (60th AG and 129 overall)
Lance Kesson 6:40:05 Bronze (99th overall / 44th in AG)
Well done everyone!
